Dissolve to an overhead view of Robin's room, with that single overhead light still shining down on the loaded desk. The door is closed, but opens to admit Starfire; as she proceeds in and looks at the newspaper-covered walls, she recalls some of his words.
Robin (memory): Who's Slade?... You almost got hurt. Next time it could be worse... Nothing. Lead was a dead end... I'm close to a breakthrough... Sure you guys can handle this without me?
She stops at the desk to look at the items and picks up, from one end, the blasted birdarang from the sewer chase in
Starfire: Robin, where have you gone?
There is a flash from the level of the desk, and she drops the weapon with a gasp. It glances off a small metal globe on the corner of the desk and knocks it over the edge. This thing bounces a couple of times and rolls slowly to a stop near the wall. A beam of light shoots straight up from it and splits into two that fold down toward the floor on either side. Between them, a holographic image of Robin appears-caught up in the net as during the Titans' first pursuit of Red X. He flickers a bit.
Hologram Robin: I'm fine! Get X! Go!
Starfire's foot steps into view near it.
Starfire: Huh? Robin?
Hologram Robin: I'm fine! Get X! Go! I'm fine! Get X! Go!
Starfire: If you were not really there-then where were...
She gasps sharply as the truth dawns on her- Robin's masquerade as Red X, coupled with the fact that the Robin who accompanied the other Titans on their chase was this double. Cut to a close-up of the green microchip seen during his last talk with Slade, in a protective field of its own. Pull back as Red X approaches to show the surrounding area dimly lit. He plucks the item away; pan across the area to show a pool of light cast from one overhead lamp.
Slade: Excellent work.
The thief turns toward the light. A figure approaches it from the far side, so that the details are momentarily washed out, but as it steps to the center of the circle, it is revealed as Slade. He is garbed in the same manner as his commando robots-black armor, steel reinforcements and hand/footgear-but with two differences. One, a dark gray sash crosses his chest from right shoulder to left side; two, his mask is red-orange on the left side, as seen in "," and black on the right. The black half has no eyehole.
Slade: Honestly, I couldn't have done better myself.
Red X: So, do we have a deal?
Slade: Indeed. You and I are so very much alike. It seems only natural that we should be partners.
Close-up of his open hand on the end of this, then cut to Red X, who holds up all three microchips.
Red X: What are they for? I need to know what we're planning... partner.
Slade: Patience. You can't expect me to trust you with such sensitive information right away... can you... Robin?
Red X's eyes pop at the realization that his cover has been blown. There is a flash from behind him, and a small net flies from this into view, sweeps the three components from his hand, and carries them to Slade's. Now the lights come up to reveal the room as a large, oblong chamber with several robots standing around the perimeter. They are identical to the ones that attacked the HIVE graduates during the highlight reel at the start of "." In addition, there is a balcony that is now packed with ranks of commando robots. From one direction after another, the mechanical enforcers advance slightly to close in. Red X gets ready to throw down, and the camera cuts to Slade. As the robots on either side of him start to advance, the entire room shakes with the force of an explosion. Cut to its source-the ceiling has been blown out, and shadows start to appear in the smoke.
