"Alright, Titans. Here's the situation as we know it. We have confirmed encounters with at least two different versions of Slade, one with demonic appendages and the other with a green glow around him. We also know that the robots that have been stealing various technological components are doing so at the direction of another Slade, who may or may not be the real one. His M.O. at least fits with how he's acted previously, using robots rather than appear himself. We have one Slade robot as a prisoner, but we haven't been able to extract any useful information from it yet. We have no idea if these different Slades are working together or even aware of each other, but the Slade using the robots seems to be the only one with any sort of long-term goal, although we don't know what. Did I leave anything out?" Robin paced back and forth, not waiting for an answer. "We've checked all of Slade's old hideouts since we saw the first Slade, and they're all abandoned. However, we know the green Slade had a hideout, and it's resonable to believe each Slade has more than one. Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on?"
Starfire floated up to him. "Robin, you must not strain yourself so. We shall discover the truth when we have enough clues. You are going to induce your head to an ache."
"By the time we figure out what's going on, it may be too late, Star." Robin tried to ignore the headache she had predicted. "There's too much going on here, and none of it fits together." He rubbed his forehead. "And I'm not going to let a little headache get in my way."
"I think our best move would be to get some answers out of that robot," Terra said.
"But how do you force a robot to talk? It's not like you can put it up on the rack or anything," Beast Boy countered.
Cyborg stood up from the couch. "Actually, I can try to hack into its hard drive and force it to tell us everything it knows. It'd be like a truth serum."
"Good. Can you bring it in here?" Robin asked.
"Sure. I'll just go detatch the head so it can't fight back and bring that."
Beast Boy hopped up onto the back of the couch from his seat. "How come the robot didn't self-destruct when Raven captured it?"
"Maybe it can't," Raven replied. "Have we ever seen them do that before?"
"I don't think so...but it was kinda stupid of Slade not to give them self-distruct."
"He probably figured it would be useless to pump it for info." Jinx chimed in.
Cyborg returned then, carrying the head under his arm. He set it down on the table, connecting several wires from his arm to the neck. He tapped out a series of commands on a panel, and the eye opened and looked around.
Robin stalked over to the table, facing the head. "Will it tell the truth?"
"It should," Cyborg frowned. "I've overridden all its security."
"What is Slade planning?" Robin demanded.
The head fixed its eye on him. "You'll have to be more specific. There are several Slades now."
"Just how are there so many?" Terra wondered.
The head regarded her. "Slade prepared for the eventuality of his death. The original mask he wore contained a device that activated his projects in the event of his death."
"What projects?" Robin asked.
"There were three that met with a resonable degree of success. The first was the 'demonic' Slade, merely an attempt to improve the physical prowess of a clone. The one that glows green has no physical body. Slade discovered an arcane ritual that allowed him to make a copy of his soul, and bind it into a spirit manifestaion by sacrificing other souls. The third is the one that created me and my compatriots, a digital copy of Slade's mind that resides in a hidden supercomputer."
Raven's eyes widened at the mention of the ritual. It can't mean the Arek D'jahar, can it? If Slade discovered that...
Jinx noticed her distress. "You okay?"
"I...I'll be alright."
Robin was still asking questions. "Where is the supercomputer?"
The head chuckled. "Even though I have no choice but to tell the truth, I can't tell you something I don't know. The supercomputer is not at the same facility where we are built."
"Fine. What is the supercomputer's plan?"
"The plan is simple. The first step is to establish a controlled colony in another location in the solar system, one that could be shaped by Slade's will. The second is to destroy the imperfect Earth, leaving no opposition to Slade's ultimate domination over humanity."
"I never thought Slade was the 'destroy the world' type," Kid Flash mused.
"It is for the good of mankind. Humans are far too reckless and foolish to be trusted with their own survival. Slade shall rule humanity for its own protection."
---
Books lay scattered around the room, most of them open. Raven read through them feverishly, sometimes switching rapidly back and forth between them. The past several days had been hectic, to say the least. Crime had picked up, and Slade's robots had also stepped up their thefts. They were recieving reports that other cities had sightings of them as well. Things were happening fast, and no one was getting a whole lot of sleep. Raven was researching the Arek D'jahar, trying to determine if the Slade she'd been captured by was a product of it.
Her door slid open. Raven didn't turn, as she knew there was only one person she allowed to come in without knocking. Jinx sat behind her on the bed. "Have you slept yet?"
"I'm not tired," Raven lied.
Jinx folded her arms. "Raven, it's two in the morning! And I know you didn't sleep last night, either!" She reached over and snatched the book out of Raven's hands. "You are going to bed if I have to put you there myself."
Raven gave her a baleful look. "Think you can?"
Jinx's eyes glowed pink.
---
"Jinx! Let me out!" Raven struggled, wrapped in firmly her own blankets on Jinx's bed.
"There, now you're nice and cozy." Jinx bent down and kissed Raven's forehead. "I'll sleep in your room, since I won't go reading all night when I'm supposed to be sleeping."
"Jinx!"
"Good night, Ravy." The door slid shut.
I didn't even get to shower, Raven thought angrily. And I'm not going to sleep any time soon, I've got too much on my mind. Although, she shifted to a slightly more comfortable position, Jinx's bed is pretty soft. And it smells good. And being wrapped up like this is really warm. But I'm still not tired enough...she dropped off to sleep minutes later.
---
Robin walked into the workshop, where Cyborg had been working with the Slade robot. "What are you up to so late?"
Cyborg looked up from bent over his workbench. "I had a brainstorm a bit ago. The robot doesn't know where the supercomputer is, but it has to get its instructions from somewhere, right? It's recieving a signal from somewhere, and I'm trying to track it."
