Hello, guys. I decided to be nice and leave you with one last chapter before I left for a little while.

Alexnandru: (edges away nervously.) Uh, great…at least you like it…As for the OC, well, it really depends on what you mean by fun…I'm trying to make this guy almost as bad as Slade…so, is that a good thing? Let me know. As for the name…I don't know if you got my email, but if you could, please don't use it…your rabid fan people would probably kill me for that too, because they'd think I was the one who copied…which, in a way, I guess I did…whatever. I'd just appreciate it if you wouldn't. (Pauses gloomily.) That's the problem with being a new writer: you're basically a nobody.

Crazy Girl Person: Thanks. I'm still bowing constantly though. My parents and friends keep asking what the heck I'm doing…

Chapter Five: What if's?

Cyborg-

"I don't believe it," Raven said immediately, even though Cyborg could already hear the doubt in her voice. "Robin wouldn't do that to us."

Beside her, Beast Boy was nodding furiously.

"I agree with Rae. There's no reason why he would."

Cyborg glanced at Starfire; the young girl's usual look of joy had faded to a rare expression of misery, her shoulders hunched as she stared at the floor. He knew how much she cared about the Boy Wonder, and he hated seeing her so upset. If he could, he would've comforted her, but without Robin, he had to hold himself together-for the team, and himself.

"It is true," The alien whispered, jerking Cyborg back into reality again, "I do not know why he will not talk to us, but-but-"

Her lower lip quivered, and Raven moved forward to comfort her. Meanwhile, Cyborg and Beast Boy retreated to the computer, where they would be safer. The changeling waited until Cyborg had logged onto the main system, before muttering out of the corner of his mouth:

"So, whaddya think? Why would he disconnect?"

Cyborg shook his head and sighed, staring hopelessly at the key board.

"You make it sound as if I know…Maybe…maybe he went out for a walk and didn't-didn't want to be disturbed," he finished lamely. Beast Boy looked as if he was resisting the urge to roll his eyes, and Cyborg couldn't blame him. It was a horrible excuse, and they both knew it. He just didn't want to think of all the darker situations that Robin could be in, even if it was more realistic.

"Well, maybe he was going somewhere, and he didn't want us to know about it? That could be something, right?"

Cyborg nodded absently, typing in the password that accessed al of the Titans' communicators.

"I guess that could be it…"

He selected Robin's only, trying to reach him. All he received was a blank, monotone buzzing. Beast Boy, behind him, sighed and sagged wearily in his seat.

"I guess that's it then. Robin's gone."

Cyborg bit his lip, thinking. An idea was starting to creep into his head, though he didn't like where it was going at all. But if it meant the possibility of finding their friend…

"What-" He checked quickly to make sure Starfire was still crying, and then lowered his voice. "What if Robin wasn't the one who turned it off?"

Beast Boy blinked.

"What're you talking abou-" It hit Beast Boy all of the sudden, and he gasped.

"Oh no; you don't think…not Slade?"

Cyborg shifted in his seat.

"I don't know, man. For all we know, I could be wrong, and he'll come walking through that door right now."

Beast Boy shook his head, attempting a casual smile.

"But, dude, Slade's been quiet for…ages."

Cyborg frowned and said slowly:

"Yeah I know. That's what worries me."

Holocaust-

The suspense was killing him, as though it were a knife being run slowly across his throat. Even though he'd only arrived in Jump a couple of hours ago, he could barely wait to let his powers loose and unleash a living hell on the whole place. But his daydreams of death and carnage were not enough to keep him satisfied; they merely whet his appetite.

From his position, in the darkness of a nearby alley, he could see that cars were jammed into the street for at least a mile in either direction

Rush Hour. Ha.

He supposed there had probably been an accident somewhere up ahead, and that this was the cause of all the traffic. What a shock these people would get when the real "accident" happened.

Holocaust grinned as he stared hungrily out at all those citizens, ramming on their horns as often as they could, as if they thought it would make things go faster. He supposed, in a way, he was rather fond of them and their stupidity…fond in a very twisted way…

He'd have to wait, though. Now was not the time…on the other hand-

What if Slade was taking so long to respond because he wanted to see what he was made of? And if that was so, what better way to attract his attention then to give a full demonstration of his "unique" talents? Maybe there was a chance to have some fun before he had to really get down to business-

"Oy! Whaddya think you're doing here?"

