Part 38: Slade's Challenge

"Hm…I was expecting Robin or either Raven to be present. Oh well." Slade then noticed Terra, "Ah…my second apprentice. How have you been, Terra?"

Terra was visibly shaking and was scared out of her wits. She had a sick feeling deep within her gut. But she had to push the fears away, she had to. She had to face this man even if she felt disgusted by him. Seeing him again reminded her of the pain she had caused her friends and herself. Shadowcobra noticed this, so he purposely moved himself in front of Terra to hide her from Slade's staring eye.

"What do you want, Slade?" Shadowcobra hissed.

"How do you know Slade?" Jinx asked.

"We encountered him sometime awhile ago," Draco answered. He couldn't tell her that they had met him in the Fun House at the Amusement Park weeks ago. That could cause Jinx to panic. If Copycat wasn't the only thing he had to worry about…

"This guy is Slade?" Pluto pointed. Pluto's dog senses were going crazy. He growled at the man on the screen and had a look on his face that could not be described as anything else but pure unadulterated hatred. Added, Pluto had read several files on Slade, which increased the animosity.

Shadowcobra ignored Pluto's question and repeated his own, "I repeat, what do you want with us Slade and why do you want Raven?"

Slade chuckled, infuriating the Snake Knight, "Patience, my dear Shadowcobra, you will know with due time…"

Shadowcobra slammed his fists onto the console, "I am not interested in playing any games!"

"Hm, and I thought teenagers loved to play. Oh well. Now, which one of you is in charge in the absence of the original 5 Titans?"

Pluto was about to come forward but was stopped by Draco who held onto his shoulder. Draco shook his head and whispered, "Let Shadow be in charge this time."

Because of his sensitive hearing, Pluto heard the soft whisper and nodded.

"That would be me," Shadowcobra answered without hesitation. However, he felt disgusted with talking to this man. Slade reminded him too much of…

Shadowcobra shook his head. Now was not the time to think of him again.

"Very well. You see Titans, I have planted several explosives in the city. Your job is to find all the bombs which are set to detonate at midnight. Oh my, you don't seem to have much time," Slade mocked surprise.

All the Titans stared at the clock to see that it was already 11.15. They had less than an hour to find all the bombs.

"You're bluffing!" Shadowcobra spat.

"Am I? I hope you can hurry because you don't have very much time and well, you don't want to waste anymore precious time.

"Where are the bombs?" Draco spoke up.

"Now, now, Dragon Knight, where would the fun be in that? I bid thee, good luck." And Slade's face disappeared from the screen.

"DAMN IT!" Shadowcobra swore angrily. He turned to the Titans he had with him. With the others in space somewhere, all that were left were Draco, Pluto, Terra and Jinx.

"Let's move," Shadowcobra said. "We have to find those bombs, fast!"

"RIGHT!" the others agreed.

"ZODIAC FORCE!"

"DRAGON!"

"SNAKE!"

"DOG!"

"Pluto, has Darkwing found anything?" Shadowcobra asked. He was donned in his armor but with the faceplate open. He was talking to Pluto through his T-Com.

"Yes, Shadow," Pluto was atop of building and was also donned in his armor. Darkwing came to him and screeched something. Pluto's eyes widened as he received the information.

"How many bombs are we to locate?" Shadowcobra asked.

Pluto gulped. "13."

Shadowcobra eyes widened before he gritted his teeth with anger. "Pluto, use Trick Vent and find as many bombs as you can and disarm them."

"Got it, Pluto over and out."

Shadowcobra called on Draco. Draco was with Jinx and Terra and was looking for the bombs. He was also fully armored.

"What's up, Shadow?" Draco asked.

"Draco, there are a total of 13 bombs," Shadowcobra told him.

"WHAT?" the dragon Knight and two girls yelled.

"That's too many!" Jinx screeched.

"We'll never find them in time!" Terra added.

"Draco, I want you to use Trick Vent and use all your monsters to sniff out the bombs. Can you manage that?" Shadowcobra ordered.

Draco saluted. "I'm on it!" Draco also signed out.

Shadowcobra placed the communicator onto his belt as his faceplate slid over his face. He was going to look for Slade and demand an explanation.

"Where are you Slade?" Shadowcobra hissed as he disappeared into the shadows.

"It seems the Knights and the two traitors have begun to play my game," Slade said as he observed from his secret lair. He could see everything through the viewing screens.

Copycat was sitting on a crate and filing her claws, "What is the purpose of this Slade?" she asked.

"I think you know why, Copycat." One of the screens brought up Shadowcobra's face.

