A/N: Here we are, the very first major showdown. And I figure you may be wondering my Slade has gone sadist on Robin. Just wait, it'll all make sense when we get there. But, just to state the obvious, this will focus more on the battle in Tower East.
Disclaimer: I only own Blink. I wish I owned Raven, but I don't. Sweet, sweet Raven… -sigh-
Chapter 4: Titans East Showdown.
"Cyborg, me and Beast Boy are almost there, how bad is it?" Raven asked, speaking into the communicator. Suffice to say, Raven was worried about this.
"We don't know. The main computer is down, but they are setting up for the main attack." Cyborg replied, Raven sighing in aggravation. Titans East may not have been a great as the original Titans, but they were still a force. Something wasn't right, and she was sure it was going to get worst.
"Raven, anyway to go a little faster. Steel City is a ways away you know?" Beast Boy inquired, feeling mildly afraid of fighting Blink. It wasn't his abilities that scared him, but something else that left him slightly quivering. 'Like maybe the fact that he's working for Slade, and breaks beers with me.' BB thought, as he followed Raven closely.
"…Maybe, hold on." Raven warned, before closing her eyes. "Azarath, metrion, zinthos…" Raven muttered to herself, before opening her eyes again. The significant boost in speed to herself and Beast Boy was more than enough to speed them to the battle.
Titans East ------
"Common, hurry!" Speedy hollered, as the rest of Titans East moved to set up perimeter in the central room. The computer was out, thanks to the disablement of the core, and in turn, the security measures were also kaput. The group set up near the door to the center room, preparing themselves for the inevitable attack, and setting up for what would hopefully be a surprise attack on an unsuspecting individual.
"Speedy, get back and set up into sniping!" Bumble Bee hollered, as the Spanish twins set up near the door, standing in front of Aqualad, who was literally 'riding the wave' at the moment, getting to large blasts of water ready for when the idiot who attacked them came through.
"What sort of idiot attacks the Titans, ON HOME GROUND!" Aqualad hollered out prompting a growl from Bumble Bee. "Aside from Brother Blood." Aqualad added, remembering a previous attack on home base.
"The idiots that knows what to do, and how to do it. Just get ready for some serious action Titans." Bee replied, shrinking down to size, and aiming her blasters. The minute the intruders walked in. At least, they assumed it was more than one. For a group to attack was stupid, for a lone invader to challenge them, that was lunacy.
Outside the door ------
Blink slowly walked towards the door, stretching out his arms. From the get-go, this had been an easy invasion. He didn't get more than ten minutes from Slade, when he was told to attack Titans East. Who was he to turn down an open invitation to a party? 'Hopefully, the rest of the Titans will show up. Maybe BB brought the brews this time.' Blink thought to himself, chuckling as he reached the door.
They weren't expecting this…
Inside the Center Room------
Silence took over, as what seemed like the longest wait ever took a hold of the Titans. They knew something was out there, and they were sure that they could take them, whoever or whatever it may be. So it took them completely by surprise when a loud, repetitive banging echoed into the room, coming from the door in.
"LET ME IN!" a voice hollered, sounding amazingly like Cyborg. The Titans were stunned, but not for long. The more firepower, the better. "NOW IF YOU DON'T MIND!" Bumbled Bee jumped to it, opening the door, and letting the former leader of Titans East into the center room. A collective sigh and a sense of relief came as everyone saw Cyborg walk in.
"How bad?" Bee asked, as Cyborg spun to the door, and closed it. He was even sweating. "Cyborg?" Bee asked again, as Cyborg took a quick breathe.
"Sladebots, and plenty of 'em. It's like a war. Raven and Beast Boy are off fortifying key positions, right now we need to get ready for the assault unit coming here." Cyborg responded, turning to the group. "Split up, now! Bumble Bee, get small and put yourself above the door; Aqualad, get in the back, and start raring up some water." Cyborg continued, before pointing at Speedy. "Get up top and into sniping position, and you two, split up." Cyborg finished, pointing towards the Spanish twins.
"But Cyborg, you know they…" Aqualad began, before getting a glare from Cyborg.
"Then give them guns. We need to have more targets, so they can't focus on protecting each other. They divide, WE conquer. NOW GET TO TITANS!" Cyborg hollered, before going up top to the center platform. "I'll try and get the computer back online. They beef if the security comes back."
'This is almost too easy'
"Yah, do that. We can take the first wave." Aqualad hollered, as Mas and Menos started yelling to each other in Spanish. Aside from the steady typing of Cyborg on the computer, there was nothing but silence. Pure, unbridled silence.
'The sound of success is silent.
