They had been winning.
Their undercover operation had, as usual, not remained so and the Team had had to fight their way out of the warehouse they had been observing. The first sign of trouble came when Robin, who had been hacking the warehouse complex's computers for electronic evidence of human trafficking, whispered a brief Ptiu! into the mental link.
Sorry guys, he went on. I missed a security feature and tripped a silent alarm.
If anything could be said for Conner, he was direct. What does that mean?
It means, the Boy Wonder explained, that our undercover mission is no longer 'under.' Get ready for some company...
Running footsteps could be heard outside the warehouse and the team, who had been searching the warehouses for physical evidence, fell into defensive positions.
Robin, remain in the office and retrieve the evidence we came for. We may never have another opportunity, ordered Aqualad. Kid Flash, stay with him.
Wally raced toward the office building just as the north entrance opened to admit a dozen guards.
We can take 'em, declared Artemis.
Agreed, replied Aqualad, unsheathing his water bearers. Suddenly, the south entrance banged open as well, and another two dozen guards entered, flanking the teens. All the guards were armed with semi-automatics, and the Team would be caught in their crossfire.
The Team and the guards faced each other, neither side acting just yet. Robin's voice echoed again in their heads. Got it! We have the evidence we needed!
Good, Aqualad responded. Because we will need your assistance. Wally, return here and see what you can do about some of these guards. Robin, return as quickly as you can. We must get this evidence back to the League.
A whirlwind raced through the warehouse, signalling the arrival of Kid Flash. He quickly dispatched nearly half the guards before the remaining half realized what was happening and opened fire on the Team. Miss Martian merely fazed through the bullets, buffering several guards with telekinetically-moved crates. Aqualad paused momentarily to convert one of his water bearers to a shield and the other to a mace before charging the five guards on his left. Artemis leapt for a stack of crates, ducking behind them for protection even as she fired an arrow at an approaching guard, dropping him with the taser tip. Superboy simply charged the ten guards in front of him, ignoring the bullets that bounced off his skin. In all the confusion, none of them noticed the one guard who disappeared through the side door which led to the office building.
The Team quickly dispatched the remaining guards. Conner and Miss Martian began gathering the guards together to tie them up when the sharp sound of automatic gunfire rang out from the direction of the office building. Before the Team could respond, the gunfire echoed again.
Kid Flash, go, ordered Aqualad. We will follow.
Wally raced away without any further prompting. As he exited the warehouse, he saw a figure racing away from the office building. He chuckled to himself; no-one could escape the Wall-man! He took the guard down, knocking him out with a well-aimed blow. No help needed, guys, he told the Team. I handled him.
Understood, replied Aqualad. Robin, where are you?
No answer.
Robin, please respond. What is your location?
Come on, Rob. This isn't the time for one of your disappearing acts! We have to go!
Miss Martian broke in. Guys, he's not connected to the mind link. I can't contact him. He may be unconscious...
Wally scoffed into the link, though his heart started to beat faster. Please, this is Robin. He could take care of himself with both hands tied behind his ba-
Nevertheless, Aqualad interrupted. He is our teammate. Kid Flash, search the office building. I'm sending Conner to help you. The rest of us will remain and take care of these guards.
Wally left the guard where he lay; the Team would collect and restrain him in a few minutes. As he ran back toward the warehouse, he spotted a figure just outside the office building lying on the ground in a heap. He nearly passed it by, assuming it was a guard Robin had taken down. Suddenly, he noticed a flash of yellow among the figure's dark clothing.
Robin! Wally reached his side, hands shaking as he took in the damage. The Team clamored in the back of his mind, demanding what had caused Wally to cry out their youngest's name.
R-R-Robin's been sh-shot! Wally stammered. I can't- I don't- Wally stopped, unable to continue. Robin lay on the ground in a pool of blood. Wally turned Robin over onto his back, letting out a low keen as he saw the five bullet wounds which had mutilated Robin's abdomen. He pressed his hands to the wounds, trying to stop the flow of blood.
Wally barely registered Aqualad's voice in his head. M'Gann, summon the bio-ship. Artemis, contact the watchtower.
Wally tuned out the rest of Aqualad's instructions when he noticed Robin's lips were moving. He leaned in close, trying to catch what Robin was saying.
"...Domnului sufletul meu... de a păstra... dacă ar trebui să... mor inainte sa ma trezesc..." Robin said, his voice getting softer with each word. Wally couldn't understand the words, but he understood Robin's intention.
"C'mon, Rob," he sobbed. "You don't need to pray. You're gonna be fine, right? You're a fighter. You're gonna pull through this."
The Team arrived in the bio-ship, Artemis still on the communicator with Hawkman. Aqualad and Superboy ran down the ramp, lifting Robin carefully while Wally continued to put pressure on the wounds. M'Gann converted one of the seats to a table and they set Robin on it; Superboy took over the communicator as Artemis helped Aqualad begin administering first aid. In the back of his mind, Wally registered the fact that they must still be communicating telepathically to each other, but he couldn't bring himself to care that they had cut him out of the link. He locked his eyes on Robin's chest as it rose and fell as he breathed in and out...
In... out...
In... out...
In... out...
...
...
...
Acum mă stabilesc de a dormi/ Mă rog Domnului sufletul meu de a păstra/ Dacă ar trebui să mor inainte sa ma trezesc/ Mă rog Domnului sufletul meu să lua.
(Now I lay me down to sleep/ I pray the Lord my soul to keep/ If I should die before I wake/ I pray the Lord my soul to take.)