#How To Set Up irobot Roomba

[roombalogin]

Complete Guide on How To Setup Roomba Easily

The best cleaning results can be achieved by knowing how to setup Roomba correctly. First, make sure the gadget is completely charged. Then, on your smartphone, download and install the iRobot Home App Setup. Learn how to connect your robot to WiFi by following the detailed instructions. After that, you can alter settings, apply timetables, and keep an eye on cleaning activity. The entire process is made quick and easy with the app. Check the robot's WiFi compatibility again and try again if it isn't connecting. Better cleaning practices and less hassle are the results of mastering the setup. To ensure a smooth integration with your smart home, learn the entire procedure in detail.

[hasufin]

Probably not a hot take

I currently have on my desk three notices of data breaches which may affect me, and expect two more in the next week.

Now, clearly there are "hackers". However, I also know that if these companies followed established data protection standards these breaches would be meaningless.

These are issues because of corporate negligence and greed. The causes are twofold:

First, companies collect way too much data. They track our browsing habits. Our spending habits. Our sleeping habits. Why? in the hope that maybe later they can sell that data. There's an entire economy built around buying and selling information which shouldn't even exist. There's no reason, as a consumer, for my Roomba to upload a map of the inside of my house to the iRobot servers. It provides zero value to me, it's not necessary for the robot to operate. The company can't even articulate a business need for it. They just want to collect the data in order to sell it later.

Second, companies are incredibly lax about IT security. They're understaffed, underfunded, and they often don't bother training people on the technology they have, nor do they install and configure it (hint: a firewall doesn't count if it's still sitting in a box on the datacenter floor).

And I think the only way for companies to sit up and take notice is to make them bleed. You can issue guidelines as much as you want, they won't care because making changes and performing due diligence is expensive. They'd much rather just snoop on their customers and sell it all.

So what we need to do, is set a regulatory environment in which:

We recognize that customers, not companies are the victims of data breaches. The companies which are breached are not victims, they are accomplices.

Create a legal definition of private data. This should definitely include medical data, SSNs, &c, but should be broad enough to include information we'd not think about collecting normally (someday in the future, someone will create a toilet which is able to track how often you flush your toilet. They WILL want to sell that data. Fuck 'em.) [I would also want to sneak in there some restrictions clarifying that disclosing this data is covered under the 5th amendment - that no one else can provide your medical data in a court of law, and that you cannot be compelled to do so.]

Create a legal set of guidelines for data security. This needs to be a continuing commitment - a government organization which issues guidance annually. this guidance should establish the minimum standards (e.g., AES128 is required, AES256 certainly qualifies, it's not "the FITSA guidelines only allow AES128, we can't legally use AES512").

Legislate that failure to follow these guidelines to protect private data is negligence, and that responsibility for corporate negligence goes all the way up to the corporate officers. This should be considered a criminal, not civil, matter.

Restrict insurance payouts to companies when the cause is their own negligence.

Set minimum standards for restitution to victims, but clearly state that the restitution should be either the minimum, or 200% the cost to make the victim "whole" - whichever is higher. This must be exempted from arbitration and contractual restrictions - fuck DIsney's bullshit; no one signs their rights away.

Make the punishments for data negligence so severe that most companies - or at least their officers - are terrified of the risks. I'm talking putting CISOs and CEOs in jail and confiscating all their property for restitution.

The goal here is to make it so that the business model of "spy on people, sell their information" is too damned risky and companies don't do it. Yes, it will obsolete entire business models. That's the idea.

[thursdayisbetterthanfriday]

Applied AI - Integrating AI With a Roomba

AKA. What have I been doing for the past month and a half

Everyone loves Roombas. Cats. People. Cat-people. There have been a number of Roomba hacks posted online over the years, but an often overlooked point is how very easy it is to use Roombas for cheap applied robotics projects.

Continuing on from a project done for academic purposes, today's showcase is a work in progress for a real-world application of Speech-to-text, actionable, transformer based AI models. MARVINA (Multimodal Artificial Robotics Verification Intelligence Network Application) is being applied, in this case, to this Roomba, modified with a Raspberry Pi 3B, a 1080p camera, and a combined mic and speaker system.

The hardware specifics have been a fun challenge over the past couple of months, especially relating to the construction of the 3D mounts for the camera and audio input/output system.

Roomba models are particularly well suited to tinkering - the serial connector allows the interface of external hardware - with iRobot (the provider company) having a full manual for commands that can be sent to the Roomba itself. It can even play entire songs! (Highly recommend)

Scope:

Current:

The aim of this project is to, initially, replicate the verbal command system which powers the current virtual environment based system.

This has been achieved with the custom MARVINA AI system, which is interfaced with both the Pocket Sphinx Speech-To-Text (SpeechRecognition · PyPI) and Piper-TTS Text-To-Speech (GitHub - rhasspy/piper: A fast, local neural text to speech system) AI systems. This gives the AI the ability to do one of 8 commands, give verbal output, and use a limited-training version of the emotional-empathy system.

This has mostly been achieved. Now that I know it's functional I can now justify spending money on a better microphone/speaker system so I don't have to shout at the poor thing!

The latency time for the Raspberry PI 3B for each output is a very spritely 75ms! This allows for plenty of time between the current AI input "framerate" of 500ms.

Future - Software:

Subsequent testing will imbue the Roomba with a greater sense of abstracted "emotion" - the AI having a ground set of emotional state variables which decide how it, and the interacting person, are "feeling" at any given point in time.

This, ideally, is to give the AI system a sense of motivation. The AI is essentially being given separate drives for social connection, curiosity and other emotional states. The programming will be designed to optimise for those, while the emotional model will regulate this on a seperate, biologically based, system of under and over stimulation.

In other words, a motivational system that incentivises only up to a point.

The current system does have a system implemented, but this only has very limited testing data. One of the key parts of this project's success will be to generatively create a training data set which will allow for high-quality interactions.

The future of MARVINA-R will be relating to expanding the abstracted equivalent of "Theory-of-Mind". - In other words, having MARVINA-R "imagine" a future which could exist in order to consider it's choices, and what actions it wishes to take.

This system is based, in part, upon the Dyna-lang model created by Lin et al. 2023 at UC Berkley ([2308.01399] Learning to Model the World with Language (arxiv.org)) but with a key difference - MARVINA-R will be running with two neural networks - one based on short-term memory and the second based on long-term memory. Decisions will be made based on which is most appropriate, and on how similar the current input data is to the generated world-model of each model.

Once at rest, MARVINA-R will effectively "sleep", essentially keeping the most important memories, and consolidating them into the long-term network if they lead to better outcomes.

This will allow the system to be tailored beyond its current limitations - where it can be designed to be motivated by multiple emotional "pulls" for its attention.

This does, however, also increase the number of AI outputs required per action (by a magnitude of about 10 to 100) so this will need to be carefully considered in terms of the software and hardware requirements.

Results So Far:

Here is the current prototyping setup for MARVINA-R. As of a couple of weeks ago, I was able to run the entire RaspberryPi and applied hardware setup and successfully interface with the robot with the components disconnected.

I'll upload a video of the final stage of initial testing in the near future - it's great fun!

The main issues really do come down to hardware limitations. The microphone is a cheap ~$6 thing from Amazon and requires you to shout at the poor robot to get it to do anything! The second limitation currently comes from outputting the text-to-speech, which does have a time lag from speaking to output of around 4 seconds. Not terrible, but also can be improved.

To my mind, the proof of concept has been created - this is possible. Now I can justify further time, and investment, for better parts and for more software engineering!

[irobotic]

How Do You Set Up the Roomba Combo J8?

To make the most out of the iRobot Roomba Combo J8 Enhanced Robot Vacuum​, you need to set it up. For that, first unbox the vacuum and its components. Then, place your robot on the charging dock while plugging it in. After that, install the iRobot Home app and configure your device settings. For more details, drop us a line!

[metalporsiempre]

How do I, Tsubasa Hanekawa, get up each morning? Roomba wakes me up every morning. Of course, Roomba isn’t the Hanekawa family cat, nor the eccentric name of little sister Roomba Hanekawa. It is indeed, simply, the automatic vacuum made by iRobot, the Roomba 577 if you were to call it by its model number. This high-performance vacuum cleaner, timer set to go into action automatically at six each morning, klonks into my head and wakes me up. A refreshing start.

Nekomonogatari (White): Cat Tale by NisioIsin

[fortunerobotic]

AI Robots For Sale

AI robots are instruments made to increase productivity, streamline chores, and bring a little of future convenience to everyday life. They are more than simply high-tech devices. The possible uses are numerous, ranging from a personal robot that may assist with housework to an instructional robot for kids or an advanced robot for company automation.

Types of AI Robots for Sale

Personal Assistant Robots

Humanoid AI robots and other personal assistant robots are made to naturally and intuitively interact with people. They can deliver information, respond to inquiries, make reminders, and even manage smart home appliances. With features like voice interaction, facial recognition, and advanced social abilities, some models—like Jibo and SoftBank's Pepper—are perfect for daily help and companionship.

