Chapter Three
She looked at him, silent for a moment, as if frozen.
Robin stepped forward and spoke, breaking the moment. "Why are you here?"
The gazes turned to Robin now, Trigon's as well.
"If you wish the world as you know it to continue, then it would be advised for you to listen to me." Trigon stated.
"What are you talking about?" Robin asked, confused.
"It's simple. The world will end." Trigon leaned back comfortably.
Four of them shifted a quick look at the fifth member of the founding Titans.
Trigon saw their gazes flicker, and sneered. "You don't have to worry about me going to your world. As far as I or anyone else knows, I am still stuck and sealed in this shit-hole." He scowled for a second, before his features relaxed. "But enough of that. I don't plan on using the portal any time soon. I don't even care to take over this place, believe it or not."
The Titans looked at him warily and with distrust; then Raven blinked, free of her stupor.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Her voice was cold and her face blank.
They looked at her and Trigon's attention turned.
"Oh. Daughter."
She said nothing, so he continued.
"I really don't care for your world. In fact, I would let it rot."
"Then why don't you? Why warn us?" Raven demanded.
His face hardened. "Because. Something of mine is missing. Someone stole it. And I want it back."
The Titans in the room exchanged glances.
"What is it?" Raven asked, ignoring the others.
"The Book. Unless, of course, you have it."
"What book?" Robin interjected, but was ignored by the two.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"The Book is gone. Unless you or that boy has it, it was stolen from me by an unknown third party."
"Who?" Raven asked, and it was clear from her tone that she meant the boy mentioned and not the latter.
Trigon rolled his eyes. "Who else would I be talking about? Back then, the only ones with me were you and him. Both of you are the only ones who would know of the Book's existence, unless you told someone."
"What book? Who else?" Raven said, confused.
Trigon snorted. "Oh dear. You must've forgotten."
Raven was tight-lipped. "Forgot what?" she growled.
But his attention was elsewhere, and he mumbled to himself for a minute before turning a stern gaze onto his daughter. "Just so you know, I'm talking to you because I hadn't been able to track down that apprentice of mine."
Robin's eyes widened. Trigon had . . . an apprentice?
"Anyway," Trigon spoke before any of them could respond. "Here's an image of the Book. If you find it, contact me at once." A floating hologram of a green book appeared above Trigon's hand. It rotated around, and they stared at it. Yellow symbols were on the spine, but the title itself was colored red and outlined in black.
"Farewell." The screen went fuzzy, then blank as Trigon ended the signal.
Bumblebee closed the screen, and all surrounding Titans looked at the five founding members.
"Well? What does he mean?" Pantha asked.
Robin turned to Raven, but she shook her head. "I . . . I don't know."
Then, hastily, before any of them could say more, she turned and walked out, leaving the room and the faces of her friends.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Raven plopped down onto her bed and lay down, thinking. Just what was exactly going on here?
Her mind flashed back to the hologram of the book Trigon showed them, then flashed to the book she had been holding in her dream.
Her breath caught in her throat as she made the connection. It was exactly the same.
Her mind reeled, and she found herself wondering what it all meant, and if it really was a dream she had, or, perhaps, rather, it was … a memory?
She sat up, confused.
A memory? But how? My whole life was in Azarath. I never even knew my father before I was eight years old. How could I have memories about Trigon when I was five years old and had no idea he existed?
Somehow, she knew she had been five years old in that dream. If it was a dream, anyway.
But, deep down, she knew it was a real memory that was resurfacing in the form of a dream. However, her mind couldn't comprehend how, so it was confused, and was unable to accept any possibilities.
She sighed, and closed her eyes, lying back on the bed. It had been a truly confusing day, and she was unbelievably tired with all the perplexing events coming.
Maybe I'll figure something out later… she thought as her mind drifted away into the realm of dreams.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
In the living room, it was unbelievably quiet. Quiet, awkward, and confused.
