The Apprentice

Friend or Foe?

"Hurry up, gob-munchers! We've got a sweet deal tonight!" Gismo squeals over his shoulder as he flies towards the bank they'd been assigned to rob. Mammoth yawns and stretches. "But Gismo, we usually rob during the day, we're tired!"

Jinx walks past him with a hint of swagger. "The H.I.V.E is watching us, Mammoth. We can't mess this one up. If we pull this off, then they'll have no choice but to let us form our own team."

See-more pulls up behind her, rubbing his head. "Thanks for letting me join you guys tonight, it's cool I get to be part of your team."

Jinx smiles at the boy, before remembering to put on an aura of superiority. She scoffs. "Whatever! We just need the training for four-person battle formations, okay?"

Gismo cuts in, flying between them. "This is it!" He points to the tiny air vent that would only fit him. "Once I bypass security, I'll give the signal and you guys will waltz right in through the front door."

He crawls until he's on top of the security room, then jumps down and pulls out a tablet from his backpack to start hacking. When he gets started, the tablet abruptly lights up with green Robin faces smirking at him.

"What? But this is..." He starts, surprised. "Security's already been hacked?"

A hand closes over his mouth, sealing in his squeal of protest, and he's pulled away from the security camera's view. He turns around and spots Robin staring him down.

"What are you doing here?" They both demand at the same time. Gismo prepares an attack, but the sensors in his goggles point out the stylised 'S' on Robin's new uniform. He sputters.

"What! But you're— and he's— and you—"

"I'm working with Slade now, Gismo." Robin spits, looking away. Gismo's eyes widen. "No freakin' way!"

"Gismo, what's the hold-up?" Jinx's voice sounds in his ear. He pushes his thumb on his earpiece and replies "You guys won't believe this, Robin's —"

Robin instinctively knocks his hand away.

"Hey!" Gismo squawks. "What was that for?"

Robin steps back, pressing a hand to his forehead as he tries to wrap his head around this mess. He looks up at the security camera. "Slade's test. He wants me to...?"

Gismo crosses his arms as his wings uncross behind his backpack. He takes to the air.

"Are you a threat or not, Snobin?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Robin mutters.

"Well, stay out of our way while you make up your tiny bird brain." Gismo replies with a scrunched-up face, zipping past him. He reaches the entrance and lets his friends in. Jinx looks worried as he opens the door. "Gismo, what happened to your coms?"

He grins and points over his shoulder "Bird-boy from the Titans switched sides. He's with Slade now!"

"What?" Jinx exclaims, voicing everyone's expressions. She recovers her demeanor and folds her arms, considering it. "Out of all the heroes... I guess it makes kind-of sense. Batman's the darkest hero, and Robin's no ray of sunshine either. Is he here?"

Gismo scrunches up his face again. "He said something about a test. I can't tell if he'll stop us or not."

Mammoth punches his palm with his fist, a show of determination. "He can try, but all by himself he doesn't stand a chance!"

Mammoth barges into the bank, Gismo freaking out behind him. "Wait! The security guards!"

Mammoth points. They've already all been knocked out. The entire team grins.

They walk deep into the bank, searching for the main safe. To their surprise, it hasn't been opened yet, and Robin is on the other side of the room typing into one of the administrative computers.

See-more gets to work opening the safe by melting an arch big enough for them to walk through. Mammoth pulls the cut material away and they start packing their bags with cash, giddy with joy.

See-more wanders over to Robin, who has a stony expression on his face. The apprentice doesn't acknowledge his presence, so he gives a little cough.

"You know, there's plenty of cash in there for all of us. We wouldn't mind if you took some, since you got rid of security and the guards for us."

Robin's head tilts up at See-more, and surprisingly, the villain's words seem to relax him.

"Slade sent me here with no bags, and no getaway car, expecting me to steal. I think he set this up so I'd run into you. He wants to see how I react."

See-more scratches his neck, his smile faltering. "And your reaction is...?"

"Done!" Robin exclaims, and See-more whips around the counter to see what appears on the computer's screen.

Numbers are flying in every direction, from hundreds of bank accounts, draining into the one at the centre of the screen. See-more's eye shines with amazement.

"Oh wow, great thinking!"

Robin stands and shuts off the computer. "I didn't take much. Fifty from each account."

Robin's hand lingers on the desk. He can't help but admire his growing skill at hacking, and no longer having to rely on Cyborg. This could come in handy for future missions.

He remembers to check his watch. 11 pm— seven hours left to steal from the Metropolis Central Bank. I hope Superman sleeps through it.

"You done for the night?" See-more asks, pulling Robin out of his thoughts. He shakes his head.

"No, I..." Robin pauses. He chooses his words carefully. After a moment, he asks "Why do you steal?"

See-more is caught off guard. He blinks, and thinks for a moment.

"...Well, for lots of reasons."

He glances back at the others, who seem to be doing fine without him. See-more gets the feeling he can confess to Robin without worry.

"I'm new to H.I.V.E, but they're hoping to apply to be an independent team. Unlike your fancy tower, they'd have to pay for theirs, and the bills are on them after the one they'd started building over Titans Tower got destroyed. Then, to stay in this line of work, we have to show H.I.V.E we can make a certain amount... Oh! And we have to pay off student loans for attending H.I.V.E academy."

Robin is surprised. "How much is all that?"

See-more sighs. "Bills for the tower total to 2 million a month. We're beginners, so one hundred thousand's profit per month to prove we can be an independent team, and all of us owe H.I.V.E 50 million total for student loans."