Chapter 31
Slade was livid. Jason and the Titans could feel the anger rippling off of him in waves. There was a tension in the room that could have been cut with a knife and all of the present captives were silently grateful for the bulletproof glass fronts of their cells. All eyes were on the masked man as he stood looming over the girl who stood before him. If looks could kill, Starfire would have crumpled where she stood, even without being able to see Slade's face. Starfire stood tall and unmoving, seemingly unaffected so far by the menacing tone of his voice.
"I want them found. Now!" He spat the words out, dripping through gritted teeth like venom. "You've had two days since you brought Thunder and Lightning to me and you've been unable to locate a single Titan since." It was true, two days prior Starfire had flown back in under an hour after Slade had sent her out, with Thunder and Lightning in her grasp. She'd dropped them in a cell, inhibitor bracelets on. They were okay, a few bruises, but they'd underestimated Starfire's ability to fly through a storm. Since then, any of her intended targets hadn't been found. It seemed like the Titans really had gone dark.
"You are running out of time."
Starfire didn't move but she did open her mouth, which was a surprise to all of them. "If I may…"
"No, you may not." Slade cut her off, taking a heavy step towards her. She leaned away from him. "No more excuses. Find them."
"They cannot be found." She regretted saying anything the minute the words left her mouth, if only because of the pain that exploded across her face as Slade backhanded her. Not expecting the hit, she stumbled and fell to her side. Slade knelt down beside her and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Then you're not trying hard enough. I've hurt you before Starfire, I won't hesitate to hurt you again. Do I make myself clear?" His voice was menacing and she merely nodded at him. "You're not going to live much longer and I want to at least get rid of the Titans before then. I want Robin to watch everything he's created burn before him and a petty game of hide and seek is not going to stop me from doing that." He let go of her, standing up and stepping away from her.
Starfire ignored the pain in her face and got to her feet, returning to her ever ridgid stance. Tentatively she opened her mouth again, her voice failing her as she started. "Per...perhaps if I were to…" She stopped as Slade had turned slowly to look at her.
"At what point did I say you could start talking back to me?" He didn't get a reply, nor did he expect to get one. She dropped her gaze from his face to the floor. "You do not offer your thoughts or opinions to me unless I ask you to, or do I need to give you a reminder of that little fact?"
Starfire shook her head weakly. "No Sir."
"I want them found. You're going to have to draw them out. I think it's time that the citizens finally see what's become of Jump City's Sweetheart. Go. Draw them out. I'll send some robots with you. They can collect anyone you can defeat, but I want you to bring me Robin. I want all of them alive. There's more inhibitor bracelets in your chamber. Do not come back until you have Robin in your grasp."
"Yes Sir." Starfire turned from him and made to leave the room.
"Starfire."
She stopped and looked back at him.
"I brought you back from the brink of death once, I won't be doing it again. Do not fail me."
She didn't say anything more as she left the room. The silence left behind caused a dread to wash over the Titans. Jason leant his head back against the wall behind him. Robin had better be prepared for this.
XXXXXX
"Are we all prepared? Cause there's no going back once we start this." Robin stood leaning forward, his arms resting on the table as he glanced across the people stood around him. There were mutual nods and a resounding 'yes' from all of them. "Jericho, last chance. You can back out now if you want, but the minute we get going, that's it. I need you with me until the end."
Jericho looked Robin dead in the eye and nodded. Determined to do this, he slammed his fist into his palm.
"Alright. First things first. Cy, do you have the tracker?"
Cyborg held up a syringe towards Robin. "Sure do." He moved around to Robin who rolled his sleeve up. He winced slightly as Cyborg pushed the needle into his arm and a small drop of blood followed the needle as it was pulled out. "Signal should be working from now. Gonna be pretty hard for Slade to find that tracker, that's for sure." The idea of injecting a micro tracker had been used by the Titans before, but had failed when Slade had branded Starfire's arm. It had burnt the chip to a crisp, rendering it useless. However, this time they were fairly certain Slade wasn't going to be using a branding iron on Robin.
