Thanks to all who have encouraged me to continue this story. I apologize for letting a few complainers get to me. I have been having a few bad weeks at work and I guess it all added up. I was really overwhelmed by your positive support; I really wasn't expecting it,
Anyway, the story is now officially "uncancelled" (if only they would do that with the Titans!).
As for those of you who complained: tough beans! I'm NOT moving the story to the crossover section and I WILL continue to bump the story between updates. I like writing stories with pairings. And the mailbag STAYS. If you don't like that, go read something else!
And as for you diaper clad, pablum eating LOSERS who keep threatening to "report" me, go ahead! I doubt anyone takes you and your puerile tattling seriously.
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The Tamaranian continued typing furiously at the primitive console, which was based on backward Earth based technology. She never complained to her teammates about how inefficient the computer system was as she did not wish to hurt Cyborg's feelings since he designed the system and instead compensated by typing at a superhuman speed that was a function of both her alien physiology as well as her non human brain. The princess was more than a pretty face, that much was certain. She quickly spawned several tactical algorithms which would hopefully recommend the best way to confront the swarm of robots. After spawning off those processes she then turned to identifying the source of the invasion. As she expected, they were emerging from an underground cavern near the outskirts of the city.
"There are 3428 robots." She announced. "Sensors indicate that they are each powered via a Xenothium fuel cell."
A collective gasp echoed through the common room.
"Starfire, are you serious? Those robots are powered by Xenothium?" M'Gann asked. "Xenothium was outlawed almost two thousand years ago on Mars."
The Tamaranian continued to tap on the keyboard as she assiduously studied the console's display.
"According to our sensors, each robot has only a few grams of Xenothium in its fuel cell. Also, there is no doubt as to who they belong: as Robin already guessed, they are Slade-bots."
TT-Robin and Kaldur stepped up to tactical console that was next to the operations console where Starfire was standing. After a few taps the giant TV screen became a tactical display, showing a map of the city ,where the Slade-bots were located and which way they were heading. They were represented by tiny dots on the screen and scurried around like ants emerging from a nest.
"They're splitting up into seven groups … the first group is headed towards City Hall, the second group is swarming the university campus, the other groups are targeting the central park, the airport, the local stadium, the bay bridge and the central hospital." Robin announced.
"That doesn't make any sense!" Superboy bellowed. "There's nothing of value at any of those places."
"They all have one thing in common, crowds of people." M'Gann added.
Starfire gasped.
"The robots have begun to fire at the civilians at the University. Why is Slade doing this?" The princess asked.
"Deathstroke is trying to draw us out of the Tower. He is trying to separate us so that we cannot fight together." Kaldur added. "We are being led into a trap."
"Someone is already fighting the robots." Starfire announced.
"Of course! Batman and Batgirl!" YJ-Robin interjected.
"Yes, they are already at the university campus, but there is someone else, near City Hall … how strange…"
"What is it Starfire?" Artemis asked.
"I believe that it is Terra … she is battling the robots near city hall."
Beast Boy was still seated in his wheelchair and stood up when he heard the name of the blond geomancer.
"She's fighting them?" He asked.
"Hang on; I'll tap into the security cameras at City Hall." Cyborg announced.
Robin and Kaldur stepped aside and allowed Cyborg access to the console. After a few key strokes several cameras came online on the giant screen and they had several views around Jump City's gleaming civic center. They visually scanned each view, searching for a visual that would confirm that it was indeed Terra who was engaging the robots. Within a few moments their perseverance paid off, as Terra's image appeared on one of the cameras.
She was wearing a tan colored unitard which highlighted her now mature figure, the stick figured girl Beast Boy had fallen in love with was now gone and had been replaced by a very shapely young woman. She was engaging the robots with a fury that was familiar to the Titans. They also noticed that she was much more skilled than when they last encountered her in battle. She was faster and physically stronger and the control she had over her powers was enviable as she was able to vanquish platoon after platoon of robots while either dodging their laser shots or blocking them with a stony shield she would summon almost effortlessly as she surfed the wind on a slab of charcoal gray granite she had peeled off the side of a nearby building.
"That's Terra alright; wow she's even better than she used to be." Beast Boy announced.
"I want someone to volunteer to help Terra." Robin asked.
"I'll do it! She's hot!" YJ-Robin volunteered.
"Is that all boys can think of?" Raven snarled at the younger Boy Wonder, who merely shrugged his shoulders and grinned in reply.
"I'm a guy, so sue me!"
"Oh never mind. I'll take care of Terra myself." She finally volunteered.