Home Service Robots

Robots for home services are designed to assist with cooking, cleaning, and even security duties. Certain tasks can be completed by robots, such as the Moley Robotics kitchen assistant or the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner. These robots provide a practical means of keeping up with everyday duties, making them perfect for persons with hectic schedules or restricted mobility.

Educational Robots

Children and students who are learning about technology, programming, and artificial intelligence can benefit greatly from educational robots. from enabling users to construct, program, and operate the robots, models such as LEGO Mindstorms, Dash and Dot from Wonder Workshop, and Anki Cozmo promote interactive learning. By encouraging STEM skills, these robots assist the future generation in interacting with technology at a young age.

 Healthcare and Elderly Care Robots

AI robots are intended to help healthcare professionals and patients. For the elderly and disabled, robots such as PARO, the therapeutic robot seal, and Buddy, the companion robot, offer emotional support, company, and even prescription reminders. Particularly for individuals who live alone, these robots are incredibly helpful in providing both physical and emotional support.

Business and Industrial Robots

Robots are being used by businesses more and more to improve customer satisfaction, manage inventories, and streamline processes. Businesses are using robots like Pudu Robotics' BellaBot in restaurants, Temi for telepresence, and the KettyBot for reception areas to increase productivity and customer service. Purchasing such robots can lower operating expenses and increase worker efficiency.

Key Features to Look for in an AI Robot

Voice and Facial Recognition

Smart Home Integration

Self-Learning Abilities

Sensors and Navigation

Interactive Displays

How to Choose the Right AI Robot

Identify Your Needs

Set a Budget

Evaluate Compatibility

Research Product Support

AI robots are here and ready to improve our lives by becoming more efficient, innovative, and convenient. They are no longer a thing of the future. AI robots provide a number of qualities that make them attractive investments, whether they are used for business, education, or personal usage. AI robots will develop more as technology progresses, adding even greater utility and versatility to our daily tasks.

To know more click here

[johnymillar]

How to IRobot Roomba i7+ wifi Setup?

For the iRobot Roomba i7+ wifi setup using the app, first, you need to download the i Robot Home app on your phone. Next, open the app and log in using the default admin details. After login, visit the smart Home Dashboard of the Roomba vacuum device. Then, add your device to the app by tapping on ‘Add Your Product”.Now, visit the Settings from the bottom right corner of the screen. Now tap on the Set Up a New Robot option. Next, to choose the wi-fi networks, click on the Wifi Settings. Further, follow the on-screen instructions to accomplish the setup process. For the latest updates, stay tuned and visit our site!

[routerslog]

Easy Way To Connect Roomba j7 To WiFi Network.

To connect Roomba j7 to WiFi network, all you need to do is follow the step-by-step process to set up Roomba. Once you set up your iRobot successfully, turn on the Bluetooth on your mobile phone. Next, add your device to the app. Enter the password for your wi-fi network to establish a connection. For any help, talk to our professional team members!

[alberto-thomas]

How to Reset a Roomba Vacuum?

Nowadays, Shark vacuums have become a decent choice for workaholics. But like other digital gadgets, they also require care for long-term use. Similarly, users sometimes get annoyed when their Roomba vacuum doesn't work properly. Apart from this, several other reasons may not allow your vacuum cleaner to work properly. So if you are wondering how to reset a Roomba vacuum, go through this blog post to factory reset your vacuum and fix any issues.

Steps to Factory Reset Your Roomba Vacuum

You must also know the process of how to reset a Roomba vacuum. Whenever you are facing an issue with your vacuum device not functioning properly, factory reset the device using the steps in this section.

First of all, press the “HOME”, “SPOT CLEAN”, and “CLEAN” buttons simultaneously.

Then hold down these buttons until a white light lits around the “CLEAN” button.

Once you release the buttons, allow your Roomba vacuum to reboot itself.

Finally, the settings of your vacuum are set to their default values.

Now you can start using your Roomba vacuum to clean your home.

Hopefully, these steps in this section guided you to carry out the factory reset for your Roomba vacuum cleaner.

Summing It Up

This blog post discusses how to reset a Roomba vacuum to fix any technical issue. But if you see your IRobot Roomba vacuum still not working, chat with our technical experts, and they'll guide you through the reset process.

[sambrothers]

How To Set up Roomba i3? A Quick Guide Here!

If you want to know how to set up Roomba i3, you can do so easily. For the setup, you must log into the vacuum’s user interface. Once you are logged in, you can configure the settings properly. To set up the vacuum, you must install the iRobot app on your smartphone. Through the app, you can log in, add the vacuum, and set it up following the instructions easily. Need more information with the vacuum, reach out to our team.

[toptrendingproduct]

Embracing the Future of Cleanliness: Game-Changing Robotic Cleaners

When we imagine the future of home automation, one device that prominently stands out is the robotic cleaner. As a result of impressive technological advancements, robotic cleaners have quickly transitioned from being a novelty item to a household essential. They are quite literally revolutionizing the way we clean our homes. In this blog post, we'll delve into how these game-changing devices are reshaping our lives and what makes them a worthy investment.

The Rise of Robotic Cleaners

The concept of a machine performing household chores isn't new; however, it's only recently that this has become a reality in the form of robotic cleaners. From navigating around furniture to reaching into tight corners and even adapting to different floor types, these devices are designed to make our lives easier.

Why Robotic Cleaners are Game Changers

Efficient Cleaning: Equipped with cutting-edge technology like sensors, AI, and mapping software, robotic cleaners can cover every nook and corner of your home, ensuring a thorough cleaning.

Time-Saving: With a robotic cleaner at your service, you can enjoy a clean home without having to put in the manual labor. This frees up your time to focus on other tasks or simply relax.

Programmable Schedules: Most robotic cleaners allow users to set cleaning schedules. This means your floors can get cleaned daily, even when you are not at home.

Adaptable to Different Surfaces: Whether you have hardwood floors, tile, carpet, or a combination, many robotic cleaners can adapt to different surfaces, ensuring optimum cleaning.

Pioneers in the Robotic Cleaning Industry

Several brands have distinguished themselves in the realm of robotic cleaners. Let's delve into some notable ones that are reshaping cleaning standards.

iRobot Roomba: iRobot, the brand behind Roomba, is often considered a pioneer in the robotic cleaning industry. With models ranging from basic to feature-packed, Roomba has consistently been at the forefront of robotic cleaning innovation.

Neato Robotics: Neato's robotic cleaners are noted for their unique D-shape design, which allows them to clean corners more effectively than round models. Neato also excels in providing models with strong suction and large dustbins.

Roborock: Roborock offers robotic cleaners that not only vacuum but also mop, providing a 2-in-1 cleaning solution. With impressive navigation technology and app-based controls, Roborock models are an excellent choice for a thorough clean.

Choosing the Best Robotic Cleaner for Your Home

Selecting the best robotic cleaner depends on your specific needs, budget, and preferences. Here are some things to consider:

Cleaning Needs: If you have pets, you may want a model specifically designed for pet hair. If you have a mix of hard floors and carpets, a model that can adapt to different surfaces would be ideal.

Budget: The cost of robotic cleaners varies widely. Establish your budget and look for a model that offers the most desirable features within that price range.

Home Layout: If you live in a multi-level house, you might want a model with multi-floor mapping capabilities. For homes with lots of furniture, a model with advanced navigation and obstacle avoidance will be beneficial.

Maintenance: Check how often the cleaner requires maintenance and how easy it is to obtain replacement parts.

Robotic cleaners are indeed game changers in the world of home cleaning. By offering the convenience of automated, efficient, and regular cleaning, they allow homeowners to maintain a clean and healthy living environment without the need for manual intervention. As technology continues to evolve, we can only expect robotic cleaners to become even more advanced, further simplifying our lives and enhancing our living standards.

[roombalogin]

Turn It On, Sit Back, Let the Cleaning Begin with iRobot Vacuum Cleaner

Even while setting up an iRobot Roomba can appear complicated, if you follow the correct instructions, you'll finish quickly. Place the vacuum on the charging dock and start by positioning it in a central, open space. Before starting any setup procedures, let it charge completely.

Proceed to the Roomba App Setup after charging. On your smartphone, download and install the app. To start the setup process, log in or create an account and then follow the instructions. Verify that your device is connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is turned on.

The vacuum pairing process will be guided by the app. Once the device has been located, give it a name and perform a test clean to make sure everything is working properly. Through the app, you can schedule cleanings, browse maps, remotely operate the vacuum, and receive battery status notifications.

Additional features of the Roomba Setup include quiet mode, cleaning passes, and room preferences. The app allows you to customize these settings according to your household's requirements.

For the first few cleanings, steer clear of crowded spaces to help the robot create a reliable map of your house. The app will give a warning with troubleshooting instructions if it becomes stuck.

Always use the app to keep the firmware updated. This guarantees peak performance and gradually adds additional intelligent features. These easy actions will help your vacuum clean more effectively and consistently with less supervision.

[iroombarobotic]

You can do the iRobot home app setup with the iRobot mobile application. Simply, download the app on your phone either Android or iPhone. Connect to the home network and create a login account to log into your iRobot device. For further assistance, contact our experts via a live chat option or dial our toll-free number.