Batgirl moved over to the computer and brought up the tracker signal. "It works alright."
"Good." Robin pulled his sleeve back down. "Right Jericho, you know what you're doing don't you? Slade will be watching, so try not to do anything out of place."
Jericho smiled at him and nodded.
"Bee, are you sure you're alright with going with us? You'll probably have an inhibitor bracelet put on you, but if we do this right you won't have it on very long."
"Don't worry hon, I've got this. Ain't no one able to rally my team as well as me, so let's do this." Bumblebee crossed her arms over her chest. She had gotten over the initial shock of what had happened at the Titans East Tower and felt better after a few days rest. Robin had introduced her properly to Jericho too, who was kind. They'd met before, but only briefly.
"Flash…"
"I got this." Flash interrupted him, nodding his head quickly. "Said I wouldn't let you down and I won't. Trust me. In and out quick as a flash. But you're gonna have to do your bit properly before I can do mine." Flash resisted the urge to wink at Robin playfully. This wasn't the time.
"I know, I'll get her. Don't worry." Robin turned to look at Beast Boy who was shuffling nervously. "Dude, you've got this. You know what you're doing."
"I'm just nervous, I guess. This is it… Our last plan." Beast Boy hated that he was doubting them, but realistically everything else they had tried had failed miserably. This plan had taken two days to hash out, and it was only theoretical. They couldn't know what Slade and Starfire would do.
"I know. We all feel the same, but we have to try. For the Titans, for Jason, and mostly for Starfire. Even if we fail, which we won't, Starfire would appreciate that we tried." Robin smiled at Beast Boy, who smiled back at him. "Batgirl, you know what you're doing right?"
"Element of surprise." She looped her arm through his and smiled at him. "Best computer hacker Gotham has ever seen, I'm sure I can handle anything Jump throws at me." She nudged him playfully.
"Raven?"
She lifted her head up from looking at the table. Pulling her hood down she bit her lip slightly before gripping the hand of Beast Boy who was standing beside her. "Let's go get our Star back."
There was a sense of confidence that filled the room. Robin smiled at Raven's words. There was a warmth that spread through him as his friends all stood together. Yes. Let's go get our Star back. "No time like the present. We've all double checked we've got what we need?" They all nodded, murmuring their yes'. "Alright. Then it's time we bring Starfire to us. Jericho?"
Jericho moved over to sit on one of the cots, Robin following behind him before he turned back to look at his team. "Good luck guys, and please, all of you, stay safe."
XXXXXX
Bruce sat at the computer in his cave, dressed in his suit having just got in from a board meeting for Wayne Enterprises. When he had arrived back at Wayne Manor two days prior, he had found Alfred in the batcave, trying desperately to get the computer's communications back up and running. He knew from the cameras that Master Jason had been taken by Miss Starfire, but was unable to contact Master Bruce to inform him of what happened. As it was, Bruce spent a little while explaining that Jason was going to be alright because Dick was going to rescue him. When Alfred asked if Master Dick was going to be alright, Bruce responded with an offhanded answer that 'he will be, because he promised me he would be'.
Alfred and Bruce then spent the next twelve hours trying to figure out how Slade had managed to cut the communications down at the Batcave. They found a virus that had been planted into it, cutting off the communications. How it got in there Bruce didn't know, but he was fairly confident now that the virus was gone and that another one wouldn't be as easily planted and hidden. His current call to the watchtower - which had been mostly repaired - proved that the link to the watchtower, at the very least, was working properly.
Superman's broad shoulders filled the screen, his face scrunched up in doubt. "Are you sure about this Bruce?"
"Almost one hundred percent. Batgirl's gone awol on me and there's only a handful of reasons she would do that. I asked her father where she was and he told me she had gone out of town to visit friends. Batgirl doesn't have any friends who live out of town besides Dick."
