"Alarm's disabled, Stone. We can get in and out without tripping anything." Stone looked at Gizmo and nodded to him. Stone turned back to his other teammates, breathing deeply. Stone and his team were standing on the top of a small ware house. Across the street was their target, another warehouse filled with technology from other countries. It had just arrived and would only be stored there for two more days. But as Stone looked at the warehouse, he felt uneasy. He didn't know why, but for some reason he couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap. And as he starred at the warehouse, he suddenly realized why. There are no guards, no cameras, not even a single patrol man. If this technology stored in there is so advanced and valuable, why is there no security?
Stone turned back to his team and starred at them. Gizmo, short and anxious, hovering in mid air on his jet pack. Mammoth, huge and calm, his muscular body relaxed and at ease. And Jinx, beautiful and excited, her face flushed with excitement at their first mission in over a month. As Stone starred at his team, his friends, he knew that they would follow his decisions and orders no matter what they were. He turned back to the warehouse, drew a deep breath and made his decision. "Alright guys, I know we need to get in there to get the tech, but I just want to let you know that this may be a trap. That place is filled with incredibly valuable tech, but there is almost no security." The others looked at each other and smiled.
"So?" Mammoth asked with a fierce grin. "Anyone setting a trap for us is going to have one hell of a surprise when we beat them." Gizmo nodded and laughed. Jinx smiled and said. "We know that this could be a trap Stone, but that's what makes this so exciting." Stone grinned and shook his head. I should have known they would have said that. Alright, if that's their answer, lets do this. "Team Six, go!" Stone said, and ran and leaped off the building, his strong legs catapulting him through the air and over the street. He landed behind the fence and rolled forward, coming up on his feet only a few yards from the warehouse wall. Mammoth and Jinx landed on either side of him and gizmo floated down next to the wall and pulled out a device and pressed a few buttons. Seconds later a section of the wall disappeared and Stone strode forward into the warehouse.
The warehouse was dark and quite, as expected, but Stone felt his unease increase. "Gizmo, find what we came for." Gizmo nodded and began looking at his many devices. Seconds later he floated off deeper into the warehouse, and the others followed. After a few minutes they came to the center of the ware house and stopped. A large portion of the center had been cleared, leaving a large empty space. In the center was a crate, and from Gizmo's excited yell, Stone knew this was the one they needed. This is wrong. Something is definitely going on. "Gizmo, Mammoth, grab whats in side. Were getting out of hear." But as they reached the crate, bright lights all over the warehouse suddenly flashed on, blinding Stone. As his vision returned, Stone slowly looked up, already knowing who was there. Standing on the overhead balconies and walk ways were the Teen Titans. "Go figure." He muttered to himself.
Robin jumped off the balcony and landed a few yards from stone, slowly standing up. Beast Boy also jumped down while Raven and Star Fire slowly flew down. All four of the Titans starred at Stone, Robin cold and furious, Beast Boy and Raven resigned, and Star sad. But all of them looked ready to fight. Stone looked at them and suddenly realized he was holding his breath. He released his breath and glanced at his team. All three of them were beside him and ready to fight. Stone looked back to Robin and took a step forward, as did Robin. The two of them starred at each other coldly, neither letting their emotions show on their faces.
"It's been a while, Stone." Robin spoke the name with disgust. "I thought the Hive might be interested in what was stored here, but I never thought you would walk so easily into our trap." Stone only shook his head. "Robin, your as predictable as ever. You would never ambush us, you always have to go with the theatrics and announce your presence. Unlike you, I don't!" And with that Stone suddenly bolted forward and closed the gap between him and Robin with blinding speed. And before Robin could react Stone spun around and lashed out with his leg, his steel boot slamming into Robin's chest and sending him flying. As Robin smashed into a pile of crates with a loud crash, Stone smiled and yelled. "That's for all those times you lied to my face, you piece of shit!" The other three Titans starred at him in stunned amazement. No one ever got the drop on Robin!
Stone looked at them and said calmly. "You have two choices, Titans. You can either walk away, and we leave in peace. No one gets hurt. Or you can try to fight us and we are forced to defeat you before leaving. I don't want to have to hurt you, but if you try to stop me in any way, or try to harm my teammates in anyway, I won't hold back." The Titans looked back at Robin who was getting to his feet then back to Stone, uncertainty in their eyes. Robin looked and Stone furiously, his face contorted in age. He jumped to his feet yelled in rage. "Titans. GO!" Star, Raven and Best Boy charged forward without hesitation, charging and Team 6.
Shaking his head sadly, Stone yelled. "Team 6, NOW!" And with that Team 6 charged forward as well, meeting the Titan's head on. Seconds later the warehouse was filled with explosions, screams and all the other many sounds of battle. Stone saw Robin heading straight forward and decided to meet him head on. As the two of them fought back and forth, Stone couldn't stop himself from yelling at Robin, trying to make the boy understand him. "Robin, ROBIN! Stop this, you can't win! The Titans can't win! You're going to get them all killed." Robin only sneered and leaped back, landing easily on his feet.
