Hi guys... I know, I'm late... yep. But better late then never riiiight!? So the story is heading into the right direction, it's taken me awhile to get there, a bit longer then I had planned to get here, but yay... emmm sorry.

Anyways I want to say thank you to everyone for being awesome and tagging along on this adventure. You all mean the world to me, you really all do. I wouldn't still be going with this if it wasn't all for you guys and I know I say that every time but it's true. Merry Belated Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEARS!

ON WITH THE STORY!

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"It's time. 6am, tomorrow morning."

"We're leaving? Already?"

"Yes."

Robin nodded, he knew their departure would happen sooner or later. "What about Asif? It would be a shame to just leave him here. What would he do? He has no where to go."

"You can bring him along if you wish. Perhaps he could find a new purpose amongst my own men."

"I'll speak with him. Where are we going?"

"Although I've had many bases throughout the world in my time, there is one I call home more then the rest." Robin crossed his arms. Back in his hero days he would of been thrilled to hear that. It would of meant he was correct all along, Slade had an organization, it really wasn't just him and a bunch of robots. And he had a hunch that Slade knew that Robin had suspected all along. Although he supposed at this point in their relationship Slade telling him they were going to a specific base was... nothing special anymore. But Robin had to admit, he was curious. "And that is where, exactly?"

Slade chuckled, "You'll find out."

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"I dunno Robin..."

The former boy wonder had found Asif sulking around in the cabins supposed back yard, although it was more like a small clearing and then miles of forest then what one would normally consider a backyard. No fences to keep the wildlife at bay. Just dark beautiful forest. He found Asif here, sitting on a stump at the edge of the clearing, starring off into the distance. When he found him he figured Asif wasn't truly looking at anything at all, instead his vision was internal, his mind going over future prospects. His friend was so lost in thought that he swore he made him jump when he finally noticed Robin had walked over to him.

"What is there to think about? Come with me and we can-"

"Can do what exactly? Go after Aurora? Just the two of us, tackle down one of the worlds biggest, if not the biggest, secret spooky societies all for revenge?" Asif crossed his arms, and slumped into his makeshift stool. he never left the stump. He still sat there with his legs crossed. "It's a bit much."

"I'm sure we can get more to join us, it won't be just the two of us."

"I doubt Deathstroke is going to help you on that request."

"Perhaps not right away. But in the meantime, we can prepare. Gathering intel, isn't that something your good at? Isn't that why Sariel brought you on board in the first place becau-"

"Because I knew something she wanted to know, I had information she needed, that she specifically targeted me for. I lived and joined her side and thus in return I got information for her whenever she asked. I get it. But I don't have information for you Robin. What you know about the ben Elohim is what I know as well. I failed her then... at the church. I... I dunno."

Robin sighed. "Look I'm facing a lot to you know. Slade has this entire network of soldiers and military mercenaries, robots, engineers, meta-humans and literally god knows what else he has. Network right. So he's pretty much got everything. And then there is me right?"

"Oh so full of yourself now that you are ok with being Deathstroke's apprentice." Asif smirked in his friends direction. His jab was more playful rather then full of spite.

Robin waved his hand at his comrade. "That's not what I mean, Look at me." The boy gestured to himself. "I'm some ex hero kid that is walking into this place with high expectations placed upon me. I'm going to get a lot of different looks. Hell some may even hate me, think I'm not worth Slade's time or effort. They're all going to want me to fail or perhaps run back to Batman..."

Asif scoffed, "And will you?"

"No..." the former boy wonder shrugged.

"Then what is there to worry about? I'm sure you'll prove yourself in no time."

"Perhaps, but back to the network... If we get people within Slade's own network to helps us out, because I'm sure Slade as some of the best help around, and if we can get them to be our help... plus it's not like they'll be defying orders or anything, after all they will be helping me. So win for them... maybe. Anyways, we could use the extra help is what I'm saying. And you Asif, you're good at what you do, I need you on board with this."

"Wait." Asif looked at his friend a bit bewildered. "Let me get this straight. You want to build a small group of people, that are loyal to you... within Deathstroke's own military?"

"Well I'm going to have to build a reputation anyways, but yes, something like a special ops unit... maybe some will volunteer?"

"Ok but what are you getting at? Why?"

"I'm sure Slade will want me to build something within his forces, to gain some sort of favor amongst his own men. A reputation, I am his apprentice, they will have to learn that one way or another, and once that is achieved, which won't be hard to do, I can then gather up a small group, military unit, something like that."

"You think Deathstroke will allow you to build a team?"

"I'll talk to him, we need something to fight against them. Just the two of us, we won't stand a chance. Besides, if we're going to take down the Justice League we're going to need one hell of a team."

Asif shook his head. "You are fucking crazy you know that?"

Robin smirked. "Yea but that crazy has gotten me this far."

"Alright, alright." The young man sighed, "You got me, but this is for Sariel and Gus." Asif put out his hand and to seal the deal Robin took it. "For Sariel and Gus, For Revenge!"

Asif nodded. "For revenge."

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The next morning came a little to fast, and perhaps a little too early for his tastes, but Slade had insisted. The man had wanted to get on the road as early as possible, but even the mastermind could wait a little bit.