[mischiefandspirits]

Family Weekend

The Teen Titans headed out for a weekend with their families. Wonder Girl was running a mission with her Amazon sisters. Impulse had planned out some fun with her parents and twin brother. Virus left for their homeworld. Nightstar spent time with her mothers.

Robin, having left Gotham over a year earlier and not looked back, assumed he'd spend the weekend alone in Titans Tower. Then Red X broke in.

Part of Batkid and Robin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robin stared down at his tea with a frown, tapping his fingers against the mug randomly. A small buzz came near and he sighed. “Don’t try it, Virus.” When the buzz kept coming, he glared behind him at the blue Roomba slowly making its way towards him.

It paused, then sighed. Electric blue energy pulled out of the robot vacuum, leaving the black device to roll off on its own. The energy collected into a blue humanoid form with geometric white patterns across them. The patterns on their face formed into a pout as they leaned against the kitchen counter. “How did Robin know?”

He just smirked and turned away.

“Come on!” the Gexin whined and threw themself over Robin’s lap, making the barstool rock slightly. “Robin has to tell Virus how Robin knew Virus was the tiny floor robot. Please!”

“The thing was blue,” Nightstar called from the couch, not looking up from her book.

“Nightstar and Robin have not seen the tiny floor robot before. The tiny floor robot could have always been blue.”

“There’s also the fact Roombas are banned from the tower,” Robin pointed out, patting Virus’s back. “So it had to be some kind of prank.”

“Speaking of, why is there a Roomba in the tower?” Nightstar asked, looking up with a glare and Virus shifted into their amorphous form to hide behind Robin.

“The tiny floor robot is Impulse’s,” they said quickly. “Virus just borrowed the tiny floor robot.”

“Wow, hey, way to snitch!” Impulse huffed, zipping up next to Robin. “And for your information, it’s not a Roomba. Roomba’s are made by iRobot. Uncle Arsenal made this one. Its name is Voobo.”

Robin gave her a look. “Get rid of it before Wonder Girl gets back or its name will be Crushed.”

“Come on, Rob. Can’t it stay?” she asked, batting her eyes.

He was unmoved. “Remember last time?”

“It was a joke! Come on, no one even got hurt. I thought you’d like it. Having Dags around would have kept us on our toes. You love that ‘Constant vigilance!’ stuff.”

“You took one of Wonder Girl’s daggers,” Nightstar said.

“Well, yeah. I wasn’t going to strap one of our kitchen knives to the thing,” Impulse scoffed. “I cook with those, unlike some people.”

“No Roombas -- or Roomba-like devices -- in the tower,” Robin declared.

Impulse booed him and Virus poked part of themself out from behind him so he could see their face patterns making it appear they were sticking their tongue out.

“Hey, you want it to get crushed, be my guest.”

“Shouldn’t you two be packing?” Nightstar asked.

“Nightstar is one to talk,” Virus huffed.

“All my stuff was packed up last night because I’m capable of thinking ahead.”

“Virus only has a few files that Virus needs to transfer into roving storage,” the Gexin hummed, leaning against Robin’s back. “The transfer will only take a minute or two so the transfer can wait until Virus is about to leave.”

“And I’m a speedster. People would get suspicious if I wasn’t late,” Impulse shrugged and scooped up the knockoff Roomba.

“Well, Flash was supposed to be here ten minutes ago so you should probably get packed,” Robin pointed out.

Her eyes widened and she glanced down at her phone. She gave a curse and darted out of the room.

Virus jumped over the counter and grabbed a banana. As they absorbed it, they asked, “When is Nightstar going to leave?”

She shrugged. “Ommi’s waiting for me at a diner nearby since I was waiting for Flash to get here so we could all say our goodbyes together and she’s still tracking down exactly where Troia, Ilia, and Wonder Girl are. We’re going to go raid whatever mission they’re on before Mom gets back from Tamaran tonight.”

“Okay. Then Virus will go do the transfer so Virus is ready to go as soon as Impulse leaves.”

Nightstar shrugged and went back to her book. Though, as soon as they were gone, she tossed it aside and turned her focus on Robin. “You know, I can cancel. Ommi won’t mind messing with Donna, Cassie, and Yara on her own.”

“Kory will be upset if you miss Family Weekend,” Robin pointed out, turning back to his tea.

“She hasn’t been planetside for two weeks. I’m sure Ommi, Uncle Roy, and Uncle Biz will be happy to keep her distracted. Not like we get up to much even when I am there. I’ll just call her later.”

“There’s no reason for you to stay. Go have fun annoying Yara with Artemis,” he sighed.

“If you’re going to spend the whole time brooding all alone again then there’s plenty of reason to stay.”

“You’re the queen of brooding,” Robin chuckled halfheartedly.

“Which means I know how much brooding alone sucks,” she said, getting up and moving to stand over him. “I’ll stay and we can brood together.”

He sighed again and set the mug on the counter. He met her eyes. “I’m fine, Mandy.”

“Dick -”

“Seriously. I’m just going to catch up on some work. I could use the quiet and you deserve some time with your moms. You said Kory’s been getting better.”

“Fine, but -”

“Yara’s on a mission in the Amazon Basin, Irey’s got all sorts of plans set up with her parents and Jai, and Galvio’s going to be off-world. None of them need to be popping in or coming back early just because you think I can’t be alone for a couple of days.” When she opened her mouth, he added, “And neither do any of the other Titans. They’re all working hard to cover for us so we can have this break and don’t need to add babysitting me on top of that.”

She scowled and sat down on the stool next to his. “It’s not that I think you can’t be alone, it’s just that I think you shouldn’t be alone.”

“Thanks.”

“You know what I meant,” she growled, pushing his chest hard enough to make his barstool tip backward.

He hooked his food around hers and righted the stool before it could fall. “I’ll be alright. A little alone time is good once in a while.”

Impulse ran through the room, stopping only long enough to say, “Dad’s here!” before she was gone again.

Nightstar tisked and stood up. “You’re sure?”

He nodded and she turned away. “Fine, but I’ll have my T-Comm on me if you need anything.”

He didn’t respond.

She grabbed her book as Flash ran in.

“Hey kids,” he said, glancing at the two. “Where are the others?”

“Wonder Girl’s already gone, Virus is preparing to leave, and Impulse is packing,” Robin answered.

“Course she is,” the man chuckled. “I’d say she gets it from me, but Uncle Barry was the exact same way so maybe it’s the Speed Force.”

“I think you guys just like to use that as an excuse to be lazy,” Nightstar said as she left.

“I’m sure Artemis would agree,” Wally chuckled. He turned to Robin and the boy stiffened.

Not visibly enough that Flash would notice, but visible enough that…

Robin turned away to grab his tea.

“So, you heading to Goth-”

“No.”

The man shot over to sit on the stool Nightstar had been using. “One of these days I’m going to get you to tell me how exactly you’re related to the Bats.”

“Good luck with that,” he scoffed. He looked up at the man. “You work with three of them. Four when Flamebird’s having a good day. Why not just ask them?”

Shut up. You don’t care. They don’t care so you don’t care.

Flash snorted. “Right. Like getting info out of a Bat isn’t impossible. If I ask Signal, he just shakes his head and says it’s not his place. Orphan just looks sad when you get brought up and won’t talk for a while. Flamebird won’t talk to me, to begin with, so he’s out. His old man hasn’t been much better since Batkid died -- not that I blame him -- and he only got worse when that new thief showed up in Gotham a few months ago so there’s no chance of him saying anything.”

They don’t care.

“If it’s so impossible, then why do you keep bugging me.”

“Well, you’re not really a Bat, right?”

Robin’s fingers tightened around the mug. “No, I’m not.”

“There you go then.”

He glared down at the tea.

Distract.

“What were you saying about a thief? Catwoman got a rival?”

Flash shrugged. “It’s Gotham stuff so we don’t hear much, but I have heard the new guy’s been giving her a run for her money. It’s not only that though. He’s apparently claimed a chunk of the city as his own and screws with anyone that messes around in his territory without his permission. Especially if they involve kids.”

Robin hummed, not paying attention.

Cass doesn’t care. She’s just sad because I remind her of Jay.

“I think he’s called Red -”

“Daddy!” Impulse shrieked as she came streaking through the room to throw herself at Flash, who was already on his feet with his arms outstretched to catch her and pull her into a hug.

Virus came skipping in after her at a much slower pace, a duffle bag in his arms. Nightstar was a few steps behind wearing her battle armor with a rucksack hanging from one shoulder.

“There’s my light! You ready to go?”

“Yup! Just got to say bye to the others,” she said, squeezing him. She let go and passed the bag Virus was carrying to her father before pulling the Gexin into a hug. “Bye, Vi!”

“Goodbye, Impulse! Tell Turtle Virus says hello.”

“I will. Tell Galv-11 I say hi! Twin solidarity!” She pulled away to hug Nightstar. “Have fun with your moms!”

“Yeah, yeah.” She gave Impulse’s back two pats before pushing her away.

The redhead just smiled at her before throwing herself at Robin, a move that would have knocked him off the stool and spilled his tea if he hadn’t seen it coming and braced himself. “Bye, Rob! See you Monday!”

“See you, Pulse.”

