The six Titans quickly gathered in the common room. Cyborg already had a map visible on the giant TV screen. Right in the middle of the screen, superimposed over what looked like an ovoid was Slade's signature 'S' logo.
"That's the stadium!" Robin remarked.
Cyborg tapped on the keyboard and a window opened up on the screen, displaying a live video feed from the stadium. It was game day, and not just any game. It was the North American Football League Lombardi conference championship game, between the Gotham Dragons and the Jump City Rangers. The stadium was packed to the rafters, without an empty seat in the house. Cyborg had tried to score some complimentary tickets to the game for the Titans, but had struck out. It appeared that they would be getting into the stadium for free today after all.
A harried looking reporter was on the field, and she looked ready to flee herself. She kept her cool when it became obvious that she was meant to report on what was happening at the stadium.
"This is Tricia Brossard, reporting from Taco Star™ Stadium in Jump City … if isn't from Taco Star™, it isn't a Taco … the half time whistle was blown just five minutes ago … the expected halftime show was unexpectedly replaced by these hundreds of robots, which bear a great resemblance to those the arch-villains Slade and Terra unleashed on the city four years ago, and which were defeated by our local superheroes, the Teen Titans."
The reporter gestured at the field, which was swarming with Slade-bots. She pressed on her ear piece, listening to something from the broadcast booth.
"I've just been informed that the stadium has been surrounded by robots as well, which are not allowing anyone to leave … at this point we don't know who is behind this action, but so far no one has been hurt …"
The reporter gasped as another platoon of Slade-bots emerged from an access tunnel and entered the field, heading straight for her. She looked around, search for an escape route, but found none as the droids were everywhere. She gulped as the robots reached her. They parted and she gasped when she saw who was standing in their midst.
"Hello, Tricia, so nice to see you today, it is a perfect day for a football game, don't you agree?" Slade asked in his signature monotone.
"You came to see the game?" She asked incredulously.
Slade chuckled. "Not really, I just wanted to get the Titans' attention."
Slade shoved the reporter out of the way. The camera man kept his cool and kept Slade in the frame.
"Hello Robin, I hope you and your team aren't terribly upset with this disruption, I know how much Cyborg loves watching football on TV … Terra told me about that a long time ago."
Robin seethed as he watched the events on the screen.
"What do you want, Slade?" He yelled at the screen, well aware that Slade couldn't hear him.
Slade chuckled. "You're probably wondering what I want. You have become so predictable, Robin, it's almost precious. Just so you know that I hold you in the highest regard, I am going to tell you. My robots were very busy during the first half. While everyone was busy watching this exciting game, my robots were planting hundreds of bombs in strategic places in the stadium. They are programmed to detonate in 15 minutes and when they do, the stadium will be destroyed and everyone in it will perish."
"Slade, you fiend, you've gone too far this time!" Robin shouted at the screen.
"Let it not be said that I'm heartless, Robin. If you and your team show up before the bombs explode, I will deactivate them and allow the fans to leave unharmed."
Slade paused and crossed his arms.
"You'd better hurry Robin, the clock is running. Oh, and no police. If any show up, I will detonate the bombs on the spot."
The image on the screen switched to static as the video feed from the stadium was cut. It was replaced by a new video feed from the Gotham Broadcast Network studios. Robin shut off the TV and turned to his teammate. No instructions or warnings were needed. All he said was two simple words.
"Titans, Go!"
-( scene break )-
The Titans took to the sky. Raven and Rachel each conjured a black flying disk and were taking Robin and Cyborg as passengers. Beast Boy and Starfire flew alongside them. As they approached the stadium the Slade-Bots dropped their blockade and terrified fans streamed out from the stadium's exits, bypassing their cars in the parking lot, running away as fast as they could.
Slade stood in the middle of the field, on the 50 yard line, his arms crossed and looking insufferably smug. The Titans landed in front of him.
"I see that I got your attention, my former apprentice."
"The only attention you're going to get are three squares and a cot at the city prison." Robin thundered at his one eyed nemesis.
"That implies that you can defeat and capture me, Robin. You've never been able to before, what makes you think that you and your pathetic team can accomplish what has always eluded you?"
Robin seethed upon hearing Slade's words.
"You won't be gloating once you're behind bars, Slade!"
"You're welcome to try and catch me, Boy Blunder!" Slade chortled as he disappeared into an access tunnel. Dozens of Slade-bots covered his retreat.
"Titans! Don't let him escape!" Robin shouted as they began to fight.
The Titans were determined to not allow Slade to escape again and tore through the wall of Slade-bots with the greatest of ease and were soon following Slade down the access tunnel. Starfire shot some star bolds at him, but Slade handily dodged them before disappearing around a corner. They pursued him at top speed and when they came around the corner they saw Slade duck into one of the stadium's huge restrooms.
Robin gestured at the two entrances to the restroom.
"Cover both entrances! We got him now, he can't escape this time!"
"I wouldn't count on that, he's still Slade." Raven remarked dryly as she, Beast Boy and Rachel ran to the second entrance, while the others covered the door Slade disappeared into.
The changeling and the two sorceresses cautiously entered the king sized restroom, which happened to be the men's room. It appeared to be completely vacant. Robin, Starfire and Cyborg appeared at the far end of the giant lavatory.
"Dude, I've never seen so many urinals in my life."
"I've never understood public urination." Raven growled in her monotone.
"Bodily waste should be eliminated in private." Rachel added.
"Preferably in a stall, which is where Slade is probably hiding." Raven remarked.
