Chapter 18
Death
Breathing in the salty air of Jump City Bay, Robin pushed open the creaky door to the largest warehouse on Pier 66.
He slipped through a door and walked down the dark damp hallway. Opening the door to Slade's 'throne room' as he referred, Robin walked towards Slade with his hands behind his back.
Slade noticed one of his eyes was swollen shut and blood covered part of his face. His uniform was torn in several places revealing cuts and bruises from the battle, but he showed no sign of pain.
Slade narrowed his eye knowing Robin was trying to impress him.
Little did he know what was in store for him.
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Blue and red lights flashed followed by the blare of the sirens. Medics rushed the heroic team into the E.R. for immediate treatment.
Batman pulled Jason out of Cyborg's room and into the hallway.
"Why didn't you call me the moment you found out Robin was missing?"
"I-I don't know, I didn't think it'd be-"
"I don't care what you thought, I want to know why your common sense didn't tell you to tell me what was going on the second you heard Deathstroke had Robin! You know how dangerous Deathstroke is! He almost had you killed!" Batman nearly yelled.
Jason stared at the floor.
"Okay," Batman took a deep breath, "you're going to stay in the hospital- you do not leave-until the Titans are well enough to be transported to the watchtower. I'm going up there in a minute to brief the Justice League that and old friend has decided to show his ugly face again. Keep me updated with the Titans' health and when the doctors give you the okay for transport call me and we'll get them up there as fast as possible. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
Batman looked through a small window at Cyborg's vital signs.
'It might be a while,' He thought.
"Call me if you hear anything suspicious- but do not leave this building without my permission."
"Yes, sir."
Batman nodded to the doctor and walked out the doors and disappeared in a flash of green light to the watchtower.
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Robin bowed to Slade as he stood in front of him. He was suddenly thrown back with a vicious kick to the ribs.
"You disappoint me apprentice," he said angrily, "I gave you direct orders and you failed to complete them."
Robin stood, glaring at Slade.
"The Titans are a waste of my time; I found no use in ending their pitiful existence, letting them go the easy way," Robin walked up the Slade drilling his harsh stare into his one eye, "I want them to suffer."
Slade just stood there his eye burning with anger.
He slammed his fist into Robin's face-furthering the damage to his eye-and caught him by the collar before he fell and pulled him up so they were face to face.
"I don't appreciate your disrespect, Apprentice."
Robin frowned; Slade's voice was unusually harsh, which could only mean one thing…
He was in for it now.
Before he realized it, Slade had his utility belt in his hands.
"You won't be needing this," he said as he threw it into the shadows.
A metal clad hand caught him on the jaw and sent him skidding across the concrete floor. Before he could stand, a bone crushing pressure pinned him back down.
"Did I say you could get up?"
"No," Robin growled.
"I didn't think so, and you should never do anything without my permission, especially during an assignment!"
Robin did a death roll knocking Slade off his feet and onto the floor.
"Will do Master," he said mockingly looking down at Slade.
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The founding members of the Justice League stared at Batman in disbelief.
"Are you sure? How do we know that Deathstroke is behind this?"
"Because, Superman, this Slade, is obviously another identity he took on when he entered Jump City. I went through Robin's evidence room-which is anything but. There are newspaper articles, artifacts, headlines, notes, and papers of all sorts covering the floor and walls of that room, and in the center of it all is Slade's mask-Deathstroke's mask."
"And to think that all this time, he was right under our noses," said Wonder Woman looking towards J'onn.
"So Deathstroke was the one that put them in the hospital," sighed Green Lantern.
"No," the group gave Batman a questioning look, "It was Robin."
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"Are you finished already?" asked Slade menacingly as he now towered over the battered boy, "Because I'm just getting warmed up."
Robin shakily stood to his feet as Slade circled him like a vulture.
"I will teach you to respect me, even if it takes beating you within an inch of your life, Apprentice."
Suddenly Slade was on his back and a steaming Robin was standing on his chest.
"I'm not your little 'apprentice' anymore, Slade, I refuse to do your dirty work while you sit around waiting for me to mess up," Robin grabbed Slade's collar, "Your not the Master of me anymore, Slade, I quit."
