Encounter 2: Raven
"Titans, go!"
Robin's voice carried strongly through the concrete artillery warehouse. The Titans moved as one toward their target; a dark outline making for a large door at the opposite end. The large and powerful Cyborg brought his blaster to bear and sent a beam that seared into the ground just behind his prey. Their quarry was thrown against the wall by the blast, and slid down to the floor, chunks of debris raining all around.
Robin and Cyborg rushed toward the villain, stopping just short of the crumpled form. Robin raised a hand to signal caution, then addressed his enemy.
"It's over, Slade." There was no pomp or drama in Robin's voice, just tired finality.
A low chuckle came from the angular face mask before them.
"Yes. You are very right, young Robin. But over for whom? I'm certain that Beast Boy would concur in any case." Slade's low voice dripped with malice. Cyborg closed his organic eye in a grimace, the red glow of the cybernetic twin did not waver. Robin's fist clenched in unmitigated rage. He was about to speak when Cyborg brought up his blaster arm for a finishing shot. Slade's hand shot out even faster, and a small metallic device shot into Cyborg's weapon, sending arcs of electricity coursing through him. Cyborg cried out in pain and fell to the ground with a resonant thud, his circuits fried.
"Time to settle accounts, Robin." Slade unsheathed his katana and stood.
Robin leapt at him with his combat staff spinning wildly over his head. Robin fell upon Slade in a flurry of swings. Slade parried them seemingly without effort. Striking out with his booted heel, Slade kicked Robin to the floor, sending his staff skittering away. Slade brought his katana down just a hair's breadth away from Robin's left eye, a heavy boot slamed down on his chest pinning him to the floor.
"Stop!"
Slade looked up at the source of the cry. A lean black-cloaked figure hung in the air a few meters away. Two glowing silver spheres starred from the shadow of its hood. Slade looked back down to Robin expectantly.
"Raven!" Robin's voice was weak, the air knocked out of him. "Take him down!"
"I don't think so." Slade's voice was eerily unconcerned. "Her control is not what it used to be." He looked up at her. "Is it, my dear? Beast Boy found that out first hand."
Raven brought her hands up, and a large crate near Slade began to tremble. Raven strained, but the crate would not rise. Raven bowed her head.
"Robin... I am sorry." Her voice was resigned.
"Well," Slade brought his katana up and gazed down at Robin. "Now you see why I prefer the name 'Deathstroke!'" The blade shot down. Raven turned her head in shame. When she heard Slade's gasp of surprise, she turned back.
The tip of Slade's katana lay no more than a millimeter from Robin's cornea. A large and powerful hand grasped the blade halfway up. It was attached to a blue-clad arm, bulging with muscle. The red flowing cape and boots were icing on the cake.
"Looks like you might need a new favorite name." Superman said sternly. He brought his free hand up and caught Slade's throat.
"I've murdered Beast Boy, Superman. Go ahead and throw me to your judicial system. My day has been made." Slade mocked, chuckling. Superman's eyes narrowed minutely.
"On second thought, perhaps Deathstroke is the perfect name." And with that, Superman brought Slade's helmeted head down onto his knee with a sickening crack. Slade's lifeless form crumpled to the ground.
