Robin woke up with a smile on his face. He moved his head off of the comfy headrest and looked out of the Bioship's window to see the smooth grass of the English countryside. He didn't like to sleep on the way to a mission, but given that they were crossing the entire Atlantic ocean he didn't mind. Besides, he and the rest of the Team had pulled an all-nighter stopping Vandal Savage from brainwashing the Justice League just three days ago. He smiled as he remembered the battle on the Watchtower. At the Team had proven themselves, proven that they weren't just kids who needed their mentors to coddle them.
M'gann said, "Look everyone, we're almost here!"
A gaudy modern mansion poked out from behind a hill. Sun gleamed off the many glass windows and illuminated a strange coloration of red and blue bricks. This was the home of their target, an eccentric fashion designer named Neil Richards, known in magazines as Mad Mod. Scotland Yard had suspected that he had been communicating with Vandal Savage, but could not do anything as Savage's crimes were outside their jurisdiction. They had contacted the Justice League, who sent the Team on a reconnaissance mission.
"How much do you think that mansion cost?" asked Rocket.
Artemis answered, "I don't know, but if it cost more than twelve cents he didn't get his money's worth. That place redefines what it means to be an eyesore."
Kid Flash said, "Between this guy and Luthor, it makes you wonder what all the other reclusive billionaires do with their time."
He looked at Robin and said, "I'm kind of suspicious of Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne."
Robin coughed loudly.
Zatanna chuckled. "I don't know. I think Bruce Wayne is kind of dreamy."
Robin coughed even louder this time. Desperate to change the subject, he activated a holographic image of the mansion.
"What's our entrance point?"
Aqualad said, "Satellite imaging of the mansion suggest the best approach would be to land on the roof, and enter through a porch on the top of the house. From there we can enter into Richard's quarters and look through his files. Thermal imaging shows that neither he nor anybody else is home. Unfortunately, we were unable to get detailed schematics of the house."
Robin thought that was a bit strange. Surely the Justice Leagues advanced imaging system would be able to map out the mansion, despite the questionable architectural choices.
The Bioship hovered over the house as the heroes dropped onto the roof one at a time. As they crawled along the roof towards the porch, Robin noticed how close Kid Flash and Artemis were keeping to each other. In the last few days the two had been inseparable, eating together, standing near each other in briefings, and sitting next to each other on the Bioship. Clearly their kiss on the Watchtower wasn't a spur of the moment decision, and the two really felt strongly about each other.
As Robin thought about this, he looked at Zatanna, who was gliding across the roof. She caught him completely off guard when she kissed him, and now he couldn't think about her without getting a strange feeling in his stomach. He wasn't sure if he wanted to pursue a relationship with her or not. If Catwoman had taught him one thing, it was that relationships with other costumed fighter could get messy. Besides, he was so busy with Batman, and she still had her complex situation with her father. On the other hand, she was so pretty, and funny, and kind, and she always had something clever to say...
Robin felt an entirely different feeling in his stomach as they entered the house. The room had plastic wrapped furniture, none of which matched each other or really much of anything. The floor had a pattern of black and white squares that played tricks on the eyes. Mannequins, adorned with Neil Richard's outfits, littered the room.
A thickly accented voice yelled, "Oy! Just what do you brats think you're doing here!"
In walked an impossibly thin man wearing a shirt with a Union Jack pattern. He had white pants, candy red hair, and a white ascot around his neck. In his hands he he twirled a cane with a red gemstone at the top. He glared at the Team through thin, square glasses.
"You can't just barge into people's houses uninvited like the Spanish Inquisition! Who are you all supposed to be, anyway?"
Superboy stepped forward and said, "We're people you don't want to mess with."
The man answered, "Is that so? You look like a bunch of spoiled kids who think they're all grown up when they're not. The Light warned me about you lot. No respect for your betters."
Rocket said, "Listen up, Disco Dan. Come quietly before we have to hurt you."
The man laughed, baring yellow crooked teeth that clashed with his otherwise meticulously groomed appearance. "You think that just because you stopped an immortal caveman and a Lord of Chaos you have what it takes to tango with Mad Mod?"
Robin said, "Beating overconfident jerks that refer to themselves in the third person is our specialty."
Mad Mod smiled and said, "Alright, my little duckies. I'll come with you. Just let me use my inhaler."
The bony man squirted a puff from the inhaler in his mouth and laughed.
Robin asked, "You have asthma or something?"
Mad Mod replied, "No, that's just for the gas."
Robin's eyes narrowed behind his domino mask. "What gas?"
Mad Mod said, "Why, the knockout gas I've been pumping into this room since I walked in. I'm gonna teach you all a lesson in manners."
Kid Flash was the first to drop. His accelerated metabolism must have reacted with the gas fastest. One by one, each teen fell to the floor and into unconsciousness. Robin fumbled into his utility belt and pulled out a gas mask. It felt like it weighed a thousand pounds in his hands. His eyes fluttered open and shut. He dropped onto his knees and didn't even notice as the mask slipped out of his hands. He looked up as Mad Mod sauntered towards him, his cane spinning like a fan blade.
Mad Mod whispered,"Nighty night, my little duckies!"
Robin reached out his arm in a futile gesture, struggling to stay awake. His whole body felt like it was made of lead. The world faded out into black.