Chapter 16- The Fall of the Titans
Robin flinched slightly and his eyes fluttered open; something woke him up. He leaned up slightly and looked out at the window and saw the sun hanging low above the city. The skies were now a mix warm oranges, and cool blues that danced in an endless waltz across the heavens signaling the end of a dieing day. Robin looked down at Starfire still lying on his chest and saw that she was still asleep. They must have slept for a couple of hours and Robin felt quite better after his little nap; especially since he had Starfire lying on top of him. He looked down at her and smiled, happy to see that she were safe in his arms when suddenly, he heard something behind him. He pushed himself up, careful not to wake Starfire, and peeked his head over the edge of the couch. Coming through the door, and scattered around the room, were more than thirty of the same armed robots he and Starfire fought a few hours earlier; and they were on a hunt; a hunt for the last remaining Titans. Robin ducked back behind the safety of the couch before one nearly spotted him and looked back at Starfire, fear and uncertainty covering his face.
"Starfire," he whispered, "Starfire!" He shook her gently and she began to stir.
Her eyes opened and she gazed up at him. "Robin," she said in a quiet voice. "What is—"before she could finish he put his hand over her mouth.
"Shhhh, we're in trouble…We've got to get out of here."
If Robin hadn't had his hand over her mouth, Starfire would have undoubtedly given away their position from her gasps of horror as one of Slade's androids passed over them.
"Starfire," said Robin taking his hand off of her mouth. "We need to get to the roof without them spotting us so I'm going to need you to get us there as quickly as possible." Robin reached into his utility belt and pulled out three shiny ball-bearings and held them in his hand. They clanked together and made a very loud noise which alerted every robot to their presence and all were now standing at attention. Slade's robots withdrew their weapons, and Brother Blood's charged their sonic cannons and cautiously made their way towards the couch.
Hearing their advance Robin yelled out, "Starfire Go!"
She rolled off him onto the floor and Robin threw the three ball-bearing over the couch. They hissed open and released a smokescreen around the androids after they bounced to the middle of the room, preventing them from seeing the fleeing teenagers. Robin grabbed Starfire's hand as they dashed for the door while their actions were cloaked by the gray gas. That would only slow them down though, and Robin knew they had to get to the roof and fly to safety before they realized they had disappeared. Robin and Starfire slid to a halt at a three-way intersection of the hallway and leaned against the wall. Robin came to the edge and peeked around the corner, then looked back at Starfire behind him.
"It's clear," he said. "We're almost—"before he could finish a pair of robotic hands shot out of the wall behind him and wrapped around his neck.
"ROBIN," Starfire yelled in horror at the sight of her friend being choked.
Her eyes burned green with anger and she let out a battle cry before cocking her fist back and punching through the wall. She reached in and pulled her arm out with a robotic head in hand. The cold fingers around Robin's neck went limp and he frantically pulled them away then stood next to Starfire and looked at her in amazement as she stood their still holding a head.
"Uh…thanks…Star," Robin said cautiously.
She looked at him, her eyes still glowing green and said, "Let us move!" She dropped the head and the two sprinted off into the right corridor.
"Wait a minute," Robin said as they passed but went back to a doorway marked "Sickbay."
"What is it Robin," Starfire asked looking back behind them for any advancing droids.
"We have to do something before we leave." He took out an explosive disk and held it between two fingers then burst through the door. There were no androids.
"Starfire do you still have your communicator," he asked.
"Yes," she said. "Robin I wish to know—"
"We're going to have to blow up Titan's Tower…"
Starfire looked at him in horror as he sat down at the computer in sick bay and began typing in commands. "WHAT! Robin, I do not I understand why we must destroy our home!"
Robin didn't look at her but he still answered. "If those things get inside the mainframe they'll learn about everything. The Justice League, our advanced weapons and tactics, programs…We can't allow Titans Tower to fall into the wrong hands! We have to destroy it."
Starfire didn't want to believe him, but he was right. This tower secretly had enough firepower and special weapons to level the entire city. The mainframe housed access codes and files to the Watch Tower and if the androids took control of it, they could take control of everything.
Robin reached in the back pocket of his utility belt and pulled out his communicator and set it on the table in front of him. "Starfire," he finally said. "I need your communicator."
Each Titan had a special pass code and phrase stored inside their communicators which allowed them to access the self-destruct sequence in the event of something like this. There were, however, precautions taken so that no one person could do this; you needed two communicators and two codes.
Starfire reached behind her back and took out her communicator. She opened a very small compartment at the base of the device which revealed a green button and pressed it. She raised it to her mouth and spoke the passwords, "Starfire. XJ dash one, one, seven; the moons of Tamaran dance in the heavens above my home." She lowered it and gave it to Robin who plugged it into the computer.
Robin did the same. "Robin. Kilo, Indigo, Lima, eight, four, nine, three; The Boy Wonder has his eyes on you." He plugged his communicator into the port next to Starfire's and waited for the dreaded response.
