a surprising WAKE UP call {SLADE}

[diamond]

Jinx was smiling, laughing with her friends. Her real friends. Gizmo and Mammoth! And, boy, they were having such a good time! Nothing could ruin it. Jinx had just made somebody have the worst luck! And it had let them all go into giddy happiness and laughter. It was like the old days, when it was just the three of them. Just the three of them... if only it was still just the three of them.

Suddenly, Gizmo and Mammoth vanished, leaving Jinx all alone. She had stopped laughing abruptly, looking around. Everything went dark. "Guys?" She blinked. "G-guys??" They were indeed gone. And she was left all alone again. None of her friends. No heroes. No one at all! This was how she was going to end up, wasn't it? She hoped not. A bolt of fear raced through her.

And then she saw Lucky. Jinx reached out to pick up her new cat but, the second her fingers grazed the animals fur... it disappeared.

BRING!!!! BRING!!!!

Jinx jolted straight up. Lucky was at her side, still asleep shockingly. The pink haired girl looked around, the noise slowly getting louder and louder. What was it? Finally, her eyes landed on an alarm clock on her night table. Her eyes glowed pink and so did it. The clock was suddenly thrown across her room until it stopped to the ground, not even breaking. Know she was curious. She hadn't ever had an alarm clock, so where did it come from? "some one better not have been in my room," she growled, thinking out loud more than anything else.

[slade]

Slade had stood there at first upon his entrance, he took the time to roam through Jinx's place, to look at the food in the fridge... or rather lack there of, to gaze at the sad peeling wall paper, to afix a bit more tape to the piece of cardboard taped over the broken window, to look at the squalor Jinx now lived in... he found it in his favor and thus the man who could have once been a ruler found himself looking down at Jinx reclining on the tore and tattered mattress. He stood in silence as she smiled in her dreams, happy, relaxed... and he watched as he brow began to furrow. Figuring that was enough of that Slade placed the alarm clock he had brought with him next to her on her night table, he took time to set the alarm and give it a good wind before stepping back into the shadows.

He watched as she went instantly from unconscious to hostile in a moment and grinned beneath his helm, her attitude had not been tempered and from his reports she had strayed from her path towards light guided by Impulse, flat out rejected it in fact. He found that to his satisfaction so he stepped forth from the shadows, first the light fell upon that single radiant eye of his, his intense gaze falling upon the pink haired girl sizing up every detail, then the orange half of his helm swam into view, and then the light shone upon the gray and black accents revealing Slade in all his glory, his costume had changed from the last time jinx had seen it, more armored, more sleek, clinging to his body like chitin. But more or less it was the same beast standing before her... but his stance seemed even more intense, his gaze less impressed with the world around him, the gaze of a man who had gone hang gliding in hell and come back to tell that tale.

"Good morning Jinx, it's been a long time."

Slade stepped towards her, his hands grasped behind his back and his head tilted slightly to the side.

"I am sorry to wake you, I do not begrudge anyone their right to escape into their dreams but we have much to discuss don't you agree?"

He stood there in front of her, as still as a statue.

[diamond]

"Good morning Jinx, it's been a long time."

Jinx's scowl turned into a look of shock at the sound of the voice. No. It couldn't be. Had she woken up into another dream or something? There was no way it could be him. She pinched herself and winced. Ouch! That hurt! Okay, so she was awake. That meant that she had to be hallucinating. "Sl-Slade? Bu-but... I thought that you were dead." What was happening?

"I am sorry to wake you, I do not begrudge anyone their right to escape into their dreams but we have much to discuss don't you agree?"

She blinked. He really was here, wasn't he? "Yes, I suppose we do... How are you here?" she asked before picking up her black cat and placing it on her lap.

[slade]

Slade reached up and stroked the chin of his mask as he turned and looked at the peeling wallpaper across the room, he could still feel the pain of the flesh that Terra seared off his bones, felt the coldness of his dead form, despite the fact he was alive again it was all to easy to remember what it had been like to be dead and he had no wish to dwell on such things but he supposed this was a question he would have to talk about alot.

"Died... oh yes young one I did die, I died in a most painful fashion. My flesh burned from my bones, my body cooked and crisped... and I suppose it is no surprise I awoke to find my soul before a most powerful figure, Raven's father. Trigon himself."

The room began to warm up, heat began to pour off the masked figure as he stood in the room and the smell of sulfur and brimstone seemed to emanate from him. He looked at the wallpaper... and looked through it, his one eyed gaze looking into his past.

