DC Gothic – Red-X
Part 5
Apprenticeship
Titan Tower – Jump City
I've compiled all the data from Red X's previous robberies so far, there's no pattern, other that he needs to steal Xynothium," said Robin as sat the large computer.
The Titans had worked well into night trying to find a way to stop the thief known only as Red-X before he struck again, however all their efforts had been for nought.
They knew he wanted Xynothium for his suit but there were several places in town to get the stuff and since they didn't how much Red-X needed they couldn't predict when he'd go after the Xynothuim even if they'd known which of the buildings he'd break into. Which they didn't.
"I'll keep searching," said Robin, with a great amount of determination in his voice
Nearby Starfire was sitting meekly on the couch in front of the computer. She was worried about the Boy Wonder, he was obsessed with this Red-X despite the fact that the crook was hardly that dangerous.
"Robin, we've been trying to find the guy all night" point out a very tired Cyborg.
He was sitting across from Beast Boy at a table some distance away from the Titans computer, and was also worried about how invested his friend was in this so far fruitless investigation.
"It's been a long night" Cyborg went on to say "Maybe you should get some sleep"
"NO!" shouted Robin.
His fists clenched and all in the room became more concerned about their friend's mental state.
"X is dangerous, and we've got to stop him before somebody gets hurt!" Robin said.
"Hey, Robin!" shouted Beast Boy, angry that Robin had snapped at his friend. "We know X is a criminal, but we've got other things to worry about besides him this guy. Like sleep, for instance"
Beast Boy let out a yawn, but Robin ignored it.
"I know it's been a rough night" Batman's former sidekick then said "but I just know that Red-X is dangerous".
"I'd call this morning" Raven stated as she looked at the big clock on the wall "and I'm pretty sure we're not going to find anything important until we get more information".
With a disappointed sigh, Robin turned to his friends.
"Sorry guys I know get obsessed sometimes" said Robin, while looking over at Beast Boy, Cyborg, then at Raven and finally at Starfire.
He knew that Red-X most likely wasn't out to destroy the city, it was just that X was able to commit his crimes because of the suit Robin had created. Only he knew exactly how dangerous someone could be if they figured out everything that outfit could let a person do.
"But you guys are right" Robin then added "We're all to tired to even think straight and we don't have enough information. So let's rest up and then tomorrow we can go looking for clues".
Everyone found that to be a fair a compromise as they would get, and each of the Teen Titans went to their bedrooms for some well earned rest.
(Line Break)
Industrial District – Jump City
From the outside the old steel mill looked to be abandoned, but I had soon discovered that this was a just a cover for what went on beneath. Well not all of it. I had a bedroom that was above the basement level, but it to was well shielded to be found.
As I made it into the basement I began to hear sounds of metal clashing against metal and what I guessed to be blowtorches. As I listened I heard others sound of construction, and when I got closer I saw what I guessed to be a bunch of robots building yet more robots.
I had already mentally labelled them 'Sladebots' and then wondered why the hell an assassin needed an army when the point of an assassin was kill someone without having to send in an army. However this wasn't something I was going to find out any time soon.
"Certainly is a nice place you've got here... er Slade,"
I had no idea how to address him. Was I suppose to call him master like he was some sort of Sith Lord and I was his apprentice?
"Anyone here?" I then asked.
While I couldn't see the killer I was pretty sure he was around here somewhere and while he wouldn't be able to hear what I had just said due to all the background noise he should be able see me. No one who had survived as long as Deathstroke in his line of work would be foolish enough not be tracking every step I was making in his own home.
That was when a door at the side of the room opened. No one walked out of it so I assumed that was some sort of invitation. I took said invite and walked into another big room, this one seemed to be a office and a study, only it was very high tech.
"Ah Red-X how wonderful it is to see you" Slade greeted without even bothering to turn and face me
Given that he'd seen me a few hours ago and I now lived with him it seemed strange that he talked to me like this, but I didn't care much as I was just happy he wasn't torturing me or something equally horrible.
"Come here and watch the show." he said while gesturing to the screens.
Slade was sitting back in a comfy looking chair watching a big monitor, and on that monitor Robin was doing the whole hero thing. He was bravely defending the citizens of Jump city from evil and dastardly people with nefarious plans. People like me.
I had to admit that he was one hell of a sight to watch. The dude was so light on his feet he sometimes seemed to be flying, and he had lightening fast reflexes too. He didn't so much fight, as do a deadly dance.
On the other monitor, this one equally as large, was me. Well the footage was focused on me, but it was of my fight with the Titans at the museum.
