Disclaimer: I own nothing but the storyline and any original characters (though this chapter is almost entirely taken from the episode "Apprentice: Part Two). Everything else belongs to DC Comics.

Chapter Sixteen:

"Robin? Robin! Please, Robin, where are you?"

"Starfire, enough. You've been calling for forty-five minutes."

"Perhaps if I just try one more-"

"Come on, Star. If he's gonna pick up, he'd have done it by now. 'Sides, you're kinda giving me a headache."

"But why does he not respond? Where could he be?"

"Robin and Cinderblock definitely went a few rounds but I can't tell who won, or where they went."

A map of Jump City flashes on the control panel. There are several locations lit up. Raven pulls up the security cameras for one of them. "No sign of him here, either. His locator is still offline. I've been monitoring all the frequencies, but he hasn't checked in."

Starfire flies over the top of Jump City. "Oh, we are bad friends! We should never have left Robin to do battle alone."

Beast Boy moves across rooftops in the form of a monkey. Stopping, he shifts into the form of a human. "Yeah, especially since Slade's big doodad was a dud." He turns back into a monkey and continues his search.

Raven pulls of a visual of the detonator on the control panel. "The chronotron detonator wasn't a dud. It was a decoy to lure us away from Robin- and we fell for it."

Cyborg punches the wall of the sewer tunnel he's currently in. "I shoulda known that thing was a fake!"

"But why?" Starfire asks. "Why did Slade wish to separate us from Robin?"

"And if the detonator was a decoy…" Beast Boy begins. "…What was Slade's real plan?" Raven finishes his thoughts. Malchior comes up behind her and rubs her shoulders. Raven allows her head to drop forward. Her body relaxes for a moment before the alarm goes off.

"Titans! Trouble!" Cyborg announces. Raven groans. "Jinx, you with me?" The Titans will need a fifth member, and Jinx can easily take Robin's place in tactics. The mage nods, stepping toward Raven and allowing her magic to transport the both of them to the scene of the crime.

Robin throws an object much like his birdarang toward the glass case. Instead of having blunt ends, however, the object's arms are curved blades. Slade's insignia rests on the center of the device. Tiny lights start to turn on around the center logo of the weapon. Once each light is on, the weapon explodes, allowing Robin to grab the device that was in the showcase.

"He's stolen the thermal blaster!" A guard announces. Another one shouts, "stop him!" The guards come running into the lab and immediately open fire on the room, and the thief within. They no longer see him though.

Robin hangs upside down from the roof. After the guards leave, he drops to the ground, prepared to run. Starfire and Beast Boy block his exit.

Cyborg's order to freeze is ignored. Robin runs to the end of the walkway but the Titans chase after him. He ends up standing in the light, allowing the Titans and Jinx to see his new uniform. The black metal with the orange insignia seems to mock the Titans. Even Raven who took pleasure in insulting the bright colors of his true uniform is scared to see the dark colors of this new one.

"That's not Slade, that's…"

"…Robin."

"Whoa," Cyborg says, staring at his former team leader.

Beast Boy stares at him in shock, not comprehending his captain's shift to the dark side. "No way!"

Starfire swallows back her feeling of betrayal. "Robin, why are you-" Robin throws another one of Slade's version of the birdarang at Starfire. The weapon explodes in her face, sending her flying backward. Raven snaps into action, throwing a shield up between the Titans and Robin.

"Yo!" Cyborg can't hold back his shock at the situation. "What is your deal?" Beast Boy demands. Robin reaches up to touch his ear. He's obviously being told something, but none of the others can hear what is being said.

As the good guys move forward, Robin raises the blaster. The explosion that comes from the weapon destroys the walkway between Robin and the others. "What are you doing?" Cyborg asks. The smoke billows from the explosion, and Robin's silhouette is just barely visible through the haze. "Robin…" Starfire's heart is broken, whether she recognizes this or not.

Raven falls to her knees, holding her chest. Between the hurt coming from her teammates, and her own pain, the empath can't take it. Jinx gasps and runs to her half-sister. The sorceress collapses and her teammates rush to her.

