Dawn had approached now...and the more the sun rose to illuminate Titans Tower, the more obvious the previous nights battle scars had become. The island on which the tower stood was a flaming wreck, along with the building itself. Holes covered the main structure, while steel beams jutted out from sections of the building that were blown away.
The robot fell back onto the couch, or what was left of it, smoke already rising from the big hole in its head.
Robin had dispatched this last one with considerable strain, and the night's continuous fighting had done much to drain him of his energy. He had always pulled all-nighters, investigating crime, but never like this. He leaned down on his Bo Staff for support, while the rest of the team recuperated in the medical room.
Terra was having nightmares again, with each successive few hours. She had raked the building's foundation, screaming even more at some unseen foe in her sleep. The only one who had managed to stay awake the whole time was Beast Boy, while the other titans stood on guard, exhausted. Even Silkie, who had done more of his share, was immobilized under a pile of Robots, his stomach giving him little mercy as he tried to sleep.
"Aw man...and I thought pulling all nighters with Beast Boy on the Gamestation was tiring." Cyborg gave a yawn, then a concerned check on his battery pack. "I'm almost out of juice, any more fighting and I'm going to go offline." He hit the wall in frustration. They had destroyed so many robots, but more came. The lounge alone was littered with so many of their bodies that it was possible to walk across it without touching the floor.
"Robin....I... feel weak." Starfire leaned against Robin now, almost falling into her arms. She had never exerted so much of her powers in one day, let alone a full night. She was exhausted, and needed rest. The battle with Overload and then this, was sending her to her limit.
"It's ok Star, you can rest, I'll handle the next wave." Robin carefully placed Starfire on one of the beds, next to Terra. He reached into his belt and took out his spherical bomb now, the one that could annihilate a good chunk of the enemy should they come again, if only he had space....
"Raven...are you... alright?" Robin turned around, and saw that she was standing in the corner, facing the wall.
"I..am alright Robin. It's just that. I have been able to find the time to meditate during this time. I don't know if I can go on." Her voice was weaker now, the considerable strain on her was showing through the bags under her eyes.
"What have I done...." Beast Boy was lamenting still, clasping onto the hands of a still unconscious Terra as she lay on the bed. Her face was still so beautiful even after all the pain that Slade had given to her, and he could not help but notice the innocence in her face. It was all his fault...
Robin gave Beast Boy a stern look, "If you want to help Terra Beast Boy, you can start by helping us."
Robin was being a hardass again, but this time, Beast Boy could not help but think he deserved it.
"I...don't know what I should do."
"You can start by moving her to another location." Raven replied seriously as she approached Beast Boy.
"No! We can't!" Beast Boy shouted. "If we take her out, Slade will get her."
"We can't protect her, if she keeps us up all night, Slade's robots don't need to eat, drink or sleep. We can't keep this up forever."
"There has to be a better way." Beast boy replied with a renewed optimism.
Raven closed her eyes now, and she opened them immediately, revealing a dangerous red glare. Her voice began sounding more demonic now. Objects around the room began flying around now, and the ground began rumbling, only this time, it wasn't Terra.
"LOOK! It is either her or us! If she stays anymore, she'll destroy us! If you were so stupid we'd-"She put her hand on her mouth now, eyes wide open in shock. The terrifying red glare was gone now...
She instantly bowed her head in regret. "Beast Boy... I didn't mean....It's just I need meditation to keep my powers in check."
"No...You're right." Beast boy closed his eyes now, his thoughts resolved. "I'm sorry."
"Why did you do such a thing Beast Boy?" Starfire asked while she was lying down.
"I don't know....Slade... he told me that he found a way, and that you guys had given up on her. I guess I missed Terra so much I didn't know what to say to him when he offered to free her. Besides, he threatened to hurt her."
"B, we've been trying all the time, never gave up, never did." Cyborg replied now, talking as he rerouted some of his internal power cells to his drained weapons systems.
"And no one's worked harder than Raven, she stayed up almost every night looking for a spell in her books even after you gave up there." Starfire interjected.
Beast Boy gave an astonished look to Raven. "Raven...why?"
Raven, still ashamed by her sudden demonic outburst, did not even turn around as she replied. "Because that is what friends are for Beast Boy, besides, you had always been there to help me, I just...wanted to return the favour."