"ALERT," came a loud female voice over the intercoms of the tower. "Self-destruct sequence, has been, initiated…" The room became suddenly dark but then filled with red pulsating lights.
"Alright Starfire," Robin said. "Here we go."
He typed in a list of commands until it came to a screen that required another password for him to finally be able to engage the self-destruct mechanism. He keyed in "Delta 92500," then the word, "kill switch," and looked up at Starfire. "Alright Star…your turn."
She reluctantly bent over and put her hands to the keyboard and typed in, "Alpha 447.21," and then the word, "DeepEyes."
"ALERT…ALERT…WARNING…WARNING," came the voice over the loud speakers again. "Engaging Self-destruct, self-destruct has been initiated. You now have, four minutes to reach minimum, safe distance!"
Robin looked around the room and sighed. He did something he deeply regretted doing, but it had to be done no matter what. This tower was his home, his safe-house, his haven, and now it was about to be completely destroyed. He took out the communicators from the computer, which now displayed the count-down sequence on the small screens and handed Starfire hers.'
"Let's go…Star," Robin said eager to leave but reluctant to see his home go up in flames. "Starfire…Starfire?"
She did not move, she only stood there with here head hung low.
"Starfire, what's wrong we have to get out of here!"
"Robin," she said in a shaky voice. "I…I'm scared. I don't want to…what if we can't—"
"This isn't over Star. We need to regroup and reorganize. We'll come back with the Justice League and stop Deathstroke. We'll overcome this just like everything else, but right now we've got to get out of here."
Starfire looked up at him with tears in her eyes, but did not say anything.
"Come on Star…let's go…" He took up her hand and they made their way out the door.
"WARNING," came the loud voice again. "You now have, three minutes and thirty seconds, to reach minimum, safe distance."
Out of no where a borage of laser-fire zipped past their heads and impacted on the wall in front of the fleeing Titans. They turned their head and saw the blood thirsty androids giving chase as Robin and Starfire made a run for it. They turned a corned and Robin pinned Starfire against the wall then withdrew a birderang that had a red blinking light in the center of it.
"Get down," Robin ordered as he threw the device in the wall parallel to the one they had just turned out of.
He ducked down next to Starfire and covered them with his cape. The small red light began beeping and blinking faster, and faster, until finally
KABOOM!
The explosion went off nearly inches away from them, and every robot that tried to turn the corridor was blasted to pieces.
"Come on," Robin said as he lifted the cape off of them and took Starfire's hand.
The doorway to the stairwell that led to the roof was just down the hall, and they had a clear path to it. They came to the door and Robin opened it, but let Starfire go first when suddenly, he was struck in the back of his shoulder by a laser. He let out a cry of pain then stumbled through the doorway and into Starfire's arms.
"Robin," she cried out in horror.
There was no wound; his shirt merely had a hole burned through it. "I'm fine," Robin said. "We're almost there, let's go!"
Robin made his way up the staircase while Starfire stayed behind for a moment to lay down some cover fire for them. She charged up a starbolt and sent the enormous aura of energy hurling towards the army of robots that were headed their way and a massive explosion went off in the center of the droids, but more just kept coming.
"Starfire, come on," Robin yelled down to her.
She stopped and closed the door behind her, then melted the knob shut to slow the robot army down to buy them some more time. Starfire came behind Robin and they turned another corner near the top of the stairs; freedom was just a few steps away. The outdoor sunlight shown through the bottom and side cracks of the door; it almost seemed as though they were traveling up a stairway to heaven. Once they reached the top, Robin reached for the knob and swung it open, and the cool evening breeze rushed over their bodies rewarding them with the sweet sensations of freedom…but the feeling was short lived. After Starfire came through the doorway Robin closed it behind her and sighed. They ran to the middle of the roof and looked at one another, relieved to see they had made it out alive.
Robin looked down at his communicator; 2:38 left. "Alright Star, let's—"before he could finish they heard a rather strange crackling noise like discharging electricity around them.
They turned back to back and poised for battle, but were met by something very unexpected. Robin and Starfire grit their teeth and stood their ground as they watched twenty of Slade's robots de-cloak and close in around them. Robin was familiar with technology that could turn a man invisible, but he never thought Slade processed such a thing. The two battle ready Titans scanned the platoon of robots who circled them like a pack of hungry sharks, ready to strike at their prey. Robin reached back and took Starfire's hand and squeezed it tight then the two turned their heads and looked back at each other.