There were at least 40 stalls in the massive restroom and the two teams each started checking them starting at each end, working towards the middle. The witches took turns using their powers to open the stall doors while Robin simply kicked them in. They kept finding empty stalls, until they converged on the last one in the middle.
The door opened by itself, revealing Slade's figure, sitting on top of the commode.
"There's no escape Slade, we got you this time, so don't even try to run away!" Robin beamed triumphantly.
"Who says I want to escape?" Slade asked as he reached for his mask. He removed it, revealing a small screen with a countdown timer, which was down to three seconds.
"It's a trap!" Robin shrieked.
Before any of the Titans could take cover, the Slade-bot exploded. The stall's sheet metal walls and door where converted into shrapnel, which wounded everyone except for the sorceresses, who managed to raise their obsidian shields just in the nick of time.
Moans and groans echoed in the demolished rest room. One by one the Titans rose. There were all cut and bleeding. The first to rise was Starfire, then Cyborg and finally Robin. Rachel and Raven immediately noticed that Beast Boy was missing.
"Gar! Where are you!?" Rachel shrieked in panic.
Raven began to remove debris from the floor. She found him unconscious under a pile of rubble. He too was a bloody mess, covered in cuts that were dripping blood. Cyborg approached him and did a quick scan.
"He's in bad shape. He took that blast at point blank. We need to get him to the infirmary right away."
"Consider it done." Raven announced as she swung her cape around her and she disappeared with the changeling.
"Wait for me!" Rachel shouted as she too phased into the floor.
Robin stumbled and Starfire caught him. Cyborg checked him out as well.
"You're not as bad as BB, but you need to get to the infirmary too, gel hair."
Without being prompted Starfire picked Robin up bridal style.
"I'm sorry, guys, I lead us into a trap, I should have known better."
"Forget it; just get your butt to the infirmary. I'll meet you guys there."
Cyborg ran out of the demolished bathroom, while Starfire flew away with Robin. Once they were gone the only sound that remained was that of the few fluorescent like fixtures that weren't destroyed in the explosion, and which hummed ominously, as if they were in their own death throes.
Suddenly the sounds of clicking metallic feet were heard and four of the crab like droids made their appearance, crawling out of a ventilation duct. They scoured the room and collected red human and orange Tamaranian blood samples from the floor. Once they had their trophies, they disappeared back into the ventilation ducts.
-( scene break )-
Cyborg was the last one to arrive in the infirmary. Robin was resting at his station while Starfire was adjusting his I.V. The Teen Wonder looked unhappy and kept shooing the princess away when she tried to apply bandages to his wounds.
Beast Boy was still unconscious, though he looked a lot better as both Raven and Rachel had been and still were busy using their healing powers to undo the many lacerations he received. Cyborg quietly checked his electrocardiograph and other monitors for his vitals, which appeared to be in range. He was clearly out of danger.
"Good job, little ladies, he's gonna be as good as new."
Rachel shook her head. "I can't believe I forgot to shield him … I'm an idiot."
Raven's expression was also dour. "I also forgot."
"Hey, don't be so hard on yourselves, it was a reflex, there was no time to think."
"He could have died! What kind of girlfriend am I?" The two said in unison.
Rachel glared at Raven. "I am his official girlfriend, OK? And if anyone should have protected him, it was me."
Raven nodded sadly as she continued to heal a large gash on his arm.
"Of course … you're quite right." She replied softly.
Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Did I hear you correctly, Raven? Are you saying that … he's mine?"
"Yes, I'm giving him to you."
Rachel now looked perplexed.
"OK … I accept … but why?"
"Don't I get a say in this?" The changeling moaned. "Did we catch Slade?"
The two gray girls recovered from their initial shock, then smiled at seeing their beloved awake.
"No, you don't get a say. And that wasn't Slade, it was trap that was meant to kill us, but he failed." Raven replied.
He tried to sit up, but groaned in pain. Four grey arms gently pushed him back down.
"You need to rest, Gar. The Slade-bot exploded and you took the brunt of it." Rachel chided him.
"Yeah, I think you're right. And I should be fine; I've two angels watching over me." He smiled.
"In case you forgot, I'm a demoness." Raven interjected. "Though I suppose calling her an angel is a stretch too."
"Gee, thanks, sister."
"You're welcome." She smirked at Rachel before turning back to Beast Boy. "She's right Gar, you need to rest. Had we not been there, you might have died, that's how bad it was."
He smiled. "Then I'm lucky that you were both nearby."
He turned to Raven. "Rave, we need to talk."
She shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about, Gar."
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "There's a lot to talk about. We should have talked about this sooner.'
Rachel nodded. "Gar's right, the two of you need to talk, and I think now is as good a time as any."
Rachel turned and walked away, quietly leaving the infirmary. Robin sat up in his bed.
"I'm good. Star, will you take me to my room?"
The princess wrapped one of his arms around her shoulder and walked out with her beau. Cyborg was the last to leave.
"If y'all need anything, just call."
The door slid shut and using her dark energy Raven summoned a chair and sat down on it. She locked eyes with the changeling. She fidgeted with her fingers, betraying the nerves and discomfort she was feeling.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"I guess … I'm not sure." She replied.
Beast Boy made a second attempt to sit up, and this time he succeeded.
"Raven … I want to talk about us."
-( scene break )-
Beast Boy's been quiet in this fiasco. That's about to change. Sorry about the short chapter, but I am updating daily.
Since it's late, no mailbag again. Sorry!