Slade and Robin, in the lair, were still trying to collect themselves. Robin suddenly took the offensive; jumping high to come down towards the metallic mask of his would be mentor. Slade grabbed his legs and swung him low, scraping the floor, and then throwing him up and away from him. Robin yelled as he flew through the air. He caught hold of a nearby lever as he sailed by, managing to stop himself falling as he slammed into gearwheels. He climbed cautiously down, wary of Slade. But the enemy was gone. He stalked hesitantly, still nervous, into the centre of the room. Still nothing. He looked around him, then approached a bank of levers near the edge of the elevated platform he had landed on. Steam hissed suddenly and plumed up as a stationary gearwheel began to turn. Slade rode it up like an escalator.
"Good Robin. You're doing much better than last time. A few more years and you might actually pose a threat." Slade headed across the platform towards the boy. For he was just a boy, despite his years of training, and at that moment, Robin wanted his Dad.
He backed slowly away, only to find himself against the bank of levers he'd been contemplating earlier. In desperation, he grabbed one and snapped it clean off. A makeshift fighting staff. He twirled it back and forth, getting used to the weight. Slade merely pulled a short stick from the back of his belt which telescoped out to become a full sized fighting-pole. Steam surrounded them. Robin charged with a defiant shout. Slade parried expertly. The two leaned into each other, their staffs creaking under their full joint weight. Robin was slowly but surely overpowered. He was forced backwards and Slade caught him with a sudden high swing, which forced the young opponent back against the steaming pipes. Slade aimed a savage, stabbing blow...
Robin jumped away and Slade stabbed the section of pipe where he'd been an instant before. Steam poured out, hot and thick, enveloping the duelling pair. You could barely see a hand in front of your face. The staff remained lodged in the metal, quivering slightly with the force of the blow. Robin used it as a perch to get a better shot as he swung his makeshift staff directly at Slade's face.
A bell-like sound rang out, telling Robin that the blow had found its mark, but Slade rose quickly back to his feet. He was furious and delivered a vicious downward blow, severing the end of his own staff, upon which Robin still perched. Robin managed to dart away jumping high overhead to land on a broken section of pipe. A large piece of machinery moves back and forth in front of him like a pendulum. He took a few cautious steps backwards as though readying himself to jump through, but suddenly Slade was before him, on the other side of the machine. A swing or two later and he is gone. Robin's eyes widened in disbelief and he looked around him for his dark master. An instant later Slade barrelled in and hit him broadside. Robin fell and landed, dazed on a stationary horizontal wheel. He struggled to lift his head, and then collapsed back down. Robin snapped awake a second later though, as Slade charged straight at him. One of the armoured fists slammed down, denting the metal inches from the spiky haired head. Slade stood easy and cracked his knuckles in anticipation. Robin's eyes narrow in pure hatred and he used this emotion to fuel a running leap that takes him past Slade. He turned, bringing his leg up for a savage spinning kick. A second blow knocked Slade flying down to the lower floor where the fight began. He landed in front of the screens showing the Titans bloodstreams, and the probes within them. A piece of machinery was glowing in the corner. Slade raised his head and the apprentice could see that his mask is cracked by the force of that last blow. Robin jumped down to land lightly in a fighting stance.
"You're going to wish you hadn't done that." Slade growled.
"I only wish I'd done it sooner." Robin replied scathingly.
Unbeknownst to the two fighters, the doors have swung open at some point in the last couple of moments and the Titans were there with their allies. Watching, waiting.
Robin tore the metal stylized 'S' from his chest and threw it to the floor at Slade's feet. It felt so good to be free of that terrible brand. Slade was incensed at this show of pride and independence. He charged at Robin with a roar. Robin was forced to defend himself with a series of kicks but Slade grabbed his foot, throwing him to the floor. The former Titan lay there, panting, trying to find the strength to rise.
"I have much to teach you, but the first thing you must learn is gratitude." Slade told him. Robin forced himself to his feet and yelled as he ran at Slade. Slade seized his right arm, bending it cruelly past his shoulder, up behind his back.
The watchers outside stared in horror, and Starfire began to move forward slowly but is stopped by Cyborg. They need to see how this ends.
Robin is forced; face down, to the floor. He gritted his teeth but a low moan escapes him. Slade released his hold, shaking his head.
"I made you my apprentice. All my knowledge, all my power. All for you." He grabbed Robin's hair and pulled his head sharply back. "But the only thing you care about is you're worthless, little friends!" Slade's voice turned to a roar. Then he suddenly seemed to return to rationality. He released Robin's spiky 'do and casually lifted the trigger for the probes. "If the Titans are so distracting, maybe I should just get rid of them?" Robin readied himself for another charge but froze when a single gloved finger began to descend towards the trigger.
"Don't." Robin is defeated. His head hung down. "I'll do whatever you say."
"Good boy!" Slade condescended. "And from now on, I'd like you to call me master."
The Titans have seen their theory proved beyond any doubt and a starbolt suddenly shoot across and hits Slade's chest, forcing him away from his teenage victim.
"Leave. Him. Alone." Starfire said decisively.
"Robin! Attack!" Slade ordered. The four Titans were ranged opposite, framed in the light of the door.
"Get out of here!" Robin begged desperately, he gestured to the screens showing the probes. "You don't know what that beam did to you!"
"Dude…" Beastboy interrupted.
"We know…" Raven continued.
"And we don't care…" Cyborg told him.
"We are your friends, Robin. And we're not leaving without you." Starfire finished.
"How very touching, but Robin has no need of friends." He pressed the trigger, and the Titans slowly collapsed in agony, glowing red-orange. Tears poured down Starfire's cheeks, white hot.
"This is the price for your disobedience, Robin. Now, do as I command. Attack!" Robin, torn, looked from one of his friends pain-stricken faces to the other. Then he notices that the machine which had been gently glowing in the corner had suddenly gone into overdrive, sparking out red lightning. Robin put two and two together.
"No!" he shouted in righteous denial. He dashed towards the device.
"Robin!" Slade was in shock. Robin gave an almighty leap and landed at the machine. Almost immediately he began to glow the same red-orange as his team. He groaned at the torturous pain, but forced himself over to face his "Master".
"New deal, Slade. I lose my friends, you lose your apprentice." He fell to his knees. "And I know how much you hate to lose!" Amazingly the apprentice could still grin as he looked, through a cloud of pain, into his tormentors face. But it had taken all his strength and he collapsed facedown on the grimy factory floor.