"That's what you think, traitor. We'll never loose to the likes of you." And with that he drew his metal staff and attacked Stone with renewed furry. As Stone blocked and dodged, he noticed that Robin's attacks were wild and reckless. He's giving in to his rage! He's looking his discipline to! What is going on? Cyborgdidn't wait to finds out to find out. With a small he he dodged to side and grabbed Robin's arm as he swung wildly at Stone. With s slight twist of his wrists, Stone pushed Robin off balance. His other fist darted forward and grabbed Robin by the throat. With a mighty heave he lifted Robin high above his head and slammed down into the ground as hard as he could. Robin screamed as he slammed into the ground, the crunching of his bones breaking echoed throughout the warehouse. Stone calmly stood up and turned around.
But as he turned away, Robin clambered to his feet, his left hanging loosing by his side. Robin grasped his staff in his right hand and hopped forward and swung the staff down on the back of Stone's head with all the strength he could muster from his bruised and broken body. The metal staff struck Stone's head with a metallic thunk. Robin grinned in triumph, until Stone calmly turned around and starred at him. As Stone glared at him, Robin's grin of triumph quickly became a snarl. Roaring like a beast he drew something from his belt and charged forward, striking Stone in the stomach. Stone felt the blow but didn't move or let it show. He calmly reached down and grabbed Robin with both arms and threw him up into the air once more, holding the smaller boy over his head once more. With another grunt, he dropped to one knee, combining the falls momentum and his incredible strength to slam Robin down onto that knee with tremendous force.
Robin's entire body went rigid and his eyes rolled back into his head, his face frozen in pain. A moment later his eyes closed and his face relaxed as he limply rolled of Stone's knee and onto the floor.
Stone rose and looked down at Robin's limp body, unable to understand what had happened to Robin. Stone had seen Robin fight a thousand times, and no matter what the situation or villain, he had never lost his discipline, had never given and fought out of rage or hatred, not even against Slade, his mortal enemy. What happened to you, Robin? What has happened to the young and disciplined leader who earned my respect and admiration from his cool and level headed leadership?Was that all a lie to? Is this your real face, you're real nature?
"ROBIN!" a voice screamed from behind Stone. He whirled around with blinding speed and threw out his fist, lashing out at the glowing blur speeding towards him. He stopped the punch only inches from Star Fire's face. The young young girl froze in mid flight, starring at him in shock. Stone looked at her face, and saw he look fearfully at Robin lying on the floor. Stone pulled his fist back and said quietly. "Grab Robin and get the others out of hear. You are no longer a mach for us. Robin knew that, knew that I would have trained my team to beat you guys, but the fool chose to fight anyway, putting all of you at risk, just to salvage his damaged ego. I know you saw it as well. That he wasn't himself when he fought me. Go home and ask you're self what has happened to Robin. Ask you're self why you follow him. And ask you're self why he deceived me and lied to my face every day for six months."
Star Fire looked at him in shock, and Stone smiled sadly. "Oh, so he never told you why I left the Teen Titans? He lief to my face every day for six months, deceiving me and acting like my friend. And when I confronted him on it, he tried to lie and wiggle out of it. Star, I warn you hear and now, the Robin we all loved and admired is either gone, or more likely never existed. Now get the others out of hear before you all end up like him." Stone turned away from her and walked away. As he did he heard a weak chuckling. Stone turned back to Robin who was still lying on the floor, laughing weakly. "Fool! You should have knocked Star Fire out when you had the chance. Star, teach this traitor the lesson he deserves! Blast his ass into next week!" Robin starred at Stone, expecting his orders to be followed. But Star was looking at him in horror.
"He should have knocked me out?" She asked weekly, not believing he had just said them. Stone growled and pounced, land next to Robin. He dropped to his knee and rabbit punched the weakened boy in the face. A second later Robin was out cold and would not be waking up for some time. Stone stood and looked at Star. "See what I mean, Star?" Star looked from Robin to Stone, he face confused. Stone stepped back and said calmly. "Star, get the others out of hear. With Robin gone, you guys don't have a chance. If you don't leave now, the rest of you will end up like him. Go, get the others safely back to Titan Tower."
Star looked at him and nodded, her mind made up. She flew down and picked up Robin. As she flew back up into the air she yelled. "My friends, please, we must leave now." Raven and Beast Boy looked up from their duels and nodded. Raven flew towards Star, Beast Boy flying by her side as a large bird. As the two of them flew past Stone, they both looked at him. He looked up at them and whispered so only they would hear. "Glad to see you didn't get hurt. When you get back, talk to Star before Robin wakes up. There has something you should hear, something Robin doesn't want you to hear, including why I left the Titans." The two of them stared at him in shock for a moment, and then glanced ta each other and were gone.
Stone watched them fly through a window and off into the sky. As he starred after them he shook his head and turned around to find Jinx by his side. She looked at him in concern. "You alright, Stone?" Stone smiled and leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. "I am now." He said with a grin. "Come on, we got a mission to complete." Jinx smiled in relief and walked after him toward Mammoth and Gizmo who were busy grabbing the crate they had come for.
Minutes later they had what they had come for and left the warehouse, the four of them smiling and laughing, their spirits high from their victory. But as they raced off to their base, Stone couldn't help but to wonder what was going on with Robin, and what would happen to the rest of the Titans.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE REVIEW! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I know it was short, but this chapter set the stage for the next couple of chapters, and a few surprises along the way. Next time, BIG SURPRISE! REALLY BIG SURPRISE! Care to guess:)?