Do NOT watch this program!!! It will liquify your brain!!! Er...I mean...Hello, and yes I know that I am evil...the block...it paralyzed my mind! LOL anyway, the next chapter is at last complete!
kiddette: LOL yes what was Cyborg thinking??? Glad you are liking it.
SOVEREIGN LORD OF CHAOS: Aw... -blushes- thanks :) Yes, how will Slade get stopped? Oh, and the length of the story...I am afraid that it turns out that it is almost over...finally worked out all the kinks. I am very glad that you like it!
chiclet2021: I'm glad I'm doing good with Sir Bat...and yes, poor Raven. Yeah I know he'll come back, but the fact that he left...LOL Robin and I had the same look on our faces, it was pretty funny. LOL yes reinitiation...hmm...wonder if Robin had to go through that when he came back from Slade...
Bobbiann116: Yay! I'm glad you like it! I know he's going home, but just deserting like that! Cheese!
Unicorns-baby: My crystal ball says not for much longer. The Batcave has WAY better technology, it is much more equipped than Titans Tower. Hmm...you shall soon see. I am thinking...very very soon. LOL I think he deserves to! J/K, Robin will probably forgive him...eventually. It will all be over soon. It wouldn't necessarily weaken or get stronger...why that is will be explained later on. LOL this is almost done, but hey we could write one together later, why not?
CloudsHalo: LOL yes...darkness...good, unless of course Slade is lurking in it... -shudder- LOL yes I confess that in this story I have gotten quite attached to Robin, more so than before that is. Causing him pain causes me pain..if that makes any sense...Well you are in luck! I'm glad you like it. Yeah...I think him having issues because his leader asks him to do something intelligent is wacked...he needs to have a heart to heart with his ego and work things out. Now don't get me wrong, I like Cyborg, but deserting the team just was NOT a cool move. Yeah I watched it. Twas funny!
Dark-Angels-Tears: Glad you liked it...and yeah Batty is a good daddy...mostly...just has some rough edges, but hey, who doesn't? I feel for Robin too!!!! :(
Rinagurl13: It will all be over soon. Aw.... -blushes-
Lil' Snippet: Yeah, I hear you. I regret that I haven't been able to develop his character more in this story...it has been basically jam-packed with well...misery. -Blushes furiously- Thanks...I figured that is what just about any parent would think if their kid was having...hallucinations. Yay I got you to read! -does a happy dance-
tinkerbellx2: First off, thanks so much for reviewing my other little stories! No one seems to visit those these days...but yes I really appreciated your comments :) Yup, mind control. He DID leave, told Robin to go jump off a cliff basically ARG! LOL he sang at the very first. Me neither..very confusing. Oh, I see... LOL I'm glad you like it.... -blushes-
raeandrob4eva: LOL yeah the theme song was funny...and people say Robin has an inflated ego! Ok, ok...he's not gross...but Raven should be with Robin dang it! LOL I'm just teasing...Exar is ok.
Saiya Woods: Yeah, I know he'll come back, but he totally blew Robin off, and deserted his team!!! So not right! And, uh, I would watch with or without Cyborg...
Strixvaria: That's a bummer that you missed the new episode...Glad you liked the chapter!
Estel-Elf-Lover: -Blushes furiously-....Thanks :)
nevermoretheraven: Yeah I've seen Divide and Conquer..."Yeah, he's four feet tall and smells like cheap hair gel!" Lmao!
Niki Dee: LOL I knew you would like it...something just told me you would like it... See, the voice was telling him that he was alone, that no one cared, etc...Didn't ever really explain that, did I?
Furubafun24: -Smiles sweetly- I'm glad you like it...reviews like yours make my day! LOL yeah mas and menos are cute...they should totally have subtitles though! The only thing I understood was when Speedy said "not bad" and they said something like "is he crazy? its fantastic!" LOL.
RavenRobin4ever: Yeah, you wouldn't think that Bumblebee would get hypnotized...I guess she could be faking... -shrug- glad you like my story!