"It wasn't your fault Beast Boy, if Slade found a way before we did, he probably would have freed her anyway, and used her against us just like now." Robin replied helpfully.
Beast Boy lifted his head now, and stood up, a renewed energy and determination blazed in his eyes. "No, I'm the one who started this, and I'm the one who should put an end to this."
Robin, the only other titan that did not seem to be affected by the fatigue, gave a smile. "Good to see that you're up to the game Beast Boy. I could sure use your help."
Beast Boy gave an affirming nod.
"Cyborg...keep watch over Raven and Starfire.. they need rest."
The android gave a cordial salute. "Don't worry about them, Ole Cy's got it covered."
Robin gave an assuring grin, then went with Beast boy to the outer doors of the control room.
The alarms blared again, and the ominous sounds of marching were heard from the lower stories of the tower. The door jolted now, a result of hundreds of robots on the other side trying to claw and pound their way in.
"Well...looks like its up to us now." Robin said seriously, retracting his trusty Bo staff from his belt.
"Do you...still trust me?" Beast Boy asked, slightly astonished that the whole betrayal thing wasn't taken too personally by Robin.
Robin shook his head. "I've seen too many of Slade's tricks, heck he did the same thing to me. I know what it feels like...to have no choice, to be manipulated into feeling helpless." He offered consolingly. "Besides Beast Boy, you'll always be a member of this team. And now, we've got some work to do. Here." He tossed Beast Boy one of his bo staffs.
"Dude, I don't know how to use this." Beast Boy said, cringing as more explosions rocked the door, the robots were coming closer.
"Then you better learn fast. Let's go!" He slammed the door lock now, and the passageway opened, revealing the cold faces of several dozen robots.
The two titans began with an attack, charging the Robots in a full frontal assault; the wave of enemies commenced their own charge.
Robin was the first to strike, digging his bo staff into the ground in front of him and performing a pole vaulting kick which sent one of the robots flying backwards into its counterparts. Beast Boy, fumbling with the Bo staff, managed to trip one of the robots in a clumsy swipe, while impaling the head of another as he tried to swing it at another enemy.
"Robin Catch!" Beast Boy, giving up on the staff, tossed it to Robin, who skillfully twirled the two weapons in his hands, swiping and lunging at the Robots who attempted to overpower him.
Beast Boy, free from that clumsy instrument, transformed into a velociraptor and quickly tore the head off an android with his teeth. While another was impaled against the wall when he charged it in his rhino form.
More robots came into the room, armed with lasers, and Beast Boy quickly transformed into a falcon, swerving left and right near the ceiling to avoid their blasts. They had fought their way into the lounge now, and the tall rooms gave Beast Boy plenty of open space to manuver.
The displays of aerial aerobics however, ended when Beast Boy turned into a T-rex just as he was above a group of ten robots, with a resounding smash the group of robots were flattened into the floor, throwing up huge clouds of dust and rubble as they exploded in his wake.
Beast boy went back to human form now, and saw that over a dozen more robots were surrounding him, each one leveling their lasers and charging for the kill.
He braced himself for the attack, transforming into an ankylosaur (dinosaur with bone tail and armour).
However, no attack came, in one swift action, a bird-a-rang flew in a great circle, decapitating each Robot as it passed them in succession. The bird-a-rang cut through the air quickly, and Robin caught it just as he walked up to Beast Boy, the twenty or so Robots had their heads fall off soon after, collapsing onto the ground.
"I think we're making progress. The waves are getting shorter." Robin commented, two bo staffs still in his hands.
More explosions came from down the hall now, back from where they started, the Robots were attacking the control room again.
"Aw man, you had to say something didn't ya?" Beast Boy groaned, then transformed into a cheetah and ran with Robin back into the dark battle scarred halls.
They had done it.
Just barely however, even Robin was feeling the strains of the constant fighting that had started since early last night. He stood at the door now, catching his breath while thinking of a way to end this vicious cycle.
Terra had caused more earthquakes during this time, and the whole building shook violently as windows shattered, equipment fell over, and holes began emerging from the ceiling. It this kept going on, there would be no tower to defend.
