Here's the next chapter! Sorry I couldn't meet the deadline (again). This time it was that dang snowstorm that knocked out my power. But don't worry! It came back on! So now I can publish the new chapter. After this chapter, the plot starts to speed up. There will be a lot of character focus, plot focus, and RobRae development! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

S.T.A.R.R. Labs

Part 1

Aqualad's body was tense as they approached the large building. While the mission appeared to be a simple, the uneasy feeling in his stomach refused to disappear. Something was going to go wrong on this mission. He could feel it. Without meaning to, he glanced at Robin, who was strutting towards the building without any hesitation. If anything, he walked with determination. Once they finally reached the back of the building, the two teams' started to sneak in.

Batman towered above the teams as though he was attempting to regain a sense of authority after Robin blatantly disrespected them. It was working. All of the team members, except for Robin and Rob, took a step back and gulped. Even Rob appeared to be a little uneasy at his mentor's behavior.

"Your mission," he stated harshly, "is to sneak into S.T.A.R.R. Labs in Gotham City. Recently the administration has been acting suspicious. Their reports on their spending have not been accurate with what they are studying. We believe they are hiding something, and it is your job to go inside, see what they are doing, and report it back to the League. Remember that this is a covert mission. Do not take any action. Do you understand?"

That question as clearly directed at Robin, and he smirked in response, "Yes. I understand."

Aqualad highly doubted he understood. Still, as the team leader, it was Aqualad's job to ensure that they stuck to Batman's commands regardless of Robin's own personal feelings on the matter. As the two teams formed a circle, Aqualad immediately started giving out orders, "Alright," he formed a plan in his head. "We need to gather information on what they are researching. Rob, can you gather any blueprints on the building? Try to find out where any important files would be kept?"

"That would be with the lead scientist," Cyborg blurted out, and the teams turned to him. He tightly pressed his lips together and inhaled deeply through his nose before continuing, "All S.T.A.R.R. Labs have one scientist in charge of the entire researching process. They usually deal with the majority of the paperwork, so we should look in their office."

Beast boy beamed, "Cool! How did you know that? Did you used to work at S.T.A.R.R. Labs or something like that?"

Cyborg nodded, his face grim, "Something like that…"

It was quiet for a moment, but Aqualad quickly broke the silence, "Alright. We should sneak in through the ventilation system—"

"No," Robin interrupted. "If I'm right about Slade, then he probably has the ventilation system monitored with motion detectors at the very least. We'll probably need to hack in first before we can sneak in. Cyborg, do you think you can do that?"

"I think so," he nodded. "I should be able to use the Power line Broadband to hack in."

"Do it." Robin commanded, and Cyborg immediately started tapping on the computer system on his arm. Robin turned to the rest of the group. "Beast boy, you're going to morph into a small animal to explore the lab. M'gann, I want you to use camouflage to look around the lab. Make sure you're undetected."

M'gann shifted uncomfortably at being ordered by someone who was not her team leader. Still she nodded her head in agreement.

Robin turned to the rest of the team, "As for you guys, we should split up in the ventilation system, so we can cover more ground. Rob, hack into the system and get the blueprints for the building."

Rob smirked and started tapping away on the technology on his arm. A blue hologram appeared, and he started eagerly typing away on the fake screen. Multiple smirking Rob's with green check mark's appeared, and once the screen was covered in them, it transformed into three-dimensional blueprints. Robin immediately started pointing to the ventilation systems, "Aqualad, Wally, and I will take the first floor and try to find head scientist's office. Cyborg and Rob, you guys look around at what S.T.A.R.R. Lab's is researching. This specific lab is a weapons division, so anything that doesn't fit that category should be marked as suspicious. Raven, Starfire, and Artemis will guard outside of the building. The rendezvous point will be here. Does everyone understand?"

Both teams nodded, and Robin smirked, "Then let's go."

This whole "connect each other's minds thing" was quite startling to Beast boy. All of a sudden he went from just hearing his own thoughts to every team member's. M'gann had some weird superpower thing that linked their minds together. It reminded him of Raven's powers somewhat although she only used that method once to bring Robin back from his chemically induced madness. He shuddered at the thought.

BB? You okay? Cyborg asked in his head.

Yeah, this mind thing is just weird, he answered back.

Keep your mind on the mission! Robin barked the order. Beast boy rolled his eyes and glanced around the lab. He was in the form of a fly, so most of the scientists did not notice his presence. M'gann was flying with him, but no one could see her either due to her powers.

So far, it did not seem like the scientists were doing anything suspicious. They were mostly working on weapons, which this branch of S.T.A.R.R. Labs was supposed to be working on. He glanced over the many materials, wondering why the League decided to send them here until…

Wait! Beast boy, look over to your left!

Beast boy's eyebrows furrowed at Robin's command but did as he was told. He sharply flew over to his left and lingered over the materials. Suddenly he heard three sharp gasps inside of his head. Rob, Robin, and Cyborg seemed pretty upset by the weapon, but Beast boy had no clue as to why.

Those aren't weapons, Rob exclaimed. Those are parts!