"He made me a deal, I deliver him the final key to his freedom and he would return me to the mortal coil, he gaze me a body, gave me a semblance of life, gaze me power and sent me on my way. I of course performed my half of the deal impeccably. On Raven's birthday she was awakened as the key by my hand and the fate of the world was set into motion and then on the promised day I distracted the Titans as she opened the door... and Trigon came forth..."

Slade's gaze turned to Jinx, his head tilted and a self mocking tone to his voice, the warmth increased and a soft but harsh glow began to pour from his hand.

"Would you believe he betrayed me? Tried to destroy my soul as payment? But you know me... wheels within wheels. I survived his wrath, put a spike in his plan that was his undoing, caused him pain, returned to life... oh and as a little going away present..."

Slade lifted one open hand in front of him and the source of the glow became evident. A fire raged in his hand, a harsh and hungry fire. It didn't seek merely life, it sought to consume all it could and was held in check by it's masters will. It was hellfire and Slade held it in his hand like a toy. The light it cast upon his mask caused a huge dancing shadow to appear behind him, a seeming twisted mockery of a man.

"I took a piece of that power he gave me... and made it my own. I returned to life to continue my purpose and found... things in motion, events, people that would undo what I do, or tear this world asunder. While as you know I am no hero... I would prefer this hemisphere not to be either a chaotic war torn waste land or a zombie filled nightmare. I have chosen to gather some forces to oppose them as I must. Not for the greater good... but because they dare threaten my plans. Now in other times I would allow people their choices, even the choice not to choose... but in this circumstance the lines are being drawn so I think I must ask you. In the coming war would you rather be with me..."

Slade shut his hand upon the flame and in an instant it was snuffed out leaving only the scent of brimstone and sulfer.

"Or against me?"

[diamond]

Jinx began to stroke the black cats fur as she looked at Slade. It really was him. He was standing here, in the same room as her... in her room. Well, her 'kind of' room. She wasn't exactly paying for it and the owner didn't even know she was using it. Well, not yet at least. She was surprised that the electricity in the apartment was one. It was just her luck, though, right?

"Died... oh yes young one I did die, I died in a most painful fashion. My flesh burned from my bones, my body cooked and crisped... and I suppose it is no surprise I awoke to find my soul before a most powerful figure, Raven's father. Trigon himself. He made me a deal, I deliver him the final key to his freedom and he would return me to the mortal coil, he gaze me a body, gave me a semblance of life, gaze me power and sent me on my way. I of course performed my half of the deal impeccably. On Raven's birthday she was awakened as the key by my hand and the fate of the world was set into motion and then on the promised day I distracted the Titans as she opened the door... and Trigon came forth."

Okay, so he really had been dead. That was good. Well, it wasn't good. Actually, it was horrible! But at least she hadn't been lied to and wrong all this time. At least what she had known had been true. Though she couldn't help but wonder. How long had he been alive for? Did Gizmo know? Oh, and, more importantly, did Slade know about her going to the heroes and coming back? She hoped not.

"Would you believe he betrayed me? Tried to destroy my soul as payment? But you know me... wheels within wheels. I survived his wrath, put a spike in his plan that was his undoing, caused him pain, returned to life... oh and as a little going away present."

She didn't move when he seemed to ask a question. Jinx was smart enough to know it was rhetorical. Well, at least she thought it was rhetorical. If it wasn't rhetorical... well, she was just going to have to hope it was. She honestly could believe it, from what she had heard about the guy during her short time as a Titan herself. Yuck, she still couldn't believe that she had went goodie two shoes at all!

"I took a piece of that power he gave me... and made it my own. I returned to life to continue my purpose and found... things in motion, events, people that would undo what I do, or tear this world asunder. While as you know I am no hero... I would prefer this hemisphere not to be either a chaotic war torn waste land or a zombie filled nightmare. I have chosen to gather some forces to oppose them as I must. Not for the greater good... but because they dare threaten my plans. Now in other times I would allow people their choices, even the choice not to choose... but in this circumstance the lines are being drawn so I think I must ask you. In the coming war would you rather be with me... Or against me?"

Jinx felt a little bit of fear. It made her spine shiver and her body tense. She thought for a moment. It wasn't that she didn't know what to say. It was more that she didn't know how to say it. Finally, she opened her mouth and was able to speak. "I will always be with you, Slade." She looked down, not wanting to look into his eyes.

[Gizmo]

CRUUUUUUUUUD! OH CRUD OH CRUD OH CRUD OH CRUD! Slade was back! Supposedly he died but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HO-HO-HO he was alive and kicking PLUS stronger than ever! Vooshing on over since he was finally done with the final touches of a brain straining project that was a bit on the complicated side even by his standards! It was like that thing had alien technology and coding! But of course, he was a genius when it came to technology so with enough time he figured it out ending intrigued and...not like he'd announce it out loud, scared. The information and capabilities of that thing were just astounding! If it didn't have such a docile A.I and all those safe guards...well...that would be a scary thing in existence!

