Enhancements.
"This is it you all. The last floor before we get to Robin. Be on your guard. It's going to be the hardest floor to conquer. So be on your guard." Cyborg said as they made their way down the spiraling staircase.
"Lets hurry dudes. Four hours have passed already. We only have one hour left before Robin and Dark Robin die." Beast Boy said concerned. He looked over his shoulder at Dark Robin. He was panting hard and sweating. He had to be in a lot of pain but he wouldn't say a word.
"Here's the door. Lets go. I mean there's no time like the present." Raven told the others. Grasping the doorknob she twisted it opened and pushed it forward.
The hall way was dark and there was only a single light shining. The entire corridor seemed dead. The Titans entered cautiously. They had no way of knowing what kinds of traps were in here.
"Starfire give us some light will you?" Dark Robin gasped. He barely had the strength to stand. He couldn't give up though. One way or another he would save his lighter side.
Starfire lit up one hand and the Titans proceed down the corridor. Glancing around they found the walls were completely blank. "This place is most dreadful. I feel like I am in a Centurion Prison." Starfire commented.
Suddenly there was whirring sound. The Titans leaped apart as walls shot up from the floor. Soon the five friends were separated by six inches of titanium.
"Hey what's the deal? Guys can you hear me? Hello anyone there?" Beast Boy shouted into his communicator. All he got was a bunch of static.
"Great just great. Well I guess I should bust out of here." Beast Boy thought. He changed into a rhino and charged the wall. He didn't even make a dent and all he got for it was a huge headache.
"Man that was not helpful." Suddenly the walls changed and suddenly Beast Boy was in a realistic virtual environment. "What in the world. Mom! Dad!"
Beast Boy ran over to his parents. He was confused. They had died two years ago in the Congo after getting infected with a jungle virus. "Garfield what have you done? How could you forget us?" His parents asked. They looked like living corpses.
"What do you mean? I tried to save you but I couldn't. The virus was too powerful. Mom Dad stop your hurting me. Help!" Beast Boy shouted in fear as his parents began ripping him apart.
Meanwhile the other Titans were all experiencing similar simulations. Raven was back in Azerath being hunted down by her father Trigun. Cyborg was screaming as he lost more and more of his humanity to robotic parts. Starfire was crying because she had lost her friends and Robin. Dark Robin was rolling around in a heap as the Titans attacked him.
On the floor below Gizmo, Mammoth, and Jinx watched on close circuit TV as the Titans fell apart. The panic rooms were designed to make a person worst fear come true only a million times worst.
"Those snot nose geek faces will never get out of there. No one has ever survived a panic room. They'll be whimpering puppy dogs by the time were done with them." Gizmo gloated.
"Yeah this is better then cable. I can't wait to see who breaks first. I bet you fifty dollars its Beast Boy." Mammoth said flashing his teeth.
"I think it will be robo wimp and I accept your bet." Gizmo said shaking his hand.
Jinx watched the monitors sadly. Her eyes were on Cyborg. He was in pain. As much as she hated the Titans she couldn't let anything happen to him. But what could she do?
Brother Blood was unaware of what was going on in the real world. He was to busy trying to rib Robin apart. They had entered the final repressed memory.
"Ready for the grand finale my young friend?" Brother Blood asked. His face was one of someone with nothing to lose.
"Shut the hell up you creep! I'm not your friend. And after what I've just experienced nothing could be worse." Robin muttered.
The scene was the indoor dojo at Wayne Manor. Dick was fighting Bruce while Alfred watched from the sidelines. A quick glance at the calendar told Robin they were in the sixth month since his parents died.
"That's it you're getting it. Kick harder and oof. You win!" Bruce said as he landed on the floor.
"I can't believe I beat you. I guess all my training with Slade has paid off. Well I got get ready. Slade coming to take me on a farewell outing. Were going to the amusement park." Dick said as he walked over to Alfred who handed him his clothes.
"The amusement park? I thought I was going to take you there next weekend." Bruce said in a confused voice.
"You were going to but Slade decided to go there for our final get together. He's leaving for Jump City the day after tomorrow and he's been such a good role model for me I didn't have the heart to tell him you were taking me next week. Your not mad at me are you?" Dick asked
"No I could never be mad at you Dick. I just wish I had been as much as father figure for you as Slade has."
