I've put this off long enough. Let's get down to business! Tha songs are back too!

Chapter 17: "Wait and Bleed"

Jericho finally could see his goal, a large lot in at the very southernmost point of Jump City. There was nothing there, just concrete and a small building. You could see cracks in the concrete were the door to the long-gone nuclear missile was held.

Reaching the door to the small building, Jericho knocked as hard as his weak body aloud him to. He had traveled fifteen miles to get to this point, hoping on vehicles and possessing drivers when he could. He clutched his bloody arm, before he left Dakota; he was hit with a piece of debris from the East Squad tower.

"The tower…." He thought "..the Squad… gone.." He was in a great depression. "What's going to happen?... We'll die…… …we will all die…."

Moth opened the door saying "We'll get them before we die. Remember that. We won't go out lying down!" He helped Jericho up, placing a free hand on his forehead. As he did the action, he read his mind; studying the events that took place hours ago.

"No.." Moth was about to go out and take on anyone that crossed him.

After placing Jericho on the couch, he assembled the team with "Squad! Up front!"

With their leaders cry; Guard, Gun Wraith, Terra, Dyggar, and Terra's brother; Geo-Force came quickly into the living room.

"Whut's up bro?" Dyggar asked as he walked in.

"Something wrong?" Terra asked as she wrapped an arm around Dyggar's back.

"Everything is wrong.." He lifted his left hand up and placed his right on Jericho's head. "Watch.."

The room was filled with a red and blue glow as the events began to take from. The memories were flying around them in clip-like form. They watched in dismay as the team was easily beaten do to their inexperience. Their eyes went to sheer horror as they saw the tower burn. Their former friend and ally, Mammoth stood laughing next to his sister; with Goth flying behind them.

After watching, Gun Wraith went to his friend's side and healed his arm. As the angelic wing extended from his back, Wraith sensed something… something.. evil. After healing the gash halfway, he noticed it was still bleeding. Then his demonic wing extended and his fears were realized.

"Goth.." he said suddenly.

Moth nodded and turned to his teammates. "Get ready.."

They all eyed the spiral staircase at the top that led above ground. They were going to be ready and not fall as the others had.

Dyggar and Terra were holding hands and began to squeeze the other's more tightly. Terra had told him another reason why she hated Slade so much earlier, it was like throwing gasoline on a roaring fire of hatred. He would take out anyone who hurt her with extreme prejudice. She would stand by him and if he fell, she would go for blood.

Moth ripped off his shirt from under his trench coat, in the preparation for what was to come; he and Dyggar fully tattooed his torso and arms with tribal designs. He was ready for anything.

Guard was certain he would avenge his brother and make a name for the Guard. He would do the best his body allowed.

Geo-Force was certain to do whatever it took. After being separated for so long, he would do anything for his sister and her lover. He was apart of the family in his eyes, and no one messes with his family.

Gun Wraith was doing his best not to look frightened. Because of his powers, he knew what his future held; and he knew that their was an alternate ones. He would not fall….here.

"Wait and Bleed" -SlipKnoT

I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed

I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed

As they watched the door and waited. Jericho stirred, his eyes fully opened with a frightened look on his face.

"So… what are we looking at here?" came a dark voice behind them.

As they all quickly turned around, the upper level shook with an explosion.

GOODBYE!

I wipe it off the tile, the light is brighter this time
Everything is 3-D blasphemy
My eyes are red and gold, the hair is standing straight up
This is not the way I pictured me
I can't control my shakes!
How the hell did I get here?
Something about this, so very wrong
I have to laugh out loud, I wish I didn't like this
Is it a dream or a memory?

Goth fired as many shots of demonic fire balls as he could. The Squad members quickly moved out of the room. Outside, Deathstroke (totally evil Slade) was there with Mammoth and Shimmer.

I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed

Deathstroke wasted no time to draw his staff and charge at Moth. Before he reached the powerful psychic, he was hit by hit brother; Dyggar. Dyggar speared Deathstroke into a wall and rained punch after punch on him, too enraged to use his powers. Deathstroke hit him on the head with the staff, stood up, and took a stance.

"Bring it."

Dyggar wasted no time as he charged at him on a flying boulder, Terra and Guard right behind him.

Goth drew a long kantata-like black sword and flew above Gun Wraith. He clasped his both hands around the handle and went straight down. Gun Wraith easily got out of the way and drew his broadsword.

Rising, Goth spoke. "C'mon! Give me all you got!"

"You got it."

GET OUTTA MY HEAD 'CAUSE I DON'T NEED THIS!
Why didn't I see this?
I'm a victimManchurian Candidate
I-HAVE-SINNED-BY-JUST
Makin' my mind up and takin' your breath away

They charged at one another and their swords clashed, sending sparks out. The two took to the air and began the duel of neutral versus evil.

