Chapter 6-Inner Hell-Part 2

(Back at Titans Tower)

Things weren't going to hot for Cyborg as the new leader inside the tower and outside when fighting criminals. Right off the bat (no pun intended) Beast Boy got into an argument with Cyborg over eating Tofu and eating meat. Starfire tried to intervene to suppress her sorrow over Robin, but to no avail. As the two Titans bickered over the fact that Cyborg was imposing an all meat no tofu law on the tower as long as he was leader things got worse. At this moment, the alarm blared and Cyborg saw that multiple crimes were happening all over the city.

Somehow news got out into the city that the leader of the Titans had been "disabled" for the most part causing crime sprees to appear almost everywhere all over the city. This forced Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire to split up and then go solo to fight into equally divided areas of the city where the crimes were occurring. Needless to say, they each of them did not do the job as well as they had expected and were only able to stop two out of fifteen robberies taking place in each area. Each one was done by a small squad of Slade bots that stole everything from high-tech computers to priceless jewelry.

"I haven't felt this depressed since Cyborg beat me 300 times in DOA 2: Hardcore with that kickboxing hip hop guy," said Beast Boy as he sat on the sofa who was tired beyond belief after five hours of nothing, but fighting and chasing Slade's robots.

"Yeah well you shouldn't have been that old man. At least you didn't have one of your arms nearly torn to pieces by those Slade bots," said Cyborg who was busy fixing himself from the fight.

"Slade has become...more daring now that friend Robin and friend Raven are not here with us to defend the city," said Starfire who had to have a few bandages on her body as she sat in a chair in the kitchen section of the room thinking about Robin.

(In the Bat Cave)

"I'll ask one more time. What do you think your doing?" said Batman in a more demanding voice as he step towards Raven forcing her to step backward away from Robin.

"I...I...was...was just...," said Raven in surprise on how Batman snuck up near her without her sensing him with her powers.

"You were about to remove his mask. Don't bother to deny it Raven I saw you. Healing him, I can understand. Removing his mask to see his true identity...is an entirely different thing," said Batman as he continued to walk towards her while Raven did the opposite towards him.

"I'm...I'm sorry...I just wanted..." said Raven who surprised herself over the fact she was terrified of a mere mortal.

"You are a guest here Raven and I'm saying 'guest' lightly. Think about what you are doing and the consequences you create from your actions Raven before you actually do something. Something that I think would be considered...foolish," said Batman as he then took another step this time backing her up against a cave wall and leaned his head down closer to hers.

Before Raven could say anything Robin squirmed, again on his med-lab bed as he started to become awakened from his unwanted slumber. "Batman...Raven!" said Robin as he slowly sat up from his bed and looked over at the two who both turned to see him.

"You are awake I see. I guess the sedative was not as strong I thought it was. Oh well, its probably for the better anyway since now that I've see enough of what has become of you to know how to treat the problem," said Batman.

"What more crazy courses with robot versions of Slade beating him within an inch of his life like the original did?" said Raven who finally found her courage to stand up to the Dark Knight.

"Actually I had something more...effective in mind," said Batman as he walked around Raven towards Robin.

"What do you mean more...effective?" said Robin getting off the med-lab table with a suspicious look on his masked face.

Batman took a sky blue flower head out from under his cape and showed it to Robin while Raven gasped at how beautiful the flower was. "You know what this is?" said Batman still staring at Robin who just stared at it with a serious look on his face with a pretty good idea.

Raven on the other hand did not. "What's the big deal about this blue flower?" said Raven unsure about the plant Batman was holding.

"THIS...Raven is a very rare flower found in only certain part of the world. It may look harmless at first, but...when you breathe in the spores inside of it; it can create powerful neurotoxin that can bring out one's greatest fears come to life in a form of hallucinations. It makes it appear as if one's fears are actually real. I've managed to grow a small garden of them here in the cave to create a quick yet powerful antidotes to Scarecrows fear gas when he springs up from to time," said Batman who turned his head to Raven to answer her question.

"You told me about this plant when you trained with the League of Shadows. It was how you were able to face your greatest fear. Wasn't it?" said Robin who couldn't help, but feel somewhat afraid of facing his greatest fears.

"Yes. Slade and I went through it too in order to become a member of the League of Shadows just as all the members before us did as well. Now you must use it to face your demons that as a whole represent your greatest fear. I've prepared a special section of the cave for you to perform this little...ritual if you will. When you reach your destination, you are to stop and then sit on your knees just like I told you how I did when I took the flower. Then I want you to take the flower up to your nose and take a deep breathe and inhale the neurotoxin spores inside it. After that I will...take care of the rest," said Batman who placed a little remote gadget in the form of a bat on Robin's forehead.

"What's this?" said Robin pointing at his forehead with Raven wondering the same thing as she saw a red dot blinking once every two seconds.

