Pieces of the Puzzle

Alexnandru Van Gordon

Sorry if the last chapter was corny. I've been busy and I haven't really been able to focus a lot. Mind you, it takes me quite a while to get down the steep narrow stairs to the basement. I'm homework free because I'd have an anxiety attack if I didn't finish it before I even eat dinner and my mom's in bed. I've got the basement all to myself until my sisters go to bed—I need their help to get back up the stairs and I don't think they want me waking them at three a.m. to help me.

Why does life have to be so frustrating…?

Anyhow—I'm pleased with the guesses. Some of you were bold and brought up solid evidence to prove your points—very good. Why do I feel like a teacher? My mom was a teacher before he was a nurse and I so don't want to be one…

ENOUGH! Promise you'll slap me the next time I take to long to get my introduction over and done with. Unless you like to hear me talk—promise you will!

DISCLAIMER: I came, I saw—and then I walked away. Don't own them and never will.

CHAPTER SIX: Fallen comrade

It wasn't much of a mission. The robots would be sent in soon in case they were met with a difficult task of taking down the remaining Titans, but right now it was just him and Slade. Why the other guy didn't come, he had no idea. Perhaps he was getting a little too old.

The man was creepy—that was a given. They sat in the darkness of the helicopter the entire time across from each other, that one eye fixed on his every movement. He didn't move at all, but that eye stayed on him as though he was going to try something stupid. This was the guy who was chopped up into seven pieces and shipped around the world—then sewn back together again. Why did this remind him of a horror movie like something close to Frankenstein or…something! Slade was just plain freaky.

Jacob never said anything or showed any sign of fear around the guy, but he knew the man could smell fear like an animal. He was weighing him with his eyes and noting every little thing he did. It was damn unnerving. He would have rather been under high surveillance in prison 24/7 than with this guy fro a day. No wonder that kid was always escaping.

Well, at least that's what he heard.

AS expected, the alarm system went off and informed their hosts of unwelcome visitors. Too bad. Jacob stepped outside the helicopter followed by Slade and started toward the door. With a brute kick he knocked it open and casually walked down the stairs toward the elevator. But it was already on and someone was one their way up.

Strapped to his back was a nice little military gun (Alex: I would give the name of the type, but most people reading this wouldn't know what I was talking about. Just imagine one of those small machine gun type guns that you might see a mobster using.). Taking it in hand and aiming, he stood patiently until the elevator stopped and the door began to open. Even before the door opened he was shooting, but no one was inside. Odd. How did they get it to go to the last floor without someone inside?

He stepped a little closer and took a good look inside. It was dark and there was absolutely no one there. Perhaps they were controlling it from downstairs.

There was a small creak and he stared up. Part of the ceiling was pushed in at the escape exit for the hero to hide and now Jacob was greeted with a swinging kick to his face. Shot back out of the elevator. He landed halfway up the stairs with a sore jaw and a spinning head. Luckily, his opponent wasn't exactly a pro fighter and landed a little awkwardly when flipping down.

"Hey, girl." He laughed, rubbing his jaw, eyes fixed on her. "Nice to see you again."

"What are you doing here!" She snapped. She left the elevator and walked up the stairs past him. "I suggest you leave."

"I suggest you reconsider." He said and pushed himself up. His neck hurt from the hit but he could deal with it. Her slaps were harder than what she just delivered. "You know you're fighting for the losing side."

She 'humph'-ed and continued onward. "What would you know. Tell me—how's your boss?"

Boss? Boy was she getting cocky. Who gave her the bad mood?

"I'm just here until I've had my fun." He argued following her until they stood abreast. Then she stopped and turned to him. "I'm just as insane as you—but at least I'm sensible enough to tell the winners from the losers."

"Winning isn't everything, Jake."

"And family is worth more than everything."

This was when she hesitated and sighed. Shoulders slouching, she turned away and continued upward. "Go home, Jake."

Fists clenching, he dashed toward her. "Not without a fight, kid!"

S-

He could hear them arguing, but stayed on the roof. It was that electric witch that should have died a while ago—too bad she was still alive. Although she didn't pose as a threat, she was quite a nuisance when he wanted to get things done sooner than later. First she swapped places with Robin and utterly confused Wintergreen—and then she was probably the one who set the alien girl free, who later knocked Slade out. He would have to kill the red-head with his own hands. Things would have ended up fine if not for her.