"You want the snake?" Copycat hissed with surprise.

"He has several qualities and skills that maybe helpful to me and my cause."

Copycat shook her head and sighed, "I must warn you that Shadowcobra has problems with authority figures. He hates being ordered around or becoming anyone's slave and puppet. Besides, how will you get him to come?"

"He'll have no choice but to agree," Slade said as he snapped his fingers. "Scizzors, Aqua, enter!"

From the shadows walked out two Zodiac Knights. One was female in blue and white armor with the symbol of Aquarius on her chestplate. Her helmet held a V shaped black visor and long white hair flowed from the back of her helmet. She was known as Aqua. The second Knight was clad in golden armor which was worn over a black bodysuit. His gauntlets and armored boots were silver. The shoulder armor resembled crab legs that were hugging his shoulders. A pair of spikes extended backwards from collar. His helmet held two hollow black eyepieces and a pair of small horns jutted out from the front. Mounted on his left arm was a pair of shears. The symbol of Cancer decorated his chestplate. This was Scizzors.

Copycat leapt off the crate she was sitting on and immediately approached Aqua. She approached the Aquarius Knight and traced a sharpened claw down the right side of her faceplate. She purred, "Are you ready?"

Aqua would be smirking under her helmet as she reached behind her back and pulled out a metallic fan. She nodded.

"Good," Slade said in finality. Scizzors will take care of Pluto while Aqua will take care of Terra and Jinx."

"What about me?" Copycat placed her hands onto her hips in annoyance.

"You will deal with your twin," Slade said. "Are you satisfied?"

Copycat pulled off her whip and cracked it on the ground. "Yes…" she hissed.

"Good."

"That's bomb number three," Pluto said as he disarmed the bomb he had found. It was hidden in the sewers. He hated the sewers, they made him sick. "I wonder if one of my clones found anything?" suddenly an ear piercing scream reached his ear. He recognized it as his own since it was his clone's voice. He turned around to search for the source of the scream but found nothing. He scratched his head. "I must be hearing things." He turned around and saw a flash of something golden. He blinked. "And I'm seeing things too. This Slade guy must be getting to me." He then saw another flash of gold. "Okay, I know I definitely saw something."

Suddenly, something burst out of the sewer water. Pluto immediately drew his sword. The figure landed in front of him and clicked its scissor like claws. In the darkness of the cave, it was hard to make anything out, but since Pluto was wearing his helmet, he was able to see his opponent clearly.

It was a monster, a monster from the Mirror Dimension.

The monster was a cross between a humanoid and crab. It had a golden shell exoskeleton covering all over its body. It wheezed and clicked its claws as it approached Pluto.

"I don't have time for this!" Pluto advanced and slashed down with his sword. There were sparks, but the monster seemed unharmed. Pluto spat, "Stupid shell!" he didn't realize another shape behind him.

"That would be bomb number 4. How are you girls doing?" Draco asked into his communicator. They had split up to look for the bombs. It was quick work since Draco could sense the heat emanating from the bombs. Draco had also sent a trick vent clone with the girls to protect them. He also gave the girls one of his monsters, each, to help protect them. Wildcat (Tiger) was with Jinx while Overbite (Shark) was with Terra

Jinx answered with the Draco clone next to her. "Pretty good. I already disarmed 2 bombs."

"I was wondering how you learnt to do that." Terra inquired.

"From the HIVE Academy," Jinx answered. "I was with in Terrorism 101 and Bomb Building class, so I know how to disarm a bomb."

Draco sighed, "That's good. I only learnt how to do it from the data Pluto's been giving into my helmet. That, and the fact he built one."

Terra appeared in Draco's communicator.

"Dismantled one!" Terra chirped.

"What do you mean dismantled?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"I sorta tore it apart until there was nothing else," Terra said.

"WHAT?"

"Are you crazy?" Jinx asked, flabbergasted/

Terra snorted. "If Slade built these bombs, I know how to dismantle them. He did teach me everything I know."

"That's true," Both Jinx and Draco said

Jinx grinned, "Jinx! Now you owe me a soda."

"Yeah later after we find all the bombs. We got less than twenty minutes-" But Draco was cut off by an explosion behind him. Draco turned around wide eyed as flames erupted from a manhole behind him. Dragonzer immediately flew around its master to protect him from the flying debris. The street shook and Draco almost lost his balance.

"Draco!" Jinx asked, panicked, "What's going on? I heard an explosion!"

"I must've missed one. It blew up but it was in the sewers!" then he realized that Pluto was in the sewers and he swore. "Oh shit!"