"No Bruce don't say that! I can't believe this happened." Robin moaned. Brother Blood grinned obvisoly enjoying Robin's discomfort.
"Bruce let me tell you something. Slade is good role model and all but he can't compare to my Dad. If I had to choose someone to be my father after my real one I choose you. I love you." Dick said. He went over and hugged Bruce tightly who returned the hug just as tight.
Ten minuets later Dick was in a Rolls Royce and heading out. Bruce watched it leave with a frown on his face. "Something wrong sir?" Alfred asked
"Nothing Alfred. I just have a bad feeling that's all."
In the limo Slade was talking with Dick. "It seems only yesterday we met. I can't believe my time in Gotham City is almost up. I'll miss you when I'm gone."
"I know but there isn't anything that can be done about it. Let me just say you've been a big help to me. Thanks a lot." Dick said kindly.
"Your very much welcome Dick. I hope one day you will return the favor." Slade told him in a mysterious voice.
"Hey wait a moment this isn't the way to the amusement park. Where are we going Uncle Slade?" Dick asked confused. Suddenly Slade hand shot out and grabbed Dick and held him tight. "What are you doing? Stop! You're hurting me!" He screeched.
"Leave him alone!" Robin shouted running at Slade. He wanted to hurt him. He fell right through him. Rubbing his sore arm he looked up and watched in horror as Slade injected his younger self with something. "Nightly nite."
The scene shifted. Robin looked around. He was in some sort of secret lab. There was medical equipment and a surgical table. In one corner there was a huge computer and a huge microscopic. There were test tubes filled with all kinds of meds. What in the world was this place?
Slade entered the room through a hidden door. He was carrying a semi concuess Dick. "Julian get in here!" he shouted.
A woman entered the room from a door on the opposite side. She was wearing a black dress under a white lab coat. Her tag read Dr. Julian Basher. (This is an inside joke. A male Dr. Basher on Star Trek DSNINE was genetically enhanced which is what's about to happen to Robin.) She had short auburn hair and gray eyes. She was about 5'8 and 165 lbs. When she spoke it was with a Chezk Republic accent. "I'm here Slade and you're late. What took you so long?"
"Bruce Wayne wouldn't let him out of his sight. Honestly I never would have believed that Wayne had a soft spot in his heart." Slade said disgustingly
"Well this is the young man that I've heard so much about. Put him on the table. I need to examine him before we began. Do you have his medical records?" Julian asked
Slade handed over some thick files. Julian scanned them over quickly. "Are you actually reading that?" Slade asked impatiently
"Photographic memory remember? Hold your horses I'll be ready to begin shortly. Hmm did you have to sedate him so heavily it's making this examination hard." Julian retorted. She didn't like being rushed.
"Who are you? What are you going to do to me?" Dick asked weakly. He tried to escape but he could barely move. He was afraid. Slade had never done anything like this before. He wished Bruce were here.
"Don't worry your pretty little head my boy. I'm going to make you all better. Better than before. You see I'm Slade's top genetists and psychologist so I'm going to do a little operation." Julian told him as she strapped him down to the table.
"What kind of operation?" Dick asked his voice quivering.
"I'm having Dr. Basher here genetically enhance you by rearranging your DNA and a little brainwashing to make you loyal to me." Slade said.
"What! No! Let me go! Help me someone!" Dick began struggling. But it was no use. Soon he was already for the operation. Julian gave him anthesisa gas and he was out. But part of his mind remained aware of what was going on.
"The procedure will be done in two parts. The first part will be resenquencing the DNA and then after a resting period I'll begin the brainwashing. You can go get ready. I'll be busy for the next four hours." Dr. Basher told Slade.
Slade nodded his head. "I'll be back in a few minuets to check on your progress. Don't disappoint me Julian."
Julian began the procedure. First she took a blood sample. Then making a slide she studied it under her microscope before using her computer to determine what had to be done. Then using sophisticated medical tools she began enhancing the DNA. This was fun to her.
After two hours she was done. It was time to give his body a thirty-minute rest period. Leaning back in her chair she called for Slade. He entered the room wearing his body armor except for the mask. "Are you done with the first step?" Slade asked.
