The entire perimeter was surrounded, drones patrolling the halls, and their master was safe inside the main observatory. However, Slade wasn't the one in control; as safe as things may have seemed, they were actually far from it; unbeknownst to the target, things were about to take an unexpected turn, and while there was no way to get out, there were three ways to get in: Raven and Beast Boy at the emergency exit, Robin and Starfire at the main door, and Cyborg and Apollo waiting in the vents. Anxious, the team tried their best to remain still and wait for the signal from Apollo; each of them tightly gripping the communicators in their hands.
She could hear him beneath her, talking, planning, scheming; the man, the monster, the 'Master'… her father, confidently calculating his next move. Through the slits in the air vents, she and Cyborg could see him moving; like the dirty snake he was, he slithered from one screen to another, scanning the findings of his next plan, "What are we waiting for?" whispered Cyborg anxiously. "What is he looking at?"
"Project Di," answered Apollo. "It was the last heist he and I ever worked on before…" Apollo quickly silenced herself and stared back down into the vents. This time things were different. For once she was in charge; for once she was on top, and as she continued to stare down through the vents… she was on top- finally able to look down on her oppressor. Then finally, she turned to Cyborg and- with a deliberate nod- confirmed the beginning of their attack. Obediently, Cyborg contacted the others on his communicator and commenced with the ambush- Phase Two.
Calmly, Slade rested in his haven; sinisterly staring at the screens and their stolen content. Though crude and dark to most, clearly, for him, this was bliss. Then suddenly, there was an odd crash outside one of the exits. Slightly startled, Slade turned his head toward the origin of the noise; after the sound had suddenly ceased, the mastermind turned back to his work and continued to revel in his success. After another moment, there was another suspicious noise and an odd green glow outside the main door; then suddenly the main doors flew open and a mutilated drone fell to the floor as Starfire rushed in and blasted Slade in the chest. Soon after, Raven entered through a wall in the far corner of the room, followed by an enraged green gorilla and a blinding blast of blue light from a sonic cannon. "Slade," growled a familiar voice. Slowly the target turned to face the voice- Robin standing in the doorway, weapons bared and a focused scowl on his face.
"Well," started Slade, completely unfazed by the surprise. "If it isn't the Teen Titans. What a pleasant surprise…" the demonic psychopath sighed, as if pleased to see his enemies. "I must say, even I didn't expect to see you today. Might I ask what the occasion is?"
"It's Father's Day," answered Cyborg.
"And we thought we drop off a little gift," continued Robin as he looked up to the vents above his enemies head. At first there was no sign of activity, but then- as if out of thin air- Apollo leapt down from the ceiling and landed right in front of Slade.
"Ya miss me?" she snarled angrily.
"Apollo!" shouted Slade. "Welcome back my dear. I knew you would return, when you were ready…" he purred darkly, stroking her cheek. As father and daughter continued to face off, the rest of the team stood still- apprehensive; Cyborg studied the girl's face as the eerie silver glow slowly returned. The out of the blue, with a fury never seen before, Apollo dropped to the floor and clipped her tormentor- swiping his legs from underneath him. Once he'd made contact with the ground, Apollo quickly gave the word for the others to join in on the attack. Like a pack of wild animals, they closed in on an unprepared and defenseless target. Blow by blow they took their turns striking his body; as they continued to beat Slade, Apollo left the group and discretely backed off into the shadows- allowing her friends to finish the job. Within seconds of her departure, Cyborg noticed that Apollo was missing; he then realized that while he and the others continued to attack, Slade seemed to be taking the beating- not even trying to fight back.
