A/N:

Before I start this chapter I feel I need to say a few things. Okay, first of all….WHERE THE HECK DID YOU ALL GET THE IDEA THAT RED X WAS DEAD! I CAN'T KILL OFF RED X, HE'S WAY TOO COOL, HE WAS ONLY BEATEN TO A BLOODY PULP, THAT'S ALL, I CAN'T KILL HIM, THIS IS RATED PG! Anyway, also, before you begin reading this chapter…please make sure that all legs, wheels, or sides of whatever you are sitting on are planted firmly on the ground while you read this chapter. Also, you may wish to grab yourself perhaps a rubber-band or perhaps even some string or something to tie your jaw closed with because I'm sure by the end of the chapter you're mouth will be hanging down by your chest and I don't think you wanna be covered in drool. Also consider moving at least 4 feet away from the computer screen, as a precaution. Well, now that that's been said…make sure your seat's back and tray tables are in their full up-right and locked positions. Get ready for a mouthful!

Chapter 15- Taken

"You can go in now," the doctor said as he opened the door for the Titans.

Robin and the others slowly crept into the room where Red X lie unconscious on one of the hospital beds in intensive care. He looked more like a machine rather than a human being with so many tubes and wires connected to his body. There were monitoring devices cluttered around him, almost as if the instruments were watching over him like guardian angels.

"Has he shown any signs of waking up," Robin asked the doctor.

"No, not that we've seen," he said. "But, like you said when you brought him in…I've never seen someone so mangled like that before in my life, and live through it none the less."

"We'll only be a few minutes," Robin said hinting to the doctor to leave.

"Take your time," and the doctor walked out.

"Cyborg," said Robin. "Close the door. Raven…you know what to do."

Raven nodded at him and pulled her hood back from her forehead. She sat down on one of the chairs next to the bed and took in a deep breath, then put her middle and index finger and thumb on Red X's forehead.

"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthose," she began chanting as she felt herself slipping into Red X's mind. "Azerath, Metrion, Zinthose…Azer—"suddenly her eyes opened and she looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time.

Her eyes fell on Robin and she shot him a mischievous grin. "Hey kid," she said in a voice none like her own. The rest of the Titans knew, however, who it was. Even though it wasn't masked by the suit, they recognized that cool seductive voice that belonged to none other than Red X.

"Nice seeing you again Red X," Robin said sarcastically leaning against a counter and crossing his arms.

Raven, or rather, Red X looked over at himself lying in the hospital bed. "Wow," he said. "I look like crud. I guess I really got my butt handed to me this time around." Raven/Red X looked back at Robin again. "So what brings you by this neck of the woods, or did you drop by to bring me some Roses and a kiss?"

"We don't have time for this X," Robin exclaimed. "We want answers!"

"Please," said Starfire, "We merely wish to know who did this too you."

Raven/Red X turned her/his head towards Starfire and said, "Oh…well hello angel. So…how bout that date you and I never went out on?"

Starfire's eyes burned green and she was about to zap Red X/Raven but Robin stepped in and held her back from doing so.

"Who did this to you X," Robin demanded again.

Raven/Red X shot him another mischievous grin and slouched back in the chair; spreading his/her legs wide open then smiled back at Robin. "Ya know kid," said Red X, "it's funny how girls, even ones like your friend here, like it when I'm in control of them…especially when I'm 'inside' them."

"HEY NOW YOU LISTEN," Cyborg yelled. "DON'T CHU GET ANY IDEAS—"

Robin put his hand on Cyborg's shoulder and he immediately became silent. Robin looked up at him with a serious expression on his face then made his way over to Raven/Red X. He looked down at him/her for a good while then suddenly grabbed him/her by the collar and puller him/her into his face.

"Ya know Red X," said Robin with narrowed eyes. "YOU are in a coma right now, and there isn't much YOU can do to keep me or the rest of us from doing something you wouldn't want us to. So unless you want me to take you off life support…I suggest you start talking!"

Raven/Red X looked at him and processed everything he had just threatened. There was no way he could call for help, and it'd be too late for the nurses or anyone else to save him if they secretly took away his lifelines. He decided he'd flow with it, after all, what else was he to do? He was in a coma.

"Alright kid," said Red X. "I'll talk."

Back at Titans tower, after their "chat" with Red X, Robin sat at the computer in the living room with his elbows on the keyboard and his chin resting on his elevated hands.