"Swearing is not a very nice thing to do, Brother," purred a voice from the shadows

"COPYCAT!"

Jinx wiped her brow. From the counts, all 13 bombs had been either safely disarmed or dismantled. She turned to Terra who was yawning. They were both in an abandoned building. Suddenly they both tensed up and so did Overbite and Wildcat. Jinx and Terra immediately stood back to back while the monsters took guard with the Draco clone.

"Do you feel like someone's watching?" Jinx asked.

"If you don't then I sure do." Terra replied.

Suddenly, a blue laser beam fired out of nowhere and hit the clone in the chest. The clone disappeared. Wildcat and Overbite both growled.

"Okay!" Terra shouted. "Come out and show yourself!"

"Yeah! Don't make us come looking for you!" Jinx shouted as well.

Aqua dropped from the ceiling and showed herself. Her cry was, "DIE TRAITORS!"

Shadowcobra had finished disarming the last bomb. He wiped his brow. "This is a bit too easy." He surveyed his surroundings. He was in a warehouse at the docks. "All the bombs were placed out in the open and in places where there weren't many people living around. What's his game?"

"I think you know that, Shadow…" Slade said in a monotone calm voice as he walked out of the shadows. Shadowcobra was completely on his guard and pulled out his Cobra scepter and activated the battle staff option Pluto had installed.

"Slade…" Shadowcobra hissed.

"I see that you have disarmed all my bombs. I am impressed." Slade complimented.

"I am not here to impress you, Slade. What is the meaning of this?" Shadowcobra snapped.

"It was…a test," Slade answered simply.

Shadowcobra's eyes narrowed, "A test? A TEST?" he was infuriated.

"I also wanted to separate you. Looks like it worked."

"So that was your plan all along? To separate me from my teammates so you can talk to me, alone?"

"I only wish to talk."

"Save your breath! Like I said before I am not interested in being your slave!"

"But all I want to say regards Raven."

Shadowcobra hissed, "Don't you dare mention her name!"

"I see. It seems that you have made her your paramour. Interesting."

Shadowcobra tensed. This man was far too calm and it was getting on his nerves.

"Tell me, what do you know of Raven?" Slade asked.

Shadowcobra answered, "Enough to know her."

"You don't know her at all," Slade countered.

Shadowcobra hissed and lunged for Slade. He swung out his staff but Slade only bent back to avoid the swing. Shadowcobra then continued with rapid fire jabs, but Slade merely blocked or dodged them. The masked psychopath then produced a flaming fist and threw it right into Shadowcobra's faceplate. Shadowcobra was sent flying back due to the force of the punch but landed back on his feet after he flipped through the air.

"Do you truly know Raven? Do you know of the Prophecy?" Slade asked.

"What prophecy?" Shadowcobra asked, but kept his guard up.

"Raven is not merely a girl. She is the daughter of Trigon."

Trigon, Raven's father. That was the creature he had encountered together with Jinx and Draco when they had invaded Raven's mind.

"Save it. I already know that," Shadowcobra hissed.

"But did you also know that Raven was destined to become Trigon's portal?"

"What?" Shadowcobra's eyes widened with shock.

"I'm surprised the Titans never told you."

Shadowcobra snapped, "You lie!"

"Am I?" Slade countered. "Even I know you know it is true. On her eighteenth birthday, Raven will bring forth Trigon and bring about the End of the World."

Shadowcobra was visibly shaking. He didn't want to believe it. It was a trick, or was it? Slade had no reason to lie, did he? Shadowcobra asked again, "And why are you helping him? What do you stand to gain?"

"Unimaginable power," Slade replied.

Shadowcobra then burst into laughter. This broke Slade's calm demeanor and he shouted, "What is so funny?"

"He promised you unimaginable power? Please! You can never trust a demon and I know that! I've lived with them!"

Slade scoffed, "Say what you will but the Prophecy shall be brought to past."

"And you can continue to dream. Demons, demons lords especially, aren't known to keep their promises. You best remember that, Slade. Call it friendly advice," Shadowcobra smirked.

Slade's single eye narrowed as he reached for his communicator and spoke into it. "Return to base." Slade then melted into the shadows.

Shadowcobra looked at the spot where Slade had been. Slade had wanted him to doubt Raven! That was not forgivable. But, was the prophecy true? Was Raven really going to summon her father to Earth? Was she the key to the demise of the World? Was she the scourge that would bring forth Trigon upon the World? Shadowcobra shook his head. He would ask Raven when the time was right. Suddenly he heard a loud ringing in his ear.