Raving-Lunatic: Whoa..... -hides face in happy embarassment- Thanks, I really like writing Raven...I'm glad I'm doing a good job of it. Thanks :)
maroonedpirate11: Yes, how could he??? LOL ok just curious..as long as it's equal...no Batman favoring! LOL I'm just teasing. LOL I can tell (about the sugar high that is).
So anyway.... (robin yells: if you say that again, I won't be responsible for my actions!!! dusty: -giggles-) On with the story!
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Slade studies his interlocked fingers, listening calmly to the weakling's lies and flattery. When his voice had finally stuttered to a halt, Slade slowly turned to face him. "You recall your assignment, Mathews?"
"Sir, I-"
"Answer me", ordered Slade in a venomous hiss.
"Yes, sir." Mathews was sweating profusely, every muscle tensed as though hoping that would somehow save him.
"And did you complete your assignment?" Slade's voice was no more than a whisper, but Mathews cowered as though he had shouted the question.
"But sir-"
Slade lashed out in a lightning strike, fist colliding with the minion's chest and sending him flying inoto a wall. Mathews curled up on the ground, whimpering and mumbling incoherently. Slade walked over to him, crouching down and forcing him to look up. "Did you complete your assignment?"
"N-No", Mathews stammered, trembling in horror.
"I don't think you understand how serious your situation is." Slade stood, reaching into a compartment of his utility belt and withdrawing something that glinted in the dim light of the warehouse. "I do not tolerate failure."
Mathews stared up at the barrel of the gun and the cold face behind it, mouth dry and lungs paralyzed.
"Goodbye, Mathews", droned Slade, his words echoing off the walls and reverberating in the doctor's mind.
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Raven stared at him, her hands cold and clammy, her heart beating painfully in her chest. Robin hadn't acknowledged anyone since the incident. He just stared blankly ahead, sometimes mumbling words that didn't make any sense, sometimes groaning and shifting in pain. This person was not the Robin she had grown used to, the Robin she had come to....be good friends with. She kept asking herself over and over where that Robin had gone...She had a feeling that he was there somewhere, buried under a universe of pain and suffering...With a painful sense of loss, she wondered if he would ever come back.
"I think it's time to go", said Batman gently, resting his hand on her shoulder. She nodded, pulling up her hood and turning to face him. "I'm coming with you."
Batman started to protest, but the eyes shining underneath her hood were determined. He sighed, loaded down with everything that had been happening. "Fine, but I hope you understand that everything you see and hear must-"
"Must be kept secret", Raven finished. "Don't worry, I won't tell on you."
The corners of Batman's mouth twitched upward for a moment, then quickly dropped back down. Amazingly enough, she was starting to grow on him. "I'll hold you to that."
Raven took a small piece of folded paper from her pocket and placed it carefully on the table next to Robin's hospital bed. "This is going to feel a bit strange, but don't worry; I know what I'm doing." With that, she engulfed Robin and Batman in her dark aura, and all three vanished into thin air.
After a short trip to shore, courtesy of Raven, Batman gave her directions to Gotham, where they found the Batmobile. Luckily, it was a short distance from the Batcave. Robin's feet were on Batman's lap and his head was on Raven's: not exactly the most comfortable seating arrangement.
"We're almost there", Batman announced. "Close your eyes and keep them shut until I give you the word."
Raven closed her eyes, but her fingers continued to stroke Robin's forehead absentmindedly. He was asleep now, but he still groaned and winced when they hit a bump or took a sharp turn.
"You can look now."
Raven opened her eyes, and her mouth dropped open in awe. They were in a huge cave, full of the whirring and beeping of countless machines of all kinds. There was a huge super computer, a hospital bed surrounded by all necessary medical equipment, and who knows what else? Raven would never again feel proud of Titans Tower.
Batman was watching her shocked face with a small smile. "It's not much, but it's home."
Raven recovered from her shock and levitated Robin onto the hospital bed she had spotted earier, wondering how many times he had occupied that bed before...the thought was unsettling, and she realized with painful clarity exactly how much she didn't know about the Boy Wonder.