"Just a censor to tell me when the hallucinations start to kicks in so I can contribute on my end," said Batman who knew Raven was suspicious about it and suspected was more then just a censor.

"What are you going to do once the censor activates Batman?" said Raven suspiciously as she wanted to know more about his role in Robin's...rebirth as she would like to consider it and not a ritual.

"That's not your concern Raven, but just so you know before hand I can't have you interfere in this no matter how dangerous it maybe," said Batman who made it sound like he was threatening Raven as Robin got off the med-lab table and headed for his intended destination.

"Why? How dangerous will this get?" said Raven who was getting more worried for Robin's safety and more protective of him.

"You'll have to wait and see Raven," said Batman not giving her the answer she had hoped for as he turned to a nearby computer terminal.

"NO! I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW!" said Raven as her emotions for Robin finally took over and bound Batman in her dark powers preventing him from moving.

Batman didn't even flinch or show any emotions towards his captor as Raven bound him tight with her dark energy. "I could tell Raven, but actions speak louder then words. If you want to find out then watch the screen on the terminal here to found out," said Batman who stayed completely calm despite Raven increasing the pressure.

Raven just looked at him for a moment then glided over to the computer terminal where Batman was and saw Batman was watching Robin. He was in a different area of the cave that Batman had told him to go originally for the...ritual. Through a via security video cameras above Robin in the cave the two saw Robin doing exactly as he was told to do. "He better be all right after this is over...or else!" aid Raven as she watched with worry and decided that it wouldn't hurt to let the dark knight go of his imprisonment with her dark powers.

(Where Robin was)

He saw there were video security cameras watching him carefully as they waited for his next bit of movement, but he did not care about the cameras. The only thing he was really concerned about was becoming what he once was and being with the people he cared about again. Those that he loved. Especially, Raven for who he feelings for. But he knew he could express them now in moment of time even if he could to her. It was neither the most appropriate nor the right time to. No. He would wait till this final ordeal was over and he was ready to return to Jump City with her...without the Batman.

As much as the loved Bruce like a father, he was starting to hate the man for being so cold to him as well as to Raven. Bruce knew that Raven loved him and he loved Raven, but it seemed that Batman was the wall between them. Right now Batman was the wall that was prevented him from expressing his feelings for Raven to her. When this ordeal was over, he was going to express those feelings to her even if it killed him. "Now...let this ritual of rebirth begin," said Robin in whisper that was too low for the cameras to catch as he moved the flower close to his face and inhaled its spores with a deep breath as Batman had told him too.

Almost instantly, he started feeling the effects the neurotoxin's hallucinating properties had on him as he his vision become distorted and blurry all around. He immediately, dropped the blue flower in front of him as his upper body moved aimlessly as he waited for his greatest fear to appear. "Now for my part," said Batman as he hit a button on his utility belt before Raven could react.

"What did you just press?" said Raven who had him encased in black energy once more.

"Releasing his fear in the form of...bats," said Batman as he turned his head back to the screen as hundreds of not thousands of bats swarmed around Robin in a miniature twister.

"AHHHHHH!" said Robin as he screamed with he had as the bats came out of the darkness of the cave swarming around scratching, clawing, and even biting him as the flew around him.

(Back to Raven and Batman)

"What's happening to him?" said Raven as she bound him even tighter then the first time as Robin's screams echoed through out the cave.

"To an ordinary person they may look like harmless bats under the influence of a sonic sound caller that was designed for bats to fly to the location of the sound. The sound emitted from the device then drives all the bats into an all around frenzy and makes them the go nuts on whoever is wearing the device. However, for someone like Robin right now that has breathed in the flowers neurotoxin, that are in the spores of the flower he will see them as the demons that haunt his mind. They will plague his mind until he faces them when they finally hallucinate into the form of Slade," said Batman who seemed to be unaffected by Raven's bindings as she stared at him with her red demon eyes.

"Why? What's the purpose of destroying him like this?" said Raven with her voice sounding less then human as her rage slowly took over.

"Slade represents his fear of failure to him Raven. You of all people should have known that with the bond you two share with each other. Once Robin is able to defeat Slade on a mental level, he will conquer his fear and be able to defeat Slade no matter what the man throws at him. So for now we must watch and wait until it is over...no matter how much we want it to stop," said Batman who for the first time ever to Raven sounded like he was filled with sadness at the end.

Raven's rage finally got under control and she released him again. She stared at the screen and saw Robin struggling for his life as the bats surrounded him and hurting him to no end. 'I want it to stop,' thought Raven as she looked at the screen with her sad and violet eyes as her four red ones went away as the screen showed a robot version of Slade slowly walking towards Robin for reasons only Batman knew.

