Hi there. Ah, I feel much better now…I just need to stay away from the junk food, and I'll be safe…for the moment. (Touches stomach nervously.) Anyway-I think this chapter is longer than the others. It was really funny because I was writing this today all during school, and my science teacher kept coming over to see if I was still working or not. He didn't mind though-he's really cool. Ah, well enough with the useless babbling:

Remix 17: Trust me, it's absolutely no problem. I'm not upset at all. And, I followed your advice and turned off that thing that blocks anonymous reviews…I honestly had no clue that stupid thing was on…

Alexnandru: Please! Try to relax! You say you're going to die from slow updates (though I don't think I'm THAT slow) but if you keep this up, I'M going to be the one dying. You're working my finger tips off! A person can only write so much! Still-I'm really flattered that you like my story so much. Yay!

GDeacur: Oops. Was I doing that filler stuff? Apologies…I guess Ch. 2 could qualify in that category…Yes, I am planning to name the first chapter…one of these days…glad you liked the song lyrics.

Crazy Girl Person: Aw, man, is it really? That just sucks, since I had some really good stuff planned…but… (Slyly) I don't suppose their banning quotes, or certain sentences out of books, does it? I found some great stuff in these books I've been reading and I want to put it at the beginning. (Then jumps to attention and begins to bow.) Yes, of course, your craziness. I LOVE your username!

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter Four: Omens

?-

The people of Jump City wandered up and down the street lazily, sometimes pausing occasionally to gaze into the window of a shop, while dark clouds crept across the sky, overshadowing the city in a menacing sort of way.

Some civilians were smart enough to carry an umbrella with them, anticipating the coming thunderstorm. Others, however, chose to believe that it would merely blow over and there was no reason to worry.

If they were to pause, if they were only to take a minute to gaze at the sky and study it carefully, they might have perceived what the storm clouds really were:

An omen, hanging over their heads, waiting for something to happen, foreboding and black.

"Fools…"

They'd never see Slade's attack coming, until it hit them, full force. And by then, there would be nothing they could do to prevent it. Those pitiful, teeming masses would run (screaming their heads off most likely, as they usually did) for the heroes, the guardians of the city: The Teen Titans.

Unfortunately for them, the Titans would already be dead.

Slade-

Though he had often lectured Robin many times on the subject, Slade was not as patient right now as he would have liked. However, since there was nothing he could do-at the moment, anyway-he struggled to release his tension in any possible means that he could.

In other words, pacing.

The soles of his boots clicked quietly against the cold floor, as he walked back and forth before the white screens in front of him. He would normally be watching his cameras and keeping tabs on all the recent events, but…

There was only so much time one could spend watching (and listening) to a little alien brat hysterically sobbing her eyes out.

He had to admit though; he was very interested regarding Robin's whereabouts. Where would the boy go that was so important, he'd leave his team to defend the city by themselves…leaderless…He supposed the one called Cyborg would only be too happy to fill in as a replacement leader…what an interesting revelation. He'd have to make a mental note of that for later.

The sound of someone approaching made him turn sharply. A single robot drone emerged from the shadows, and handed him a single tape, labeled, "Main City Surveillance."

"What the-"

Starfire-

"R-R-Robin is gone!" Starfire bawled, tears streaming from her emerald eyes. Raven, nervous, tried to edge away from the other girl, but the alien only reached out, crushing the Goth in a hug of inhuman strength.

"Friend Raven, he is gone, and it is my entire fault!"

"Star-"

"I had only gone to awaken him from his slumber of the deep, and he was gone!"

"Starfire-"

"He is gone! He is gone! He is-"

"Starfire!" Raven barked abruptly. The Tameranian hiccupped but remained silent.

"Have you forgotten about his communicator?"

Starfire blinked slowly. Then she clapped her hands and shot into the air.

"Oh, yes! Quite wonderful, friend Raven! I shall contact him immediately!"

