Chapter 6-Famly Ties Broken

Nightwing ran just above human speed over the roof tops with his Shadowkahn to each side behind him. Unfortunately, the Justice League superheroes were also catching up with him as two were flying and one was running to match his speed just enough to fire and arrow at him. Green Arrow fired his arrow only to miss as he set up three more in a row and fired again only for the Shadowkahn behind Nightwing to throw a shrunken at each of the arrows without looking backwards. 'That's impossible!' thought Green Arrow as he readied another.

Captain Atom used his atomic energy and fired it at Nightwing only for the shadow master to make an abrupt left with Shadowkahn following his every movement after he did it and the leaped onto a lower building roof top with a loud "THUD" before running to the next. "What are you doing Nightwing? You still have those three Justice League superheroes on your tail," said Slade through the ear piece.

"I'm just having a little fun Slade I think I deserve that much as my reward since the trial run was a success for you. Besides you can get more data out of me with this then when you were experimenting on me in that white room of prison," said Nightwing who was letting some of his anger get out at the very end.

"All right you can haveyour fun for little while, but if I see things I don't like you know what will happen when you return," said Slade through the earpiece.

"Don't remind me Slade I haven't forgotten," said Nightwing who mentally frowned at such punishments that had bended him to Slade and the Brotherhoods will...for the time being anyway.

Nightwing made a right and jumped to another building rooftop only to spin around in a skid and turn around to face the three superheroes. Shortly after he stopped he was soon met with additional superheroes Supergirl, Green Lantern, and Zatanna creating a six way formation surrounding him on all sides. "The end of your carnage is now Nightwing surrender before we are forced to destroy you," said Zatanna as she readied her magic wand at Nightwing.

Nightwing closed his fists in a motion that a cracking sound could be heard from them as he stared stretching out some of his muscles making joint muscles being heard. "You want my head? Come and take it!" said Nightwing as he motioned his Shadowkahn to stand aside, which they obeyed as they bowed and leaped on opposite sides on two air conditioning units on the wide roof top and kneeled become like statues.

"So you want to fight all of us huh? Well aren't you a little overconfident for your own good," said Supergirl as she attacked Nightwing first before anyone could stop her.

"Perhaps Supergirl you and all the others will think differently when I leave all of you broken, bloodied, and defeated," said Nightwing who summoned a dark energy to his hand as he dodged Supergirl's attack and delivered the energy enhance punch to her face sending her flying.

"What was that?" said Green Lantern as he saw a small explosion of dark energy from the punch sending Superman's cousin flying through the air before she flipped around and stopped somewhat stunned from the impact.

"That was what I like the Shadow Punch, which I take shadow energy and have it in cased in my fist creating a much stronger and more powerful attack. Of course that was just a small sample and a more powerful version would have killed her, but what would have been the fun in that?" said Nightwing knowing that Superman would attack next from his words.

As he expected Superman came next sending his heat beams from his eyes at Nightwing, which the former Boy Wonder dodged like they were nothing. He then extended his bo-staff and consumed it in a shadowy aura as he moved rapidity towards his enemy. Before anyone could comprehend anything Nightwing had struck Superman with several near deadly blows that would have killed a weaker man. "You'll pay for that," said Zatanna as she used her wand to conjure magic enhanced chains from beneath Nightwing that had wrapped around and trapping him where he stood.

Nightwing only smiled as Green Lantern created a green bubble around Nightwing while Green Arrow and Captain Atom moved in carefully. Each one of the others also had their own attacks waiting for Nightwing should he try to escape from his prison. 'Well what are you going to do now my boy? You're in quite a bind again. This seems to be a habit with you,' said the mental voice of Shadogun.

'I know, but as I told Slade I'm just having a little fun' thought Nightwing as his smile grew wider by the moment.

'Well the funs over. Stop messing around with them and let's get the hell out of here before things go south,' said Shadogun mentally.

"As you wish. Show time!" said Nightwing as he summoned more of his shadow powers through his body breaking Zatanna's chains.

