When Robin reached the meeting room Starfire was already there. Robin placed his box of mission related equipment and information at the head of the table and sat to finish his dinner, after not eating all day he was ravenous. Beastboy insisted to finish to movies they had been watching and was several minutes late, Robin didn't mind it gave him a few minutes to finish eating and finalize what exactly was going to say.
"So what's the big important case that couldn't wait until tomorrow morning?" Cyborg asked as he plopped himself in the chair closest to the door.
Robin pressed a switch on the table bringing up the projector. The screen now showed a warehouse near the docks, the street name was in the corner.
"I got this information this morning. Tomorrow night there will be an auction here." Robin switched slides to a display of stacked weapons, some of them military all of them illegal.
"The police don't have the names of the bidders or of the sellers, they've asked for our help."
"So what do we do storm the place and capture everyone, this could have waited until tomorrow Robin."
"Well not exactly Cyborg, like I said before we need more proof before heading in, we need a spy." Robin reached into the box and pulled out the Red X suit he had made. There was a collective intake of breath from the table, except Starfire.
"You told us you only made one of those suits, and it was stolen."
"I didn't lie Raven, that was the only one. This is just a simple disguise."
"If we need a disguise I can just use my holographic cloaking device and go in."
"Cyborg's right, why do you need to use Red X again?" Beastboy asked.
"Because they might jam electronic devices we need to sneak in low tech, and the invitation that was intercepted was to Red X."
"I don't like it, what would that self proposed thief want at an arms sale?"
"I did take his utility belt Raven. Anyway its to good a chance to pass up, we cant let him get away."
The titans looked at each other, as far a Robin was concerned there was only one him.
"This is about Slade isn't it Robin?" Starfire finally asked.
"He could be there yes."
"I think it's a really bad idea now, it's practically an invitation to you Robin."
"What do say we do Raven, just let them sell weapons." Robin stood up and slammed his fists on the table. "We have to act or else we may never get another chance."
"Robin just think about it, it's probably a trap." Cyborg said standing up as well.
"I've gone over the information, you haven't and, your right it still may be a trap." Robin sat down. "But we still have to do this, there's no other way."
"We can wait out side and ambush them as the buyers leave, but there's no way I'm going to endorse your going in vulnerable."
"I'm with Cyborg, Robin this is a bad idea." Raven said also standing up.
"If you guys wont listen to reason then I will just give orders instead!" Robin was back on his feet. He picked up the box of mission related items and started for the door. "I am ordering you to follow me lead on this one."
Cyborg and Raven moved to block the door.
"Robin."
"Get out of my way Cyborg."
"No, Robin you're not thinking straight."
"As the two second in command of the teen titans we are countermanding that order Robin, it's to risky." Raven finished.
"That's not for you to decide no out of my way!"
"Give me the box."
"What."
"Give me the box and I'll let you pass Robin." Cyborg repeated.
Robin threw the box to the ground and elbowed his way past Cyborg. As he left he mumbled you'll regret that under his breath.
As the door closed behind him the remaining titans regarded Cyborg and Raven with shock.
"I have never seen friend Robin act like that before."
"Yeah you have Star." Cyborg looked into the box. "We all have."
Robin closed and locked the door to his room. How dare they he thought, had they spent their whole day reading over the documents, confirming them with the titan's database? Of course not, they had no idea what was going on. But they still tried to stop him; he was the leader for a reason how dare they try to undermine him. They'd pay, but not know, know he had to figure out what do about Slade and the arms sellers. Didn't they know that he knew it was dangerous? Of course he knew it was risky, but it was worth the risk. That was why he was only risking himself. There was no way he could send Beastboy or Cyborg undercover, they could get caught. If anyone got hurt because of his bad info it would be him. But now Cyborg had his Suit he'd have to make another one. Robin's fuming was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Robin, its me." Starfire called out as she knocked on the door.
"Please talk to me Robin." Starfire tried the door but it was locked this time.
"Robin, I know your upset but know you can always talk to me."
Robin ignored her and soon she went away. He checked a clock, it was eleven fifteen, he had better get started if he was to salvage this mission.
Cyborg woke up in a cold sweat. His sleep was usually peace full but his dreams all night had been filled with images of him fighting Red X and Robin and then Robin as Slade's apprentice. Some of the images he remembered but others, others he must have made up, omen of things to come?
