By Nyassa Kaiba
Robin stared at the paper like it was something disgusting. He set it down on the nearby table and started pacing. "So the Justice League wants us to investigate this series of arsons. Why? If I know your people correctly you wouldn't do something like this without a very good reason." He asked, arching a nonexistent eyebrow.
"Let's just say that we find the new Headmistress intriguing." Supergirl said with an equally arch eyebrow. "Maybe I should tell you why. Not so long ago a villain named Fudo Myo got his hands on some arrows tipped in green kryptonite. He attempted to use them to poison Superman. The new headmistress, Citrine, was caught in the crossfire, she not only took one of the arrows, but when Superman /was/ hit she found an antidote for the poison. And she did it all without a second thought, even though a few days before we had threatened to have her shipped off to Arkham over in Gotham. We think that she's got what it takes, it just has to come out."
Robin shook his head. "A villain named Red X once said that just because he can be a hero, doesn't mean he wants to be."
"No, but we can try. I've seen her in action Robin, she's got the right stuff, if she can just realize it. Right now she, Gaia and Blackfire are running the administration at HIVE. I've got data for you on Gaia and Citrine." Supergirl offered a data disk to Robin.
Tentatively the boy wonder took the offered data. "Alright, I'll have a look at what you've got, but we're really busy Supergirl. And it seems like the Justice League has most of it in…" Robin broke off as he saw Batman's symbol in the lower right corner of the disk. "Let me guess, the Old Man wants me to take responsibility for this, because HIVE is in my city and in my territory."
"Basically." Supergirl replied. "He's just warning you /before/ it gets out of hand."
"Alright, let me have a look at what's here. The situation may not be that bad. But if you want to turn Citrine to your side/you're/ going to have to do the work." Robin replied.
"That's fine with me." Supergirl said with a relieved sigh. "Good, I can tell /my/ old man that I've brought you the message." She turned to go. "Phoenixfire, I'll meet you at the pizza parlor tomorrow for Lunch, 'kay?"
"'Kay! See you!" Phoenixfire said with a small smile and a wave.
"Perhaps an introduction would be wise." Starfire suggested.
"Right, Star. Phoenixfire, I'm Robin, you know Starfire already, and these are Raven, Beastboy and Cyborg."
Phoenixfire bowed in Japanese fashion. "Konbanwa… douzo, yoroshiku onegaishimasu." Then she explained. "My human heritage comes form Japan. That's where I chose my uniform from, Shinto/Buddist monks."
"You look like Miroku with that outfit!" Beastboy said with a chuckle.
"Remind me never to let you near my Inu-Yasha taped reruns /ever/ again." Raven growled, giving Beastboy a good natured bop on the head.
Supergirl had been gone five minutes when the alarm rang. But it was not the HIVE 'H' on the screen, nor even the Slade 'S.' No, it was a simple icon of a black moth. "Looks like Killer Moth is at it again Titans; Trouble! Let's move!" Robin indicated Phoenixfire in that gesture as well.
Phoenixfire followed the others to the T-car. "Lucky for us I added more seats." Cyborg commented. "We were thinking of consolidating the Titans because the Brotherhood of Evil's started hunting us." He explained. "In you go."
Phoenixfire took a seat between Raven and Starfire. "Killer Moth's still around?" She asked, her expression wasn't anger or hatred, just calm interest.
"Yeah, and he causes a lot of trouble." Beastboy replied. "And Kitten's even worse."
Phoenixfire stiffened. Nobody but Raven seemed to notice.
"You've met Killer Moth?" Robin asked.
"About 3 years ago I ended up getting into a fight with him." Replied Phoenixfire. "It was… a looooooonnnnggg time ago. If he's still around, then I'll get him." Her face snarled slightly the way Robin's did when Slade came up in a conversation. It was obvious that Phoe had major issues with this guy.
