Author's Note: Thanks to all the reviews, you guys!
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.5-- The Trick
"There's something not right. He can't be alive. Terra destoryed him. She took him-"
"Beastboy. Shush." said Raven, motioning torwards Robin who's face seemed to be getting tighter and tighter at every word Beastboy said. Beastboy frowned at the back of Robin's head, but kept quiet.
The Titans, minus one, all stood in a large broken down factory. The air was thick and musty, and everything seemed to be layered in a thin layer of dust and grime. The sounds of heavy machinery groaning and clinking could be heard in the background, mixed in with the sounds of the heros feet on the stone ground.
The Titans eyed Robin wearily. Each of the got them distressed message from Robin, their worst fears coming true. Slade was back, and he was somehow in the scheme with Red X. Whatever it was, the Titans thought to themselves, it was going to bad.
"Did you talk with Red X over the T-comm?" asked Cyborg, moving up torwards were Robin walked alone. Robin swallowed, stopped, and turned to Cyborg.
"No."
He continued walking, his black cape haning over his shoulders.
"Oh." said Cyborg, falling back with the rest of the team. He gave a look torwards Raven, who nodded in agreement.
"So, uh...where is Slade? It doesn't look like he's here." chimed in Beastboy, his usual obnoxious voice down to an eery whisper.
"He's here." said Robin up front, not bothering to turn around.
"But he wouldn't turned up by now, wouldn't he? I mean-"
Robin was staring into Beastboy's eyes in a split second, his nostrils flared. "What are you trying to say, Beastboy? That i'm hallucinating? That i'm making this up?" Cyborg and Raven stopped walking, eyebrows raised. Already was it happening again. Slade was back, and Robin was getting fired up again. The same look. The same voice. The same don't give a shit attitude about anything except slade.
Beastboy took a step back, but let the scowl appear on his face "All i'm saying is that it's pretty weird for Slade to be in this. You sure you're here to find Starfire and not get your revenge?"
Robin's features softened at the mention of Starfire, but he still look upset. "I'm here to save Starfire. I'm here to save the city for whatever plan Slade and Red X have in mind. What happened in the past is in the past, BB. Don't make the mistake of bringing it up. Especially in front of me." Robin glared at Beastboy for a second more, before he took back his spot in the front of the Titans.Beastboy gave an agitated glance at Cyborg, whom only shrugged back.
The Titans finally came up to a small circle of light in a circular room. Slade's chair sat in the middle, looking as old and dusty as it had been the last time Robin came here to fight Slade. Of course, it really wasn't Slade, but just a figment of Robin's imagination, caused by infected dust that messed with his central nervous system which convinced his brain that he was seeing, and hearing, Slade. The thought made Robin cringe, but he didn't let it bother him all the same.
The Titans stopped at the sight of the chair. Robin's breath hitched.
"Slade." he said. It echoed all around them, and at Robin's words, the Titans powered up. Raven's eyes glowed menacingly black, Beastboyd turned into a raptor, and Cyborg's sonnic cannon surfaced.
To their astonishment, the Chair slowly turned around, facing the Titans. It wasn't Slade at all, but Red X.
"Robin. I knew you'd come." he said, standing up. He pulled out a large button, making all the Titans flinch, and pressed it. Suddenly the to the Right side of the Titans, a mass of screens turned on. All revealing the face of Slade.
"Robin, how nice to see you again. Hmm. You remembered my name. I'm impressed..."said the Slade on the screens. On and on it went, matching the very thing Slade said over his T-comm. "Still confused?" asked Red X. He pressed a small button on his wrist and spoke again-- "Does this help you out?" he continued. However his voice wasn't his own. It was Slade's voice.
"You tricked me?" asked Robin. "Why? What is your plan? Where is Starfire?" the adrupt questions didn't seem to faze Red X. It only seemed to please him more.
"Robin. You really need to relax, man.I only pretended to be Slade to freak you out. You won't believe the satisfaction I get from watching the blood drain from your face." chuckld Red X.
