"Behind the Mask" Act II

Things weren't looking good at Titans Tower. Cyborg was still waiting to be fully charged. Starfire was still carefully removing the "sticky-shot" on Robin. Raven was cutting the goo out of Beast Boy's hair. They were all standing around a table covered in clippings of all that they knew about Red X. It wasn't much more than the media knew. The papers read stuff like: "Who is Red X?" and "Red X Strikes Again".

Robin slammed the fist of his free arm on the table and said, "I can't believe he got away. AGAIN."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, man," Cyborg said.

"Yes," Starfire said, finally fully removing that which trapped Robin, "Even though the Red X did the getting away, we still fought valiantly."

"Yeah," Beast Boy added, "Red X will think twice before he messes with us again."

"There's no such thing as half a victory," Robin countered.

"I don't recall any of us calling this a victory," Raven said.

Robin placed his hand on his chin and said, "If only we knew who Red X was. The few leads we've had in the past have all been dead ends. It's hard to believe even he would be able to keep his identity a secret for this long."

"Dude," Beast Boy said, "I think–"

"Robin," Cyborg interrupted, "You've been keeping your identity a secret since you were eight. Red X is just as good at hiding secrets as you are."

Beast Boy started talking again, "Well, I–"

"And the Red X was crafty enough to brake into the tower and steel your xenothium powered suit," Starfire added.

"Will you guys just listen to me!"

All eyes were on Beast Boy.

"Isn't it obvious? It's Jason."

"That can't be," Robin said.

"No way, BB," Cyborg added.

"How can it be?" Starfire asked, "Jason was our friend."

"Not much of a friend, Star," Raven said.

"He did have a problem with authority," Robin elaborated, "But why would he become Red X?"

"To get back at you," Beast Boy said.

Beast Boy could picture a super-D version of Robin standing in front of a super-D Batman in front of a small scale model of Gotham City.

"Robin trains under the Batman, but goes to Jump City to make a name for himself and forms the Teen Titans."

He pictured the super-D Robin jumping from coast to coast. He landed in front of a small scale Titans Tower that the other Titans jumped up from behind. Then he pictured darkness. Out of it came a new, much meaner looking Robin.

"So Jason Todd decides that he want to be the new Robin of Gotham. He went after Killer Moth alone, and we went to save him. And Robin was all like, 'Go!' And Raven was all like, 'Ahhh.' And I was all like–"

"The point, Beast Boy?" Raven interrupted.

"Well, Killer Moth knocked Jace out the window and we couldn't find him."

"So," Was the only response he got from Raven.

"The fact that we did not find him, does not mean he went unscathed," Starfire pointed out.

"And why would he want to be a thief?" Robin asked.

Everyone was looking at him again.

"Do I look like I have all the answers?" Beast Boy said.

"Right now, who X is really doesn't matter," Cyborg said, "He just seems to know our powers to well for us to stop 'im."

"That's why I called for backup," Robin said.

"Backup?" Raven said, "Who'd you call?"

"'Sup, guys," A familiar voice said, "Nice to see you again."

"Hello, Kid Flash," Raven said, looking like she wanted to kill her team leader.

"A beautiful flower for the beautiful lady," Kid Flash said, holding a carnation in front of her.

"You do realize that I hate you."

"Come on, Rae. You don't mean that."

"I pretty sure she does," A new voice said.

"Glad you could make it," Robin said to the newcomer.

The newcomer was a girl about Raven's age, Beast Boy guessed. She was a several inches taller than Robin. She had jet-black hair tied in a ponytail, which made her yellow star-shaped earrings visible. She also had yellow stars embossed along the sides of her red jumpsuit. She had a lasso attached to her hip.

"Guys, this is Wondergirl," Robin said, "Wondergirl, this is: Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven."

Wondergirl gave a wave and said, "Nice to meet you guys. So what's the deal Robin?"

"We're looking for a guy called Red X," Robin said.

"I heard of him," Kid Flash said, "He's one of the toughest thieves there is."

"We need some extra help to catch him," Robin explained, "Help he's not to familiar with."

"Gotchya," Kid Flash said, "He doesn't know our powers..."

"So we can help you take him down," Wondergirl finished.

"Cyborg is going to set up training seasons so that we can get used to working with you guys," Robin continued, "We'll also take some time to try and figure out where Red X will strike next. Cyborg?"

"Well..."

–Brake–

"Let's get started!" Cyborg shouted.

He activated the training drones. They went after their target: Kid Flash. The speedster didn't look the least bit worried. He rubbed his fingernails (that were under his gloves?) just below his neck. The drones fired at him. Or, more accurately, where he used to be.

Kid Flash whistled and said, "Over here."

