Ok, this is the true start to my little story. Its set after "Birthmark" and "The End" or whatever its called and after Trigon's defeat. Slade's been lying low and trying to rebuild his robotic army...
This will mainly focus on Slade, cause as I said before he's my favorite! So poop on you. There will be Teen Titan stuff later on but not now. Just to warn you and save you some reading. (Oh and the Red X is not Robin, its whoever stole his costume, incase you forgot or sumthin).
...Yes, I know what your thinking, another Slade fic, well sorrrry! This one is a bit different although the usual 'apprentice' thing might pop up... well...Onto the story!
(I do know Slade's real background so this is not his background anymore just part of his story...)
Disclaimers: Teen Titans, Slade (though it would be nice if I did...), Red X, you know all that stuff.
"Slade." His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp, female voice. Slade slowly moved his head from his hand and looked over towards the voice. His eye met a stern face. Her steely, cold gaze was framed by a pair of black glasses. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun to match the bland look of her gray business-like suit.
"Yes, what is it Victoria?" Slade questioned with his usual monotone voice. He wasn't in the mood to listen to her concerns.
"I just thought you should know the new parts you ordered for your army have arrived along with something from Red X. Well actually someone. Here, they came with this." Victoria said handing him a slip of paper. Slade grabbed it and reading it over quickly.
Got these off the Black-market for you. Thought you could use a bit of a pick up, if you know what I mean. Use them as you see fit, they're taught to obey your every command. I said I owed you right? Consider us even.
X
"Ah, he's finally paid off his debt." Slade said tossing the paper as he rose from his seat.
"Excuse me for asking Slade." Victoria spoke up from behind him. "What did he mean by owing you?"
"Surely you remember? Red X and I had an agreement. He had offered to retrieve a rare diamond for me if I would trade it for the Xenothium I have, the chemical that powers his suit. I sent him some but someone had already stolen the diamond. He then promised to return the favor."
"Yes, that does sound familiar." Victoria said mostly to herself.
"Now show me what he sent." Slade said allowing Victoria to lead. Slade preferred his workers and fighters to be made of metal. After his two failed attempts at an apprentice Slade decided to play it safe and only trust what he could create (or destroy for that matter) but Victoria was his one exception to that rule. She was his most trusted protégée. (Well his only protégée) She had worked for him for most of her life and knew nothing but servitude towards him. After years of her service Slade finally opened up to a few more human 'coworkers' but only a select few, he'd rather stick to machines.
"They're in here." She lead Slade into the hall. There sat three young woman, tied and shivering from lack of clothes. They only wore long tattered shirts leaving their knees bare in the cold, steel hall. Slade looked them over. There was a small, fragile looking blonde who seemed even more weak from the trip here. Next to her a stronger, dirty-blonde was sitting quietly, not quite as nervous as the other two seemed to be. And the third woman, a brunette, sat at the end. She was neither skinny nor large but she eyed everyone suspiciously.
"What is this?" Slade said with disgust at the sight of the three woman. "This is how he thanks me?" The three woman looked over as Slade shook his head with revolt.
"They are a gift from Red X. He said they are required to do your every command. They're like slaves" Victoria quickly said in response to Slade reaction. She thought they could use more help if they were ever going to be ready to take down the Titans again. Trigon had destroyed all of Slade's armies and most of his hideout. Reconstructing it was taking a lot longer than expected. They needed all the help they could get. So naturally Victoria was quick to speak her opinion on the matter. It didn't matter how pitiful they looked they were free labor.
"They are weak and pathetic!" Slade said eyeing the blonde in particular. "I have no use for them."
"Hey!" The dirty-blonde spoke up after Slade's last comment. "We were forced into slavery and told to serve you." She said standing up looking Slade in the eye. "And..."
"And I need to speak with you Slade." Victoria abruptly cut in as she walked closer to Slade. "Slade." Victoria started in a whisper. "We really need these girls, well not necessarily them but someone in general. We are falling behind schedule. The hideout is still unfinished, your armies are incomplete and your enemies are trying to find you! We need them, its free labor, even if that's not what Red intended them to be used for. This blonde one seems to be very temper-mental she might even be good in combat. I just think we should give it a chance before your temper increases and we loose more help." Victoria tried to word everything so Slade wouldn't take his anger out on her but from the look he was giving her she was sure she had made it worse.
"Victoria, what did I tell you about you and sharing your 'concerns'?" Slade said quietly staring down at Victoria. His voice held no anger but Victoria knew what was coming.
"I know Slade, I just feel...I thinkwe could really pick up the pace with a few extra hands." Victoria answered refusing to look up at him.
"Well, I'll be the one to decide who stays and who goes." A hint of warning in his voice as he turned his attention back to the women. Slade was rethinking his decision. It was true they were short handed and they needed to be done before the Titans discovered him and his plans. He was also considering another option. An apprentice. The one blonde seemed quite feisty for the position she was in and she seemed to have been training or working out or something. She wasn't as well, weak as the other two looked. Slade stepped even closer to the women and leaned in towards the dirty-blonde.
"Quite brave for the situation you're in." Slade said softly to the woman. She held his gaze. Maybe he should consider using his 'gifts'. They would be of some use. Slade knew what kind of 'use' X had been talking about but he wasn't interested in raping anyone or anything like that. There were far more important issues to attend to than one's 'pleasure'.
Would one of these girls really have what he's looking for in a apprentice? Probably not, but it would be interesting to see. If not they could just work for him as Victoria has always done. Slade was willing to try one more time. He had lost two apprentices, third times the charm right?
"Alright. I'll keep them," Slade said to Victoria as if they were dogs. "...but I must warn you against rasing your voice to your new master." Slade returned his gaze to the trio. "There will be grim consequences next time." He looked back towards Victoria who stood silently awaiting his next command. "Prepare rooms for them, get them clean and give them some proper clothes." Slade said heading for the main room. "Then report back to me."
Victoria watched as Slade left the room, a slight smile appeared on her lips. He had listened to her afterall. He always told her to keep her concerns to herself but everytime she spoke her mind he seemed to give it some thought. 'Well, atleast he's started listening to me again. If they start working by tommarow we may be able to get done by schedule.'
"Ok ladies," Victorialoudly, startling them. "Your under my rule for now so get up and head for the showers!" Victoria's quiet disposition dropped like a weight after Slade had left the room. Her nonexistent attitude was replaced with a Nazi like feel to the three women. "Well get moving. You have your order now do it!"
That wasn't too bad was it? (Oh and thanks to my ONLY REVIEWER!) Hopefully some of you who read this will say something. You can tell me how bad it is, then I'll cry and loose confidence in myself but it will be for the better, I'm sure of it! But really go ahead and say ANYTHING! R&R ! thanks.
Oh, and I don't personally know Z. Brite but I would like to say that she has, sadly, been in an accident and hopefully with all our prays and what not she'll get out of the hospital soon... Sorry Z!