I am about to blast my computer off to the moon, I am so frustrated with it…yeah, there was another problem with my computer and my writing documents (I HATE TECHNOLOGY!), and then Fanfic refused to let me upload any documents for awhile so…I was sort of delayed me again. I am really sorry, and I promise, I WON'T let it happen anymore. Please don't kill me… (Winces, and crawls under the desk like the worm I am). Enjoy the chapter…
Chapter Eight:
Five minutes earlier:
Starfire was hanging listlessly, eyes swimming in and out of focus with her tears, when the door to her and her friend's prison banged open, and two men strode in; one looked weak, and whining, while the other…
From the expression of cold, pure cruelty flickering in his eyes, she was only too sure that this was the villain behind their capture. She shrank back as best as the bindings about her arms as they entered and approached her, but the main villain only laughed good-naturedly.
"Now, now, my dear girl; there's no need for that! We're all civilized people here, are we not?"
Starfire's only response was to flinch and edge away as he passed her by, still talking in a casual, airy manner.
"I'm sorry for any injuries my men might have caused to you, or your team members, but it was necessary at the time. You will forgive me, I hope?"
The words were cheerful, and bright, but Starfire was not so bereaved as to hear the mocking ring that resonated in his tone. Instead of looking him in the eye, or even pretending to pay attention to his words, the alien girl tilted her head in the direction that was opposite of him; he seemed to pay no heed to this, and continued to go on walking about her in a circle, explaining his purpose in Jump in a calm, almost lilting voice. For some reason, it disturbed her deeply…it reminded her of something Slade might do to Robin, to play games with her friend's mind…she wondered where the Boy Wonder was, and how he had managed to elude capture, even though he and Raven had been traveling together.
I must be strong, she thought desperately. Robin is not here—so I shall be strong for him. I shall hold on.
"Let's cut to the chase!" The mysterious criminal announced, dragging her back to reality. "Have you, or have you not heard of a man called Slade?"
Starfire blinked, green eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes or no, dear," he added. "It's a simple answer to a simple question."
The girl didn't know what to do. She had no reason not to betray Slade to this curious man—if he were to annihilate their greatest enemy, it would mean that Robin would no longer have to concern himself over the matter of the masked man. However, something kept her mouth shut. What if, instead of killing him, her captor wished to join him, or make a deal with him? Or, what if…what if there was a possibility that Robin had not been captured because—
But that was impossible! Oh, why could she not simply comply with the man's demands?
She was in such a turmoil, that she didn't see the other man that had accompanied the criminal fumbling with something in his coat pocket, and barely noticed when the man that had been talking to her made a motion with his hands towards what she assumed was a servant of his in some way.
However, in the next instant, the other man, who had been standing off to the side, flung himself at her, a long knife clenched tightly in his hand; it was aimed for her throat!
Starfire screamed, as if she thought someone might be able to help, or save her…
-partnership-
It was lucky that Slade had burst out of the warehouse the minute the alien brat's shriek echoed in the night air, and not a minute later, for Robin was already preparing to scramble over the docks and run off to try and reach his friend. Slade pushed himself forward with his back foot, and jumped, grabbing hold of the boy's arm just as he was about to depart.
Obviously, Robin did not take well to this.
"What the heck do you think you're doing?" He shouted, trying to break free. "Didn't you hear that? Star's in trouble—we've got to save her!"
Slade gave the teen's arm a sharp, urgent tug as he tried to hold him back without inflicting injury.
"We can't just go running off like this," he said, trying his best to make it clear to Robin that he wasn't looking for an argument, and that he was only doing his best to reason peacefully. "We need to formulate a plan, first. I know that this must be difficult for you—" For Robin was still pulling, and kept glancing over his shoulder towards the city, not assigning any meaning to Slade's words, but focused more on his friend's peril.
"—and, for all we know, this could be a trap. We can't risk it. Right now, we need to decide what we're going to do; the girl will have to wait."
The instant the words left his mouth, he knew he'd said the wrong thing. Robin froze, and turned, looking appalled, as he stared up at the older man with mounting outrage.
"You asshole!" He spat, wrenching his arm out of Slade's grip. "I can't believe you! The Ravager's after you, probably for some stupid crime you did against him, or something, and now he's taking his anger out on my friend! She's innocent, and she's paying for your screw-ups, your mistakes—"
And suddenly the Boy Wonder's voice changed; it became older, more sophisticated, female, and Slade could hear Addie's voice ranting at him, screaming and wailing as she mourned over her son—
"Joseph! My poor boy! Why? Why did he have to suffer for your mistakes!"
"—He's probably killed her—"
"Oh, God, no! My son...not my son!"
"And it's all because of YOU!"
