"Okay!" Beast Boy clapped his hands together as I entered the room. "There's only one way to cure my heavy case of boredom: with a mega movie night! Which blockbuster film will we watch tonight? We have Super Ninja Showdown 8 or Maniac Fury: Attack of the Protozoids."

"That's a tough decision..." Cyborg said. "Wanna watch both?!"

"Now you're talking!"

"Perhaps Robin would enjoy these films with us." Starfire said.

"Good luck with that. He's been held up in his room ever since his little chat session with Slade. I don't think he'll ever come out." Beast Boy said.

Quietly, I walked backwards out of Ops before anyone acknowledged me. I headed to Robin's room. Before I came here, the Titans had a run-in with Slade's minions. They tried to take a special chip, but my friends stopped them from succeeding. While Robin was aggressively interrogating one of the minions, he found out it was just a computer with a message from Slade, which was as enigmatic and taunting as always.

I knocked on Robin's door and it slid open. He stood bent over a table filled with scraps and pieces from his last couple of encounters with Slade, including the mask of one of his robotic commandos, one of their guns, and a walkie-talkie. The walls were filled with newspaper clippings and articles about villains and their attempted crimes. I noticed one about Slade, simply titled "Who Is Slade?". Holding my arms, I walked inside.

"Slade's always been this... vague." I said. "Even I don't know much about his personality. And since he's always so frustratingly calm and composed, it doesn't help to reveal much."

"But you do know what he's up to." Robin said. He straightened and turned to me. "Tell me, please."

"Robin, you know I can't. There's only so much I can tell you guys." I said.

Robin turned back towards the table. I walked around to the other side, placed my hands on the table, and leaned forward.

"You don't understand. Not only is my presence in this world affecting you, it's affecting my world, too." I whispered, but I wondered if people watching the episode would be able to see this scene and hear me. If they could, then I'd definitely be doomed. "Being here is causing everything to change. I'm in the episodes now; I'm a part of the official series. If anyone in my world finds out who I really am, they'll cut me open and find out what makes me so weird. I have to keep my knowledge a secret; not only to protect myself, but to protect you and the others."

Robin sighed and pushed himself off the table. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. It's just... Who is this guy? And what does he want?"

"I hate to say it, but you need to find out for yourself. In fact, because I'm changing the story, some things might be different now. All of my knowledge could be completely useless... I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. It's fine. Even if you're just as clueless as we are, you're still important to the Team."

I gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Robin." I headed for the door. It opened and I paused at the door frame. I looked over my shoulder. "Be careful, Robin. Don't push your friends away, especially during this time."

The door closed behind me before he could respond and I headed to the training room. Maybe my knowledge of this series was good for nothing, or maybe nothing's changed yet. So far, everything's been the same. Perhaps most of the villains still don't know about me or my advantages, and I'm still safe for now. I'll just have to see.

"Ciela, there you are!" Cyborg said when I entered the training room. "I've got something for you!"

"Really? What?"

Cyborg smiled and pulled out two pistols. "Ta-da!" he cried. The pistols were covered with the same kind of design that Cyborg and his other inventions have, but red instead of blue, and the grips were black.

"You made me guns?" I said.

"They're not the regular type of guns; they're energy pistols. They fire lasers instead of bullets." Cyborg said. "I made them from the leftover parts from the T-Ship after Tram fixed it. Not only are they pistols, but they have two other forms: a bazooka sniper and a sword. Here!"

Cyborg shoved the pistols into my hands. I gulped and examined the weapons.

"Thanks, Cyborg... Really. But I don't know how to use a gun. And where am I supposed to put these?" I said.

"No worries, you can practice on our training course. And I programmed your DNA into the guns; you're the only one who can use them. I got you double holsters to keep them in." Cyborg handed me a black belt with two gun holsters attached. I looped the belt around my shorts and slid the pistols into the holsters.

"Thank you, Cyborg. At least now I'll be a little more useful." I said more sincerely. Cyborg returned a smile and left the room. I glanced down at the guns. I just hope I don't have to use them against today's enemy...