"Starfire," Robin whispered to her in a calm voice. "Let's get out of here…"
The two grinned at each other and Starfire held on to his hand even tighter. They looked back at the androids and smiled then suddenly Starfire shot up into the air and pulled Robin up with her in an attempt to escape the dreadful robots. This stunt, however, was cut short when three of the black monsters leapt into the air after them. Two came above Starfire and landed on her back, while the other grabbed hold of Robin and tore him away from her. He felt his hand slip her grasp, and he watched as Starfire's figure became smaller and smaller as he descended to the top of Titans Tower. He landed with a loud CRASH, but his fall was cushioned by the android that still held him down firmly against its' chest. Starfire struggled to break loose from the two automatons that were fighting to bring her down, but she shot one in the face and ripped the arm off the other and both fell away from her.
Robin reached in the front of his utility belt and pulled out a birderang. He moved his head to the side then with all his might, stabbed the android in the face that held him down. He leapt forward in a squatting position on his feet and withdrew his Bo-staff and prepared himself as several golems charged him.
Seeing Robin's dire need of assistance, Starfire gasped and flew down towards the action when suddenly a laser shot whizzed past her head. She stopped in mid-air but had to retreat as more and more shots came flying at her as she glided through the air.
Robin readied himself for the first android and in an almost silent motion accompanied by a battle-cry, the end of his Bo-staff made contact with the side of the automaton's head. It stumbled back but was replaced by another which came up behind the first, but Robin was quick to react and jumped over it. Crouching behind it, he put his staff under his arm and thrust it upwards and through the golem's back, exiting out the chest. Robin stood and ripped it out, and the limp mechanical body fell lifelessly to the ground. More came at him but he was quick to dispose of them too, until one unexpectedly came up behind him and kicked him in the back. Robin stumbled forward but was met by another foot to the chest and flew back into the side of a ventilation shaft. He hit it with a loud BANG and before he could get up a pair of metallic hands had already grabbed him by the collar and tossed him across the roof and into a larger group of robots. He slid to a halt, already he had lost his Bo-staff, and another android grabbed him by the head and kneed him in the face. He wobbled back again but was hit in side by an elbow and as he stumbled that way, he was punched again by another. Robin was being thrown around inside the circle of androids like a child being tormented by the schoolyard bullies.
Starfire looked down at the scene in horror as she dodged more incoming laser fire. She felt so helpless, watching the boy she loved so dearly being beaten like that, but she couldn't do anything about it until the robots below her stopped firing.
Robin fell to his knees in the middle of the circle, shaken and out of breath, but all the more determined to win. The automatons closed in around him, but Robin didn't care. He was letting them walk into his trap. He inconspicuously pulled out two birderangs from the front pouch on his utility belt and pressed them together. One of the androids stepped in front of Robin and looked down on him as though he were a frightened dog then cupped its' hands together and raised them above its' head. Robin smiled, then in a roar of fury and anger, "EEEEEEHHHHHHHHYYYYYYAAAAAAAAA" a sword shot out from the two birderangs (see 'Spellbound') and he drove it into the androids chest and through the top of its' head. The thing twitched uncontrollably until Robin finally yanked the sword out of the golem and let it fall lifelessly to the ground. He turned and faced the others, which were already having second thoughts on their advance, and motioned to them with his hand to "bring it on." One android came at him but Robin cut it vertically in half then spun around and sliced the head off another that tried to take him from behind. Another came and then another, but he sliced and diced each and every one of them as they leapt in the air after him. The last one fell, and he let the hand wielding his sword hang to the side and looked around at all the dead androids he had just cut to pieces. He turned his head and saw a large group of robots over by the edge of the roof shooting at Starfire who was dodging every shot coming her way. Robin planted his feet and got a running start when something unexpectedly jumped on his back and tackled him to the ground; but he couldn't see anything behind him. His shoulders and chest were drove into the cement and at the same time an automaton de-cloaked on top of his back. Two more joined in, each holding down one of Robin's arms, while the one on his back grabbed his hair and pulled his head back for him to see what was about to happen.
The group of androids shooting at Starfire ceased fire and cleared a space in-between them. Robin's head was forced to the right and he saw a lone android carrying a rather large, oblong, rectangular case in it's' left hand which looked heavy from the way it slouched to the side. The golem stopped and turned its' head to look back at Robin then dropped the case and the top flipped open almost automatically. Robin looked at the android curiously, unsure of what it was doing until it reached into the case and pulled out an enormous rocket launcher and mounted it on its' shoulder. Robin's head was forced to look at Starfire, who in the distance, seemed like a small toy that you could simply pick up and hold in your hand, but at the same time he could also see the rocket launcher wielding android in the corner of his vision.
"ROBIN," Starfire yelled when she saw that he was pinned down by the three droids. She flew as fast as she could towards him; unbeknownst to the threat that was waiting for her to come in range.
"STARFIRE NO," Robin yelled but she could not hear. "GET OUT OF HERE!"
She still could not hear, but once she got within a hundred yards of the tower she stopped and a look of dread came across her face as she now noticed the android aiming its' huge weapon at her. But it was already too late. The target reticle danced around inside the scope like a firefly until it fixed itself on the gold skinned alien girl and displayed the word "lock" on the bottom of the screen below her.
