digi-gal-rox: well, not much to say, only review pls!! only one chapter to go and an epilogue! yea!!

Chapter 12 - Final Battle Part 1

'Where am I?'
'No where.'
'Where am I?'
'Neither here nor there.'
'Who are you?'
'Someone you can trust.'
'Someone I can trust... mum?'
'No,'
'Dad?'
'No,'
'Who are you?'

She opened her eyes slowly. She could feel someone next to her. She tilted her head noticing a dark hair man resting his head by her arm. She cracked a smile. 'Dick...' She looked at the ceiling. How did she end up here? The last thing she remembered was fighting... fighting Blackfire... fighting... fighting...
"SLADE!" she gasped, forcing herself up. Nightwing shot up, alarmed by her outburst. She began to breath heavily,
"Slade... Slade..."
"Babs?" Nightwing quickly grabbed hold of her. She looked at him eyes wide.
"Slade!" she cried out, "A big plan..." she looked at him painfully, "You... you have to stop him..." he looked at her gently, hugging her tightly. "Dick..."
"I'm glad," he said quietly, "I'm glad you're safe." he looked at her meaningfully, cupping her face gently. "We already know he has something big planned." she looked at him, curiously. "You were sleep talking."
"I sleep talk?"
"Probaly due to the morphine," Dick smiled, "But we've already got teams around the area."
"Dick..."
"I won't loose you again, Babs. I won't."

Starfire peered into the room. She watched painfully as he kissed her gently. After a moment she smiled. Even though she wasn't in his life, she was happy. Just as long as he was happy, she was happy.
"Star?" she turned around to see her friend, and companion Raven.
"I am... happy." she said, "I am happy that he is happy."
"Star..." Raven smiled gently at her friend.
"I am O.K, friend Raven." Starfire said firmly. And this time she meant it.

Batgirl sighed heavily, hugging herself. Robin looked at her curiously, before making a face.
"You 'kay, Cassie?"
"I was freakin' worried about her, y'know."
"Cassie..."
"She's my only family..." Robin smiled gently at his friend.
"I know the feeling. When I first became Robin, she was like a mother to me. Always protecting me from brooding Bruce and pissed of Dick." he laughed, "But she's fine now. As Dick always says, she's a strong, stubborn woman, who will not give up." Cassie smiled.
"I guess..." she paused, "I wonder what'll happen between her and Nightwing." Robin looked away. He knew they both had a very complicated relationship. On. Off. On. Off. Maybe this time, they could actually make it work. "Tim?"
"Huh?" Robin shook his head slightly, surprised.
"I said, that they need us."
"Oh... oh!" he shot up, "Come on, kiddo, let's go."
"I'm not a kid!" Batgirl screamed, running after the boy wonder who had quickly taken off.

"This is it," he smirked. Blackfire nodded. "We've broken him. Now it's time to strike." behind him, several of his minions, his army, Cinderblock, Overload and Plasmus all stood, ready to take their orders.
"My little sister will pay." Blackfire growled, "For what she has done to me." Slade smirked.
"We got what we want. We know their weakness." he muttered. "It's time to get back. Time for them to pay for what they have done." an echo of roars could be heard from the creatures, as his minions began to march out.
"Let's get to business than, shall we?"

The masked man narrowed his eyes slightly, watching them as they made their way to the centre of the city. He knew instantly that they had something planned. He would normally not want to work with them. But this... this was for the good of these people right? He hated playing hero. Infact, he was no hero at all. He was just someone who had stolen a suit from the former Titan, Nightwing. He smirked. Red X. The name did certainly go well with the suit. But what was this feeling that was growing inside of him? Was it, as some people called it, his concious? Was he actually feeling sorry for these people? He shook his head violently. If there was one thing he knew, Slade was one villian that should not be allowed roam the streets. Not after mahem after mahem he caused at Jump City. Taking a deep breath, he went to the only place he could think of. Even though he may end up behind bars, he had no choice but to work with them.

"I'm curious," Supergirl murmured. Barbara looked at her curiously.
"Hm?"
"How Batman was ever able to escape from Slade." Barbara frowned slightly. Come to think of it, how did Batman manage to break free from Slade, last month.
"Hm... This is Batman we're talking about," she said slowly, "After all he can escape from any stickly situations." Supergirl nodded slightly, with a slight grin on her face.
"If only Dick can do that." Barbara laughed slightly.
"I guess so." her face suddenly became serious, as the computer screen flashed.
"What is it?" Supergirl suddenly asked.
"Nightwing!" Barbara exclaimed, pressing a link to the dark knight, "Red X wants to speak with you."
"What?!" Nightwing exploded. Barbara winced slightly at his tone. "Where did he come from?"
"Duh Nightwing!" Supergirl chimed in, "Remember he's the one that warned us that he maybe after Oracle."
"That's besides the point!"
"He wants to help." Barbara said quietly.

