I will warn you. This is quite possibly one of the oddest and most improbable things that has cropped up in the sick and twisted relm known as my mind.
But I think you may like it. All characters are copyrighted to their creators while the storyline itself is my own.
It is kind of a sequel to my earlier story That One Thing, so, I suggest you read it. If you don't, prepare for a surprise. Or many. Thanks.
Oh and by the way, the only way for one to get better is for people to tell him he is screwing up. hint, hint
Jinx and Robin were trying the whole scared straight effect or Kim's parents.
Kim flopped down on the bed in the room she was given. The dull gray walls were somewhat depressing. Kim decided she should do some painting before too long. She pulled the kimunicator out from the drawer where it was safe. She turned it on to watch her messages.
Moniques perky face filled the screen. "Hey, Kim. How's it going. Well all is well here in Middleton. The principal looked at me like I was crazy when I tried to tell him what happened. I was like, 'Fine don't believe me, call the Dr. Ps if you don't'. Sure 'nuf he called and he, believe it or not, appologized to me. It was wierd. Bonnie is extatic, as expected. She already took over the team. That is about it. Talk to you later girl." Kim sighed.
Kim's mom came on next. "Hey baby. All is well here. In fact your little brothers are helping your father at the lab. It's kind of funny, but their youthfull curiosity makes them a big help. Your father hasn't slept yet, but you know as well as I do that it takes quite some time for him to sleep when he wants to work on a project. He asked me to tell you he loves you. Also he says they are really close to finding out what happened. They are working on several brand new theories. He says that when he gets you back he will accredit all the papers to you. If you understand them or not. Oh and by the way. When I get off, Wade says the kimunicator will pop out a transponder chip. He wants you to afix it to some inanimate object in your room. That way they can test getting something through. Anyway. I love you Kimmie. Stay safe." Kim sighed again. She knew this was only going to get harder. She caught the chip that fell out and stuck it to the clock on the dresser.
Kim turned on the recording feature of the kimunicator. "Hi, Mom, Monique. It looks like all of us have powers. Shego has her same old powers and she feels kind of put out. Me I am super strong, but I am not invincible. Also, Mom you may know something about this, I can go into like a trance. I call it the Tic. You know the tic-tock of one of those old clocks, well I don't get the tock in this state. My brain goes into overdrive, everything around me seems to slow down and I see the energy flow of everything. I am going to send along the EKG's that Cyborg took. When we get a chance I will send some MRI's of when I'm in the Tic and normally. From what we have there are no side effects. Anyway, Ron has powers too. Believe it or not Ron has got some moves. He even beat Robin in a sparring match. Ron has got this metal thing he can morph into anything. It was wild watching the fight. We haven't had to fight any super villans yet. It has been a couple of days now. Meals around here are like a feeding frenzy. But there are no rockets destroying food. I suppose that is all. Bye Mom. Oh, I think I will only send messages in response to yours or when something important happens. That way you won't get messages every other second. Bye." Kim stopped recording. She plugged in the chip of EKGs and attached the data to her message. She hit the send button.
Kim closed her eyes. Wow she was tired. The morning session took more out of her than she thought. Her eyes flew open as an alarm blared. She knew the sound of trouble when she heard it. She was already out the door and halfway down the hall when she heard Robin's voice from her Titan comunicator, "Titans, trouble."
Kim nearly lept into the main room, "What's the sitch, Robin?" It felt weird saying that.
"Cinderblock is tearing up downtown." Cyborg explained.
"Who is Cinderblock?" Ron asked.
"Not who, but what. It's some construct of stone. No one knows where it came from, but someone brought him here to cause damage." Robin stated. "Raven?"
"I'll hold down the fort." Shego said.
Raven enveloped the titans, Kim, and Ron in her black mist. When it evaporated they were on top of a building that shuddered in the morning sun. "Titans, Go!" Robin yelled.
The huge golem was trashing everything it could. Robin launched several of his explosive charges to get its attention. No matter what the titans did, it didn't leave a mark on the stone body. Kim grabbed Cyborg. She made a fist. He nodded. Both of them rushed Cinderblock at the same time and hit it with everything they had. The monster flew through several buildings before coming to a stop. It layed motionless.
"Nice hit." Cyborg said.
"No, big. You too." Kim replied rubbing her sore knuckles. She was strong, not invincible. "Is it dead?"
"No, you two just knocked it out. The cops come and restrain him in a special holding cell." Raven explained.
"From experience Cinderblock is only broken out when enemy villans wish to provide a distraction." Starfire explained.
As if on que all of the assembled titans's comunicators beeped. Everybody opened them. "Hello titans."
Cyborg scowled. "Brother Blood."
