Chapter 6: Making Choices
Now that Terra and Jinx were safe, Raven could hear the guards coming to bring the meager evening meal. When the guards arrived and saw that only Raven and Starfire remained, he shouted for backup and ordered the girls to tell him where the others were. This shouting was short-lived, however, for Raven's soul-self emerged moments later in the form of a hand and knocked the guard unconscious. Starfire shot her starbolts at the other guard, throwing him to the ground. Starfire was about to shoot the prison cell doors when Raven created another portal.
"No! This way!" Raven cried. She looked at Raven and then back at the door of the cell. Brother Blood had appeared before them. Starfire's eyes burned bright green and then before Raven could object, Starfire turned her hand on her and shot at Raven. Raven hit her head on a bunk on the way through the event horizon and then vanished. Starfire straightened her stance and looked Brother Blood in the eye. Brother Blood looked inquisitive. What was she up to?
"The others do not matter," Starfire said. "I have made my decision." Brother Blood refrained from attacking her. He was beginning to wonder what she was talking about. He wanted to hear what this alien woman had to say.
"I am heiress to the throne of the planet Tamaran. I have skills and knowledge that would be valuable to you. Spare my friends and my family and I will serve you," Starfire declared. Brother Blood frowned. This was not what he expected from this red-haired, meek, bright-faced young woman. He had thought that she possessed only a fraction of the stately bearing and grace that she reflected now.
"I will do your will. I only ask in return that you do not harm my friends," Starfire continued.
"But those friends stand between me and the accomplishment of my goals," Brother Blood said carefully.
"Are there not several ways of removing the skin of a feline?" Starfire asked. Brother Blood laughed out loud. He was beginning to enjoy this red-head with her unusual combination of naivety and wisdom. Perhaps there really was a left way around the Titans? After a moment's worth of thought, Brother Blood called off his guards and took the young Tamaranian's hand. Lightly, he kissed the back of her hand.
"Very well, Princess, we have an accord. I will spare they Titans and their children, but only if you faithfully serve me in whatever capacity I assign you," Brother Blood replied.
"Then we are agreed and this cell is no longer necessary," Starfire replied.
"Certainly not, your highness," Brother Blood replied, escorting Starfire out of the prison cell. Starfire didn't need to be able to read minds to see what was going through Brother Blood's mind. He had other things in mind for her. Starfire found herself wondering what Brother Blood meant when he said he would spare the Titans and their children. Starfire herself had been one of those that witnessed the innocent children being gunned down. Her own son had been among them. She also wondered if she indeed had seen something else behind Brother Blood's gaze. Had he plans for her that were less than business-like? She would have to deal with that if it ever came to be. For now, the hour was much too late. Her surviving friends and her husband were safe now, and as she sank into the comfort of a real bed for the first time in nearly a year, Starfire reminded herself that that was all that mattered.
When Raven emerged from the other side of the portal, she hit the ground and rolled, landing unconscious beneath a stand of trees. Prying her eyes open, she noted the brightness of early morning sunlight and the numbing chill of freshly fallen snow. She dragged her bruised body to the exposed roots of the nearest tree and curled up beneath it, losing consciousness again soon after. Her head was spinning, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to focus on anything. Her head was pounding with pain. Hidden by the tree roots, Raven let the silent snow cover her as the world went dark again. She wasn't sure what was going on, or even if she would ever open her eyes again, but all she knew for now was that she was free. With this, the world disappeared.
"Daddy! Daddy it snowed! Daddy it snowed!" squealed Olivia, jumping on her parents' bed. "Can I go out and play in the snow?" Beast Boy mumbled something of an affirmative answer and nodded sleepily before rolling over and going back to sleep. It was still early on this Saturday morning, and Robin and Cyborg laughed as Olivia ran full speed through the living room, through the kitchen, and out the door, hardly stopping to acknowledge her 'uncles' before sliding down the railings and running for the door.
"Isn't Jason going out with her?" Cyborg asked as they heard the door slam shut.
"Jason's still asleep," Robin replied. "I asked him if he wanted to go out and play in the new snow and he said he was still tired. Half the team is still asleep. I figured the kids have just as much a right to sleep in as we do." Cyborg nodded. Half an hour later, Beast Boy joined them in the living room. He mumbled good morning and shuffled into the kitchen to retrieve a bottle for Emily.
"Man, if Olivia had any more energy, huh, B?" Cyborg teased.
