Scene starts with Nightwing running in a completely black and empty place until he reaches Slade in his vision. The enemy is wearing his typical brown armor and mask.
"Hello Robin, or I should call you now, Nightwing. It has been a year since we last met…." - Slade says sarcastically.
"It seems you really haven't learned from what happened before, Slade. Fine, but don't regret this once I take you down now." - Nightwing replies with anger.
He rushes towards Slade and tries to slice him with his electric sword. But the attack phases through the soldier and does not harm him. The blue hero is shocked.
But he tries to hit him again with a few blows. To no avail though, they go right through his body.
"Huh? Why are my attacks not making contact with him?" - Nightwing asks surprisingly.
"Hehehehehe. Well boy, it seems that you have really grown compared to before. And have gotten far more powerful as well. You may have defeated that alien. But you still have a lot to learn before you become a challenge to me." - Slade replies with a laugh.
"Shut up!" - The blue hero says
Nightwing tries to attack him further. But this time, Slade unleashes his power and his mask glows with that Skath mark and his flame aura appears.
"Ah. That mark" - The blue hero says.
He remembers the time he was outclassed by Slade one year ago as Robin when Raven froze time. He begins sweating at first, but he continues moving.
"I have obtained this power specifically to defeat you, Slade. So don't assume it will end like before." - Nightwing says.
"Heh. We'll see" - Slade replies with a dark voice.
He shoots a huge fire blast at the blue hero, causing the latter to be shocked.
However…….
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" - Nightwing says after waking up.
He opens his eyes and finds himself in the bed, covered with bandages in the morning.
He begins huffing. And he starts to feel the pain of his injuries from the battle on Tamaran. He also puts his hand on his face. It seems it was just a nightmare that he had earlier.
Starfire opens the door of his room after hearing his scream to check his state.
An opening starts here.*
Scene starts with Starfire flying towards the blue hero and hugging him.
She then brings a chair and sits next to his bed.
"Nightie. Are you okay?" - Starfire asks.
The blue hero continues panting a little bit and then stops.
"Starfire!? What happened? And how long was I here?" - Nightwing questions with concern.
"Calm down. I have managed to defeat Blackfire after you gave me the opening for that. Then we decided to send them to another empty dimension where they can't come back from anymore. You have been unconscious for a week, and your injuries haven't been fully recovered yet. You have really exerted yourself despite promising me otherwise." - Starfire replies.
"I'm sorry for that. But anyway, we need to move now." - Nightwing says in a rush.
He tries to leave the bed. But he fails due to the pain on his body.
"Wait. What are you doing? You're still not in a shape to walk. It should take you at least another week to be back. So sit down and don't make it worse for us please." - Starfire speaks with a worried face.
So the blue hero is forced to stay on the bed.
"I'm sorry for making you concerned about me. But if we don't move quickly….." - Nightwing says.
"Tell me. Is there something you are hiding?" - Starfire replies.
"On Tamaran, when I had to face Gine Macford. I tried to buy some time by asking her a question. I asked about how she found our location on Earth before capturing me. Alas, she mentioned Slade" - The blue hero talks with a serious expression.
"Huh!? Slade? But how?" - Starfire asks.
"It seems that they met somehow and he managed to know our location. Meaning that he most likely has been spying on us for a long time. How long though is sadly unknown. But he's definitely planning on something after hearing this. This is why….." - Nightwing responds.
"Don't worry about it this time. If Slade or anyone were to come to us, we will put them in their places by ourselves. So take a rest for another week at least and let us do the job by ourselves. Hehehe" - Starfire says with a smile.
Starfire gets up and gets closer to the door.
"Wait Star. Where are you going?" - Nightwing asks.
"I'll go bring something to eat for you since you can't move right now. I will be back soon" - Starfire replies.
She leaves the room and closes the door.
She moves a little bit and she finds Raven in front of her.
"How is he then?" - Raven asks.
"Not really that good. It would still take him another week to fully recover. Also….." - Starfire replies.
"Also what?" - Raven questions.
"He said that Slade was involved with Blackfire & Gine Macford when they took him from Earth" - Starfire says.
Raven starts grinning.
"So he really still plans on something" - Raven says.
"Yeah. This is why we must always stay prepared" - Starfire replies.
Scene switches to a Hideout on the other side of Jump City. And there, it seems that Red X is training.
He is wearing the same mask and clothes as before.
He shoots a red energy blast from his palm to destroy a wall.
"Hmm. So Robin, or should I call you, Nightwing now. You have really changed since the last time we have met. Even gained actual superpowers and changed your outfit. Hehehe. However, don't think that will be enough to take me down." - Red X talks to himself.
