Far Back In Time

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Above a vast, dark blue ocean, a flash of light appeared and then quickly disappeared, revealing three objects falling from the light blue sky, all of different sizes. Robin crashed through the heavy water, causing a big splash. The time machine soon followed, a barrier of bubbles forming around it as it slowly sank beneath the surface. Rolling over as fast as the water would allow, Robin held his hands over his mouth, thick bubbles floating out. Looking up, he began to kick his legs, heading for the surface. Once he broke through, he gulped in air, his hair falling around his face. Water fell heavily down his face and into his mouth. He regained his breath and then used his arms and legs to turn around a full three-sixty, trying to figure out where the machine had taken him. There was no land in sight. He then remembered about Slade. There was no sign of him either.

"Crap," Robin muttered. With his cape weighing him down, he hastily pulled it over his head, rolled it into a tight ball, and stuffed it into his cargo shorts pocket. Reaching into his belt, he took out his communicator, flipped open the slightly moist lid, and held the Talk button. "Titans, do you read me?" He took his finger off the button. Static came back and nothing more. He tried again. "Titans, answer me!" Again there was nothing but static. Sighing, Robin snapped the lid shut and put it away. He looked around again, hoping to see Slade this time. He was all alone. "Ugh, when I find you-"

Robin jumped when he heard something surface behind him. Swimming around, he almost came face-to-face with Slade, who had water falling out of the slits in his mask. It glinted in the sunlight.

"Well, this is unfortunate," he said, folding his arms over his chest.

Robin glared at him. "Where did you send us?"

Slade snorted. "The better question is what time are we in."

Robin threw his arms up in the air. "You're the one who set it!"

Droplets of water landed on Slade's mask when his arms fell back into the ocean, creating a splash.

"Yes, well, an annoying pest changed it to go back even further," the villain said. "Honestly, Robin, I always knew that you being a hero was a big mistake on your part."

Robin growled at him. "You're the one who broke into that facility!"

"If you hadn't interfered, none of this would have happened."

While Slade and Robin continued blaming each other back and forth on whose fault it really was, a dark figure under the water's surface was approaching them slowly. Robin was about to make his next retort when he felt something slimy brush against his bare leg. He jumped, causing the water to ripple.

"What was that?"

"I-What was what?" Robin's eyes suddenly widened. Slade blinked in confusion. "What is it?"

"Y-You-that-I-wh-what-"

Realizing the teen was looking directly behind him, Slade slowly looked over his shoulder, coming face-to-face with an animal that looked like a cross between a reptile, shark, and a whale. It opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth and letting off a loud screech. Jumping up, it dove towards Slade, who spun around and grabbed both its jaws with his hands. Robin was sent harshly back by small waves when they went under the surface. Whipping out a small breathing device from his belt, he forced it into his mouth. He dived the best he could after Slade and the strange creature, kicking his legs as hard as he could.

Slade dug his feet into the creature's neck, pushing and pulling its jaws apart. It attempted to snap them shut, wanting to take a chunk out of the man at the same time. Finally reaching them, Robin landed on its back, took out his staff, and whacked it in the head. After a few hits, the creature became angry. It jerked its head to the left, forcing Slade to follow. He quickly let go of its jaws and then swam back. The creature thrashed its slick, slender body around, trying to buck Robin off. Screeching again when that failed, the creature swam further down, making its way towards small, island-like rock formations that littered the sea floor. The time machine had landed on a flat surfaced one, bubbles coming from it. As the swimming, animal-like thing got closer, it turned forty-five degrees and then rolled sideways. Robin's legs slipped on the creature's slippery side and he fell off, almost crashing into the machine as he went. The heel of his foot touched the side as he regained some balance. As the creature swam away and then turned back, Robin lifted his legs, placed his feet on top of the time machine, and then pushed off as hard as he could. The creature opened its mouth seconds after once it came back. It snapped its jaws down, its fangs sinking into the control panel. Robin continued his way back for the surface right when the machine short-circuited and electrocuted the monster. The machine then exploded. The force of the blast sent Robin up faster than he was comfortable with, spinning him wildly as he went.

Regaining his footing—so to speak—Robin looked down and saw blood floating around the rocks. The creature's lower jaw had been torn off by the blast, chunks of its flesh floating beneath its chest and neck. It was crying out in pain, its mouth now mangled and disfigured. Not wanting to see the gruesome sight any longer than he already had, Robin turned and made his way back towards the surface, Slade nowhere to be found.