The Titans all rose to their feet in the living area and waited for Robin to delegate objectives to the members. The tv was still on as it played the news reel over and over in the background. The team had gathered around Robin listening intently for the plan.
"Listen up team, Mad Mod is our only lead to find out whats going on. Raven, Starfire, and I will go to the prison and see what we can find out," Starfire and Raven both nod understanding their mission, "Cyborg, you and Beastboy stay here and see if you can use the video to find any kind of clues as to who filmed it." Robin sound like he was very clear on who he wanted at the Tower and who he wanted in the city.
Beastboy didn't like his task. The last thing he wanted to do was watch the video of himself on repeat.
"Uh... can't Cyborg handle that on his own?" Beastboy said trying to get out of it, "I'd much rather come with you guys and help with Mad Mod."
"Sorry Beastboy," Robin said with sympathy, "but with the way things are right now, it's better if you lay low here at the Tower until things calm down."
"It's cool B," Cyborg said trying to cheer him up, "while I search for answers you can catch up on some video games. Maybe if you get more practice I won't kick your butt so bad anymore," he said with a smirk.
Cyborg was trying to joke with him to lighten the mood. But he felt that it was almost cruel for Robin to ask Beastboy to watch the footage anymore than he already has.
Beastboy felt a wave of relief knowing that Cyborg wasn't going to make him do this. He nodded at his best friend and accepted Robins decision.
"Alright," Robin continued looking at the girls, "Star, Raven, lets go."
As they were headed to the door Raven looked back at Beastboy. She wanted to stay with him to help him through this. But she also felt a burning desire to get justice for him and Mod was their best chance at accomplishing that.
"Raven," Robin called back to her, "come on. We're leaving."
Raven turned towards Robin and flew over to the door where he and Starfire were waiting for her. Once they regrouped they started heading to the city.
At the prison Robin requested an interrogation room and an audience with Mad Mod. However, the Warden of the prison was hesitant after seeing the news himself. But seeing as how Beastboy wasn't with them he granted Robin's request and allowed them to speak with the prisoner.
The interrogation room was relatively small. But it was big enough to fit a little more than 10 people comfortably. It had an aluminium table bolted to the floor in the center with two chairs on opposite ends. Robin sat in one chair while Raven stood behind him to his right and Starfire to his left.
After waiting in silence for what felt like an hour, the guards finally brought Mod into the room. He had an orange jumpsuit on and wore handcuffs on his wrists and ankles that were joined together by a long chain that dangled in front of him. The guards sat him in the chair opposite from robin and connected the chain to a solid aluminum ring extending from the table.
The guards left and the door shut behind them.
"Elllllooooo my duckies!" Mod said as if he were expecting them, "now this is a jolly surprise." His face had a crooked smile that could crack glass.
"The footage," Robin replied not wasting any time, "how did you get it?"
"You mean that amazin' piece of film from my days as the principal?" He mocked, "even in this metal tin-can, we get some quality time watchin' the tele."
Robin started to get angry. Mod was hiding something and he was stalling.
"Save it Mod," Robin barked, "I don't care that you got what you wanted, you're going to tell me where the video is so I can show everyone what really happened."
"What makes you think I have it?" He replied playing dumb, "maybe some other chap with a camera also wanted to show the world what you snots really do when you're out misbehavin'."
Robin's face lit up. Mod just gave away something without even realizing it.
"So it wasn't you," Robin declared. Raven and Starfire looked at each other puzzled. They didn't catch on like Robin did, "someone else wanted that footage and you were just the bait."
Mods face went from confident to angry. "Oi! I'm not bait for anyone or anything, you 'ear me? But I know it's about time you lot got what's comin to ya's. So there ain't nothin wrong with gettin a little help every now and again."
"Help?" Raven exclaimed, figuring out what they were getting at, "you're working with someone else?"
This really was a change for Mad Mod. He had always worked alone. Something about him was changing and it was changing for the worse.
Mod looked at Raven and his crooked smile returned.
"Well, well, well," he said with sarcasm, "ain't you the smart one? And I thought the pretty ones were never too bright..."
"Who are you working with?" Robin asked with force trying to intimidate the prisoner in front of him.
"Wouldn't you like you know, ya little runt!" Mod was holding all the cards. He knew that this single piece of information was the only reason the Titans were here talking to him and he wasn't about to give it up that easy.