"Are you sure Raven?" TT-Robin asked her. "Is that a good idea? You and Terra, well, let's just say you two don't get along."
The gray sorceress glared at her leader, once again with an intensity that sent chills down the spines of the members of the Young Justice team, who were now aware that Raven was part demon.
"I'll be fine Robin." She replied in her monotone.
She then turned to face her beau.
"Gar, don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, and sit down before you get lightheaded, you aren't close to being healed yet."
After the changeling complied with her order Raven phased into the floor and vanished, rematerializing outside the Tower, making a bee line as she flew towards the civic center.
Artemis leaned over to YJ-Wally.
"She wants to check out her competition." She whispered to him.
"But Beast Boy said he wasn't interested in Terra." Wally replied.
"And you believe that?"
"Uh … yeah … why wouldn't I?"
"Cuz he's a guy and Terra is … you heard what our Robin said."
"I think he likes Raven."
"You just don't have a clue, do you Wally?"
Robin and Starfire began to hand out the assignments the new computer algorithm prepared.
"We're going to team up in pairs. I can't tell you enough to be careful. It appears that the laser pistols the Slade-bots have are more powerful than ever. Also, time is of the essence, as they are attacking civilians without mercy. And Kaldur's right, it's probably a trap, so keep your eyes open." Robin announced before turning to the green Titan who was once again seated in his wheelchair.
"Beast Boy, you keep an eye on the tactical console and let us know if anything happens."
The green lad nodded his affirmation and wheeled himself to the workstation.
Robin then turned to face his temporarily expanded team.
"Titans Go!"
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Raven flew as fast as she could as she shot like a missile through the air, her purple locks and cape buffeted by the wind. As she flew over the bay she could see more Slade-bots surging over the bay bridge, firing their pistols at the terrified crowds who were fleeing on foot, leaving their traffic jam stranded vehicles behind. For a split second she was tempted to abandon Terra and help the civilians on until she saw Starfire flying to the bridge, carrying Superboy under his arms as his legs dangled below. Satisfied that the two aliens would be able to handle the situation on the bridge she pushed on, flying even faster than before.
It didn't take Raven long to reach the downtown area and she was soon able to see the massive and modern City Hall complex as she approached its location. Even from several blocks away she could see that things were amok in the city's Civic Center. The flashing lights from dozens of police cars could be seen as well as billowing black smoke that was pouring out of the building. As she approached she discerned the damage that the building had endured as well as those around it. The scene was a battle zone as the police tried to repel the nearly 500 robots that were attacking the location.
Raven looked for Terra but was unable to locate her. Instead she saw a civilian sprawled on a sidewalk and dove down to assist the injured pedestrian. Raising a black hemisphere she shielded herself from the barrage of bullets and laser fire that surrounded her. Kneeling down she inspected the civilian, who otherwise being bruised and unconscious was basically unharmed.
Howling a battle cry she became airborne and engaged the sea of Slade-bots that flooded the streets. Using her dark energy she tossed, crushed, impaled, slashed and demolished robot after robot. The police began to cheer while they continued firing at the Slade-bots with their puny side arms. The robots ignored the police and instead focused on the gray, flying sorceress.
After eliminating almost half of the droids Raven was beginning to feel fatigued. It was then that she heard a call for help. She turned and saw its source: a young mother and her two children were trapped under a pile of rubble, and their situation looked precarious.
Darting over in their direction Raven landed next to them and using her obsidian powers she delicately began to unbury the woman and her two children, wrapping each piece of debris with her dark energy. She also kept a shield up to shield herself and the trapped family from the laser fire, which repeatedly bounced off her protective shield.
In just over a minute the woman and her children were freed. She thanked Raven repeatedly, and the gray Titan instructed her to take her family out of harm's way. As they ran to safety Raven returned her gaze to the battlefield, with the dark shield still standing between her and the fracas on the street. She was feeling winded and was giving herself a moment to recharge before returning to the battle, and that was when she didn't see it.
The eyes on one of the Slade-bots she had sliced in half began to glow as a backup power source kicked in. The droid had no legs as it had been slashed at the waist, but it did not need them. Still clutching its laser pistol in its mechanical hand it raised it, aimed at Raven's back and pulled the trigger.