She pressed a quick -- for non-speedsters -- kiss to his cheek before pulling away. She gave the group a wave as she took her dad’s hand then the two were gone.

“Well, I’m off,” Nightstar said, adjusting the pack and glancing at her remaining teammates. Her gaze lingered on Robin. “Unless someone’s changed their mind.”

“Bye, Star,” Robin said pointedly.

She nodded to him, then Virus.

“Goodbye, Nightstar. Virus has completed the transfer so Virus will be leaving too.”

“Bye Virus.

They waved then dove into the phone outlet that connected to the satellites on the roof.

“Don’t cause Yara too much of a hassle. You do have to work together when you both get back.”

“Yeah, yeah. We all know she loves it,” Nightstar said, waving him off as she turned to leave. “Talk to you later, Dick.”

“Later, Mandy.”

He waited a few moments after the door shut behind her before getting up to go to the couch, tea still in hand. He sat down and grabbed the tablet he’d left on the coffee table. A few clicks had the security feeds up. The speedsters were long gone, Virus was just finishing the transfer over to the Justice League’s long-range satellites that would let him system hop back to his homeworld, and Nightstar was making her way out. He watched her progress until she was completely out of range before tossing the tablet to the side and slumping back against the couch.

He took a sip of his tea and scowled. He set it on the table and buried his face into his hands.

Over a year and a half away from Gotham and he still couldn’t figure out how Alfred made a cup of tea taste like anything other than gross leaf water.

He didn’t know why he still bothered. He’d never liked tea all that much, even when Alfred made it.

It was just… stupid Family Weekend. He hated it. Hated being alone. Hated seeing the others all disappear to spend time with their families. All it did was remind him of everything he’d lost.

Everyone he’d lost.

Or never had to begin with.

He wouldn’t begrudge any of his friends their family time, though, and he certainly wasn’t going to make anyone stay behind with him just because he was a little lonely, even if that meant telling Nightstar a few white lies.

He just wished he had somewhere to disappear off to as well.

He forced himself upright and turned on the tv. He tried to lose himself in a horror movie as he fought down memories of Barbara’s hacking lessons, memories of pranks he’d played on the others with Cassandra, memories of patrolling with Damian, memories of Duke helping him with his English homework, memories of early morning coffee and cereal runs with Tim, memories of nail painting gossip sessions with Stephanie, memories of Jay’s… memories of Jason.

He considered checking in with the Titans East, maybe even visiting, but Nightstar definitely would have considered he’d try that and told Speedy to let her know if he contacted them. Considering the friendly rivalry they had going on after defeating the Master of Games, she’d definitely sell him out in a heartbeat.

Patrolling was also out since Irey would still be monitoring the Teen Titans' social media so she’d know instantly if he left the tower, something he wasn’t supposed to do since they were all supposed to take Family Weekend off, even if he stayed in town.

Normally he’d bury himself in work, but he didn’t actually have any open cases right now.

One good thing about Gotham’s crime rate, you never had to worry about not having an open case.

Shut up!

Robin was so distracted trying to distract himself from his intrusive memories, he almost didn’t notice when the air in the room shifted slightly about an hour after Nightstar left. His hand subtly moved to his utility belt, but he let it drop after a second.

He glared to the side as something invisible settled next to him on the couch. “What are you doing here?”

Red X faded into view with a shrug. “The better question is what are you doing here, kid? I was told you lot were clearing out for your little Family Weekend thing.”

“You were told?”

“Alright, so I might have been eavesdropping on Wonder Babe and Zippy.”

“What are you after?” Robin growled. He stood up and drew his staff as he went over everything in the tower and tried to figure out what Red X would consider worth stealing.

“Calm down,” Red X said, leaning back and putting his feet up on the coffee table. “I just ticked someone off and need a place to lie low for a few days. Didn’t plan to take anything.”

“Right,” Robin said sarcastically. “You didn’t plan to take anything.”

Red X chuckled and held up his hands. “Alright, you caught me. Tell you what. You let me stay and I’ll keep my hands to myself from now until Monday.”

“And return what you’ve already grabbed on your way here?”

It was only thanks to his experience with masks that hid the eyes that the hero could tell Red X was rolling his as he pulled a handful of Robin’s feathers and one of his spare expandable bo staffs from the suit’s hidden pockets. He tossed them onto the table, saying, “You really need to learn how to lighten up, kid.”

Robin lowered his weapon, but didn’t put it away. “Who’d you tick off? And how?”

Red X shrugged and relaxed back onto the couch, grabbing the remote. “The old man. One of the others accidentally got hurt during my last score so now the lot of them are out for blood. They found my place in Jump so it was either skip town until I can get a new place or lay low. And I’m pretty sure skipping town is what they want me to do so here I am. Doubt they’ll think to look for me here.”

“Why would they want you to skip town?” Robin asked as he took in the new information. He’d never realized Red X was part of a team. Who was the old man?

“Uh, because then I’ll have to go back home and that’s their turf,” he said slowly, like it was obvious.

“Where are you from?”

Red X paused in his channel surfing and looked up at him. “You don’t know?”

Robin glared at him.

“No, seriously, you don’t know who I am?”

“I thought I made that clear the first time we met.”

“Yeah, the first time, but…” Red X set down the remote and leaned closer. “Kid, when was the last time you talked to your family?”

That was the final straw.

Robin swung his staff at the thief, who flipped out of the way. Through clenched teeth, he said, “I think the fact I’m here during Family Weekend makes it pretty obvious I don’t exactly have a family to talk to.”

Red X struck out with one of his x’s trying to wrench the staff from Robin’s hands. “Shut up, kid. You can play whatever lost bird act you want for the rest of the world, but we both know you’re one of Batman’s toy soldiers.”

The hero snarled and aimed for the thief's head, but he managed to grab it and disarm him before it made contact. “I’m not a Bat just because I trained with them for a time.”

“Sure, kid.”

“I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but I’ve been a hero outside of Gotham longer than I was one there.”

“Oh, I noticed,” Red X said lowly, tossing the staff aside. “What that idiot was thinking letting Flamebird send you all the way across the country right after Batkid got blown up, I’ll never know.”

Robin flinched back at the accusation before his fists clenched at his sides. “Then you’ll be happy to know no one sent me here. It’s just where I ended up when Batman decided he didn’t want to work with me anymore and tossed me out.”

Red X froze and the hero could feel the thief studying him. When he spoke, there was something sharp and venomous in his tone. “He kicked you out.”

“He kicked me off the team, yeah,” Robin said. “He didn’t want me on the team anymore so I found a new one. Like I said, I’m not a Bat. Why does this even matter?”

“He kicked you out,” Red X repeated. Then he was turning on his heel and marching out.

“Where are you going?”

“Forget hiding out. I’m going to go kill Batman. A nice x to the grapple line will solve all our problems.”

Before Robin could move, Red X teleported away.

“Great,” he growled, running his hand through his hair. He grabbed his tablet and ran to the door. As he rode the elevator down to the garage, he checked the security, running the cameras through all the frequency settings. All that came up were two blips, Red X’s entrance and exit. 

As he ran up to his R-Cycle, he considered what to do. He couldn’t just do nothing about an honest death threat (and he knew Red X was serious, even he didn’t understand why), but Batman had made it clear he didn’t want Robin getting involved in Gotham. Maybe if he could get to Red X before he left town…

Well, he’d have to hope he could. If not, he’d have to bribe Dove into passing along the message to Oracle or Batgirl the next time she checked in with the Birds of Prey so they could warn Batman. After that, the thief would be completely out of his hands.

He took his R-Cycle out, but only went as far as the nearest highrise before taking to the rooftops. It wasn’t as effective a tactic in the daylight, but it would still limit the amount he was seen so, hopefully, Irey wouldn’t notice he was out.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much he could do. He’d been trying to locate Red X’s hideout since the thief had appeared, but thanks to the invisibility and teleportation abilities granted by the suit as well as the thief’s own skills and the fact Robin still didn’t know what he looked like under the mask, it was slow going. He’d managed to narrow it down to a certain neighborhood after months of work, but patrolling the area didn’t turn anything up so he couldn’t be sure if Red X was there or if he’d already left.

After two hours with no sign of the thief, he decided to head back in. As he rode back up the elevator, he set up a program to track anyone leaving town for Gotham by train or air and double-checked the algorithm he and Virus had set up to search for Red X on traffic cameras. Neither was likely to turn anything up since Red X was too cautious and Oracle was sure to set up her own once the case was handed over to the Bats, but he had to do something in the meantime.

And if it showed them he knew what he was doing…

Of course, none of that mattered when he walked into the main room of the tower to call Dove and found Red X relaxing on the couch.

“Were you seriously lying about killing Batman?” Robin growled. His anger was less about the thief lying and more because he’d fallen for it, but he was still pretty annoyed all the same.

“Nah. I just realized that you being here also means the others didn’t do anything about the old man kicking you out, and wiping out Gotham’s Bat infestation is going to actually take a bit of planning,” Red X said. That same acidic anger tainted his words, but now it was wrapped in a thin veil of restraint. He could see that same fragilely controlled anger in the thief’s body as he came closer, hidden almost perfectly under his relaxed ruse.