"Ah Robin," said Cyborg as he leaned over his shoulder. "You've been sitting at that computer for…almost four hours now and you haven't even turned it on yet."

Robin didn't answer and the room was filled with silence.

"Look man, I know you're still soaking in everything Red X told us today and I'm sure you're a little concerned about it, but you really shouldn't be, besides we—"before he could finish Robin interrupted him.

"A stock pile of uranium ore and kryptonite are missing, along with enough mustard gas and anthrax to take out the entire city," said Robin. "Yes, I'm a little concerned, why shouldn't I be?"

Cyborg didn't know what to say, obviously there was no reasoning with his friend.

"Look," he said. "You have every right to be worried, but why don't you just take a break for a little while, get your mind off of things and maybe everything will come to you more easily." He put his hand on Robin's shoulder. "We're all just as worried as you are about this whole thing bro, and besides, you said you'd help Raven and Starfire get everything ready before Titans East came over."

How could Cyborg even think about having fun when Deathstroke was at large again! He had nearly taken out Red X and even after they went to see him in the hospital, not even HE knew who his attackers were. Red X was so badly beaten they couldn't even tell who he was after the took his mask off! On top of that, an exceptionally large about of nuclear and biological agents was missing and Robin knew nothing of the group that Red X apparently saw taking them. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. Things just weren't going his way right now, he couldn't think; couldn't concentrate. Since he mentioned it, he was, however, looking forward to the barbecue Cyborg set up with Titans East a few days ago, and he did say he'd help Raven and Starfire get everything set up while Cyborg and Beast Boy went grocery shopping. Perhaps taking a break for a few hours would do him some good, he couldn't keep his train of thought, since he had in fact been sitting there at the computer for almost four hours and still hadn't come up with anything.

"Come on man," said Cyborg. "If you want when we're finished tonight we'll all pitch-in and help you. We're a team, and this concerns all of us. Who knows, maybe Titans East might know something about it and they could help too!"

Robin looked up at his friend and said, "Maybe your right Cyborg. Maybe All I really need is a break."

"That's the spirit! Oh, and Robin…"Cyborg leaned closer to him and said in a very quiet voice, "we're gonna pick up bratwursts for the barbecue tonight. Ya know how much you love bratwursts…"

Robin's eyes lit up and said, "Brat…bratwursts?"

"Uh huh!"

"Well, alright then…I'll take a break."

Robin got up from his chair and joined Raven and Starfire on the roof preparing everything for their soon to be arriving guests, while Cyborg and Beast Boy hopped in the T-car and headed for the grocery store.

"Hey Raven could you hand me the other end of the table cloth over there," Robin asked politely.

Raven handed it to him and they draped it over the table and let the sides hang off the edges.

"OH I never knew the earthly ways of the preparing the barbecue would be so much fun," said Starfire as she emerged from the stairwell with a handful of fold-out chairs.

Meanwhile, at the grocery store…

"Hey Cyborg," said Beast Boy looking over their grocery cart full of food with hands full of tofu. "Do you want whey tofu, or soy tofu?

"I really don't care Beast Boy," said Cyborg as he crossed off something on the grocery list. "You're the only one that eats that…stuff, anyway. No one else wants it."

"Humph! Then I'll just take the soy tofu then!"

"Wait a minute, we need ice-cream. BB, could you go down to frozen foods and get some?"

"Oh I'm already on it!" Ten minutes later, Beast Boy stumbled back to Cyborg and the shopping cart with fifty, one gallon tubs of ice-cream. "Where do you…want them," he asked in a labored voice, sweat dripping off his face.

"Hold on a second that might not be all," Cyborg said mercilessly.

Beast Boy's knees buckled and the gallons of ice-cream fell on top of him. He quickly emerged out of the top of the pile with a bump on his head and a shocked look on his face for his friend's lack of support.

"I wonder if Aqualad eats fish, maybe I should—"Cyborg raised his forearm close to his face and pressed a button on his wrist and called Titans Tower. To his dismay, all that was seen on the small video screen on his arm was static.

"Hmm," he said surprised to see this. "Well that's odd."

"What is it Cy," Beast Boy asked intuitively.

"My communicator's not working. Can I see yours real quick?"

Beast Boy handed him his and said, "Sure."

Cyborg got the same thing, nothing but static. He looked up from it with a confused expression on his face and gazed over at a woman in the same isle as them hitting her cell-phone with the palm of her hand. (take note of that!)

