Chapter 3: Someone Else

It had been a long time since Nightwing had been in touch with the rest of the former Teen Titans, so it came as a surprise when the beeping of his communicator drew him from his thoughts in his Bludhaven flat. Nightwing, who used to go by Robin when he was a teenager and on the Teen Titans, stood from his seat on his couch where he was enjoying a bowl of cereal and retrieved his noisy communicator before it could wake his sleeping neighbors.

When he flipped the cover of the communication device, though, he saw a face he had not seen in years, and hoped he'd never have to again. There was a beeping light in the top left that showed this was a group call to all the former Titans, and he wondered why Slade, who was rumored to be going by Deathstroke now, was calling a former group of superheroes.

About three seconds after he flipped the cover, Deathstroke started speaking to him and his former teammates. "Ah, the Titans. You never thought you'd see me again, did you? Well, I am indeed alive and kicking, and wish to have a little get-together with my old friends. Which is why I have a friend over, myself." Slade swerved the camera he was holding to point behind him. It was hard to tell what he wanted them to look at because it was so dark, but when his eyes were finally able to make out what was behind the murderer in front of him, he almost dropped the communicator out of shock.

Behind his old arch nemesis was a giant turtle, and from the looks of him, he wasn't doing so good. He was slumped, but his arms were above his head, held there by rusty manacles. At first, Nightwing thought it was Beast Boy, but with further analysis was able to make out a shell and a ragged blue bandana around this mutant's head. He wasn't able to tell if it was alive or not.

"This is Leonardo. He and his three brothers have saved New York and the world more times than I care to count, and his brothers do not know where he is or if he is alive. Don't worry, he is alive- for now. He will not be for much longer unless you come to these coordinates," a set of numbers appeared on the screen, "and the clock is ticking. For every hour that you delay in getting here, every hour, on the hour, I will make one cut on this turtle's body. If you are not here in fifteen hours, I will start breaking bones. As you probably know, I do not care if this turtle lives or dies. See you soon, Titans." With that ominous note, Slade ended the call.

Nightwing immediately got another call, and without hesitation, he answered it. It was from Beast Boy, and this call was also to all of the former Titans.

"Guys, who was that guy Slade was talking about? He doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before!" Beast Boy yelled.

Another familiar voice replied, but her English was much better than the last time he had seen her. "Slade said that this turtle creature and his family have saved the world, and he is a living thing! Surely we must save him, friend Titans!" Ah, Starfire. Always worried for others. How he had missed her and her sweet temperament.

"Of course we gotta help him, Star." A baritone voice this time, belonging to someone who used to help him fix his bike when he would crash it on a mission, one of the only people who he used to feel comfortable talking about his nightmares with. "Right, everybody? We have to help him- especially if all the things Slade said about him and his brothers are true." Cyborg, always willing to help someone in need of it.

At last the voice of his empathetic teammate came over the comm. "I agree with Cyborg and Starfire. He needs help, and we are the only ones who know where he is." Raven might not show it often, but she cares about people a lot more than she lets on.

Sensing it was his turn to speak, Nightwing gave his opinion. "Then if we all agree, it's time to go back to Jump City."