Robin wondered to himself. /What could he have done to her to make her this angry. Killer Moth is rather stupid, not nearly as evil as Slade is. What's happened to her/
/Robin./ Raven called in telepathy. /I'm not sure if you can hear this, but Killer Moth is the same to Phoenixfire as Slade is to you. But oddly I don't sense the same hostility to Kitten. She might end up being vulnerable if Kitten is there as well./
Robin thought very hard. /I hear you Raven… will… be… careful…/ This was said haltingly. Lately he'd found that if he focused really hard on what he wanted her to know, he could send short messages to Raven. But only if she was 'listening.' Raven nodded her head almost imperceptibly.
"So Star what was that whole speech thingy you gave?" Beastboy asked curiously.
"It has to do with our Mythology." Starfire replied, "Our creation myth says that the first Tamaraneans were spawned from the blood of God, the body of the Goddess and animated by the Soul of the Eternal Dragon. An oath sworn by those three cannot be taken back." Starfire replied.
"This Tormyand'r, she must have meant a lot to you." Robin commented.
"She was my aunt. She is the one who first gave me and Blackfire our TAG names." Starfire explained. "I would do anything for her."
"We're almost there." Cyborg told them. "Everybody get ready." The ground shook. "Oh no, what the heck?"
Then they came in view. Killer Moth was riding a giant cricket about the size of a bus. And every time it jumped it made the nearby ground rumble. Sitting, boredly, atop the cricket and behind Killer Moth was a figure wearing leather, padded armor and a helmet shaped like a tiger's head. A scanner was in the helmet and the figure had shimmering butterfly wings made from energy.
The Titans came out of the T-car ready to rumble and the figure took off her helmet. "Kitten!" Phoenixfire gasped, moving behind Star and Raven.
At the mention of her name, Kitten jolted out of whatever thoughts she'd been having. "Ph… Phoenixfire?" She gasped.
She fluttered her wings, and in an instant Kitten was standing in front of Phoenixfire. "PHOE!" She cried, scooping Phoenixfire into a hug, oblivious to the other Titans.
"ACK!" Phoenixfire cried. But she returned the hug.
"KITTEN!" Killer Moth snapped. "We're here to fight! Not get all mushy!"
"Yes father." Kitten said as she backed off. Then she noticed Robin and the Titans staring. "What are you staring at?" Then… "Phoe… you… joined the Titans?" Kitten's eyes widened with hurt and betrayal.
Phoenixfire nodded. "Sorry Kitten."
"But Phoe, I was gonna get wings… we were gonna fly together… don't you remember?" Kitten asked, eyes as round and vulnerable as she would ever be.
Phoenixfire nodded. "I'm sorry Kitten. This is the way its got to be…" Phoenixfire said softly.
"Who?"
"My mother… she died and her will asked Starfire to train me. I can't go against her wishes or Starfire's oath." Phoenixfire bowed as she stepped back, back to the relative safety of the other Titans.
"I understand." A single tear dripped down Kitten's face.
"KITTEN! You have homework to do for Gaia." Killer Moth growled.
"Who?" Phoenixfire asked.
"Gaia, she's the combat teacher at HIVE academy." Kitten flushed. "I'm an undergrad there. But I live at home most of the time."
The look of annoyance on Robin's face told Phoenixfire that she was going to get it later.
"If it's a fight you want then it's a fight you're going to get." Robin growled as Kitten returned to the relative safety of her father's monster. "Titans! Go!"
Phoenixfire leapt into the air after Starfire. Kitten leapt into the sky after them, whipped on her helmet, and pressed a control. Eyebeams came from the scanner in the helmet eyeholes. Phoenixfire met these with golden starbolts. Then she dove on Kitten. "You were always the fast one." Kitten commented as Phoenixfire aimed a punch in Kitten's direction. Kitten blocked it and the battle was on.
"Starfire! Help Phoenixfire with Kitten. The rest of us will go after Killer Moth." Robin shouted up.
"Friend Robin, I think Phoenixfire has Kitten on her own." Starfire called down.