"Ciela, we got trouble!" Beast Boy called from the hallway.

I gulped and looked up, catching a glance of my reflection in the large wall mirror. The guns definitely added to the edgy look I had.

"Coming!" I called, hurrying out of the training room and jogging towards Ops.


We headed back to the warehouse where the special chip was. We climbed onto the roof- me and the four Teen Titans. Robin wasn't with us. In fact, as we looked around on the room, Cyborg received a message from Robin.

"I'm working a Slade lead on the far side of town. Sure you guys can handle this without me?" Robin said.

"No problem!" Cyborg said. The signal cut out, and a second later, the roof hatch opened. A man came out, dressed in a black bodysuit and a black cape. He wore an ash-gray utility belt, gloves, and black boots. His face was covered with a white mask. Two red Xs were carved on his chest, the forehead of his mask, and the palms of his hands. Cyborg transformed his hand into a cannon. "Care to explain why you're hanging around here?"

"Red X prefers privacy." Red X stretched out his palm and shot an X at us. Cyborg shot a cannon ray and destroyed it. Red X jumped out of the way to avoid the leftover cannon ray.

The Teen Titans charged. Beast Boy lunged, transformed into a lion. Red X shot another X, which transformed into goo and covered Beast Boy. Beast Boy thrashed on the ground, trying to transform and free himself from the heap of goo, but he was stuck to the ground. Starfire and Raven shot their magic, but Red X dodged it. He shot two more X's, one wrapping around Starfire's arms and torso and the other clamping onto Raven's mouth, preventing her from chanting. Cyborg launched a punch, but Red X dodged. Planting another X on Cyborg's back, he opened up his back panel and started tinkering with his wires.

"Hey! Who told you how to shut me down?!" Cyborg cried as his arms flailed around. Red X gave him a gentle shove and Cyborg collapsed onto the ground.

There's no way they can beat him. He knows them too well.

Red X looked at all the fallen Titans before his blank white eyes fell on me. I sucked in a deep breath. Would he fight me, too?

Instead of that, Red X turned around and ran towards the edge of the roof.

"Wait!" I cried, and I broke into a sprint.

"Ciela, what're you doing?!" Beast Boy said.

I ignored him and focused on running. Red X climbed onto the roof's ledge and jumped into the air. I lunged forward and caught a fistful of his cape, foiling his chance of disappearing. We both started to fall. As we freefalled, I caught glimpse of the ground quickly getting closer. I screamed and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the splat.

However, arms circled around me and pulled me close to the body connected to them. I opened my eyes and looked up, Red X's mask filling my view. He turned us over so his back faced the ground. A giant X stretched out between buildings inside of an alley, creating our new crash point. We fell into the X and it caved around us like a trampoline. We sprang out of it. My feet hit the pavement and my knees crumbled beneath me. Red X gripped my shoulders to keep me standing.

"You okay?" he said.

I scowled and shoved Red X away. He stumbled back a few feet before catching his balance.

"I know it's you, Robin." I panted, standing up straight and brushing myself off. My heart raced from leftover adrenaline. "I knew you would still go through with this Red X identity."

"Then you know why I'm doing this. You just have to trust me." Red X said.

"But one of the results of this plan is you pushing away everyone else, which I specifically told you not to do. Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, and Cyborg also want to take down Slade. How can they trust you when you don't trust them?"

Red X looked away. Without responding, he turned around and ran out of the alleyway. I growled underneath my breath and placed my hand against the stone wall to steady myself.


I woke up the next morning to banging on my door.

"You still here, Ciela?" Cyborg said as my slid door opened. "Robin's calling for a team meeting."

"Great." I mumbled and threw off my covers. We headed to Ops, where the other Titans were waiting for us.

"I'm glad everyone's here." Robin said, purposefully avoiding my glare. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't know Red X would pose such a threat."

"You better be! Look what he did to my hair!" Beast Boy cried. Starfire sat on the countertop and snipped away at his hair, trying her best to cut out the red goo still tangled in it.

