Welcome to Gaia! ::

Very good, Robin. Spoke the voice of Slade Wilson before the image of his person appeared on all monitors throughout the tower. The Assassin's expression was completely hidden, save for the single crystal blue eye that was exposed from behind his split orange and black helmet. The sadistic twinkle in Deathstroke's eye betrayed the smirk of contentment that was hidden behind his helmet; Slade leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk before him.

I'd introduce myself, but I believe Robin's gone above and beyond the call of duty and has done my job for me. Now, on to business. You need not worry about the identity of my employer, he'll be introducing himself soon enough. Slade re-positioned in his seat, propping his feet up on the desk he sat in front of.

So, now that we have the formalities out of the way, any questions? Or are we all caught up to speed?

Deathstroke's smirk widened across his helmeted face as he watched Nightwing smash his escrima stick through the monitor. Slade knew, hoped, Richard wasn't dumb enough to believe that burst of rage would at all slow down the progression of his plot. Matter of fact, all he succeeded in doing was hastening the process.

I hope you don't think that was enough to silence me, Grayson. Deathstroke's voice echoed throughout the Tower's speaker system. I gave you an opportunity to ask me questions, might have even let you in on stage two of my plan. After that little stunt, however, I think I'll just let you find out for yourselves.

With those words, all the power within Titans Tower shut off simultaneously - security, lights, electricity, everything. Your tower is now under my control, and all of your toys are not at my disposal. It was then that the emergency sirens began to sound throughout the tower; blast doors slamming shut and locking down over every window and exit within the T-shaped building. There was no way in or out, they were trapped. Now, let the games begin.

Mini explosions began to sound throughout the Tower, H.I.V.E. Ghosts storming the building with weapons in hand. Dozens of the grunt soldiers made their way through the building, aiming to secure it. With each hero they came across they began to open fire without hesitation; Deathstroke punching in another command to the Tower's security systems allowing the doors of each room to open to permit the Ghosts access to every inch of Titans Tower.

A squad of 15 Ghosts ran directly toward the med bay, Rifles raised as the Captain barked the order for his underlings to shoot the heroes. The Ghosts each pulled the trigger on their rifles as they began to fire upon the Titans, aiming to finish them.

No sooner than he finished informing those unaware of Slade, would the expert hit-man begin by applauding the young Robin for his knowledge. Damian acknowledged this with a sneer and the frown of his lip to show his disgust toward a man who took pride in killing a young girl. "So, now that we have the formalities out of the way, any questions? Or are we all caught up to speed." Smug b*****d thought Robin as his glare only tightened underneath his domino. He balled a fist unable to contain himself and bared some of his teeth. Nightwing too, having heard enough decided to put an end to Deathstroke's boasting by destroying one of the monitors. He knew it was out of anger so he wouldn't remind Grayson that they had plenty more around the Tower along with a intercom which had obviously been hacked. Something Damian was most irritated about considering he set up most if not all of the systems himself since arriving seeing as Grayson's previous set-up practically begged to be updated.

”We need to find the other Titans. Slade is watching us, he has to have something up his sleeve.” Great. He was so delirious because of the archer girl's death that he was stating the obvious. Robin rolled his eyes and started out of the room, his black and yellow cape flapped making a clamorous noise his trail. It was then as he exited the room, the lights would shut off, same with their system according to his gauntlet, and electricity. Damian cursed under his breath before several Ghosts came marching in unison inside of the Tower. All wielding firearms with intent to kill or so he would believe. Not like it would be useful. There was no chance he'd allow himself to be shot by those lackeys. The real fight was with Deathstroke. Robin just needed to get to him first before Nightwing. It was Damian's way of saving Grayson from himself. He would act on raw emotion in a fight with the assassin whereas Damian held no sentiments toward death. To be truthful, whether Artemis was alive or not didn't affect him in the slightest or so that was what he'd been telling himself.

Down the hall he saw Beast Boy being carried away by several of the combat gear wearing men. "Put the shape-shifter down or I start breaking bones." threatened Robin. And to the surprise of no one, the men would drop Beast Boy but as they did would open up fire onto the young Robin. Who quickly used his speed to dash towards them closing the little space they had in between. Then to leap and kick both in face at the same time. Then doing a back-flip from the momentum and their faces, and as he did would unsheathe several batarang from his utility belt. As he landed, he'd continue the attack by throwing each batarang into the mouths of their weapons. They were too disoriented from kicks to realize and so if and when they raised them to fire again they would nearly blow off their own hands. A smirk crossed his lips in anticipation to see choice they'd make.