Cyborg's Car ------
Cyborg was making good time, but he was still worried that he was too late. In the distance, he could see Steel City, and only hoped it would not be matched with a burning T before he could get there. Lifting his communicator, he called the other two Titans, to check their position as well.
"We're almost there." Responded Raven dryly, as Beast Boy flew behind her, in his typical Pterodactyl form. 'What is it with him and dinosaurs' Cyborg thought, watching the minature screen.
"Good!" Cyborg responded, changing the communicator to Bumble Bee's. Maybe he could get a status report. He could only hope for the best, at least until he got there.
"Bumble Bee, give me a report."
Titan Tower East ------
Everyone heard it. Bumble Bee heard it, Mas and Menos heard it, Speedy heard it, Aqualad heard it, but most of all, Cyborg heard it. They all heard the sound of Cyborg's voice on the communicator, and the sudden silence quickly returned. Slowly, Speedy turned to look at the current Cyborg, who had stopped typing, and looked blankly at the screen.
'Blast my damn luck!'
"Cyborg…What's going on…?" Speedy slowly asked, Cyborg twitching.
"Don't worry about it… worry about it…you." Cyborg struggled, forgetting Speedy's name. In front of him, he slowly charged a hand, and sighed. 'Could have been in and out, but my luck ran out. So do their luck unfortunately.'
"Cyborg… What's my name?" Speedy replied, as Bumble Bee finished her report, and slowly flew up to meet Cyborg, or at least, the second Cyborg.
"Your name… that's a dumb question. Just calm down…Quicksilver." Cyborg guess, charging the other hand now.
Speedy said nothing, but slowly slid an arrow into place, and began pulling it back. Looks like they found the intruder.
"I wouldn't do that mate." Cyborg said, his voice suddenly changing to a much more outback voice. That caught everyone. "Coulda been easy on yah all, but you had to go and muck it up, with that talking to Cyborg junk." Cyborg continued, turning around to face Speedy, and Bumble Bee. "So mates, got any beer?"
Before anything could happen, two large blasts of purple energy slammed into Speedy and Bumble Bee, sending them hurtling off the center platform, and to the ground below.
'SHOW TIME!' And with that, Cyborg changed into a cloaked Blink, his hands tinged with a purple aura. Before anything more would happen, he slid a pair of goggles into place, and walked towards the edge of the platform. "Too easy mates. I coulda done this blindfolded. But no biggie, since it seems Slade wants you gone. Figured I might as well drop in and say 'ello, fore I kill you all." Blink taunted, as the group looked up towards the cloaked individual.
"Okay, it's personal now!" Speedy yelled, as Blink laughed back.
"No mates. Now it's a party."
Slade's Lair ------
Slade stood silently, watching Robin quiver, and twitch uncontrollably on the table. Originally, he was going to kill him, and be done with Robin permanently. A failed experiment has all evidence of it removed, so maybe it was time for Slade to remove Robin from the picture, and move on. Just give up on trying to turn Robin to the side he truly belonged to.
Unfortunately for Robin, Slade never was a quitter.
"Robin, still alive I see." Slade mocked, looking down at the bound boy. Robin had nothing left in him in the slightest, except for what was keeping him awake, and alive. Slowly, however, Robin mouthed his response to Slade, staring him in the one eye he had. "Now now Robin, didn't your father teach you not to swear?"
Robin growled, which was about the only sound he could make at the moment. "Robin, in many ways, you and me are alike. We're a higher breed than the others around us, we're more potent… more powerful. We both come from troubled pasts, you and I, and the more I see you Robin, the more I see myself." Slade whispered into Robin's ear, smiling as Robin struggled to even spit at Slade. Anything to show his hatred towards the man that has tortured his life, turn his friends against him, and effectively bring his world crashing down around him.
"And…Robin… I know you fear loneliness. Fear it because it is a part of you. Just like it is a part of me. It took me years to hone in on that trait Robin. Years of being locked away in the dark, and told that no one would come for me. Years ago, I would have killed them in a heartbeat for doing this to me; while now I would thank them." Slade continued, Robin managing to finally hold back the tears he never meant to show. "Robin, the dark is a scary friend. He tells you things you don't want to hear, but need too. I will have you as my apprentice Robin, even if I have to break you as they did me." Slade continued, turning to the light switch, and flicking it off, setting the room in complete darkness. Robin went from twitching to spasms, and frantic breaths as he found himself consumed in the blackness of the room.
"Listen to the darkness Robin, it'll tell you all you ever knew about yourself that you denied everyday of your life." Slade mocked one last time, before shutting the door tightly, and entrapping Robin in complete blackness. Slade, standing just outside the door, could hear the small moans and screams of Robin, who was desperately trying to break free, to get away. As he himself had done so long ago, before realizing that there was no hope, no freedom.