"STARFIRE!"
Robin tried to yank his arms free of the automaton's death grip around him, but it was no use. The sound of combusting engine fuel rang through the air with a loud PAKOOM, and he watched in horror as a cloud of smoke burst out the back of the launcher and ejected a huge rocket that glided gracefully through the air towards Starfire.
Starfire finally saw the incoming rocket headed her way, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. She turned her head slowly and looked down at Robin watching her in disbelief. Their eyes met, and a vague smile came across her face while Robin struggled to break free.
"Robin…"she whispered under her breath.
She closed her eyes with the image of her love's horrified face imprinted in her mind and turned her head away. A tear rolled down her cheek, and then she felt the warm, painful sensation of hard metal impacting on her body.
KKAAABBOOOOOM!
"SSSSTTTTAAAARRRREEEEFFFFIIIIRRRREEEE," Robin yelled as he watched Starfire's limp charred body fall lifelessly into the ocean.
The android that shot her dropped the rocket launcher casually on the ground as if it were nothing and strode its' way towards Robin being held down by the other robots. Robin looked up at it, anger and frustration building up inside him, and gritted his teeth. The automaton slowly reached behind its' back and pulled out a hand laser and raised it to the last remaining Titan's head; taunting him after its' last cruel and merciless act. Robin began breathing faster and faster, and with an angry roar he threw the menacing robots off his back and sprung to his feet.
"EEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He looked into the cold dead eyes of the android who just killed Starfire for a moment then thrust his hand up into the machine's chest and ripped out its' power source. Its' heart. The droid's eyes went blank, and it was dead but Robin wanted more, he wanted, REVENGE. The golem fell back and the fingers on it's' hand began to twitch. Robin got on top of it and straddled the android then picked up a piece of rubble and raised it above his head. He looked down at the robot, hatred and rage consuming him and bashed in its' face over, and over, and over again until its' head was merely a pile of twisted metal. He rose the block above himself one more time, when something caught his attention in the corner of his eye. It was his communicator, and it was still displaying the countdown timer. He only had eight seconds left. He angrily threw down the piece of cement away and got up off the android and made a mad dash for the edge of the roof.
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
Robin leapt off the roof and glided fearlessly through the air when suddenly a massive explosion went off behind him.
BAWHAM!
The cross section of the tower went up in flames and propelled Robin like a leaf blowing in the wind hundreds of feet into the air. Another explosion went off at the base of Titans Tower, thus beginning the destruction of each section of the enormous T from bottom to top all with an earthshaking:
KaPloom!
KAPLOOM!
KAPLOOM!
KAPLOOM!
Then a final grand explosion went off to finish anything left.
BAWOOOM! WHAM! PPPKKKKKOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!
Titan's Tower had been destroyed.
Robin hit the icy waters with a loud SPLASH and felt his body quickly begin to sink. He was fully aware of everything around him and he realized that he was starting to run out of air, but he didn't care, he wanted his life to end.
His mind began to drift, and the voices of his fallen comrades echoed in his head as he sank deeper, and deeper, and deeper, into the cold black abyss.
"Batman," Robin yelled as Clayface pulled him into his chest.
"Don't worry kid," said Clayface after flinging one of his arms and covered Robin in mud then pulled the Boy Wonder into him. "You'll get your turn as soon as I'm done—"suddenly the brown slimy monster was struck in the side by a blue pulsating beam causing him to throw Batman out of his chest, but still held onto Robin. Clayface was struck again and he finally let go of the other hero.
Robin got up and rushed to his partner's side. "Are you alright!"
"I'm fine," said Batman. "But who—"before he could finish Clayface came up from behind, ready to pounce on the Dark Knight when he was abruptly hit in the side again by the same blue wave of energy.
Batman and Robin turned their heads to find the source, but where met by a tall dark figure wearing a brown robe over his entire body. The dynamic duo looked back for their adversary but saw that he was now a steaming pile of mud.
"Boo-yah…"the mysterious character casually said.
"That was quite a show you put on there," said Batman as he and Robin came up next to him.
"Yeah, we appreciate the help," said Robin gracefully.
"Ah…no sweat," said the elusive figure. "Well, I'll see you guys later."
"Wait," said Batman. "We're grateful for what you did, but…who exactly are you?"
The cloaked man signed then reluctantly pulled off his hood, revealing a face of flesh and machine with a red glowing eye. He didn't look that much older than Robin, and for his age, he was rather big and masculine, and Batman and Robin couldn't help but be curious as to what happened to him. "The name's Victor…Victor Stone."
"Victor…"Batman paused for a moment and processed this information. "Can't say I've seen you before, you new in town?"
"Yeah…"said Victor. "Well, I need to get going. It was nice talking to you."
"Wait a sec—"before he could finish Victor turned and ran down a dark alley and disappeared.
