A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: What IS Slade's plan? Does he want a new apprentice? If so, who will it be?

ACT FOUR, scene two

"ROBIN!"

Raven emerged from her soul self in the middle of the living room. She reached out her mind and felt his presence in his room. He was scrambling to his feet and soon rushed out of his room.

"It's a good thing you brought your suit," Raven said. "You're going to need it."

"Slade?"

"Who else?"

"Tell me everything," Robin growled, his eyes narrowing.

…..

Kim tried to calm herself. She looked at her communicator, but all it showed was a countdown. One hour, forty-nine minutes, ten seconds. She tried to call Wade on her cell phone, but Slade answered. He just hissed the time left in her ear. She called Ron, but only was able to leave a message on his phone. For once, she felt alone.

"Kim!" a boy's steely voice called as if appearing from nowhere.

Kim spun and saw the brightly clad Robin the Boy Wonder dropping out of a black, bird shaped energy field. He landed five feet from her, each of his powerful muscles coiling and rippling with anxious energy. He looked up, his jaw clenched and his eyes hidden by the opaque whites of his mask.

The energy field wrapped around itself, and a blue clad pale girl appeared.

"Robin?"

"There's little time," he barked. "Where are the devices?"

"I don't know," Kim admitted. "I can't get my communicator to show me anything but this stupid countdown."

"Slade must be jamming it."

"Duh. I already thought of that."

Robin stood and grabbed Kim by her arms. He locked his hidden eyes on hers. "What did Slade tell you? Word for word. It doesn't matter how or why I'm here, other than to help you. Now, tell me."

Kim scowled, "Are you always this bossy?"

"Always," Raven said, grinning, more to herself than to either of them.

The red head frowned and told Robin Slade's threat. Robin let Kim go and turned. He paced and held his fingers to his temple, thoughtfully.

"Who is Slade?" Kim asked. Robin ignored her, but Raven stepped up.

"He is our greatest enemy," Raven said as serious as the grave. "And Robin thinks that Slade was a failed father and, for some perverse reason, wants to take an apprentice to make up for that."

"Creepy," Kim said. "But is he serious about a nuclear bomb in Middleton?"

Raven said nothing, but solemnly nodded. Kim glanced down at the timer. One hour, forty-seven minutes. The Middleton cheerleader shuddered and breathed out a frightened sigh.

Robin spun quickly. "I just accessed the Justice League computer systems. There have been no thefts of weapons grade plutonium and satellite imagery is a negative in our area."

"You're suit has a built in Wi-Fi computer?" Kim asked, astonished.

Robin glared, "Not now."

"So, if we aren't dealing with nukes, what are we dealing with?" Raven scornfully demanded.

Robin spun and repeated the word, "Nuclear" with every breath.

…..

"Kim, Kim, Kim, is that all you ever think about?"

Ron looked to the lilac-eyed Jinx. Her hands were on her hips reproachfully. The blond boy's throat went dry and he tried to croak out any excuse he could muster. Yes, he was on a date, a real live date with a beautiful, exotic girl, and all he could think about was the way Kim looked at him as he left Beuno Nacho that night.

"Are you in love with her?" Jinx asked, settling down and tucking her knees to her chest. She leaned her head forward sadly.

Ron, for all his worth, tried to deny it, but realized he couldn't.

"I don't know," he said softly. "Maybe I am?"

"You are, or you aren't," Jinx snapped. "And you know she'll never want you like you want her."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ronnie-kins, you've saved her tail a dozen or so times, you follow her around the world on these missions of hers, and you spend all your waking hours together, and she still brushes you off the moment she spots another guy? Not good girlfriend material that one."

"Now, wait Jinx, I know I should have kept the Kim and Me stories to a minimum, and I'm sorry I upset you, but I won't let you talk about my best friend like that."

Ron got to his feet, shoved his hands deeply in his pockets, and turned. "Maybe I should take you home."

Jinx stood and wrapped her arms around Ron's torso, "I'm sorry, Ron. It's just not right to see how deeply she's hurt you. I can tell these things." She leaned her head against the blond boy's shoulder.

Ron took a deep slow breath. Every impulse told him to leave.

A twig snapped.

Ron turned quickly and saw a tall, dark man wearing a silk oriental style jacket, His hands and feet were more chimpanzee like than human.

"Monkey Fist!" Ron yelled.

"Ron Stoppable. Now is the time for retribution!"

…..

Shego walked across the catwalk slowly with Amy Hall and Dementor in tow. In the large room below, the perfected Syntho-Drones were in parade formation.

"How many of these things do we have now?" Shego asked.

"We are at battalion strength in terms of men, Miss Go," Dementor reported. "But as for weaponry, I'm afraid that has been lacking."

"Ed…" Shego snarled.

"Is there a problem?"

Shego turned as if about to be attacked, but she smiled and relaxed. Slade walked silently into the room.

"No problem at all, lover," Shego said. "What have you been up to?"

"Oh, not much. Just playing games with a few friends."

…..