Starfire was downstairs by the time Cyborg made it to the kitchen. She was drinking some of Raven's herbal tea, and she looked like she had been crying.
"I was outside of Robin's door for almost an hour. He didn't say anything. What's wrong with friend Robin."
"Robin tends to obsess about things form time to time, especially with Slade, but I have a hunch it's his fault." Cyborg started to make some coffee.
"When you finish come see me in the Med-lab, I have a hunch that I hope will pan out."
"What friend Cyborg?"
"Do you remember when Robin was exposed to that reagent in Slade's mask?"
"Yes I see were you're going, I will be there."
Cyborg turned to leave.
"What about your coffee?"
"It will be ready by the time I get back."
Cyborg headed up to the Med-lab to check on the scan of everything in the box Robin had left behind. The total job was 97 complete; the computer said it needed another twenty minutes to give a final analysis. Cyborg sighed and went back down stairs.
Now Raven and Beastboy were here.
"Is it down Cyborg?"
"What?"
"The scan, is it done?" Starfire asked again.
"No twenty minutes."
"Very well." Starfire found a seat; she had been pacing before hand.
"What scan?" Beastboy asked.
Cyborg poured himself a cup of coffee, still a little weak but it would do, Cyborg took his coffee black.
"Last night I had the computer in the Med-lab scan that box Robin was carrying around for any traces of a reagent, like the one Slade used before."
"Which would explain Robin's behavior." Raven finished, Cyborg had told her last night.
"What if there is none of this reagent?"
"Well it would mean either we are jumping at shadows, or Robin has gone off the deep end Star."
"I am not the only one hoping to find this reagent then, yes?"
The silence was all the answer Starfire needed.
All of the titans went up to the Med-lab to check on the results of Cyborg's testing.
"Well what does it say?" Beastboy asked impatiently.
"It says," Cyborg scanned through the printout. "It says that the invitation was covered in the same type of chemical that Robin found in that mask."
"So you are right then?"
"Yeah Starfire, I was right." Cyborg didn't sound very happy. "It says the stuff should wear off after forty-eight hours. We only need to keep him from doing anything rash until tomorrow and he should return to normal."
"Lets go tell him the good news then, shall we?"
"You know he wont take it well Raven."
"Yeah I know we might have to hold him down to tell him, like last time."
The titans nodded in agreement as they walked towards Robin's room. Hallway security cameras showed Robin had not left all night, and when they tried the door it was locked.
"Robin, we need to talk." Starfire received to answer.
"Robin, your not yourself, but it's not your fault, come outside so we can talk." Again nothing. Each of the titans tried to say something but they might as well be talking to a wall.
"This isn't working stand aside I'll knock the door in." Beastboy took a step back and prepared to charge.
"Not so fast Beastboy, there are less disruptive ways to get in." Cyborg reached over to the control panel and typed something in. "Raven I'll need your override code too."
"Right." Raven also typed in a code and the door opened.
Robin's room was empty, his bed was still made and the window was open. A note was all they could find of the titan's leader.
"Titans," Starfire read. "I don't know why you no longer trust me on this issue but I am right. I expect you to be at the warehouse half an hour after the auction starts. We can talk about this more after we've gotten him. Robin."
Cyborg cursed he should have locked down the tower last night, then they would have know when Robin left. "We have to find him, if he tries to go up against Slade in an obvious trap with no rest or food." His voice trailed off but everyone knew the end of the sentence.
"Split up we'll search the city for Robin, and if we find nothing meet at his rendezvous location outside the warehouse at seven." Raven said.
"I'll take the T-car and search the streets, if Robin bought any equipment I should be able to track it." Cyborg headed towards the door.
"Beastboy and I will search the city by air."
"Right." Starfire and Beastboy headed out of the open window.
"Which leaves me to try to find him mentally." Raven finally said to an empty room.
Latter Robin, dressed as Red X, sat on a rooftop overlooking the warehouse district. He was sitting beneath an overhang that would prevent him from being spotted from above. He really did feel bad about leaving them out of the loop like this, but he knew he was right, he could just sense it. A deep grumbling told him he was also hungry, but he ignored it. In three hours the titans would bust up that weapons deal and Robin would have a chance to get Slade. It was very important that he not blow it, and leaving his vantage point for something as trivial as food would blow it.