"It wouldn't have made any difference. He knew exactly how to deal with each of us. The only one he didn't attack was Ciela." Raven said.

"He doesn't know all of my secrets." I said, my glare still fixed on Robin.

"Have you made any discoveries about Slade?" Starfire said.

"No. My lead was a dead end." Robin said as he headed for the door. "I should get back to work."

"Maybe you can join us the next time Red X is around." I said.

Robin paused at the door. "Unless another Slade lead comes up. I can't be at two places at once." He left the room.

I clenched my fists and let out a deep, anger-filled breath.

"You know something, Ciela." Raven said.

"Huh?" I said.

"Who's this Red X guy and how do we defeat him?" Cyborg said. The Titans surrounded me.

"I can't tell you much, but..." I gulped. "You'll find out by the end of this episode, at least."

I turned around and hurried out of the room.


That night, the Tower filled with alarms, disturbing my sleep. I jumped out of bed and hurried out of my room, stumbling down the hallway as I tried to pull my boots and jacket on while running.

"What's up?" I panted as I entered Ops, where the four other Titans were. Everyone except Robin. Of course.

The TV was pulled down with Robin's face displayed on it. "I spotted Red X pulling a robbery in the Tech Center. I'll try and keep him in one place while you get over here. Hurry!"


We headed to the Tech Center. When we arrived, we saw Robin chase Red X down the street. Red X turned around and threw a net behind him. It wrapped around Robin.

"Robin!" Cyborg cried as Robin tumbled to the ground.

"I'm fine! Go after X!" Robin cried.

The four Titans chased after Red X. I walked over to Robin and swiped my hand at his head. My hand went straight through and the hologram buffered before disappearing.

"I guess that's your answer." I said.

I followed the Titans into the subway. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, a hand grabbed my arm and shoved me into the wall.

"Let me go, Robin." I hissed as the white mask hovered over my face.

"I'm sorry, but... I don't want you spoiling anything." Red X said.

Red X threw me aside, and as I fell to the ground, he shot two giant X's, one that wrapped around my arms and torso, and another that wrapped around my legs.

"Hey!" I cried.

"Step away from the girl!" I looked up and saw the other Titans. Cyborg pointed his sonic cannon at Red X.

Red X stepped back, held his hand up, and disappeared. Starfire crouched down at my side.

"Are you injured?" she said.

"No, I'm fine... Physically." I grumbled.

"Where did he go?"

"No need to worry. I have a special implant in my eye that'll be able to see Red X, even if he's invisible." Cyborg said.

"Cyborg, get ready to-" I said.

A giant X was slapped onto my mouth and my voice was abruptly muffled. A second later, Cyborg grunted painfully and went flying across the subway, skidding to a metal-grinding, ear-splitting stop. I watched the fight scene take place while curled up in the corner helplessly. I struggled to try and free myself from the strange material wrapped around me, or at least reach for my pistols, but they were buried underneath the red material and I could barely move. The fight ended when Red X punched Beast Boy into the train tracks. A subway train rushed towards him, but Red X pulled him out and onto the other side. When the train passed by completely, we watched Red X run up the stairs and out of sight. Starfire lifted me into her arms with ease and carried me to the other Titans.

"You okay, Ciela?" Beast Boy said.

I glared at him as I did my best to gesture my eyes to my restraints.

"Allow me." Raven said, and she hit the back of Beast Boy's head.


The next time I saw Robin, I slapped him in the face. He recoiled in surprise and cupped his cheek.

"What was that for?!" he said.

"You know what that's for! It took Starfire hours to get your stupid Xs off of me!" I cried.

"I'm sorry, but... I had to do it. If the others knew about Red X, they would've held back."

"Or they could've helped you. I know you're stealing those chips so you can get closer to Slade. Well, guess what? He's not buying it. He knows who Red X really is!"

"...What?"

"Yes. And soon after you leave to get that third chip for Slade, Starfire's going to walk into your room and find out the truth about Red X."

