Slade growled angrily. That infernal demoness spell had put him behind schedule. It had taken him two days to get from the Tibetan Mountains to the US. Then it took him five days to gather enough of his resources and get to Gotham. Now he was calmly waiting for one of the Bat's enemies to cause a disturbance so that his apprentice would come out of hiding.
"No wonder my apprentice left this city. This death trap is no place to make a name for ones self, especially not under the tutelage of the Batman. He and that little Batgirl will be no trouble at all. In fact I relish the chance to fight against the great Batman once more," Slade said to himself as he watched his monitors waiting for some sign that the Batman was out and about. Finally one of his monitors went off and he smirked under his mask. "Time for me to change history."
It was about an hour before sunset and the Titans were scattered across the city. They had arrived in Gotham three days ago and had been searching for Slade ever since. To blend in and avoid messing with the time line they had donned civilian clothing and tried to avoid trouble. It was hard in town with so much crime.
Currently Starfire was at a newsstand purchasing a newspaper. Instead of her usual attire she wore a long purple shirt, jeans, and sneakers. She kept her head down and tried to avoid questions about her skin. "Thank you for the paper," she said walking away. Once she was out of sight she pulled out her communicator and called the others. "This is Starfire reporting in. I have obtained a paper of news. Nothing about Slade has appeared."
"That's the third day in a row nothing has happened. Are we even sure the guy is in Gotham? If he isn't I want to go back to wearing my uniform. These clothes make my skin itch," Beast Boy complained. He was on the rooftop across from the police station. He was wearing black pants, forest green shirt, and scarf to cover his green face. "I mean I've been spying on the police and they know nothing about Slade. All there concerned about is the usual wackos in this city."
"Look none of us are happy in civvies. But we have to deal with it. Will find Slade and stop him from messing with Robin's past," Cyborg replied from the T-Car. His hologram projected him to look like what he did when he was undercover. Raven was sitting next to him dressed in Goth clothes.
"This might sound like a dumb suggestion, but why aren't we just staking out Robin's old home? I mean we could warn him about what's going on or at least gain some help in catching Slade," she suggested.
"Because that would be interfering to much with the past. Besides what if Slade is waiting for us to lead him to me? I don't want to risk it," Robin told them from halfway across town. "Also I don't want to have to deal with him unless I have to."
"You mean your adoptive father, Batman. Man Robin what happened between the two of you that you can't even talk to the guy when we need help?" Cyborg asked.
He didn't reply to the question. Instead he asked if Cyborg had been able to isolate the inducer's chronoton signature yet. He hadn't and all the Titans were getting greatly discouraged.
"I wish Slade would show already. I am getting sad looking at this horrible red sky all the time. I want to be back in Jump were the sky is a pretty shade of blue," Starfire confided.
"Not to mention the Tower. I mean I haven't had a decent nights' sleep since we left. The T-Car is not comfortable to sleep in especially with Silkie wiggling on top of you," Beast Boy added.
"Well you're going to have to put up with it a little longer. If I don't locate a time travel spell to send us back to the present, it won't matter if we catch Slade. I'm sure he would sabotage the inducer before allowing us to use it," Raven said gloomily.
Suddenly the Batsignal lit up the sky alerting the Titans to danger in the city. The Bat Team would surely respond and Slade with his army wouldn't be far behind. The time for caution was over. It was time to take action.
"We need to locate the source of the trouble. Beast Boy can you hear where the trouble is?" Robin barked over his communicator.
"No, there's to much activity. I can't isolate what's going on. Any other way to track down your former mentor?"
"One. I'm transmitting the Batwave signal to your communicators. Trace the signal to the source. Do whatever you can to stop Slade even if it means revealing yourselves to the Bat Team. I'll meet you as soon as I can." Robin told them transmitting the signal. Once done with that he revved up his R-Cycle and headed to meet up with his fellow Titans.
Meanwhile on the other side of town the Bat Team was facing off against Joker and his goons in an abandoned carnival ground. They had been tracking the Joker for days trying to find him and ship him back to Arkham before he caused any harm. Thanks to a hot tip to the police they knew where to look. It had been five months since the Bat Team formed and it that time the three heroes had developed a great partnership and a whole new team work ethic.
Batgirl did a double back flip and hurled a batarang at one of Joker's henchmen knocking his gun full of Joker's gas out of his hands. He looked at her in astonishment and charged her. At the last second she jumped out of the way and he crashed into the booth behind her. Milk bottles and an assortment of prizes fell on top of him. "Never try to beat a kid at a carnival game. You'll always lose."