Parts? Artemis questioned.

Robin, Cyborg whispered, those match…

I know. Robin's voice was grave.

Beast boy groaned. I don't know tech, guys! What's going on?

Yeah, fill us in! Wally agreed.

Guys! M'gann's sharp voice cut in. Something's wrong. A man's walking around, but he doesn't look like he belongs here. He's talking to the scientists, and I think they're afraid of him.

An image flashed into all of their minds, and Beast boy nearly gagged. The man was tall with broad shoulders. His arms muscles were prominent due to the outfit he was wearing, which was all black and gray. What stuck out the most to Beast boy was the mask he was wearing. It was half orange and half black, covering one eye completely. Robin was right.

It was Slade.

Even though he predicted it, he still couldn't help the shock that momentarily stunned him. Slade was here, and it looked as though he was planning something big. Clenching his fists, Robin tried to calm himself down and quell the rising anger in his chest. His heart was thudding in his ears, and his breaths were sharp. It seemed that no matter what he could never escape Slade.

We have to report this to the League, Aqualad's voice rang in his head.

No! Robin sharply retorted. We report this to the League and we lose any chance at figuring out what he's up to.

Batman said— Aqualad tried to argue.

My team isn't under Batman. Robin spat. M'gann, follow Slade.

A-alright.

Robin closed his eyes and watched through M'gann's perspective how Slade walked around the lab like he owned the place. Whenever he looked directly at a scientist, they immediately looked away with clear fear in their eyes. Finally Slade approached what appeared to be a heavily guarded door. He entered a couple passcodes before the doors opened. He disappeared inside, and M'gann promptly followed him. The inside of the room made Robin clench his fists.

That's what the parts were for.

On a large table connected with various wires, there was a mechanical man with an identical orange and black mask. A Sladebot. It was incomplete, and there was a very large difference between what was lying on that table and what Robin and his team had to face. That meant this was a new territory for Slade. Perhaps this was where he learned how to make the Sladebots?

Robin? M'gann interrupted his thoughts. What should I do?

We need to report this to the League, Aqualad argued.

Robin ignored him. Change of plans. M'gann, create a distraction or something that will get everyone out of that room. Once it's evacuated, let Cyborg and Beast boy in. Cyborg, do you think you can analyze the robot?

If it's anything like the past Sladebots, I should be able to, he replied without hesitation.

What about me? Rob asked. I can help with the robot too.

No, Robin shook his head. You need to go to the main security room and find any video footage with Slade in it. Also hack the files and try to see if he uploaded anything on this project. Wally, go with him as backup.

Got it.

M'gann, Starfire, and Raven, find out why the scientists are working for Slade. If anything happens, protect them. I doubt they're working out of their own free will. Everyone else, stay in the events and keep your eyes open. If anyone needs help, help them.

Aqualad frowned. What will you do?

There was no response. Almost like he disappeared.

Aw man, I hate it when he does that! Wally whined in his head.

Either way, follow orders, Cyborg demanded. This might get ugly real fast.

Aqualad pinched the bridge of his nose. What happened to following Batman's orders? He sighed and squatted in a fighting position, waiting for anything to happen. It was too late to try and convince the two teams otherwise, so he might as well follow orders to ensure he wouldn't jeopardize the mission. He just hoped Robin knew what he was doing.

After giving out the orders, Robin silently hopped out of the vents. He immediately blended in with the darkness, keeping his eyes focused on the door. He was slightly relieved that he was wearing dark civvies today otherwise he would have stuck out. When the large door opened and Slade walked out, Robin gritted his teeth together. Whatever distraction M'gann created, it worked. Slade spoke a few more words to the scientists, who appeared significantly less afraid of him than the others did. Robin would have to look into that later.

Slade soon parted with the group, and Robin immediately followed him. Eventually Slade entered an isolated room. It was most likely the lead scientists' office that Cyborg informed them about earlier. Robin crouched down and waited a couple minutes until Slade walked out again. Once he was out of sight, Robin quickly dashed to the door and started picking at the lock. It was relatively easy to get inside, but Robin doubted Slade didn't put security measures on the door. It would only be a matter of time before Slade showed up, so he would need to act quickly.

Rushing into the room, he stared going through the filing cabinets, looking for anything significant. Much of the papers were of the weapons S.T.A.R.R. Labs made previously and were of no use to him. His eyes roamed the papers until a couple in particular stood out.

It was Wintergreen's handwriting.

He quickly grabbed the files and promptly shut the filing cabinet. Glancing at the number of papers in his head, he quickly concluded that there was a high probability that there were more files scattered around the office. He was about to explore more of the room when he heard the door opening. Whirling around, his entire body tensed when his eyes lay on the black and orange mask. Slade was there.

And by the looks of it, he was not happy.

I hope you all liked the chapter! The next one will have a RobRae moment to make up for the lack of them in this chapter. The plot starts to speed up here! Once again, thanks for reading, and let me know what you thought of it!

For the next chapter: Robin and Slade are face-to-face once again! Only this time Slade does not know Robin. The rest of the teams try to complete their mission, and Raven tries to save Robin.