He was standing on a pillar of rock with that annoying, cocky look on his face. The drones turned the pillar into rubble, but Kid Flash was no longer on it.

"Sure is taking his time," Wondergirl observed.

"He's just showing off," Raven explained.

"Well, that much is obvious," Wondergirl said.

"This way, guys," Kid Flash said, dodging another blast, "No. Over here."

The drones stopped shooting at him. Instead, they shot in his path. This kept him from running all over the place. Something Raven was sure he hated.

"Watch it, fleet feet," Cyborg said, "Those are learning robots. They don't stay stupid."

"Check this out guys," Kid Flash shouted.

He jumped in the air and began spinning his arms rapidly. This formed two small tornados that he directed in the paths of the drones. This destroyed or disabled half the drones. But there were still five left.

"Now all I have to do is–HEY!"

The five remaining drones flew around his twisters with ease.

"Told ya, Kid Flash," Cyborg said, "They learn. The same trick won't work twice."

"Okay," Kid Flash said, "You could have told me that before we started."

"I DID."

"You should have repeated it," He replied while jumping over two drones (a stray shot took out one of them), "I totally zoned out."

"What were you thinking about?" Cyborg asked.

"I don't think I want to know," Raven said.

"Me either," Wondergirl added.

Kid Flash vibrated his way through another drone, taking some of it's insides with him. That made seven down. The remaining three fired at him simultaneously. He jumped over the blast and nearly went into a second blast. He had to end this quick (pun INTENDED). He ran circles around the drones as fast as he could. This, combined with the blasts that missed him, brought up enough dust to bland the drones. With three swift punches, it was over.

"Done," Kid Flash said, "That had to be a new record. Right, Cy?"

"Keep acting that cocky and I'll demand for you to call me "Victor"."

"Victor?" Beast Boy said, "Victor. Hey, Victor. How's it goin', Victor. No. I'm not feeling it."

"Look who's talking," Cyborg replied, "Garfield."

"Garfield?" Kid Flash said, "HA! That's your name?"

"Give it a rest," Beast Boy said.

"Okay, Wondy," Cyborg said, "You're up."

"Thanks, Vic."

"Vic. Now that's much better."

"Shut up, Garfield," Raven said.

Wondergirl walked over to the mega-weight machine and said, "How much weight can you put on this thing?"

"A good 20 tons," Cyborg said.

"Alright," She said, bracing herself, "Hit me."

Cyborg started with a quarter-ton. She lifted it without a problem. He knocked it up a notch.

"Come on," She said, "I can lift so much more than this."

He upped it to seven tons. That had to slow her down a bit, but it didn't.

"More."

"Be careful what you wish for," Cyborg said as he added three more tons.

She was still coming on strong. Cyborg brought it up five more tons. That was hard to lift. Even for him. She slowed a bit after that, but didn't show signs of stopping.

"Keep bringing it up," She said.

Seventeen tons. She was stronger than Cyborg. In fact, she was close to Starfire's strength.

"Hey," Cyborg said, "Where's Star?"

"And Robin?" Kid Flash added.

–Brake–

Starfire was taking a good look at the sunset over the ocean. It looked beautiful. The light danced through the window, making occasional tiny rainbows. Robin walked right next to her.

"Should you not be doing the training?"

"Right now, Star, I just want to be with you."

Robin took her hand and smiled. She smiled back.

–Brake–

"18.6 tons," Cyborg said, "Wow! That's just a little more than Star can lift."

"Yeah, but you don't look like you can lift eighteen tons," Beast Boy said, "What's up with that?"

"Magic," Wondergirl explained.

"What?"

"You want me to go in a long, boring explanation?"

"No thanks."

"Her skills seem like they'll be helpful," Raven said, "She could work alongside Starfire easily."

"What about me?" Kid Flash asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You could always leave me alone."

"But where would the fun in that be?"

"Hey, Wondergirl," Beast Boy said, "Don't you have those cuff-things?"

"What "cuff-things"?" She asked.

"You know, they can deflect...bullets..."

Noticing that he was drifting, Wondergirl asked, "Are you okay?"

"Raven," Beast Boy said, "Did Red X use his spinning blades to deflect Starfire's starbolts?"

"Yes, he did," Raven answered.

"Was he always able to do that?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe we should find out," Cyborg said.

–Brake–

"This is a most gorgeous sunset, friend Robin."

"Yes, it is," Robin said, "Star, I was thinking that maybe we could–"

"Robin," Beast Boy said, running into the room, "I think I know where Red X is going to strike next!"

Starfire was speechless. Robin, however, had a few choice words that lept to mind.

That ends act 2. For Wondergirl's voice, I thought of Christy Carlson Romano. Then again, that probably doesn't matter.