Meanwhile the other henchman was pursing a sly little Robin through the fun house. Robin laughed as he darted from mirror to mirror confusing the guy. "Na Na you can't catch me!" he teased standing in front of one of the mirrors. His image was instantly cast upon all the other mirrors confusing the henchman so bad that he ran smack dap into one of the mirrors knocking him out. "Man that was way to easy. I wonder if Batman is having as much fun as I am?"
The Batman was currently in altercation with the Joker. It seemed the insane Prince of Crime had been attempting take his act on the road. He was going to use his gas on the carnies then have them transmit the horrible stuff to the people they came into contact with giving him a whole army of clowns.
"So Batsy what you been up to? I see you've been recruiting your own soldiers for your little crusade. Well they're not much to look at! Especially you little birde boy he's weaker then his tiny girl friend!" Joker said laughing. He hurled his razor edge joker cards at Batman.
Batman jumped into the air narrowly avoiding having his cape shredded to pieces. He kicked down one of the booths on top of the Joker, but he flipped out of the way. Whipping out a batarang he flung the gadget at his head missing by an inch. "You need to get some new material Joker. Your jokes are getting predictable. Your entire plan was very easy to decipher."
"Well they can't all be brilliant just as long as they're hilarious. Having my own army of carnies does sound awfully delightful if you ask me Batman!" Joker retorted as he launched his own attack with acid squirting water guns. "Hold still so I can bleach you!"
A silver batarang soared through the air and knocked the guns to the ground. Joker turned towards the source only to receive a lighting kick from Batgirl. "I don't think you want Batman to steal your look do you Joker? I mean your henchmen are bad enough and they can't even tell a good punch line."
"I really hate you. Its bad enough you upgraded, but being defeated by a pipsqueak is no fun," Joker pouted as he swung at her only to have his arm followed by his whole body soon wrapped up by a grappling hook. "What the?"
Robin flipped off the carousal and landed next to his partners smiling. "Hey Joker looks like you and your goons are all wrapped up at the moment. I hope you enjoy your stay at Arkham this time."
"Keep laughing Bird Boy keep laughing, because sooner or later you're going to be in big trouble and Daddy Bats or your cutesy batty girlfriend won't be there to bail you out!" Joker hissed at him angrily.
"Looks like someone is sore loser. Don't listen to him Robin. We'll always have your back," Batgirl assured her boyfriend.
"I'll radio the police and tell them where they can pick up Joker and his pals. Meanwhile the two of you should head home its getting late," Batman told the two teens who looked like they were about to complain.
Before the two teenagers could protest the trio was surrounded by hundreds of Sladebots. They appeared on top of the rides, from the booths, everywhere. Some brandished weapons while others just looked at them threateningly. One thing was clear to the trio; they were about to be in the fight of their lives.
"So anyone have any ideas whose robots these are? Because I don't think they belong to Joker," Batgirl said timidly.
"Whomever they belong to they picked the wrong team to mess with," Robin said extending his bo staff and twirling it threateningly.
"Stick close together and help each other out. And don't do anything rash. Move!" Batman ordered whirling some exploding batarangs at the closet cluster of Sladebots. In the midst of the explosion he jumped into the fray and started tearing apart each robot that came at him.
Following his orders the two adolescents each attacked a group of Sladebots dodging the weapons fire. Batgirl did a front flip landing in the middle of a group and started a using an array of gymnastic moves on them. Close by Robin started knocking the robots to the ground with his staff.
"These robots sure are tough. We've never encountered anything like this before," Batgirl called out as she beheaded one of the robots and hurled the head at another. Her usual moves and gadgets were having little effect on these robots.
"There far more advanced then anything I know of. But why attack us? What do they want?" Batman replied icily. He was near the food booths, Batgirl was near the ticket booth, and Robin was the farthest away near the rides.
"Who cares? Whatever they throw at us we can take!" Robin shouted using a high kick followed by a right hook to get rid of a Sladebot that had grabbed his arm. "Oh yeah this is fun!"
As the battle continued to unfold Batman noticed something strange. While the robots continued to attack them furiously there was a pattern to the attack. They were attempting to separate him from the rest of his team. Also the majorities were surrounding Robin and the ones attacking him were trying to catch him. In a flash he understood. "There after Robin! Batgirl get over there and help him!"
"I can't! I'm pinned in!"
"Batman help! I can't fight them off!"
