Barbara's POV

I knocked on the door with three sharp raps.  A few seconds later, Artemis opened the door.  

"Ready to go?" I asked.

"Yep," Artemis said as she reached for her jacket hanging on a hook by the door.  "I'll be back later, Mom!" she yelled as she shut the door.  "So, where are we going Barbara?"

"You'll see," I said, smirking to myself at my genius plan.  You see, as daughter of the Police Commissioner of Gotham City, I knew stuff the regular citizen wouldn't.  

Such as, the parents of Artemis Crock are the super villains known as Huntress and Sportsmaster.

We entered my car, which I had parked in front of Artemis's building.  Driving downtown, Artemis got a little suspicious in the passenger's seat. 

"Seriously, Barb, what is this about?" Artemis questioned.

I thought about my response before vocalizing, deciding to go with an answer that would probably make her the least mad at me.

"It is about a guy."

"You called me out of my plans to talk about a guy?!" Artemis exclaimed.

"Not just any guy!" I said, parking the car. 

"Why are we at an abandoned warehouse?" Artemis asked, looking at the shabby building in front of us.

"It isn't abandoned."

I led Artemis out of the car to the entrance of the building.

"How are you going to get in, Barb?  All exits are sealed," Artemis pointed out.

"There's a point for that," I said as I touched a certain area of the wall.  Artemis gasped softly as a keypad appeared behind a panel.  I typed in a code, allowing the door in front of us to rise up, giving us access.  "That is why all exits are blocked," I smiled.

"What is this place?" Artemis asked.

We entered into a large room that had a wraparound balcony above an area meant for combat training.  The walls were covered in every weapon you could think of from every corner of the world.  

On the balcony floor were many doors on the wall leading to various areas such as a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. 

"This is the place of the guy," I explained, walking into the middle of the room.

"Is this guy a ninja?" Artemis asked as she examined weapons on the wall.  She took one sword off of the wall.  "This an ancient dagger from Africa.  This doesn't seem like something just any guy would have."

"Well, he is not just any guy," I said, grabbing the dagger from her.  

"Why exactly are you showing me this place?" Artemis asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Because I have a problem that I think you can help me with," I explained.

"What can I possibly help you with that involves a guy I don't even know?"

I took a deep breath, praying he wouldn't kill me later.

"Well, Artemis, I have a few things to admit," I started.

"Yeah, you do."

"First off, I know your parents are Huntress and Sportsmaster."

"How do you know that?" Artemis exclaimed.

"My dad is the police commissioner!  I know lots of stuff!  Like you are also the super hero known as Artemis," I revealed.

"The commissioner does not know that I am Artemis!" Artemis said suspiciously.

"No, he doesn't," I confirmed.

"Then how do you know, Barbara?"

"Because of the guy who owns this place," I said, spreading my arms for emphasis.

"Who owns this place."

I paused nervously, really hoping he wouldn't kill me.

"Robin."

Artemis stared at me for a few seconds, taking a few deep breaths.  "How am I supposed to believe that this is the hideout of the Robin?"

"Oh, Artemis, you have to believe me!" I pleaded.

"I don't know what to believe!"

"How else was I supposed to know who you are!"

Artemis paused again, seeing my point.  "Okay, fine, this is the hideout of Robin.  But how do you know Robin?  And why did you bring me here?"

"I met Robin five years ago, when he started out.  From there, we befriended.  He told me his identity.  He shared stories of missions with me, secrets that no one else may know."

"Okay," Artemis said, confirming she was listening.  "So you know what the rest of the planet, including the League, wants to know.  Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

"No!"

"Then why am I here?"

I took a breath and started in on my troubles.  "Recently, Robin has been being sent on a lot of dangerous missions either by himself or Batman.  He goes to retrieve information, stops heists, test people.

"While he has been doing these missions, your team was established.  Robin has been on more undercover missions because the Justice League didn't want him to have anything to do with the team."

"Well, everyone knows that.  The League thinks he is an undercover villain!" Artemis scoffed.

