Chapter IX: The Trap

Robin gently set the hover bike down near the address Cyborg had sent then cut the engines off causing the noise level to drop. He and Starfire quickly hopped off the bike and removed their helmets. Aimee remained on the bike waiting for Raven to release her grip around her waist.

"Raven?" Aimee called back to her. "We're here. You can let go of me now."

Raven took a quick breath then wrenched her fingers apart releasing her grip and allowing Aimee to stand up from the bike. She kept her eyes closed and tried to catch her breath and alleviate her racing heart; never in her life had she gone that fast.

"You OK Raven?" Robin asked slightly concerned as he watched Raven bend forward and breathe heavily. After a few seconds she sat up, opened her eyes then waved him over. Robin walked over to her then grabbed her arm and hoisted her up off the bike. Raven's legs quivered as she struggled to stand. She turned towards Robin and placed her hands on his shoulders for support.

Raven's breathing became more relaxed as she felt her strength finally return to her legs. She tentatively let go of Robin's shoulders then looked up into his dark eyes.

"I swear to you that if you EVER make me ride that bike with you again I'm gonna do this." Raven's eyes narrowed as she plunged her fist lightly into Robin's gut. Robin instinctively doubled over even though the punch wasn't hard enough to do any real damage. "Except harder," she dryly added as she walked away.

Robin slowly stood up and let out a short laugh as he watched Raven stride away towards the others. That was perhaps the most memorable ride he'd ever had and well worth any punishment she could dish out. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time.

"All right what's going on?" Raven said in a steady voice as she tried to turn the group's attention away from the horrible ride she had endured.

"Cyborg didn't say," Aimee replied. "He just said to meet them here at the east side entrance."

"Where's that?" Raven asked as she watched Robin slowly make his way back towards the group with a goofy smile plastered across his face.

Aimee glanced over to Robin and Starfire who were fighting to keep themselves composed then back to Raven who was watching the pair out of the corner of her eye seething in anger. She felt awkward in the present situation.

"It's over there," she replied then pointed in the direction they needed to go to find the warehouse's entrance.

"Thanks," Raven replied curtly as she made here way towards the entrance ignoring the laughter that finally erupted from Starfire and Robin.

Aimee glanced over as Robin and Starfire slowly settled down. Both placed their helmets on their bike. Aimee shot them a puzzled look.

"Sorry," Robin said to her. "Raven doesn't embarrass herself very often. She's always so serious." Robin paused noting that Aimee couldn't possibly know their friend's former personality. "I guess you wouldn't understand." He clasped Starfire's hand as the pair exchanged quaint smiles between themselves then fell in behind their sulking friend. Aimee shook her head then followed behind the others.

Raven entered the gaping warehouse building and removed her sunglasses. The others stood inside inspecting some of the wooden crates scattered about the concrete floor. Most of the warehouse appeared empty and largely dark except for the area where the forty or so crates were. Cyborg stood off to one side trying to pry open one of the crates with an over-sized crowbar while the others stood several rows away quietly talking amongst themselves.

"What is this," Raven's voice echoed in the cavernous space, "some type of government road project?" She quickly walked over to Cyborg and helped him remove the wooden side panel from the crate he was trying to open.

"Easy Raven," Cyborg cautioned. "I wanted the others to keep away in case the crate is booby trapped." The wooden panel fell to the floor with a thump. Cyborg held his breath momentarily then finally relaxed when nothing further appeared to happen.

"OK, let's see what's in these babies." Cyborg walked over and cautiously peered into the open crate. Haley made her way towards them as both her and Raven looked over Cyborg's shoulder. Cyborg switched on one of his body lights to illuminate the crate's contents.

"Looks like some heavy duty electrical cable," Cyborg announced.

Raven looked into the crate and saw a large spool of black wire amongst some packing straw. "What's so important about this that you had to call all of us here?" she asked not understanding its significance.

"Cyborg and I checked the shipping manifests," Haley chimed in. "The crates came from China through South America. That's kind of a round-about way of doing things."

"Yea, why's that important?" Raven calmly replied.

"We were looking of something odd like this," Cyborg explained. "Gato is based in South America so this seemed like a good place to start. I know it's them, but I'm not sure what they're up to shipping this stuff here?" Cyborg said to himself as he stood up and looked to his equally perplexed partners.

A blinding flash caught the corner of their eyes. Raven, Haley and Cyborg quickly turned towards the others. A smoking canister landed among the other group of Titans who quickly collapsed limply onto the ground.

Cyborg spotted a group of Gato henchman emerging from the shadows as the warehouse door slid closed. "It's a trap!" This was the only warning he could give before another shock grenade and canister went off near them.

Raven covered her ears as the percussion quickly disoriented her. She watched Haley desperately grab her communicator before she collapsed on the floor. Cyborg let off a volley from his sonic cannon taking out a few of Gato's henchmen. Others quickly closed in on them. Cyborg collapsed to his knees coughing violently as the gas began to overwhelm him. Raven caught him then staggered under his heavy weight. All she could do was guide her friend gently to the floor. The gas was now beginning to make her head spin.

Raven doubled over in a coughing fit; she was the last one left. She turned to face almost a dozen gas-masked henchmen who pointed their blast guns towards her. A black shield cropped up in front of her as the first volley glanced off of it. Raven's head swirled as the gas continued to envelope her. She felt a presence behind her and turned just in time to see the rifle butt swung heavily at her head. The blow snuffed out the last bit of her consciousness.