The Batcave was dead silent, save for the bats flying around or the constant, distant drip of water.

Hal's funeral hit the League hard, another dead member by a man that seemingly didn't have any reason to kill them.

Slade was an unstoppable force, brutal in his all his murders.

The air in the cave was thick with grief that couldn't be spoken, just absorbed. Being a hero was supposed to be a higher cause, not a death trap.

But to the grave five heroes had gone.

"Dick" I whispered lowly, we were off to the side, the funeral still in sight. "You should check on the Titans. If Slade's killing off members here..."

"He's going after everyone." Dick immediately pulled out his Titan responder, heading toward the locker room to gain some privacy.

"Where's Dick going?" Jason watched his brother walk away.

"He just needed a minute" I assured, it was plausible enough.

Suddenly Dick was back at my side looking out of breath and worried. "We need to go, now" I grabbed his hand and without another word we were at the Batcave zeta tube.

o[]xxxx[]::::::::::::> • <::::::::::::[]xxxx[]o

Titans Tower was a mess. Blood stained the floor and walls, it was everywhere. "Cyborg! Beast Boy!" Dick called out desperately, his voice echoing through the halls. "Raven! Star!"

No one answered, but as we got closer to the living room, the more it smelled of death. Dick's hand tightened in mine as he hesitated to open the sliding door.

When he finally managed the courage, both of us froze at the familiar voice, this time he wasn't in my head, Dick saw him too.

"Hello Robin"

Slade was sitting on the back of the couch patiently waiting for us to come here. The Titans were sprawled out across the floor, gashes and bruises all over them, mutilated and broken. Slade held his bloody sword loosely in one hand, the other resting on his wrist casually.

It hadn't been a quick death for any of them.

"I hope you realize the lesson I've given." He gestured toward the bodies. Four new deaths to add to Slade's growing tally. "You cannot beat me, cannot escape me. You will not win." Of course his death count was immeasurable, but this, this was an attack on Dick, making him suffer the way Slade knew best.

"You murdered them" If I could see Dick's eyes, they'd be on his fallen friends. "Mentors, friends, family. All in the name of some ridiculous idea that I'll willingly accept your empire."

"Oh, I know you will." Slade got up and we both stepped back. "I want you to take this all in. Take a good look at my ability." Slade's lip curled as he stepped over Beast Boy, as if he were gum on the bottom of his shoe. "I know what the both of you have been up to. Draining my bank accounts." He tapped his head. "Very smart, you got through my firewalls. Even you did Madolyn and I have to say, I'm impressed."

My stomach dropped.

He said Madolyn. Not kid or Maddie or even girl.

I swallowed nervously. This wasn't going to end well, it never did, not with Slade.

Father sheathed his sword, the handle sticking up behind his shoulder. "Though I do believe, I told you to stay, I thought I made myself clear enough after snapping your leg."

"I wasn't going to sit by and let you take me" I replied, avoiding his glower.

Dick pulled me behind him. "I won't let you have her"

"I'll still have you both" He took several more steps toward us. "This" he gestured around him. "Was a trap, one the both of you walked into willingly. We'll have to have lessons to rectify your mistakes."

Dick took out his escrima sticks.

"You're naïve if you think you can stop me" Slade pressed a button on his wrist. "When I have you, I'll put you both in a hole so deep, your precious heroes will never find you."

Slade bots began filling the hallway on either side of us, our only exit would be going through Slade.

Fear and dread surged through me, coiling tightly in my gut.

"What if you take me?" Dick eyed the robots surrounding us.

"No" I immediately shot it down. "Remember how well they went for me?"

"What assurance would I have that you'd become my apprentice?" Father clasped his hands behind his back. "That you wouldn't continue what you started with my rebellious child"

"Because of her" Dick glanced back at me, ignoring my protests. "If she goes free, never coming to harm by your hand or anyone else who works with or for you, I'll do it"

He seemed to consider it before shaking his head. "No, take them."

The Sladebots surged forward and despite our best efforts, we were just overwhelmed. They separated us, several keeping me still and I could see them doing the same to Dick.

Father approached me and I bit my lip to keep from shouting at him. He grabbed a handful off my hair, forcing me to look at him. "You've been disobedient, daughter. I will see that behavior corrected, yes?" When I didn't answer, he backhanded me hand enough that I spat out blood. "I will not repeat myself."

"Yes" I hung my head as soon as he let go.

"Good. I'd hate to see my newly reacquired apprentice return to his status as your whipping boy."

Closing my eyes in defeat, I knew we were going to be taken. It was over and Dick and I weren't the victors.

The distinct sound of Father's gauntlets meeting Kevlar rang out in the air as well as Dick grunting.

"No!" I struggled against the Sladebots while Dick was beaten, but they held me steadfast and I was forced to watch my friend get hurt.

Soon Dick went limp in the robots' arms, unconscious and barely breathing. I couldn't stop the tears, Father simply shook out his hand.

"Watch yourself Madolyn. Robin might not make it through this if you try to run as you have before." He warned. "It's time we went home."