"Yes love I am. You were right in picking him for your apprentice he has the perfect gene structure for this. Look at the monitors and I'll show you what I've done." Julian said sliding over to her computer.
Slade glanced up at the charts on display. Putting a hand on her shoulder he squeezed gently. The two of them were obvious lovers in Robin's eyes. He couldn't believe anyone could love him.
"As you can see on the monitors I've increased his intelligent by ninety percent. Any higher and his brain wouldn't be able to handle the strain. I've also increased his memory abilities. Hand eye coordination is gravely improved. Now for his body systems they've all been designed to function at one hundred and ten percent. Speed, strength, agility, and balance have been perfected. I've designed the perfect human for you. I hope you're satisfied." Julian said turning around and kissing Slade.
"Julian this is more than I could hope for. I knew when I met you that you were special. Anything else I should know my love bird?" Slade asked excitedly.
"Someone gag me because this is sick." Robin said.
"For once I have to agree with you. This is getting to mushy for me." Brother Blood said.
"Like I told you before darling if he woke up right now his body would go into system failure. That's why this procedure is done in two parts. There are three ways to activate the genetic enhancements. I've developed a gas from the chemicals I brought to activate them once he wakes up. However if you wanted to train him a bit you could use this controller to activate them remotely. Keep in mind that controller also can track him down by homing in on the chip I installed at the top part of his spinal cord. The final way is a few months after his sixteenth birthday he will naturally come into them." Dr. Basher said.
"Good. I can't wait to begin training my apprentice. Bruce Wayne was an idiot not to see the potential the boy had. Now will the brainwashing solve his mental condition?" Slade asked
"It won't cure it if that's what you mean but I will be able to repress it. Now we have twenty minutes to kill before I begin part two so you want to get some lunch?" Julian asked.
"Yes I would. I'll go get it. You wait here." Slade said.
Dick was on the table uncounciess. He was crying inside his heart. He wanted to go home. His mind whispered one word. "Bruce."
The scene suddenly changed swiftly. Bruce had become Batman. He was jumping in the Batmobile. "Sir is this really nessacery?" Alfred asked
"Slade has kidnapped Dick Alfred and erased all traces of his existents from the world. Something has to be done. I'm glad I planted that tracker on him. Call Commissioner Gordon. I have to go." Batman said. With that he was off.
"Hang on Dick I'm coming. Computer lock onto signal. Plot the quickest coarse to its location and engage turbo drive." Batman said. The Batmobile took off like a rocket.
Suddenly Robin was thrusted back into the lab. Julian and Slade were ready to begin phase two. A helmet was placed on him. "Once we begin there's no turning back. Here we go. What?" Julian asked. The Batmobile plowed through the wall sending the two of them flying.
"Batman?! How did he find us?" Julian asked. Batman leaped out of the Batmobile and threw a bolo at her tying her up. "Hey!" Batman just glared at her and advanced.
"Well well if it isn't the famous Batman I've heard about. What are you doing here this isn't your kind of business." Slade said.
"I make it my business when there's kidnapping and illegal genetic splicing involved. What have you done with Dick Grayson?" Batman demanded coldly.
"See for yourself." Slade said stepping aside to reveal a very pale and sickly looking Dick. Batman's mouth widened in horror.
"Why Slade why? You were a respectable businessman and military operant. Why do this?" Batman asked confused.
"So your not the worlds greatest detective after all. So I have to spell it out for you." Slade said. He walked around the ruined lab and picked up a piece of debris. Crushing it he began his tale. "For power and wealth of course. I want to dominate the planet. Even during my military stint I was using my knowledge to fund my illegal underground activities. Using my companies I made entire army's to use in my plans. The only thing I didn't have was someone to follow in my footsteps and continue my work after I was gone. That's when I discovered one Dick Grayson. Bruce Wayne's little ward was so very much like me. Both of us are determined, focus, and serious. We even look alike. He could pass for my son. For months now I've been testing him to see if he would make a perfect apprentice and he has passed with flying colors. Now after a few modifications we will both take over the world together." Slade finished laughing evilly.