Slade comes in to check the black thief.
"Ooh. It seems that your abilities have been polished compared to before, Red X" - Slade says.
"Of course, I always step forward. Why are you here though? Do you have something you want to say?" - Red X asks.
"Well, I want to say. Despite your improved abilities compared to before, I fear to say that you still do not compare to Nightwing the way he is now." - Slade replies.
"What did you say? But how?" - Red X questions.
"From the data I have gathered about him, it seems that his powers operate on a power source far greater than the Xenothium-suit that you stole from him. His speed and power are far beyond what you could handle right now" - Slade responds.
Red X begins grinning and getting angry.
"However…. there is a quick way that could allow you to catch up or even surpass him." - Slade says.
"Huh!? How?" - Red X replies.
"From the researches I have made, there is a powerful red crystal that has the shape of an icosahedron. That's the power source that they make the Xenothium from. And even the latter is less powerful than it. If you obtain and swallow it, literally. Not only your suit's abilities will be amplified immensely. But your body itself will gain a meta-gene too. Just like Nightwing. You will not require the suit to use its abilities anymore. It's called the Radioactive Crystal" - Slade speaks with a strict face.
"Where is it located?" - Red X asks.
"It's in a building in Mexico far from here. It will probably be night once you reach there. It is also protected by guards and laser beams. But knowing you, stealing has always been your profession and best job. So I don't think that will be your biggest issue. However……" - Slade says.
"Yeah I know. The Teen Titans will try to stop me together after I take the crystal. However it's not really a problem. I have taken care of them before thanks to this suit alone." - Red X responds with confidence.
"You may think that. But they aren't the same as before too. They have improved significantly since the last time you have met them. So in case you got overwhelmed, take this" - Slade adds.
Slade throws an injection with a yellow serum on it at Red X who catches it.
"What does this do exactly?" - Red X questions.
"This is a serum called Venom. Once you inject it on yourself, you will get a momentary burst of strength and speed that would last for five minutes. However, the drawback from it will be severe after that, so be careful. Use it only if you feel yourself in–need for more power." - Slade warns him.
"Ok. I think I will go now. Just watch me infused with the crystal once I come back here." - Red X replies confidently.
Red X teleports from the Hideout to begin the mission.
Hours later, Red X manages to reach Mexico. It has become night indeed though like Slade predicted.
"Well, this will make my mission even easier. No one can steal without being noticed better than me. Hmm" - Red X talks to himself
He begins by entering the building from an opened window. And makes his first step there. But suddenly, an alarm begins ringing inside the building which shocks the black thief.
"Huh? But… how?" - Red X asks.
"Put your hands up and surrender." - an unknown voice comes from behind him.
Red X turns his face and notices a few guards who have Assault Rifles with them.
He puts his arms up. But he is confident.
"Not gonna lie, this is the first time ever I have been caught like this. What's your secret?" - Red X asks.
"The ground has an invisible detector that exposes any intruder here. Luck wasn't on your side apparently. Now take off your mask" - The guard replies.
"Ohhh. And what if I don't?" - Red X questions.
"Then I will shoot your skull with the weapon you see right now." - The guard responds with an angry face.
"Hehehe. Then try it." - Red X says while putting his hands down.
The guards get angry and try to shoot. But Red X teleports using his belt, shocking the guards present.
"Where did he go?" - One of the guards wonder.
Red X is apparently above the guards. One of them manages to notice him. But he shoots an X-sticker that breaks the ground below them and they fall to a lower floor.
Then he throws a glue that puts most of them sticked to the ground unable to get up.
One of the guards try to shoot at him again. But he dodges the bullets and then shoots a red energy blast at the remaining guards, putting them all on the ground.
"Heh. The guards here are so weak that I don't even need to conceal myself to steal the crystal. I shall go now. Bye" - Red X says.
He goes down to the lowest floor and finds the red crystal finally enveloped in a box made of glass.
"So this is the Xenothium crystal. It looks really small. I can't believe that it can emit that much power like Slade said. But that explains why he told me to swallow it as well" - Red X says.
Red X breaks the glass and takes the crystal between his fingers.
"So it's time" - He says.
He partially removes his mask to reveal his mouth, and he swallows the crystal.
"Heh. Mission succeeded" - He says
However, the aftereffect of swallowing the red crystal begins and Red X starts to feel pain in his entire body for a while. He struggles to stand up.
"Huff huff. Ow yea, it seems my body is fusing with this thing and creating the meta-gene. However, this really hurts" - Red X says.