"Please," Starfire said, "our friend is not well," anger stirred in her and she raised her voice, "we must know so we may fix the damage you have caused him!" Starfire pointed at Mod as if declaring war.
Mod's smile only grew. Starfire had just confirmed that the Titans were beginning to fall apart as just Mod had planned.
"Damage I caused?" He replied, "your little green friend is the whiney brat with the temper tantrum! He seems like a rabid mutt that should be put down if ya ask me!"
Raven had heard enough and her anger boiled in her veins. She wasn't about to let this pathetic excuse of a life form talk this way about someone she cared so much for, much less threaten his life.
She let out a cry of anger almost like a low growl from some dark monster. In an instant, her eyes glowed red with rage and the room instantly grew dark and cold. She started levitating and quickly moved towards Mod passing Robin as black flames grew around her.
"You wanna see what TRUE rage looks like?!" Her voice sounded different. Like a demon was taking control of her actions and speaking over her voice. Her jaw was clenched and she bore her teeth like a wolf snarling at its prey.
Mod's blood ran cold. He'd never seen this girl's dark side before and it was the most horrifying thing he'd ever seen. His face showed unchallenged fear as his eyes locked on Raven, unblinking.
Robin shot from his chair. His momentum threw the chair across the room behind him and his eyes were wide with panic. He knew this could make things even worse for them.
"RAVEN!" He shouted desperately, putting a hand on her left shoulder before she could reach Mod.
Raven's head snapped towards Robin with her eyes still glowing red and teeth still bare. She stared at Robin like she barely knew him. She could see that he had his hand on his utility belt ready to draw a mystery weapon.
From the corner of her eye she saw Starfire hovering over Robin's shoulder. Her hands glowing green with star bolts. She was prepared for a fight but her expression showed that she really didn't want to and was pleading with Raven to stop.
Raven's face turned to remorse. Her glowing red eyes slowly faded and returned to normal as she regained control of her emotions. This was her first outburst since before she fought her father. The darkness in the room began to fade and Raven turned her back on Mod and hovered to her original position behind Robin's right shoulder. Without turning back around to face them, she stood still with her head down and eyes closed. She had disappointment painted all over her face.
Starfire no longer had her star bolts at the ready. She floated over to comfort Raven knowing what she was going through. Starfire had defend Robin in a similar way before but her emotions could never cause such a scene as the one she just witnessed.
"Raven..." She said softly, "are you-?"
"I'm sorry," Raven interrupt her. Her voice was filled with regret, "I don't know what came over me." She didn't sound very convincing. She knew exactly why this happened. But the fact that she lost control worried her.
Starfire looked back at Robin as if asking if they should continue the interrogation.
Robin met Starfire's eyes. He had relaxed as well taking his hand off his belt as he stood behind them. He was filled with concern but when he turned back to Mod he found that Mod was frozen stiff, eyes locked open, still holding the same unchallenged fear on his face. He looked like his soul had just been butchered alive.
Robin knew this wasn't going to be his proudest moment but he took advantage of the situation. He leaned over the table slamming his hands down on the table in front of them with a bang, getting really close to Mod's face. Mod jumped in horror cowering into his chair before the chains flexed against the solid ring they were bound to, stopping him from moving any further.
"You might want to pick your words more carefully," Robin said in a slow sinister voice, "I don't know if I'll be able to stop her next time," he sounded serious like he truly didn't know, "but if you tell me what I need to know I might be able to talk her into letting you off with a warning."
After hearing that, Mad Mod had no issues spilling his guts on the subject.
"I-I-I don't know the lads name!" He said frantically, "it was just some chap who always kept his hood up, coverin his mug and h-h-he planned the whole thing! He wanted to get video of you lot hurting the kids at the school to turn the city's trust against ya! I just had the tech necessary to make the whole plan work!" He was speaking so fast Robin was barely able to keep up.
"Where can I find him?" Robin asked sharply.
"I don't know! I swear!" Mod respond instantly, "he never shared any personal information. Fella's like a ghost! Just popped up outta nowhere! Never seen or heard of him before!"
"Give me a name!" Robin shouted.
"I don't know!" Mod was on the verge of balling from fear, "please! I swear! I don't know!"
Robin knew he was telling the truth. This had been a huge waste of time. The only thing they learned from this whole thing was Mod wasn't behind the attack after all. He was just a puppet. A decoy. He was just manipulated into doing the dirty work for someone else. But he also learned another thing... Something was wrong with Raven as well. Not just Beastboy.
And now... they were right back where they started.