IN FACT HE SHOULD PROBABLY WARN JINX ABOUT THAT TOO! All the things he had to give his pal a head's up about! "CRUD! This thing needs to go faster!" Grumbling about not getting there any sooner, he knew this thing was fast but in a panic they felt SO SLOW! The worst part about all of this was the fact that he KNEW if Slade was back that he'd be trying to rally up people like Jinx and himself! Two options is all they had from what he understood: ESCAPE THE COUNTRY AND HOPE HE DOESN'T LOOK THERE or the more logical JUST AGREE AND HE WON'T DESTROY YOU choice. Still, he had to inform the bad luck inducer!

SO VERY CAUGHT UP IN HIS THOUGHTS, he didn't even notice the window up until he was JUST about to crash into it. Flailing his little arms unable to stop in time, he let out an "UUUUWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Seconds before slamming through the glass....and....crashing right into a wall leaving a huge dent of sorts. The jet pack turned off while sliding down on the ground with his little butt up in the air while wall chunks piled up on his bald cranium. It was a little difficult to hear what in the world the brat was talking about but a woosey "Slade's back..." could be understood with ease. As if that message was worth saying considering who was there already....

[slade]

Slade smiled as Jinx agree to assist him. It was nice when those around him understood realities of the situation. Truth be told he wouldn't force her to join but she didn't need to know that. He nodded and then tilted his head a bit to the side as if listening to something in the distance. He turned his head to the window and putting his hands behind his back he slowly shook his head. He had to admire Gizmo's intelligence net work. It was almost useful. Taking care to make sure he was not opposite the window he looked to his newest recruit and pointed towards the wall near her bed.

"Miss. You are not armored you might want to get down. We have an unexpected guest."

Slade watched unphased as a small bald kid in green crashed screaming through the window and hit the wall hard enough to dent it. Slade was actually impressed with builders that the walls were secure enough that the gleaming headed torpedo didn't go through the wall. As Gizmo slid to a halt and announced to the world the 'Slade was back' Slade just bent his back a bit so he could look down into Gizmo's eyes.

"And it is good to be back I can tell you. Relax Gizmo. I am glad you dropped by you saved me a trip. I see you haven't changed much but you really should be getting more sleep. These hallucinations of yours will not advanced by goals at all don't you agree?"

Slade let the implications of how much he knew about Gizmo's personal situation sink in. Information was power in all forms. A few words and you had more power then you did moments before. The mind was a weapon even for those without the ability to create things by sheer power of thought. Letting Gizmo regain his senses Slade reached down and flipped him right side up with one hand.

"Now... tell me Gizmo...how do you feel about the notion of rejoining my little family? I could use your help as well. You don't have to accept. You are completely free to turn me down as is Jinx. Of course... there may be... consequences.. but don't let anyone say I didn't give you the option to walk away."

[diamond]

"Miss. You are not armored you might want to get down. We have an unexpected guest."

Jinx blinked, a bit confused as to what Slade was talking about. Too confused to even move, really. "What do you mea-" Jinx was cut off as the sounds of Gizmo's screaming came through her room. Lucky hissed at the sound and jumped up before glowering at Giz. The poor little kitten didn't seem to like him too much. Lucky's claws were out and she was ready to attack. Jinx giggled at Gizmo when he spoke. "Giz. A few minutes too late to warn me about that on,"

[/b] she giggled. "Lucky, come here."[/b] the bad luck goddess said. The kitten, hissing a little bit more, padded her way back over to it's new master.

Jinx picked the kitten up, stroking its fur, and looked back at Slade as he began to speak. But he was speaking to Gizmo it seemed, so she looked at her kitten, petting it, and said. "See him there, Lucky. That's Slade,"[/b] she whispered, practically purring in the kittens ear.

"Now... tell me Gizmo...how do you feel about the notion of rejoining my little family? I could use your help as well. You don't have to accept. You are completely free to turn me down as is Jinx. Of course... there may be... consequences.. but don't let anyone say I didn't give you the option to walk away."

Jinx smiled. "Com'on Gizmo. It'll be like the old days! You, me... we just need Mammoth and it would be back to normal. Please,"[/b] she purred. Maybe it was the fatigue talking, but that didn't matter. She knew for a fact that she could talk Gizmo into doing anything for her.
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[Gizmo]

Good thing he was used to being a funsized punching bag! Handling heroes and occasionally being on the receiving ends of their attacks made him a study little guy! Normally someone would have a concision BUT NOT GIZMO! Woah...kinda trippy...Slade was staring at him, a black puff ball was pissed off and...talking about something? Why did that cat of Jinx's sound like a boy? Seriously...wasn't Lucky a girl? Oh right, Slade was there and HE was the one talking....cruuuuud!