“You really think I’m going to just sit back and let you stay here while you’re plotting murder?” Robin said, stepping in front of the thief and crossing his arms.

“Calm down, kid. I’m not going to do any planning here,” he snorted, tilting his head to see more of the tv around the hero.

“That’s not the point.”

“If you’re worried about being an accomplice, then you’ll be happy to hear you couldn’t stop me if you tried.”

Robin pulled out his staff and Red X went stiff.

“Kid, you do not want to fight me right now. Just sit down and watch the movie.”

“Why?” Robin asked, slipping into a fighting stance. “Why are you even going after the Bats?”

“He kicked you out,” Red X growled, the sound of his control cracking slipping in his voice.

“So?”

Suddenly the thief was on his feet and grabbing the front of Robin’s suit.

The hero tried to strike him with his staff, but he deflected the blow and pulled him in until they were nose-to-helmet.

“He kicked you out! He fucking kicked you out! Not even three months after he put a kid in the ground, you were on the other side of the country fighting aliens! Alone!”

“I was-”

“And where are the others? Have you even talked to them? Have they tried to talk to you? They have to know where you are, even if Oracle wasn’t as semi-omniscient as she is! You and your clubhouse are all over the news! Has she or Orphan reached out? Signal? Batgirl? Hell, Tim might be an ass, but I thought he’d at least check-in to make sure you didn’t get killed.”

Robin’s breath caught in his throat and he choked out, “How -”

“Where the fuck was Damian in all this? Did he seriously not say shit about Bruce tossing his fucking kid out?”

Despite his best efforts, he was shaking. He wasn’t sure if it was because Red X somehow knew who the Bats were or because everything he had been burying and reburying ever since he left Gotham was being unearthed and shoved in his face even worse than it normally was during Family Weekend, but he couldn’t breathe.

“You weren’t even at the funeral!”

Robin flinched so hard he’d jerked himself free off Red X’s grip and toppled backward. He slammed his eyes shut against the sting of tears and ducked his head as he took in ragged breaths.

That was not the Bats’ fault. That was all him, and the guilt would always weigh on him.

He’d been selfish, so lost in his own problems that he’d completely forgotten Jason’s funeral. He only even realized he missed it when he spotted the pictures in the news and read about it in the gossip columns. His absence had been noticed, of course. Bruce and Damian told everyone he was sick since it had been before he’d been gone long enough for them to need the boarding school lie, but some didn’t believe it. Dick had read every horrible word there’d been to read.

He deserved it.

As soon as he’d realized his mistake, he’d bought some flowers and spent hours in the cemetery apologizing over and over again, but he knew it’d never make up for what he’d done.

“Don’t you get it? They already let one kid run off and stupidly get himself killed and then they just -”

Robin was on top of Red X in a second, pinning him against the couch. “Don’t you ever talk about Batkid like that! He… What happened to him… You don’t get to talk about him!”

It was meant to come out a snarl, but the tears he was fighting back rang out clearly.

He expected another quip, or for Red X to at least try to fight, but he just stared up at Robin as he went limp in the pin. “Kid…”

“How do you know who they are?” the hero snapped, wanting to focus on something -- anything -- else.

“I’m so sorry. If I’d known they hadn’t told you…” the thief started softly. “I thought…”

“Thought what?”

They just stared at each other for a moment, then Red X raised his hands.

The hero watched for any signs of an attack, but the thief just brought his hands to the helmet. He hit the release and pulled the helmet off.

Robin’s breath caught in his throat for the second time.

Under the helmet was a domino mask, light grey with black outlining the white lenses. Even still, Robin had seen the boy behind the mask in a domino too many times to not recognize him.

He was older, his hair a bit longer and choppier. He had a few new scars and his hair was a white color in the front that was just a little too bright to be natural. It was him though.

“Jay?”

Jason gave a familiar grin as he let the helmet fall to the floor. “Hey, Dickie.”

Robin threw himself off the older boy, scrambling to his feet and pointing his staff at him. “No. Jason’s gone. Dead. I don’t know who you are or why you look like that, but…” Robin was losing the fight against his tears.

“Red Bird,” Jason said softly. He reached out for Robin and the hero swatted his hand away.

“Don’t! You’re-He’s dead! You can’t be him!” Unless… Jason had to be dead. It couldn’t have been a test.

A test he must have failed. That’s why Bruce…

“No. He has to be dead,” Robin said, shaking his head and taking a step back. “He-You wouldn’t have lied to me about that. Not… Not Jason. He wouldn’t.”

“Oh, Dickie.” Jason came forward, ducking under Robin’s strike to pull him into a hug. “It wasn’t a lie, I promise. I did die. I just… got better.”

“Got better?” Robin sniffed and dropped his arms, not returning the hug or pushing away from it as tears filled his eyes and slipped past the mask. “How do you get better from being dead?”

“Heck if I know,” Jason sighed and eased the mask off Dick’s face. As he gently brushed the tears away, he explained, “I just woke up inside my coffin months later. I didn’t… I wasn’t all there so I ended up just stumbling around Gotham for a few weeks until I got brought to a hospital. The step-mom from hell found me there somehow and stole me away to toss me in one of her stupid green pools.”

“She put you in a Lazarus Pit?” Dick hissed, finally hugging his brother back.

“Yeah. Don’t know if she was trying to hurt Bruce and Damian again by screwing up my head or if she was in one of her Maybe they’ll love me this time! moods and honestly thought it would help. I didn’t stick around to find out, just rampaged through the compound until I was able to escape. I managed to make my way back to Gotham, but…” Jason pressed his face into Dick’s hair and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what I expected when I got back, but… I didn’t expect nothing. Bruce was carrying on as usual. Everyone was. And Joker’s just… back in Arkham, ready to escape another day. I died and the only thing that changed was that Damian shipped you off to play with some other kids in California. Except no, he didn’t. Bruce kicked you out! When Damian died, Bruce nearly killed himself in his search for a way to bring him back, to the point that Duke’s gang had to step in to watch the streets and Tim had to step in to watch Bruce. When I died, nothing.”

“Jay -”

“I know I’m not Cassandra ‘Prodigy’ Wayne or Damian ‘Bloodson’ Wayne or Duke ‘Perfect Child’ Thomas or Tim ‘Teenage CEO’ Drake-Wayne, but I thought he’d at least care that I got killed!” Jason snarled, jerking away from Dick to throw his hands in the air before slamming one onto the coffee table, cracking the wood. “I thought he’d at least give a shit about me!”

“Jason -”

He slammed his hand against the table again, and again. “But he doesn’t! Not enough to actually do something about fucking Joker! Not enough to try and bring me back like he did his flesh and blood! He doesn’t care! None of them fucking care about anything but themselves!”

Dick tried to grab his arm, but Jason threw him off.

He turned to the young boy with a glare. “And then you! They just got rid of you! What? Was Bruce so happy to be rid of me he realized he should have cut off the kid acquisitions with Tim? And everyone just agreed with him!”

“Red Wing, please.”

Jason had been taking a step towards Dick, but at his words he spun away. He slammed both his fists into the table with a snarl and it collapsed. He dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.

Dick watched him for a few minutes. Only when Jason stopped shaking and tugging harshly at his hair did he step closer and sit next to his brother. When he wasn’t rebuffed, he pressed their shoulders together. “The pit?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Damian told me how it affects people. Besides, that table gets destroyed so often we start to get antsy if it lasts more than a week,” Dick chuckled and Jason snorted. He nudged his brother gently. “Is this okay?”

“I’d never hurt you, Red Bird,” Jason declared, though a bit of uncertainty leaked into his voice.

Dick set his head on Jason’s shoulder with a frown. “I know. I was asking if you were okay with me touching you.”

The older brother smiled and wrapped his arm around the younger. “I’m always happy to be your pillow.”

“I’m serious, Jay.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “You’re always serious lately.”

“I still know how to have fun,” Dick said. “You just keep catching me in serious situations.”

Jason gave him a disbelieving expression, but before Dick could comment it shifted into a smile. A familiar smile.

That smile promised a lot of fun, but also explosions and weeks of being grounded. It promised lectures from Bruce to Jason about needing to be a better example and from Tim to Dick about how Jason was a bad influence. It promised exasperated yet fond looks from Cass, Babs, and Damian. If Steph was involved, it promised retaliatory pranks when they placed most of the blame on her. If not, then it promised endless complaining for leaving her out. It promised secret smiles from Duke, either because he hadn’t been involved but still thought it was funny or because he had been involved and was thanking them for not ratting him out.

Altogether, that smile promised the best kind of trouble.

“Jay,” Dick started warningly, but Jason just pulled him to his feet.

“Prove it!”

“What?”

“You think you can still have fun, then prove it!” Jason chuckled, grabbing his helmet and towing Dick out of the room. “Let’s go wreck some stuff!”

“Wh-Jay! We can’t -”

“Calm down, we’ll keep it to the bad guys’ stuff so we don’t hurt your delicate sensibilities.”

Dick glanced down at the X on Jason’s suit. “Speaking of which -”

“Nope. That can wait for after Family Weekend. Right now we’re just Red Bird and Red Wing, not Robin and Red X. We can get back to our little cops and robber game when your friends get back.”