The strength of Nightwing's shadow energy sending it everywhere with such velocity and power it broke through Green Lanterns little bubble. The resulting explosion sent all the surrounding superheroes back reeling from the assault as tearing up the roof stop from the waves of energy. Nightwing looked around him seeing that not one of the superheroes was standing from his assault, but at the same time he was disappointed because he had expected some sort of challenge. As if on cue two batarangs appeared from behind and Nightwing spun around and caught them both before crushing them into powder. "You certainly have changed for the worst haven't you Nightwing?" said Batman as he made his presence known to Nightwing as they now stood 12 feet away from each other.

"Really 'father'? I always thought that when we change it always for the best. Are you sure that your detective like mind isn't slipping...'dad'," said Nightwing emphasizing on father and dad as if it should mean something to the Dark Knight.

"Save it Nightwing. You're no son of mine even if only by law. You've caused too much suffering and too much pain. When I defeat you I will bring you before the other six members of the Justice League to decide your fate," said Batman as he readied himself into fighting stance as did Nightwing who put his bo-staff away before doing so.

"You know part of me has waited for this day when you and I would fight to see who was the stronger of the two of us? The day when we both see if the student had surpassed the master in everyway possible and in every plausible manner. That the student in the every shape and form that was taught by the master would be perfect if not better. Today will be that day my surrogate father and it will be today you acknowledge me as your equal if not the better," said Nightwing as he waited for the first move by Batman.

"Be careful what you wish for...'son'," said Batman as he made the first move towards Nightwing as he delivered a volley of kicks and punches to Nightwing.

"Ditto...'dad'," said Nightwing as he easily blocked the attacks and countered with a few martial art attacks of his own as the two were completely even in skill, speed, agility, and strength on a human scale.

On an inhuman one however, the Batman was at a disadvantage as from time to time Nightwing would move beyond human speed. He would then land a deadly blow on his former mentor before doing it again and again till even Nightwing could beat him without his powers. Granted it did seem a little bit unfair, but Batman had fought deadly villains with super powers before and one so this should have been no different. Unfortunately for Batman, Nightwing was now one of those being with super powers, which just so happened to be the most powerful of them all. "You have to win with super powers to beat me now huh Nightwing?" said Batman who was both bleeding and also severely wounded knowing as he tried to make his former student doubt his abilities.

"Please spare me the lecture my former master. I'm just using my natural birthright and besides you've fought people with powers before so you have no reason to complain. Unless of course Batman, there is apart of you that doesn't want to fight me, but is doing so regardless," said Nightwing as he moved with speed Batman would never possess and jump kicked Batman right in the chest sending the Dark Knight flying into one of the few air conditioners on the roof that weren't damaged or had his two Shadowkahn on top.

Nightwing walked over to his defeated mentor and grabbed him by the throat with his left hand as he prepared to strike down his master with his free right hand, which was now a compressed palm over his head. "Finish it. Finish it as a student would finish the master he defeats," said Batman who had blood running down his nose, mouth, and down his masked forehead.

Nightwing readied his steady right hand to deliver the final blow as he stared into the masked white eyes of his former mentor with his demon glowing red ones. "As you wish," said Nightwing as they stood there for a moment before Nightwing sent his hand down on Batman's face to deliver the final blow.

(A/N: Bet you think Batman's life is going to end their? HAHAHA made you look! Sorry.)

Batman secretly closed his eyes though his white eye parts of his mask made it look like he was staring at his former protégé the whole time. When he opened his eyes he saw that the palm of Nightwing's hand wasn't coming at him anymore, but had in fact stopped less then half an inch from his face. "Why do you stop?" said Batman who didn't understand why Nightwing would not finish him off.

Nightwing removed his palm from Batman's face and took two steps back so his former mentor could see him more clearly. "The world needs a Batman and if I kill you now then I deprive this world of someone they still need. That would be wrong Batman. Despite what you and the others think of me either as a hero or villain I know what it means have balance. Now if you'll excuse me my former master I have to leave you here before the others recover to pursue me," said Nightwing as he gave a head gesture to his two loyal Shadowkahn that came to life and followed him off the roof.

