Author's Note: Not much to say here, except I am changing the way Robin loses her cape cause it's not very clear in the episode. And Robin is always prepared. I own nothing.
5. By The Book
Robin led the way through the vents crawling up two levels to the right room. The vent covers were nearly invisible from the outside but Robin quickly found the one she was looking for and pried it open jumping out of the vents and landing in a catlike crouch. Artemis followed.
"Come on, there's a secret passage behind one of these bookcases but the blueprints weren't exactly forthcoming about which one it was." Artemis rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, cliché much?" Robin laughed lightly.
"You think that's bad you should see the Batcave. Let's just say Wally's not the only one who had an obsession with souvenirs." They walked carefully down the rows of books when suddenly there was the distinct sound of the door being opened. Both girls spun round weapons drawn, but Robin knew that an unknown enemy could easily take them down. So she did the smart thing. She grabbed Artemis by the arm and bodily dragged her behind one of the bookshelves. Robin crouched in wait as the metallic footsteps grew closer. She was watching through the books as the footsteps grew closer. Suddenly a familiar voice rang out.
"Artemis. Robin." Artemis sighed in relief as the figure drew closer but Robin wasn't convinced.
"It's Red Tornado!" Artemis ran out from behind the shelves grinning, Robin tried to grab hold of her quiver but just missed as she revealed their hiding place.
Amateur. Robin thought as she glanced back through the books. Her heart dropped. It wasn't Red Tornado. Robin spotted the yellow detailing all up the red robots chest as he raised an arm to grab a petrified looking Artemis. Robin leapt just managing to push her friend aside and miss the robots hand at the same time.
"Yes on the Red, no on the Tornado!" They ran for the exit as the robot straightened to pursue them. But before they could reach it another red robot, this one looked female, blocked their path. They ran back the way they had come as she shot jets of fire out of both hands. Robin back flipped up to the top of the bookshelves and kept going as Artemis followed.
"Who, what are they!?" Artemis was starting to panic slightly, Robin could hear it in her voice as the shelves behind them caught fire. The fire alarm buzzed and the sprinklers went off drenching everything. Robin dove down to the floor and began scanning the bookshelf in front of her. If she knew Batman she could figure out which one was the right book to pull. Artemis remained on top of the shelf behind her. Robin heard the crunch of metal against wood and the sound of books and bookshelves falling like dominos. Artemis gasped and leapt down beside Robin. Robin scanned the bookshelf again looking for the one out of place. She found it, a large red tome lined in black. The Mysteries of Udolpho. She grabbed it and pulled. The shelf in front of them shuddered and lowered revealing a passageway behind it. They dove into it and Robin was pleased at the sound of the bookshelf sliding back into place behind them. Artemis stared at her.
"How did you know which book it would be?" Robin winked.
"Because I know Batman. The Mysteries of Udolpho, pretty simple choice if you've read it." Artemis rolled her eyes as they raced down the corridor.
"And of course you have. Is there anything you don't know?" Robin grinned.
"Not a lot!" Artemis paled slightly but Robin ignored her in favor of pulling up her map as they ran. Artemis grabbed her arm.
"So wait did you know Tornado had siblings!" Robin frowned and shook her head.
"No." Robin went to turn left but Artemis grabbed her arm again.
"So now what! Red Tornado is one of the powerhouses of the League, how are we supposed to take down two of him?!" Robin turned to her.
"They do seem pretty user unfriendly." She was just trying to lighten the mood slightly, knowing Artemis was really starting to panic now but it didn't do any good.
"Stop joking! This is serious! They…" She was cut off as the PA system in the cave buzzed to life and the voice of not red tornado came from all around them.
"Attention Robin. Attention Artemis. You have exactly ten minutes to surrender or the lives of your teammates will be extinguished." Robin relaxed slightly.
"Why do you look so relaxed!? They are going to kill the team!" Robin looked at Artemis seriously.
"I look relaxed because they haven't killed them already." With that Robin raced off leading the way down the passageways like she had been living here all her life. She didn't even falter as the PA continued its countdown. They turned down two more hallways as another minute went by, marked by the monotone voice that menaced their team through the speakers.
"Come on we can access the hanger from here!" Robin turned slightly and paused. Artemis was about to pull her down the hall when she heard it too. The sound of water rushing through the hallways. She turned and gasped as she saw the tidal wave headed their way.
"Or not." Robin didn't even sound scared, more annoyed than anything. Artemis never took her eyes off the rapidly approaching water as they ran.
"Will you stop saying that!" She practically screeched, fear keeping her from caring if she sounded afraid or not. Robin didn't get a chance to answer though as the wave caught up to them, sweeping them down the hallway. Artemis almost groaned aloud as her arrows were washed out of her quiver. Robin pulled something out of her belt and stuck it in her mouth. A breathing apparatus of some kind then Artemis noted as she struggled to hold her breath. Robin grabbed hold of her shoulder and handed her the thin black tube. She nodded in thanks and breathed through it, blessed air sweeping into her lungs. She needed one of these, if they lived through this she would have to talk to Robin about getting one.
But before she could think any further something grabbed hold of her foot and she screamed the breathing apparatus slipping from her lips. Robin dove past her grabbing one of the floating arrows as she did. She stabbed it into the male robots eye forcing it to release Artemis's ankle. She turned to swim away but the robot reached out and grabbed hold of her cape. For a second they struggled as Artemis's vision swam. Then Robin was grabbing hold of her and swimming the other way as a faint beeping sound resounded around them. Then the world behind them exploded forcing them down the hall. Robin yanked on Artemis's arm and produced a second black tube from somewhere in that life saving utility belt. She didn't even bother using it herself before she placed it in Artemis's mouth. As her vision cleared Artemis saw Robin swimming down the hall, but something was wrong she didn't have her cape. No time to linger on that now she swam after her youngest teammate.