That made things a little more messed up than the cat magically having a masculine voice! The midget's head was spinning right round baby right round on the inside but he swam through his own confusion figuring that the guy who hired him BEFORE Brother Blood knew about his sleeping issues. Wasn't his fault all that was really left to do in this stinking city was to help it! Then again...most of the zombies were going away....so maybe he could finally go back to his usual tormenting gig? Huh that sounded pretty good....he liked that idea a lot! Erp...and apparently his hex casting goddess pal just had to point out how he got there a few minutes too late. GO FIGURE...Slade was all about being prompt.

Plus it looked like he just helped his used to be boss by showing up here. Probably planned that, seemed like everything that happened involving him was according to plan. Screw up on a mission? ACCORDING TO PLAN! Do good on a mission? HEY WHATTAYA KNOW?! ACCORDING TO PLAN!

Crash in through a window then into a wall? OH WHY THE CRAZY HAIRBALL NOT! ACCORDING TO PLAN! Grumpy little incoherent grumbles of pseudo curse words out of his childish insult dictionary stumbled out of his mouth as he rubbed his head feeling like his eyes should be replaced by a pair of swirls. Then SHA BAM he was flipped right side up with the help of Slade! He was kinda thankful that his butt wasn't up in the air and all, but he wasn't the sort to spam people with appreciation and thank yous. Instead, he let out a little huffy grunt while dusting himself off and giving Mr. I-know-what-you-do-cause-I'm-a-pro-stalker-who-knows-all his attention.

Ah ha....just as he was waiting for...the job proposition! Kinda saw that coming with the way he was requested to and finished fixing up his beaten up android discovery earlier. Part of his worn out brain wanted to say NO WAY I WANNA DO MY OWN THING but Jinx who he just only reunited with recently wanted to join Team Slade all over again rather than try getting the HIVE FIVE back together. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to try bringing that piece of crud team back...it didn't go well last time. It even seemed to push Jinx into being a good guy....plus there was something about her tone. ...and Slade's intimidating demeanor. Would be nice to go back to the old days....kinda scary but nice at the same time. Strange but hey, he was far out of the norm.

Welp, the combo of Slade's creepiness and Jinx's...ahem...cuteness were pretty much making him unable to resist such a fantastic offer so he squawked out "Fine, fine! I'll rejoin your family or whatever ya wanna call it. I'm getting sicka working for the city anyway...freaking pit sniffers." Grumpy and a little sleep deprived, mostly from his recent venture with the android fixing task, he reached up to his goggles putting them up on his head. Closing his eyes before rubbing them with his palms for a moment, he reopened them looking up at the pink princess of misfortune then to mister BACK FROM THE DEAD. "So..uh...what's our job this time, Slade? The stupid Titans haven't been around for a while now so squashing them is outta the question unless you know where those losers are hiding."

Not like he was being disrespectful! The boy usually always talked like that and it's not like Slade was ramming threats down his throat right now, plus how was he supposed to know what they needed to do if he didn't ask! Exactly....he had to ask.

[slade]

Slade's arm waved dismissively though the air. An air of boredom in his voice.

"The Titans. Oh Gizmo they are far and away the bottom of my priority list right now. There is no time for those machinations nor mine to destroy that city. I have bigger fish to fry and these fish are huge."

Walking to the hole in the wall that Gizmo left behind he absent mindedly pinched out a bit of flaming insulation between his fingers. Truth was he would love to resume his fun with the Titans, the machinations were never boring and he was still sure there must be some way to save Robin but... needs must when the devil drives.

"There is something on the horizon. A threat from multiple fronts. I need people who are trustworthy to be on my side. People with powers that can be trained up to snuff. While you and Jinx still have a ways to go you have... potential. I know I could collect other... more experience individuals but their treachery would be inevitable would it not? While in certain matters... I can trust both of you not to be... fatally foolish."

With that Slade's head suddenly turned back to Gizmo his eye almost burning with intensity though his posture was most relaxed.

"That said Gizmo... care to tell me on your progress with that project I left you. I trust you completed it otherwise you would not be here. I would hate to think you abandoned a woman in need. It would... disappoint me thoroughly. I dislike disappointment."

[diamond]

"Fine, fine! I'll rejoin your family or whatever ya wanna call it. I'm getting sicka working for the city anyway...freaking pit sniffers."