Beast Boy noticed this too and said to his friend, "Maybe the cell-phone tower is down or something."

Cyborg looked off into space for a moment and thought about this. "Eh, must be," he said, brushing the bad feeling he had away. "Ya think Aqualad eats fish?"

"Tell Cyborg and the others that I'll be down to help bring in stuff in a second," Robin called to Starfire as he began filling a cooler with ice in the kitchen. "Just let me finish this real quick."

Starfire left the living-room and headed down to the garage where Cyborg had just pulled in with the T-Car and a trunk load of groceries.

Robin was the only one left and the room became eerily silent. All that could be heard was Robin dumping ice into the cooler and taking out and throwing in cans of soda. Robin looked around the room for no reason in particular then once finished with his job he made his way out of the kitchen and towards the door leading to the roof when suddenly, the alarm went off.

Robin dropped the cooler on the floor, nearly crushing his toes in the process, and cupped his hands over his ears gritting his teeth. Something was wrong, the alarm, it was so loud. It wasn't supposed to be that loud and it felt as though the noise was rattling his brains inside his head. Robin fell to his knees, and in the corner of his eye he noticed the T.V. come on by itself and display a blinking green square in the upper left-hand corner that was all too familiar to him. He turned his head with his hands still over his ears and watched as an image of a skull and cross-bones formed on the screen and a phrase that gave Robin a cold chill down his spine now read:

"I will annihilate them Robin…and I'll make you watch!"

Suddenly, the alarm stopped and the words and images from the T.V. disappeared and it turned itself off. Everything was as before; except for Robin still knelling on the floor cradling his head.

"What's going on," Cyborg exclaimed as he and the rest of the Titans entered the living-room empty handed. "Robin! Robin is everything alright?"

"I'm fine," he said getting up off the floor.

"What happened," Beast Boy asked. "What caused the alarm?"

"And why was it so loud," Raven interjected.

"I don't know," Robin said trying to conceal his fear and pain from the others. "Maybe it was a glitch in the system. It's never done that before, we'll deal with it later."

Robin picked the cooler up off the floor and headed for the roof. "I'll be down in a sec," he said before he left.

The rest of the Titans shrugged their shoulders and suddenly they heard the doorbell ring.

"Oh, company," Cyborg said with a surprised look on his face.

"I'LL GET IT," Beast Boy yelled then dashed out the door.

"NO, I WISH TO CATCH THE DOOR," Starfire called back to him as she followed.

Raven and Cyborg left as well after Robin joined them shortly-there-after and finished bringing in the groceries while Beast Boy and Starfire fought over who got to answer the door.

"Yo Sparky," Bumble Bee yelled in some-what of a harsh tone as she came up behind Cyborg and slugged him on the shoulder. "Where's that dance you still owe me!"

"Ow," he shouted after she hit him. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry I still owe you a dance!"

"SENIOR CYBORG," Mas and Menos yelled as they zipped past everyone else and tackled him to the ground in a hug.

"Hey Mas and Menos," Cyborg chuckled.

"Speedy how are ya," Robin said as the two shook hands.

"Good, nice to see you again on such short notice," Speedy said jokingly as he was referring to the dance.

Robin chuckled and said, "I know. So how's Lilith doing?"

"Aw she's doing great. We've been talking and hanging out lately so things are going quite well between us, actually."

"That's good to hear."

"How about you and Starfire?"

Robin began blushing and said, "Uh…what…what do you mean?"

Speedy chuckled at his embarrassment and said, "Never mind, don't worry about it. But what I do want to know is—"Speedy turned away from Robin for a moment and called out to Cyborg who was preparing the grill. "Hey Cyborg, what's for dinner tonight!"

Cyborg pulled out an arm full of packaged beef patties, hot dogs, and bratwursts and yelled back at him with a smile, "Nothin' but all you can eat burgers, dogs, and brats tonight!"

"Sounds good to me," Speedy yelled back then started talking to Robin again.

"Hey, and don't forget the tofu," Beast Boy commented while he and Aqualad conversed.

Cyborg didn't answer him; instead he concentrated more on his cooking.

"So Starfire," said Bumble Bee. "We haven't been formally introduced yet, I'm Bumble Bee."

"HELLO," exclaimed Starfire. "Please, where are you from, what is your favorite color, and do you wish to be my friend?"

Bumble Bee "Um…New York, yellow and…sure?" (I'm actually not sure if that's where she's from, but from what I understands she's been there)

Starfire scooped her up in her arms and cheered, "HELLO NEW FRIEND!"