"Well that was odd," said Robin.
"Tell me about it."
Later that night in the Batcave, while Robin undressed and hung his uniform in the vault, Batman sat at the main computer and began doing some research.
"Hey Dick, come here for a second. Take a look at this," said Batman.
"What is it Bruce," said Robin as he came up behind his chair.
"You know that boy we ran into earlier tonight?"
"Yeah…Victor, right?"
Batman looked back at him and said, "He's dead."
Robin's eyes widened and he was awestruck at this accusation. "What, what do you mean?"
"Says here in the police reports and files that he passed away along with his mother during an experiment at S.T.A.R. Labs."
"Wow," said Robin somehow feeling a connection to Victor with the loss of his parent. "That's…that's terrible."
"I know."
The dynamic duo ran into Victor time and again who always lent a helping hand to Batman and Robin, and it wasn't long before Batman took him in and gave him a home.
Robin snapped back into reality when a school of fish swam by him, but then he began thinking of when he met Beast Boy and Raven.
"Hey Cyborg," said Robin as he and his friend stood on a rooftop over looking Gotham city. "Bet cha can't jump all the way over to that building over there."
"Oh really," said Cyborg with a raised eyebrow. "How much you wanna bet I can?"
"Hmm…how bout…your desert for tomorrow's dinner," Robin suggested with a mischievous grin on his face.
"Ya mean Alfred's chocolate moose pie," Cyborg exclaimed. "What are you insane?"
"So you gonna do it or what?"
"Alright man, hope you know what you're getting yourself into though." Cyborg backed up from the edge of the roof and in a running stance.
"Ya ready," Robin asked. "On my mark, oh…and Cyborg…I can already taste it."
"Yeah right man, its' got my name written all of em.'"
"Alright then, ready…set…g—"suddenly a scream shot through the air followed by a monstrous roar.
Cyborg stumbled forward and hit the ground with a loud THUD but quickly got up. "What was that!"
"I don't know," said Robin as his eyes skimmed over the city. "But it can't be far…wait, down there! The circus tent, come on!"
Robin and Cyborg leapt from rooftop to rooftop until they came to the massive tent where hoards of frightened people were piling out.
"Sounds like somebody didn't like the opening act," Cyborg said sarcastically.
"Well then we'll just have to make up one of our own." Robin pulled out a communicator from his utility belt and called in Batman. "There's a hold-up at the eastside Circus, me and Cyborg are on it now, but you'd better hurry."
"I'm on my way," said Batman over the intercom before his face disappeared.
"Alright Cyborg, let's go!" Robin and Cyborg dashed into the tent only to be met by something rather strange.
"IF YOU WON'T WILLINGLY GIVE UP YOUR MONEY N' VALUABLES," said the fat circus owner. "THEN I'LL JUST HAVE TO TAKE EM' FROM YA!"
With that a giant stampeding green elephant charged a group of fleeing bystanders and scooped them up in its' trunk and dangled them upside-down, causing their wallets, jewelry, and necklaces to fall off.
"What the—"Robin said after seeing the enormous green elephant.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't a couple of pesky littla do-gooders," said the fat circus own standing next to his green elephant. "Sorry lads. The show's been canceled this evening, so run along home now before you's get hurt!"
"The only one running along anywhere tonight is going to be you," Robin exclaimed, "to jail!"
"Ahahahahaha," the evil circus owner laughed. "Not while I got my trusty little freak here to take care of ya!" He pulled out a whip and lashed the huge green elephant in the back with it. "Alright freak, after em'!"
Robin and Cyborg were flabbergasted as the elephant did something they had never seen before. It turned into a boa-constrictor and leapt at the two heroes. Robin and Cyborg jumped out of the way from its bight and got into their fighting stances. Cyborg charged it from behind and grabbed onto its' neck and the huge snake tried shaking him off but he held on for dear life. Robin pulled out a grappling hook and shot it around the snake's mouth then with all his might yanked the snake's head into the ground. Cyborg jumped off and rejoined Robin, while the depraved circus owner came up to the strange animal and started yelling at it.
"GET UP YOU FREAK," he shouted as he lashed the green snake over and over again with his whip. "GET UP AND FIGHT YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF FILTH!"
The snake finally did, but then it changed into a massive gorilla and came at Robin and Cyborg again. It raised its' bulky hands above it's head and pounded the ground in front of them and sent the two heroes flying. Once Cyborg hit the ground, the gorilla picked him up and chucked him through the roof of the tent. Robin got to his feet and pulled out a set of birderangs from his utility belt and cocked his hands back. The gorilla charged again, and Robin threw the two birderangs with precision accuracy, both hitting the huge beast in the stomach and then the face. The gargantuan gorilla fell to the ground and Robin leapt into the air to pounce on it, but it swiped him with its' massive arm out of the way and across the arena into a poll. The gorilla went over and put its' foot on top of the Boy Wonder and began slowly applying pressure but it stopped.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING," came the loud crackling voice of the circus owner. "FINISH HIM! CRUSH HIM!"