Sure enough Phoenixfire and Kitten were moving so fast that they could barely be seen. Phoenixfire brought a knee up into Kitten's stomach. Kitten coughed, doubled over Phoenixfire's leg. "Sorry…" Phoenixfire whispered before bringing a double fist down on Kitten's back. Kitten shrieked in pain, falling to the ground. But in that short interval Phoenixfire saw what had happened, why Kitten now had the power of flight, among other things. Wires were strung along her back, arms and legs, ending at the base of her neck. The wings protruded from a small metal box in her back.
Kitten righted herself just as she hit the ground. "Kitten, the wires…" Phoenixfire asked, half horrified, half fascinated.
"Hooked up to my central nervous and endocrine systems." Kitten replied. "They give both a jump start so I have the instinct and reaction times necessary for flight. And I get superstrength as a side effect." Kitten managed a punch right into Phoenixfire's gut.
Phoenixfire powered a Starbolt into her foot. "You've asked for it! Phoenix kick!" She cried, aiming the kick at Kitten's armor.
Kitten screamed in pain and fell a few feet. Then her wings began to flicker. "No…" She gasped in fear.
"Oh ho!" Phoenixfire grinned. "The wings require power then? And your power's about to run out?"
Kitten didn't answer, just dove for the ground and stayed there. "Dad, we need to leave, now." Kitten growled. "The powercell on my flightbox is about to run out."
"Didn't I warn you to change it before we left?" Killer Moth asked. "Very well… Crickie, retreat!"
Before any of the Titans could stop him Killer Moth and Kitten had retreated back to wherever they had come from.
Cyborg was cackling in glee.
"Um… what just happened?" Beastboy asked.
"Kitten got cybernetic enhancements." Cyborg giggled. "I saw them when she came down from the battle. And they just ran out of power!" He said, laughing.
"I'm glad you find that funny." Beastboy said, face twitching.
"What happened?" Robin demanded as Phoenixfire landed. "Phoenixfire, you knew Kitten?"
"A loooooooonnnnnnggggg time ago." Replied Phoenixfire. "We were friends… and then Killer Moth found out… he didn't quite approve of me."
"That's an understatement." Raven rolled her eyes. "I felt the emotions you two were giving off. You seemed awfully close."
"What are you implying?" Phoenixfire asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Wait a minute. I know where I've seen you before." Cyborg exclaimed. "Your dad's the head of the genetics department at STAR labs! I saw you at take you child to work day. That was the exact day that I got caught in the lab accident that…" Cyborg smacked a hand over his mouth.
"I thought you looked familiar." Agreed Phoenixfire. "Listen, here's what happened Robin. Kitten and I were friends since grade school, but our parents hated each other. It was like Romeo and Juliet, only without the suicide thing. Then Killer Moth finds out who my parents are and he went nuts. He wouldn't let me anywhere near Kitten after that. So much for best friends." Phoenixfire kicked a nearby soda can.
"Just don't let Kitten get between you and whatever you've set out to do." Robin said gruffly. "Let's head home."
"Think we could order pizza?" Cyborg asked hopefully.
"Oh no, last time you ordered pizza you forgot to get vegetarian pizza and I ended up going hungry." Beastboy growled.
"We can get one of each." Robin placated them.
Phoenixfire was silent the whole way back to the tower. "Okay what is your deal?" Demanded Beastboy as they walked up the stairs from the garage to the common room. "You've been quiet the whole time, you're kind of starting to scare me." Beastboy commented. "I mean that's worse than Raven's record of only muttering a single monosyllable in a whole day!"
Phoenixfire shook her head. "Just thinking."
"About what?" Beastboy asked.
"About how annoying you are leave her alone." Raven growled.
"We were just kids." Phoenixfire sighed softly. The other Titans had moved out of earshot. Just Beastboy was there. "We met at the same dance lesson and she'd go on and on about the importance of respecting your body. Why would she go against that, for the sake of fighting… For the sake of violence…?" Phoenixfire echoed Kitten's words. "'But Phoe, I was gonna get wings… we were gonna fly together… don't you remember?'"