"Uh…hi…"Bumble Bee winced gasping for air.

"Hey Aqualad," Cyborg called over to him.

"Hey what," he responded sarcastically.

Cyborg smiled at him and took a rather large fish off the plate next to the grill. "Ya like fish!"

Aqualad's mouth dropped open and he screamed like an eight year-old girl at the sight of his under-sea companion. "YOU KILLED CHARLIE," he wailed in horror. "YOU KILLED AND PLANNED ON EATING CHARLIE! THAT WAS ONE OF MY FRIENDS!"

A sweat drop went down Cyborg's face and he hid the fish, or rather "Charlie," behind his back and shot him a nervous smile. "Oh uh…who's Charlie," Cyborg asked trying to look innocent of his apparent crimes.

"The fish behind your back," Aqualad exclaimed.

"What fish," Cyborg asked innocently after inconspicuously tossing "Charlie" over the edge of the roof behind his back.

Aqualad began sobbing and Beast Boy came up next to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Aqualad," Beast Boy said trying act as though he was touched by this incident. "He was a good fish…a good fish…and we'll all miss him…"

"Hey everything's just about ready guys," Cyborg said as he flipped the hamburgers and rotated the hotdogs and bratwursts. "If you want you can all sit down and I'll bring everything over when it's finished." Cyborg knelt on one knee and reached into the cabinet under the grill (my grill has a metal cabinet under it, I don't know why) and searched for a few shakers of herbs and spices.

Beast Boy didn't join the others yet at the table, instead his attention was caught by a rather large red button on the side of the grill marked "turbo." Curiosity got the best of him and with a smile he inched his index finger closer and closer to the button.

Cyborg stood up with a specula in one hand and a shakers in the other, but gasped as he saw his friend about to press that button and yelled, "BEAST BOY, DON'T TOUCH THAT—"but it was already too late.

From a distance, one could see a rather large fire ball and heat bloom rise from the top of Titans tower, leaving a mushroom cloud of smoke in it's' path.

"Button," Cyborg finally finished as a puff of smoke came from his mouth.

Everyone sat there speechlessly and the only thing that wasn't black and covered in ash and soot were their white eyes which now advertised everyone's shocked expressions.

"Uh…do you guys like your meat medium, or well done," Beast Boy joked. He turned and looked nervously at everyone who starred him down with red murderous eyes and crept slowly towards the door before anyone tried to hurt him.

"Maybe we should just go out for pizza," Robin finally suggested.

After everyone had the chance to clean up, most of the Titans piled into the T-Car while Starfire road with Robin on the back of the R-cycle to the Pizzeria. The T-car pulled up in a parking space next to the big building with the huge "PIZZA" sign above it and all of the Titans filed out.

"Next time I get to ride up front," Bumble Bee squawked.

"You," Speedy protested. "You didn't have to ride with—"the Titans East continued arguing and Cyborg and the rest of the Teen Titans simply ignored them.

Robin pulled the motorcycle up next to the curb on the other side of the street and put the kick-stand down. He didn't know why, but he felt he should park elsewhere away from the rest of the Titans; perhaps it was just his way of trying to have as much alone time with Starfire as he could get. Robin and Starfire took off their helmets at the same time, but Robin paused for a moment and looked up at the skyline far above them. He had that feeling again…like someone was watching them, like something bad was about to happen. He also found it strange that not a single car or person were on the streets during the entire drive here, something he found rather odd for a Friday afternoon. (take note of that too!)

Starfire nudged his shoulder and said, "Robin? Is something the matter?"

He looked back at her and said, "No I'm fine. Why you ask?" It was obviously a lie, but he didn't want to startle her. His heart rate elevated, he could somehow sense something was about to happen but he chose to ignore this feeling instead.

"You seem tense," Starfire replied. "Perhaps you would most enjoy some Tamaranean acupressure when we get home?"

Robin chuckled at her then dismounted the motorcycle. "I'll be alright Star. Maybe I'll take you up on that some other time though."

They both laughed then Robin present his hand for her to lean on in assisting her off the motorcycle. Starfire took it gladly and she dismounted the bike, but her boot got caught in a grove on the edge of the seat.

"Oops," she said looking back at her foot. "I seem to have caught myself."

Robin smiled then respectfully helped her get her foot out.