Dick knew he should probably argue. Even ignoring the fact Jason had been discussing murder not even half an hour ago, Red X was still a criminal.

But Red X was also a back-from-the-dead Jason and Robin wasn’t allowed to work during Family Weekend.

“Where are we going?” he asked as they stepped out of the elevator onto the residential floor.

“First stop is your room. I left my stuff there since I knew it would be the last place you’d check. One of us should also probably change if we don’t want to raise questions.”

Dick didn’t bother to ask how Jason knew his way around the tower to the point of knowing where his room was. Clearly, he’d been spying on Dick. It was probably something they’d have to talk about later since Dick knew from experience that his teammates would not appreciate it, but it could wait.

“Well you’ve already stolen my clothes once,” Dick pointed out, tugging at Jason’s cape.

Jason rolled his eyes. “If you didn’t want someone to take the suit you should have locked it away better.”

“I put it in a safe!”

“Not a good one.”

Dick slapped his arm. “You were trained by Selina. Your standards are unreasonable.”

“You say that like she didn’t train you too,” Jason snorted then tugged Dick closer so he could wrap his arm around Dick’s shoulder. “I should probably change though. I don’t know how the family will react if they find out we’re hanging out and I’d rather not risk it ruining our weekend. I can take care of them after.”

“Jas-”

“Yep. Sorry. Work talk later. So, Red Bird, you know of any bad guy bases worth ransacking? Or at least an empty factory we can go to town in? I got some new toys I want to try out.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Impulse was tapping her foot in superspeed as she scrolled through her phone.

“And none of you have talked to him since Friday morning?” Wonder Girl asked and she paced across the living area.

“We texted on Saturday, but it was just a quick check-in. He said he was busy, I needed to stop worrying, and he’d see me today,” Nightstar said, not looking up from her book. She seemed for all the world relaxed, but the others had all noticed she hadn’t turned the page in over a half hour.

“There’s still nothing on social media,” Impulse said, refreshing the page. “I found a few mentions just before lunchtime on Friday of someone on the rooftops that could have been him, but that’s it.”

“The same can be said for the news sites,” Virus said from inside the computer. “Robin has not appeared on any of the news sites since our fight with Mother Mae-Eye last week.”

Wonder Girl tried her T-Communicator again and scowled when it wouldn’t connect to Robin’s. “Are you sure he didn’t head over to one of the others’ bases?”

“I had Speedy and Dove on Robin duty so I know he didn’t hit Titans East or North,” Nightstar said.

“And Aquagirl tells Turtle everything so if he’d shown up at Titans South she would have told him and he would have told me so I would know and I don’t so he didn’t,” Impulse said quickly.

Nightstar looked up from her book and squeezed the younger girl’s shoulder. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. We’ll find him. He probably just took off to do some recon and didn’t tell us because he knew we’d yell at him for not taking the weekend off.”

“He’s going to spend the next week locked in a cell if that’s true,” Wonder Girl huffed. “Then he’ll have no choice but to take a break.”

“Robin would just break out,” Virus argued.

“Maybe I should take a run around the city, just in case,” Impulse said, standing up.

“The tracker on Robin’s R-Cycle showed Robin heading out of the city before the tracker was disabled so Impulse likely would not find Robin by running around the city,” Virus pointed out and the girls turned to his computer.

“You didn’t say anything about him leaving town earlier,” Nightstar said.

“Virus did not think the information was relevant. The information doesn’t help the Teen Titans find Robin since the tracker was disabled before any set destination could be determined.”

“Except we had no idea he’d left town until now! When did this happen?”

“Friday afternoon. Robin le-” Virus cut off as an alert came up. “Oh! Someone just accessed the tunnel leading to the garage.”

“Robin?” Nightstar asked, getting to her feet.

“The people in the tunnel used Robin’s codes, but there are two people and both are on foot. The sensors aren't registering Robin’s gear.”

The girls shared a look and ran for the stars, Nightstar calling over her shoulder, “Meet us down there!”

“On the way!”

Impulse ran down the stairs while Nightstar and Wonder Girl flew down the center. They slipped into the garage to find Virus already waiting. The four took defensive positions behind workbenches and toolboxes just as voices began to reach them.

“You owe me a new R-Cycle. And a new communicator. And -”

Impulse perked up at Robin’s voice, but Nightstar waved her quiet before she could react as a second voice answered, “First of all, how was I supposed to know trying to use your fancy walkie-talkie would break it? Who’s stupid design flaw was that?”

“It’s to prevent it from being stolen and used against the Titans.”

“Okay, that’s actually a good idea, but it’s still not my fault. Second, the paint was your idea! Don’t try blaming that on me.”

“You blew up the crates too soon!”

“No, I didn’t! I told you fifteen minutes!”

“You only gave me fourteen!”

“I gave you fifteen!” the unknown voice yelled as two figures walked into the garage.

The first was obviously Robin, though he was dressed more casually than any of the Titans had ever seen him. Gone was the armored suit, replaced with blue jeans and a red hoodie with a bat insignia over the chest. He still wore his domino mask and steel-toed boots, but the latter was speckled with red paint.

The second boy looked around Nightstar’s age. He was tall and broad, but not bulky. He wore a suit similar to Robin’s, but black and plain. A brown leather jacket was thrown over the top with a red bird patch on the shoulder that matched his red domino mask.

The new boy was scowling at Robin, who was scowling back. Even still, both looked completely relaxed and a smirk was tugging at the new boy’s lips.

“Maybe you need a new watch. Or maybe you just forgot how to count. Did you forget eleven was a thing again?”

The new boy jumped at Robin and instantly the two were brawling, throwing punches left and right and trying to pin each other. The fight was clearly well-practiced, in Wonder Girl’s opinion. Not choreographed or restrained, but instead a flurry of movements that showed how the two knew each other’s fighting style enough to both predict most attacks and roll with those they didn’t. Despite just how rough their roughhousing was, she could see neither was actually trying to hurt the other.

The others didn’t quite catch onto that though as all three darted in to break up the fight. Nightstar grabbed the new boy and pinned him against a workbench while Impulse and Virus placed themselves in front of Robin.

“Woah, what? Titans, stand down. Red Wing, don’t hurt her.”

“Don’t hurt her? I’m the one pinned,” the boy gasped dramatically.

“You’re also the one with the souped-up taser,” Robin deadpanned.

The boy smirked and revealed the device in his hand, which crackled with red lightning. He turned it off and tucked it into his jacket as he winked up at Nightstar. “You know, Princess, if you wanted to get all up close and personal, all you had to do was ask.”

Her eyes glowed purple, but Robin grabbed her arm and pulled her away before she could blast the other boy.

“Don’t flirt with my teammates please,” Robin sighed.

“Not my fault you surround yourself with beautiful girls, Kid,” the boy said as he sat up, winking at Wonder Girl this time.

“Who are you?” she demanded, hand falling to her boleadoras.

“What? Don’t recognize me without the x motif and skull mask? I’m hurt.”

“Red X?” Impulse said, glancing between Robin and the boy.

He gave her finger guns while Robin smacked his forehead.

“What is going on?” Virus asked.

“Well, wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome,” Red X said, stuffing his hand in his pockets. “Family Weekend’s been fun, bro. I’ll let you know when I steal a new cycle for you from the old man so you can tell me if I need to add any bells and whistles. Later.”

“You’re not -” Nightstar started, but cut off as Red X dropped something that caused smoke to flood through the garage. “Impulse!”

“He’s already gone,” Robin sighed.

A moment later the ventilation system kicked in and cleared the air to reveal Robin was right.

The four all turned to him and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Sooooooooo… you spent the weekend with Red X?” Impulse asked.

“It’s a long story.”

“Red X called Robin brother?” Virus said.

“A really long story. The short of it is Red’s just been keeping an eye on me, in his own weird way.”

“He stole your suit,” Wonder Girl said and Robin shrugged.

“So are we just supposed to not go after him if he shows up?” Impulse asked.

“No, this doesn’t change anything about how we treat him in the field.”

Impulse opened her mouth, then closed it and shook her head. “Kid Flash is right. You Gothamites are insane when you get together.”

Robin shrugged again. He grabbed the duffle bag he’d dropped when he and Red X had started fighting and turned to the elevator. “I need to make a call then we can check in with the others.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dick stared down at his new T-Communicator. He should just call Dove. It would make things easier.

“Barbara Gordon here,” a voice said as the call on the phone in his other hand connected.

Dick took a deep breath and let it out. “Hey, Babs.”

“... Dick?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, I-Hey, how -”

“Jason’s going after Bruce.”

“What?”

“He wants to kill him. He wants to kill the whole family, really, but Bruce seems to be his main focus. Damian too, maybe. I don’t know how much trouble he’s been causing so far, but it’s about to get worse.”

“I-You saw Jason?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t have any reason to do anything.”

“You said he was trying to kill the whole family.”

Dick’s breath caught in his throat and his hand tightened around the phone. “Yeah, well, clearly I’m not part of that.”

