Chapter 3 Challenge
Robin woke up with a start. "What a weird dream. Hey this isn't my room." Robin said outloud. He took the room in.
The room was as large as three main living areas'. The bed he was in was a king sized canopy with silk sheets. The ceiling had a crystal chandelier on it and Persian rugs covered the floor. There were several pieces of furniture in the room including a desk, wardrobe and an armchair. Each was made out of expansive wood.
Blinking he took another look around. The room had everything a sixteen year old could want. There was a computer, sound system, a big wide flat screen plasma TV and a game system. To his right on a nightstand was a phone. Also copies of his personal items were all around the room.
There were three doors One on the left side of the bed the other two on the right. Getting out of bed he opened the door on the left a discovered a humongous bathroom. It was lined with marble and precious stones. There was also a Jacuzzi and shower.
After taking a quick shower he glanced in the full-length mirror. He noticed on his head was some sort of mental halo that had been placed on him. He tried to remove it but he couldn't.
Returning to the room he opened one door, which turned out to be a walk in closet. Since his costume was gone he put on black sweatpants and a red sweatshirt. Opening the last door he exited the room.
The hallway had been richly furnished. There were priceless works of art, tapestries, and expansive tables with huge flower displays on them. Whoever lived here liked to show off their wealth.
Opening door after door in the hallway he discovered all kinds of rooms. A music room, a drawing room, even an entertainment room. Closing the last door he let out a sigh "Where's the exit to this place?"
Suddenly he heard barking. Turning around he saw a small Jack Russell Terrier appear. He had on a gold collar. Robin bent down and petted him. Glancing at the nametag he saw the dog's name was Brutus. "Hey buddy can you show me the exit?" Robin asked.
Brutus barked in response a led Robin down to the dinning room. Opening the doors he looked in and gasped. There sitting at the table were Julian and Slade calmly eating breakfast.
"It's about time you got up. Want some breakfast?" Julian asked sweetly.
"You! You're the doctor who experimented on me. What are you doing here? And Slade how can you be alive?" Robin demanded.
"Robin such manners. Not very becoming of you. Sit down and have breakfast. All will be explained. Please sit I insist." Slade said waving a hand towards the table.
Robin didn't want to obey but found his body obeying Slade's command. "No I won't listen. Stop!" Robin shouted gritting his teeth.
Julian looked at him and said "Obey me now. Sit down and listen. We have much to discuss." Her eyes flashed yellow.
Robin sat down and began to eat. "You have powers? How is that possible and what does that have to do with me?" Robin asked scared.
"First why don't I explain how I'm still alive? Nova the Spirit of Injustice came to me the day before Terra attacked you guys. She gave me this crystal and Julian's to me explaining their powers. Right before the lava got me I used its power to teleport my body here leaving my armor behind." Slade told him.
"Now back to your question. This has everything to do with you my boy. Slade and I met twelve years ago in the Czech Republic. I was a brilliant genetics whose government was to short sighted to allow me to continue my experiments with human genetics." Julian growled angrily. The memory still pained her.
"So I brought her here where my power and wealth allowed her to continue her work. She used herself as a guinea pig becoming a Meta human." Slade inserted.
"I gained telepathy, telekinesis, and physcokinesis. I thought Slade's dream of us ruling the world would come true but then came the big shocker." Julian said sad and happy at the same time.
"A side effect of the process left her barren. She couldn't have kids even with medical help. We had no one to continue after us. Our criminal family would only exist if we adopted." Slade explained.
"That's where you come in. We knew you were the one when Slade met you for the first time. So I enhanced you. During the surgery you lost a lot of blood so I gave you Slade's. He's compatible to you."
"Then Batman came and we had to wait eight years. You forgot everything so it was necessary to retest you. You passed with flying colors. Making you my apprentice was just another test." Slade told him.
"What about Terra? She was your apprentice to." Robin demanded. He didn't like this one bit. Slade's blood inside of him? Disgusting.
"We wanted to see if a girl would work better than a boy. Sadly it didn't work out at all." Slade retorted.
"We have brought you here to be our son. You can go anywhere on the grounds but you can't escape. The halo you're wearing is tuned to the force field that protects this place. Try to leave and you get fried. Remove the halo and a poison will be injected inside of you. Remember if you die all of the crystal carriers of good will be affected. If your wondering how were controlling you were using a little mind control serum I invented a few years back. It's in you blood and your mind. Face it Robin you belong to us." Julian told him laughing.
"Your both sick. This plan won't work. I'll never be your kid." Robin said definitely.
"After our brainwashing is complete you'll be thinking a little differently." Julian said. "Now go to the lab and wait for me." She ordered.
Robin left the two alone. "Do you really have to call the Titans?" Julian asked.
"It may be the only way to get rid of his crystal. Besides I want to inform them of my existents still. Come with me we have a call to make." Slade said removing his mask to kiss her.
"I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you."
Back at the Tower the Titans were worried. They had looked all over the city but no sign of Robin. It was like he just vanished. "Oh what has happened to my betroved?" Starfire asked outloud
As if to answer her question the screen lit up. The Titans gasped in surprise. Slade and Dr. Julian Basher (They didn't know they were married yet) were calling them.
"It can't be! He's alive." Beast Boy said in amazement.
"Good morning Titans. It's nice to see you again. I believe you've heard of my wife here Julian."
"Your wife?" Cyborg said in disbelief.
"Were calling to inform you Titans that we have Robin. You are never going to see him again. So we would like it if you would release your crystal connection to him so we could get on with our lives." Julian asked.
"Never! You are out of your minds if you think we will help you. I demand you return my bethroved to me at once by order of the Empress of Tameran." Starfire said angrily.
While Slade and Julian were laughing Raven was studying them. She noticed the crystals around their necks. She was trying to remember something Star the Spirit of Justice had told them. With the awesome power of the crystal's came responsibilities. As a Crystal Carrier she could do something about this situation. Suddenly the answer came to her.
Right before Slade disconnected the call Raven stood in front of the screen. Removing her hood she said in a grave voice. "Slade! You are a Crystal Carrier. A Representive of the Evil in the world. With that crystal come responsibilities. As a Representive of the Good in the world and a Crystal Carrier I invoke my rites. I invoke the Rite to call you on the Challenge of Fate."