Robin bowed his head. "I guess it was only a matter of time. But I still need to confront Slade. I need to find out who he is."

"I'm not going to get in your way with finding answers. But I will if your ways include hurting the people you care about." I said. "Here's what we'll do. You go and get the chip. Slade's going to be there. I'll round up the Titans and bring them here. I'll tell them about Red X so they don't prevent you from chasing after Slade."

Robin paused to process. "Okay." he said. He rubbed his reddening cheek. "I never knew you had such an arm."

"You taught me how to use it properly." I smirked, turned on my heel, and walked away.


"Red X is who?" Raven said.

"Robin is Red X." Starfire said.

"He made him up to try and get closer to Slade. In order to do that, he had to steal three chips in order to gain his trust. But Slade has known about Red X all along. He's going to ambush Robin." I said.

"Then we need to leave yesterday!" Beast Boy said.

"Agreed. Let's go. Focus on the robotic commandos and leave Slade to Robin. I'll join him and help him out."


"This the place?" Cyborg said.

"Yes." I said.

Cyborg summoned his cannon arm and blasted a hole into the roof of a building.

"Titans, go!" Cyborg cried as we jumped, one-by-one, through the hole into the room. All sides of the room were filled with Slade's robotic commandos.

I looked to the door as Slade retreated, followed soon after by Robin. I ran for the door. A giant robot blocked the way. I skidded to a stop and gulped. Remembering the weapons at my disposal, I reached down and pulled out my energy pistols. As I placed my index fingers over the trigger, the red of the designs lit up, recognizing me. I pulled the triggers and two red lasers sprung from the barrels and cut through the robot's chest. A chill ran down my spine from the large, gaping hole. The robot groaned and collapsed to the ground, opening the way out of the room.

I ran down the dark hallway and saw light leaking through from the outside, lighting the ladder leading to the roof like a spotlight. I climbed up the ladder and onto the roof, catching Robin and Slade in the middle of a chase.

"Robin!" I called as he chased after Slade. They both jumped off of the building and onto the ones next to it. I growled and kicked myself for being too late.

But then an idea came to mind. I examined at the energy pistols in my hands. I shoved the rear of one of the pistols against the barrel of the other. Immediately the pistols began to change. The two guns clicked together. The barrel of the front pistol grew larger and an eye scope popped up at the top. The rear pistol's grip stretched out, and a cheek pad rested on top of it.

"First I'm James Bond, now I'm a sniper from Call of Duty." I said. "Will the sword turn me into Samurai Jack?"

I ran to the edge of the roof and laid down on my stomach. I rested the sniper against the ledge and my cheek on the cheek pad. Taking a deep breath, I focused on a building far away, where Slade and Robin were fighting. Slade laid against the ground, the chips scattered at his side. Robin approached him. I pulled out my communicator.

"Robin, you're going to want to take two steps back. It's gonna blow any second." I said.

"What?!" Robin cried, and he hurried to the other side of the roof.

I took another deep breath and pulled the trigger. A giant, red laser zipped through the air and cut through the Slade robot, causing it to explode. I smiled to myself and climbed to my feet. Examining my bazooka sniper, I grabbed the parts of the sniper that were the grips of the pistols. There was a click and the sniper broke into two. The extra parts returned to the guns and my two energy pistols returned to their original form. I slid them into their gun holsters and cast my eyes back to the building far away. I saw the other Titans standing on the roof with Robin.

"We're heading back. Need a ride?" Robin said through the communicator.

"No. The episode's about to end soon. I'll stay here." I said.

"Okay. Uh... Ciela...?"

"What?"

"Something happened between me and Slade that you need to know..."

"I probably already know. He said you two were a lot alike, right?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

"Don't worry about it. It's just a mind game of his. I really do have to go soon. I'll see you later." I said. "Oh, and Robin?"

"Yes?"

"Remember this the next time you try to do something stupid again. Is it really worth it?"

I powered off my communicator and tucked it away.