The quality wasn't very good because of the low light level, but I could see enough to know that I was a better fighter than I'd thought and I also noticed that Robin was not fighting me anywhere near as well as he could.
Something had made him told back during our meeting, maybe he knew I was human under the suit and he hadn't want to kill me, or maybe he still saw himself under that mask and as such he held back. I didn't know but either way it was something I could use in the future.
"Marvellous isn't he" Slade said.
Clearly my new boss was in awe of the Boy Wonder and I also knew that I was looking at the competition, or more likely my replacement. Slade wanted Robin as his apprentice I was just filling in for the time being.
Oddly this didn't worry me to much as someone like Robin would never serve Slade, even if Deathstroke found a way to control the Boy Wonder it wouldn't last as Robin was too much like his mentor, he'd always find a way to win. And while that was going on I'd make my escape.
"Study him closely, apprentice" Slade ordered "One day soon you will kill him or be killed".
So I'd guessed correctly. I was just standing in for Deathstroke's chosen successor.
"I need you to steal a few things for me" Slade went on to say "but first I have something for you".
It turned out to be a collapsible staff like the one Robin used, only this model was different as by twisting a certain part of the staff it became a spear, a very pointy and sharp spear. Good for both whacking people and maybe even killing them.
"Very nice" I said.
After that Slade gave me some detailed instructions and then he sent me on my way. Tonight I would stealing more Xynothium, as I would need it for future jobs, but that was only one of my targets.
"Between these jobs I will be training you" my master then said "there's much I can teach you".
Hopefully he more toys to share as I did not work for free.
(Line Break)
Titan Tower – Jump City
"We're all on stake outs tonight" the leader of the Teen Titans declared.
Beast Boy moaned and flipped over the back of the couch, he couldn't have looked more depressed.
"Dude, can't we just sleep like normal people?" the green-skinned meta-human wailed
At first Robin paid his teammate no attention as BB often complained, but after thinking about it he decided that he friend deserved to know the reasoning behind this order.
"Sorry Beast Boy" the dark haired teenager apologized "but if my calculations are right then Red-X will need more Xynothium soon".
Robin then turned back to the main computer display; tapping in a key command and hitting enter. This brought up a 2D map that highlighted buildings were Xynothium was being stored. Next to that was a blurry photo of Red-X.
"Why is every picture we have of this guy is so blurry" Cyborg complained.
This included the snap shots he had taken. There was something built into the suit that made him hard to capture on camera, but only Robin knew that and he wasn't sharing that fact with any one.
"Because he's good at what he does" came the sombre voice of Raven.
While it was hard to tell it almost sounded like she was impressed by Red-X. Which actually she was, but that would stop her from putting the thief in jail where he belonged.
"Exactly" agreed Cyborg "I mean, he's just a thief right? So why are we busting ourselves trying to catch him when there's other bad guys we could be chasing?"
Robin didn't agree with any of what he had just heard, but that was just because he was taking this personally. The Red-X suit belonged to him and no one else. For some on to use it commit crimes was a big insult to him.
"I copied some footage from the museum security cameras," Robin told everyone "and I've been studying the footage. X was able to beat us twice and then second time he was able to use more of the suit's gadgets. That means he's still learning what it can do, but he will figure it all out and when he does he'll become unstoppable. So we have to stop him now!".
"Yes! We will track down the villainous X and bring him to justice!" Starfire shouted, wanting to support her friend.
Raven, now seated in a casual lotus position upon the couch, snorted at Robin's exaggeration and Starfire's over to the top enthusiasm. Red-X was a small time crook. Sure he might know a few spells, but the only one she'd seen him use was a trick for children where she came from. Also he could fight but he wasn't that good, he mostly just dodged and used gadgets. He was hardly a big threat.
"Yes, the X is clever" Starfire said, seemingly thinking aloud. "But if he is so dangerous they why does he flee from us after these thefts?"
Robin rubbed his chin thoughtfully before saying anything.
"You're on to something there, Star" he agreed "X doesn't want to fight us so if you think about it he should have skipped town, but he's still here and not just for the Xynothium. That stuff isn't as rare as it use to be, lots of labs have it all over the country".
Now the others were starting to get on board. Robin was right. Red-X was sticking around for a good reason, it could be that he had some sort of master plan at work.
"Do you think he's working for someone?" Beast Boy asked of the whole group "Maybe he stolen that thing from the museum for another crook".
Robin once more rubbed his chin as his mind worked.
"You could be right" he admitted "the relic he stole is rumoured to have some sort of magical power, but X is a high tech thief not a wizard".