"Turn around", said Batman, appearing at her side. She obeyed, facing away from the bed as Batman went through the lengthy process of hooking Robin up to the various machines. Raven allowed her eyes to wander freely over all the strange equipment filling the huge room. What she saw was a satisfying amount of ways to distract herself from teh tsunami of questions and possible answers that threatened to come crashing down on her. If she didn't think, didn't feel, didn't admit, who was to say that it wasn't all just a dream?
"Done", said Batman, and she slowly turned back to the bed. Raven saw that Robin was awake again, staring blearily around the room.
"No! Why am I here? I'm not supposed to be here!" He looked to be preparing himself for movement.
"Actually, you are exactly where you should be", said Batman, strapping Robin to the bed.
"But...they need me back at the tower! What if Slade-" He flinched involuntarily, and fell silent.
"Oh, yes. Slade doesn't stand a chance!", Batman muttered absently, sticking a needle into Robin's arm and extracting a syringe-full of blood.
"You don't need to...I'm fine...I don't want...", Robin stuttered, an overwhelming confusion making complete thoughts impossible. Batman paid him no mind, merely continued doing whatever the heck he was doing; Robin was caring less and less about what happened or what was said...He bit his lip as pain built in his head...
"Does he need a pain killer?", asked Raven, staring at him in concern.
Batman looked up, instantly serious. "Robin?"
Robin was shaking, biting harder and harder on his lip, a trickle of blood running down his chin. He could feel a scream fighting its way out of his lungs... "My head...What's...Why does it..." All thought stopped as the pain reached such a pitch that he could hold it back no longer...He screamed, so loud he could feel his throat tearing, his ears ringing...
Batman swore, jumping forward and leaning over him. "Come on! Breathe! You can take it, Robin! Just breathe through it!", he instructed, shouting to be heard over his godson's screams.
Pain pulsed through his brain...All he wanted was for it to stop. He didn't care how, he just wanted it all to stop...Through the howling in his mind, he half-heard someone speaking... "Come to me, Robin. Come, Robin..."
"Robin? Robin, can you hear me?" Raven reached out and took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Please no", she thought desperately, asking some unknown being for help. "Not now, not after all he's been through...all we've been through. Don't take him...Don't take him from me..."
Robn squeezed back, holding onto Raven as though she was his link to life itself. He could feel himself slipping... "Come, Robin. I haven't got all day." ...The room was fading out... "Hold on, Robin! Hold on!" ...The pain was leaving him... "No! Robin, stay awake! You have to stay awake!" ...Emptiness... "It's time..."
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Batman cursed as Robin went limp. His heartrate, dangerously fast no more than a minute ago, had dropped far below normal.
"What happened?", demanded Raven. "What's going on?"
Batman was silent because he didn't have the answers to her questions. He sighed, walking over to the supercomputer.
Suddenly, Robin's masked eyes snapped open. Before either could react, he jerked his arms forward, snapping the thick leather restraints like flimsy strings. Robin did the same with the straps on his chest, legs and feet, and in seconds he was out of his bed, the various tubes and wires dangling uselessly from the machines, and racing for the exit.
"Robin! Stop!", Batman yelled, racing after him. He shouldn't even be able to stand, much less run..."Something must be controlling him", he thought, only becoming more and more anxious. "Slade is behind this, he must have given him something..."
"Robin!" Raven reached out and grabbed his arm, too stunned to use her powers. With lightning speed, Robin whirled around and slammed his fist into her face, sending her flying straight into Batman. A few seconds later, they were on their feet, Batman slightly dazed and Raven sporting a bloody nose, but there was no sign of Boy Wonder.
Batman swore under his breath for the third time in ten minutes. He ran to the Batmobile, vaulting over the door and calling to Raven, who was still shocked from the punch, "Get in."
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Beast Boy made his way past the doors of the training room, evidence room and computer lab, on his way to see Robin. To show that he was truly sorry for how he had acted, Beast Boy was making regular visits to the med lab, certain that his friend would wake up any day now. When he came within a few feet of the door, he burst out, in a sing-song voice:
"Oh Robin's a twit so crazy,
He'd make a better daisy.