The gorilla hesitated and looked down at Robin, uncertainty etched across its' face.
"FREAK, I TOLD YOU TO CRUSH HIM!" The circus owner whipped the green gorilla again, but it still did not respond. "ARE YOU DEAF OR SOMETHING FREAK! I SAID DO IT! YOU WORTHLESS FREAK OF NATURE I SAID DO IT! DO IT!"
The huge beast snarled then let his foot off of Robin and turned to his merciless owner, anger and hate bursting its' way out of him. With a loud roar, the metamorphic brute swiped the disgruntled circus owner across the tent and into a concession stand. The gorilla stomped over to him then picked the man up and threw him around the arena again, and again, until finally he passed out. The angry brute stopped his attacks then looked back at Robin who had already regained consciousness. Robin poised himself for battle, unsure of what to think from this strange animal's change of heart, until finally it did something Robin had never seen before. It turned into a boy. Robin let his guard down then slowly walked over to the quivering boy who looked as though he were about to cry.
"Uh…are you—"before he could finish the boy turned into a roadrunner and fled. "Hey wait!"
"Robin," came Cyborg behind him. "Are you alright!"
Robin didn't answer at first, and before he could say anymore, Batman showed up.
"What happened," asked the Dark Knight seeing that he had missed all the action.
Robin didn't answer, instead he turned away and walked out of the circus tent. Cyborg looked up at Batman, who gazed at him with a suspicious look on his face, and shrugged his shoulders, then went after Robin.
Six months had passed since the incident at the circus and the three heroes ran into the green changeling every so often. Usually he was caught stealing food and always managed to get away in one of his elusive animal forms, but they always let him go. One Monday night, Bruce announced that he would be leaving on business for London, and would be gone for a little over three weeks. It was then during the first week of Bruce's absence that Robin and Cyborg found the strange green boy half-alive and nearly starved in a dark alley so they brought him back with them to Wayne Manor. They all became friends, and Robin and Cyborg learned of their new friend's, Garfield Logan, horrible past.
Then there was Raven.
While on patrol one dark and stormy night, Robin happened across a rather dark and eerie girl standing on the roof of a cathedral. The skies were dark, and the rain was drenching him on the rooftop as he landed on it gracefully behind the girl.
"Um…excuse me, uh…," Robin said looking at her curiously. Thunder crackled and a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. "I don't really know how you got up here but…the weather's not letting up and, it's… getting kinda late."
She still did not respond.
"Uh, hello… miss?" Robin inched towards her then suddenly she spun around and revealed four evil red glowing eyes. He stumbled backwards in shock but regained his ground.
"He's coming," she finally said.
"Huh," Robin said.
"He's coming, and he's going to lay ruin to your world."
"Uh what uh…what are you talking about?"
"HE'S COMING!" The strange girl elevated herself off the edge of the roof and hovered in mid-air. She put her hands together as though she were in prayer and began chanting and speaking of strange things.
"From the pits of Azerath a fiery demon shall emerge and scorch the heavens with the flames of the underworld. All who stand in his path shall burn forever as they behold the unrelenting fury of Trigon! HE IS COMING AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP HIM!" She reached up towards the sky and a huge, black, glowing, transparent raven emerged from behind her and spread its' wings.
Suddenly, the girl's arms fell to her sides and the four eyes under her hood vanish. Her head slouched forward slightly and then she slowly looked up at Robin, who gazed at her with horror and disbelief. Her eyes fluttered then suddenly she passed out and began falling towards the paved streets of Gotham.
Robin was quick to react and scooped her up in his arms before she could hit the cement as he swung to the roof of the adjacent building on his grappling hook. He landed gracefully on the roof and held her in his arms, then called Cyborg on his communicator and told him to prepare a bed, and that "they were receiving a new guest for the night."
The odd blue haired girl remained unconscious for a few days, and when she woke she was quite hostile and nearly took out Gar (Beast Boy) and Victor (Cyborg). They all grew to like each other though, and the sorceress girl stayed with them until she were able to regain her memory.
The week before Bruce was due back, they met Starfire…
Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy were in their room with the balcony window open one night playing video games, when everything began shaking violently.
"WOW," yelled Garfield (Beast Boy) as a huge meteor flew no more than a hundred feet over the roof.
"What was that," Cyborg hauler.
"I don't know," Robin said before getting up and standing on the balcony. He looked all around then spotted the huge ball of flames slowly descending towards the earth.
"What is that thing," Beast Boy asked standing next to Robin.
It crash only a few miles away from Wayne Manor.
"What's going on," Raven yelled as she burst into the room. "What was that!"
"It didn't land too far from here," Robin said as he made his way back into the room. "I'm going to go check it out. If you want to join me, you can."