Shortly after Nightwing had left Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Fate came over to him just as the other superheroes came to. "Batman are you all right?" said Diana as Batman struggled to get off the ground.

"I just need to get back to the Watchtower to tend to my wounds," said Batman as Fate went Indian style in mid-air and put his hands to his head trying to focus.

"What are you doing Fate?" said Green Lantern asked curiously making all eyes turn to the golden cape and helmet wearing superhero.

"I tracking Nightwing's shadow energies trying to follow his movements to find where is going," said Fate with his eyes still closed as his body radiated golden energy.

"Why didn't you try that before with the kid?" said Green Lantern questioningly.

"I did, but then his energies were muffled and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get a lock on his bodies shadow energy that he was admitting. Now that he's using more and more of its power I can track his movements easier," said Fate as his muscles then tensed up as if something was wrong.

"Fate what is it?" said Diana knowing something was wrong when she saw the sorcerers muscles tense up like that.

"Nightwing has summoned more Shadowkahn as if he can tell I'm picking him up and moving around and through them disrupting my concentration. He's going through solid building walls when he's not leaping of them; now he's vanishing within Shadowkahn, and now he is reappearing around others at such a rate that it's...AHHHHHH!" screamed Fate at the end as the extent of Nightwing's random movements were overpowering the mighty sorcerer as he fell to the ground only to be caught by Superman who put him on his two feet.

"Are you all right Fate?" said Superman as they all saw Fate was breathing heavily from exhaustion.

"Yes. Nightwing's powers are truly impressive as I have never seen someone master their powers so well. Shadogun must have been secretly talking to the boy through the depths of Nightwing's subconscious mind. He must be teaching Nightwing about his powers and how to wield them all to his full potential," said Fate in a tired yet informative voice.

"If that's the case then Nightwing is going to be more of a handful then we gave him credit for since he has his ancestors help.

(Across town)

Nightwing met at the specific rendezvous point set up by Slade as all his Shadowkahn were now gone as to relax and lower his shadow energy release. "Slade I'm at the spot I need pick up fast. I drained too much energy from fighting, then summoning so many Shadowkahn to three different cities, and then using some more to lose Fate's ability to track me with is powers," said Nightwing though the ear piece.

"Already on its way just stay out of sight till it gets their. Oh by the Nightwing...good job in defeating all the superheroes back their. It was very impressive," said Slade who had a sound of approval in his voice.

Nightwing nodded and moved out of sight on the rooftop as he sat down and rested in the shade of a giant and out dated air conditioning unit as he took a deep breath. A short time later an unidentified transport chopper was flying above Nightwing. He then jumped up just high enough to get in the choppers open doors that closed immediately behind him as he sat down. 'When we get back were going to go through different forms and multiple types of experimentation again. You know that right?' said Shadogun who sounded as tired as Nightwing felt.

'What do you mean we Shadogun? I'm doing all the work here your just providing some insight to my powers. You don't exactly have a body so I don't see how you could be as tired as me," said Nightwing mentally.

'You and I are bound to each other in this body so when your tired so am I and the same goes for how you act every other time whether it's being happy, sad, angry, etc,' said Shadogun angrily in a tired voice in Nightwing's head.

"I need a vacation," said Nightwing out loud as he pulled back strands of his long black hair covering his face.

"Villains don't vacation Nightwing they work too hard being evil to even try," said Slade to the ear piece in Nightwing's ear.

"Can't I have private thoughts that I say out loud to myself or are you going to spy on what I say out loud all the time?" said Nightwing angrily as he heard Slade laugh after he said that.

"Afraid not Nightwing the Brotherhood will still refuse to trust you regardless of the footage I'm about to show them of you fighting the Titans, the Justice League, and your former mentor...Batman," said Slade.

"I don't care what they or for that matter what you want Slade. I only care about what I want and I want ismy freedom and to have those damn bombs removed," said Nightwing angrily.

"You know as well as I do that those will be removed when we say they will be removed Nightwing. They will ONLY be removed when you have proven you are without a doubt loyal to us and would be so if we were to remove them. Slade out," said Slade who had hostility in his voice as he cut the COM unit to he ear piece.