There were very few times that Slade failed to remain calm and composed; but at this unbearable barrage of verbal abuse and the agony of the past, he, to put it simply, lost it. With a roar of frustration, he lunged forward to grab the unsuspecting Boy Wonder by the lapels, and, swinging him around, slammed him into the wall of the warehouse as hard as he could. Robin gasped in pain, and tried to squirm away, but Slade pinned him and leaned in until their faces were only inches apart.
"If you haven't forgotten, boy," he hissed, each and every syllable smothered in icy contempt, "I am the only way you can find your friends, and that, without me, you would be the Ravager's captive by now, alongside the rest of your pitiful friends. And," he added, a sudden thought coming to him, "if it hadn't been for me in the first place, you would be more of a weak, brainless brat than you are now. Now…" Slade said in as soft a voice as he could manage, and slammed Robin against the wall once more, causing the boy to grit his teeth and wince. "As I am wasting much of my time to help you in finding your team mates, as well as putting my neck on the line to fight off bounty hunters, and possibly even the Ravager himself if it comes down it, I would appreciate a bit more gratitude on your part. Understand?"
Robin turned his face away, eyes squeezed shut in loathing, refusing to answer. Slade rammed him against the wall yet a third time, and the wood beneath the hero's body creaked in protest.
"I said, do you understand?"
The teen murmured something under his breath.
"I didn't hear that," Slade mocked, thoroughly enjoying himself after all the guilt thoughts that had been weighing him down.
"Yes."
"Good." Slade dropped him and retrieved the bag of weapons, not even sparing his temporary partner a backward glance. "Chances are, they're traveling by air. We'd better start into the city, and we may just hear helicopter blades, or a hovercraft flying by. That will point us in the right direction."
Robin shouldered a backpack and didn't say a word. Slade remained unperturbed, and started along the maze of decks, Robin's lighter tread following his heavy footfalls.
-partnership-
The man had stopped a few feet from her, his knife pressed threateningly against her throat. Starfire shut her eyes tightly, and swallowed a sob, frightened, but also thankful that she was alive…
…That is, until a minute later, when a massive hand roughly grabbed a fistful of her crimson hair and jerked her head so that she was looking directly into the main villain's eyes.
"I know that Slade's got your little friend," he informed her smoothly. "And I know that Bird-Boy's going to want to rescue you, and the rest of your pathetic compatriots. Now listen closely, because I'm only going to say this once: I want Slade's head on a platter, and, no matter what, nothing gets between me and what I want. So," he said with a nasty smirk, and jerked on her hair. "I need you as bait, to help lure Slade and your leader here; and in exchange, I won't have a motive to kill any of your little friends here—"
Starfire gasped in horror, and her captor slapped her across the face.
"—or Robin for that matter, when I get my hands on him—oh, yes! I will catch him. It's only a matter of time. All you need to do, sweetie, is to do what you're told, and scream when you need to, to keep Slade and your friend on the trail. Got it?"
The Tameranean closed her eyes, and tried to concentrate.
Robin would not ever give up…I must be strong like him…I cannot fail him; I cannot let Raven, and Cyborg, and Beast Boy die…
"I said," the man hissed in her ear, "got it?"
The knife pressed briefly against her throat, and she felt a warm trickle of blood slip down her neck.
What would Robin do now? What would Robin do…?
The blade's pressure was removed from her neck, and Starfire's eyelids flickered open to see the man and his associate turning towards Cyborg.
"Slit his throat," the villain ordered. "That ought to get her to say something."
What would Robin do…?
The man with the knife nodded with a broad smile, and put the knife up against Cyborg's esophagus.
He would save us, no matter what.
"NO!"
The villain held up a hand to stay his employee, and turned to face her with a coy grin.
"Did you say something?"
"I will…" Starfire chewed on her tongue until it bled. "I will do whatever you ask."
She hung her head, and muttered:
"Please do not hurt him…"
The criminal gave a belly-laugh, and ruffled her hair, pretending to be almost affectionate.
"I thought you would see it my way. Julius, alert the pilots of take-off. And to you, miss," he said to Starfire, and swept into a gracious bow.
"Thank you, very, very much."
The pair left and the sound of the door closing behind them sounded very much to Starfire like a prison cell being shut tight. In the darkness and the solitude, Starfire hung, shaking violently, tears streaking her dirt-caked face.
-partnership-
When Raven first came to, the first thing she heard was the sound of sniffling, and bitter sobs.
The second thing she noticed was that she was chained by her arms to the ceiling of a darkened room, and that there was a steadily throbbing bump at the back of her head.
The Goth shook her head in bewilderment, and craned her head around as she tried to get a better idea of her surroundings; Cyborg and Beast Boy were there, unconscious and bound in a similar fashion as her…so that meant that the crying had to be coming from—
"Starfire!" she croaked into the black emptiness. "Starfire, is that you?"