Wraith quickly fired a huge blast at Goth and flew behind it. Goth had no way to maneuvered and barely anyway to defend, so he fold his wing across his body and took the shot.

After Goth was hit, Gun Wraith swung his sword down; only to have it parried by Goth's.

" Uh-uh, I'm not done yet!"

I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed

He moved in and delivered a left hook to Gun Wraith's jaw. Blood dribbled from his mouth afterwards. Gun Wraith delivered an elbow to the demon's stomach before hitting him in the face with the hilt, causing a cut. The combatants continued on, their moves got more careless. Goth received a deep cut across his abdomen, and Gun Wraith had a lighter one on his right arm.

"C'mon Wraith! Show me your power!" Goth had lost his mind. He was taking careless measures. He flew at Gun Wraith at full speed, leaving all worries behind him. Gun Wraith just stayed put and hovered, preparing for the attack.

I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I WAIT AND BLEED!

Guard went straight to Deathstroke, he showed no fear. He fought the masked-man one on one and was doing pretty well. His skill was equal to Nightwing's when he was the first Robin. (Robin II's already dead btw.) Deathstroke was surprised by the teen's skill, but not overtaken.

"Good.. but.." he drove a strong fist to the back of his neck. "not good enough!"


GOODBYE!

Guard fell down and rolled once; he was now on his back.

"Your brother lost his legs to me.. Perhaps I'll take your arms.." Deathstroke split his staff into two taka and pressed them down hard on the teen's arms. He let out a cry of pain to which the man answered "Oh, it's not over yet." He let off on the pressure and got up, then he paused for a short moment before jumping and landing both heavy boots on his weapons.

A loud crack was heard and Guard screamed in pain. Deathstroke bent down and took off his helmet. He look into Guard's face, it was contorted in pain.

"Wimp.." Deathstroke gave a hard right to his face, broke his nose and knocked him out.


You haven't learned a thing
I haven't changed a thing
The flesh was in my bones
The pain is always free

Terra, who had been busy with Mammoth, Flew towards Deathstroke with a ferocious battle cry. She threw every rock she could at him. He was hit only one time before dodging all of them, calmly walking toward her.

"My dear Terra. Have you told your little boyfriend why you hate me more than the others would?"

She only let out another roar and threw more projectiles more rapidly.


You haven't learned a thing
I haven't changed a thing
The flesh was in my bones
The pain is always free

"Tsk tsk, still the same temper.." he was now a few feet away from her. "Do you still feel that same false emotion for me?"

"Die muthafucka!" Dyggar flew at him on a boulder and swatted him to the ground with other very large ones. (at this time, there on tha bottom level; near tha tunnels.)


I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed

"That's not nice." Before Deathstroke could get up he was tackled and hit with a barrage on blows by Dyggar. The force of the hits caused Deathstroke's mask to break and his head fell back on the ground. Dyggar looked into his face. It was a lot younger looking than he remembered. His wrinkles were gone and his white hair and goatee were platinum blonde.

"Dirty son of a.." Dyggar was cut off blow a strong punch to the face that broke his mask. Blood ran from his nose and mouth, Deathsroke also broke his lip rings.

Deathstroke pulled him up by his braided goatee and headbutted him, knocking him to the ground once more.


I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed

"The pain's only beginning.."


AND IT WAITS FOR YOU!

Moth and Shimmer, though very different, were surprisingly evenly matched. Neither would give in. Terra had picked up Guard on a rock and reluctantly took him to a hospital, making sure to remove his armor beforehand. "No need to blow your identity"

Moth was left to fight the siblings alone. Deathstroke drew a rapier off the wall and headed for the unsuspecting psychic from behind.

"Stop father!" Jericho was behind him, holding a long sword. He was too weak to pick it up all the way so it lay halfway on the ground.

"Joey, don't make me do this.."

"If this is the only way to stop you, then one of us has to die!"

"Very well son." Deathstroke ran towards his only, true, living son and quickly impaled him with the sword.

Jericho dropped his sword instantly. Blood came from his wound and mouth like streams. His father pulled out the sword and hugged his son one last time. "You shouldn't have gone against me Joey… I'm sorry it had to be like this."

Jericho looked into his father's eye, let out a gasp for breath, and died. Deathstroke carefully laid down his son and turned to see everyone staring at him.

"Fuckin' cold blooded.." Shimmer remarked before attacking Moth with electric energy.

"You bastard!" Dyggar cried out as he rose to his feet.

Gun Wraith just bowed his head and was hit behind and knocked out by Goth, who was smiling wickedly.

"The sons of Slade are dead, but the son of Deathstroke shall live on!" The red demon was enjoying every moment.

"Well Dyggar, come at me!" Deathstroke took a stance and drew another staff, ready for anything.

(….Chapters are longer with songs… anyhoo.. Sorry it took so long. I've been in a logjam of ideas. Next one should be up in a week or a lot less, I don't know; I need suggestions.)