Author's Note: Thank you, Happymonkey! XD XD
Summary: Red X is back, and he sends a cryptic message to the Titans saying that he is going to steal something from Robin that is most precious to him.
Rating: R-for language and adult situations.
Standard Disclaimers Apply.
THE MOST PRECIOUS THING
Chp.2--The Attack
The only light from the room was the computer. It's soft blue screen stared back at Robin, as if challenging him to blink. Words, numbers, codes, went up in and down in vertical rows, meaning nothing to an uneducated mind, but everything to Robin. Files upon files of Red X littered the panel, along with pictures and gadgets. It wasn't hard to dig up information on the criminal, for the Robin created him. Yet the person behind the mask seemed to be making a name for his own, with the seemingly irrlevant form of attacks he's been doing. Nothing seemed to add up. It was as if the track he left about taking something precious from Robin was just a joke. Just to make his blood boil. He wasn't going to actually carry it out.
Of course, Robin didn't expect this in the least. The cryptic message sent by Red X played over and over in his head, and he had to mentally tell himself to shut up so he could actually get some work done. He was obsessing, he knew. It was like slade was alive all over again. Thanks to Terra, however, he wasn't. So now he could focus on X, much to his teammates displeasure. To Starfire's displeasure.
Robin physically shook himself out of those thoughts, pulling a few files onto his lap. The last time they met face-to-face with X, he jumped in the last second to save Robin and help defeat Professor Chang from destorying the entire city with an xenothium powered machine. Robin, in the struggle to save himself and Starfire, cleverly, and secretly, unlached Red X's belt, leaving him defensless. The only thing that bothered Robin, however, was that he didn't need xenothium. Somehow, he used an alternative source to power the suit, and that distressed Robin to no end. In the end, X made a suicidal escape by jumping off the cliff, and the Titans never found him. But now he was back, with a plan that Robin could'nt figure out for the life of him.
"Goddmanit..." Robin swore, tilting his head back while he rubbed his eyes. It was late at night. Possibly even the next day. Standing up, Robin filed away the information on Red X close out the computer. He stretched, yawned, then jerked backwards--
Suddenly the alarm was going off, and Robin's head swirled to the corner of the room, where a flashing red light whirled ominously. Wasting no time, Robin grabbed his belt, clicked it on, and pulled on his cape, running out the door.
Once in the main room, Robin tapped into the security system and searched to see who was the source of the emergency. Information poored in, scrolling down the screen in a rush. Turning, he faced the other titans who were just getting in, their faces pale and tired, but determined all the same.
"It's him. Red X."
-----------------------------
The only sounds coming from the pier was the waves crashing against the rocks and the pulsing beep of Cyborg's arm as he tried to find Red X's heat source. The Titans were now standing cautiously in an old storage unit where crate boxes stood high above them, stacked. It was similar to maze, except the obstacles were wooden crates. Starfire's arm was raised high above them, providing an eery green glow for light.
"My scanners can't pick him up. We're the only ones here." said Cyborg, looking up.
"The screen said it was Pier 25. He has to be here. Raven, can you sense him?" asked Robin. He walked around the area, jumping easily on crates for a high view. Raven closed her eyes, and her body suddenly was outlined in black energy.
It was only a moment before she opened her eyes and replied-- "I'm picking up a heartbeat." she said. In that moment, Beastboy turned into a tiger, Starfire's eyes glowed furiously green, and Cyborg's arm became a sonic cannon. "The reason Cyborg couldn't pick up his trace is because the source of fuel he powers for his suit can deflect heat sensing. However, it can't detect me." informed Raven.
Robin smirked. "Okay, Titans. I want each of you to take a path, once you find him, give a call to the others so we can follow suit. And please--" said Robin, as the others started to head off in the unknown, "be careful. I don't want anyone getting hurt." They nodded and continued their seperate paths.
