The Eradicator
Jade flipped across the rooftops of Gotham, landing with grace, she glanced up to see Robin standing there, alongside Kid Flash. She raised an eyebrow; she'd received a call from Roy to meet him here. She hadn't been expecting to run into them. "Where's Roy?" She asked, watching the two heroes closely.
Robin took a step towards the assassin, watching Jade with caution. "We needed your attention Jade, making it seem like Roy had called you for a meeting seemed like the only way to get your attention." He responded, coming to a stop before her.
Jade blinked in confusion, she glanced at Wally who seemed concerned, far more concerned then he normally was. And Robin, his voice was serious, they didn't seem like this was for a meeting, she wondered if they were trying to capture her.
To her surprise however, Robin pulled out a green bow, the bow that belonged to Artemis. She noticed that the bow was broken, the string was cut in half, and the handle itself was dented, as if it had been stepped on by someone.
"Artemis and Paula are missing."
That drew her attention to Wally, she knew why he was concerned, Artemis had vanished, but the fact that her mother had vanished as well, that was something that concerned her. Jade needed answers now. "What happened?" She demanded.
Robin took a deep breath as he stepped back. "Are you aware of the recent events, these dark versions of myself running around and their allies?" He asked.
Jade nodded, she'd been informed by her father about these Grey Knights, but more so informed how one of their allies resembled Artemis. She glanced at Robin, watching as he pulled out some fabric. It was orange in colour.
"This came form the kidnapper." Robin began. "And after several DNA tests, we found a match."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "Who does it belong to?" She asked, watching as Robin exchanged a look with Wally.
"Artemis."
Jade widened her eyes. "My sister kidnapped mother!" She exclaimed.
Robin shook his head. "In a sense, yes. But this Artemis, it isn't the one we know. This Artemis, she arrived with the Dark Robins. And, with the evidence I was able to find, we believe this dark Artemis and whatever dark version of me she works for, were trained by the Shadows." He explained.
Jade rolled a fist. This made things different, an Artemis who worked for the Shadows, she needed to see this. "And that's why you came to me, why not my father?" She wondered.
Robin sighed. "We figured you'd be more willing to talk, and perhaps work together to find them. You see, we have a feeling that an invasion is coming, one that we won't see coming. Already, these dark Robins are opening portals to unleash darker versions of Batman. We've already encountered the speedster Batman, or Red Death as they referred to themselves as." He explained.
Jade nodded in understanding, this was beyond her, beyond anyone. She noticed Wally pacing faster and faster. She glanced to see Roy coming down not far from them. And he seemed angered. She most likely knew that he was angered at Robin and Wally posing as him to meet with her. "I'll inform you if I find anything." She said, taking off into the night.
Ra's was a man of many talents, aged beyond belief, yet he was shocked at the news Jade had given him. An Artemis that worked for the Shadows, he was intrigued. But even now, he knew that time was of the essence, something was coming, and whatever it was, it was going to bring something darker than him.
He had increased the guard around the Lazarus Pits, he feared that if these dark Robins got their hands on them, it would bring an end to The Light's plans, to his goals and dreams. Now, standing tall as he held a sword in hand, Ubu by his side with Sportsmaster, watching as his men repelled invaders, he wondered, who was foolish enough to attack one of his strongholds?
Assassin could only smirk as he took aim with his bow, watching as several assassins fell before him. This was child's play to him. Even his wife seemed to agree, if the way she effortless cut down many of Ra's' assassins was anything to go by.
"So, the Boy Wonder decides to assault one of my strongholds."
Assassin turned to see Ra's emerge, a small smirk formed upon his lips at seeing the former Demon Head breathing among the living. "Grandfather." He greeted, watching as Tigress came to his side, as did Eradicator.
Ra's raised an eyebrow. "You are different Boy Wonder, I assume you must be one of these evil Robins."
Assassins grinned. "Resorting to theses names Ra's. The Grey Knights are beyond the Shadows. And well, the New Shadows will see to it that the old are replaced. But we have need of the Lazarus Pit, and it just so happens that I need to stock on the Lazarus water as well."
Sportsmaster eyed Tigress with narrowed eyes. "And who are you supposed to be?" He questioned.
Tigress smirked. "Good to see you too father." She responded.
Sportsmaster blinked. "Baby Girl?"
Tigress grinned. "It'll be fun to kill you again." She teased, wiping the blood from her blade.
"I won't go down so easily Baby Girl." Sportsmaster snarled.
Tigress shook her head. "If I know something father, it's that your reputation is everything to you. So, I wonder what would happen if we did something that hurt it." She said, flicking her hand as a few of her assassins dragged Artemis and Paula into sight.
Ra's glanced over at the two. "Been busy I see, no matter. You won't get to the Lazarus Pit, I have it under heavy protection." He said.
Assassin smirked. "Let me tell you something Ra's, back home, I killed you, took over the Shadows with my wife, and together, we did what you failed to achieve, we cleansed the Earth. But my friend here, he has a different story, one that makes him far more formidable then Ubu or even Mammoth."
Eradicator snarled as he rolled his fists, he cracked his neck and knuckles.
A small disc landed before them, an explosion following suit. Assassin smirked. "The young heroes, come to stop us from opening the portal. Tigress, we have business to attend to, Eradicator, distract the heroes." He said, vanished from sight.
Eradicator smirked as he eyed Superboy. "Superboy." He hissed with angered, stepping towards the Superman clone.
Superboy glanced at Eradicator. "Robin?" He questioned.
Eradicator backhanded Superboy, sending him flying back. "Eradicator hate Superboy."