Speedy caught sight of Robin helping Starfire get her foot loose and nudged Aqualad's arm with his elbow. Aqualad looked at Speedy who pointed to Robin and Starfire on the other side of the street with a nod and the two began laughing.

"Hey Romeo and Juliet," Speedy called over to them while Aqualad giggled like a school girl. "What's the hold up we're starved!"

Robin got her foot loose and yelled back to them, "We'll be there in a sec, just go in without us!"

"Alright," Speedy yelled back and the rest of the Titans made their way into the Pizzeria.

"Come on Star we don't want to keep them waiting," Robin said as he went around the other side of the bike next to her. He presented his arm for her to take and smiled at her.

Starfire returned the look and wrapped her arm through his and closed the distance between them.

"Well, shall we," said Robin as the two made their way towards the Pizzeria. "So Star, what do you think—"

The flirting couple were no more then twenty steps from the entrance of the restaurant when suddenly, it happened…

KABOOM!

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as the blast wave hit them. A surge of heat swept over Robin and Starfire's body with tremendous force and they were thrown back onto the pavement as if they were merely leaves blowing in the wind. Robin felt the back of his head hit the hard cement and he fell unconscious for only a second as did Starfire. When they awoke, the building that was once the Pizzeria where he and the rest of the Titans would visit quite frequently was now a flaming pile of twisted metal and rubble. Robin couldn't believe his eyes and rose to his feet, leaving Starfire to fend for herself as she too rose from the ground and looked awestruck at the building. Their friends, all of them, had been in there before the explosion went off. They were all dead.

"No…"Robin whispered with a horrified look on his face then took in a deep breath and cried out in fury, "NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"The others," Starfire said in a trembling voice. "They are—"Starfire ended her phrase of sorrow when suddenly they heard something around them.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH!

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, CLANK!

The two remaining Titans turned around simultaneously and a look of horror came across their faces. They were surrounded by them; a fierce platoon of androids, but not just any androids though. Robin recognized them from the way they all slouched forward and let their arms dangling slightly in front of them. The white narrowed eyes and orange circle that covered their faces were also a dead give away. They were Slade's androids. Suddenly, the sound of mechanical footsteps could be heard making its' way closer to the circle of robots that surrounded Robin and Starfire. Robin gasped at the sight of these new reinforcements, for he wouldn't have expected to see this army return in a million years. These new machines were yellow and tall, and reminded Robin of his friend Cyborg since they were originally created from him. This new threat that joined the others were none other than Brother Blood's robots. How could this be though, Slade's and Brother Blood's androids working together? Robin found it most interesting that the robots on both sides looked old and obsolete, as if they were taken from a junk yard rather than have been freshly manufactured. Some of them even had missing limbs, while others were rusted and slightly damaged. Some, on the other hand, looked shiny and new, and were all the more ready and prepared to take on the last two surviving Titans.

"Robin," Starfire said fear present in her voice. "What is happening? Why are these terrible machines here, and what do they want?"

Robin was just as afraid as she were, but he knew he had to be strong. They turned and stood back to back against each other ready to fight off these hoards of robots before them.

"I don't know," Robin said eyeing his motorcycle which was unharmed during the explosion. "We need to get to the R-cycle and get out of here. Starfire—"Robin looked back at her and gave her a fake smile. "We can get through this."

They were easily surrounded by more than seventy or eighty androids, but with Robin's last comment Starfire felt somewhat better knowing the boy she loved was right behind her and would fight by her side no matter what. She looked back at him with a renewed sense of hope and readied herself to fight.

The androids began closing in on them and Robin pulled out his Bo-staff and a handful of explosive disks and yelled, "STARFIRE, NOW!"

The two bolted off in separate directions and attacked. Robin threw his explosives and took out seven or eight of the menacing robots then charged another. Starfire blasted the heads off of several droids with carefully aimed starbolts but one of them came up from behind and wrapped its' arms around her preventing use of her hands. Starfire tried to break free but more kept pouncing on her until she was covered in androids. Overcome by frustration and anger, her eyes glowed green and she let out a battle cry before a green shockwave emitted from her body and blew the pesky robots off of her. She rose in the air and went after more.