Fear of losing his partner and son pushed him over the edge. In rush of adrenaline Batman charged through the army of Sladebots. In a flurry of kicks and punches all the robots were dismembered. Leaping in the air he launched himself towards his partner only to be hit in the side mid leap.
He came crashing down on the dirt hard and rolled into one of the prize booths. Stuffed animals rained down upon him. Standing up he looked to see who had attacked him. Standing halfway down midway with his arms folded behind his back was Slade. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"My name is no consequences to you. After all we've already met Batman or should I say we will. I'm mildly impressed by what you've managed to accomplish with you little crusade. Honestly your fight against the criminals is admirable if not foolhardy. You can't possibly win against us," Slade commented as he glanced at Batgirl who was struggling against her opponents.
"I don't have time for your mind games. I've never seen you before in my life. Now answer my question. Why did you send your robots to attack me and my team?" Batman demanded readying a batarang.
"I'm here to claim something that's rightfully mine, my apprentice. You have certainly trained him well, but its time that Robin took his rightful place by my side. You should be honored, its not every person who becomes the right hand man in a vast criminal empire," Slade said as he started walking towards Robin.
The batarang flew threw the air straight at Slade's head, but he caught it millimeters from his head. Slade jumped out of the way as Batman launched a kick at him. Tossing some freeze capsules he attempted to freeze Slade to the spot, but missed. The two continued to fight using every martial arts move they had.
Suddenly a white Superbot appeared out of nowhere and held Batman in a vice grip. The Cape Crusader struggled to get free to no avail. Slade smirked at him. "Don't worry Batman. I'll take good care of my apprentice." With that he turned and walked through the row of Sladebots towards his prey that had fallen to the ground.
"Robin run!" Batman shouted.
"Robin get out of there!" Batgirl cried trying desperately to get to her boyfriend. She had to help him.
Robin tried to run, but before he could get two steps he felt a powerful grip on his arm. Looking up with terrified eyes he let out a small gasp as he saw Slade. "What do you want with me?" he whispered.
"To perfect you of course. Soon you'll know what is like to be a criminal and trust me, your going to like it," Slade hissed.
Suddenly a barrage of green energy bolts fell from the sky. One hit Slade sending him flying through the ground. Robin fell to the ground hidden by a dust cloud. When the dust cleared he looked up surprised by the sight he saw.
Slade had righted himself looking for the source of the attack. What he saw angered him to know end. Standing protectively in front of the younger version of Robin with her hands glowing and eyes blazing was Starfire. Gone were her civilian clothes now she radiated power and protectiveness. "Leave… Him…. Alone!"
"You! I should have known that you would find a way to follow me through ti ah!" Slade screamed. A huge green lion pounced on him and tore at his armor. With a mighty leap the great beast landed next to Starfire on her right. He let out a deep roar telling him to back off.
"Sladebots destroy them!" Slade ordered. Four robots started towards them. In a flash they were incased in a black aura. The quartet was sent flying in the air. Raven appeared behind Starfire levitating her eyes black. "I don't think so."
Suddenly a loud vroom similar to the Batmobile could be heard. Everyone looked up in the air as the T-Car came crashing down on top of the dunk booth. Cyborg leapt out the car, which continued, on its way stopping a few feet from the group. Cyborg was standing on Starfire's left his sonic cannon at Slade. "Don't even think about it man."
Robin gazed up at his protectors in astonishment. These four teens glared at the masked man with hatred in their eyes. He wondered who they were and why they were here. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Batman and Batgirl also stumped.
"The Teen Titans. I should have guessed that you would follow me through time," Slade hissed.
Beast Boy revert to his human self and spoke up. "Dude did you really think we would let you change history?"
"You have hurt us for the last time! Surrender now and give up the inducer!" Starfire stated.
"If you don't your going to regret it." Raven warned him.
"I don't think so Titans. I still have the upper hand here. Not to mention you're missing your leader. Tell me was he to afraid to even face me?"
"That's none of your business. Time for pleasantries is over, now we kick your butt! Starfire, get him out of here. The rest of us, Titans go!" Cyborg ordered as he, Beast Boy, and Raven charged him.
Without looking to see what happened next Starfire picked up little Robin and took to the air. "Hey! Wait a minute put me down! I have to help Batman!" he shouted pounding on her.
"Please do not struggle. I'm trying to keep you safe from Slade," Starfire told him. Suddenly a laser went past her ear and she gasped. Three Sladebots were hot on her tail. "I forgot they could fly! Hold on!" she said flying faster.