"If Olivia had any more energy, she would be her Auntie Terra," Beast Boy mumbled.
"What about me?" Terra yawned, arriving in the kitchen and digging through the refrigerator for the milk carton. "Is he making fun of me again?" The guys chuckled. Terra put down the milk carton and pounced on Beast Boy, wrapping him in a headlock. Beast Boy gasped and quickly put the baby bottle on the counter before rebounding against Terra's sudden retaliation. The two wrestled a bit and wound up on the floor. They rolled a few times, rolling past Torque's feet as she entered the room carrying Aidan. She poured a glass of milk from the carton on the counter and placed it back in the fridge. Joining the others on the couch, Torque grinned.
"Five says Terra pins him," Torque said nonchalantly.
"Ten," Robin and Cyborg said simultaneously.
There was a gasp seconds later and Beast Boy hit the ground. Torque looked at her teammates and both of the boys went for their wallets. Torque got up off the couch to take care of her glass when Olivia came running back into the Tower.
"Daddy! Daddy!" She cried, out of breath and flushed from the cold.
"Olivia, what's wrong?" Beast Boy said, getting up and helping Terra up with him.
"I found Mommy!" Olivia cried. The room fell silent. Beast Boy's eyes darkened.
"That's not funny, Olivia," Beast Boy said gravely. He knew his daughter's propensity for imaginative play, and he knew that she and Jason liked to pretend that they were also on the case, helping to search for the missing Titans.
"I'm not kidding! I found Mommy!" Olivia cried. She pulled her dark blue mittens off her little hands and pushed back her hood. "She's hurt! She's under the tree in Auntie Star's garden!"
"Olivia Arella Logan you stop that this instant!" Beast Boy shouted.
"Why don't you believe me?" Olivia shouted.
"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady!"
"But, Daddy!"
Beast Boy took his daughter by the hand and took her out of the room. He returned minutes later with Emily in his arms. Olivia was nowhere to be seen. By then, Jason was dragging his blanket and teddy bear down the hall looking for his father. Robin was coming down the hall just as Jason turned the corner. He rubbed his sleepy green eyes and mumbled, "Morning, Dad." Robin smiled and picked up his son, kissing the little boy's temple and smiling as Jason cuddled into his shoulder. Robin helped Jason get dressed and made sure he was all right playing alone for a while. Robin wanted to talk to Olivia.
Robin knocked on Olivia's door, but she didn't answer. There was a sniffle coming from the other side and Robin guessed what had happened. Taking a deep breath, Robin opened the door. Olivia was sitting on her bed clutching her doll. She looked at Robin with eyes that pleaded for someone to listen. Robin knelt in front of the bed and looked at Olivia for a moment before reaching up to brush her tears away with the hem of his cape. He needed a way to start the conversation and gently get around to what he wanted to know.
"Did I ever tell you what this cape is made of, Olivia?" Robin asked. Olivia sniffled again and nodded.
"Super high density polymerized titanium," Olivia repeated slowly from memory. Robin smiled.
"Wow, you're sure a smart cookie, Olivia. I think you're smart enough to know the difference between what's true and false, too," Robin said.
"I didn't lie," Olivia mumbled, picking at her doll's dress. "Daddy doesn't believe me."
"I believe you, Olivia. Tell me exactly where you found your mom. I'll go outside and carry her in. You can meet me in the medical bay, okay?" Robin replied. Olivia's eyes lit up.
"Do you mean it, Uncle Robin?" Olivia whispered.
"Yes, I do," Robin said. Olivia threw her arms around Robin's neck and hugged him. Minutes later, Robin left the Tower and walked down the path leading to Starfire's garden. When he walked out the front door, he began to follow the little footprints that at first seemed to go all over the yard. Then it seemed that Olivia stopped and turned and ran to a tree at the edge of the garden. As Robin approached, he saw a patch of dark blue hiding in a small crevice beneath the roots of the tree. Brushing away the snow, Robin gasped: Olivia had been telling the truth: Robin found Raven. Robin pulled his friend from the crevice and cradled her in his arms.
