Wow, my stories hit fast, huh? Here's the next one! Oh, and I thought about making the main villain of this story Rose Wilson, but because I don't know her personality that well, I wouldn't know how to work with her. So, it's going to be Slade. Oh, and Hex's powers are basically the same a Jinx's but with one added feature… which you'll see in a moment… And I just have to ask… how come no one cared that Mari was captured? Heartless people! JK! .

Chapter Twelve: Peril

One day at the beach…

All was calm and quiet with no one around until, out of nowhere, three teenagers plopped down onto the sand, in a flash of purple light. It was Pete, Anna, and Jessie.

Anna, worn out and ragged, nearly collapsed if it had not been for Pete who caught her.

"Thanks," she said, sitting on a piece of drift wood. He sat down next to her.

"What just happened?" asked Jessie.

"I just teleported us out of there," she explained.

"You can teleport?" said Pete.

"Yeah. My dad can vibrate his molecules fast enough to go through solid objects. I guess when you combine that with my mom's powers, you get teleporting."

"Can you teleport us again?" asked Jess.

"No. Teleporting always takes a lot out of me. I don't have enough juice to teleport again. At least right away."

Jessie looked out to the tower. "Then we're just going to have to walk back." He began to walk along the shore.

"Woah, woah, woah!" said Pete, stepping in front of him. "Back? You can't seriously be thinking of going back! Dude, we nearly got killed!"

"I don't care," he said, walking past him. Pete grabbed his shoulder.

"You can't go back there! Not without backup or a plan!"

"Are you saying I can't handle it?"

"Look, man, you're a pint sized, pointed eared, messy hared, blue teenager goin up against a huge, robotic army. In other words, yeah! You can't handle it!"

Jessie's hand clenched into a fist.

"Will you… quit… RAGGING on me!" He turned sharply, teeth bared and eyes faintly aglow. "I am so SICK of your constant insults and put downs! I'm sick and tired of you kicking me around like some kind of old shoe! Well it's time I stuck up for myself! I'm TIRED of being pushed around! I am NOT your punching back! GET ME?"

There was a pause. Pete was taken aback in stunned silence. The only thing that filled the air was Jessie's ragged breathing. Then, he calmed a bit.

"Now," he said, calmly but firmly, "I'm going back there. You don't want to help, fine. But I'm going after Mari." With that he turned on his heel and walked off.

------

Mari had no idea where she was. Her eyes were closed and she had to fight to breathe. She tried to move her arms but something kept them in place. Then, with a groan, she opened her eyes.

She looked down and saw floor beneath her. Then, she became aware of the strain on her limbs and realized she was strapped down to some type of slab with metal straps around her hands, which were spread out like an eagle, and feet, which were strapped close together.

"Ah," said a malicious voice, "you're awake. Good."

She squinted and saw a man walking towards her. She couldn't quite make him out.

"W-who are you?"

"Oh, how rude of me?" said the man. "My name is Slade Wilson. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

She suddenly became fully alert.

"Slade… You're the one who kidnapped my parents!"

"Ah, yes, I thought you may have heard the name."

"Where are they?" she demanded. "What have you done to them?"

"Don't worry, my dear, they're quite safe… for now…"

"I want to see them!"

"Ah, you are your father's girl, aren't you? Very well." Then he pushed a button on his wrist and eight different slabs, similar to the one Mari was on, came up from trap doors in the ground, reveling the Stones, the Logans, a couple that could only be the Wests and –

"Mom! Dad!"

Something Mari noticed about all of the parents is that they all had on similar, metal suits with Slade's symbol in the middle of the chest, save Garfield Logan and Victor Stone, who merely wore collars

Richard Grayson lifted his head and opened his eyes.

"M-Mari?" Then, his pupils contracted and he looked panicked. "No! Slade!" He turned to the man. "No! She has nothing to do with this! Let her go! Please!"

"Oh, on the contrary, Richard," he said, walking over to Mari, "I believe she has much to do with this." He began to caress her chin with his forefinger and thumb.

Then, Richard's muscles contracted and he bared his teeth. "Don't you TOUCH HER!"

Slade looked at him with one eye and pressed another button. Suddenly, Richard became rigid and Mari could see the electricity pulsating through him.

"DAD!" Mari screamed. Then, Slade pushed another button, causing him to go limp. Beside him, her mother began to stir.

"Mari? Mari! No! Slade, please! Don't bring her into this!"

Slade merely looked at Mari, who was trying to break free with all her might.

"Save your strength, child. Those bonds are made of titanium alloy. Not even you can break them."

Mari looked at her cuffed hand.

"My hands may be restrained," she said, eyes beginning to glow, "but my eyes aren't!"

"Mari, NO!" shouted Kori.

Suddenly, Mari felt sharp pain surge through her body. Then, it ended as quickly as it came. Her head fell limp.

"Oh, I forgot to mention," said Slade in a calm voice, "these slabs have a reactor in them. When ever it feels energy being released, it gives out a little… prick."

"You're a… monster," she uttered.

"Thank you"

Then, he left.

AGH! Stupid writers block! Tell me what you think! Remember, five reviews! Oh, and yes, the suits are the same as the one Terra wore.

T.