"I will make this quick. We have Robin. As long as you don't interfere with our plans he will be safe. Simple. Goodbye." The screen went blank.
"Who's the freaky old dude?" Ron asked.
"That freaky old dude ran what was the Hive. He can control minds and uses red energy shields." Cyborg explained.
"This is bad." Beastboy commented.
"Let's get back to the tower. I can pinpoint Robin's location from there." Cyborg explained. Raven obliged the transportation back.
Shego looked up from filing her nails. "That didn't take long. Hey, where is the Boy Wonder?"
"He was kidnapped." Kim explained.
Shego frowned. "That isn't nice." Shego turned to the main sitting area. "Hey Randy, can you track down Robin?"
An unfamiliar male voice filled the room with it's slight southern drawl. "Which one? The belt one or the communicator?"
"What did you do to my computer!" Cyborg was pissed.
Shego scowled. "I put in a personality chip and an AI. Trust me your security is at least doubled now. Besides, he likes you."
Cyborg grumbled for several seconds. "Randy was it? The belt chip, please."
"Ho, Ho, and he is curtius. And you wonder why I like my daddy." The screen displayed an overview of the city. A small red dot showed Robin's location. "There you go."
Cyborg breathed deeply. "All right, Titans. Let's go."
Kim held up her hands. "Maybe that isn't such a good idea. No offence, but wouldn't it be better to sneak in and get Robin. A frontal assualt will give them time to move him."
"Me and K.P. Have been sneaking into lairs for a long time. We could get him out fast without the colateral damage." Ron added.
Cyborg seemed to fume. "You're right." Cyborg relented. "You can take the T-Car."
"Actually I think it's better to wait for nightfall. It's always easier at night. They wouldn't really hurt Robin would they?" Kim asked concerned.
"They might, but it's doubtful." Raven explained.
"It would be a lot better if we had someone who was exceptional with security systems." Kim said hintingly. Shego looked up and scowled. "If we fail, there goes your ticket home."
"You play dirty, Princess." Shego stood and leaned on the back of the couches. "All right Randy, pull up the scematics for this building, sewer systems, and lets get at least partials of the surrounding buildings."
"You got it little lady." Randy relpied.
Robin looked up from where he was chained. His body still twiching from the taser. "You'll never get those codes from me, Blood."
Brother blood applied the taser to Robin's body again. "That is fine. The codes are secondary. This is fun, isn't it?" He cackled.
"Not so much. Why are you doing this?" Robin asked as he panted. Sweat slicked his exposed upper body. His belt laid on the nearby work table.
"I do it because my new masters asked me to."
"And who are they?"
Blood tasered Robin again. "Ah, ah, ah. I ask the questions here." Blood set the taser on the table. "I am going to go get some better tools. You stay right there." Blood left the room and the two henchmen closed the door as they took up new positions inside the door.
Robin watched in awe as within a second three figures entered the room throught a ventilation duct in the ceiling, knocked out the guards, and had him free. The one that was using the green plasma to weld the door shut must be Shego. The one stuffing his outfit and belt into a duffel bag was Ron, and the one that was holding him close was Kim. "Be quiet and hold on tight." Kim whispered to him.
Shego attached a cord to a harness on her back and tugged. The cord retracted slowly untill she was in the duct then her feet dissapeared. Ron did the same. Kim hooked herself up and tugged on the chord. They acended slowly until their shoulders were inside then Kim used their weight to tug on the cord again and they shot upward. They flew out of the hole and Kim deftly landed on the roof. Shego removed the device they used to pull themselves out, and carefully replaced the duct cover. Before Robin knew it all four were hooked together in one harness. Shego threw the large ring that connected them together high into the sky and a blue and orange streak grabbed it. Robin huffed and they were forcable taken off the roof. Raven and Starfire didn't stop untill they were safely on top of the Titans Tower.
Cyborg was waiting. "How did it go?"
Before anyone could be unhooked Kim turned to Robin. "I am so sorry Robin. If I had known they were torturing you I would have gone right away. I convinced them to wait until nightfall. It is all my fault."
Robin waived her off. "It's okay. That was perfect. Who planned that?"
Cyborg came forward. "Kim, Shego, and Randy."
"Who is Randy?" Robin asked shucking off the harness.
"When Shego souped up our security, she added an AI with a personality. Let's get you down to the Infirmary. You look like shit." Cyborg explained.
Robin nodded. "Being hit with a tazer a thousand times will do that." Robin let himself be led down.
Robin left the infirmary with an order to take it easy. He stepped into the main room where all the titans were gathered. "That was excellent. I would like to say that I am extremely proud of you Cyborg."
"I didn't plan the thing. It's Kim who talked me into it."