Robin grinned. "That's great! Have you made much progress?"
Cyborg frowned. "I wish. It's being relayed through hundreds of places, from government spy satellites to radio towers. I've been tracing it for the last hour, and it's gone all over the globe."
"well, don't stay up too late working on it." He glanced at the clock. "In fact, you should go to bed now."
"It's cool, it's an automated program. I was just hoping it would finish quickly." The two of them headed out. "I bet we'll have something in the morning."
---
They did indeed have something that morning, but not exactly what anyone had excpected.
"New Zealand? That's where the signal's coming from?" Beast Boy said after Cyborg announced his findings. "That's a weird place for Slade to put anything."
"You have to admit, it's not someplace any of us would have thought to look," Raven countered.
"We've gotta destroy that computer." Robin declared firmly. "The problem is, there's eight of us, and the T-Sub only has five seats. Terra, Jinx, Kid Flash, will you guys hold down the fort here?"
"What if we fly commercial?" Jinx wondered.
"Last time we tried that, Cyborg and Robin both got held up at security," Beast Boy said amusedly.
Cyborg jumped in. "Hey, at least I have a good excuse. Robin just didn't wanna give up his backpack full of weapons." Robin coughed embarassedly.
Jinx shrugged. "Well, I suppose you guys are old enough that I don't have to look after you." Raven poked her hard in the ribs, producing a satisfying yelp.
Terra seemed disappointed. "I really wanna get a piece of Slade, I owe him a world of hurt for the way he treated me."
"You'll get a chance, Terra," said Beast Boy. "We know there's at least two more Slades we have to take out, and there'll be enough for everybody when we find them." Terra smiled grimly and nodded.
"I can come with you," Kid Flash interjected. "It's not like I need a ride or anything."
"Actually, I'd feel better if you stayed here," Robin answered. "Just in case one of the others shows up."
"Okay, but call if you need me anyways. I can be there in about..." He disappeared in a rush.
"Everyone, friend Argent lives in New Zealand. Perhaps we should contact her?" Starfire suggested as they waited for Kid Flash to finish his sentence.
Robin grinned. "That's right. Good thinking, Star." He walked a short distance away and pulled out his communicator. "Argent, come in. Do you read?"
A sleepy voice could be heard muttering before Argent's face appeared on the screen. "The hell, 's bloody four inna mornin'. What? Ello?"
"Sorry to wake you, but we've tracked Slade to New Zealand, and I wanted to know if you'd help us take him down."
"Slade, eh? That rotter I've heard so much bad news 'bout?" Through the small screen, it looked like she sat up. "In me own backyard? I must be slippin'. Yeh, I'll lend a hand."
"Don't feel bad, it looks like he's been there a while. We may need several days to find him. Where should we meet you?"
"I've got a flat in Moon City. I s'pose I could fit you lot here..." She looked around the room. "...after I clean it a bit. When didja say y'were gettin' 'ere?"
"We should be there before noon, your time." Robin replied. "See you then. Robin, out." He turned to face the rest of the team. "Cyborg, how accurately can you track the signal?"
"It's coming from a public transmitter in Moon City, I doubt that's where Slade is." He thought for a minute. "But I think I can rig up a short-range tracker if I disassemble the robot."
"Okay. We may be there several days, in any case, so everyone who's going needs to pack something. Argent said she'd help, so we're going to meet her when we get there. We need to leave by ten, so let's get going." The Titans all left the room to prepare.
"...six minutes!" Kid Flash burst back into the empty room triumphantly. "Guys? Hello?"
---
Terra swallowed hard. Come on, Terra. You can do this. It's just Beast Boy, you know him. Steeling herself, she rapped on the door.
"Terra! What's up?" Beast Boy smiled widely at the sight of her.
"Um...can I come in?" She shifted nervously.
"Sure." The room was messier than usual, as Beast Boy had been digging through his closet trying to find one of his handheld videogames. Various objects were thrown everywhere, and the customary smell was a lot stronger.
Terra managed, through great force of will, to ignore the smell. "Promise you won't freak."
"About what?"
Beast Boy stiffened as Terra's lips met his. It was everything he had dreamed it would be, except long.
"I love you," Terra said as she darted out of the room, sliding the door shut behind her and leaning against it. Whew, that wasn't so bad. And he didn't--
"YEEEEEEES! YES YES YES! SHE TOTALLY WANTS ME!"
She sighed as she walked away. Yep, that's Beast Boy alright. Be careful, you big idiot.
---
The T-Sub manuvered gracefully out of the dock, gliding through the water as easily as a fish thanks to Robin's skilled piloting. Jinx, Terra, and Kid Flash stood on the shore of the tiny island, watching them depart.
"So, guess we're responsible for the city now," Terra said as the orange vessel cruised out of sight.
Jinx stretched idly. "Yep. And a more unlikely trio of heroes there never was."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Terra raised an eyebrow.
"Well, y'know. The two of us aren't exactly models of heroism. No offense," she added hastily. "And Kid Flash is, well...himself."
"Man, Jinx. You're brutal." Kid Flash stuck out his tounge at her, then continued more seriously. "And everyone has faith in the two of you. Being dark doesn't make you evil by default, I mean, look at Raven." He threw his arms around both of their shoulders. "Anybody that messes with Jump City is going to answer to us--the Teen Titans!"
---
He circled the harbor, far out of sight of anyone on the ground, powerful wings beating.
He watched as five of them left in their little ship, the ones who knew teamwork.
He studied the other three, the ones who thought themselves safe.
He planned his vengeance on the one who had betrayed him.
He waited for nightfall, when the advantage would be his.
Circling like the shadow of death.
---