Malchior takes the limp body of Raven out of Cyborg's arms when they enter the common area. He sits on the couch, simply holding her. Quiet tears fall from purple eyes. Malchior brushes her hair out of her face. She curls into a ball on his lap, allowing him to pull her against his chest.

"It hurts," she whimpers. Malchior whispers reassuring words to her, knowing that they're doing nothing. Beast Boy shifts into a small kitten and leaps up onto Raven's shoulder. The kitten rests against her neck. "What is wrong with Raven?" Starfire asks softly. The Tamaranean can't contemplate anything else going wrong with one of her friends.

"The emotions of your team have overwhelmed her. Raven is an empath. She feels the emotions of those around her. She suppresses her own emotions through meditation in order to use her emotions productively. Lately though, she's been unable to meditate. Her powers are out of control because of this. I think Robin joining Slade was the final straw for her."

"Robin did not join Slade," Starfire weakly protests. "He's being threatened. Perhaps Slade is threatening him with our safety."

Beast Boy leaps down from Raven's shoulder. "Or maybe he's been replaced by a robot!"

Everyone in the room stares at him. "Or, he's the innocent victim of zombie mind control." The second suggestion comes with less enthusiasm. "As plausible as that is," Jinx tells him, "both Raven and I would've sensed something controlling her mind."

"Besides, my scanners confirmed his biometrics. That was the real Robin- our Robin," Cyborg says.

"Lies!" Starfire shouts. "That was not Robin! Your scanners are wrong! Robin is our friend, and nothing could ever make him betray us! Nothing."

Raven sits up on Malchior's lap. Her face is suddenly stoic. "But something did. No matter what the reason, no matter how much we wish it wasn't true, Robin's a criminal. And just like any other criminal-"

"-the Teen Titans have to bring him down." Starfire covers her mouth with to stifle a sob. "Are you going to be able to handle this?" Cyborg asks Starfire. The Tamaranean stares at the robot. "How can I possibly fight him?" She responds.

"Starfire needs to sit this one out," Malchior makes an executive decision. He's not a member of the team, nad is therefore unbiased. Cyborg nods in agreement. "I want you to stay at the Tower with Malchior, Star. You can monitor the fights and help us out from here. I'll have Jinx stand in for you."

"No, that's going to be the opposite way around. I will be joining you. Jinx can stay here with Starfire. Raven's powers are currently unreliable. If something happens to them, you will need me to calm her."

Again, Cyborg concedes to Malchior's words with a nod. "Alright, fine. Raven, do you need a recovery period?"

The mage looks up at him. Her gray-toned face is streaked with tears. "No, we don't have time for one." The alarm goes off immediately after, and Cyborg begins to wonder if Raven has precognitive abilities. Beast Boy rushes over to the control panel. When he turns back, his face is a mask of stoicism. "It's him."

"You're not walking outta here, Robin!"

The thief freezes at Cyborg's words. He turns around to see three of his team members and Malchior. "Not without a fight."

Robin raises an eyebrow, not that anyone can tell through the mask. With a single moment he charges toward Cyborg and the others. "Titans," Cyborg uses Robin's former battle cry calmly, "Go!"

Beast Boy shifts into a tiger as he moves. Robin dodges what would be a serious hit from Cyborg, and a possible mauling from Beast Boy. He moves neatly between Malchior and Raven. The four stare after him and then follow him to the roof.

They hear Robin having a one-sided conversation. "The device was too heavily guarded. I'll have to steal it another-"

"Robin!" Cyborg yells. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but we don't want to fight. We just want to talk." Robin ignores Cyborg's words, and instead sends a high kick toward Cyborg that sends him flying back past the other three.

Beast Boy cracks his knuckles. "Guess there's nothing to talk about." He turns into a gorilla, slamming his two fists down onto the rooftop. Their fight continues until Raven hovers in front of him. She can practically hear Starfire begging her not to hurt their friend. Robin's offensive tactics against Raven send her flying backward as well. Malchior catches her before she can fall from the roof.