'Something's not right,' thought Cyborg to himself as he took in the scenario. Alertly, his eyes shifted around the room looking for Apollo. 'Where is she? UMF-' Just then, Cyborg was suddenly caught off guard and struck by one of Slade's robots. Knocked to the floor, Cyborg rushed to get back on his feet. Seeing his friend on the ground, Beast Boy quickly ran to help his friend; once within reaching distance, he prepared to extend his hand in assistance, only to be kicked from behind. Falling on top of Cyborg, Beast Boy looked towards the doorway- which had been blasted open- and realized that the drones were swarming into the room to counter the attack. In response to the additional attackers, Raven and Starfire left Slade and began to drive off the drones; leaving Robin to finish Slade n his own. Still on the ground, Slade continued to take the relentless beating for a few seconds more, before rising to is feet and defending himself just long enough to back way towards the main control.
Standing beside the operations table, Slade stared at an approaching Robin, his hand above a large white button. "Well Robin," said Slade, no emotion in his voice. "This looks familiar. Tell me, aren't you getting tired of this scenario; the usual predictability?" he continued in his sickening monotone.
"There won't be another scenario after this!" growled Robin. "And as for predictability, that's also coming to an end along with YOU!" he shouted as he charged toward a still standing Slade. While the rest of the team continue to fight off the robots, Robin ran toward his enemy; leaping forward, he was ready to pounce when suddenly, he was struck in the side by an unanticipated- yet familiar- kick to the side. As the Boy Wonder fell to the floor, he heard the soft sounds of a confident chuckle- Slade.
"You're right Robin predictability has come to end… and it appears that you'll be joining it," said Slade matter-of-factly. Angered, Robin sprung to his feet, prepped to charge again, only to be struck again. This time, as he fell he heard a dark chuckle echoing from a still staring Slade.
'What's going on?' thought Robin frustrated. 'Who's kicking m-' he was struck again and fell to the floor a second time. This time as he hurried to regain his footing, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Robin!" shouted Apollo as she quickly ran to his side. Tentatively, she bent down to aid her friend, but in doing so, they both responded to another snide comment made by Slade.
"Hm, hm… well done my dear," hissed Slade. "It seems your plan was a success." Shocked and confused, Robin stared into the face of the girl who had bent down to help him.
'Plan,' Robin thought to himself in disbelief. 'What?' continued to blare in his head. 'What!' As he continued to ask himself this distressing question, Robin was suddenly startled by another low cackle, coming from the mastermind beside him.
"Thank you… Father," replied Apollo in a voice just as dark and lifeless as Slade's. Suddenly the entire room went silent as Apollo rose to her feet and began to walk to her father's side. Infuriated by the cruel reality that had just hit him, Robin sprung to his feet and readied himself to attack his 'friend', only to be kicked in the chest and thrown back by the feral family. Seeing what was happening, the other titans rushed forward set to destroy Slade and his successor. While Slade remained still, Apollo flew forward and began to counter each of her teammate's attacks.
The battle was intense, it seemed like no matter what they tried, the titans were no match for this single opponent- even when they fought in unison. In the midst of the fight, there was a loud boom and a blinding flash of white light as Apollo leapt into the air and dodged a blast from Cyborg's sonic cannon. "How could you!" shouted Cyborg angrily, steam still piping from his cannon. "We trusted you; we all trusted you! He trusted you!" he bellowed looking around at his team, stopping to focus on Robin. He paused for a moment and continued, "Like father like daughter I guess…"
"Aww, are someone's feelings hurt?" asked Apollo in her usual low, sarcastic voice; pretending to show empathy for her infuriated opponent. "I always said you guys were too nice," she sighed, slowly reaching into her utility belt. Before she could pull anything out, the team charged towards her, fully armed.
"Titans GO!" shouted Robin as he led the others toward their traitorous ex-member. Once everyone was within striking range, Apollo raised her hand and slammed a small smoke ball onto the ground. Blinded by the smoke and gasping for air, the titans continued to stumble through the smoke, searching for Apollo and Slade. Coughing heavily, Starfire tripped forward as she tried to get her bearings; she continued to walk- hands in front of her- calling for her friends. Then suddenly she was caught off guard as she walked into a wall- however, while she was clearly able to feel it, she could see nothing in front of her. Shortly after, the smoke cleared and the others all realized that they too were trapped behind the invisible barrier- staring at Slade and Apollo on the other side. They were trapped!
