The words were like a death sentence, and Robin fell to the floor, already screaming. In what

seemed like an instant, all four of the Titans entered the main room, pausing when they saw Robin but not saying anything since Slade's technology would punish them.

"Robin, rise."

"No!" Robin screamed, not caring that the Titans were watching. "Slade, please, I'll do whatever you want. Just please don't—"

"Robin."

"Master," Robin whispered, his voice and body both shaking. "P-please. Please, Master, I'll do anything you say—"

"Kill them."

The suit shocked him as it never had before, and Robin screamed as the suit brought him to his feet and forced him to turn to the Titans. His arm took out the weapon. "I'm sorry," Robin whispered. "I can't — Slade's — controlling—"

"Fight it!" Beast Boy snarled, suddenly on the floor as well screaming in pain.

Robin looked at his friends, seeing that all of them were on the ground. They were still fighting it; they hadn't already given in. A spark of hope lit inside him. He remembered the boy he'd almost killed. But he hadn't. Robin screamed and fell to his knees, his body spasming as pain as he'd never felt before or since consumed him. Inside the dark tunnel, there was hope. Robin looked at his friends and felt his hand ready to throw the weapon. But he wouldn't do this. He wouldn't kill again. He wouldn't do this for Slade.

He wouldn't.

Something inside Robin broke, and he tore his body out of the control of the suit that had held him for so long. Perhaps he'd torn his body as well, but that didn't matter. Slade's eye narrowed, and he pressed a trigger on his wrist. Robin, however, felt no pain. All that he was aware of was his own body rising up, free and victorious. Next to him, Robin saw that Starfire was next to break free. Pulling the contacts from her eyes and burning off the marks Slade had put on her arms with her starbolts, she flew toward Slade with a roar, combining her powers to form a large starbolt that acted like a bomb and threw Slade backward.

Beast Boy was third. Taking off his ring and crushing it beneath his already-changing foot, Beast Boy changed into the Beast and raced toward Slade, throwing him into an opposite wall. Cyborg rose as well, throwing off Slade's armor, and his body glowed a faint blue before he shot a sonic cannon that obliterated the entire wall behind Slade and caused part of the ceiling to fall in. Raven was last. Tearing the gloves off her hands, Raven's outfit flashed white before she picked up Slade and threw him first into the wall, then the other wall, then the ceiling. Slade fell, then rose to his feet, his single eye dark.

"Soon, the day will arrive, Robin," Slade said. Robin saw Slade throw a frequency bomb in the middle of the room, and Starfire barely had time to blow the exit door off its hinges and the rest of the team run through to safety before the entire room behind them began to literally disappear. They escaped Slade's lair as the walls and ceiling continued to disintegrate, making it out just in time. Once they were in Slade's old lair, Cyborg turned to the entrance in the floor and destroyed it for good measure. Robin turned to his friends, never more thankful to have

them by his side. "We did it," he said tiredly.

"We're free," Raven said.

"We won," Beast Boy said.

"We are victorious," Starfire laughed.

"What are you guys doing?" Cyborg said, grabbing them and jumping into the air. "This calls for a boo-yah!"

Robin laughed and relaxed, though it felt strange. Around his friends, and thinking of them nonetheless, Robin still braced himself for the pain that he expected. But there was no pain at all. There was no Slade. There was no control. Finally, he — and they — were free. They were free. Grinning, Robin turned toward Jump City. "Come on, Titans. Let's go home."

TT TT TT TT

It'd taken two weeks to rebuild the Tower, but the Titans, after a good amount of work, had managed to design a perfect replica of their former home. Several of Raven's spell books survived the blast, as did Silkie, much to Starfire's delight. They'd found him happily eating rubble when they returned.

Now, things were back to normal. At least, as normal as they could be. Robin still couldn't get used to not watching for Slade around every corner and not having to monitor the thoughts he entertained. Nightmares haunted him, and he woke up in cold sweats every so often. It was also strange to feel his own suit on his body. After realizing that once the mental link was gone, the physical link was as well, Robin had been able to take Slade's suit off his body. He'd burned it. Well, tried to, anyway. He'd forgotten that the suit didn't burn and was immune to flame, so he had the Titans destroy it for him. It felt good, seeing the man's insignia evaporating from a starbolt. Gave him rest and peace of mind.

Three weeks after they'd escaped from Slade, the Titans were still recovering. Once the Tower had been completed, they'd gathered in the living room and had shared the things that Slade had made them do while under him. Robin had skirted around his experiences, not telling them everything. They didn't need to know how far he'd fallen; he was their leader, and he had to be that for them. Besides, it was too painful. Starfire had cornered him later that night and he'd told her more than the others, but Robin didn't even tell her everything. At least not yet. Maybe he would one day, but for now, the experiences belonged to him alone.

A month after their escape, the Titans really were getting better. They went out for pizza at their favorite pizza joint, happily surprised to see that it was fixed and back in business. They laughed, joked, and even had a water balloon fight back at the Tower later that night. Robin felt much better as he sat on the couch with the Titans, re-watching Ultimate Battle Ninja for the fourth time and eating ice cream. There was no Slade.

Raven was back to reading her books. Cyborg was attempting to set a record for most meat eaten within an hour. Beast Boy played video games almost constantly, and Starfire decorated every available surface with streamers, ribbons, and flowers. It was good, they were back to being the Titans. They were back to being . . . heroes.

Robin got up after the movie was through and stood at the Tower's window, staring out at Jump City as the rest of the Titans relaxed behind him. He was surprised, however, when he felt Starfire's hand on his shoulder. He turned to look, and saw that all four of the Titans were now standing beside him. He blinked hard, then turned back to face Jump City.

From now on, the Titans would be ready. Now that they were together again, their unity gave them strength. They would remain vigilant, except when eating pizza. For Slade they would be ready, and they would never trust the man again.

They would be ready, for they were the Teen Titans.

Always.

TTThe End TT