Chapter 2-Surprise Around Every Corner

The location Slade gave Robin was that of a building in the city that was currently under construction and practically abandoned for the most part. However, at the moment it had been abandoned of its workers that were supposed to complete what they were building that day. As Robin landed in on the middle floor of the under constructed building he knew that the workers didn't leave for a coffee break. They had been taken away slowly and stowed away some place so they wouldn't interfere or become a distraction. 'That's what I would have done if he had been Slade at least,' thought Robin as he the shuddered at the thought of being just like Slade after he removed the flight gear and started walking around.

"You have cold feet already Robin? Don't tell me the victory over Trigon has made your head swollen with pride?' said Slade as his voice echoed throughout the uncompleted building.

"You wish Slade. Now show yourself so we can fight!" said Robin who was becoming somewhat impatient at the like of appearance by Slade.

"As before Robin you lack patience's when it comes to not getting what you want right away. Pity you never learned that from me when you were my apprentice," said the echoing voice as Robin tried to follow the direction of the sound as best he could.

"All I learned from you was how to hate you! Nothing more," said Robin as he sensed something moving behind and did a spin kick only to hit and dent a support beam making the area around him shake with instability.

"Careful now Robin you don't have to get too carried away now. You don't want this place to fall apart and possibly hurt innocent lives at the bottom of the building...like the construction workers tied up in the basement floor…do you?" said Slade as Robin spun around at the fell of someone breathing on his neck.

'Just have to calm down or Slade will get the better of me,' thought Robin as he saw it was just the noiseless air conditioner one of the construction workers left on as he decided to walk up one floor after another to find Slade.

"Follow the sound of my voice Robin and soon we will end this little rivalry between us once and for all," said Slade whose voice echoed less and started sounding like he was near by.

Robin walked up a flight of stairs from where Slade's voice was coming from and could feel his adrenaline already going all out to give him the instant energy to fight almost instantly. As he walked up the stairs, he noticed this room had been covered with a blue tarp meaning this was the 'roof' of the building. Robin should have suspected as much that Slade would hide on the temporary top floor that was this building, but ignored it and continued as he looked around the darkened floor. "Where are you Slade? Don't tell me your going to back out of our little deal?" said Robin as he tried to anger Slade like Slade had to Robin so many times before.

Robin got no response from his psychotic archrival as he walked further into the room only to find a laptop on a box of construction equipment. Robin walked up to the monitor and saw Slade's metal covered one-eyed masked face. "Nice of you to join me Robin even though you are so close you couldn't be further away from me," said Slade through the portable computer.

Robin growled and gritted his teeth in frustration over the fact that Slade was playing head games again. "Where are you Slade?" said Robin as he looked into the background of Slade's screen for clues where he was.

"You're a clever boy Robin I'm sure you'll find my little...'nest egg' of a location after you deal with a few friends of mine," said Slade as the snap of his fingers came from the laptop and the vast army of Slade bots appeared ready to serve their master when he needed them.

"What about our deal?" said Robin who turned from the army of Slade bots to the laptop screen of Slade himself.

"I've decided not to go through with our deal because I believe my boy that you won't be able to pay up when you'd lose to me," said Slade is eye become a slit as it stared into the two Robin gave him.

"Who said I'd lose?" said Robin as he pulled out his bo-staff ready to fight the army of Slade bots.

"Don't you remember Robin? You did. Slade bots...ATTACK!" said Slade as the laptop computer screen went black as the transmission was cut.

"All right you pieces of junk...come get your trophy," said Robin as he motioned with his hand for them to attack as the Slade bots attacked Robin without mercy.

The robots used whatever was available to them besides their own weapons given to them by their creator on the Boy Wonder as he fought with everything he had to just stay alive. However, the numbers gain quickly caught up with him as one robot with a pipe swung hard and hit him in the head sending the young hero flying into a steel support pillar. Two others saw his groggy state and used several martial arts maneuvers programmed into them by Slade, damaging several of Robin's ribs. Another robot kicked him in the ribs as he struggled to get up after receiving the first blow sending him flying into a portable workbench full of tools that fell on him due to the force of the impact.

Robin struggled as he pushed the workbench on wheels of himself as he spit up blood from what felt like busted ribs. Blood came down the side of Robin's temple as well as his mouth as the robots now surrounded him ready to deliver the final blow to barely conscious hero when a voice could be heard in his head. 'Robin...is that the best you can do,' were the words Slade had said during their first encounter.

Those words filled Robin with uncontrollable rage and nearly drove him mad as he snapped out of his weakened state and leapt forward and brought the fight to them. He let his frustration, rage, hatred, and anger for Slade that had built up for what seemed for so long explode with tremendous force. He then channeled this tremendous force into his weapons and martial arts skills and showed Slade just what his best was. "I'LL...I'LL SHOW...YOU MY...MY...BEST!" yelled Robin as he destroyed one Slade bot after another with the skill of a master, but with the fury of a monster.

Far away, Slade watched from the hidden cameras he had secretly placed and watched from the portable screen he created that he put on his arm. "Interesting isn't it Robin? You say that I am a monster, a demon possessed, and without a soul. However, from what I am seeing here Robin...you are the one right now who is possessed by your own demons. Heheheh. Quite an interesting site really," Slade as he watched as his robot army slowly become reduced to a small force of ten.

Shortly though, the remaining ten however, fell before the might if Robin's skills and bo-staff as he got rid of them in all his fury. "HOWS MY BEST NOW!" yelled Robin after plunged his bo-staff into the head of the final Slade bot with all his strength.

The laptop went on again behind and the sound of clapping could be heard from it. "Very impressive Robin. It looks like you are the one-man army that people say you are. Of course I would expect no less from the boy I had wanted originally as my apprentice," said Slade as Robin slowly walked over to the laptop breathing heavily from exhaustion and the lack of blood from his wounds.

"I will never be your apprentice Slade," said Robin as he clung to his bo-staff and the box where the laptop was stationed.

"I know Robin, but that doesn't mean I can't still have a little fun with you for old times sake," said Slade who watched Robin get even angrier then before (if that was possible) he attacked his robots.

"No more fun. Where are you?" said Robin who watched Slade one eye turn into a slit again to match Robins.

"Before I tell you I just want you to know that you shouldn't bother to tell your friends on your communicator Robin. I have electronic jammers especially designed for your communicators as well as your friends. So like you they are...all...fighting...alone!" said as his voice almost sounded like a soft whisper like the sound of a ghost in the wind as second screen appeared showing the jammers in multiple locations for an over blanketing effect.

"They can handle themselves. Now...WHERE...ARE...YOU!?" said Robin who was at this point getting more upset by the minute.

Slade sighed in disappointment as if he had expected Robin to understand the easy clue he gave the young boy wonder. "Very well Robin. If you must know, I'm in...Titans Tower," said Slade with an evil look in his eye.