"It is only a matter of time, my true apprentice." Slade said to himself, before turning to a large machine sitting in the center of his lair. "Only a few pieces left. Only a few."
Raven, Airborne over Steel City ------
"Beast Boy, you're in dangerous territory now. Cyborg, Starfire, even myself, we are all losing our trust in you." Raven voiced, looking back at the fellow Titan. "I know losing Terra was a blow to your heart, but you have to let go."
"Raven, Terra was the only person that took the time to understand me, and that respected me. Not respect as in the teammate respect, but respect as in the friend, the close friend kind. I lost that special respect Raven. It's not an easy thing to let go of." Beast Boy responded, looking down. 'And now, I'm getting that from Slade's new apprentice. What the hell is going on!'
"Beast Boy…" Raven tried, before giving up, and turning her attention back towards the Tower. It wasn't too far off, but in that sense, neither was Blink.
Titans East Tower ------
Speedy loosed three arrows, and watched as they went right through the attacked. A heartbeat later, Speedy had a hand jammed into his stomach, followed closely by a kick to the jaw, as Blink back flipped away from Speedy. Speedy was airborne long enough for Blink to port above him, and smash his heel into his face, rocketing him to the ground. However, a burst of water caught Blink off guard, smashing him into a wall as another stream caught Speedy.
"How do you like that?" Aqualad taunted, getting cocky. A voice from beside him made his blood run cold.
"Actually, it was pretty refreshing…" Blink taunted, before grabbing the hair on the back of his head, and throwing him full force into the ground below, laughing as the Titan smashed into the ground. "…but I still prefer beer mate." And that was when he saw a huge blast coming at him, full speed. Blink blinked out of the way, and saw the Spanish duo, totting a very large energy gun.
"Bring it on mates." Blink taunted, charged a shield in front of him as the blast came. It hit dead on, but was effortlessly absorbed into the shield. "Thanks for the recharge mate…" Blink yelled, before getting sent flying by what was seemingly air. To boot, a burst of water drove the already airborne Blink into a wall, which was then bombarded by arrows, energy blasts, and water.
They kept going for a good minute before stopping, and waiting for the wreckage to clear. However, they were about to get more than they bargained for. Behind them, they heard someone whistle. "That was a whole lot of boom." Blink said from behind them, before firing blasts at the Mas and Menos. They turned around quick, but each was repelled by another blast.
Finally, Bumble Bee dashed in, and a quick round of attacks where blocked by Blink, who responded by Blinking behind her, and smashing his elbow into the back of her head. As she fell forward, her face collided with the boots of Blink, who had reappeared underneath her. She bounced backwards, and was sent hurtling into the roof by a massive blast of blink energy, causing debris to erupt from the ceiling like a volcano.
Not missing a beat, Blink deflected an arrow head his way, and fired off short bursts of blink energy, nearly hitting Speedy twice. Spinning quickly, Aqualad was hit by a series of blasts, knocking him off his water platform, and onto the top platform. And once again, quickly following up, Blink snatched an arrow from the air, and while spinning, flung the arrow back, chuckling as it hit the mark, and sent Speedy flying out the big window.
'SPEEDY!" Bumble Bee yelled out, struggling to stand up. She got to her hands and knees, but before she could do anything else, Blink kicked her into the air, and fired a round of blasts into her stomach, keeping her airborne long enough for him to blink behind her, and deliver an improvised pile driver, driving her head, and neck, into the hard ground. He body went limp, as she lied in the pile of rubble caused by the assault. Blink just turned and laughed.
"Is that all!" Blink yelled, before hearing a coughing sound from behind him. Blink spun around to see Speedy, knocking back an arrow, standing on a chunk of window with a black aura around it. The arrow flew loose, and Blink destroyed it with a well placed blast of energy, before turning to the door, behind him, which flew off into the wall.
"TITANS, GO!" Cyborg yelled, as the entire group minding Bumble Bee, who Cyborg was moving out of the way, struggled to their feet, and got back into attacking position. Near Speedy, Raven and Beast Boy. Up top, the Spanish twins. By Cyborg, Aqualad and an unconscious Bumble Bee. And all alone in the middle, a cloaked Blink.
"Alright boys, let's have us a party!" Blink yelled, ripping his cloak off to reveal his new armor, equipment, and look. "But one of you mates is fronting the bill!" Blink yelled, getting into a fighting stance, hands glowing purple, and eyes burning with fury behind his goggles.
A/N: I can see some people getting angry for this one, but hey, it's going to be big anyways. The Titans make it, and it looks like the crap will hit the fan. Who'll win, seven crime fighting superheroes, or one mean Australian? Wait and see.