Three Strikes: Chapter I
Red flashed through the tower, and in five different locations, five teens jumped up and ran for the garage. One to a motor cycle, two into a car, and two flying above. Responding to yet another crisis in downtown Jump.
"What is it this time, Robin?" The mechanical man asked over the radio to the Titan leader, riding alongside.
"Robbery, city bank." He responded, and glanced down from the traffic and onto his positioning window. Not that he needed to know the name of the street they were going to; he knew this city better then the back of his hand now.
"Taking the ally shortcut, Cy- meet you there." Robin said, and sped up around the blue car, before he glanced up. "Raven! Starfire!" The two girls glanced down, and as Robin indicated, they followed from above. After cutting through the alleyway littered by trash and down a short stretch of the street, they arrived at the bank.
A police line had not yet been formed; but in the distance, Robin could hear the cutting sound of sirens. He grinned slightly to himself; The response time of the Tower was quicker then that of the well trained Jump City Police. He skidded his bike to a halt next to the building, and Starfire and Raven landed next to him as he removed his helmet.
"There's a back way in," Robin said quickly, nodding towards the back of the building. "Lets go."
"Raven, open it up." Robin instructed as he skidded to a halt besides the metal door, his hand going to his belt to remove several throwing discs should they meet resistance on the other side.
"Robin, we should access it first-" Raven started as she landed beside him, hesitating. The leader glanced quickly at her; and from the other side of the door, several screams sounded- as well as wheels skidding to a halt out front. The police had arrived.
"Raven, now!" He exclaimed with a glance at her, crouching down slightly. She paused a moment, before lifting her hands. Black energy engulfed the door, and it ripped away. A buzzer sounded immediately, and drowned out the sound of Robin's communicator beeping, so the team continued forth without receiving the message.
The first room was dark besides the flashing of the red buzzer's light, so Starfire lit it with a green bolt before Robin broke down the next door. The catch would be easy, Robin decided as they bolted down the hallway. The robbers would see that the police (and hopefully Cyborg and Beast Boy, by now) had the front guarded, and come towards the back to be caught by Starfire, Raven, and himself.
But as Robin ran into the main lobby, he came to a skidding halt- throwing up a hand to stop the girls flying above. Now that they were away from the buzzing room, the communicator's message could now be heard. But it was pointless; for the scene played out in front of his eyes.
Five men wore black, with masks on. Not ski masks- but plastic replicas of ones Robin had seen too many times. There was a Red-X, a Mumbo, a Brother Blood, a Cinderblock.. and a Slade. They each held a gun; and each had it pointed not at the invading Titans... but at desk clerks, a child, and two women.
"-Hostage situation!" Robin finally heard Cybrog say over the communicator, "Robin, be CAREFUL!" The last word echoed around the room, filled only with the sounds of stiffled sobs.
"Too late." Growled the plastic face depicting Red-X, before a shot was fired from the gun. One of the women preceded to fall, silently. The shot had been one to kill. Those nearby screamed for her, and another masked face raised his gun to point at the ceiling. The proceeding shots caused more screams, then silence again.
"Raven, the guns-" Robin hissed, and shebegan to raise her hands to call the guns from all the men; but they were quicker. A second hostage was shot.
"Not so fast, Titans.."