Robin swung his Bo-staff at one of the H.I.V.E robots but it quickly moved out of the way and pointed its' sonic cannon at him. Robin swiftly ducked as if fired at nearly point black rang and drew a birderang from his belt and sliced it across the machine's chest and face. The robot fell backwards and exploded then Robin withdrew a handful of birderangs, each nestled in-between two fingers and threw them at a group of charging robots. They sliced through them like a warm butter knife then gracefully returned to Robin's hands as though he were their master. In the corner of his eye Robin noticed something running towards him from the other side of the street and spun around to see what it was. Robin saw one of Slade's robots coming at him, but it had no arms, and it had something on its' back though. As it drew near, he immediately recognized what it was and his face turned pale with horror. That robot was on a kamikaze mission with a bomb strapped to its' back, and it was headed straight for him. Robin didn't hesitate and landed an explosive disk on the robot's chest prior to a grand explosion being set off from the bomb.

"STARFIRE, COME ON," he yelled to her as he strode backwards to his motorcycle while fighting off other androids.

Starfire landed on the ground and walked back towards the R-cycle while laying down a cascade of cover fire for Robin as he started the motorcycle. She stood beside him; relentlessly shooting at everything that came her way then was relieved to hear the dull roar of the R-cycle starting up.

"Get on," he demanded and before any of the dreadful robots could stop them, they had sped off into the city.

The door hissed open, and Robin and Starfire strode sluggishly side by side into the living-room; defeat apparent in their body language. Although they had escaped with their lives, their friends were not so lucky; they were all taken by the explosion.

"Are you…okay," Robin asked sincerely as he helped her over by the couch.

"I am undamaged Robin," she said not looking at him and flopping on the couch.

To her surprise she sat down on the remote and the T.V. cracked on, but to something neither she, nor Robin wanted to come home to.

"I'm standing here just outside of Jump City now," the reporter yelled wearing what looked like a mask a surgeon would wear during an operation; panic in her voice, "where hoards of innocent people are flocking over the bridge in an attempt to flee from the city!"

Hearing this Robin came behind Starfire and watched the horrifying images of people running for their lives, but for what?

"We're under a full-scale evacuation, and if you are watching this at home, you need to gather your loved ones and get out of town! At around 1:30 this afternoon, a deadly toxin was supposedly released throughout the city causing those who were exposed to it to begin convulsing and foaming at the mouth! From what we have seen so far, the victims seem to still be alive but—"

As the news reporter continued on what the symptoms were of those who were infected, they showed earlier footage of different areas of town where people lay unconscious on the streets. All of them lie motionlessly with their mouths hung open and their eyes rolled in the back of their heads. A rather gruesome and terrifying image for anyone to behold.

The masked reporter reappeared on the screen and continued her speech as hoards of people made their way across the bridge behind her. "Most of the city has already been evacuated, and all attempts at calling for help have proven unsuccessful. Something seems to be jamming any and all transmissions and signals coming from the city. We're not even sure if anyone is seeing this, but if you are, please evacuate and head for the nearest—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a loud explosion could be heard in the background followed by screams. Suddenly the images on the T.V. screen disappeared and were replaced by a multi-toned picture with the words "please stand-by" written at the bottom.

The whole tower shook, and a bright flash in the corner of Robin's eye caught his attention, forcing him to look over at the source. His heart froze and his mouth dropped open, as he looked on in horror at the horrific scenes outside the window. Robin watched as another explosion was set off on the bridge, followed by another, and another, and another. The bridge could take no more, and it collapsed into the deep blue sea.

Robin only stood their awestruck by this image, silent as though he were never able to speak before in his life. He looked back at Starfire who at no point in time raised her head to behold the terrible images of the bridge collapsing outside their window. She only had her head hung low and looked down at her knees. He made his way around the couch and sat down next to her and noticed a tear drop from her eyes.

"Starfire," he said in a soft sincere voice.

She began to sob.

"Starfire…"He turned in his seat to face her and propped his leg sideways on the couch in-between he and Starfire (does that make sense?) and took hold of one of her hands.

"Beast Boy…Raven…Cyborg," she said in a trembling voice trying to hold back her emotions. "Our friends are…They are all…"She couldn't hold it in any longer and she burst out in tears.

"Starfire," Robin said frantically trying to comfort her. "Star it's gonna be okay. We'll get through this!" Still holding one of her hands, he put his other arm around her and lowered his head to look into Starfire's eyes.

She looked up at him and said, "Robin…Robin I can't…I just can't," she tried to get it out but was overcome by her sorrows and buried her face in his chest. She had lost so many people close to her and she didn't know how to handle this, the pain was too much for her.