“Di-”

“He also might try to steal a motorcycle, but that might have been a joke. You should probably keep an eye out either way,” Dick added then hung up. He turned his phone off when it immediately started ringing. He tossed it into his lockbox and flopped down on his bed, throwing an arm over his eyes.

A few minutes later someone knocked on his door. He shut the lockbox and knocked it back into its hiding spot with his foot before calling for them to come in.

Nightstar slipped in, but just shut the door behind her and leaned against it. She waited a moment before saying, “X isn’t Tim or Duke.”

“Never said he was.”

“But he implied he was and you didn’t correct him.”

“Tim and Duke aren’t my brothers, Mandy.”

“By your logic, you don’t have any family at all. So why is X going around calling you brothers?”

Dick didn’t respond.

“Why’d you spend Family Weekend with him? Why are you wearing a jacket you normally keep locked away with all the other Batman-related things you pretend don’t exist?”

Dick frowned and dropped his hand to his hoodie. “It’s not Batman’s logo.”

“Sure, Dick, and I -”

“It’s Batkid’s.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Oh. Oh shit.”

“Mandy.”

“You think he’s… him.”

“He is.”

“Dick, Jason died.”

“Like I said, long story. He is back. The others know it too, considering the call I just had with Bab-Barbara.”

“You actually talked to her,” she said softly, coming to sit next to him.

“I talked at her. She didn’t get to say much. I just needed to warn her and the others about something Jay said and it’s too involved in our civilian identities to trust the message with Dove.”

“Sure, or maybe you just wanted to hear her voice.”

Dick glared up at her. “I want to hear all of their voices, is that what you want me to say? You know I’m not afraid to admit I miss them, it’s just not going to change anything.”

“Admitting it is the first step,” she shot back. “Now do something about it.”

“They don’t want me, Mandy. I’m not going to go crawling back there just to get shunted back into juvie!”

“You don’t know that’s what will happen.”

“Yes, I do!”

She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him up so they were eye to eye. “Aren’t you the one who pushed me to reconnect with my mom?”

“That’s different and you know it,” he said, pushing her hands off.

“Why?”

“She’s your mom.”

“And they’re your family.”

“No, they’re not!”

“Di-”

He stood up. “They know where I am! I’m not trying to hide! I didn’t even change my codename! If any of them wanted to talk to me, Babs could easily contact me! At the very least, she or Steph could have Holly give me the message! Or Damian could ask Jon to pass the message to Eliza and she could give it to me! And yet that call is the only time I’ve heard from any of them since the Fight! Why do you think that is?”

“Because you’re terrible at dealing with emotions when they’re your own and the rest of your family is the same or worse,” she deadpanned.

“Just drop it.”

She sighed and got up to leave. She paused before opening the door. “You’re going to have to deal with this one of these days. Probably sooner than you think if you’re going to keep talking to Jason.”

“Doubtful. He isn’t exactly sitting down for tea with the Bats either right now.”

She shook her head and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little explanation of characters mentioned

Teen Titans:

Robin - Richard "Dick" Grayson: Foster son of Damian Wayne (15yo)

Virus - Galv-10 "Galvio" of Gex (~16yo in comparison to human development)

Nightstar - Ma’andkori "Mandy" Grace: Daughter of Kory and Artemis Grace (17yo)

Impulse - Iris "Irey" West: Daughter of Wally West, Twin of Jai (15yo)

Wonder Girl - Yara Flor: Daughter of an Amazon and Brazilian God (16yo)

Other Titans:

Turtle - Jai West: Son of Wally West, Twin of Irey (15yo)

Speedy - Dinah "Di" Harper: Second Daughter of Roy Harper (16yo)

Dove - Holly Hall: Daughter of Hank and Dawn Hall (14yo)

Aquagirl - Mareena: Daughter of Kaldur'ahm (14yo)

Supergirl - Eliza Zor-El/Eliza Lutessa Luthor: Clone of Kara and Lena Luthor (13yo)

Bats:

Batman - Bruce Wayne (49yo)

Catwoman - Selina Kyle-Wayne (50yo)

Oracle - Barbara Gordon (41yo)

Orphan - Cassandra "Cass" Wayne: Eldest Child/Only Daughter of Bruce Wayne (36yo)

Flamebird - Damian Wayne: Oldest Son of Bruce Wayne (26yo)

Nightwing - Jon-El/Jonathan "Jon" Samuel Kent: Partner of Flamebird (26)yo

Signal - Duke Thomas: Second Son of Bruce Wayne (23yo)

Black Bat - Timothy "Tim" Drake-Wayne: Third Son of Bruce Wayne (22yo)

Batgirl - Stephanie Brown (21yo)

Red X - Jason Peter Todd-Wayne: Fourth Son of Bruce Wayne (17yo)

[arduinoltd]

Home Upgrade Hacks with 9 Smart Tech Gadgets

This is a great opportunity to upgrade your home into a smart home without burning up all available resources. You can discover gigantic investment funds on speakers, surveillance cameras, lights and more and make a smart home center. These gadgets work with the Google Assistant to streamline your innovation and help fill your heart with joy to make day-to-day life considerably simpler. You can likewise discover Google device limits with our gathering of the best Walmart bargains that are occurring now. 

Regardless of whether you need to customise and control your lighting, stream music and recordings or secure your home, we have discovered an assortment of top of the line smart home gadgets to assist you with beginning to structure your smart home. A large portion of your items work with Alexa or the Google Assistant so you can control the devices with the order of your voice. We have additionally incorporated the Aukey Smart Plug-in our rundown which gives any device you plug into smart capabilities.

Peruse on for our rundown of the best smart home gadgets that incorporate the best prices and arrangements that are as of now accessible. Remember that a large portion of these device bargains are at a record-breaking low price and are restricted time offers. You can also check direct digital reviews on the internet for the best deals.

9 Smart Tech Gadgets for Modern Home

Best Smart Display: Google Nest Hub Max

When your home is hurling with many gadgets, humming and turning about the spot like some Wallace and Gromit bad dream, the Google Nest Hub Max is intended to comprehend everything. It ties unique smart home devices together under one control board, permitting you to turn off lights and turn up warming and friend out at the cool, tech-infertile boulevards you have gradually come to fear. It's a smart speaker, with a showcase that makes video calls, shows you up and coming schedule arrangements, gatherings and flights, just as any postponements on your drive. At the point when not being used it turns into an image outline, utilising light sensors to make a trustworthy paper-like impact.

Smart Lock

Mutual or lost keys can open the entryway to inconvenience. When the "key" to your home is on your telephone, however, or went into a keypad, you don't have to stress as a lot over the chance of deceitful individuals entering unnoticed. At the point when you upgrade the deadbolt on your entryway with the August Smart Lock, you'll deal with who enters your home and when. Make transitory virtual keys for visitors who are planned to show up at prearranged times, or just buzz them in immediately from your telephone. For genuine feelings of serenity, you can inquire on the application for a full log of late guests.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

Help secure your home with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro that permits you to answer your entryway from anyplace. The Ring Pro works with Alexa and will send cautions to Echo devices which permit you to hear and address guests altogether without hands. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro additionally sends alarms to your smartphone when movement is identified or when somebody presses the doorbell so you can screen your home from anyplace. The Pro highlights propelled movement discovery with a camera see that creates movement cautions inside client set movement zones. The Ring doorbell associates with your current doorbell wiring so you don't need to stress over re-charging the battery and highlights four diverse faceplate alternatives.

Nest Learning Thermostat

You may think about your warming framework principally as a wellspring of physical solace, yet it can ensure your home against destroying winter harm. To guarantee that your warming framework continues acting in any climate, consider a Wi-Fi-associated indoor regulator like the Nest. The innovation offers you the accommodation of having the option to control your indoor regulator from anyplace, through any Internet-empowered device. In any case, more significantly, the smart indoor regulator gives continuous framework cautions, so if your warming framework were to come up short, you could make a move promptly - before solidified funnels and different risks threaten your home.

Google Wifi

This router makes a solid and stable wifi signal around your home, utilising a focal mothership center point and a few beneficial focuses set deliberately in rooms. Science causes the entire thing to carry on like a solitary wifi arrangement. You can without much of a stretch offer a need to a device, or limit access to the web after a specific time, on the off chance that you have children or web dependence.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected

If you have a stage free level, get a Neato Botvac. It hurries around vacuuming up earth and pet hairs, shrewdly keeping away from impediments and utilising its laser mapping rigging to guarantee it cleans each and every inch of floor. It's deft enough to climb up onto mats, sufficiently small to sneak by beds and loveseats, and consequently comes back to its base when it needs to charge.

Smart Feeder

How many gadgets can vow to keep the two pets and pet proprietors cheerful? This programmed pet feeder conveys on the two checks by overseeing eating times and bit estimates, and in any event, conveying more food to your entryway with a solitary swipe on your iPhone. Perfect for occupied or voyaging pet proprietors, this contraption will make you and your four-legged companions similarly cheerful.

iRobot Roomba 960 Robot Vacuum

Clean your floors with the order of your voice and totally sans hands with the Wi-Fi associated iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum. You can utilise the iRobot home application to clean and calendar your vacuum from anyplace and get warnings when the activity is finished. The Roomba 960 can consistently tidy for as long as 75 minutes and will consequently revive. The robot vacuum includes a three-phase cleaning framework and a high-effectiveness channel that catches 99% of allergens, dust, and residue. The Roomba is likewise good with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant so you can control the vacuum with your voice. You can verify direct digital reviews on the internet for the best deals.