"It's you who listened and heard a better plan. Let me guess, you got the message and immediately turned to hit the place." Robin waited for the nods. "Good. They were expecting that and had planned accordingly."
"What gets me is they actually tortured you. They've never done that." Raven commented.
"What scares me is that Brother Blood is working for someone." Robin waited for the news to kick in. "Whatever they're planning is big. It also means they're scared of us. I really want to hit them hard. I don't like being tortured."
As if on cue the big screen came to life. What looked back at them were a trio of very evil looking things. The one on the right was a very decrepid looking old man. To the left was a large gorrila, and in the center was a robot looking thing with an exposed brain in a glass jar on top. The brain's jar pulsed green as he spoke. The words were mechanical. "Hello, Titans. I admit I was not very pleased to hear of your escape Robin. I was going to contact you sooner or later." The camera panned out to display four heads on sticks.
Beastboy slid to his knees. "The Doom Patrol."
"Yes, Beastboy. The Doom Patrol. A group of super heroes who dedicated their lives to putting us, the Brotherhood of Doom behind bars. We got tired of having them inour way, so we got rid of them perminently."
"You won't get away with this." Robin scowled.
"Oh we will. In fact here is someone else who had disrupted our plans."
A small screen poped up displaying a young black man trussed up to a metal device. The divice was badly melted but intact. Robin murmered. "Hot Spot." Hot Spot was clearly unconcius. A woman entered the frame and lifted the man's head. When the knife first started cutting the mans throat he woke up. "NO!" Robin shouted. Hot Spot could only gurgle as his life spilled down his front. The screen disapeared.
"I warn you, Titans. Do not interfere with our plans." The transmission ended.
Kim was busy trying to understand what happened. Shego spoke first. "Jesus Christ, they just killed that kid."
"That was a super hero. Just like Robot Man, Elastigirl, Negative Man, and Mento. That was the people who raised me." Beastboy looked like someone had just punched him in the gut.
"I have to go think. I'll be on the roof." Robin left the Titans and entered the elevator. The cool sea breeze greeted him on the roof. Robin fell to his knees. Hot Spot had been a good friend of his. Those monsters. Villans didn't kill superheroes, like superheroes didn't kill villans. It just wasn't right. His whole world was being turned upside down.
Robin was engulfed in flames and he was travelling. The enless tube of fire he was traveling down ended and he landed hard on the ground. It was hot here, very hot. His nostrils were filled with the pungent smell of sulfer. "Welcome, aprentice." A familiar voice spoke behind Robin.
Robin wheeled on the figure, "Slade." The word was more of a curse to Robin. "I thought you were gone for good."
"You know I don't give up that easy."
"Where am I?"
Slade took off his mask revealing a skeletal face. "Some call it Hell, others Nifelheim. I call it home. I have pulled many favors to get you here. We need to talk."
"I have nothing to discuss with you. Send me back."
"I have seen what will become of the world should you back off. I have seen what happens if you do what you always do. In both cases the world is destroyed. No life exists when the Brotherhood of Doom does what they want." Slade stepped forward. "I propose another plan. They have upped the ante. Why don't you?"
Robin considered his words. "You know I can't do that. I could no longer call myself a super hero."
"That is all well, but if you don't they will succeed. I am not proposing you wage war on all villans. I suggest that rather than stay out of the Brotherhood's way, you hunt them down. The power Trigon bestowed upon me can still be used, Robin. I can offer it to you."
Robin mulled over Slade's words. "How can I trust what you're saying is true."
"Robin, have I ever lied to you? Sure I've misled and left out valuable information, but have I ever truly lied to you?"
Robin sighed. "No. But what's in it for you?"
"Think of it Robin. When I get back, and I will get back, will I want to rule a deserted waste?" Slade was adamant now. "I want people to rule, to break, to be my slaves, Robin. I can't rule a kingdom of one can I? Robin the world will end if you do not sacrifice your morality. You will be sacrificing more than just your life this time Robin. It is your sould you will plunge into Hell. If you do this you will save the world, and free up some much needed prison space. No one will accept you as a hero after this, but the world will be safe, and you will have the power to actually stand up to me when I return."
Robin went to his knees again. He bowed his head. "Fine. You're right this time."
"I always knew you would come over to my side, if only partially. I will even be nice and put my mark in your hand and not on your forhead. I will send another emisarry to aide you. Happy hunting." Robin felt Slade laugh as he traveled back through the tunnel.
Robin landed hard on the Titan's roof. The rest of the titan's rushed forward, "We heard screaming, are you allright?" Beastboy asked.
Before anyone could reach him Raven shouted. "STOP!" Raven wrinkled her nose. "He smells like my father."
The Titans backed off. Robin stood. He opened his hand and showed his friends the mark of Slade. Beastboy looked at Robin with hurt in his eyes. "What have you done?"