Upon hearing more explosions coming from outside, Robin opened the door, and Beast Boy hurriedly took a diving jump through the opening, just in time to avoid the barrage of laser fired that blazed on behind him.
"We can't keep this up for long." Cyborg stood up now, fully armed and ready for the next round, his repairs were already completed, but he was afraid his weapons systems could give out any minute now from the constant fighting.
"No." Robin replied, "that's why we're going to end this now. But we are going to have to do it together. Are you sure you are ready?"
"Ready to kick some Robot butt." Cyborg said reassuringly.
"I have recuperated somewhat Robin, I believe I am ready." Starfire, slightly recovered, got out of bed and prepared for the next fight.
"Raven?" Beast Boy asked with concern.
She had not meditated for almost two days now, and the struggle to keep control between her and her demon side was already showing from the strain on her face. But she nodded anyways.
"I'll be fine."
Robin gave an uneasy look at Raven, but nodded in acknowledgment. He then began.
"Ok titans, I have a plan, but we have to reach my lab in the basement. I know how we can stop Slade's army."
"That won't be easy," Cyborg replied. "Whole building is probably still swarming with Slade bots."
Robin nodded. "That is why we all have to go."
"But what about Terra?" Beast boy asked apprehensively, astonished at the notion that they were going to leave her alone.
"Slade's after us remember? Besides, he wouldn't do anything to Terra, not when she's causing all that trouble for us." Robin safely concluded. "You guys in?"
The titans all agreed, and Beast Boy reluctantly joined in, giving an affirming nod.
"Don't worry B, ill place this area under heavy security lockdown, not even a fly can get in." Cyborg said reassuringly.
Robin, satisfied that the team was ready, began. "Alright then, we got no time to waste, every second we spend here is a second gone to Slade, let's move out!"
And so they went off, to the lower levels of the tower.
The five titans wandered the darkened halls cautiously now, each step they took was littered with the smoking remains of dozens of Robots, and it was impossible not to find a smoking crater or hole in every wall they passed. The tower would need some serious renovation when this was over...if this would ever be over.
Starfire and Cyborg led the way, star used her powers as a guiding beacon of light for the group while Cyborg had his shoulder lights on. His sonic cannon aimed down the hall, ready to attack anything that might move.
There was nothing, and the team went deeper into the tower basement, pass the crates in the underground storage to a location that many did not visit. Robin's secret workshop and armoury. They eventually entered a hollow chamber, dominated by a set of large double steel doors that led to the lab, and Robin's secret weapon.
The room was dark, and Robin felt through the walls now, looking for the control panel to turn on the lights. The rest of the team stood by; there was something peculiar about the room that made them edgy.
The lights went on now, lighting the room as bright as day. But it was not Robin who did it.
The titans watched in surprise as dozens of heavy androids with giant laser cannon arms stood around the titans, they were standing in neat lines, of two ranks deep, each one surrounding a side of the room. It was obvious that they were expected.
"Welcome Titans, I was wondering how long it would take you to arrive." Slade, for the first time now, stepped forward, revealing himself to the Titans.
"So...you've been here all the time." Robin said icily, taking out his bo staff while the rest of the titans prepared to attack the robots.
"I must congratulate you Titans, I never expected you to destroy so much of my androids. So I decided to accompany this next wave myself, to see whether or not you are up to the challenge." Slade talked with an amused voice, as if this was all a game to him.
"You'll pay for what you did to Terra." Starfire shouted out angrily.
Slade merely brushed that threat aside. "Please little girl, you are in no position to be threatening me. You barely have enough strength to stay afloat, let alone represent a threat to me."
"Enough talk, Titans go!" Robin threw a smoke bomb now obscuring the room in a thick cloud of gray fog. The androids around them immediately began firing into the smoke, hoping to destroy the Titans before they had a chance to move.
The team was faster however, and soon explosions racked the side of the walls. Starbolts flew here and there, blasting several droids into eternity. Raven meanwhile, ripped a steel beam from the wall and managed to impale three robots in rapid succession, before they exploded.
Robin ran straight at Slade, he did not feel tired now, didn't even wounds he had received from last nights fight. He was driven, driven by a rage that he had never truly suppressed. It was time to settle the rivalry now, the rivalry that had gone on for as long as he could remember. Even after Terra supposedly killed the villain, Robin's fight with Slade never ended, their rivalry never died. For Robin, it would never truly end until he was the one who would finish this madman off for good.