"You think you can walk away just like that? It's not that simple, boy. An apprentice only becomes free when the Master dies, or releases him. In my case for instance, you're going to be my apprentice until I see fit. And I will still keep a watchful eye on you."
"So you think."
Slade back flipped and Robin went flying into the wall. Robin quickly slipped into the shadows as a crash of thunder rocked the hideout.
Rain was heard pelting the metal roof of the warehouse, adding to the eerie mood.
"You disappoint me, Slade," rang a cold voice, "with all the knowledge and skills you have, you could have taken over half of America by now."
Slade was about to answer but was cut off by a sharp pain in his shoulder. A sharp metal 'S' was sticking out.
'He found his utility belt,' he thought.
"It's going to take a lot more than that to stop me, boy," he yelled into the darkness over the heavily downpour.
Slade pulled the object out of his arm and put it in his belt. He looked back up just in time to see ten or so explosives rushing toward him.
He dodged most of them but half exploded on contact sending him across the room.
A roar of thunder added to the deafening explosion.
'He is getting out of hand!' Slade thought angrily, 'He's only going to get worse if this continues. I'm going to kill Damon!'
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Jason rubbed his temples.
'I always have the worst of luck,' he thought wearily.
Suddenly several doctors and nurses rushed into Raven's room. He jumped up and followed suit.
Raven was engulfed in a black aura and levitating inches off the bed.
Two of the doctors were trying to push her back onto the bed.
"Don't!" yelled Jason, "She's healing herself."
The doctors stared at him like he was crazy.
"Trust me, she's fine, really."
The doctors left but a few nurses stayed in the room to keep an eye on her.
Jason sighed and went back to the couch outside.
"This is going to be a long night," he said to himself as a loud clap of thunder echoed throughout the city.
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Lightning flashed-bringing a sudden bluish light into the hideout. In that split second Slade spotted Robin against the back wall-his staff extended.
He quickly pulled out his own as running feet neared him. Thunder roared as their staffs collided.
The two seemed at a stalemate for a moment, each blocking the others blows with speed and efficiency.
Suddenly Slade sent a powerful kick through the teen's weapon rendering it useless and sending Robin flying.
In seconds Slade had a hold of Robin by the neck, his feet dangling inches off the ground.
"How does it feel," Slade said as he gazed upon the boy with an icy glare, "to know that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, not matter how much training you've endured, I'll always be that much better than you."
Robin let his fist speak for him as he punched the overconfident Slade.
He jumped backwards to put distance between him and his former master. Robin heard a beeping noise and looked around-a large explosive was planted on the wall behind him.
4...3...2
He sprinted forward desperate to get away from the destructive bomb.
...1...
Baboom!
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Baboom!
Jason tore down the hallway and looked out the window. A huge cloud of black smoke issued from the docks. He quickly pulled out his bat-com.
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A cold heartless laugh echoed through the compound.
Robin slowly stood coughing heavily.
"When will you ever learn? I will always have the upper hand."
"Not...any...more."
Robin revealed his trump card a small glimmer of light reflected off the syringe he now held in his right hand.
This brought the first sign of weakness from Slade, pure fear gripped his eye as he comprehended the gravity of the situation before him.
He pulled the sharp 'S' out of his belt and ran at the boy who rushed forward with his own weapon.
Both weapons met their mark-in the shoulder of the opponent.
Gripping his wounds form earlier the masked man fell to the ground. Pain gripped him now more than ever. As the serum made its way through his system his extensive healing and increased strength and stamina left him.
Robin stood over him smirking as he watched the magnificent chemical do its work, he pulled the sharp metal out of his arm and threw it over his shoulder.
Slade slowly stood, blood seeping from his open wounds.
"Now that we're both mortal," Slade said venomously, "Let's finish this."
"Don't mind if I do." Robin ripped the remainder of his bo-staff from his belt and threw it at Slade.
A sickening crunch was heard as the razor sharp staff sliced through Slade's protective guards and into his chest.
Slade stood there stunned and slowly fell.
Robin walked over to the dying man; he could hear him gasping for air.
Robin slowly pulled the staff out of Slade's chest.
"See you in hell, Slade."
The staff shot through his heart and darkness took him.