"Raven! Raven, can you hear me?" Robin cried. Raven whimpered and shivered in his arms as she started to awaken. Robin swept her up into his arms as he stood and ran back to the Tower. Just as he promised, he went directly to the medical bay where Olivia was trying to pull a thick blanket out of a cabinet. She stopped abruptly when Robin came in and gently placed Raven on one of the beds. He then walked over, picked up Olivia and whirled her around in a circle as he hugged her. As soon as Robin had taken all of Raven's vital signs, he unclasped the heavy, wet cloak from around Raven's shoulders. He helped Olivia pull out the blankets she was after and then let her help tuck Raven in. Robin swept a bit of Raven's hair away from her face and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Welcome home, Raven," he whispered. Raven only whimpered as the warmth began to return to her body and fell asleep. Robin picked up Olivia and carried her back to the living room with him. Robin asked Olivia what she would like for a reward for such good detective work. Olivia appeared to give this serious thought. She replied that her daddy would never let her have ice cream before dinner. Robin looked at the clock: it was 2:30 in the afternoon. He smiled at his young friend and agreed. When the two arrived in the living room, Jinx had joined the group in front of the television watching an afternoon movie.
"Yo, Rob, what's all the commotion?" Cyborg asked. Robin only grinned as he set Olivia on the counter, fixed her an ice cream cone and then set her back on her feet on the floor. Triumphantly, Olivia marched into the living room and sank onto her beanbag chair to watch the movie.
"Ask Olivia," Robin replied, folding his hands over his chest as he smiled. The team redirected their looks of confusion. Beast Boy's expression was still tinged with anger.
"You know we don't allow her to have sweets before 4:00, Robin," Beast Boy said.
"She earned it. Go ahead, Olivia, tell them," Robin urged. Olivia licked at the ice cream again and then looked at her family proudly. "I found mommy!" She replied. Beast Boy was off the couch seconds later and Robin grabbed his shoulder.
"Before you punish her again, you better come with me," Robin said. Beast Boy froze. Robin practically dragged Beast Boy downstairs to the medical bay. When they walked in the door, Beast Boy nearly fainted: there in the bed before him was his wife. Suddenly feeling weak in the knees, Beast Boy barely made it to a chair beside the bed.
"Where…?" he muttered.
"Exactly where Olivia said she was: hiding in a crevice beneath the roots of the largest tree in Auntie Starfire's garden," Robin replied. Beast Boy was shaking. Olivia had been telling the truth. Beast Boy started to cry as he reached out to clutch Raven's hand. Raven blinked her eyes open and forced them to focus. The green blur before slowly developed into a face she had not seen in nearly a year.
"Raven? Raven, can you hear me, honey?" Beast Boy murmured.
"Beast Boy?" she whispered, her voice still stiff with cold.
"I'm here, Raven. You're safe now," Beast Boy replied. Raven simply nodded, snuggled down into the blanket and fell asleep again. Beast Boy looked up at Robin.
"Aw, man, what am I gonna say to Olivia? This isn't the first time I haven't believed something she's said," Beast Boy said. He arranged another blanket over Raven and lightly kissed her lips before letting Robin rest a hand on his shoulder.
"Just talk to Olivia. She understands more than you think," Robin said. Robin and Beast Boy were leaving the medical bay when Jason came down the hall. Robin picked him up and carried him with them back to the living room. When they got there, Beast Boy morphed into a puppy and trotted over to where Olivia sat on the floor playing with her Legos. Carefully, she studied the instructions before her and then popped several C batteries into the power cell and pressed the other end to her four wheeled creation beside her. Olivia squinted a bit in anticipation and flipped the switch. Nothing. Nothing happened. Confused, Olivia unhooked the power module and shook it. The green puppy approached her and nudged her arm. Olivia knew this ploy well. When Daddy knew he was in trouble, he tried to make Olivia feel better by being cute. Olivia knew this, but couldn't resist. She put down the power module and giggled, throwing her arms around the puppy as it licked her face and beat its tail happily. Slowly, it morphed back into her father with his arms wound around her.
"Now do you believe me, Daddy?" she said.
"I'll never doubt you again, Olivia," Beast Boy replied, stroking Olivia's face and kissing the top of her head again. Olivia cuddled against his chest for a minute and then stared at the power module that went with her favorite Lego system.
"Is mommy going to be okay?" Olivia said, looking up at him. Beast Boy smiled and assured her that yes, Mommy was going to be okay. Olivia nodded. She had one more question.
"I can't figure out why my car won't work," Olivia said. Beast Boy rolled over onto his stomach and Olivia joined him.
"Let's see if we can't figure it out together. First, are you sure the batteries are in the right way?" Beast Boy asked.
"Daddy…" Olivia giggled.