A tattooed, muscle bound punk swaggered up behind Holocaust, confidence on his pit-bull face, while his goons (equally ugly) followed, forming a half circle around the alley's exit.

They thought they could trap him that easily. How cute.

The leader staggered forward a few more steps; it was obvious that he'd been drinking from the way he slurred his words and the smell on his breath.

"What you think you're doing on my territory?" He grumbled, a wicked smile making its way onto his face. His gang mimicked him. Holocaust, however, only stood there watching him for the longest time; he said nothing, didn't even move an inch. No emotion whatsoever. Nothing.

Rather unnerved, the gang leader tried again.

"N-nobody goes on our territory. We-" His fierce grin widened. "-We kill you now."

The stranger stared a few moments longer, eyes beginning to glow an odd, orange color before he said simply:

"Go ahead and try."

The punk paused. The tone of the man's voice sounded odd, like he was trying to repress something…It sure didn't sound like fear, though… He paused for a few more minutes, thinking hard. And then it hit him: the man was holding back laughter. But why would he laugh when he was outnumbered by several thugs, who wouldn't think twice about killing him? You'd have to be totally insane…

A sick feeling surged through his stomach, and he was positive that it wasn't the affects from the alcohol.

"Hey, guys-" He began slowly, as he backed away. "-We probably should-"

He never finished his sentence, for at that very moment, the alleyway exploded in a burst of fire and smoke.

Robin-

The curved, metal 'S' was still exactly where he left it, nearly a year ago. But he couldn't let it go…not just yet. Everything was quieter here now, ever since that fateful day when he had escaped from that torture…only to enter another nightmare, this one longer and more painful…and he had to wonder if he'd ever wake up.

Robin took a few steps forward, letting the familiarity of the place wash over him like a wave. Every step he took, his heart leapt, just waiting for Slade to leap out of the shadows and attack…Who would've thought that, of all the places in the world, this was the one he actually thought about more often than all the others?

Every object that he touched was accompanied by another memory, each worse than the other…His friends told him to drop it, Batman said he'd get over it-heck, he'd even tried convincing himself that it wasn't worth it.

But he was guessing that it would take a lot longer to forget this.

He reached into his coat pocket, slipping his mask on over his eyes again (He'd had to remove it when he went on the streets, to avoid attracting attention) before returning once again to the 'S' on the floor, staring long and hard.

He should leave it there, where it could rust and eventually crumble…it would ease some of the tension he'd felt for awhile. It'd make him feel slightly better, to know that a part of the pain he'd felt during his apprenticeship was gone, even if it was only a very small part…the scars, both emotional and physical, though…they'd never stop haunting him…

Against his better judgment, Robin picked it up and pocketed it, before returning to his exploration of Slade's former lair, knowing (Or rather, hoping) that there was something there that would reveal his enemy's identity.

Little did he know…?

Slade-

"Impressive…very impressive," Slade murmured to no one in particular as he stared at his screens, captivated by the powerful blaze that had now engulfed nearly half a city block. Pleas for help and horrified sobbing rang in his ears like a wonderfully conducted symphony.

Now all that remained were the Titans. Slade could barely contain his excitement at the thought of pitting the heroes against this new foe. If Holocaust succeeded in the imminent battle, then Slade was willing to talk. However, if the stranger didn't…Then fine-why did it matter to him?

He was pulled away from the sight of the fire, by a smaller screen clicking open to the right, displaying a birds-eye-view of the city; a single red dot was shown speeding along the underground towards the surface.

"What the hell?"

Slade paused, perplexed. It was a tracker…but for whom? He hadn't used one of them for awhile, the minimum being a month of two. So…?

Then, a small, sinister smile crept across the face behind the mask.

"Hello…Robin."

To be Continued…

Note: I would just like to make it clear that I got up very early to write this, so I'd still have time to pack, and shower, and eat…all that crap, so if this chapter completely sucks, I understand.

Please review: I'd really like to come home and find at least a few reviews…

Over and out:

Rebel-Aquarius