The second she heard him say that he would join, she grinned. She really didn't want to be alone with Slade. She was surprised that she even decided to go with Slade again. Then again, it would be better than trying to start up the old H.I.V.E Five. God, that had been a mistake. Or at least she would keep telling herself that. If it hadn't been for that little group, she doubted that she would have ever went to the side of... those goody toe shoes brats! She didn't speak, but in her mind, she was yelling with joy. This was probably the best thing that had happened in a while. Maybe her luck was changing.

"The Titans. Oh Gizmo they are far and away the bottom of my priority list right now. There is no time for those machinations nor mine to destroy that city. I have bigger fish to fry and these fish are huge."

Jinx gave Slade a curious look. "Bigger fish? Who are these bigger fish?" she asked. She probably shouldn't have asked, should have waited for him to just explain, but she really didn't feel like waiting. She was curious! And, well. She was happy she wasn't a cat at this moment because she knew just what happened to the cat that got curious.

"There is something on the horizon. A threat from multiple fronts. I need people who are trustworthy to be on my side. People with powers that can be trained up to snuff. While you and Jinx still have a ways to go you have... potential. I know I could collect other... more experience individuals but their treachery would be inevitable would it not? While in certain matters... I can trust both of you not to be... fatally foolish."

He could trust her? Someone still trusted her. That made her brighten up a bit, to be honest. After all the stuff she had been through, she hadn't been just that anyone trusted her anymore. Well, she knew (or at least hoped) that Giz trusted her. At least he better trust her! She put on that humilating costume for him to prove how serious she had been about joining him again. She was serious about everything it seemed. And liked it that way... kind of.

[Gizmo]

What the crud? Did hell freeze over? Slade stopped giving two craps about the Titans and there were BIGGER fish to fry?! Then again there were always others emerging and taking up the role of annoying snot munchers. Guuuuh how much he HATED that! Really, there weren't enough words in his pseudo swears dictionary to describe his hate and annoyance toward meddling meddlers getting in the way! Or just plain ol' stupid people, he hated those with a passion too. Before he could go on and ask about what in the world Slade was talking about EXACTLY, it seemed like Jinx got to it first after the additional explaining their new....well leader returning to lead them again.

Part of him was pretty pissed off that he had the nerve to put down both him AND Jinx saying they had a long way to go even if he said they had potential! Keeping an eye on him just to make sure that he didn't try attacking him or his friend, he was suddenly stricken and overwhelmed with fear. A huge wiggled frown crossed his lips while he stared at the STILL...maybe even MORE intimidating guy who hired the original HIVE trio to `deliver a message to the Titans`. Uncertainly narrowing his eyes looking a little more concerned and a biiiiiiit freaked out. Something was very different about him and quite frankly...Gizmo didn't like it. Even though Slade was actually...dare he think it...NICER than Brother Blood, there was something much darker. It wasn't easy to put his finger on it and he couldn't figure it out even though he was incredibly intelligent...but it probably had something to do with the way he may or may not have `faked his own death`.

Gulping a bit, he heard yet another question asking about that android thing he dropped off that seemed to have oddly blue hair. The midget genius was tempted to make the lady android's hair green or at least aquamarine...but scarily strict orders demanded that all he did was restore her to her former glory. ...oh and he felt the need to throw in a threat too...he turned into a bit more of a jerk than he remembered! Oh well...he wasn't going to hold it against him....maybe if he was suicidal or something but you know...Gizmo did like living. Almost timidly...while trying to force a sense of his usual snotty brattyness in his tone, he answered the given inquiry quickly, "U-uh...y-yeah I did that before comin' over h-here....errrr....sh-she was talkin' somethin' about having t-to get back to w-work on c-cures and stuff...B-BUT SHE'S STILL THERE! I SWEAR!"

Frantically flailing his little arms up and down, he blurted out in addition...not meaning to be rude with his sudden and rather panicked voice raising.... "I MADE SURE TO SECURE HER! TOTALLY UNHARMED AND EVERYTHING I PROMISE!" Flailing a couple times more for good measure, he then acquired this blank look of WTF as it dawned on him that he PROBABLY prolonged the response about what they were going to deal with... "Uh...anywaaaay.....who ARE these bigger fish, do ya know yet or do we haveta find out more details?" Bringing up his gloved hand to scratch the back of his head, he stared up and wondered how much Slade did or didn't know. Not like he was trying to insult him, just trying to find out the details of a mission.

Gizmo was the sort who liked trying to exhaust options to figure out which route was the best for the task at hand and asking was the best way to get there faster. It was SUUUUUCH a waste of time to run into a mission blindly!