Superboy groaned as he got up. "I don't like you either." He cried out, punching Eradicator in the face.
The mutated Robin staggered back from the unexpected blow. He shook his head and roared in rage. "Eradicator kill Superboy." He snarled, leaping into the air before slamming into the ground.
Superboy dived to the side, watching as a cloud of dust flashed into the sky from the impact. He watched as Eradicator rose from the small crater. "Eradicator enjoyed crushing Superboy back home."
Superboy blinked as Robin landed beside. "Superboy, distract him long enough for me to get a readout on mutations." He said. Superboy nodded, charging forward with a battle cry as slammed into Eradicator.
Robin dived to the ground as Superboy smashed into the land. "Conner, we trusted you, I trusted you." He cried, flaying back as the rogue clone grabbed him by the arm. "What's gotten into your head?" Robin questioned.
Around them, the beaten and bruised bodies of other heroes rested upon the ground, each of them motionless. Superboy's rage had driven him made. Robin felt himself fly back from another hit. "You need to stop this now." He yelled, praying above that he didn't need to use his backup plane.
Robin blinked as he widened his eyes. "Holy, this guys mutation is a synthesised form of the Kobra Venom, merged with…" He paused as he eyed the next word. He felt the world inside him crumble. "No way, this Robin, he's, he mixed the same serum used on Deathstroke into the Kobra Venom." He glanced up at Superboy in horror. "Superboy, get out of there." He cried.
Superboy glanced up at the sound of Robin's voice. Glancing back, he watched as Eradicator delivered an uppercut. He grunted in pain as he slammed into a wall. He watched as Robin dropped down beside him.
"This version of me is enhanced with Kobra Venom and another serum. He can kill you." Robin said.
Superboy blinked. "But Kryptonite…"
"He doesn't need it to kill you, this version of me, it's almost as if he designed merged the things in order to eliminate you if you ever went rogue." Robin cut him off.
Robin landed on the ground shaking his head as he felt Superboy grasp his leg and pull. A scream of pain erupted from his throat as he watched Superboy tears the limb from his body. He widened his eyes in horror as Superboy seemed ready to deliver a final blow.
Robin took a deep breath. "You left me no choice Superboy." He said, pressing a button upon his belt. He felt something poke him, a liquid flowed into his blood. He felt the change immediately. He grunted in pain as he felt his body burn with pain. He widened his eyes, uniform tearing as he grew in size, tears in his skin as he started to tower in size.
When the pain stopped, Robin glanced at Superboy, he could feel his limbs, he had both legs. With a mighty roar, he eyed Superboy closely. "I will put an end to your terror." He said, reaching out with a massive fist.
Grasping Superboy by the head, he lifted the rogue clone into the air before slamming him into the ground. He then proceeded to pummel the clone's body into the ground. "You will never hurt anyone ever again." He screamed, watching as blood splashed onto him. He widened his eyes at the sight, at the blood on his hands, at the lifeless body of Superboy.
He pulled back, collapsing in on himself as he processed what he'd just done.
"Robin?"
Robin blinked as he heard Miss Martian call out to him. He grunted. "I… no, not Robin." He muttered, unwrapping himself as he turned to face the team, a sinister smile forming upon his lips. "I… Eradicator. Eradicator kill Superboy, Eradicator monster." He hissed, turning on his friends with a murderous leap.
Assassin smirked as he held a small vial of liquid over the Lazarus Pit. He turned to see Aqualad standing beside a freed Artemis. Alongside Kid Flash and Miss Martian. "You're too late Aqualad." He said, tipping the vial's contents into the Pit.
The pit started to bubble, its green colour turning purple before a large hand reached out and grasped the edge. Another hand followed suit before two pointed ears appeared, then a face. Emerging from the pit, a hulking Batman stood, spikes emerged from his back, his knees and shoulders. His outfit torn as a row of teeth smiled.
"I am Devastator." He roared, eyeing Assassin closely. "Where is Eradicator?" He questioned.
Assassin glanced at the young heroes. "Dealing with a few obstacles outside." He answered.
Devastator nodded as he stepped forward. "The dawn draws closer; light shall meet darkness." He said, watching as the young heroes each backed away, retreating from the fight.
Eradicator stood above the blood-stained ground, the lifeless bodies of his former friends littered the place, buildings were piles of rubble, innocents remained, unmoving surrounding him. He scanned the seas of red till he saw a figure. "Eradicator crush newcomer." He snarled.
The figure shook his head from within his cloak. "Do you know how long I've searched for a Robin of great brute strength?" He questioned.
Eradicator blinked. "Who you?" He questioned.
The figure chuckled, removing the hood of his cloak. "I'm you, or at least, a version of you. I'm putting together a team, eight Robin's, for a goal. Our worlds aren't meant to last, and I offer you a way to make yourself a world that does. Join The Grey Knights, and you could live in a world for ever, use you great strength for a good cause." Warlord said.
Eradicator eyed Warlord closely before smirking. "Eradicator accept."
Robin glanced at Batman. "This hulking version of me, he was mutated by Kobra Venom, but also by the same serum that made Deathstroke who he is today." He explained.
Batman nodded. "And these version of me, you said that he was hulking as well, although he appeared differently to this brute Robin. Things are getting out of hand. We need to look further into this, I'm going to question Fate and the Lanterns regarding this matter." He said, leaving the room.
Silence remained, Robin could only glance at the other members of the team, already, three of these dark Robins had been encountered, and yet, only two dark Batmen. He could only imagine what was next.
I loved creating Eradicator, I based him of the Generation 1 version of Grimlock. And speaking of Transformers, I can not look at Batman the Devastator without thinking back to Devastator.