Cyborg brings his sonic cannon up, and points it at Robin. "Don't make me…"

Moments later, Robin points his thermal blaster at Raven. "I'm sorry," he says. Immediately Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy collapse in pain. Slade's probes are attacking their cells. Malchior looks at his love in serious pain, helpless.

Raven moans weakly when the effects of the probes wear off. Cyborg and Beast Boy are in the same position. The sight of her dragon attacking Robin is what welcomes her ability to see. Raven swallows. The only reason Malchior would be able to shift into his dragon form is if Raven was in danger. The bindings she'd placed on his other form insured that.

"Okay. Weirdness. What just happened?"

Raven's bindings force Malchior back to his mage form when he sees that she is alright. Robin immediately begins fighting Beast Boy, Cyborg, and herself again. Finally, he sets something off to explode, and he disappears before the dust clears.

"He's gone," Raven says. "Is everybody okay?" Cyborg asks. Malchior strides toward Raven, wrapping her in his arms. She relaxes.

"Uh, I know where Robin picked up that heat ray, but where did he learn that little glowy hurty trick?"

Back in the Tower Starfire was also recovering from the probes. The alien looks at Jinx. "I do not think that was Robin. Perhaps it is Slade who has learned a new trick."

"Think I found something," Cyborg says. Beast Boy's vital signs are shown on the screen. He's hooked up to an assortment of wires. "The enhanced sensors are picking up radio interference on a nanoscopic scale." He types a few things, and the screen shows Slade's probes- the probes that are attacked to Beast Boy's red blood cells.

Malchior has yet to release Raven, and his grip on her waist tightens as he sees the probes. He knows those are in his love's body as well. He can't stand the idea of something being able to destroy her at the push of a button. Raven is far too strong to be defeated by technology. Beast Boy looks at the screen, and his eyes widen.

"Those things are inside of me? EW!"

"They're inside all of us. Billions of 'em," Cyborg says calmly. "With such technology at his command, Slade can destroy us whenever he wants." Jinx grips Cyborg's hand tightly in reaction to Starfire's words. "Unless Robin does whatever he says," Raven tells them.

Beast Boy shakes his head. "And you guys thought my zombie idea was crazy."

Slade gets ready to press the button, and in effect set the probes off. Robin is ready for another charge, but he loses his resolve. If he defies Slade again, then Slade will destroy his friends.

"Don't," Robin whispers, sounding completely defeated. "I'll do whatever you say."

Under his mask, Slade is smiling pleased. "Good boy. And, from now on, I'd like you to call me Master."

A starbolt, encased in dark magic, sends Slade flying backward. Starfire, Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy stand in front of a whole in the wall made by the blast of Raven and Starfire's combined magic. "Leave him alone," the alien growls.

After an act of defiance, which leaves Robin infected with the probes. The apprentice stands in front of the master. "New deal, Slade. If I lose my friends; you lose your apprentice. And I know how you hate to lose."

His teammates stand behind him, all ready to attack. "Titans, go."

Beast Boy is the first one to do damage. As a tiger, the changeling mauls the front of Slade's armor. Cyborg sends his canon off at the man. Starfire and Raven again work together to combine their powers. Only once Raven binds Slade's feet with magic, sending him falling onto the platform, does Robin attack Slade in hand to hand contact.

Robin breaks half of Slade's mask, revealing bits of unruly hair, but no actual face. The defeated man staggers toward a machine. He switches it on and the lair begins to demolish itself. A large gear falls toward Robin, forcing him to run quickly to try and avoid it. Starfire swoops him and pulls him up. Raven helps Cyborg out, and Beast Boy flies out on his own. Finally, Robin stands in front of a door, light shining behind him.

"Let's go home."

Raven sits on Starfire's bed, silently handing tissues to the crying girl. "You're in love with him, aren't you?" Raven asks her. Starfire looks up. "How did you feel when you realized you were in love with Rorek?"

"I was never in love with Rorek, Starfire. I was deluded and manipulated into thinking I was in love with him. Not by him, of course, Rorek was also manipulated, but by others. Yes, I love him, and he is my best friend, but I'm not in love with him."