(Back to where Robin is)

Robin's mind was screaming at him as he let out his own screams at the demons that covered his very eyesight that he felt were eating at his very soul. That is...until one image appeared before him that made him want to scream in agony even more. Slade's face appeared. At first Slade's appearance in front of him seemed normal, but when the image of Slade got closer it was transformed into a hideous creature of darkness. The figures face had one red glowing eye with metal teeth that seemed to drool acid out from them. It was where the original's face used to breathe out from beyond the mask. His physical form was larger and bulkier with claws for fingers and blades for metal shoes. "Hello Robin! You always did risk walking into darkest of place just to see me. I'm flattered," said the demonic version of Slade in an equally dark and demonic voice.

"No not like this!" said Robin as the current figure of Slade leaned closer to its fear fill prey.

"What's Robin? Too afraid to fight? To think I wanted you as my apprentice. You are too soft and weak to be my apprentice now that I see you as the help child you are. What the happened to the child that was fearless and would do anything to beat me. Did I kill that part of you? If I did...then I'm glad. It had no business living inside a weak body and presence such as your. It was better off dead...just like your friends will against me without you. Especially...Raven!" said the hallucinated version of Slade.

"Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with this," yelled Robin as he tried to punch the figure, but hit nothing but air.

"No Robin. I don't want to stop doing what I do best. And it's not like YOU can stop me from doing what I do best. Can you? Come one Robin show me what you got. Unless you think old dad will save you from me," said the demonic figure of Slade who started laughing at Robin. At his cowards. At his love for his friends, family...and Raven.

Robin couldn't take it anymore as his rage overpowered his once dominate fear of his enemy as he fought the hallucinated form that reflected all his fears. His fear of failure, of fighting against all odds, and the fear of loving that special someone without worrying that someone will come for her in the night. "I can...and I WILL!" said Robin as he fought the demon without hesitation and ignored the pain of the others demons that slowly took more and more flesh from his already wounded body.

Even in his wounded state, Robin knew what it meant to fight beyond normal limitations when Batman first trained him. He began to feel like his old self again...only better then he was before. Now he could fight without hesitation or without fear of what was happening next because he was already thinking four steps ahead of his current attack.

Finally, an unexpected kick from Robin sent the robot Slade's head flying off its body and onto the ground near Robin. The robots body immediately fell to the ground and Batman deactivated the sound device on Robin's forehead sending the bat's flying in every direction. However, Robin wasn't done with the robot version of Slade and walked over to the still barely functioning head. "Not...bad...Robin...congratulations on your little victory...in conquering your...fear of...me in...in...the form of...failure. Your...father...was right...about...you...Robin. If only...I were...were the actual Slade. I...I...would have been. I...almost wished...that you had...stayed my...apprentice," said the robot Slade as it tried to give somewhat of a laugh.

"When I face the true Slade and beat him I'm going to stare into his eye as he begs for mercy...and crush him, LIKE THIS!" said Robin as he put his steel covered shoe and pressed hard on the masked robot shattering it and its parts everywhere.

"That's the Robin I know. Welcome back old self...my son," said Batman who showed a small smile of satisfaction of Robin's success.

He then looked over and saw Raven had flown off in an effort to retrieve Robin from that area of the cave since she could heal him right away. When they returned to him the bat inflicted wounds looked more extensive then they had looked on the security cameras and the one in the Slade robot that Robin had destroyed. "I' just about ready to return to the city," said Robin in a serious manner that made Bruce's smile increase another muscle only to remove it and become serious himself.

"Soon Robin. You have to rest for a little while till your wounds heal and your muscles have had a chance to relax. A few days won't kill you," said Batman as he motioned to the med-lab table.

Robin looked over at the table and then at Raven who smiled at him when she wouldn't even smile at all to anyone. "Well...I suppose days won't hurt," said Robin as he walked with Raven to the table.

"In the mean I'll head back to Titans Tower to help the other Titans and possibly find a lead to Slade's whereabouts. The materials I gathered from your last encounter with him should help provide some clue as to where he his is hiding," said Batman as he saw Robin get on the med-lab table with Raven assistance.

"Just don't take on Slade yourself. I want the privilege of smashing his face into the concrete," said Robin who to Raven could tell he was definitely back to his old self.

"I remember giving you that little speech when you were younger. Strange how things have changed after all this time," said Batman who gave Robin a powerful sedative like before.

"Everything has...changed," said Robin as he slowly fell into slumber like sleep as a man in a butler suit came down the steps that led up to Wayne Manor.

"You called sir," said the British accented man with a well-trimmed mustache as he walked over to where the three heroes were.

"Yes Alfred I need you here to keep an eye on these two while I'm at Jump City," said Batman without looking at his loyal butler.

"Yes sir," said Alfred who bowed slightly as Batman walked to the Bat-jet and took off from the cave to Jump City,

"So...who are you?" said Raven with a raised eyebrow.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I was really Batman?" said Alfred.

"Nope," said Raven shaking her head as he turned to face Robin sleeping.

"Just once I wish someone would believe me when I say that," said Alfred who sighed as he walked over to where Raven and a sleeping Robin were.