This is where it gets a little more exciting.

Chapter IV: Trouble

"Main power is down!" said Robin. "The engine thrusters are failing! We're going down! Vrrrrrrrrrrr pechew! Pechew!"

Jake giggled insanely as Robin made weird engine noses while twisting him around as if he was flying. It seemed as if "airplane" was his favorite game to play now. And as they sat on the couch, Starfire watched admiringly from the hall.

"Oh," she sighed, happily, "Robin is such a wonderful Kinorfka!"

Raven, who happened to be passing by, heard her comment and looked over at the pair.

"He's using an infant as an airplane," she remarked. "Oh, yeah. He deserves 'Father of the Year'."

Star frowned at this cynical comment, but had no time to do much else; the alarm suddenly went off.

"It's Cinderblock," said Cyborg coming in. "He's robbing the First National Bank!"

"Alright," said Robin, "Titans, g – oh!" He just then remembered that he was holding a baby. "Uh…"

"Do not worry, Robin," said Star, floating over to him, "I shall watch Jake while you 'kick the butt'."

"Ok," he said, handing him to her. "Now – Titans, GO!" And he, along with Beastboy, Cyborg, and Raven quickly left.

Starfire sat down and began to lull the baby to sleep.

Outside, the Titans hurriedly left the Tower as a dark figure watched them leave.

"Hm," he said, quietly, "only four Titans? Let me see… the robot's left… and the demon… as well as the animal… and of course the leader… that leaves only the alien to protect the child. Perfect."

He took a specific weapon from his belt and quietly went inside the Tower; like a shadow into the night.

Starfire hummed like the night before as she gently rocked Jake to and fro.

Suddenly, she heard a footstep.

Her heart skipped a beat as she looked over to try and find the origin of the sound. There was no one there.

She convinced herself she heard nothing and went back to her task at hand. Then, she heard the footstep again, but this time it was closer.

"Hello?" she nervously called out.

She heard more footsteps and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Alarms went off in her head.

"Who is there?" she asked, timid yet firm. There still was no answer. She quickly stood up.

She held Jake close with one hand and made a starbolt with the other.

"Show yourself!" she commanded.

"As you wish"

And the figure stepped out from the shadows. Starfire gasped.

"Slade," she said viciously.

"In the flesh," he said, smoothly.

"What are you doing here!"

"Why, I'm here for Jake, of course."

She gasped again.

"You shall not harm my child, and you will leave my home!"

"I'm not leaving with out that baby."

"I will never give him to you!"

"My dear," he hissed, "I am well aware of that. And that is why," he took out a gun-like weapon, "I will be taking him from you."

------

The First National Bank's alarms echoed through the city as Cinderblock stomped out with heaping bags of money. Then, a thick, blue plasma ray hit him in the chest, knocking him backwards.

"I hope that's enough to pay for your medical bills," said Robin. Cinderblock merely roared.

"Titans, GO!"

Beastboy transformed into a T-Rex and charged at him with all his might, knocking him off of his feet. Then, Raven caused four large lampposts to chain his hands and feet to the ground. However, with a large yell, he broke out of the bonds. Then, all of a sudden, Robin came at him with electric disks, temporarily blinding him. And while that happened, it gave Cyborg a perfect opportunity to send a right hook to his gut, launching him onto a line of cars. Robin then came at him with a full round kick. Unfortunately, Cinderblock caught him by his foot and threw him against a wall.

------

Starfire sent a shower of star bolts, but Slade skillfully dodged each one.

"Come now," he taunted, "you can do better then that."

Starfire then sent a particularly large one, throwing him into a wall and causing him to dent it. Despite that, however, he got back up and took a running start at Star. He then jumped into the air and brought his foot down on her. She was launched backwards into the floor. Then, she got back up, eyes aglow, and blasted him right into the kitchen sink. He then took a grappling hook and launched it full at her. It was of unbreakable twine and it wrapped around her torso. Slade then yanked her down to the ground. As he did, the twine loosened. He loaded his weapon and stood over her. But before he shot, she got her arm loose and gave him such an upper cut that a lesser man wouldn't even have survived it. Her was launched all the way across the room and then lay motionless. After getting herself free, she went over to him, to see if he was still alive.

"You will now leave my home!" she demanded.

"I think not!" then, he took out his gun and fired.

What shot out was some kind of electricity.

She collapsed on her hands and knees as about 20 thousand volts of electricity passed through her body.

Slade then stood up and went over to the couch where Jake was well protected during the battle. He picked him up and looked over at the struggling alien girl.

"Well," he said, "it's been fun, but I have a pressing matter to attend to. But one more thing before I go: give Robin my regards, won't you?"

And he left her to die.

"No!" she moaned with as much strength as she could muster. "Jake!"

As he left, he pressed a button on his belt.

------

"We're gonna need some back up," said Raven.

No matter what they had thrown at him, no matter how hard they had hit him, Cinderblock would not go down. They were now cornered and running out of options.

"Ok, team," said Robin, "here's what we're gonna – huh?"

All of a sudden, Cinderblock fell backwards and wouldn't get up.

"Uh," said Beastboy, "did we win?"

"Hmm," said Robin, looking at him, "something's not right." He took his communicator out of his belt. "Starfire, report." The only thing her heard was static. "Starfire, it's Robin, do you copy?" Static. Robin became worried. "Starfire!" Nothing. "Starfire!" Still no answer.

He put away his communicator and got on his R-Cycle.

"I'm going to see if she's ok," he announced. "You guys book him."

And he road off.

------

He stood in the elevator, wishing it would go faster. When it got to the Opps Room, he froze in shock.

The place was trashed. Everything was in disarray. Large cracks were in the walls and on the floor. The pipes were sticking out of the sink and spraying water everywhere. And there, on the floor unconscious, was Starfire (the electricity had stopped surging through her).

He ran over to her and supported her head in his arms.

"Starfire!" he said, breathlessly.

Please, don't be dead! Don't be dead!

Then, her eyes fluttered open, but barely; she was very weak.

"Robin," she whispered. He hugged her tightly.

"Who did this to you?"

"Slade…"

His eyes narrowed.

"Slade?" He thought for a second and then put his head in his hand. "Cinderblock. It was a distraction! How could I have been so stupid! But why …?"

"Robin," said Starfire, tearfully, "Slade has Jake."

Ok, now, it's personal. PLEAZE REVIEW!

T.