"Master Dick sir," said Alfred. "May I ask why you are leaving on such short notice?"
Robin strode past him and headed for the Batcave. "A UFO crashed not too far from here. We're going to investigate."
"Certainly Master Dick," Alfred responded. "Shall I cancel the pizza then?"
"No. We'll just heat it up in the oven when we get back."
Robin entered the Batcave and got on the R-Cycle then headed towards the crash site while Victor road with Garfield. Raven stayed behind to meditate. They came to a huge smoldering crater in the side of a foothill in the woods, just outside of town with a strange alien ship poking out of it."
"Guys," Garfield said in a trembling voice. "I really don't think we should be here. That's an alien space-ship and they could he here to suck out our brains and stick something up our—"
"Quiet Gar," Robin yelled at him in a low voice as a hatch on the bottom of the spaceship hissed open and vented steam.
The three teenagers ducked down behind a bush and watched as a pair of glowing green eyes emerged from the spaceship. Its' body was cloaked by the smokescreen, but they could still see and hear it makes its' way onto the ramp of the hatch and stride onto solid ground.
"This thing doesn't look friendly Rob," Cyborg whispered.
Robin looked back at him then for a moment then turned to see the scene unfolding before him.
"ROBIN WHAT ARE YOU DOING," Garfield yelled at him in a quiet voice as the Boy Wonder stood up and walked casually over towards the spaceship.
"Uh…hello," Robin said daringly.
The green glowing eyes behind the clouds of steam turned sharply in his direction and starred him down. Robin stopped, seeing that his stunt may have not been the best of ideas, and starred back at it. The smoke began to settle, and Robin gasped as he was met by something he wasn't expecting; a beautiful red-haired gold skinned girl. The alien girl grit her teeth and raised a fist at Robin and her hand began to glow. Robin froze and slowly reached back to pull out a birderang but stopped when her "new alien friend" dropped her arm and began staggering. Her eyes fluttered and they rolled in the back of her head then suddenly she fell to the ground unconscious.
"Um…what just happened," Beast Boy asked as he came alongside Robin.
"Interesting way of saying, 'we come in peace,'" Cyborg commented.
Robin didn't answer, instead he knelt down and picked the alien girl's head up and cradled her in his arms. "I think we should bring her back with us. We don't know what's happened or what could happen to her."
They all agreed with Robin's suggestion and they took her back to Wayne Manor.
"Ah, Master Dick," said Alfred as he came to greet Robin and the others. "I see you're—"He stopped and watched as Robin strode past him carrying the strange looking alien girl. He rolled his eyes, seeing that they were having yet another teenager staying the night and said, "Shall I prepare 'another' room for our guest Master Dick?"
"That would be nice Alfred," Robin said.
"I never knew Wayne Manor was such a popular hang out," Alfred commented to himself.
Robin followed a pair of tiny bubbles with his eyes that scurried their way like new born tadpoles to the surface from his mouth. He starred at the small glare of light cast down by the diminishing sun through the water as he sank deeper and deeper. He reached up and tried to grab hold of the light to pull him out of the shivering water with, but he couldn't. The light became dimmer, and dimmer, and dimmer…and dimmer, until it was no more. He had never felt so alone in his life; so helpless, so vulnerable, so weak. Robin was a boy, no…a man of courage, discipline, and determination, but he had given up on life. A heavy stream of bubbles came out of his mouth and he began to choke on water until finally, his eyes rolled in the back of his head and he fell unconscious.
"This…is not your grave," a voice echoed in his head as something wrapped around his waist. "But…you are welcomed, in it..."
A/N:
Whelp…that's it the story's over now, I hope you enjoyed it. So what'd you guys…..NOT! Just kidding, LOL. Before I say anything, I just want everyone to know that that last quote was actually from Halo 2. I know, I know I couldn't come up with anything more creative of my own but I thought it would be a great cliffhanger to leave you guys off with. Anyway, so now Starfire's gone and Titans Tower is well…BLOWN TO KINGDOM COME, and Robin is sinking to his cold icy grave at the bottom of the ocean. What a terrible way to go don't chu think? Anycrap, the italicized print that I have if you couldn't figure that out, that's Robin having flashbacks/memories of when he met all the Titans. I was going to go through when the Teen Titans finally came to, but it would've taken too long so I'll probably put that in the next chapter or another one. So yeah, well I'm gonna get to the personal thanks now and revise this before I go to bed. Hope you all enjoyed. Next Chapter: Blood Red Skies.
Robinfan- Don't jump to conclusions just yet.
PrinceofDarkness- So you're still stickin' with yer Slade theory huh? Well, I'm not gonna say anything to that. But in the chapter after this, we're gonna find out who he is. And yes, Deathstroke has/did quarantine Robin and Starfire, thus giving him the opportunity to take them out. Thanks for the comment.