Raven felt as if her spine was encased in ice. She lost all sensation in both her arms and legs, which now refused to obey her will, and she collapsed onto the sidewalk. She was also unable to summon her powers and was unable to break her fall, she hit her head on the concrete surface and began to blackout. Summoning all of her willpower she managed to stay lucid, even though her vision was blurry. Slowly, the world came back into focus, and she heard the sound of metallic footsteps approaching from behind her. She willed her limbs to move, but they continued in their refusal to obey her. The footsteps finally reached her and stopped behind her. She then felt a vise like grip around her right ankle and was lifted into the air, upside down, with her arms and left leg flopping around as if she were a rag doll.
She was now facing her assailant, which as she expected was a Slade-bot. The droid was holding her with its left hand while it clutched a laser pistol in its right. Raven could see that it was set to full power, and was not set to stun as the pistol she had been shot with was. Raven braced herself for what she expected to be her point blank execution.
The Slade-bot instead holstered its weapon. Of course, she was more valuable to Slade as a hostage she reasoned. Then the droid reached for its leg.
And drew a large and vile looking dagger.
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The scene at the airport was pure mayhem. The security guards were no match for mechanized warriors that were terrorizing the passengers and staff at the main concourse of the terminal. They fired indiscriminately, mowing down everyone in sight, including children.
Kid Flash shot into the terminal carrying Artemis, who he quickly lowered to the floor.
"What can we do? There's so many of them." Artemis howled as she began to shoot arrows at the invading horde. "I'm gonna run out of arrows!"
"They can't shoot if they don't have pistols!" Wally shouted as he disappeared into the throng. Within seconds he returned with an armful of laser pistols, which he unceremoniously dropped into a trash can.
The two heroes continued with their tactics of disarming and attacking. Soon Artemis ran out of arrows. She retrieved a laser pistol from the trash and with a grimace on her face began to fire it at the robots.
As if of a single mind, the remaining Slade-bots changed their strategy and withdrew from the terminal. The two heroes gave chase and followed the 200 hundred or so surviving robots, which fled to the tarmac area right outside the boarding gates. The robots ran under a parked jumbo jet and the two YJs followed them. As they ran under the plane they heard a beeping sound, which quickly increased in frequency. Wally turned and saw a single Slade-bot, which was hiding behind the jet's landing gear. Its eyes flashed red at the same tempo as the beeping.
Without saying a word Wally scooped Artemis in his arms and began to run. Within a split second the droid exploded and the jet exploded with it. The two heroes tumbled from the shockwave, which smashed every window in the terminal.
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Kaldur and Garth were assigned to the stadium. The new sports complex was built on an island in the bay, and was accessible only by bridge. The two Atlanteans jumped into the bay and caught a ride with two dolphins Garth had already summoned.
The living torpedoes whisked the two men from Titans Island to Stadium Island in just a few minutes. They came ashore on the stadium side of the bridge and just in time as the raiding mass of robots was beginning to cross the bridge.
"They are so many. Do you have any ideas?" Kaldur asked.
"Let's fight them in our element!"
Garth gestured with his arms and a huge wave formed on the left side of the bridge. As it crashed over it swept every single Slade-bot off the bridge and into the bay.
"Well that was easy." The dark haired Aqualad crowed in triumph.
His victory was short lived, as the entire phalanx of robots began to emerge from the bay, walking onto the stadium shore, their pistols ready to fire.
"I guess we will have to do this the hard way." Kaldur calmly remarked as he drew his own weapons.
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Starfire deposited Connor on the bridge's surface while she flew on. At first she blanketed the droids with her starbolts and she got closer she began to pummel then with her fists as she continued to fly like an orange and purple missile.
Superboy got to work, his own fists were kept busy as he smashed robot after robot with his mighty hands. He occasionally glanced over and watched the Tamaranian with admiration and envy, as he was still flightless. He could tell that she was a remarkable young woman. And, he had to admit, far prettier than either Megan or Artemis.
Unfortunately for the two heroes, the Slade-bots were not interested in fighting them, and for good reason, the droids wouldn't have lasted long against the two super powered heroes. They were focused on destroying the bridge, and were unfortunately doing a great job.
"Starfire! There are still people on the bridge, lots of people! They're going to fall into the bay."
"Yes, I am aware of our predicament. We must buy the civilians some more time."
Superboy watched as the Slade-bots were cutting the cables that held up the city's signature suspension bridge with their lasers.
"How do we do that?" He shouted as he smashed another robot with his fists.
"I do not know." Was her reply.
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We still have Cyborg/Megan and Robin/Robin to cover. But that will have to wait until next time, along with Raven, Wally and Artemis' fates.
I will skip the mail bag this week, except to say thanks for all the messages of support. The mail bag will return next time!
Until we meet again!