It occured to Robin that he felt immensely relaxed from the fact that no, Slade was not back. Even when Red X was still on the upper hand, even though Starfire was still missing, he felt relaxed. Because now, without Slade to screw him up, whom would always let his emotions get the better of him, Robin could defeat Red X easily. Kick his ass, find Starfire, and go home.
"I don't know what your game is Red X, but it ends now.I'm going to ask this one more time. Where, is Starfire?" stated Robin, pulling out his bo-staff and extending it. Red X chuckled.
"OOoh, Starfire!" said Red X, sounding quite pleased. The Titans stared.
"I'm here." came a voice. from the shadows. The Titans heads whipped to the voice, trying to seek out the person it came from. After a moment, Starfire walked out. There was a collective gasp. Instead of her usual attire, she wore a black body suit, similar to what Red X wore. A large red X covered her chest, and on her waiste was a metal belt. Also similar to what Red X wore.
"Star..." came Cyborg's voice.
"That's right. She's joined the likes of me. Not that it was easy to convert her, let me tell you." chuckled Red X. He motioned for Starfire to stand next to him. She walked over to him. Something wasn't right. Her face was impassive. She stared straight forward. Her arms and limbs stiff.
Robin's stared, his eyes wide, his face unbelieving. "Is this some sick joke?" he asked. His questions was directed to Red X, but his eyes never strayed from Starfire.
"You see," said Red X pleasently. " I took out of the page of Slade, and blackmailed Starfire into becoming--"
"You're apprentice." muttered Robin, who suddenly looked defeated.
Red X stared at Robin, then threw back his head and laughed. Really laughed. His whole body shook.
"Robin, you don't get it, do you? I'M NOT SLADE. I'M NOT LIKE HIM. HE WANTED TO DESTORY THE CITY. I JUST WANT YOUR GIRLFRIEND. AND NOW I HAVE HER." his voice carried around the room, boucning off rusted steel and metal.
"So this isn't about taking down the city? It's just about hormones?" said Robin, getting more confused by the moment.
Red X sighed and pulled on Starfire's waiste. She didn't even blink.
"What have you done to her?" asked Robin, crossing over to her. Red X stopped him though, a hand on his chest.
"I wouldn't get too close," said Red X, " she get's a little angry when someone other than her beloved touched her." Robin payed no heed. He pushed Red X's hand off his chest and walked close to Starfire. She didn't move. He touched her shoulder. "Star...?"
Suddenly Robin was flown backwards, a searing pain covered his chest. He landed against the wall.
"Yo!" yelled Cyborg.
"What's gotten into you, Star?" Asked Beastboy.
"Raven!" Came Robin's muffled voice as he limped forward. "Can you sense anything wrong with Starfire?"
"I'll try," replied Raven.
Red X laughed, clearly amused, and sat down on the chair, watching.
"It isn't Starfire. Well, it is, but something's wrong. She's not in her normal mind-state. It's like she's in an alternative one." said Raven.
Suddenly Starfire's hand shot up and green bolt hit Raven. Raven pulled up a black shield and the last second.
"How're we supposed to contact her?" asked Robin, as Raven's shield grew larger. It circled around the Titans, taking the blows of Starfire's bolts. Over and over they slammed into the shield. Starfire's face was still blank.
The bolts suddenly stopped. Raven's shield went down.
"So, as you can see," began Red X, stretching a bit. "She's a bit tempermental when we have unwelcomed guests."
Starfire turned around and started walking torwards Red X.
"Wait a minute..." Robin breathed. On the nape of Starfire's kneck, Robin could make out something...something that looked like--
"Raven. Get us out of here. I have a plan." said Robin suddenly. Raven stared at him.
"What about Starfire? We can't just leave her here." she countered.
"Don't worry. She'll be fine." said Robin.
Red X looked at them curiously.
"Given up already? Wow. That was easier than I thought." said Red X, as he pulled Starfire onto his lap. Starfire's face was as blank as ever.
"Now." said Robin, motioning torwards Raven. Sudden Raven turned into the large black crow of her inner self, and swept the Titans away.