No one had any idea what was going on or what they were going to do about it, if it was the truth.
"So…" Heads turned to Beast Boy. "What should we do? Find the book and give it to Trigon? We don't even know what it's about! And what did the title even say? Because I definitely never seen that before."
"…" Robin abruptly turned to Bumblebee. "Bumblebee! Can you find the picture of that book from a playback?"
The dark-skinned Titan nodded, and moved toward the computer. "Yea. I can get it as soon as I find a good angle."
"Ok. Cyborg, I want you to finish analyzing the substance on the wall. Bumblebee, download the picture onto everyone's communicator, and print out some copies on paper as well. Oh, and make sure you get several shots—we want the spine, front, and back. Herald and Speedy! Once you get the picture on your communicator, go discreetly to town and look around for this book. But don't tell anyone about this meeting with Trigon.
"Anyone who can speak or write in another language, I want you to meet in that room with the message. Take a copy of the printed picture with you and see if the symbols Beast Boy found earlier matches the title."
The room buzzed with movement as the Titans moved to their assigned tasks.
"What about you, Robin?" Starfire asked, pausing beside him as she floated on her way out the door.
Robin turned away. "I have other things to do. But it's fine, so don't worry about it, Star." Robin said to reassure the red-haired Tamaranian.
"Well, if you say so… " Starfire hesitantly said before floating out of the room following behind Aqualad and Pantha.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Robin took a deep breath. He was alone, and in one of the communications room. He was about to contact someone. Someone who was both ally and foe, yet neither at the same time.
Yes. Robin was going to talk to none other than the notorious Red X who was known for being one on his own side, able to turn on a partner just as quickly as he makes the deal—that is, if it was in his interests to do so.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Robin of the Teen Titans."
Robin grit his teeth, but replied in an even tone, knowing that he shouldn't let Red X aggravate him. "I have something that might interest you."
"Oh?" Red X's own tone was bored and casual-like—as if he didn't care.
Robin's voice also took on a casual tone. "Well, unless you already know that Trigon has an apprentice…" his voice trailed off, and underneath his casual look, he paid rapt attention to the thief's reaction.
Red X's attention had been caught. "Trigon? Apprentice?" he asked, leaning forward.
Robin looked at the screen. "Well, seems that you didn't know either." He commented. Even though he knew that Red X could hide his true thoughts, Robin was pretty sure that Red X didn't already know—his question and the reaction was too quick to be thought up. But one could never tell with a villain, nor a hero, and especially Red X who could be both.
Red X leaned back on his chair. "Alright kid. You've certainly have my attention now. What is it that you want?"
Robin's voice turned hard. "I want answers. And I want information." He informed the thief.
Red X nodded. "Go on."
"Can you find out anything about Trigon's apprentice?"
He shrugged. "Maybe. It depends."
Robin ignored his comment. "And there's something Trigon said was stolen from him…."
Red X's curiosity was certainly peaked now. "Stolen you say? Trigon's?" His voice was silky, and it reminded Robin that Red X might double-cross him and contact Trigon instead. But he ignored that. Because Red X was one of the best informants one could have if one wanted information.
"Yes. He says he's looking for a book. If you agree to search for the apprentice and the book, then I'll send you the picture of it."
"Just a minute kid. What's in it for me? Because I'm certain you already know I don't do things for free."
Robin paused, and considered. Then, he gave smirk. "The world won't end."
"What? Kid, you're going to have to be more rewarding than that." Red X's tone was incredulous.
Robin shrugged. "That's about the best thing I can offer off the top of my head, beside a pack of Xenothium."
"And you thought that would be reward enough for me?"
Robin shrugged again. "Actually, I thought that being the only person beside the Titans with this particular knowledge would satisfy you enough. Think about that. And contact me if the deal's on."
Robin switched off the communication from his laptop, and stood. Things were going to get a little more complicated. But he had no idea how much.
He walked out of the room and the door closed behind him.