A red aura begins to emerge from the thief. At the time he is still evolving though, a green starbolt hits him through a wall.
It seems the Teen Titans have reached the place. However, their leader is not with them.
"Good job Starfire. That should definitely deal damage to Red X at his state." - Cyborg says.
"Yeah. But just before I hit him, there was something weird about him. His aura felt like he was evolving or something like that. So we shouldn't let our guards down." - Starfire replies.
"Starfire is right. Red X may have something up his sleeve that we don't know about." - Raven says.
"Let's take him down" - Beast Boy says just before transforming into a bear.
Red X stays on the ground for a short while but he gets back up.
"That really hurts. Is that how you introduce yourself, Starfire?" - Red X says with a sarcastic voice.
Red X had expected the Titans to come. But he did not expect them to attack him in a weak state like he was right now. But it seems that his evolution and fusion with the crystal has completed. He has all the power now.
"You can say that. He may have failed to capture you multiple times. But you won't get away from us this time, X" - Starfire says.
"He? OH. You mean Robin. I really hoped I could meet him again by now. Where is he by the way? Hehe" - Red X asks mockingly.
"That's none of your concern." - Starfire replies with an angry face.
"You don't have to be this hostile, Star. You know, you may think that me and him are just rivals or enemies. But we could actually be more than that" - Red X says.
Starfire is surprised.
"What do you mean by that?" - Starfire asks
"Well. That's none of your concern now as well" - Red X responds.
The battle begins and Red X shoots a radioactive energy blast that causes an explosion covering the entire building. But the Titans manage to get out of its range. They remember Red Star and his abilities and notice that Red X shot the exact same blasts that he shoots.
"My power has really skyrocketed. But it's pretty hard to control it, it seems I will need more training to endure something like this. So I gotta end this quick" - Red X says after taking it more seriously.
Cyborg tries to shoot Sonic Cannons at Red X. But the black villain teleports from his location and gets behind the android.
"Have you not learned that I could teleport from locations without even having to travel a distance?" - Red X says mockingly.
He tries to hit Cyborg with a radioactive energy ball, but the android reacts with rockets from his back shocking the enemy and making him step back.
Red X is annoyed by that. He notices that the Titans have grown since the last time they have met.
Beast Boy turns into his Gorilla form and tries to attack. Red X tries to shoot an Xarang to restrain him, but his body is unable to move well due to the pain caused from the radioactive energy inside him. This gives Beast Boy the opportunity to punch him hard in the face, hitting him through a wall.
"Damn it. There is really a big pain throughout my body. If I don't finish it quickly…." - Red X talks to himself with concern.
He snaps his fingers to teleport next to Beast Boy and tries to tag him with a radioactive red explosive ball. However, Raven blocks it with a black darkness shield.
"Heh. You may have formidable abilities as a half-demon. But you are vulnerable to close quarters combat" - Red X says.
He creates an X-shaped weapon made of red radioactive energy and teleports behind Raven to stab her with it. But he finds himself unable to move due to the half-demon's demonic Telekinesis.
"Huh? But how did you manage to react to me this quick?" - Red X asks with a shocked face.
"Simple. Your movements are too similar to his that we got used to them overtime." - Raven replies with a smile.
Red X gets angrier and his powers begin to get out of control even further. Raven shoots a darkness bird at the villain, sending him crashing outside of the building. His mask also begins tearing apart from the damage he took. One other punch or blast would probably reveal his face and identity.
"Huff huff. This is really troublesome. Why am I losing control so suddenly?" - Red X says with clear signs of fatigue.
Starfire walks towards him with green energy covering her eyes and arms.
"Have you not noticed? You clearly lack experience controlling all that newfound power at once. Just give up" - Starfire says.
"Just shut up." - Red X responds angrily.
Red X puts both of his arms horizontally and prepares to charge an X Blast that could destroy entire city blocks from the nuclear explosion caused. However, Starfire flies towards him and punches him with a starbolt-engulfed punch before he could react.
That causes his mask to fully tear apart and his identity was revealed. This completely shocks Starfire once she sees his face.
"Aaah. Nightie?" - She says with a cold face and opened eyes.
Yea. His face looks exactly the same as her spouse and leader, Nightwing or Dick Grayson.
HOWEVER, his eyes are somehow red instead of blue. And his hair is completely white instead of black.
It's as if it is an evil duplicate of him. Something that Starfire notices.
Red X himself is silent and does not talk after his face got exposed.
The other Titans come in to check and are extremely shocked that they saw his face.
"That explains the weird similarities between them. Especially in their fighting style and movements" - Cyborg says.