"She said that? That she was going to get wings?" Beastboy asked. "Why would she want to fly?"
"She used to watch me fly all the time. I guess she got jealous." Phoenixfire sighed. "And it spells trouble for me. It spells trouble period." She wiped away a tear.
"Listen… Phoenixfire… I had a friend once who turned evil on me… if you ever need help… or somebody to talk to… I'll be there."
Phoenixfire sniffed back a tear. "Thanks Beastboy."
"Hey, no problem." Beastboy perked up his ear. "Oh dear. Cyborg's making something with meat."
"How can you tell?"
"I can smell and hear it." Beastboy replied with a groan.
"Wait a minute, you're a vegetarian?" Phoenixfire asked. "Cool, my younger brother Tori hates eating meat. Milk and eggs he'll eat. So, soy or tofu?"
"Tofu mostly. I haven't tried soy." Beastboy answered as he followed Phoenixfire up the stairs. "And I don't eat milk or eggs."
"I've got to make some soy burgers for you then, just to try. Dad also made some awesome veggie burgers with rice, veggies, and tofu eggs. But he died in a lab accident. I tried making the recipe and they just don't hold together. I end up with a panful of rice instead." She frowned.
They were walking down the halls towards the common room now. As they opened the door Beastboy said thoughtfully. "I wouldn't mind trying them." Beastboy replied. "We have all the stuff we'd need. You probably didn't use enough tofu eggs. Real eggs are stickier. But like I said I don't eat them. They started towards the fridge. "Okay guys, Phoenixfire and I are going to try one of her dad's vegetarian recipes. If anybody wants to try some we'll make some for you okay?" He offered.
"I would like to try some." Starfire said, flying over.
"Sure Beastboy, I'll give it a try." Robin said, standing from where he was watching TV.
"Will it at least taste like a real hamburger?" Cyborg asked. He was basting a roast, he even had a little chef's hat on.
"It's made with rice, tofu eggs, and veggies." Phoenixfire replied as she dug through the fridge. "Hm… carrots might be good if I could slice them small enough. Celery definitely… peppers… garlic…"
"mmmmm…" Beastboy grinned as he pulled out rice. "The Tofu eggs are in the drawer on the lower right." He says absently as he dug through the spices. "What do you do for spices?"
"Same thing you would regular burgers. Onion powder, salt, pepper, and sage." Replied Phoenixfire as she began chopping vegetables. "I'm not sure how well they'll turn out." She told the watching Titans. "When mom and I tried making them they ended up falling apart and we had a pan of tofu fried rice instead of veggie burgers."
"Say Phoenixfire, I've heard about your mother. But you never mention your father." Robin commented as he eyed the veggies being chopped.
Phoenixfire sighed. "He… he died in a lab accident."
"He was working at Star labs Robin." Cyborg told him. "Remember how I got the way I did? The robotics lab shared space with the genetics lab. Her father was the head geneticist if I remember correctly. Anybody in the building at the time would either have been killed or injured, and badly."
"I'm sorry… I didn't…"
"There's no way you would have." Raven sighed as she put down her book and came over to watch. "Here's a hint Robin, when somebody doesn't mention a family member its for a good reason."
Robin nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
"We don't really know much about each other's pasts do we?" Beastboy asked as he watched. "So far we know where Raven comes from. And where Cyborg comes from, but none of us have really told each other about anything. Like you Starfire, how did you end up on Earth?"
"It is a long story." Starfire replied.
"You know most of mine." Robin said with a shrug.
"But doesn't it ever bother you that we didn't know much about each other until we met?" Beastboy asked.
Phoenixfire poured the chopped veggies into a bowl. "Beasboy, for enough burgers for all of us we'd need an entire pouch. Can you please start boiling it?"
"Sure." Beastboy cheerfully started on the rice.
"And this waits for the rice." Phoenixfire put the bowl of chopped veggies aside. "My family? Dad was Japanese, so my human last name is Tsukawa. What it means I have no idea. You already know my mother's name. I have an older brother Foxfire and a younger brother Dragonfire."