"I know they do, but he isn't.  If you knew what he has been through, you would know that he isn't what they say he is.  But, back to my story.  

"The Light has been proving to become more of a threat.  Batman and Robin had been working on uncovering their plan. But, then the events at the Watchtower took place.  The team managed to save the League from being taken over by the Light," I said.

"I was there.  What does this have to do with anything?" Artemis asked.

"After that happened, Batman felt that they needed to make sure the team would be ready for the next time the Light attacked.  So, Robin and Batman came up with a plan and shared it with the League. Most of them didn't agree, but they allowed Batman to proceed.  So, Robin got to work."

"Got to work on what?"

"The plan was to give the team an enemy that was seemingly undefeatable by the team.  Robin designed a perfect suit, a perfect persona, the ultimate teenaged thief that would serve no other purposes but his own."

Artemis's eyes widened as all of the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.  "You don't mean?"

I turned around and lifted one of the swords from the wall, revealing a button.  I pressed it, allowing yet another wall to lift up, revealing a hall full of different costumes.  I walked past all of the varying Robin combat gear and suits.  I stopped about halfway down the hall, where the costumes had stopped, and turned to my left.  In a glass case was none other than the uniform of the famed thief Red X.

"Robin is Red X," Artemis said, putting her hand onto the case.

"Yes, he is," I confirmed.

"So Red X is a test put on by Batman to see if we are ready?" Artemis questioned.

"Yes.  But I need your help with something," I reminded her.

Artemis didn't answer me.  She just stared at the suit.  Staring at the black suit with a single red x on the chest, torn up gray cape, skull mask.  She seemed to be trying to take in every single detail of the suit.  

"Artemis, I have to talk to you quickly.  Robin will be back any second from the cave," I said with urgency in my voice.

Artemis still stood still.  I ended up grabbing her arm, slowly dragging her out of the hallway, closing up after we exited.  "Artemis, I need your help."

"Barbara, what did the League expect to get out of tricking us?" Artemis asked quietly.

"I don't know, Artemis.  I don't know everything," I replied softly.

"What do you want help with?" Artemis asked, staring at all of the weaponry on the wall.

"As I told you, Robin has been doing a lot of dangerous missions lately.  I have offered my help to Robin, but he refuses to take it. He blames my inexperience in the field as to why he will not allow me into the field.  When he told me of this Red X case, I was quite furious.  He's only fourteen, and expected to best a team of super-powered proteges.  Even with the power provided by the suit, I don't know how he will survive the mission," I explained.

"What do you want me to do?" 

"Watch him.  Make sure he stays safe.  Currently, the world is against him.  I need someone on his side in the field," I said.

"I can handle myself Barbara."

Artemis and I locked gazes before looking up behind us to the balcony where there stood none other than Robin himself.  

"Artemis, this doesn't look like a special family event," Robin said to Artemis, no doubt meaning the excuse she used to leave from training earlier.  "Barbara, I didn't exactly clear this."

"When do you clear me for anything, Robin?" I asked the Boy Wonder, crossing my arms with sass.  

Robin jumped over the railing of the balcony, flipping to land in a crouch on the floor in front of us. "So, now you know, Artemis."

"I know the League still doesn't trust us to handle ourselves!" Artemis exclaimed.

"Well, now you get to handle yourself as a secret part of this mission," Robin said simply.

"Woah, I am in on this mission now?  What's Batman going to say to that?" Artemis questioned. 

"This is my case.  Batman doesn't get to know everything.  He doesn't know that Barbara knows about me, and he doesn't know about you," Robin explained.  

"So, now what?" I asked.

"Now, I guess Artemis gets to learn the big secret," Robin said.

"Your identity?" Artemis asked. 

In response, Robin took off his domino mask, revealing his blue eyes underneath.  

"Wow," Artemis breathed. "I have no clue who you are."

"Dick Grayson," Dick greeted, holding out his hand for Artemis to shake.  

"So just like that,"  Artemis asked.  "We are a team on a mission?"

"A very secret team on a very delicate mission, but yes, a team," Dick said.  "Welcome to the inner circle."