"F—friend Raven?"
"Yes!" Raven cried, doing her best to muffle her elation. "It's me. Starfire, where are we?"
"I…I am afraid we have been…been taken as prisoners!"
And with this declaration, the alien burst into loud wails once more; Raven took the time to let her friend's information soak in.
"Do you know who's captured us?" She asked finally.
"It is a man," Starfire said, shivering. "He had come to speak with me before you awoke. He is…" She didn't finish; Raven was pretty sure about what her fellow Titan was going to say.
"He talked with you, you said?" The demoness pressed. She felt guilty, about not comforting the girl immediately and saving questions for later, like most other people, but she felt that she needed the basic details if she wanted to start formulating a plan for escape. "What did he say?"
Starfire sniffed, and shook her head.
"He—he knows of Slade," she murmured, "and he wishes for a silver platter on his head."
Raven struggled to make sense of this.
"He says that Slade has Robin, and that they are attempting to rescue us! He says that he will…use me, to draw them after us; as bait. Raven, what shall we do!" She fell back to weeping miserably, and the Goth tried to be as sympathetic as she would allow herself.
"It's going to be okay, Starfire. You shouldn't worry. We're going to get out of this. And Robin can take care of himself; I'm sure we'll see him soon. Don't cry."
So: Whoever their captor was, he was really only interested in capturing Slade…who apparently had teamed up with Robin to save them, though whether it was a willing partnership between the two, she wasn't clear.
Raven bit her lip, and tested her powers. She was still incredibly weak, which meant that she wouldn't be able to do much (she had been thinking around the lines of freeing her friends, and ripping apart their odd prison, but those fantasies would have to wait). She'd have to use very little energy…but she also had to make it count…maybe…and there was no way that Robin or Slade would ever allow themselves to be caught…
"Hang on, a moment, Star," Raven grumbled. "I'll be right back…"
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, feeling her mind slipping out of her body, sliding and coiling in the air before her motionless form like a black snake.
Raven wasted no time in her wraith-like form, but flung herself through the walls, to survey where they were being held. Needless to say, she was surprised to see a small band of helicopters and hovercrafts moving along in a aerial procession.
Okay, she thought firmly. We're heading south…
She dove straight down, towards the ground; through the clouds, Jump City became steadily more visible, and she focused her mind on finding Robin's presence within the city…
And latched on it, as she flew to the exact spot where he was. Just as Starfire had said, he was with Slade, the two of them walking through the streets at somewhat of a distance from each other. Robin was trailing a ways behind Slade, and Raven swept over to breathe into his ear:
"South…we're headed south…"
She felt her body tugging at her, demanding that she return to it, and she let herself be dragged back to the cold, metal holding area, where Starfire was awaiting her return. Raven willed herself to flow back into her body…and then heaved in a gasp of air as she inhabited her body again, and slumped over in exhaustion.
-partnership-
Since his emotional outburst back at the warehouse, Slade had been collecting himself during their walk…
And now felt guilty and heavy-hearted all over again.
The villain marched along determinedly down the road, trying to ignore his growing aggravation with himself, and his other thoughts and feelings; how he was getting sick of caring about somebody else besides himself, how he was starting to hate himself, and hate Robin even more…
Slade had decided, earlier on, that, unless it was absolutely necessary, he wouldn't bother talking to the boy. It would make the experience far less painful for both of them, he had thought.
Unfortunately, this idea didn't look like it would be working as well as he had hoped: They had reached a four-way intersection, and (Slade had suddenly realized) the sound of Wade's helicopters that they had been following for the past hour, had faded.
Drat, he thought angrily. If Wade had fled so quickly, it meant that back-up police forces from Gotham would be arriving soon. If he and Robin were caught by them, it would prove to be extremely difficult to explain their predicament.
Behind him, he heard Robin mutter under his breath:
"Now what?"
Indeed.
Slade sighed and prepared to face Robin, to consult his opinion, when the Boy Wonder gasped out loud, and froze. The man raised an eyebrow and whirled about; Robin was just standing there, eyes wide and staring, and his limbs as stiff as a board…
…Before he was released from his quick spell, and stumbled forward in surprise, nearly crashing into Slade.
"And that was?" The man drawled lazily, to cover up his real concern. Robin's gaze was darting around wildly, and he was staring at the sky in puzzlement.
"N—nothing," he said swiftly, shaking his head from side to side, as if to clear it.
"Good. Which way do you think?"
When Robin met his question with a blank stare, Slade rolled his eyes and swept an arm out to indicate the intersection they were stuck at.
"South," was the immediate response.