"Malchior then? I've seen you with our dragon friend, Raven. It's obvious you've both been hurt, but you seem to have bonded over it. How did you know you were in love with him?"

"I…he's my balance, Star. He matches me perfectly. He knows how to calm me, and control my magic. We can hold intelligent conversations together. How did I know I was in love with him? I guess when I couldn't see myself without him." This conversation comes awkwardly to the half-demon. It needs to be had. Starfire's actions were far too clear to Raven, and the team's dynamic needs to be settled. But Raven doesn't like discussing emotions. Somehow, she's finding it in herself to talk to Starfire like this, but she doesn't know how.

"Then, no, friend Raven. I am in not in love with Robin. I am in love with the idea of Robin." Raven smiles faintly, she knows exactly what Starfire is talking about.

Beast Boy is once again hooked up to numerous machines. "Am I done yet?" The shape shifter asks. Robin, in his true uniform, and the others watch Cyborg examine a visual of Beast Boy's red blood cells. "That's it, y'all. The Teen Titans are officially probe-free."

Beast Boy leaps from the chair with excited laughter. "Go, Beast Boy! You're probe less. No probes now! Go, Beast Boy! Go, Beast Boy! Get fun-kay! Uh! Yeah! Uh, uh, uh, that's right." Raven stares at him. What horror did I just witness?

"I know this isn't my style, but we just kicked Slade's butt. Shouldn't we celebrate… or something?"

Robin, Malchior, Cyborg and Jinx stare at her in confusion. The green menace jumps onto Cyborg's shoulders. He leans down, meeting Cyborg's eyes upside down. "All you can eat," Cyborg says.

"Free form," Beast Boy contributes the next two words. Cyborg and Beast Boy finish together. "Breakfast Explosion!"

"Sorry I asked," Raven mumbles. The two grab her and haul her into the kitchen. Malchior smiles fondly after her, and Jinx goes to join them. The dragon follows unwillingly.

"Everything okay?" Robin asks Starfire.

"I am sorry."

"You're sorry? For what?"

"When things were bad, there was a moment where I truly believed that you were like Slade. I doubted you. And for that, I am sorry."

"I doubted myself, Star. Focused, serious, determined. As much as I hate to admit it, he and I kind of are alike. But there's one big difference between Slade and I. He doesn't have any friends."

The two Titans who just had a heart-to-heart make their way over to the kitchens. Raven stands between the two cooks, covered in flour and looking seriously irked. Malchior covers a chuckle, knowing Raven would slaughter him for finding this amusing. Jinx has no such reservations, and she receives an evil eye from Raven as she laughs.

"Who wants tofu waffles?" Beast Boy asks. Everyone but him adopts looks of disgust.

"Man, nobody wants tofu waffles," Cyborg tells him. Malchior nods in agreement. "Especially the dragon. I am a carnivore. I don't even want regular waffles."

Raven smiles at him, aware of Malchior controlling her magic so that she can freely feel emotions in that moment. "You should. Waffles are pretty good."

"Well, I want tofu waffles. Somebody pass me the soy milk."

"I'm telling you, you're not getting anywhere near the soy milk."

"Man, pass me the soy milk!"

"Is there any meat in tofu?"

"No, there's no meat in tofu, it's tofu!"

"Then nobody wants it," Raven decisively ends the conversation. She leans into Malchior's side as the seven sit around the table. For once, she feels at peace. It's the anxiety building up when she realizes her birthday is coming soon.

AN: So, three chapters in one day, AND I'm extremely sick. Well, being home for a day does give you a lot of time to write, even if I didn't do any of the work I was supposed to... So I'm already two chapters off my expected chapter total. That brings it up to twenty-eight chapters, as the Apprentice chapters took two more than I'd expected (They were originally going to be one chapter, but it would've been over six thousand words). Next chapters will bring Terra and Rorek back. Message me any questions. Also, I just started a Harry Potter fanfic...so if you get the chance, read that as well.