"Alright." Superman looked hesitant but didn't comment further on the matter they had been discussing. "When do you need it?"
"As soon as possible. I don't know what they're planning, or what they've been doing for the last two days, but I can't see either side wanting to waste time. The Titans have gone dark, it's only so long before Slade either finds them, or gets impatient enough to send Starfire on a rampage." Bruce sat back in his chair. "We can't help them now, but if they can beat Slade, then we have no reason to hold our side of the bargain. I'd be helping them recover, not helping them against him."
"Alright Bruce, I see your point. I'll get it sent to you today. If at any point you need help with anything just give me a call."
"Actually, there is one other thing I need you to do for me." Bruce sat forward again, typing something into his computer, as Superman cocked his head. "I need you to contact someone for me, I'm sending you the details now with a message I want relayed to them. If you don't mind."
Superman read over the details before sending Bruce a soft expression. "That's very thoughtful of you. Do you think it will have any affect?"
Bruce shrugged. "I'm not sure, but it can't hurt to have him here in any case."
"I'll send a transmission straight away. If he agrees to come, I'll set him up here until you're ready for him."
"Thank you. Bruce out." The screen went black and Bruce sat back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. If Batgirl had gone to Jump, it meant that Dick had probably contacted her. Which means that the Titans were probably hiding out in the safehouse that was set up in Jump City for Robin if he ever needed it. Bruce knew where it was, but he wasn't going to go just yet. The Titans could be put at risk if Slade got wind that Batman was in town. It was clever of Dick though to call in Batgirl, if that's what he'd done, as she wasn't a Titan or a member of the League.
"Sir," Alfred arrived beside him, placing a coffee cup down on his desk. "The damage in Master Jason's room has been repaired. Should I inform the decorators that they may proceed?"
Bruce picked up his cup. "Sure. Could you also see to it that the medical supplies are all fully stocked, please? I have a feeling we're going to need them."
"Of course sir. May I ask, what exactly do you plan on doing once you get her here?"
"Anything I can to help her."
With a nod, Alfred turned to go, leaving Bruce to his thoughts.
XXXXXX
The camera feed from Starfire's uniform, as well as several surveillance cameras that had been hacked, showed across Slade's monitor. She'd landed in the street outside the pizza place the Titans frequented. Slade chose that place ironically. It was, after all, the place that the Titan's had faced Starfire the last time Slade had gained control of her. It was also the place Starfire and the Titans first met. Irony indeed. How fitting that the place the Titan's met would be the place they fought their last fight.
A few people had spotted her, murmurs started up around her as people took note that they hadn't seen her in awhile. A few voices could be picked out on the cameras talking about the green light they saw in Titan's Tower a few days prior, after the tower had gone dark. One guy tried to approach her, but as he did she lit up her eyes and he backed away slowly. Slade smiled beneath his mask as a crowd was gathering, trying to figure out what was going on. They wouldn't have to wait long for their answers. The crowd gathering would be enough to alert the Titans to Starfire's presence. After thirty minutes, if the Titans didn't show, Starfire was to create a small disturbance and force them out of hiding.
It wasn't long at all though, less time than Slade had anticipated, for Robin to appear out in the open. He spotted Raven and Bumblebee ushering the crowd back, as Robin tentatively walked out into the street standing opposite Starfire.
"Don't do anything just yet. I want to see what he's going to do." Slade was calm, his voice level as he watched.
Raven and Bumblebee took a good few minutes to disperse the crowd that had gathered to a suitable distance. They would have liked to have gotten rid of them completely, but people were stubborn at the best of times, never mind when something was going on with the Titans. Slade noticed, with annoyance, that the two males on Robin's team, as well as Kid Flash, hadn't yet appeared on his feeds. However, Robin was here, which was better than nothing.