It was all little Robin could do to hold onto his lunch as the strange alien girl weaved in and out between the rides, zigzagging through the sky, and shooting lasers from her eyes nailing each of the pursers. Finally she stopped by the roller coaster and put him down. "Stay here! Don't move!"
"But…"
"No buts, Slade is after you. As long as you're out of reach we can defeat him. Don't worry about your father and friend we'll protect them," Starfire assured him before zooming off to help the others.
Beast Boy had turned into a T-Rex and was stomping every last Sladebot to pulp while Cyborg fired his sonic cannon at them. Raven used her magic to free Batman and lift Batgirl out of danger before concentrating her mental powers on the chaos before them.
"Who are these guys?" Batgirl asked helping Batman to his feet.
"I don't know, but as long as there protecting Robin there okay in my books. Come on we have to take out their master it's the only way to stop them," Batman told her as he fired his grappling hook and swung at Slade.
Slade intercepted him and kicked him the stomach. The two men faced off one another. "You're only delaying the inevitable. I will have my apprentice and nothing will stop me!"
"Robin will never be yours, I'll make sure of that." Batman said as he tried to punch Slade only to miss. Slade was still smiling when a carousel horse smacked into him. Batman looked up and saw the alien girl smiling at him. "I thought you required assistance. We must end this battle quickly."
"I don't think so. I will not leave empty handed." Slade snarled hurling a grenade at the group. The grenade missed and landed by the roller coaster exploding.
The entire structure shook and started to collapse. Robin wobbled a bit before he pitched off the ride. He was falling so fast he couldn't release a line. He closed his eyes believing this to be the end.
Suddenly a motorcycle appeared in the air. The rider got Robin in mid air and landed in the bumper car ride. Charging through the gate the rider jumped over the Tunnel of Love and flipped off the bike with his hands on Robin's cape. The bike landed safely and the rider discarded his helmet. Little Robin opened his eyes and stared hard at his savior unable to believe what he saw.
Except for the steel boots, lighter green, and shorter cape this guy looked like an older version of himself. This older Robin removed a bo staff from his utility belt and took up a defenecive position between him and the monster called Slade who was only a few feet from him. "Slade," he hissed.
"Robin, I was wondering when you would join us. I hope I haven't caused you to much trouble," Slade said advancing cautiously.
"Forget it Slade I won't let you touch him. If you want to change history your going to have to get through me!" he growled.
Without another word the two of them leapt at each other. Little Robin watched in astonishment as the guy who looked like him threw some kind of disk that exploded in Slade's face before striking him in the face with the staff. But Slade countered it by grabbing the staff and twisting it out of his hands. Not to be discouraged the look alike drew two birdarangs and formed a sword with them. The other guy countered with some martial arts move. This went on for some time till the look alike was thrown into the circle made up of the Bat Team and the Teen Titans. Surrounding them were at least fifty Sladebots and a hundred Superbots.
"Look at that. Your outnumbered, exhausted, and clearly outsmarted. I promise to make your deaths quick and painless," Slade told them as the robots moved in for the kill.
"We need to regroup and recharge. Raven can you teleport us plus the T-Car and R Cycle to a safe place?" the look alike asked the girl with the blue cloak.
"I used up to much energy fighting. I need another minute to recharge before I can do anything," the girl replied.
"Then will have to provide a distraction. Starfire blind their senses," the boy ordered. Turning to Batman he said, "If you still carry smoke bombs use them. Well need all the cover we can get. On the count of three use all the smoke bomb you have. Ready, one, two, three!" he shouted.
Instantly a bright green light blinded Slade and caused the Sladebots sensors to go out. A thick cover of smoke hid them as Raven teleported everyone away. Slade glared angrily at the empty space were his prey had been moments before.
"Well you win some you lose some. That's the way it is," the Joker said laughing crazily. He quit laughing when Slade hauled him to his feet and suspended him in the air. "Your going to help me get what I want or your going to be looking for your grave," Slade threatened.
Meanwhile the group reappeared in the Batcave. Everyone collapsed to the floor exhausted. "Man I never want to do that again. Its way to creepy," Batgirl said. "Hey how did we get back here?"
"Our leader told me to take us to a safe place and this was the safest place in his mind," Raven told the girl removing her hood.
"But who are you people and for that matter how do you know about this place?" Batman asked them threateningly.
"Not to mention I want to know why you look like me," Little Robin asked.
The Titans all glanced at one another before turning to face the look alike. He strode up to Batman and looked him straight in the eye. "In order were the Teen Titans, we know about this place because I grew up here, and the reason I look like you is because I am you," the look alike said evenly.