Pluto was pinned against the wall of the sewers. The Cancer Knight had caught his neck with his large claw that he had called forth with a Strike Vent card. Pluto's sword lay a few feet from him and he was unable to reach it. The claw saw closing in on his throat. It wouldn't kill him, but it would hurt a hell lot.

Suddenly, Scizzors jerked his hand back and held his helmet covered head. He nodded, but to add insult to injury, he threw Pluto into the sewer water before he disappeared himself.

Pluto got himself out of the water and spat out, "Ew! I'm gonna be smelling like that for a week!" then his head snapped to attention as he heard a familiar ringing sound.

Aqua was throwing energy discs at the two female Titans. The girls had retaliated with geokinesis and magic, hurling rocks and hexes at the female Knight. This irritated Aqua as her own blasts had been redirected towards her. Not only that, she had to handle the monsters that came with the girls. Claw marks were evident in her armor and so were bite marks. She then received Slade's message. She swore silently and called forth her monster. She drew a card and inserted it into her fan. "Add Vent- Summoning Dolpheen!" a blue armor covered dolphin appeared next to Aqua and she hopped onto its back. "Catch you two later!" she said as she flew away as fast as she can. "And the name is Aqua, by the way!" Aqua laughed as she left them.

Terra shook her fist. "Come back and fight like a woman!" she shouted.

Jinx was breathing hard. Fighting a Zodiac Knight wasn't easy. Her punches and kicks had made little to no damage and her hexes had tired her out. Her whole body was sore. She yawned. "Better call Draco to see what's up."

What's up was that Draco was fighting Copycat in the air. They were flying on blue condor wings and were armed with identical black clawed gauntlets.

"Anything you can do, I can do better!" Copycat meowed as she made a sweep at Draco's side. Draco blocked with his claws and then attempted to land his own hit. However, his claws had been caught in hers and there was a struggle.

"Copycat, why are you doing this?" he asked.

"Simple, I HATE YOU!" she kneed him in the gut, forcing the wind out of him before elbowing him, violently, in the back of his head, sending him plummeting to the ground. Draco struggled to get up but he was exhausted and couldn't muster up enough strength. A pair of eyebeams fired by Copycat forced him back down.

"I should really thank your friends. Their powers really helped me a lot." To demonstrate, she used Beast Boy's powers and morphed into a whale. Since she was in mid air, she dropped on top of Draco like a ton of bricks. Or so she thought.

Draco had teleported to safety. His wings and claws had disappeared. He was exhausted, but there was no way he was going down without a fight. He drew out a card from his belt. The strange thing about this card was that it was glowing red.

"The Survivor Card!" Copycat exclaimed as she morphed back to normal form. Flames whipped around the two of them.

Draco's dragonhead gauntlet had morphed into a laser blaster with a dragon motif. The "mouth" flipped open and Draco placed the card into a port on the lower "jaw". He then pushed the jaw back into place

"SURVIVE!" Draco's body exploded with flames as his armor transformed. Copycat had to shield her eyes from the intense glare. When the fire subsided, Draco stood in his full Survivor Mode armor.

Draco's armor was crimson with golden trimmings. The chest part resembled a dragon's head with black eyes. A pair of horns extended from the dragon's head and arched backwards over his shoulders. The once silver headpiece on his helmet turned gold and his symbol was etched on it. A pair of golden horn stuck out from the back of his helmet.

"ZODIAC KNIGHT DRACO-SURVIVOR MODE!"

"I'm not ready for this!" Copycat stepped back from Draco. She drew a card and inserted it into her whip. "Strike Vent-Feline Claws!"

Draco drew a card from his belt and inserted it into the back of his weapon. "Sword Vent-Gold Dragon Blade!" a golden blade extended from the barrel of his gun.

Against common sense, Copycat lunged at Draco and swung her claws down. Draco swung his sword wielding arm up and the weapons met, only for Draco's golden blade to cut right through her claws.

Copycat snarled and attempted to draw out another card until she was called by Slade. She shook her head. "No! I am close!" But Slade was insisting. With a look of pure rage under her helmet, she copied Draco's teleportation and disappeared in a pillar of flames.

Draco was confused. "What was all that about?" then he heard a ringing in his ears. But, this wasn't a normal monster signal.

To Be Continued…

Next up, a monster from the Mirror Dimension has crossed over into the real world. The problem is this thing is HUGE! How will the Titans defeat it? Stay tune for Part 39: Spiritual Power, OVER SOUL!