Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Complications

Jason's jaw dropped as he walked into the 'ops room' as Cyborg had called it.

It was by far the largest operations room he had seen-there was a small kitchen, tables and chairs, two sets of stairs going out the right and left of the room, in the middle was a large semi-circle couch facing a giant screen T.V./computer, and to top it all off the screen changed back to one of three large windows with a fantastic view of the coastline of Jump City.

"You guys live here?" he asked still gapping.

"Yep-and you have a room all fixed up for you. Batman told us what you liked and we kinda designed it from there," explained Cyborg.

"Sweet."

"Beast Boy will take you there after we eat."

"Hello, I wish to welcome you to our home!"

Jason cringed at the over joyful red-head rushing towards him. She stopped just barely a few inches in front of him.

"Give him room to breath, Starfire," said a pale, violet haired girl in monotone.

Starfire backed up so she was standing next to a boy with green skin, eyes, hair, and pointy ears- he knew this was Beast Boy.

"Do you remember our names-" began Beast Boy.

"Of course he remembers our names, BB! It's not that hard!"

Jason rolled his eyes.

He looked around the room again-wait-

"Where's Robin? I mean-I am supposed to be training under him for the next two weeks."

The four Titans looked at each other nervously-as if waiting for the other to speak.

Cyborg finally spoke up, "He's currently MIA."

"Wait, missing in action? You mean he's hurt?"

"No, umm…" Starfire began.

"He's not here is he?" concluded Jason.

"No."

"Then where is he?"

"That's just it, we don't know," said Beast Boy.

Jason figured something bad had happened because they looked hurt and sad.

"I can help."

They gave him a questioning look.

"I can help you look for him. I have been training under 'The World's Greatest Detective' for three years."

The Titans were silent for a few minutes thinking it over.

"Fine," Cyborg finally said, "but if there's a call- we're going, your not."

"Why?"

"Because we know how to handle who we're up against and he's dangerous. We don't want him to know you're here," Raven answered.

"Who is it, how bad is he?"

"His name is Slade, better known as Deathstroke the Terminator. The Justice League had several run-ins with him in the past; he's one of the most dangerous criminals."

"Robin got some files transferred from the Watchtower on all the criminals around the world, and Slade's record was so long he had to get a new filing cabinet just for his."

"Wow…" Jason sighed as he scratched the back of his head.

"Deal?" asked Cyborg offering his hand.

"Huh? Oh yeah, deal," Jason agreed by shaking Cyborg's hand.

'Like I'll stay away from a fight,' he thought to himself.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOOM!

The Titans spun around to the window.

"Titans Go!"

--

A full moon illuminated the cool night. All was peaceful and still-

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Several buildings blew up simultaneously rocking the city.

The Titans arrived to a chaotic scene.

Building debris was everywhere, dust and ash filled the air. Cars lay totaled in the street, glass covered the sidewalks and roads, and civilians fled for their lives…all save one.

The Titans looked to the top of one of the few remaining buildings on the block. A dark figure looked down on them the moon behind kept his face in shadow.

The dark figure was husk and imposing with an aura that screamed death's brutal name.

Suddenly the figure jumped from the building and landed softly on his feet as if he weighed nothing. He walked into the moonlight revealing his face.

"R-robin?" gasped Starfire.

The other Titans did a double take. If Starfire hadn't said anything they probably wouldn't have known it was him.

Jason forced himself to stay in the shadows when Starfire said the man's name.

That couldn't be Robin!

He was the same height, but stood straight giving the appearance he was taller. His arms were crossed in front of him and his feet were slightly spread apart.

His face was stern and his mouth was twisted into a smirk. No mask covered his ice blue eyes and a deep purple bruise only added to the frightening look.

His hair was no longer spiky, but long. It fell over part of his eyes and the back brushed his shoulders.

He wasn't in the uniform that Robin told him he wore when he was Slade's apprentice, this one was a solid black suit with a deep red 'S' across the chest. The uniform was completed with blood red gloves and utility belt and black titanium toed boots.

"Long time no see…"

The Titans were shocked; his voice was cool and casual as if nothing was wrong, though his eyes remained cold.

"Robin, what are you doing?" asked Starfire.

"Actually I was sent to here to kill you, but I think it'd be better if you joined my side."

"And what side is that?" asked Cyborg cautiously.

"The winning side, the side with the most power. Join me and we can overthrow Slade and rule this city."

"You're joking right?" asked Beast Boy

Robin narrowed his eyes at Beast Boy.

"WE WILL NEVER JOIN YOU!" yelled Cyborg defiantly.