Slade remained skeptical.
"Are you sure?"
Robin shrugged, and assumed a cocky expression on his face.
"Don't know…but I'm headed this way whether you like it or not."
He chose the road stretching south, and began striding along the sidewalk; he didn't bother looking back to see if Slade was following.
The criminal narrowed his single eye, foul words leaping to the tip of his tongue, yet he somehow held them back.
"Arrogant little snot," he snarled to himself, and started jogging to catch up with Robin's fast pace.
-partnership-
The deep, night sky was being washed away beneath waves of pink and orange hues that darted forth from the sunrise, and made their way across the broad horizon; one by one, the stars and moon vanished behind a tapestry of bright colors that morning wove with its arrival. Robin barely had time to glance up; he was so occupied with making his way south. It hadn't been the first time that Raven had telepathically communicated with him, but it was still a disturbing sensation when she did so.
If she said that the Ravager was fleeing in that direction, he wouldn't even doubt her for a second. She was a prisoner aboard his craft, and any information that she might send his way would be invaluable.
The sound of helicopter blades chopping through the air above made him pause, and he stared up as policemen from Gotham swerved in. They were probably doing a search for any suspicious characters around the city, in the hopes that they could drag some suspects in for questioning.
The arrival of the authorities made him think, despite all his protests, of Bruce, back in Gotham…what he would say if he caught his precious son consorting and dealing with a psychopath…
The mere idea wrapped itself about his heart like an anchor and dragged it down to drown.
Something firm bumped into his shoulder, nudging him forward.
"Is there…something wrong?"
Robin loathed those words when they came from Slade; it made him sick to his stomach, the way that they were parental in meaning…and the way that the man delivered them with such sincerity, as if he actually meant it. The teen knew better, though; Slade was just mocking him, trying to make him feel small, and weak, and stupid.
"I'm fine," Robin snapped, and started moving forward again. Damn Slade, how could he—
"HEY! YOU TWO DOWN THERE!"
The voice was male, and was being belted out over a crackling loudspeaker. Both Robin and Slade looked towards the sky.
Far above them, a helicopter levitated, and the man's voice spoke again, directed plainly at the pair of them.
"YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MESS DOWNTOWN LAST NIGHT!"
They didn't answer.
"ALL RIGHT, THEN: BOTH OF YOU—DO NOT MOVE! WE ARE SENDING TWO OF OUR MEN DOWN IN A MOMENT. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLEE, OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO OPEN FIRE."
Robin and Slade exchanged looks.
With alarming speed, Robin's adversary withdrew a handful of smoke bombs from his belt and hurled them into the air; the gadgets exploded all about the police's helicopters, blinding them. In the same instant, Slade snatched the teenager's arm, and pulled him after him, as they fled down the street.
And a second later, the tell-tale sound of bullets flying through the air followed.
Cartridges pelted the road as they fell, blissfully missing their targets as they raced back and forth across the road, doing everything in their ability to evade being hit. Robin, despite the danger of the situation at hand, couldn't help but feel his adrenaline rising with his growing excitement at the risks they were taking.
"This way!" Slade yelled over his shoulder, and Robin saw that he was headed towards an old office building that was scheduled for demolition. He followed.
The two burst through the doors, while bullets shattered the glass panes and pounded into the concrete walls. Robin and Slade ducked and darted to a flight of stairs that led to a level below ground, while their pursuers retreated from the building. Robin thought he could hear the man cursing over the loud speaker.
A door at the end of the stairwell led to a dingy, grimy room full of old boxes, and battered office supplies; the light bulb had burned out long ago, as Robin discovered when he tried to flip the switch. It was a dismal, dank place, and smelled of mold.
The Boy Wonder flung himself onto a crate to rest, and wait for the police to clear out; Slade mimicked him, wheezing loudly.
It took a moment for Robin to realize that Slade wasn't out of breath…but he was laughing. Pure, joyful, laughter bubbled from the man's throat; the man that had been Robin's nightmare, and had shown no other emotions of the sort.
The Boy Wonder slumped on his crate and stared at his enemy in astonishment, unable to believe his ears, as Slade continued to chuckle, on and on.
To be Continued…
Yeah, that's a weird place to end it…I'm sorry that I took so long. I really, REALLY hate technology…but it also hates me, so there might be an explanation in there somewhere…(Insanity 101: About that question—the CD that's really been helping me is actually the soundtrack to "Finding Neverland," that Johnny Depp movie? Heh. Funny how that works, eh?) I hope you all liked this, despite the fact that it's…yeah, late… I'll stop and let you go. (Resumes cowering beneath desk to wait for reviews.)
I'll see you guys soon! New chapters will be on their way, and sooner than you may be expecting!
Later—
Rebel