"That's not going to happen I won't let it." Batman said as he charged Slade. The two of them began to fight furiously. Both were experts in martial arts and Slade kept avoiding Batman's batarangs. "Face it Bats. Dick is mine and if he refuse he'll die because if I can't have him no one will." Slade laughed.
Batman jumped back and took out a batarang. Anger in his voice he said. "You won't win." And through the thing at Slade's face. It got him in the face.
"Ahhhhhh!" He screamed clutching his eye. The batarang had sliced his left out and would leave a definite scar. "Your going to wish you hadn't done that."
"I only wish I done it sooner. Heyah!" Batman slammed his fist on the controller destroying the second way of activating the genes. Kicking Slade into the gas he got rid of the first. Suddenly they could here the police.
"Another day Batman. When we meet again will finish this fight." Slade promised throwing down a smokescreen ball.
Commissioner Gordon entered room followed by half of the Gotham Police department. "What happened here old friend?"
"Slade Wilson kidnapped a boy and had Dr. Basher over their do illegal genetic splicing on him. I've discovered that Slade is a large criminal lord. I doubt you'll be able to find him." Batman told his old friend.
Harvey Bullock walked over and cuffed Dr. Basher. She was laughing. "What's so funny lady your partner ditched you."
"Fools my fiancé didn't abandon me. That was our plan. In case you or that idiot Batman over their showed up my darling Slade would escape. Through me in prison I don't mind. I'll wait for Slade forever. Oh by the way my gene splicing is irreversible. You should also know Batman that Slade will return for the child. Whatever my love wants he gets. And theirs nothing you can do about it." Julian laughed manically. Bullock shoved her towards a waiting unit.
Gordon walked over to the table where Batman was gently lifting Dick into his arms. He was hyperventilating and was feverish. "Man what did she do that kid?" He asked horrified.
"She tampered with something man was never meant to touch. I'll take him where he can get some medical attention then I'll get him home." Batman said leaving the scene. Gordon watched him go in sadness.
"Alfred contact Leslie tell her we need her help now! Also prepare the medical lab. Dick is in a lot of pain."
He arrived at the Batcave where he met Alfred and Leslie. She went to him immediately. "It doesn't look good. His body is going into systems shock. What did you get from her files?" Leslie asked as she admistered some morphine.
"Nothing that's helpful. He was incoherent through out the entire ride. His disorder is going into over drive. I couldn't tell who he was half the time." Batman said. He pounded his fist into the wall. "I should've done a better background check on Slade!"
"You can't blame yourself sir. Les is there anything that can be done for him?" Alfred asked
"Not even regular therapy and meds won't help. The only thing I can do is try a new radical treatment. His mind is starting to repress this incident. However the best thing would be to repress the last six months. I need to replace the memories with something new. Bruce you have something I could use?" Leslie asked
Batman brought out the Robin costume and quickly dressed him. "I was going to make him my partner when he got back from the park. The R stands for Robin. His mother's nickname for him."
Leslie forcefully repressed his memories and she asked Annie to guard his memories until he was able to handle them. The three left him alone. Star appeared beside him. Sighing she whispered. "My poor champion. I know the last six months have been difficult for you but you will do great things one day. Now rest my young Robin." She passed her hand over him protectively. He glowed for a minute then he resumed his sleep. He knew he had been blessed.
"So that's all your memories. What a delightful trip they've been. Well look at the time four hours and thirty minutes. You have one measly half hour to live. Ready to give in? Your friends will never come in time." Brother Blood taunted
Robin gazed around. He was feeling hurt, angry, and betrayed. He'd been lied to, used and had his DNA tampered with. He wanted to cry or scream but he couldn't. But he was never going to give up. "Leave me alone you bastard. My friends will come for me. I would rather die than let you win."
Suddenly both of them woke up. It seemed that something had destroyed the extractor. "What is going on?" Blood yelled furious.
"Something caused a short circuit and fried the controls to the Panics Rooms. Those sniveling snot nose punks are coming!" Gizmo explained. No one glanced at Jinx who was smiling. She had sent out a small hex to destroy the panic rooms.
"Everyone okay?" Cyborg asked
"Yeah I think I'm okay. My mind hurts." BB said.
"Lets go Robin only has thirty minuets." Dark Robin said as he raced towards the final door. The others followed hopeful they would save Robin.