Security Camera

Cloud Cam is an indoor surveillance camera that screens your home in 1080p full HD. You will have the option to watch your home from anyplace whenever with the good Cloud Cam application. You can see live streams, replay cuts and get cautions when the camera recognises movement. You can redo your alarms so you'll just get cautions for that issue. The Amazon camera highlights night vision so you'll additionally have the option to screen your home in obscurity. This security camera is best for the security of your home’s outer and inner space. You can fix them anywhere inside or outside the home.

The Cloud Cam additionally offers two-way sound so you can address visitors in your home through the application. The surveillance camera works with Alexa so you can utilise your voice to show your live feed on the Amazon Fire TV, Fire Tablet, Echo Show, or Echo Spot.

Read More: Smart Home Gadgets

Read More: Tech Gadgets for Modern Home

Read More: Home Upgrade Hacks

Read More: 9 Smart Tech Gadgets

Read More: Smart Tech Gadgets

Read More: Smart Home Tech Gadgets

Read More: Home Upgrade Hacks with 9 Smart Tech Gadgets

[johnny-chou-blog1]

iRobot Empire Subang vs Autovac Bot

Since 2012, Aetis Sdn Bhd was Awarded the Authorized Distributor by John Ackerman Pte Ltd (Singapore) for the iRobot brand within Malaysia. They have helped make awareness among Malaysians that having a robot vacuum at home can significantly improve life quality.

As John Ackerman focuses on their business in Singapore, they rely on Aetis to provide sales and after sales service for iRobot clients. After couple of years, John Ackerman grew challenging and terminated Aetis Sdn Bhd rights as approved distributor. John Ackerman setup a workplace at iRobot Empire Subang Jaya (SOHO). Aetis was left to dry. Aetis shortly ventured into promoting different products like inkjet printers, canvas printing, smart door lock, and also unicycle or scooters. They still continue to provide after sales service for their previous customers earlier the takeover.

While all this exist occurring, AutoVac Bot attempts to disrupt the iRobot market by providing 2 Years Warranty and also beating the high price set by the Authorized Distributor. They seem specializing in robotic vacuums just.

Update: It seems the John Ackerman has exited the iRobot market in Malaysia. Presently we're not certain who exist your Authorized Distributor for the iRobot brand. However, from what we collect, AutoVac Bot exist still striving strong providing exceptional price and service for its clients.

It was a very late adopter of robot vacuums. The top iRobot hit shops 15 years earlier I eventually buy a robot vacuum for my own home. When I did, I moved low price: I bought an inexpensive vacuum without any mapping capabilities from Amazon. That low price robot vacuum has functioned well, even should it does just bump on every side the space till its battery runs out. I still don't believe that robot vacuums would replace a true weekly vacuuming, but my little bot has surprised me with its ability to suck up dust and debris.

IRobot's Roomba i7+ exist on the specific opposite spectrum of robot vacuums from the 1 I own. If the low price robot that I have exist a Kia, the i7+ exist the Cadillac of robot vacuums. It would map my whole home. It would be controlled by a voice assistant or by a cellphone program anywhere in the world. It would even empty its own bin. It also prices RM 4950, which exist 5 times extra than the robot vacuum I buy. IRobot also sells an i7 type that has identical cleaning capabilities but does not come with the special automatic bin-emptying foundation to get a couple hundred bucks less, but that's a bit such as buying a base type BMW.

The i7+ exist certainly the future of robot vacuuming that's obtainable from the present. However there are still things I'd such as to see enhanced.

The i7+ exist an upgrade to iRobot's high-end Roomba 980 from 3 years ago. The 980 was effective at mapping a space and economically cleaning it, but it would discard the maps after each cleaning session and then reconstruct them from scratch every time. The i7+ updates this feature in a major way: it could at the moment keep the maps it generates and use them to boost its cleaning routines. It also lets me name various places in my home so that I could tell the vacuum to especially clean a particular space and ignore others.

I could run as much as 10 heavy floor plans from Roomba's program for iOS and Android, and that I could control the vacuum via voice commands for Alexa, Google Assistant, or even from the program itself. My home includes 3 floors, and that I could use the program to see each ground and what rooms have been inside. When I put the robot on a heavy floor than its home base, it uses the various sensors and cameras on it to point out which floor it's on automatically and load the right maps. Regrettably, it can't yet climb the stairs to obtain to heavy flooring; I still have to pick it up and carry it such as a philistine.

Watching the i7+ wash a floor exist a mesmerizing experience, and it's wildly heavy from the way the non-mapping vacuum gets the work done. Instead of just randomly crisscrossing the space until it runs out of steam, the i7+ follows a logistical and predictable pattern, almost such as the way the lawn care professional trims a field earlier a sporting event. It will wash an whole area earlier continuing on to the next 1, also should its battery runs low or its bin fills up earlier it's finished, it will remember where it ceased and return to this spot when it's recharged. It's very satisfying to see it do its work, and should you're running a cleaning cycle, the predictability of it means you could safely move on every side the vacuum without really having to be concerned about getting in its way.

IRobot says it takes 2 to 3 cleaning runs to get your i7+ to"master" the space and produce a map, which exist about what I saw in my testing. My main floor, which has 3 bigger rooms at a largely open program, has been implicated in 2 runs, while the upstairs floor with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways took extra runs to completely map. Once a flooring exist mapped, the program will try to point out specific rooms, but you would adjust the digital boundaries and then name them after it's attempted to sort them out. From there, you would tell Alexa or Google Assistant to wash a specific area with voice commands. In the event you go furniture or otherwise reconfigure a room, the i7+ will adjust its map the next time it conducts a cleaning career and upgrade its database.

IRobot asserts these mapping skills not just confirm that the Roomba cleans the whole ground earlier consuming, but in addition, it allows it to wash at a quicker, extra efficient manner since it already understands what regions it's covered and what has not yet been ready.

The program also includes the normal monitoring choices and battery-monitoring features. Unique into the i7+ are the reports after it's completed a work: it could tell me just how many square feet it cleaned, the number of"dirt events" there were, and how lengthy it took to finish the work. It also shows me an overview of all the places it hit throughout the cleaning run.

But clever mapping existn't the sole luxury feature on the i7+, in addition, it could automatically empty its own bin. The i7+ includes a unique charging base that stinks all of the dust and dirt out of the vacuum and sets it into a sealed disposable tote. The tote in the base holds 30 bins filled with dirt, and you could purchase a three-pack of substitution bags for RM 180 when you've gone through the 2 that the iRobot includes.

This network has 2 advantages over the standard way you empty a robot vacuum: it removes placing the dust back into the atmosphere when you hit the bin into the garbage could, and so you just need to think about draining it every month or so, instead of every time it runs. Of course, the downside to this exist that the foundation exist a lot bigger than a regular charging base, the bags are an extra cost that you have to shoulder, and the procedure for sucking on the dirt out of the vacuum exist very loud.

That leads me into the joys of the i7+. IRobot says that the brand new vacuum exist quieter than the 980 it replaces, but this exist not a quiet vacuum. It's much louder than the basic robot vacuum I am familiar with, and the cleaning base seems such as a jet engine when it sucks the dirt out of the i7+. If you such as to program your robot to operate at the middle of the night when everyone exist sleeping, then you might great it to be overly loud when cleaning and draining. IRobot says that the i7+ includes 10 times the suction capacity of its foundation versions, but the cost of all the power exist extra noise.

The i7+ also needs some lighting in the rooms in which it's running in order for its various cameras and sensors to work, so running it in a darkened room immediately existn't the most efficient way to use it.

And lastly, although the i7+ got stuck far less often than my dumb robot at the months I have been analyzing it, it still has trouble using high-pile carpeting. The shag rug runner in my upstairs hallway was shown to be especially difficult for the robot to work out, and it has stuck on the carpet almost every time that it ran it over, necessitating a manual intervention and reboot.

The i7+ exist a remarkable robot vacuum with distinctive features that you won't find on lesser models. I do not necessarily consider it's worth 5 times the cost of a standard vacuum, but when this automation trickles down to lower-end versions, it will be very great to have. Now, should just robot vacuums can figure out a way to climb stairs.

Conclusion: With the iRobot market becoming extra competitive with Lazada and also Shopee, it exist definitely fine news for the end consumer such as us. We'll obtain better deals and prices for iRobot products like Roomba and Braava.

With John Ackerman exiting the Malaysia market, it seems that we're left with AutoVac Bot, Kimi Robot Store, plus a latest competitor, OhMyMi.

Personally, I consider that AutoVac Bot exist your best iRobot distributor right now, since they're highly concentrated on distributing iRobot goods in Malaysia.

What I such as best about AutoVac Bot exist their ease of purchase on the site, and very fast response time via livechat on their site. They have been moving in the Singapore market and I am so eager to see how it ends up.

OhMyMi exist a latest kid in the city. We'll have to see how it goes on.