Cyborg pauses for a moment. "I think I remember your first name too." He commented. "From that one time we met… um… before… but if you don't want me to tell the others I won't."
"Considering the milage Raven got out of finding out my birthname I wouldn't if I were you." Beastboy commented.
"Another time perhaps." Phoenixfire started draining the whites from some of the tofu eggs. "Beastboy, how much of these do you think it will take?"
"Try one for each of us." Beastboy replied from where he was cooking the rice.
"I can understand the dragon and the 'phoenix'" Starfire said curiously. "But foxes are not normally associated with fire. Why would he pick the name foxfire?"
"Well in Japanese Mythology there are stories of fox demons called Youko. And Youko have nine tails and special spirit fires. More illusions than real fire." Explained Phoenixfire. "Foxfire trains with the Justice League and Dragonfire's too young to do much of anything."
"Too many fires… me fall over." Beastboy said, waving dramatically. Robin caught him. Beastboy blushed. "Um… that was supposed to be a joke."
"Not funny." Raven growled. "I thought you really were going to faint."
"Naw…" Beastboy said with a grin. "It takes a lot to make me faint." He turned back to the rice. "Hm… looks like they're done." He drained the rice and poured it in a bowl for Phoenixfire. "Okay, how do we do this?"
"Like this." Phoenixfire poured the veggies and the tofu egg whites and started mixing them together. "Like you would a meatloaf. In fact, I'll bet we could use a similar mixture to make a vegetarian meatloaf…"
"Oh no you don't." Cyborg stuck up his nose. "You're not going to call it a meatloaf when it isn't made with /meat/"
"Okay, then it would be a rice loaf." Phoenixfire replied as she worked on the mixture. "I think I've got it. Beastboy, bring on the frying pan." She took a couple paper plates, made six perfectly round balls of the stuff, and flattened each of them with a smack. Then, as Beastboy fired up the pancake griddle Phoe brought the plates over and put the six veggie burgers on the pan. "Here's hoping." She said, showing the other Titans her crossed fingers.
As the other Titans watched the rice sizzled, and the patty became brown, and the smell of frying rice and vegetables filled the common room. Beastboy took a deep whiff. "Mmmm… I hope it tastes as good as it smells!"
"If I've done the recipe right it will." Phoenixfire replied as she served each Titan a veggie burger.
Beastboy held his up in a toast to Phoenixfire before taking a big bite. "YUM!" He cried, eyes turning into hearts. "Phoenixfire, think you could make more of these?" He swooned.
"The way to a man's heart being his stomach?" Raven asked archly.
Starfire rolled her eyes. "Friend Raven, I have heard many human sayings during my time on Earth, but I have never heard this one."
"It's a common saying." Raven replied as Beastboy practically floated around the kitchen after Phoenixfire. "Beastboy calm down and eat your dinner."
Dinner was a lot more cheerful after the mood in the T-car. Phoenixfire was praised for her handling of Kitten, but Phoe didn't feel very good about that at all.
Suddenly Robin's communicator beeped. "Aqualad to Robin! Aqualad to Robin!"
Robin whipped out his communicator. "Aqualad?"
"We've gotten into some major trouble Robin. The Eastern Tower is a wreck, we're on our way via submarine. I don't want to talk about it via channel. We might be spied on. But we might end up staying with you for awhile."
"Who's with you?" Robin asked.
"Me, Speedy, the twins, Bumblebee, we managed to rescue Hotspot and Wildebeast from the brotherhood. But going back to the Eastern Tower is too dangerous." Aqualad warned.
"We'll be ready for you. But I'll expect a full report." Robin warned him.
"Good, we'll be there sometime tonight. Don't want to give details when they could be monitored." Aqualad warned. "Aqualad out."
"One of the Eastern Titans? I heard about them…" Phoenixfire said nervously.
"Looks like we're having guests." Robin said with a sigh. "So much for a quiet evening."