Wally furrowed his orange brows at the young Robin, irritated by his response. While answering his question, he made it seem as though he was supposed to know about this dangerous killer, only a week into his tenure as a Titan. Guess he should've prepared for the worse as the cold and rather menacing voice of the one they called Slade appeared across the monitor, only to be snuffed out soon after by Nightwing's weapon of choice. Something about his appearance was off-putting, that one red glowing eye. He wondered if that was the last thing Artemis saw when she died? Horrible, just horrible. Wally thought as he shook his head in disbelief. Why was he doing this? Why them and why now? What did they do to piss this guy off? It was then that the lights went next, electricity and all. Titans Tower was left without power, darkening the entirety of the structure from within. Wally had been prepared for such a situation, having outfitted his goggles with many vision settings. In this case, the night vision would work well both for the lack of light within and the darkening skies of the evening times outside.

"This is insane. What does he want from us?" Wally frantically looked back and forth hearing the thundering, clamoring footsteps of boots against the floor even from several floors under. They were being invaded? He had access this whole time? Watching them and studying them? Not one of them knew either. He had the drop on them completely. Wally ran out of the room, weaving throughout the halls until he came across Damian fighting off gunmen effortlessly with Beast Boy behind them in an unconscious state. Wally never let up and as he approached the men from behind, he slid on the ground knocking their feet from under them and for the one he wasn't able to reach, he grabbed his ankle, using the momentum that he already attained to swing it forward flipping him completely on his back as Wally rose up to his feet. "The threads their sporting look awfully familiar," Wally sped over to one of them, looking over their clothing and weaponry in a curious state. Probably not the best time to be doing so.

Donna's nose scrunched into a sneer as Slade spoke almost mocking them about the death of their friend. Feeling almost like sitting ducks she glanced around before d**k destroyed the screen. Her blue eyes widened when the lights shut off, emergency ones and all. This was it. It was time to fight. The ghost men pulled Beast boy down the hall as Damian ran after them.

"We have to get to the others. We need to collaborate and protect the non-meta's." She exclaimed before one of the ghost men swung at her. Spinning around to block it her elbow clashed with their jaw before her knee pulled up ramming their stomach. Sending out another blow with her opposite fist. The blow felt too sluggish. Donna knew the second she launched it. They ducked under it. Before she could even register the dodge, they threw a fist, this one to her ribs, sending fresh ripples of pain through her torso. She didn’t fall, the blow hurt more than she expected. Pushing them back from her she kicked at their chest sending them flying back. They smashed into the wall slowly sliding down obviously knocked out for now.

Through the darkness she knew they needed to get out of the med bay and to the living room, that's where most of the Titans were residing after today's events. The threads their sporting look awfully familiar. Turning her head she glanced at Wally. "What do you mean?" She asked her eyes searching for him in the dark. Growing frustrated by the lack of lighting Donna moved to start searching through drawers. She knew there were flashlights and other emergency supplies they'd need here somewhere.

Damian stared at Deathstroke, eyes tightening behind his mask as the assassin made his entrance. Behind him were a swarm of Ghosts, all sporting new gear. It was true after all; you really could teach an old dog new tricks with the appropriate training thought Robin as he unsheathed his blade. Deathstroke would be in a rude awakening as well as the ghosts if they believed this feat would be anything but difficult. The pair of nimrods in front of Robin fired their batarang jammed weapons and as predicted only hurt themselves. As they fell, Deathstroke took their place as his opponent. Finally a challenge. A small smirk crossing his lips whilst watching the one eyed mercenary take immediate charge with a somersault. Then slamming down a smoke pellet to disorientate and confuse. If he was anyone else this tactic would've worked, but this was the same boy who's first ten years of life were spent enduring rigorous training from the Demon's Head himself. As well as other highly respected assassins such as his Mother, Talia al Ghul and Lady Shiva.

"Bring it, a*****e." Damian said back. And Slade did. Because by the time Robin saw Deathstroke out the corner of his eye, he was already striking him with his bo-staff. The first to his head, the second would've been to his throat had it not been for him using his height to duck low, the third aimed to take out his knees to which he'd leap over. And lastly, back to his torso, catching him on a sloppy recovery. Damian closed one eye and spat out blood. s**t, too slow. Punctured rib if not indefinitely broken. Nothing he couldn't soldier through. He was an al Ghul and a Wayne. And neither gave up so easily.

"You made one miscalculation, Deathstroke. You came into my home and tried to take me on. The one place where I have home field advantage and set up several contingencies made for the likes of Superman himself." yelled Robin. Leaping out of Slade's shot to the wall, pressing a non visible panel, then propelling himself forward with his momentum to palm Deathstroke's helmet flipping over him ever so flawlessly to land behind him kneeling. The wall now opened up on both sides and sent a flurry of dart arrows lethal enough to penetrate even the hardest of armors. He was the Son of Batman after all and you'd be a fool to not think he wouldn't utilize his father's resources. Not even the team knew about these protocols save for Nightwing who reluctantly agreed to putting them up. His fear was that Beast Boy or some other Titan would come and press the button and hurt themselves, if not worse. Which is why the panels were DNA accessible only to the two of them.