(Titans Tower)

No onewas happy with the fact they got beaten so badly especially at the hands of their former leader who had beaten them down like they were helpless children. "Where's that ultra strength superheroes only aspirin?" said Beast Boy as he was looking through the cabinets for pain relief.

"Yes I to wish for some of that friend Beast Boy I too am feeling the ache of the head," said Starfire whose head and neck were in pain from the blow delivered from Nightwing.

"Forget medication I need to get my manual and several dozen spare electronic parts for what Nightwing did to me," said Cyborg who was falling apart from the lack of parts in his body and the damage that had been inflicted from Nightwing.

Raven out of all the group had been hurt the least and if she had bruises on her they had already healed through her powers. She still couldn't understand what had happened with her and Nightwing involving the fight, the kiss, and what he whispered into her ear right before the Green Lantern came in and attacked him. "I felt a small disturbance within his mind I need to meditate and try to see if I can understand him better through it," said a half lying Raven who did need to meditate, but not for that reason.

Raven teleported into her room before anyone could ask her questions and immediately grabbed her mirror to Nevermore, which was the landscape of her mind. When she got there she saw all her major and minor emotions that looked like her with different colored robes that reflected each emotion. "We need to talk in terms of Nightwing. How to deal with what he's stirred inside us? What has happened to him? And if we can turn him in if we face him again?" said the original Raven seeing her emotions nod in agreement.

Happy Raven was the first of the Ravens to speak considering it was a rarity that she ever got out to speak her side of Raven's mind that she rarely used. "Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I really loved that kiss he gave us. (sighs) I don't think he is in his right mind however, concerning turning evil, which I wouldn't really like. Personally, I wouldn't want us to turn him in it would make him hate us and lose all respect for us too," said the perky opposite of the original that was Happy Raven.

"Please you happy hormone driven moron you like anyone who'd give you a kiss. I for one say we stick to our guns and just do what we got to do regardless of the...the kiss," said Loyal Raven as she could help, but blush from remembering the kiss.

Loyal Raven wasn't alone as she found that all the others were blushing red in the face including the original and even Angry Raven. Of course Angry Raven everyone knew was drawn to Nightwing simply because of his darkness and shadow powers he now possessed. "I say we must protect him at all costs because if we don't then that delicious darkness he holds inside will be lost forever after such dormancy. It would be a sin in itself to do nothing not protecting someone we can all agree we hold dear," said the Angry Raven with her four red eyes and fangs.

The original Raven could see that they all wanted to protect Nightwing to some degree, but at the same time subdue him to prevent harm. The only problem was that none of them knew how to do it. "Well have to wait for Nightwing's next move I suppose," said the original Raven as she left her mind and went back to the room with the others to tell them what she concluded.

(Brotherhood HQ)

Nightwing was escorted by an army of robots to the all white room that had been his bed, his eating place, and...his hell. Slade was waiting for him as he alone entered the room without a word to his master. "Good you're here. Let's begin again shall we," said Slade gesturing to the table.

"I'm tired Slade can't you do your tests some other time when I'm in better health," said Nightwing of course was understandably reluctant to get on the table due to the pain he went through last time.

"Now now Nightwing if you don't then I'll be force to activate the bombs inside Titans Tower back home and since your friends are too weak at the moment...I doubt they will survive. I already have the security codes for lock down Nightwing and I'll be more then happy to activate them if you persist tobe stubborn," said Slade holding a remote detonator in his hands.

"Let's get this over with I need to go intomeditation afterwards or else I can't compensate for the energy I lost today," said Nightwing as he got on the table as before.

"Of course. After all we want you to be in perfect health in the next few days for when we eventually have you invade the Watchtower, Titans Tower, and Titans Tower East," said Slade as he put the helmet on Nightwing and then pulled a tray on wheels over with needles and knifes over to him as he sat down on a stool next to the table.

'Not if I have something to say about it' thought Nightwing angrily.

'That's where I come in my boy. You create a plan for your friends and I'll create a plan for us,' said Shadogun mentally who was now laughing within Nightwing's head evilly though he made sure that Nightwing didn't hear the last part of what he said.