{Hooray! The gang's all here!}

Raven swallowed hard against the gorge rising to her throat.

Humor's wing dragged behind her. Her feathers were matted with blood and she was hopping around to avoid being stepped on as people around her ran for safety.

Cyborg shot past, Courage at his back.

Raven bent down and scooped the injured soulbird up.

Help any way you can she ordered the others.

{It's just a flesh wound.} Humor's pink eyes flashed as she crowed to the sky. {Have at you, you coconut laden swallow!}

To Raven's relief, Humor's wing was only dislocated and the clawmarks were superficial. As she pulled the injuries into herself her arm twinged in momentary pain. She felt itchy lines along her back that faded. Humor flapped the mended wing experimentally, then took to the air. {I appreciate that. Come on slowpoke.}

There was an edge to Humor's thoughts, as if she forced herself to be positive.

Raven still fought the urge to retch.

{That'll be "Brains" on the Brain. She and Robin got here about the same time B.B. and I did. Then we got sucker-punched.}

They rounded the corner of the Polyplex.

Fearful bystanders were desperately taking what cover they could find. Some on the ground, although by injury or fear Raven couldn't tell. Dr. Light stood with his back to the cinema wall, blasting at anything in the sky bigger than a moth. Hate screamed her fury from the darkness above. Starfire and Beast Boy were no where to be seen but Raven suspected they were airborne, trying to catch Hate. Cyborg and Robin warily approached Dr. Light.

A bundle of black feathers lay unmoving at his feet.

Raven could sense thought, but it was faint.

Azar help me…

She reached out with her power. There was so little available, and distance added to the task—but the need was so great…

And the burden so small…

Concentrate…

A film of darkness covered the helpless soulbird.

Slowly, the bundle rose off the ground.

Almost…

The little body was fully clear of the concrete.

Dr. Light screamed.

Raven recalled Intellect as fast as she dared.

His balled fists glowed white as he aimed at the retreating black lump.

Humor landed on his wrist, opened her beak and stuck her tongue out in her best RoadRunner imitation.

{Beep, Beep!}

Robin's concussion disc struck the ground at Dr. Light's feet.

Before Dr. Light could grab her, Humor took to the air and disappeared into the night.

{It's been a blast!}

The explosion bounced him off the wall and sent him cartwheeling into the parking lot.

Raven used the spreading concussion wave to carry Intellect to her, like a surfer on a tidal wave. When they were together, she cradled the soulbird and released the spell.

{I remember learning how to do that.} Intellect's yellow eyes were glazed over; she blinked to clear them.

{I knew I couldn't die--I'm a part of you. Then again, if one of your other emotions did the damage…Hmmm."} She fell silent as her concentration wandered.

You're delirious.

{Hmmm? I think that's from blood loss.}

That's not all. Intellect was shattered. There wasn't a bone in her body that remained whole. Her soft tissues were a pulpy mass.

{You won't be able to heal me so don't even try. There's too much damage, and you'll need all the power you have to finish this—to subdue Hate.}

I'll have to take you back then.

{I know.} Intellect gave a mental sigh. {It was fascinating while it lasted. May I make a request?}

Name it.

{Tell Robin that it was an honor and a privilege to fly with him tonight. It was quite insightful.}

I'll tell him.

Intellect closed her eyes. {Unto you I submit.}

I accept you.

Raven closed her eyes as the power that formed Intellect seeped back into her arms and chest. A thin red wave of pain washed over her and she gasped before it drew away. She opened her eyes.

---

Robin wasted no movement as he vaulted to the top of a fence. She landed a respectable distance away—she didn't want to disrupt either his concentration or the evidence he sought—and watched as he scanned the alley beyond.

Her leader was huge; not gigantic as when he'd brandished his staff at her, but still big--like a cougar waiting to pounce.

She turned and took in the alley too. It was narrow with plenty of shadows. Without warning Robin jumped down, then examined something on the ground. She hopped along the fence to get a better view of what he was looking at.

He looked up at her, smiled, and sat back on his heels. "Another footprint. Come and see."

She flew down near the base of the fence, then approached the spot carefully. She could see it and recognize the smudge in the dirt as a footprint, but the teen detective looked like he could read it as easily as if it was a book.

"We're close. Come on."

---

Raven closed her eyes and cleared her mind.

You did have an adventure didn't you?

She would definitely take time later and examine all that had happened through Intellect's "eyes".

In the meantime there was work to do.

She drifted over to the closest of the bystanders on the ground. He was trying to stand, but his leg wouldn't support his weight. A touch of her hand revealed a twisted ankle, so she drew in his pain. She had been through so much this evening she barely felt it. He looked at her in awe.

"Take cover," she commanded.

He nodded.

Raven moved on.

Most of the people were victims of shock, and quickly recovered their wits at her approach.

A few had been trampled. These had injuries that even at her most powerful Raven couldn't mend. She knelt beside the fourth one she'd found and hung her head. She wanted to cry.

I don't know who started the stampede—Dr. Light or Hate—but either way it's still my fault. I lost control before, and drove Dr. Light mad. I've lost control again and now Hate's loose.

{I caused this.} Sorrow stood beside Raven's knee and looked up at her shadowed face. {I felt so bad about what I'd done to Dr. Light, I failed to help keep Hate in check. I thought maybe…maybe I deserved…}

No. Raven picked up the soulbird and held her close. I'm not perfect, but I don't deserve torture or death.

Sorrow wouldn't meet Raven's gaze.

She lifted Sorrow up until they were touching nose to beak. I've made mistakes, and I have tried to keep them from causing harm. But when it happens, I do my best to undo the damage, learn from the mistake and try to move on. That's all anyone can do.

Sirens and lights heralded the approach of police and ambulances. Raven turned to watch Cyborg carry away a still-struggling Dr. Light, while Robin approached the authorities.

Friends make the clean-up go smoother, too…

{Go on. I will stay here and protect the fallen.}

Raven released Sorrow, then stood and flew over to intercept the paramedics.

She could see by his body posture, their leader was ready to brush her off.

"I've got a job--"

She pointed to one of the trample victims. "That one's worst." She rattled off the patient's condition, in correct medical terms. She pointed to each of the others she'd examined and did the same.

He opened his mouth, then closed it and nodded. A few terse orders and his people were on the move.

"This is still a battle zone" Raven added. "Be ready for an aerial attack."

"We're gonna need time before we can move some of 'em--can you do something?"

She gave him a grim smile. "That's my job."

As she turned and floated toward Robin, she thought she heard him say, "Good luck".

Starbolts lighted the sky like tracers as Raven approached Robin. He was in an animated argument with the squad leader. He held up his hand to silence the other as she landed.

"Did you get to her in time?"

Raven blinked, then realized he was asking about Intellect. "She's safe."

"Good." He his relief sounded genuine. Raven smothered her surprise. He'd only known Intellect less than an hour, but she'd made an impact on him.

Unless he's concerned about how her welfare affects me…

He squared his shoulders and turned back to the officer.

"Dr. Light can't leave yet. You'd put your transport in danger, and start the whole thing over somewhere else. This has to end here and now, and the only way to do that is to keep him here."

The commander folded his arms across his chest. "You can't use him as bait, no matter how bad that creature is."

"He's not bait." Robin was clearly at the end of his patience. "He's insurance to keep the creature here."

"He needs medical attention."

"Let me see him", Raven said quietly.

The commander looked at her then shook his head. "It won't do any--"

Robin pointed to a troop carrier in the parking lot. "Cyborg took him to the van."

"What can she do?" Raven heard the cop ask as she walked away.

"Plenty. Now, about the creature…"