Chapter Eight
The Titans awoke early, to find the Doctor already up and about. He seemed to be scanning the area with the silver device he had.
"What is that?" asked Cyborg.
"A sonic screwdriver." the Doctor said tonelessly.
"Screwdriver? What the hell good will a screwdriver do for us?"
"It's a very versatile piece of technology, thank you very much! And what have you got that might help?"
Cyborg smiled. His right arm transformed into a powerful looking weapon.
"Sonic cannon!"
"What can it do??"
"It can stun, scan, sense, and blow stuff up!"
"Can it fix barb wire?"
"Uh...no."
"Ha! One up on you!"
Shrugging, Cyborg transformed his arm back to normal.
Smiling, the Doctor put away his device. "I estimate we need to travel another three miles before we're clear of the Dalek's interference."
"Through the desert?" said Changeling. "How do we know it's safe? The Daleks might surprise us!"
"That's a chance we'll just have to take."
"Might I be of help?" said a voice.
The Titans looked about, searching for the source of the voice. Then, a large rock moved, as if by levitation. Standing behind it was a thin, beautiful blonde woman.
The woman was dressed in a brown long sleeve shirt and black denim pants. She wore brown boots.
Staring at her, Changeling almost instinctively knew who she was.
"Terra?" he whispered.
The woman smiled. "In the flesh, Beast Boy."
He chuckled. "Er, it's Changeling now, Terra."
"You guys know her?" asked the Doctor.
"We're familiar with her." said Raven. "We didn't meet under exactly ideal circumstances."
"Can we put those circumstances behind us?" said the geomancer.
"Why are you here, Terra?" asked Nightwing.
"When the Daleks invaded, I knew I had to do something. So, I came here because I had a home here once. I know the area."
"So, you did remember who you were!" Changeling exclaimed. "Why did you act the way you did when I saw you again after our battle with the Brotherhood of Evil? You know, when I saw you in that school, and you acted like you forgot who you were? Why did you do it??"
"I wanted a new life." she replied. "I wanted to get away from my past, no matter what. That even meant giving up good friends like you guys."
Changeling fought to hold back tears.
"Look, I know you'd like to hold a reunion," the Doctor began, "But right now, we should move before the Daleks find us."
"Gotcha." said Terra. "I'll lead you all to a safe place. Come on!"
"Can't we fly?" Starfire asked.
"Too risky!" Nightwing retorted. "We have to keep a low profile!"
The Doctor and the Titans followed Terra for almost a mile. They stopped at the foot of a rather tall mountain, and stood in the midst of several scattered piles of rocks. Beyond, there was a mostly featureless plain.
"Okay then." deadpanned Raven. "What do we do here?"
"You do nothing." said a voice.
The Titans spun around to face a ghost from their past, stepping out from behind a rock pile.
"Slade?!?" exclaimed Nightwing.
"In the flesh." Slade replied.
To Changeling's horror, Terra joined the villain at his side.
"I'm sorry you guys." she said. "But he controls me. He's done so since I came back to life. He affected my memories and powers back then. He called upon me a few days ago. I had no choice."
Changeling fought back anger and tears.
"She's been my little insurance over the years." Slade said. "Something to store away for a future date. And now seemed the right time!"
"Slade," began Raven, "Now is not the time for your plans! We have to defeat the Daleks!"
"Ah yes, our deadly guests."
"Wait a minute!" Nightwing yelled. "Weren't you killed by that one Dalek that you found? It told us about you and said it killed you!"
"It was only temporary." Slade explained. "You see, I'm a meta-human. My body is permanently in this form; my peak physical condition. And as long as my brain is intact, my body regenerates, even after death."
"Doesn't that sound familiar." the Doctor muttered.
"Who is your new friend?" Slade asked.
"I'm the Doctor." he replied. "And you're making a big mistake! We have to stop the Daleks, or your planet is dead!"
"Relax, my friend. You see, I'm here because a group of new friends of mine are coming to visit."