The team nodded in agreement.

"Very well, if you won't join me, then I'll have to kill you," his voice suddenly went stone cold and the team took a step back, recoiling from its icy touch.

Robin advanced with cool collective steps and the Titans quickly regained their composure and stood firm, ready to attack.

He stopped inches in front of Starfire.

"Too bad it has to end this way, you were so beautiful."

Starfire was suddenly thrown back, her nose gushing blood, she didn't even see the attack coming.

Robin didn't waste a second-he jumped Cyborg tackling him to the ground and stunned him with a shot of electricity.

Raven quickly wrapped her black magic around Robin and pulled him off Cyborg and into the air.

Throwing an explosive at her with his free hand, Robin was immediately dropped.

Beast Boy transformed into a tiger and he and Robin were now circling each other daring the other to make the first move.

Suddenly Beast Boy leapt at Robin pinning him to the ground, his paws on each limb.

"Good job, Beast Boy," praised Raven, walking toward the pair.

"If you think it's over, then you have another thing coming."

Robin did a back-flip off the ground and Beast Boy was hurtled through the air and landed in a pile of debris.

Robin rushed at Raven and she flew back bleeding from a long gash across her arm.

"How did he-?" she asked herself, then took a closer look as she saw something glint in the moonlight-it was-

"A katana!" yelled Raven

"Not exactly," he said with a chuckle, holding the object against the light of the moon as if examining it, "My newest weapon-simple, yet deadly. My Master designed it just for me. A bo-staff, sharp as a sword, it can cut through anything, except for my gloves, making it easier to fight with than an actual sword. Only," he said pausing for a moment, "I think it needs a little more color."

Before Raven realized what he was doing, the staff cut across her back. She yelled out in pain. He was about to strike again, but was interrupted by a blast of green light.

His uniform remained unscathed were the starbolts hit- but was thrown back from the power of the attack. He twisted unnaturally in mid-air and landed on his feet a few yards away.

"You wanna play rough?" yelled Cyborg, "How's this up for size?"

Cyborg threw a massive chunk of concrete at Robin- who barely dogged- but received a deep gash down the side of his leg.

While distracted with the sharp and sudden pain, the sonic cannon blasted him into a brick wall.

The sudden impact dislodged part of the wall and it collapsed on Robin, creating a large cloud of dust.

As the dust cleared, the team found no sign of Robin, but only a pool of blood leading into a dying building.

The team rushed in ready to attack- but found no one.

They cautiously walked around the room careful to stay out of the center.

"Having trouble Titans? I thought you were better than this."

"Come out and fight like a man!" yelled Beast Boy.

"What's the matter Titans? Afraid of a little hide-and-seek?" the cruel voice bounced off the walls making it difficult to locate its originating point.

"Enough of these games! Come out and fight!" yelled Cyborg.

"As you wish" growled a voice behind Cyborg.

Sparks flew alerting the rest of the team as Robin's staff surged with electric energy.

The team spun around only to jump back in surprise at his bloody face a swollen eye.

Before they could move-his staff tore through Cyborg's leg- short circuiting him.

He yelled out in pain and fell to the floor-he was out.

Starfire darted forward followed by Raven and Beast Boy.

Robin blocked almost every attack aimed at him. He barely dodged Beast Boy's tiger claws and Raven threw several bricks into his chest breaking ribs. Starbolts blasted Robin through a wall and across the road, the three Titans right behind.

Robin pulled out his bo-staff and ran at the teens. Starfire dogged the first attack but it cut Beast Boy across the back and down his leg all the way to his heel- he fell to the ground unconscious.

Raven blocked several attacks thrown at her but Robin faked a swing and punched Raven, breaking her nose, and abruptly drew the staff across her stomach- sending her into a light pole. She blacked out.

"How…how could you…hurt them like that?"

Robin smirked.

"Quite easily, actually."

Starfire's anger exceeded her shock with his cold uncaring answer.

Her eyes blazed and her hands glowed, but before Starfire could make a move, Robin smashed the dull side of the staff across the back of her head. She was out.

"Pathetic," he hissed looking about the defeated Titans, "not even worth killing.

Robin walked away, retracting the bo-staff, and disappeared into the shadows.

As soon as he was sure Robin was gone and wasn't waiting around for him, Jason crept out of an alley standing amidst the bloody scene.

"I'm calling for help," he decided as he pulled out his bat com-link.

"Bruce,"

"What is Jason?" He asked with concern noticing the horrified look on Jason's face.

"We have a situation…"