Raven mused on that point as she actually had seen X use a spell, but the more she thought about it that didn't really mean he was a proper magic user at all. He might have just picked the trick up from somewhere.
"We need more info" pointed out Cyborg "and we can get that by capturing this guy. Let's do the stake out and just arrest him if he shows up, then we can interrogate him and find out everything".
All the Titans agreed that this was the best course of action, even if the idea of staying out all night didn't really appeal to most of them.
"Five sights, five Titans" Robin said "We all pick a building and watch it like a hawk, but no body takes this guy on alone. You see him and you wait for back up".
With that said they all grabbed their stuff and headed out. It would be a long night, but with any luck Red-X would be behind bars by morning.
(Line Break)
Tech Lab – Jump City
I'd gotten out of the technology companies building and I was just about to teleport away when I saw the shadowy figure of Robin standing right in front of me. I couldn't see his eyes due to his black and white eye-mask bit I knew he was mad because his expression was dark contrast to the cheerful red, green and yellow of his uniform.
"Haven't seen you for while" I said, trying to sound like I didn't have a care in the world "Been busy?"
The thin line of Robin's mouth pulled into a crooked smirk, but there was no warmth in it. It was a smile that told me he was going to enjoy himself if he got to kick my ass.
"I'm never too busy for a thief like you" the crime fighter told me.
He was way too serious about this whole thing. He needed to relax more, otherwise he'd start getting grey hairs and stomach ulcers.
"You need a hobby kid" I suggested "Maybe get yourself a girlfriend, or a boyfriend. I don't judge".
As Robin tensed his the shoulders and I knew that my attempt at humour had not diffused the situation. He really did need to get laid and since he was being such a git I decided to goad him further.
"What the matter, kid?" I asked as I took out a few throwable Xs and got ready to throw "Don't you wanna play. After all, there your toys".
With his cool staff he deflected my throwing Xs and then the Boy Wonder threw a bird-a-rang right at me which knocked one of my Xs right out of the air with total ease.
Knowing that I wasn't going to win that way I moved into a combat stance like my instructors at the academy had taught me to do.
"You're going to jail" Robin promised.
Then he punched me in the side of the head in a move I'd had no chance to block, but at least I was able to recover fast enough to block his staff with my arm. That hurt too, but the suit protected me from the worst of it
However it didn't make me invincible to I teleported away and landed with a heavy thud on the roof top two streets over. I'd missed my intended target and the difference in height meant that I'd fallen a short distance.
To my shock I heard the sound of someone's boots and as I stood up I saw that Robin had managed to catch up with me, somehow. The spiky haired youth really wanted to capture me it seemed.
"X!" Robin snarled "You're mine!".
I just couldn't resit saying something at this point.
"When I said you should get a boyfriend I didn't mean me".
Something flew threw the air and I found that a length of cord, weighted down on the ends, were now slung around my ankles. I cursed, stumbled and then hit the ground
The Titan stopped and approached me slowly, no doubt he but I had other plans. On the back of each glove I had rotary blades, another feature I'd recently discovered, and I used them to free my legs.
Bird Boy was smart enough not to get too close to the spinning blade, but that also gave me the chance to try and put some distance between us.
Sadly that failed as Robin sprinted after me and he was faster than me so rather than tire myself out I span around to face the Titan, while taking out my own telescoping staff.
"Are you just copying me?" asked the Boy Wonder "Can't you come up with anything of your own".
"You should be flattered" I replied "I'm imitating the best aren't I?"
The two staffs met with the sound of grinding of metal against metal. Each of us was struggling to overpower the other, and we found ourselves evenly matched. We were more alike than either of us could have imagined.
"Shame we're on opposite sides" Robin said.
At the very least I seemed to be earning his respect, if only as a worthy foe. Maybe if things had worked out differently for me we could have been friends. But only in some strange dimension far away.
"I don't like to play the hero" I told Batman's sidekick.
We both then disengaged and Robin let loose a wild cry, and span his staff in a deadly spinning arch.
I ducked under that attack and then rolled to left as Robin slashed at my right. Then we began to circle each other as we both looked for an opening we could exploit.
"I'm taking you in this time" swore Robin with gusto "there's no escape X".
"We'll see about that" I countered just as I made my move.
Robin staggered back, clutching his belly as I finally landed a good strike. It was dumb luck more than anything else, but it was enough to give me the chance to escape.
"Catch me if you can, Robin!"
I then leapt off the water tower and teleported to a place at the very edge of my sight. This time it was enough distance to allow me to escape.