He let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her then lay back on the couch with her in his arms. Starfire was on top of Robin with her stomach between his legs and drew her arms close to her chest with her face still buried in his. Robin looked down at her lying on him and held her even tighter. He felt himself being overwhelmed by what had happened. The lose of his friends was a heavy burden to bear, but he had to be strong. He had to be strong…for Starfire.

"It'll be okay Star," he said in a soft comforting voice. "We're gonna be okay. I'm here for you Star. I'll always be here for you."

She raised her head off his chest and looked up at him, her eyes still filled with tears. "Robin…I don't want to…I don't want to—"

"I know Star," he interrupted. "And I won't let that happen. I won't let anything happen to you." He moved a few hairs away from her face and looked deep into her eyes then said something that brought Starfire the inner peace she so desperately needed.

"I promise…"

Still sniffling, she gave him something that brought hope into his heart as well. A faint smile that formed across her face. Robin couldn't help but do the same, and found himself grinning at the fragile girl in his arms. She turned away from Robin and laid her head back down, making herself more comfortable on his chest. He never stopped looking at her though, and the smile never left his face. He began gently stroking her head and it wasn't long until she stirred no more. He found it strange that she had become so quiet, so he leaned his head over to see her face and saw that she was asleep. She looked like an angel, resting there peacefully on his chest as though she were a child. Robin smiled at her then leaned his face close to hers' and kissed Starfire softly on her forehead. Feeling exhausted from everything that happened today, he rested his head back against the couch and quickly fell asleep.

A/N:

Wow, kinda depressing huh? All the titans except Robin and Starfire are dead. So what did you guys think of all the androids showing up huh? They were Slade's AND Brother Blood's working TOGETHER, what could that mean? So do you all really think Deathstroke is still Slade, or are you SOOOO uncertain now you can't make up your mind? That's heavy stuff isn't it? So did you all do what I told you to do before you read this? I knew you'd be shocked when I blew up the titans…and the bridge. I think it's quite funny how SURE you all were about the identity of Deathstroke, but in your previous reviews I can see now how unwary you are. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA! Okay, so I need to know something. The thing with the bridge, was that a little…much, for a PG? I mean, yeah sure, a lot of people died I'm sure you caught onto that from just reading it, but I didn't go telling all about it though, so do you think I should change my rating? That reminds me of something actually. In my last chapter, most well…ALL of you expressed some form of concern about the situation with Red X. Just to clarify a few things here, I didn't actually KILL Red X. He was just badly beaten up. The way I pictured it in my head would be Red X hanging by his wrist from a chain, but he wasn't like bloody and guts hangin' out n' stuff like that. Imagine if you will, seeing Red X hanging there but the only thing really gory looking would be that his arms would be kinda bent the wrong way or his leg twisted in a weird way, it's like in that episode "Birthmark." Robin actually BROKE Slade's neck, and it hung in a really weird way but he simply put it back into place. That's what I was trying to go for with the Red X image, maybe when all is said and done, I'll go back and try to…redefine that part, but I appreciate everyone's concern though. OH AND SECONDLY, I REALLY hope you guys understood what I was saying when Robin and Starfire were…comforting one another. I had a tuff time explaining it all, and I hope I didn't give you the wrong impression…or image for that matter. It's like Starfire was lying on top of Robin in between his legs, with her head on his chest, and his arms hugging her, and they were STILL DRESSED. Do you understand what I'm saying?

PLEASE COMMENT ON THAT, I NEED TO KNOW!

So yeah, I have to do some ass-kissing before I get to the personal thanks. So who here has read "Blast to the Supposed Past?" If you guys like my fic, check out Van Gordan's! You'll probably stop reading mine cause his is so good, I spent most of the day reading through his and it kicks a! Well, now that I'm done sucking up, time for the personal thanks. Next Chapter: "The Fall of the Titans"

Snowfeather- So…do you STILL think Deathstroke is Slade?

DigiDestined of Courage- Yeah my last chapter had those little bits of romance, but so did this one when you think about it. I think it was something rather important to add considering this would be a VERY DEPRESSING chapter if I didn't include it. I mean the death of the Titans and then the bridge that would have been too much unless I had something to relieve some of that built up tension in this chapter. Thanks for the comment though, and believe me…the WORST of things is yet to come.

KaliAnn- I wasn't sure how everyone would take to the pizzeria thing and the bank heist. I wanted the Titans to find Red X mangled but I didn't know what would happen in between that though, so I just kinda made that up along the way and from what I've heard from you and everyone else it turned out quite well. But as you found out, NO, he isn't dead, but his crime days are over now since he'll more than likely be eating his food through a straw now. Thanks for the review.

