Chapter 4 – Slade

At the pizza parlor, the Titans argued about what to order. Beast Boy wanted a vegetarian, to Cyborg's chagrin. "We're getting pepperoni!" he shouted.

"I'm not eating that stuff!"

"I don't care! I say, we're ordering pepperoni!"

"I'd rather have the Hawaiian," interjected Rurouni.

"Fine with me," responded Robin.

The sextet was about to make their order when their communicators went off. "Hello, Titans," spoke a steely voice.

"Slade," replied Robin, in an icy voice. "What are you planning this time?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," came the retort.

"We do, and we're going to find out."

"That's my Robin," he responded. "Come and get me." Then the connection ended.

"Looks like the pizza's going to have to wait," remarked Robin. "Titans, go!"

"So who's Slade?" asked Rurouni.

"Bad guy," replied Cyborg. "Real bad."

"I got a lock on his signal," said Robin. "He's at the old industrial district."

When the team arrived at the abandoned warehouse, Slade was waiting there, as he had said. "Greetings, Titans," he said, that crisp edge in his voice. He was holding a small canister of red fluid. "I believe you're acquainted with this substance?"

Starfire gasped. "No!"

"Oh, yes. It is."

"It's zinothium," Cyborg said gravely.

Zinothium is a very unstable substance, Rurouni. It'll explode if handled improperly, clarified Raven.

"But I have a purified form," said Slade.

"He's right," confirmed Cyborg. "He's got medium-grade zinothium on him. Seventy-five percent purity."

"At least he won't be making a smoke-screen escape," muttered Beast Boy, at which an ebony hand materialized and smacked him in the back of the head. "Ow!"

You know better than to joke around at a time like this, Beast Boy.

Starfire powered up a starbolt and prepared to throw it when Robin shouted, "Stand down! If that stuff explodes, there's no telling what'll happen!"

Slade pulled out a small red bead about the size of a pea. "I'll show you. Here's half an ounce of the zinothium that's in the vial." Then he tossed it at a column nonchalantly. The bead exploded, sending a shower of concrete and steel fragments flying at the Titans. Raven erected a black hemisphere, shielding them from the rain of shards.

When the dust cleared, a small portion of the column had disappeared.

Rurouni gasped in shock. "If that's what a half-ounce will do…"

"…then who knows what the entire vial can destroy?" finished Cyborg.

"I do not wish to discover," replied Starfire.

"Nor do the rest of us, Star," said Rurouni. "But Beast Boy's right. That zinothium's too explosive to use as a blind."

"Told ya," retorted Beast Boy, and got smacked in the back of the head again, this time by Rurouni.

"Quit being so juvenile."

"Titans, go!" ordered Robin. "Hand-to-hand only!" He pulled out his bo staff, and extended it. Slade tucked the vial in his belt and pulled out his own staff. A swarm of robots emblazoned in orange and black jumped down to surround the six teenagers.

Beast Boy morphed into a tiger, and Rurouni drew his wakizashi. Robin vaulted over the robotic minions and brought his staff down at Slade, who brought his up to connect. Starfire let loose a flurry of starbolts, destroying a cluster of automata. Cyborg fired his sonic cannon. "Boo-yah!"

"Kentousaiga! CHAIN LIGHTNING!" Rurouni swung his sword down in a wide arc, letting loose a bolt of electricity which leapt from robot to robot. He followed up with a horizontal slash. "Mitsukoden! FLAME TONGUE!" A gout of flame immolated another group of robots.

Beast Boy became swamped in a pile of commandos, when Raven shouted, "Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!" A cluster of barrels became swathed in darkness and were launched at the robots, allowing Beast Boy to free himself and swipe at another robot. He then changed into a gorilla and smashed others.

Meanwhile, Robin and Slade were still fighting, and Robin was taking the offensive when Slade caught him square in the chest with a steel boot, sending the Boy Wonder across the room. Slade leapt and came down to kick him again, but Robin rolled to dodge and jumped to his feet, bringing his staff around and connecting with the back of Slade's head. He jumped back and waved a pair of fingers toward himself, smiling cockily, the classic "bring it on" gesture.

It wasn't long before all the robotic minions were dealt with. Robin brought his staff down, and accidentally connected with the vial of zinothium, which exploded. The resulting shockwave slammed Robin against the wall. The other body revealed a bunch of scorched circuitry. The Slade he had just fought was another robot.

Starfire screamed. "Robin!"

"Great," muttered Rurouni. "That nutcase has got some powerful stuff on him."

"So he's been warned," mused Slade, deep underground. "Good. Everything is proceeding according to plan."