"Yeah. But why does he have a white hair and red eyes instead of black hair and blue eyes that Nightwing has? Isn't that weird?" - Beast Boy wonders.
"Who exactly are you, Red X?" - Raven asks.
Red X pulls the Venom injection from his pocket and knows that he has no choice but to use his last resort in order to escape.
"Hehehehe. I thought that shredding the mask I was wearing alone would make you find out who I am. I didn't expect you to be dumber than I thought though" - Red X responds sarcastically.
He injects himself with the Venom. Which Cyborg specifically feels uncomfortable about.
"I have really gotten tired of you. If you're not going to make it clear, I will have to take the informations from you by force after taking you down." - Starfire talks with an angry face.
She rushes towards him at full force and prepares for another punch. But….
"Starfire! Don't attack him like that" - Cyborg warns her.
Starfire lands the punch and Red X smiles just before that.
And he casually blocks it with his bare hand, shocking the other 3 members and Starfire herself.
"Huh? But how?" - Beast Boy wonders.
"Is this all what the physically strongest member of the team could muster? How petty" - Red X talks with a calm voice and serious face.
He punches Starfire back which sends her through a wall.
"I really got tired of this game. I'm gonna end this now" - Red X says with a serious face.
This is the first time that Red X gets this serious and angry. When they faced him a year ago, he seemed to be chilling way more. It is most likely a combination of his identity being revealed and the extra strain from the Radioactive Crystal and the Venom serum.
Cyborg tries to shoot a Rocket Cannon at Red X. Which the latter nullifies using a radioactive red energy ball.
Raven tries shooting rocks at him using her Demonic Telekinesis. But the black villain teleports to land above another building. And charges an attack from both of his palms horizontally.
"Take this. X-Blast" - Red X shouts.
The Teen Titans are shocked by the amount of energy emitted from the enemy. And Raven manages to defend herself and the other 3 using a big darkness shield. But she struggles doing so and the aftereffect creates an explosion that destroys numerous buildings.
Raven tries to find Red X. But it seems that the thief has successfully ran away after succeeding in the mission.
"He really got away after this…." - Raven says.
"There is a lot to discuss about once we head back to the Tower at this point" - Cyborg speaks.
"Hehe. Our leader with white hair and red eyes looks really menacing and terrifying. However, he wouldn't get away from us the next time we find him" - Beast Boy talks.
"Yeah. He definitely wouldn't. And I'll make sure of that. He will regret this" - Starfire replies.
The Teen Titans head back to the tower and reach there after 2 hours.
They told Nightwing the whole story in-details, which shocked him in-turn.
"Wait WHAT? Red X is basically me with white hair?" - The blue hero asks shockingly.
"And red eyes. Trust me, everything else is 100% identical to you. Even the spiky hair style is the exact same. My theories about him being an alternate version of you may not have been that far off after all" - Beast Boy replies.
"And you also said that he fused with a certain Crystal that gave him control radioactive energy that is based on the Xenothium. Right?" - Nightwing asks.
"Yeah. He is far more dangerous than he ever was before. He even overwhelmed Starfire in a physical confrontation. However….." - Cyborg says.
"However what?" - The blue hero asks.
"Just before that, he injected himself with a weird serum. Before that injection, he wasn't really that strong in comparison. So that could have been a drug booster or something like that. Though from what I know, these drugs' effects are temporary and could also have negative effects on its user's body…" - Cyborg responds.
Nightwing stays silent for a while and knows that the situation has gotten worse.
"The next time we meet him, we'll make sure to capture him and give everything he knows. I promise you that" - Starfire tells the blue hero with a smile.
Nightwing keeps thinking for a small while at first. But he gives a smile.
"Yeah. Hopefully….." - The blue hero replies, but with some concern.
By the time he says that, camera briefly switches to Red X who is on the ground unconscious inside Slade's hideout from the usage of the Venom serum and also his unmastered newfound powers.
An ending starts here*
EPISODE ENDS.
Character Bio:
Real Name: ???
Alias: Red X
Hair: White
Eyes: Red
Age: 16
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 155lbs
Powers/Abilities: Radioactive energy blasts, Radioactive energy explosions, Enhanced Strength, Enhanced Speed, Enhanced agility & reflexes, Enhanced Durability, High Endurance, Proficient Martial artist & acrobat, Radioactive Energy Absorption, Biking intuition, Instant Teleportation, Various X-shaped weapons with a red coloration including (but not limited to): Xarangs or X-shaped shurikens, red lasers, adhesive restraints, goop, handblades/buzzsaws, etc….
Affiliation: Slade (Currently), Brotherhood of Evil (Formerly)