Another early evening had settled over Gotham, bringing with it the usual symphony of sirens and muted chaos. Xander stood atop a high-rise, the city sprawled out beneath him in all its grimy glory. Steel, in his compact hovering form, flickered into view beside him.
"So, what's on the agenda tonight?" Steel asked. "Street races, rooftop brawls, or a scavenger hunt for leftover pizza slices?"
Xander sighed. "None of the above. Just a routine patrol—or as routine as it gets in this city."
Steel's glowing eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I still think we should be tracking down Intergang. They're definitely up to something with that alien tech."
"Agreed," Xander said. "But we need more intel before we make a move."
Steel hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I've been analyzing their tech patterns. It's highly probable they've got a centralized location for assembly and distribution."
"We'll figure it out," Xander promised. "But for now, let's keep our eyes open."
With a burst of TURBO-energy, Xander activated flight mode and soared into the sky, Steel trailing beside him. The city blurred beneath them, a patchwork of lights and shadows.
They landed near the edge of a warehouse district, where the hum of machinery echoed faintly through the air. Xander crouched behind a stack of crates, scanning the area.
"Looks quiet," Xander said.
"Too quiet," Steel added dramatically. "This is textbook ambush territory—like that episode of Galaxy Rangers where they walked straight into a trap."
Xander gave him a sideways glance. "We're really doing TV references now?"
"Hey, pop culture is an essential component of strategic thinking," Steel argued. "Know your tropes, avoid your doom."
Shaking his head, Xander crept forward, his suit's sensors on high alert. Steel's banter had grown on him over the past month, even if it could be a little much at times.
"No heat signatures inside," Steel reported. "Either they packed up and left, or someone's using advanced cloaking tech."
"Let's find out," Xander said, slipping through a side entrance.
The warehouse was dark and cavernous, filled with rows of empty shelves. Xander's HUD highlighted faint traces of energy residue.
"Something was here," Steel confirmed. "Looks like they moved out recently."
"Great," Xander muttered. "Another dead end."
Steel's holographic form flickered beside him. "Hey, don't be so glum. We'll track them down eventually."
Before Xander could respond, a new voice cut through the darkness.
"Nice suit. Doesn't exactly scream subtle, though."
Xander spun around to see a familiar figure step out of the shadows—Robin, clad in his black and yellow costume, a confident smirk on his face.
"Robin," Xander said cautiously. "What brings you here?"
Robin crossed his arms. "I could ask you the same thing. Gotham's a dangerous place for solo acts." His gaze shifted to Steel. "And who's your glowing friend?"
"I'm Steel," the AI introduced himself proudly. "Max's indispensable tactical advisor and charming companion."
Xander barely suppressed a wince at the use of the alias. He had insisted on it after realizing having Steel casually call him by his real name during missions was a liability. Better safe than sorry, especially with Gotham's reputation for snoops.
"Max?" Robin echoed with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah," Xander said quickly. "Just a nickname."
Robin nodded, clearly intrigued but willing to let it slide. "You guys investigating Intergang too?"
Xander nodded. "They've been moving alien tech through the city. We were hoping to find some leads here."
Robin's expression turned serious. "You're not wrong. Batman's been tracking their operations for weeks. We could use some extra eyes on this."
Steel's eyes gleamed. "Did you hear that, Max? We're in demand."
"Not sure that's a good thing," Xander muttered.
Robin smirked. "Look, I get it. You probably like doing your own thing, but Gotham's not the place to go solo. Let's team up—at least for this mission."
Xander hesitated. Teaming up with Robin meant exposure, but it also meant access to valuable resources.
"Fine," Xander agreed reluctantly. "But I'm not making any promises."
"Fair enough," Robin said. "Let's get to work."
As they made their way through the warehouse, Robin shared intel on Intergang's recent movements.
"They've been smuggling advanced weaponry through Gotham's docks," Robin explained. "We think they're planning something big."
"Big and bad, most likely," Steel added. "Classic villain playbook."
Xander frowned. "Any idea who's supplying them?"
Robin shook his head. "Not yet. But whoever it is has deep pockets."
Steel hovered thoughtfully. "Sounds like we need to crash their party."
"Agreed," Robin said. "I'll coordinate with Batman. You two keep doing what you're doing—just try not to blow anything up."
Xander smirked. "No promises."
As Robin disappeared into the shadows, Xander blinked. "Does he do that disappearing thing often?"
"All the time," Steel replied. "I swear he's got a teleportation device hidden in that belt."
Robin's voice echoed from somewhere unseen. "I heard that."
Xander muttered under his breath. "Show-off."
Steel chuckled. "Jealous much?"
"Let's just focus," Xander said, trying to regain composure.
Back outside, Robin reappeared beside them as if he'd never left. "We'll keep each other in the loop," he said. "Batman likes a good surprise, but I'm more about teamwork."
"Appreciated," Xander said.
Robin grinned. "Catch you guys later—if you can keep up." With that, he fired a grappling line and vanished into the night.
Steel shook his head in amusement. "I think I like that guy."
"Of course you do," Xander said, activating flight mode. "Let's get moving."
As they soared across the city, Steel's voice echoed in Xander's mind. "You know, for a guy who wears a bright costume, he's pretty sneaky."
"That's Gotham for you," Xander said. "Nothing is ever what it seems."
Steel chuckled. "Good thing we're full of surprises too."
They continued their patrol, Gotham's neon glow fading beneath them. Xander glanced at the horizon, feeling a strange sense of purpose. Working alongside Robin might be risky, but it was a chance to learn more about this world—and perhaps make a real difference.
"By the way," Steel added mischievously, "Max suits you, but I was thinking of trying Turbo King next time. Thoughts?"
"Don't even think about it," Xander warned.
Steel laughed. "Oh, come on. It's got flair!"
Xander groaned, knowing he was in for a lifetime of ridiculous name suggestions. But deep down, he wouldn't have it any other way.