With soft little petals
He'd earn lots of medals.
Oh Robin, the boy so crazy!"
He said the last line dramatically as he flung open the laboratory door, waiting for the applause...It didn't come. "Huh?" The room was empty. No Robin. No Batman. No anyone. Where had they gone? Beast Boy slowly entered the room, walking over to the bed that was still unmade. Why would they just leave? Robin hadn't "disappeared" again, had he? But that wouldn't explain Batman's absence...He leaned on the bedside table, flustered at how much thought he was wasting on Robin's location. "Hold the phone!", he muttered, lifting his hand to reveal a small piece of folded paper. Now Beast Boy could never resist the urge to snoop, so, with a glance around the empty room, he unfolded the note and read:
Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire: I can't tell you exactly where Robin and I are right now, but you can be sure that he is safe. We are trying to learn the cause of his strange behavior, and hopefully find a way to reverse the affect. I will contact you as soon as we know something. -Raven
"Whoa! Dude, Batman carted Robin off to who knows where? Gotta tell Cyborg!", he said, racing for the door with the note flapping wildly in his hand.
"Dudes! Cy, Star! Get in here!!!" He gave a five-second time allowance for a response, then reached for the emergency alert button hidden behind a panel in the wall, ignoring the many "KEEP AWAY, BEAST BOY!" signs plastered to the wall around it. About five minutes later, a wind-blown Starfire and an oily Cyborg appeared in the hallway.
"For your sake, B, I really hope this is a real emergency!", said Cyborg in suppressed rage.
"You wound my pride!", exclaimed Beast Boy, using his word-of-the-day. He stood there, smiling pleasantly and pretending not to notice his teammates angry glares of impatience.
"Beast Boy, if you do not tell us why you did the pushing of that circular device, i shall hoagie you with a Morflarp!", Star said angrily. Cyborg clenched his artificial fist threateningly, advancing on the green shape-shifter.
"Ok, ok! Keep your shirt on!", said Beast Boy, fearing for his health. "Ok, so I was on my way to the med la, after eating an all-tofu lunch, which was delicious by the way-"
"Cut to the chase!!!", yelled Cyborg, all patience gone.
"All right, all right! Just trying to juice it up a little! So anyway, I was going to visit Robin, but when i got there, he was gone! Poofed! AWOL! Missing in action! Absent! Va-"
"B, would you do us all a favor and SHUT UP!?! Robin's gone? If this is a joke, you are one dead little vegetable!" He shoved past BB, bursting into the med lab. He froze, amazed that for once, Beast Boy was telling the truth. Of all the times for him to be honest, why did it have to be this one?
"I found this on the table", said Beast Boy quietly, handing the note to Cyborg. He read it quickly, a frown creeping across his face.
"She'll 'contact' us? Oh, no! I am not waiting around here for Raven to get good and ready to let us know what's going on! Who does she think she is, ordering us around! It's like she decided to take over for Robin, or something!" Cyborg fumed silently for a moment while Star and BB looked on cautiously. "That's it, y'all. We're going to get to the bottom of this!" With that, Cyborg ran out to the garage, revving up the T-car and waiting impatiently for his fellow titans to catch up.
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Slade smiled icily as Wonder Boy made his appearance. He was so close now...after months of unsuccessful planning, the titans were almost in his grasp. Everythign was perfect, aside from that slight...bump in the road, but it was smoothed over, and due punishment had been administered. Slade chastized himself silently for putting any part of his mission in the hands of another; he had set himself up for difficulty in doing so.
"No matter", Slade droned, his voice echoing off the empty walls. He glanced at Robin with the cool certainty of ownership. He was in costume, right down to his utility belt. A smile crept onto Slade's cold face behind the one-eyed mask. "The bait is secured, the pieces are in motion, the Titans end, and my beginning, is at hand."
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Well, there you go. Sorry if you didn't like it...if you don't like itI will cry because I worked so hard on it! Oh, and thanks to my good friend ChubbyBuddy for the limerick. Check out her story, it is HILARIOUS! Later, peoples. -Dusty