Surrounded by darkness, she stared at the suit she had once done. Once known as Batgirl, she had long since given up that role, before coming the Oracle. She kind of miss the cape and cowl. But like Dick, she had outgrown that role. Her only source of light came from the computer in front of her. Raven quietly approached her.
"You O.K?"
"I suppose I am," she said quietly. "You didn't have to follow me back here Raven."
"Nightwing would've kill me if I didn't." Oracle chuckled softly. "He's just worried."
"I suppose so."
"I just hope once and for all that Slade will rest." Raven muttered, clenching her fist.
"He will." Oracle said quietly, "If not now, later. And when he does..." Raven smiled slightly.
"I can see why he likes you so much," Raven said softly, "You always see the bright side of life." Oracle smiled.
"I guess I do."

They found themselves surrounded, as the robotic soldiers crowded around them. Slade, Blackfire, Cinderblock, Plasmus or Overload could be seen. Narrowing his eyes slightly, a smile growing on his lips, Robin made the first move, followed by Speedy, Flash, Supergirl and Huntress.
"Now this is what I call fun!" Supergirl said sarcastically.

"Well?" Nightwing folded his arms, as Red X approached them.
"There." the masked villian pointed to the warehouse. "Either there, or there's a secret passage he took and escaped like he usually does."
"Why should we trust you?" Cyborg asked dangerously.
"I told you about the news about Oracle, and it turned out true." Nightwing narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why are you helping us?"
"Because," Red X simply responded. "I maybe no hero, but there is one thing I do know. Slade should not be allowed to roam the streets." Nodding slightly, Nightwing moved to the edge. His thoughts on Barbara. He wondered if she was safe at the batcave. He felt Starfire place a hand on his shoulder, a reassuring smile on her face.
"It will be alright, Nightwing." she said softly, "Raven is with her." Nightwing smiled slightly. That was true.
"Let's do this." Nightwing growled.

Just far enough from their battle, Batman and Wonder Woman watched as Robin, Speedy, Flash, Supergirl and Huntress fought with all they got. The Dark Knight new this was only a distraction. And he also knew that Nightwing was already taking care of business. He turned around slightly, when a loud bang had caught his attention. He heard Wonder Woman muttering something before she took off, to join in the fight. He looked up at the sky, and noticed that several more robitic minions were falling from the sky.
"Oracle, report." he ordered, pressing his finger to the communicator in his ear.
"He's got something planned." Oracle responded. "Dick's not responded, nor are any of the Titans." Batman narrowed his eyes slightly.
"He can take care of himself," Batman growled. "We have to stop him."
"It's only a distraction." Raven's voice came in. "He's only doing this to get on the Titan's nerves. He probaly has cameras around the area, to show them struggling."
"If that's the case," Batman growled, "Send the batwing. With a lot of ice."
"Aye, sir."

"Hello, little sister."
"Blackfire!" Starfire whirled around, as her sister approached them.
"I can't allow you to pass. Otherwise I will have to fight you." Starfire narrowed her eyes.
"My friends will pass, sister. I will make sure of that."
"Starfire!" Beast Boy exclaimed.
"Go!" she growled, "And I will take care of my sister." Nightwing hesitated, before nodding. He took off, with the Titans and Red X following not too far behind.
"Is leaving her a wise idea?" Red X barked.
"She can take care of herself." Nightwing responded. The team quickly pulled to a stop, as they entered a large room.
"Kay... why do I get the feeling that we're going to be attacked soon?" Beast Boy asked, standing his ground.
"That is because, my dear Titans, you are." a voice echoed. And out came Cinderblock, Plasmus and Overload. Red X couldn't help but smirk.
"Oi, Nightwing, go after him. We can take care of these guys." Nightwing looked at him surprised. "I told you I was serious about helping." Nightwing cracked a smile.
"There maybe some hope for you yet, X."
"Not a chance!" Red X shouted, as he attacked Cinderblock. "Now go!"

Oracle felt herself stiffen, as Alfred came down the stairs with drinks.
"Oracle?" Raven said uncertainly.
"He's fighting him now, isn't he?" she said, quietly. Raven hesitated.
"Yeah." Barbara's eyes fell.
"Why do I get the feeling that he may not come back?"
"It is how anyone would feel, Ms. Gordon." Alfred said, "When someone they care about goes into a battle." Barbara looked at him sadly.
"Alfred..." the butler smiled slightly.
"That was how I always felt when Master Bruce, Master Dick and Master Tim went out. Including you, Ms. Gordon. You are, afterall family." Raven smiled.
"You always have a way with words, Alfred." Alfred chuckled.
"Don't worry, Ms. Gordon. He will come back." Oracle nodded, before returning her gaze back at the computer screen.
"I hope so."

'Who are you?'
'Someone you can trust.'
'Why can't I see you?'
'Do you trust yourself?'
'Yes.'
'Do you?'
'Yes!'
'Do you?!'
'...No.'
'You should. There are times when you should sometimes only care for yourself.'
'You are you?'
'I'm you.'

digi-gal-rox: well that's it for now! nxt chapter should be up later tonight or somewhere tomorrow. :D