Jillian had spoken about how much Sariel had come to love this little cabin over the years, so the idea was to "bury" her here, so she was always close to home. But there was no body to bury. No service to carry her to the heavens, no songs, just the forest, and a plaque one of Jillian's boys had made until something nicer had arrived. It was a odd comfort to know that he was always welcome back here, even if he just had wanted to come to speak with Sariel. He thought about where her body lay currently, under the ruins of an old church and thought about the desert. Interesting how once the very thought of that place brought up horrible visions and sensations of the fires. But now... he just through of her. The desert was hers, just as she belong to the desert.

There was a lot to do, a lot he would have to work towards to achieve any form of revenge against the ben Elohim. But he was sure the path wouldn't be too boring. He was Slade's apprentice after all, he was sure he would make new allies and new enemies along the way. There was a whole different world ready for him and he wasn't going to deny himself any longer. Sariel was around his age give or take, and had more freedoms then he could ever dream of, and he had to admit he was somewhat jealous of her adventurous lifestyle. While being a hero sure had it's fair share of adventures, it also came with a lot of high expectations not only from his mentor, but also from the media. Things would be different now. Which brought his thoughts back to Slade. Perhaps by now he had made the mastermind wait a bit longer then he had originally planned.

Robin look down at the plaque beneath him.

Sariel

Loved and lost yet again,

Once met but never Forgotten.

She lays in rest, not here, but in our hearts.

He read the words to himself, memorized them as he did with his parents so long ago and took one last look at the marker and turned away, he would be back, he would always come back.

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The truck ride was bumpy. And the truck itself was of the bigger variety, but Robin swore Slade was still to tall for it. It was as if Slade was about to bang his head on the roof every time they hit another bump, he would admit, he would of laughed if it did happen.

Asif grunted in the back as they hit another bump. Robin would admit, this did seem a bit drastic. 4x4ing through the forest, the back lanes as Slade had called it. A shortcut. To where he had asked and Slade had simply said "a helicopter."

However, he was not expecting the small military base that was slowly coming into view. "You have a base, all the way out in the middle of a forest?"

Slade looked to his young apprentice and smirked. "Why not?" Robin shrugged. "Seems out of the way."

"Yes out of the way, no one is going to come all the way out here. It's to far removed. Perfect really." Robin pondered on that, They were only about five hours out from Jillian's cabin. It was around 11:30 in the morning. The cabin itself was so far removed... no one ever found Jillian, or him when he was hidden there.

When Slade had parked the truck, and when he stepped out of that vehicle, he could already feel the eyes on him. He should be used to this kind of attention by now... and while this was similar, it was a different ball game altogether. These weren't the eyes of the every day citizen eyeing him because he was Robin the boy wonder. No, these soldiers were staring at him because he was Slade's apprentice. The kid their boss had chosen as his heir. "No pressure" Robin through to himself in amusement.

Robin let his eyes search the area and he caught the attention of a few soldiers as they quickly averted their eyes. Did they know ahead of time? Did they know who he was? What his role was? Were they, dare he say it, scared of him? Or just curious, mad even? It was hard to tell.

Either which way, it wouldn't do at all, while fear may be good at gaining control in many situations, him making an entrance as Slade's apprentice into Slade's own organization wasn't one he wanted to make where everyone was fearful of him. No, he wanted some admiration. To catch the attention of people he could possibly use later on. He wanted something to build on, not fearful minions.

Regardless however, at this moment he did believe that this was a rather intriguing point in his life. They didn't know what to think or say to him, so he just walked by them. It would take time, he noted to himself, time to build himself a reputation that was worthy of being Slade's apprentice. Not to Slade of course, but to be an role model to his men... that was going to be interesting. And dare he say a bit challenging, maybe a bit of fun as well.

He was thinking to himself a lot these days, so when he felt the heavy hand on his shoulder Robins eyes found Slade's singular. "We're taking the helicopter the rest of the way."

"You still haven't told me where we're going."

"I figure, with everything we have gone through, that we all could use some R&R. So from here we're going to my more favored base in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. It's a place that is close enough to home without straying to far away."

"Far away enough from home, but close enough to keep your eyes on everything."

"Precisely" Slade looked in the direction Robin had been glancing at, "Don't worry about them."

"I'm not." Robin crossed his arms.

"In time, they'll be taking orders from you as well." Slade had patted his shoulder and left the boy behind. Slade had to get the men ready to prepare a helicopter. There was work to be done before they could depart. Robin looked ahead, "Not now anyways, but one day" He turned his back to the men and followed in the masterminds footsteps.

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So everyone what ya think? I'm so excited to finally get to this section of the story, I've been planning this for so long and I'm almost there. The friendship of Robin and Asif, the fight against the Justice League, and all for what? Bloody wonderful revenege... there is obviously more to it then that, but you'll find out.

Leave me a review if you enjoyed it, tell me what you thought, I have cake and cookies and so much left over Christmas chocolate, PLS PLS leave me a review! *pouts* Yes I know it's kinda filler... bite me lol

You all stay safe with this crazy Covid thing around. HAPY NEW YEAR!

-Fangy