"Made a deal."
"What kind of deal can you make with that evil bastard." Cyborg was angry.
"He offered me all the powers he once weilded, and in exchange I save the world." Robin said slowly.
"Why would Slade wish to save the world?" Starfire asked.
Robin grinned. "He wants to rule the world, not destroy it. Believe it or not there is a difference. The Brotherhood wants to destroy it."
"Kind of an enemy of my enemy, thing." Shego stated.
"You got it." Robin said.
"Why is saving the world any different this time?" Raven asked warily.
Robin stared at her. "The Brotherhood must be stopped, for good." Robin let the last two words sink in. "I can't ask you to come with me on this one. That would be like me trying to force you to throw everything you ever knew was right to the winds."
Jinx was the first to respond. "I'm in your corner Robin."
Cyborg looked at Jinx walking over to Robin. "Wherever Jinx goes, I go." Cyborg joined them.
Beastboy didn't say anything, he just walked over. "The Brotherhood of Doom cannot continue it's misdeeds." Starfire stated.
"My father always said I would end up just like him." Raven drifted over.
"Kim, you know I'm with you wherever you go." Ron said.
"I can't let you get hurt now can I princess?" Shego commented.
Kim's mind was in a turmoil. Just the thought of taking life was completely foreign to her. She saw how it ate away at her mother when a patient is lost. She also knew that if the world was truly destroyed she would never get home. Reluctantly she placed one foot forward.
"You know this means we can't be superheroes anymore, right?" Robin stated.
"I've always wanted a vacation." Cyborg stated.
It had taken weeks to get the word out and for all the superheroes in the world to assemble at the Justice Luege's tower. Finally all were assembled. Robin stepped up to the podium and looked out over the crowd. "Thank you all for coming. First I wish to show you the transmission that we recieved a while ago." Robin hit a button on the podium and the screen behind him played the Brotherhood of Doom's transmission to the Titans. There were gasps from the assembled. "That was our immediate reaction. What I called you all here for is to announce that the Teen Titans are no longer worthy of the title super hero."
Superman stood and silenced the crowd. "Are you stating what I think you're stating."
Robin nodded. "We the Teen Titans intend to hunt down the Brotherhood of Doom. They have escalated force, so shall we."
"That's preposterous. You can't do that." Superman was apopleptic.
"I did not come here for discussion. I urge all you individual super heroes to group together to protect yourselves. I know that we cannot expect any help from you. When this is over we will be leaving. When not if Slade returns we will rise again to be rid of his evil. But until then we will not accept the mantle we are not worthy to wear. Thank you." Robin left the stage and the crowd parted for his titans.
They quickly left and flew the T-ship to their tower. When they arrived they had a visitor. "I let her in."
"Why did you let someone in!" Robin was angry.
"Randy Identified her as a friendly. She wasn't so bad when she came in." Shego defended herself.
Robin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Where is she now?"
"I just had to take a shower." The blond girl that greeted them was toweling off her hair. "Being encased in stone makes you feel pretty dirty."
"Terra? Is that you?" Beastboy stepped forward.
"Slade broke me out and said the Boy Wonder needed some aide. I have missed you guys so much." She was attacked by Beastboy. "Chill man. I'm not goin anywhere." Terra tried to extricate herself from Beastboy's arms.
"So, Slade breifed you?" Robin asked.
"Have we started yet?" She asked.
"Nope. I have to make one transmission then we're leaving the tower." Robin stated moving across the room to the large screen.
"Gotcha." Terra said as beastboy finally let go.
"Could you hear me while you were stoned?"
Terra laughed. "Good one. Yes, B.B." Terra nodded. "So do I."
Beastboy smiled. "I had almost given up hope."
"Good thing you didn't."
"Randy, I need a world wide transmission set up. I'm talking a full omega protocall." Robin stated.
"Are you sure? It's going to take me some time."
"I'm sure, Randy."
"Okay."
Kim followed the rest of the titans to gather behind Robin. Robin waited untill a small light blinked signaling that the connection was ready. Every screen that was on would now show the titans. All over the world. In foreign countries his words would be automatically subtitled in the native tounge. "Hello world, this is Robin, of the Teen Titans. I am initiating this transmission to publicly apologize. Jump city, we will be shortly leaving the Tower for we are no longer worthy of the title of super heroes. Recently an organization known as the Brotherhood of Doom killed several superheroes in an attempt to sway us to not interfere with their plans. Brotherhood of Doom, if you are listening. We accept your raise, and we raise too. Be warned the Teen Titans are hunting you." Robin cut the transmission.
"Not much for big speeches are you?" Shego commented.
Kim was introduced to Terra, and quickly retreated to her room.