Clenching and unclenching his fists—a habit of his—he turned around and stared at the edge of the roof. Just as he expected, Robin came flipping upward to land in a fighting position with that Starfire girl levitating right behind him. Good. He could kill the girl and grabbed the boy in one night. Things were looking better.

Still a little sore from his earlier surgery, he waited for Robin to speak or act first. He would stay on the defense side until he felt the time was right to defeat the arrogant child. After everything he had told him, Robin still insisted on fighting the lost battle. It showed endurance and determination, but it also stupidity. How many times would Slade have to beat him to show him his place?

"Feeling better?" Robin asked sardonically.

Phantom pain ached in Slade's throat where Robin hacked at him first, but he ignored it and grinned behind his mask. "Never felt better."

"Really? You look a little tired."

He was tired—tired of waiting to get what he wanted.

Robin pulled out his Bo-staff and twirled it once to ease the feeling of the weapon in his hands. The alien girl activated the powers in her hands and eyes, but remained inactive until her leader gave the signal. Robin was an honourable foe. He would wait until he knew Slade would fight.

Slade took out his own Bo-staff and gave it a twirl. It felt good to have a weapon in his hands again and the thought of a battle worth his while excited him. The thrill was recognizable, and he knew the Boy Wonder was feeling it too. Behind the frown and the cold white eyes, Robin was enjoying this. He was afraid, but he was also edgy with anticipation…

Robin came at him with his staff raised and took three quick swings at Slade. He barely dodged in time to miss them all, but Robin wasn't the only hero he had to worry about. Green starbolts hailed down on him, but not too many with Robin in close range. She had to watch out for her own allies.

Slade flipped backward and blocked twice as Robin advanced. The child was fast and strong, but not so much as usual. Slade noted his fatigue and the pale look to his face as he attacked. The boy was sick with guilt from what he had done, and from the fear of Slade returning. It was all plain to see. Slade haunted the child even in death.

He smiled.

Blocking one of Robin's attacked, he whipped his staff around quickly and caught him in the gut. Boy Wonder stumbled back, only to have his head knocked back by a blow to his jaw. Despite the pain it must have caused the child. Robin bent down low and tried a sweep-kick to Slade's legs. Slade jumped jus in time, but the Boy Wonder rolled away before he could attack.

Standing, Robin looked ready to attack again, but they remained still as the electric witch and the young man named Jacob came flying out from the doorway. The girl hit Robin dead on and they were knocked over, and the young man skidded to a halt near the alien girl. Starfire squeaked and didn't now whether to run or fight but charge up her hands and eyes again just in case.

Jacob was quick.

The young man disappeared into thin air before her starbolts could hit him. That was very interesting. He remembered hearing about his powers, but it was always more entertaining to see them in use.

The man reappeared just below the girl in the air and grabbed her ankle before he began to fall. The sudden changed of weight lowered her before she knew what was happening, and Jacob had his feet firmly on the ground. With a powerful swing, he tossed her through the air—toward Slade.

Slade caught her by the arms and pulled her down to the ground. She landed with a painful thud but returned to her feet. A hand on her head, she looked nauseous.

Slade grabbed her right arm just below the elbow and dropped his Bo-staff. Reaching to his belt he took his dagger and held it to her throat. There was no way he was going to leave her out of his sight.

R-

HW got off him and helped him to his feet as she stood. Red in the face with either anger or embarrassment for knocking over one of her own allies, she turned toward the odd young man and walked toward him. That was when the three of them noticed Starfire and the blade to her throat. HW stopped in her tracks halfway toward him and froze.

This wasn't going too well.

Robin felt his feet glued to the ground. Slade's eye was on him and he knew what was going to happen. Slade was going to kill her if he didn't do something soon, and attacking wasn't an option. He was too far away and Slade would see it coming one way or another. There had to be another way…

Jacob took out his own dagger and all eyes turned to him as he gazed at HW. "What's wrong? Lost heart?"

She glanced at the dagger and shook. "You always were old fashioned."

"A promise is a promise." He spat. "Show me what you got!"

"I don't want to kill you, Jacob…" She growled, reaching behind her. Robin wasn't the only shocked to see her draw a gun and aim it at the young man. There was a gentle click and then she was ready to soot. Any moment then…

What was she doing? She really wasn't to kill him…was she? She could shoot anyone if she was quick. She could suddenly turn the gun on Slade and end him again. Robin could separate him again if that was the way thing shad to be. But would she kill him? Murder was such a heavy sin to carry.