Robin ran and punched at the obscure shadow in the smoke, but stumbled forward as his fist punched through thin air.
With horrific realization, Robin fell back as he was kicked right in the stomach, his bo staff falling harmlessly onto the floor.
Slade picked up the Bo staff, did not even speak as he charged Robin with a barrage of blows, each one recurring faster and faster. Robin retreated before his attacker's swings, blocking, swerving and avoiding. Deciding that he had enough, he held his ground, trying his best to block the each of Slade's swings. Then Robin skillfully sidestepped, avoiding the upper end of the staff as Slade lunged it upwards at Robin's neck.
The two assailants backed away now, circling as they glared into each others eyes.
"Perhaps you haven't gotten that sloppy after all Robin, I am glad, it makes things...much more interesting." He swung the bo staff at Robin's feet, tripping him sideways. Robin however, quickly pushed down on the ground with his right arm, regaining his balance, while giving Slade a foot in the face. The villain arched back slightly, recovering from the blow. The bo staff flying wildly into the air as he backed away.
"Maybe you're the one who's getting sloppy Slade." Robin grinned, then caught the staff in midair with one hand, spinning it skillfully as he assumed his combat stance.
Slade, slightly amused, calmly wiped a small spatter of blood from his mask. Around the two combatants, the Titans were almost evenly matched against Slade's best Robot commandos. Raven performed a rippling wave spell which sliced through a pack of androids like a hot knife through butter, while Cyborg punched another one through the wall.
"I have looked forward to this battle for a long time Robin. My former apprentice." Slade took out his own bo staff now, and he casually walked toward Robin, holding it in only one hand, Robin stood ready.
"I must say though, you did a very brave thing. Refusing my offer, showing me where your true loyalties lie, it was a very brave act. I respect that, but I cannot tolerate it. If you are not with me, you are against me, and you will regret ever going against me." He gave Robin a menacing stare, then attacked, swinging the Bo staff with such ferocity that Robin felt his body shudder when he blocked the blows. Slade, taking advantage of this, punched robin in the face with his free hand, sending the boy wonder flying across the room.
Robin grunted now, and after recovering his stance, he assailed Slade with everything he had. Slade calmly parried each attack, matching Robin blow for blow. The Boy wonder soon lost his momentum, and Slade was once again gaining ground in the fight.
Robin began using only one hand with his Bo staff now. Where he couldn't make up for Slade's strength, he was at least Slightly faster. He jumped back, throwing up a trail of dust behind him, obscuring Slade from the fact that he just took out one of his sharpened Bird-a-rangs.
Robin swiped with his bird-a-rang now, and Slade dodged the blade by mere inches, throwing up sparks as the bird-a-rang cut a deep scar in his mask.
Slade, surprised that he had been caught like that, felt the jagged scratch on his mask.
"You're going to pay for that." He gave a fast kick, and Robin once again flew back against the wall.
"Robin!" Starfire cried out as she quickly flew to his assistance. The rest of the Titans were there now, and Slade looked around the room in surprise as he noticed that his Robot escort was destroyed now, its smoking remains littering the room.
"It's over Slade!" Beast Boy said fiercely. "You can't take all of us on."
"Oh really? In any case, you may have a point. Five against one is not the best of odds, perhaps I should bring in an old friend." He took out a device from his belt now, and pressed one of its buttons.
The entire room shook wildly now, and it seemed as if the Tower, already on its last legs, was collapsing outright. The Titans looked up in horror, and saw a hole break open from the ceiling, clouding the room in more dust and obscure rubble. A figure approached now, floating down onto the battlefield, and Beast Boy could hardly accredit his eyes.
"Terra?" It was her, but something did not seem right. Her eyes were cold, lifeless, there was no expression on her face. They should not have left her alone.
"Emotion was the one thing that got in her way when she was my apprentice. Take that away...and you have the perfect weapon. No remorse. No mercy. And to make things more interesting..." Slade snapped his fingers now, and one entire section of the wall collapsed, revealing one last host of Androids, this one bigger than all of the other waves.
