Last edited chapter, whoo! After this we get some fresh content, hell yeah! I don't even want to talk about how many hours I spent editing… well basically rewriting, but here's hoping it'll be worth it.

Chapter 11~ Deactivated

Kid Flash's POV

I fell back, blade swinging down after me, and braced for impact.

But it never came.

I reopened my eyes as the rest of the backup charged in, focusing on Cinderblock as the bots fell around me, clattering lifeless to the ground. I uncoiled myself from around Beast Boy, letting M'gann take him from me and fret, able to feel her gratitude to me through the mind link.

I stood, watched as the tag team of Aqualad and Zatanna made quick work of the weakened Cinderblock as Blue Beetle and Static Shock acted as support, Beetle moving Impulse out of the way as Static helped an exhausted Rocket. The calvary had arrived in the nick of time.

"Man, what did you guys do? Was someone carrying a mini EMP?" I asked as I raced over to help Guardian from the rubble, Lagoon boy showering us with tiny debris as he shook himself out. Kaldur glanced to me, a frown of confusion tugging his lips.

"They simply collapsed as we arrived. Perhaps Batgirl managed to disable them remotely." He replied, helping Conner stand. "We can ask once we get the wounded out of here." The conscious members of the team nodded, M'gann naturally including everyone to the link, and we split off to help our hurt friends. "Static, see if you can disassemble the remaining bots with your electromagnetism while we gather everyone."

It didn't take long, Megan and Jamie heading off ahead with Gar and Bart as the rest of us paired off to try and get everyone out of the tunnel; Conner and I moved to help Cassie and Tim as Zatanna and Mal helped their partners by Rocket's shattered bubble.

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked, helping Cassie to her feet, supporting her as she swayed and nearly fell. She groaned, setting a hand against her head.

"I'll be fine, how's Robin?" I slung her other arm over my shoulder, glancing over to Conner who was carefully lifting the younger hero into his arms. Tim's skin was pale, the blood smeared across his abdomen and arm a stark difference despite the red of his suit. Someone had tried their hardest to kill the little bird, his breath squeezing through his lungs in an audible wheeze. I met Conner's gaze, a silent communication passing between us. We wouldn't lose another Robin, not today.

"He's going to be alright, we just need to get moving." I assured Cassie, following the rest of the team as we carried our wounded out to the waiting Bio-Ship. Artemis came out to help us get the rest of the injured into the ship, a worried look lingering on Tim in Conner's arms, while M'gann formed the necessary beds in the back end of the ship for those most in need of medical care, Tim and Gar.

The rest of us crowded toward the front end of the ship, patching up the smaller injuries as M'gann set course back to the Hall, Kaldur calling ahead medical assistance. Artemis peeked her head out from the back, locking eyes with me and gestured for me to come over. I finished trying off a bandage of Bart's leg, handing him a granola bar.

"I'll be right back." Bart responded with a nervous smile and nod, devouring the granola as he continued to chat with Jamie. I crept to the back of the ship, slipping through the formed doorway. Only Artemis and Barbara were back here, besides the two unconscious boys, the two of them having the most medical training on the team. Both Tim and Gar seemed to be resting comfortably now, though I could still hear the whistle at each of Tim's inhales.

"Hey, thanks for the save back there BG, not sure what we would've done if you hadn't managed to hack the bots." Her and Artemis exchanged a quick look, setting off my alarm bells.

"That wasn't me."

"Then who?" Artemis's brow furrowed and she slid her fingers between mine.

"Barbara thinks it might have been her mysterious attacker." I reeled slightly in surprise.

"The guy who shot you?! You think he then turned around and saved us?" I struggled to keep my voice low, gesturing toward her arm, held up in a sling.

"He had the chance to kill me, twice. But he didn't. He seemed familiar… and confused." She fiddled with a pouch on her belt. "Not only that but the firewall on those bots was intense, it would've taken me at least another fifteen minutes to get through it, but that hacker would've managed if he was affiliated. And he managed to break into and hack Wayne Enterprises without setting off any alarms, he's not an average criminal."

"So who is he?" She removed her hand from her belt, fingers clenched tightly around a small vial filled with blood. Her gaze was intense as she looked at it.

"I'm not sure but this can confirm if I'm right."

"But you have an idea." Artemis pushed, giving my hand a squeeze. Barbara sighed, sliding the vial back into her pocket, a slight shake to her hand.

"It might be him." She met my eyes. "I think it's Dick."

Renegade's POV

My head snapped to the side with the latest blow as I let the momentum carry me, trying to roll out of his range. Upon my return, with news of my failure and the sudden deactivation of his borrowed attack bots and Cinderblock's capture my mentor had turned his rage on me. I knew better to fight back, resorting to minimizing the damage until his rage petered out.

"Why couldn't you do it?" I moved to get up but his boot swung out, knocking me back again. "You had her in your sights, why didn't you finish it?"

"I don't know." I answered truthfully, cradling my shattered wrist to my chest as I staggered up, barely dodging another savage kick.

"That's not good enough." My vision blackened for a moment with his next hit, blinking stars out of my vision after my head bounced from the wall. "You have to do better, be better." I bowed my head, taking shallow breaths.

"I'm sorry Master, I'll do better." He walked closer and I tensed myself for the next strike. But it never came. I made myself look up, seeing he had removed the mask and concern and remorse had overcome his expression.

"I'm sorry. I know you will." He clapped me on the shoulder and I barely managed to suppress the flinch. "You've come far and thought hard against the Martian's brainwashing, I let that blind me. My rage should be at her, not at you." He removed his hand, turning. "And you still brought me the flashdrive, overall you did well." I couldn't help but feel a glow of pride at the praise, despite the bruises forming from his blows.

"Thank you Master." He nodded.

"Have Wintergreen patch you up, and then get packed. We need to move." Another thing that was my fault, if I hadn't let Batgirl live and hadn't intervened on Robin's behalf- for reasons I still didn't understand- there wouldn't have been a chance of me being followed.

I sighed as my mentor left, wondering if I made the right choice in not revealing my involvement with the failure of the robots. By letting the seller Professor Ivo take the fall I avoided another beating, but it did little to explain why I did it. Still, Slade had enough to deal with without my mental weakness, it was something I would have to handle alone.

We've done it! One 7 year old fic fully rewritten and edited done! That means after this I'm in all new waters *insert mild panic*. Don't worry though, I've actually jotted down some loose plot points and directions on where I want to go next which is a ~~new~~ exciting feeling :). If you got this far, esp if you read the original, please consider dropping some feedback and letting me know what you think. Thanks for reading!~

~Fate