"Why does life have to be so damn hard?" She sighed. She laughed and grew sadly silent. "If I don't shoot you, you win and I'm the bad guy because I let you. If I do shoot you I become no better than you, still a bad guy. Honestly, I think I'm aiming at the wrong person…"

HW grinned and took aim again.

Bang!

If Robin was frozen before, he was absolutely paralyzed now.

"Starfire…?"

She fell to the ground and bled through a small mark in the center of her chest where he heart was. She placed her free hand on the hole and fell to her knees as Slade released her arm. Then she fell back and moaned once before growing silent. The blood leaked slowly down her chest and onto the ground as she died and Robin couldn't stand it.

"How could you?" He whispered, returning his attention to HW as he struggled to collect himself. "You witch! How could you!"

"Easy—I just pulled the trigger." She yelled, frowning now. "You want to try? Go ahead—I'll let you shoot me with my gun. After all, you've killed before!"

He remained quiet. She was telling the truth. He wasn't any better than her…

The small prick on his shoulder brought him back to reality. Staring at his shoulder, he pulled out the small dart and stumbled as the serum worked instantly. This wasn't good…this wasn't good at all…

HW-

Taking deep breaths, she lowered her gun arm to her side and stared back at Starfire's limp body. Slade ignored her. He walked over to Robin and caught him as he fainted, lifting him over his shoulder. He got what he came for and she did what she came to do.

Jacob walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nice shot, kid. But would you explain to me why her and not me?"

"Family first…" She whispered. "Besides, I'm so insane it makes me sick. I saw no reason to kill her…but I also saw no sensible reason not to. She was a friend—but you were family. She fights for what she believes is right—and so do you. She's fighting for a losing side—you've got enough brains to pick the right side…"

"And so the list continues…"

"Yeah…I guess."

"A mental problem." Slade said, walking up to them with Boy Wonder over his shoulder. "I would have never guessed."

He creeped her out but she contained the shivers.. "Neither did they." She said solemnly, referring to the Titans. "Insane people are dangerous. I think you, most of all, understand that."

"I do…" He replied and turned away, heading toward the helicopter. HW watched Robin with a small tinge of regret—but passed it aside instantly. Then her gaze fell on Starfire and she sighed.

Poor Starfire…

"Hey—the past is the past." Her cousin whispered and he guided her toward the helicopter. "She was going to die sooner or later. It would have been more painful had he slit her throat. A bullet to the heart is a quick kill."

"Not as quick as one would think."

"Relax. You kept your promise and that means you can be trusted. I always knew you had it in you, kid."

Trust was such a hard thing to deal with, especially when you were torn between two opposing sides. Aid one and you only end up betraying the other. Life was so damn unfair.—but you can't have both. It's either one or the other…

"I'll see you soon." HW said, gazing cover her shoulder at the fallen comrade as she stepped onto the helicopter. "I'll see you soon…"

RX-

It was a blizzard—what else would it be in Antarctica. The strangest thing was, Batman was with him. Either the guy was absolutely insane or he was telling the absolute truth about the new villain in town. That was the only way he could explain suddenly popping up on Red-X's ship. He was on his way back to Jump City, but he hadn't expected any company.

"I guess that would explain how they got in and out of the hideout with Slade, unnoticed." He rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, still steering through the storm. "But are you sure—"

"Are you implying that I am insane?"

Ummm…

"Sanity goes with the years."

He was hit on the side of the head and fell silent. Best not to get on the guy's bad side while they were stuck together for so long. From what he heard from HW, Batman was a crazy driver. He just hoped the hero didn't want to take over steering.

"Is this as fast as you can drive?"

Oh no…

A-

Sorry to end it here—but you know me. It's getting late and my sisters want to go to bed. I better get their help now before I'm trapped in the basement until tomorrow morning. I don't want someone jumping out on me again like they usually do…Sigh…

Anyhow—what do you think of HW? I wonder if you hate her. Anyhow, someone thought I was going to have her shoot Robin. Not a bad idea, but that would spoil my fun. I need both him and Slade alive in the end, so I hope that helps you cut down your "Who Alex may kill" List.

Well, I don't know what else to ay besides goodnight and happy readings! I hope I didn't upset you with this chapter, so please don't burn me. You'll be really surprised to see what I have planned, so don't go attacking me yet. Besides, this is Angst. Someone has to die if I want to keep up with that. Just don't go thinking I'm killing only one person. Keep reading.

Saying goodnight

Alexnandru Van Gordon