"Hm, that was easy," scoffed Apollo as she turned to look up to her father.
"Well done Apollo," he replied, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Now let's see: Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire…." She paused for a moment to stare at her next captive mockingly. "Cyborg. Everyone's here… wait where's-" She was suddenly caught off guard and struck in the head by a speeding birdarang. "Robin!" she exclaimed as she turned around and faced her friend- turned opponent.
"I can't believe you," he growled. "After everything that's happened… everything that we did; with you… for you!" he continued, trying to hide any hint of emotion in his voice. "This is how you repay us?"
"Oh suck it up," answered Apollo in a cold and uncaring voice. "You're the ones who got suckered; this is my fault how?" she asked as she and Robin began to face off, slowly circling one another.
"I trusted you!" Robin screamed as he dashed forward and through the first punch, striking Apollo in the face. Immediately he continued to attack; Apollo responding with an equally hostile defense. The two combatants flipped and spun over and around one another in unison; it was as if the entire battle had been choreographed. Even Slade could only stand back and watch- pleased with his daughter's performance; but as the battle grew more intense, it soon became clear, that- while they started on the same level- Apollo was gaining the upper hand. Finally, with a final attempted blow to her face, Robin's fist was snatched up, allowing Apollo to grab him by the arm and slam his body against the nearest wall!
Distressed by what they were seeing, the other titans all began to struggle and try to force their way out of the barrier. "Robin!" Starfire cried. "You will let him go! Release him at once!"
Softly, Apollo giggled as she ignored the Tamaranean's demands and pressed her captives face harder against the wall. Despite his predicament, Robin continued to struggle and try to fight back against her, through the corner of his eye he was able to see the entrancing amethyst glow he had grown accustomed to and once felt sympathy for. Finally he closed his own eyes in an attempt to permanently shut out the accursed glow once and for all. Then a voice spoke, "Finally, you've decided to accept your fate," said Slade mockingly, in response to Robin's gesture. "Accept defeat. Excellent work my dear," he continued to his prodigy. "You may commence with the plan." He said confidently as he stood behind his daughter.
"Yes sir," answered Apollo; oddly Robin was able to detect a slight hint of sarcasm in her voice. Slowly he opened his eyes again to view the scenario; then suddenly the iron grip that was once pressing him against the cold steel wall released him and applied all of its force to the monster standing behind it.
Immediately, Slade came crashing to the floor, grabbing his neck in pain. Confused, everyone- including Slade- stared at the enraged girl who stood before them. For a moment everything was silent except for Robin and Apollo's heavy breathing; then finally Apollo stepped forward, staring down at the fallen monster, and spoke, "Happy Father's Day…" she smiled as she angrily slammed her foot into Slade again; leaving him unconscious on the floor. Still completely perplexed, Robin and the others stood still and continued to stare at Apollo as she silently walked toward the main controls and disabled the barrier separating the rest of the team. Once everyone was freed, she looked to Robin and commanded him and the others to leave the building immediately; upon doing so, Slade slowly came to and attempted to ask what was going on. Sarcastically, Apollo turned to face her fallen father and replied, "You trained a double agent…. I'm surprised you didn't see it coming…" she smiled devilishly as she shifted her look from Slade and back to Robin, signaling for them to leave the building at once, then she slammed her hand onto the large white button on the control panel- setting off a series of explosions designed to destroy the building.
Within seconds, everyone was out of the building, watching it crumble to the ground. The mission was over and everyone had made it out safely- together. Slightly battered, Apollo approached the others; shyly she looked at them in silence- aware that they still needed time to soak in everything that had just happened. Finally- as usual- Beast Boy broke the silence, "Dude! Does anyone wanna explain what just happened!" he shrieked, frantically flailing his arms; finally Raven nocked some sense into him and sighed.
"Let go home."
"All of us," added Robin as he paused and looked to Apollo, hand outstretched.