"There, now I think the odds are a bit evened. Titans, meet my team."
There was no need to introductions, the two sides immediately clashed. Terra went for Beast Boy, while cyborg, raven and starfire took care of the robots. Slade continued his private duel with Robin.
"Terra! Stop! This isn't you."
"You know nothing about me." She replied emotionlessly. Her eyes lit up now, and soon jagged spikes of rocks began sprouting from the floor, Beast Boy skillfully rushed Terra, all the while dodging the obstacles she threw up in his path.
Cyborg fired his plasma cannon into the crowd, managing to carve a path straight through them. He tried to exploit it, but then he felt his arm weakening...His power was drained. No.. not now!
He grunted as the Androids counter attacked, sending him reeling back into the wall with a wall of laser fire.
Starfire was having just as much trouble trying to keep focused. Her starbolts were flying wildly now. She was losing her concentration, hours of continuous fighting were beginning to take a toll on her mind and body. She could not fly anymore, instead settled for throwing as many starbolts into the crowd of Robots as she could. She hardly missed however, as they were all bunched up. Cyborg, his weapons gone, ran up and did it the old fashioned way. Punching his way through the crowd, continuing on even though twenty Robots tried to drag him down, piling over him.
Raven had lost control now, and her eyes flared red as the demonic side of her consciousness took over. She snarled with pure rage as she began growing to impossible heights. A tornado of swirling energy surrounding her. Thick black tendrils began shooting from underneath her cloak now, tearing Slade Bots in half while dragging others into the darkness that was shrouded her. The Slade bots frantically tried to break free, digging their hands into the concrete floor as they were dragged into the unknown.
"Raven! Stop!" Starfire, the last of her energies gone, cried out weakly, they were surrounded by more of Slade's androids now.
Raven gasped, opening her eyes wide in shock, they were back to normal. Before she could react however, a giant boulder fell from the ceiling, knocking her unconscious. She fell now, saved from death by beast boy, who caught her by the cape as a tiger.
He settled her down next to the door, and charged through the other Slade bots as a Rhino, freeing Cyborg and Star from the Robot's grasps. Without thinking, the two titans quickly ran over to defend Raven.
Terra however, was relentless, she conjured up more spikes now, throwing boulders and detaching pieces of the wall and sending them right at Beast Boy. He was in a dilemma now, he couldn't hurt her...this wasn't her fault, only his...
Then it flashed through his mind.
"You got to stop me Beast Boy...I don't want to fight anymore."
With a great Roar, Beast boy charged, smashing through the stones as a triceratops and avoiding the spikes as a Falcon. He flew up to Terra's platform now, and she threw up a rock barrier, anticipating the attack.
"I'm sorry Terra."
He transformed into a gorilla now, smashing through the rock wall and landing a hard punch onto Terra. She grunted as she fell back, hitting her head against one of the steel panels in the room. She was knocked out.
Beast Boy gently set her aside now, protected under one of the steel panels, away from the battle. He quickly checked her for any bleeding, and to his relief, found none.
Robin was losing his duel with Slade now, as the masked man caught Robin's leg, picked him up and threw him onto the ground in the center of the room. Beast Boy and the rest of the Titans instinctively ran to back their leader up, and Raven, recovering from her temporary loss of control, floated above the group, hands charged and ready to fight.
Slade merely laughed as more Robots poured into the room, there must have been over two hundred of them now, and they marched ominously, their footsteps echoing through the hallways of the chamber.
"Well now Titans, it seems that you are at the end of your limit. A pity, I had expected this to last much longer." The Robots completed their encirclement now, and the exhausted Titans were still catching their breath as every Robot leveled their laser cannons, ready to blast the team into oblivion.
"Any last words?" Slade said with relish.
The room was silent now, and the Titans watched anxiously as each Robot aimed a cannon right at them. It looked like it was all over now. They were at the end of their endurance, they were outnumbered, and they had no hope of defeating the odds set against them.
Then to the Slade's surprise, Robin gave a confident smirk.
"You aren't the only one who can set a trap, Slade. You just fell into one."
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I apologize if you guys wanted more 'reaction' ;) but i'm writing this as if it were an episode, not a novel / but i hope you guys still like it. Theres two more updates before this fic ends.