"Friends? Who?" asked Starfire.
"I met them online, like so many people do in the age of cyberspace. I sent a signal to them to follow. And now, they're coming!"
"Signal?" the Doctor muttered. "Then it was you that led the Daleks here! You killed your own race!"
"Temper, temper, my good Doctor! I did not intend for the Daleks to come here. They obviously intercepted my signal, and followed. And apparently, they are faster than my new associates."
"Who are they, Slade?" demanded Nightwing.
Before the villain could answer, a dozen Daleks suddenly appeared from behind the mountain.
"We have located the source of the signal!" one said. "The Titans have been located!"
The Daleks descended to the ground, surrounding the heroes.
"Take cover!" the Doctor yelled.
They ducked behind whatever rocks or outcropping could be found before the Daleks opened fire.
"Exterminate!" the killer machines cried, blasting everything at random.
"I'll kill you all, like last time!" the Doctor yelled, feeling the adrenaline pumping through him as a fury within was unleashed.
"Cease fire!" a Dalek commanded. "Identify yourself!"
The Doctor rose. "Hello there! How's my favorite dust bins? Seen Davros lately?"
The Daleks reeled backwards in surprise.
"You register as a known enemy!" one exclaimed
"I'll give you a clue: binary vascular system!"
"It is the Doctor!" the Dalek exclaimed. "Inform the command center that the Doctor is present here! He must be destroyed!"
"Titans, go!" yelled Nightwing.
From their hiding places, the Titans unleashed an attack upon the Daleks. Even Terra, who still was with Slade, joined in the attack. Slade also shot at the machines with an energy pistol.
The Daleks continued to fire randomly in the direction of their assailants. The Titan's cover was beginning to disintegrate in short order.
The battle was interrupted by a loud boom. The Daleks stopped firing and looked in the direction of the sound. The Titans did so too.
From the zenith, a sizable ship began to descend. It was only two thirds the size of the Dalek command ship, but was impressive nonetheless.
It had a gleaming silver hull that was elegantly made. The craft was very broad and delta winged. It also appeared to have various weapons.
It took less than a minute for the craft to land. No sooner than it did so, a ramp was lowered from the side of the ship. A door then opened, and a large group of figures came out.
They appeared humanoid, but were metallic in appearance. The appeared to be made of plated armor that was silver in color. They had robotic heads, with an expressionless look on their faces. They each carried a powerful looking weapon, resembling large rifles.
"They saved us, Doctor." said Raven, who accompanied the Time Lord in his hiding spot. "Looks like we my have the allies we need."
"Don't count on it." he replied. "New look. Similar weapons, probably improved. And the ship design is new too."
"Who are they?"
Slade stood up. "Greetings!" he said. "I am Slade! I am the one that welcomed you here!"
"Your identity is confirmed." said one of the robot creatures. "You appear to be occupied with something."
A Dalek moved toward the newcomers. "You are enemies of the Daleks! You will be exterminated!"
"Kill them, my friends!" yelled Slade. "They got here before you did and wish to take our world before you do! Kill them!"
The creatures took aim with their weapons and fired. The Dalek shields flared brightly as they returned fire.
A number of the creatures were struck down in the fire fight. One, though, had managed to get several shots at a Dalek, collapsed its shield, and destroyed it. Then, a small cannon appeared from the side of the ship. It finished off the rest of the Daleks.
By this time, the Titans had all regrouped on an outcropping of rocks a few dozen yards away, where they observed the events.
"Cool!" Changeling said. "I didn't think the Daleks could be defeated. Who are those guys? We could use their help!"
"I agree." said Nightwing. "If we can tell them the truth about Slade and ourselves, they might help."
"Don't try it." said the Doctor. "You'll live to regret it."
"Why?" asked Starfire. "Who are they?"
The Doctor paused to stare at the ship, from which more of the creatures now emerged.
"An old enemy of mine, and they're deadlier than before." he replied. "They're called the Cybermen."