Meanwhile, Robin took out his bird-a-rang and shot it upwards, planning to get a birds-eye view of the perimeter. He swung gracefully upon the attached bars above, going into an aloof crouch. He stood up, his eyes narrowed, and perfectly balanced he started to walk to the beams, looking for any trace of Red X. Quite sudden, there was an adrupt spark of green in the center of the crate-maze, and just like that Robin took off, running a few yards on the bars before he shot out his bird-a-rang, snagging on the crates below,and as he swung, Starfire came into veiw, followed by Cyborg, Raven, then Beastboy. Robin dropped down and crossed over to Starfire.
"Who was it? Was it X?" he asked, his hand on her shoulder. Starfire stared off, looking confused.
"I do not know. I had turned, and suddenly there was a face in front of mine. He was suspended from--" she pointed upwards torwards the ceiling. There, hanging fromt he ceiling was a long hook, much like Robin's bird-a-rang, but a long red X at the end. Starfire flew up, about to grasp it, but suddenly an arm shot out and took her wrist. Starfire gasped, and suddenly the arm become a shoulder and then a body, and finally Red X came into view. He pulled out a razor-sharp X and positioned at Starfire's throat, before gracefully dropping to the floor. Robin lunged torwards him, but X sidestepped it, and slapped another X on his back, sending electric shocks through Robin's body.
Red X turned to the others, clearly grinning, and said-- "I wouldn't take another step closer, or your cute little alien friend will be killed."
Robin stood up weakly and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Let her go, or I'll--"
"you'll what?" cut-off Red X, clearly enjoying the moment. His arm snaked across Starfire's stomach,then up to her temple, caressing her gently. Starfire jerked her face away, her eye glowing menacingly.
"You bastard," sneered Robin. Red X laughed. "You want her?" he asked. He pushed starfire out of his grasp, where she stumbled into Robin's arms. "Fine. Take her." He gave a slaute, and then started off down the aisle.
Robin made sure Starfire was okay, before he stood up to his full length and yelled, "TITANS! GO!"
The four Titans passed Robin, flying, running and sprinting to where Red X ran off. Robin narrowed his eyes and shot upwards to the ceilings once more. He was only halfway in the air when suddenly a figure came crashing into him. Robin felt a foot make contanct with his side and an arm hit the back of his kneck. With a grunt he dropped to the ground, where he was face to face with Red X. He glared at him for a moment, before he lunged at him. He gave high kick, catching Red X at the tip of his head, before forcing downwards causing him to fall forwards. Red X backtracked, swinging his his fists at Robin. Robin dodged them, side to side he stepped before catching one fist and slamming his in his jaw. Red X didn't give into it completely, for he took Robin's arm along with him, flipping him over his head.Robin skidded to a halt, his metal boots making an unpleasent screeching sound on the concrete floor.
"What are you planning on stealing?" he growled, pulling out his bo-staff and extending it. Red X did the same, except with a red-and black one.
"If you havn't figure it out yet, then there's no hope for you," he replied before throwing a stream of attacks on Robin. He caught the last one in the gut, and doubled over.
"Tell me, Robin. Have you any clue of the precious item i'm talking about?" asked Red X as he placed a foot on Robin's chest. Robin gave a short, "No." before he Red X's shin with his fist. Red X cried out and grasped his shin, falling over. Robin scampered up, charging his bo-staff at Red X's stomach. Red X dodge this, pulled the bo-staff forward, and slammed his head into Robin's. Robin's eyes slipped out of focus, and there was a faint ringing in his ear.
"Robin!" came a cry. Suddenly there was a flood of brilliant green bolts flying over head making immediate contact with Red X. He let go of Robin's bo-staff and fell to the floor, bolt after bolt slammer him deeper into the concrete.
Starfire flew in, followed Raven, who encased Red X in black energy. She liften him up for perfect aim for A sonic cannon. Red X fell to the floor, seemingly unconscious.
"Robin..." Starfire cooed, touching the sores on Robin's face gently. He leaned into her embrace, suddenly aware of the screaming of his muscles.
Red X lifted his head suddenly and started to chuckle. "This isn't over, Robin. I will get your little precious item, and it will be mine." he punched the center of his belt, and suddenly flickered and disappered.