And there was Chapter. Chapter 5 that is. The world is right again. So many people read the other chapters, and nobody gives me their input. If you don't like it... you can still tell me why that is. What doesn't kill me makes my writing stronger.
The signal Starfire and Cyborg managed to lock led them into a nearby store. Starfire tried to contain her squeal of delight. "Perhaps we can buy gifts for our friends, and bring them back with the information on the signal we find," she offered.
"No such luck, Star," Cyborg grimaced as he jingled the door of store. "The store is closed because of the heat. I don't blame them."
"But we must enter, friend Cyborg, to see what the signal inside is, they must allow us in!"
"We're gonna have to let our selves in," he whispered, picking the lock with the small pointed utensils that he produced from the tips of his fingers. Starfire peered over his shoulder in curiosity.
"I was told the breaking in was bad, and only done by criminals," she stated.
"This is special conditions, Star. We're not taking anything, and they'll never know we where here. We're just tryin' to bring back their business."
"That is fair enough, I suppose..." Starfire took a moment to ponder, "Do you have the lock picking tools always... on hand?" she whispered. (a/n: punelicious moment. don't mind me...)
"They're kinda built in, always on hand. That's me in a nut shell: Part man, part human Swiss army knife."
"That is, marvelous, Cyborg, to be so useful," Starfire sighed. The seemed to drift into thought as the door let out a soft click and Cyborg pushed it open. Starfire floated in after him. The dark room proved to be uninviting, unsettling and eerie. Cyborg popped the light on his shoulder. "What is this store?" Starfire qeustioned. Out of her recent trips to the mall and local shops, she had never noticed it.
"The sign out front just said it was a 'special interest' store. I'd say this is the biggest mix of special interests I've ever seen." Cyborg looked around, "It all looks like a mixed bag of every year on this planet, dating back to the 1400s. Look, this is some sort of medieval device, for... something..."
"On Tamaran, we used devices such as those to cook a gamphbag. I'm sure it must be for a similar use..."
"Or maybe your people have come here before, Star! Maybe some of our history comes from your people." Cyborg added, putting back the thingamabob. "We'd best not touch anything, the shop is still closed," he suggested.
"You are too right, Friend Cyborg, we must not be lifting the shop," She grinned, placing down the disco mirror ball in the corner and backing away. Cyborg returned the smile awkwardly. She didn't get half of earth's customs, but he got none of her planets customs, either. A rustle in the darkness behind the counter turned both their heads. "What is it, friend Cyborg?" Starfire stuttered. "What is making that noi-" but she was silent when Cyborg put up his hand. He cautiously advanced on the counter, and produced his sonic cannon, but he was hit back by an unseen force as he hit it. He tried again to blast the spot, but there was a barrier surrounding the dark figure that wallowed in the shadows, knocking over things behind.
"Hold up!" Cyborg yelled, "We mean no harm!"
The figure stood up and let down the guard. There stood a young male, only about 9, holding a book of spells. "If you mean me no harm," he squeaked in an unbroken voice, "then why where you aiming that gun at me?" he looked strangely brave in the face, but full of fear in the eyes.
"Why were you hiding in the shadows?" Cyborg retorted in a raised voice, but Starfire stepped in fronted and approached the child.
"Please, young boy, what is your name?" she asked in a soothing voice.
"B-Br-Brahnan," he stammered. "Brahnan Coulee."
"And," Cyborg cut in, a calmer more inviting voice, "What are you doing sneaking around like that?"
"I was scared I'd be caught," he rasped, almost afraid anyone else would hear. His large green eyes searched the room. "It was so hot outside on the streets, and I needed to get inside. I didn't want to get dry and crispy like the worms on the street." Starfire's face went pale and Cyborg cleared his throat.
"What are you doing on the street, anyway?"
"I don't have family. They got rid of me. They said I was full of dark magic and that I was a killer. They said they didn't want me in the church. They said God didn't want me anymore and that I was pure evil," he stopped to catch is breath. "They told me I should go die on the streets rather than live under the roof of their church." Cyborg look flat out shocked, and Starfire sympathetic.
"How could parents be so cruel?" she asked, "What kind of people live on Earth that would do that to a child?"
"There are some things on Earth we're not that proud of, Star. That's all I can say. Brahnan, have you noticed anything strange coming from this store?"
"Yes," the boy nodded.
"And that was..." Cyborg added, leaning his head in.
"Oh, the lady that came in. She was tall and skinny... and her face was covered with her hat. It had a veil. I think she came from a funeral, I saw women dressed like that at the church before, but this lady was wearing too much red."
"Sounds suspicious," Cyborg noted.
"Brahnan, would like to join us back at the Titans Tower? It is cooler there than here, and we could keep you safe till we find you a good foster home," Starfire offered. Even aliens had maternal instinct.
"Um, yes, I'd like that very much... thank you," Brahnan said timidly, taking her outstretched hand.
"That a good boy," she cooed, looking over at Cyborg for approval. He just shrugged.
"Robin is not goanna like this, Star, not at all."
"Oh, hush, Cyborg. I can handle Robin," she growled, and with that they lead the small boy out of the store, locking up behind them and noting the store's name. They'd come back and investigate later.
R+R my lovelies.