Robin turned his head to see how Raven and Bumblebee were getting on. They'd approached behind him but kept a relative distance. Turning back towards Starfire, Robin held his hands up in front of him. "Starfire." His voice came out strong, but concerned. Starfire didn't react. "I don't want to hurt you. I just want to help." Again, she didn't react. He let out a sigh through his nose. "Star… remember, as long as we're together, we'll be okay." He smiled at her, a genuine smile, but it quickly turned to a frown as he realised there was nothing from her.
Slade smiled beneath his mask. It was touching really. Robin was trying to get Starfire to remember him. Using words that obviously meant something to them. However, Slade knew it would fail. There would be no big reunions today. "Bring him to me."
Starfire's reaction to Slade's words in her ear was instantaneous. He almost didn't have time to react as she lit up and threw a barrage of starbolts his way. As Robin leapt away, Starfire turned her attention to Raven and Bumblebee, who apparently weren't as well prepared for her as Robin had been. A starbolt hit each of them, knocking them onto their backs. Starfire, having faced Raven before, went for her first. She flew at Raven, pinning her to the ground, eyes blazing. Raven lit up her own eyes, but Starfire destroyed the car and the phone box that Raven had tried to throw at her easily before bringing her elbow harshly into Ravens temple. The blow made her dizzy enough that she dropped her head back to the ground, groaning at the pain that exploded in her head. Raven felt the light weight of the inhibitor bracelet on her wrist for a split second before Starfire's own weight rocketed off of her.
In the next breath, Raven was dragged to her feet and held tight by a robot that had so far gone unseen. All she could do now was watch as Starfire took to the air to deal with Bumblebee who had flown into the sky. Raven looked across the street to Robin who was watching silently. Slade's eyebrow rose as he took note of the fact that Robin wasn't intervening like he normally would. It would seem that the Titans had some sort of plan, though whatever their juvenile plan was, it wouldn't work. Even if it did involve being brought to Slade by Starfire, they couldn't possibly hope to free themselves or their friends. Slade had too much leverage in this to be bothered by Robin's apparent 'plan'.
It did annoy him, just a little however, that whilst Starfire managed to take Bumblebee out of the air, clipping a bracelet on her wrist on the way down, in just a couple of hits, the Titans clearly weren't putting up much of a proper fight. If their plan was to be captured, it meant Starfire's talents were being wasted. He would have liked to have had a good, fair(ish) fight between Starfire and the Titans. Oh well, such is life, he supposed.
After what was the shortest fight Slade had ever seen, Robin stood looking at his two friends who were in the clutches of two robots, unable to use their powers. With what seemed to be an unbridled confidence, Robin turned towards Starfire who was just landing gently on the ground a few feet away from him. Starfire lit her eyes taking a strong step towards him, ready to take on whatever Robin threw at her. His hands twitched at his sides and he seemed to let out a breath he'd been holding. Slade, Jason, and the rest of the Titans who were watching, stared in utter shock however, as Robin put his hands up and got down on his knees in surrender.
Starfire was visibly unsure what to do. Her hands blinked out and she dropped them to her sides as she looked at Robin curiously. She waited patiently for instruction, as she was told Robin would fight her, his surrender had thrown off her instructions and she was lost. Slade noticed this and coming out of his own shock decided to play along with Robin's game.
"Approach cautiously. I don't think he's going to try anything, but just in case he does, be ready."
Starfire took a few slow steps forward until she stood before Robin who was looking up at her. She leaned forward, grabbing him by the collar and lifted him up with one hand, while removing his belt with the other. He didn't struggle, or try to fight her in any way, he just hung in her grip, seemingly accepting his fate. The crowd that had gathered watched in silence as Starfire lit her eyes. Robin winced, apparently anticipating a possible blow from her eye beams. Instead, Starfire bent at the knees slightly before shooting into the sky, disappearing in a trail of green light, taking Robin with her. As the crowd looked back down towards where Raven and Bumblebee had been held by the robots, they found all four figures to have gone as well. The question that seemed to drift through the crowd was a quiet murmur asking what exactly had just happened.