And she zipped off to the main computer. Raven waited until she had left the room, before turning to the closet behind the couch.

"You can come out now."

A trembling Beast Boy and Cyborg emerged, glancing around frantically.

"Is she gone?"

"Duh."
Beast Boy gave a sigh of relief and collapsed wearily on a chair.

"Ugh, nothing is more nerve-wracking than a girl with that crazy, hormone…things…"

Raven gave the slightest shadow of a smile.

Robin-

He was about to turn onto a side street when his communicator suddenly went off. Robin jumped in alarm, before reaching under his long, dark coat, where his utility was carefully concealed. He had had a feeling this would happen…

Part of him wanted to pick it up, but he knew that if he did, his friends would only pester him with questions until he told them where he was going…and if they found out where he was going, they'd only jump to conclusions.

He knew it was a stupid thing to do, especially if he needed to call for back up, but-what was the worst that could happen?

Famous last words…

Robin sighed and stretched his finger towards the "Off" button…

?-

Nobody would pay attention to a stranger. Most of them just walked right by, blowing them off. Not that they honestly cared; though it would be so amusing to whip off the disguise and cause mayhem, their identity needed, for the moment, to remain safely anonymous.

The streets were a little emptier now, probably because the lunch hour was rolling around. A couple of businessmen walked along the sidewalk, laughing about something…there were a few punks who looked like they were on drugs, a kid in a long coat with black, spiky hair, and a young woman in a neon green skirt…

Nothing terribly interesting…well, not yet anyway. Their trip to this miserable little hellhole of a civilization might actually be kind of fun…

So long as Slade was willing to bargain.

Starfire-

The red-headed alien stared at the screen in confusion and horror. Robin's communicator was inaccessible.

"Robin," she whimpered. "What is going on?"

Slade-

At first he saw nothing-well, nothing to really stir in interest. It was merely the same, boring old city scene.

Then-

A newcomer entered the camera's view. They were wearing a plain, brown coat, and they wore a plain black mask with slits for eyes, that covered their entire face, so no gender was distinguishable.

Slade watched carefully as the stranger strolled down the street in a seemingly aimless way. But, when they had reached the edge of the sidewalk, the stranger stopped and turned…staring straight at the camera, eyes glowing an eerie shade of orange behind the mask.

This was getting good…

And then, as fast as the stranger appeared, they disappeared, right into thin air. It seemed that his newest point of interest was a bit of a magician…or a telepath.

A moment later, the madman was shocked to find the shadowy stranger reappear right before the camera, even though Slade knew it was placed on one of the highest skyscrapers around.

"Hello, Mr. Wilson," they said in a garbled tone, not unlike the voice Robin had used when he was Red X. But that wasn't what caught his attention…

"Yes, Slade, I know who you are. Don't act so surprised, it doesn't suit you."

Slade, rather alarmed, (though he hated to admit it) tried to regain his composure.

"I know what you want, and I think I can help you get it."

Intriguing…

"I want the Titans dead, as do you. So…I was thinking of a compromise."

Slade leaned forward intently. This stranger might have something.

"My identity will remain secret for the time being, and I know you'll understand-"

He certainly did…
"-But for now, you may refer to me as…Holocaust."

Now that was a name that he liked.

"We will not meet right away, as I have some business to attend to, but you will receive other tapes like these through your drones. Think about it."

The tape clicked off.

Slade didn't like having partners. If anything, they got in the way…but there might be a way…

He removed a blank sound tape and recorded two simple words:

"Agreed…partner."

To be Continued…

That was actually a pretty good chapter…and I worked darn hard on this so…REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!

Oh, and by the way-my grade is taking this overnight trip (Wednesday-Friday.) So…obviously, I won't be able to post…never fear, however, for I shall be writing, even on the trip, every second I can get! Besides…we've got an eight hour bus ride just to get there…not including traffic… (Sarcastically) Yay…

Over and out:

Rebel-Aquarius