Aries-Raven- First of all, I'M A BOY! HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA I'M 17 AND I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, LOL. But I guess I can't complain, I haven't written my bio thing yet. I'll get to that sometime. No Red X didn't have to die and he isn't, and to answer your question about his dad. His dad just worked at that arms dealership but died during a test involving something biological or nuclear. See what I'm saying? Hence, that is why Red X took up the life of crime, get it? No, I've never had a spaghetti fight with any of my girl friends but I have with making cookies…I think…or maybe it was something else…anyway. So do you still think Deathstroke is Slade, now that the rest of the Titans are, well…gone and he can't threaten to use them as Blackmail for Robin? Don't worry; there is a FAR MORE sinister plan from Deathstroke brewing here and it'll leave you on the edge of your seat to the bitter end. Thanks for the review, and be prepared for more depressing moments in the future.

Lance Arkel- BOUT TIME YOU FRICKIN' REVIEWED AROUND HERE! Lol, just playin' with ya. So you're on your spring break huh? Mine's next week, so I'm kinda looking forward to that. I'm glad you enjoyed that nice twist between Cinderblock and Overload and don't worry, there is a reason for EVERYTHING in here. I think the little tid-bits where Slade appears then disappears is a good way of keeping the readers on edge, especially when we find out that Starfire can see Slade as well. Kinda makes ya wonder if Robin's really insane or not, don't it? I agree with you on stories that involve other superheroes and the Teen Titans, they do indeed steal the spot-light and it gets a little irritating. I have to give you a free cookie for noticing the alarm never going off when Red X robbed the bank, you may VERY WELL be the only on who did, cause you're the only one who commented on it, thank you! Your comment about the Red X image actually developed the beginning of this chapter, and I hope the way I explained it earlier made sense to you. I kept that episode "Birthmark" in mind when I read it, but I will indeed go back and re-write those images, I really appreciated your insight on that. As for whom you think Deathstroke is, what do you think now since I introduced Brother Blood's robots? I hope you haven't forgotten everything in my chapter "Friends and Foes," did you? Hehehehehehehehe. Thanks for the review, and the helpful insights.

Van Gordan- Okay dude, I swear to you, before I wrote this story I TOTALLY did not even read yours! I got up to chapter 22 or 23 in your story and I noticed that you and I have a lot of similar things in our fics. The whole anger gas in the air in your story and the seizure gas in my story, I swear man, today was the first time I read about that in your story and I've had the seizure gas idea for my story for a long time, so PLEASE don't think I'm stealing your ideas, by all means I'm not! But anyway now to say to you what I've wanted to say since I read your review.

(clears throught) He he…he he hehehehehe…..HEHEHEHEH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! Look at chu, you were SOOO SURE Deathstroke was Slade, but now what, you don't really know now do you! I bet me bringing up Brother Blood's robots boggled your mind, and I bet I know what you're thinking now, but all I'm going to say is don't give up on me yet. As the infamous Slade would say, "Patience Van Gordan…patience." And yes, the robots that beat the ever-loving crap out of Red X WERE in fact, Slade's. I think I can say that without giving anything away. No, Deathstroke isn't Killer Moth, that'd be pretty gay, someone as tuff as Deathstroke. Besides, I took him down in a previous chapter if you had forgotten, I don't remember which one. I'm thinking that you're thinking Batman is involved in this whole ordeal, but to clarify something with you, he's not. However, I will be bringing him AND the Justice League in the chapter after "The Fall of the Titans," so in two chapters pretty much. They won't be heavily involved, this is more focused on Robin and overcoming his adversary. In this chapter, I wanted to corner him in, make it look as though he is trapped and there is no way out. The rest of the Titans are dead, everyone has evacuated the city, and the only means of leaving were the bridge, so Robin's pretty much stuck there for a while. I'm actually HAPPY you wrote some of my clues down, and if I were YOU I'd go back and make sure I had ALL OF THEM. Oh about Red X, NO I couldn't kill him he's way too cool to kill, but that's the last we'll be seeing or hearing from in this story though. If you want to know who Deathstroke is, you're just going to have to wait and find out. It's coming, VERY SOON! As well as the end of my story………(begins sobbing) Thanks for the review, and I can't wait to hear your next thoughts on this chapter, MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!