"Child's play. -tt-" Damian said, kneeling out of the line of fire and escaping down the hall. This would buy him time to get away from the assassin. He couldn't win the fight through direct combat. It was impossible. Deathstroke was bigger, stronger, and faster than he was.

MEANWHILE, IN EL PASO, TX...



"They were robots!?"

The Blue Beetle, a slim humanoid in gleaming blue-and-black armor, stands over a collection of strewn body parts on the ground.

Skrskrkittrskskrkrskrkskssskrskss

"Then what they could possibly be?"

Suddenly, a black boot leaps from the ground and slams into Beetle's jaw!

"Ow—! What?!" Beetle cries.

Then a fist leaps up — and another fist — a leg — some indistinct slab of body — all beating up poor Blue Beetle.

"What is —" Srkrs "—okay, not robots, I accept that—"
Srkrsktrrs "—But then what are they? What do I — OW! — do?"

The disassembled body parts of Rack and Ruin pelt and bombard Blue Beetle from all sides without the need to actually be attached to each other. Beetle tries to parry and deflect and dodge, but he winds up knocked thoroughly around over and over and over.

"All right, enough! Give me something — no, not that! Something non-lethal!"

Rack and Ruin reform themselves amidst the cluttered brawl, eventually standing tall before a downed Blue Beetle.

"He's awfully chatty for a lone hero."

"He's awfully incompetent for how much we're getting paid."

They pile in on Blue again, and he throws his arms up defensively. A plated shield forms.

"Okay, didn't know I could do that!"

He shoves his adversaries backward with the shield, quickly standing. Ruin shoots forward and sweeps his leg to knock him back onto the ground. Before he can react, Rack stomps into his back and mashes him against the pavement. As Ruin begins to kick into his side, Blue coughs. He takes the punishment for a few agonizing seconds. Suddenly, he rolls over and flails his arms madly — they become spiked maces and batter his foes backward.

"That's enough!"

BOOM.

A shockwave pulses out from Beetle and blows the chalky Rack and Ruin apart, scattering their body parts. Beetle rushes to Rack's head and picks it up. He cracks it across the jaw hard with an armored fist, then he runs to Ruin's head and kicks it like a soccer ball. The body parts had begun rumbling on the ground, but now they lay still. Rack and Ruin are out cold.

"Dios mio, what a day." Beetle puts his hands on his knees and catches his breath. "Are you sure they're still alive, all in pieces like that? ... Signs of life, huh? Guess I gotta trust you."

He looks around. There's a small crater in the street from the shockwave. A nearby fence is bent and twisted over. "What time is it? ... So I can get to school for, what, the last two periods of the day?" The mask of the armor unforms, revealing the face of Jaime Reyes. He runs an armored hand through black, messy hair. "What if they'd attacked me at school? Forget them hurting someone, I might hurt someone." He sighs. "I can't do this anymore. I don't know how. I don't even want to. But I guess I gotta, don't I?"

Srkrstkrtkrrss

Jaime goes to speak, but gasps in pain and grabs his side. "Ough. I need direction. Or maybe a plan. ... Help. ... I need help. From someone who's better at this, who wouldn't get caught offguard by some hired thugs."

Srkrsstrrst

"No, you're not enough. You're not very helpful at all for that matter." He looks toward the west. He pauses in thought.

"...The Teen Titans."

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Jaime soars over California buildings with a weary look on his face. The air whips past him loudly.

"How ... how long have we been flying this time?" He asks.

Like before, there is audible chittering as as the Scarab answers Jaime, directly in his head: Eleven hours.

"I ... see." His eyes flutter as fatigue sets in. He hangs his head as he begins to nod off mid-flight, suddenly losing rapid altitude.

Jaime!

He continues falling.

Jaime Reyes!

The Scarab takes control to keep them from smashing into a tall building, swerving deftly at the last second. The wobbly, half-standing Jaime lands clumsily on a rooftop, the picture-esque Golden Gate bridge visible from his vantage point.

Jaime. Wake up. We are close to your "Titans." Jaime!

"Huh, wha?" His posture straightens as he wakes back up. The mask de-forms over his face, allowing him to rub his eyes. "Oh, we landed. When did we land? ... Oh, wow, when did we land?"

You require rest, Jaime Reyes.

"Trust me, I know. I've been thinking that for the past month. How close are we to the Titans?"

Very close.