DigiDestined- So you though my last chapter was anti-climatic, in what way? I mean, it really wasn't the climax…I don't think. I kinda had it thought that when we find out who Deathstroke is that would be the climax, or do I have it all wrong? I may have mentioned the Justice League, which will be in the next chapter, but don't go thinking everyone's going to live happily ever after or something, hehehehehehe. This story is still FAR from over. Thanks for the review.
Snowfeather- Way to go, you caught on to the Robots being salvaged from a junk pile. THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAME FROM, THEY WERE SALVAGED! GOOD JOB PICKING THAT UP! So, yeah, the villain has indeed used them to get rid of Robin and Starfire and I hope you took note to the fact that Slade's droids were the ones who in the end took them out. The bio-chemical warfare is just the tip of the iceberg in this story, REMEMBER, there's still a STOCKPILE of URANIUM and KRYPTONITE missing. Thanks for the review, and don't worry, the suspense will never end.
Whiterose- Sorry your name's too long so I'm just gonna leave it at that. I don't know if you read chapter 15 or not, but Red X isn't dead. How Red X was eating pizza with his mask, he just lifted the front part of it so his mouth was exposed…I guess…thanks for the review.
KaliAnn- Just an interesting chapter, what did you find troubling about it aside from the fact that I killed all the Teen Titans? Hehehehehehe. Glad you liked the get together at the end, but as you've probably now realized that was short lived. Thanks for the comment.
Aries-Raven- Yeah…they're all dead…and now I've finish ALL OF THEM OFF, including the tower, hehehehehehe. Bit of a shocker don't chu think? Your question about why Robin and Starfire didn't leave…the way I looked at it, they weren't in the city itself when the chemical weapons were released, so they weren't exposed to them right away. I figured living on an island would kinda isolate them from the toxins n' stuff and then there's the bridge that blew up. I guess they could just hop in the T-ship and get out, but they're so shaken by the loss of their friends that they're mourning their deaths…and then they take a nap. So yeah, that's pretty much it. Thanks for the review.
Lance Arkel- You giggled like a school girl when you read about the skull and cross-bones and the infamous line! You're supposed to be shocked and appalled! Sorry, kinda got carried away there. Oh, and yeah, the Apprentice episodes are indeed the best, they're my personal favorites as well…that and "Date with Destiny," oh and "Birthmark," or was it something else. Anycrap, Deathstroke's intents well…to say the least without giving away too much…hmm…they are…I don't know, you'll find out in a few more chapters. The whole "Robin park on other side of street" thing, you're the only one who commented on that, and I never looked at it that way until you said something. I just kinda wanted to give Robin and Starfire a reason for not being blown away. I will indeed go back and change the description of Red X, but later on, I'm on a roll with this story and I can't let up now. Oh, and yes, I have seen the Predator movies and they're like by far some of the coolest movies out there, I like the first one more though than the second. Your comment on the sky/ weather, yeah it would've gone VERY WELL with this chapter, but I've got plans for that for the chapter in which we learn the identity of Deathstroke. It'll either be the blood red clouds like you said, or something along the lines of a storm. Also, the almost serene cloud settings of this chapter are I think ironic cause you're thinking happy-go-lucky, but they're also symbols of a dieing day and also, the death of the Titans. See what I'm saying? I know you'd pick up on that, but I thought I'd say it anyway. I think I'll keep the rating the same, but I'll make a mental note not to describe blood and gore. I'd write more but I kinda need to get to bed, don't worry, I've got plenty more twists coming up. Thanks for the review.
Van Gordan- Sorry if I got a little carried away with complimenting your story, but I LITERALLY spent almost all of Sunday reading it, AND STILL DIDN'T FINISH! Hope I didn't leave ya hangin' too bad with this chapter, but what did you think of the flash backs though? I know it's not like how the comics go, but based on the comic story and the T.V. show story, both clashed so I had to make something up. I really hope you haven't lost faith in me for steering you away from the Slade theory by all means this story isn't even over yet! But yes, you are right, it is someone who knows enough about the Titans and I'm sorry to say this but I'm going to go ahead and tell you it's not Wintergreen…or the H.I.V.E lady. GOSH I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHO IT IS! I know most of the history behind Slade and Wintergreen, but I'm sorry it's not him. Since I've been tormenting you the most, I'll try and give you a hint………………Deathstroke is in fact a villain they have come in contact with before. I know Deathstroke in the comic's is Slade, but remember, I'm not exactly following the comic guidelines that closely. I wanted to tell you something about your story, you may want to consider change the OVERALL name to it. I'll be honest, I keep having to remind myself that Blast to the Supposed Past isn't the same as your other ones…but then again that title sounds really cool, ya know what, never-mind, don't bother with what I said. But who's Victor though? Ya mean Victor Stone as in Cyborg, or someone completely different? Well I need to get to bed now, but thanks for the comment. Hang in there, two more chapters and you'll find out who Deathstroke is.
