Two weeks later, the Titans returned home. They had scoured Detroit, then nearby cities and states, searching for Raven, but to no avail. Batman's informant had no new information either.
Just as they walked through the door of the Tower, the alarm sounded. They raced to the monitor, Robin in the lead.
"It's the ninjas again," their leader stated.
"The evil people in the black clothes who were able to overcome us?" Starfire asked.
"We'll get 'em this time," Beast Boy declared.
"Where are they?" Terra inquired.
"A warehouse a few miles outside Jump City," Robin replied.
"What's in the warehouse?" Cyborg questioned.
"We'll have to find out when we get there," Robin said. "We don't have time to check now. Titans, go!"
The girls and Beast Boy took to the air, Robin jumped on his bike, and Cyborg got into his car, and the Titans sped toward their destination.
As they neared, Cyborg spoke over their communicators. "Uh, guys, I found out what's in the warehouse…"
"Great work, Cyborg. What is it?" Robin asked.
"It's a weapons warehouse."
Terra murmured something beneath her breath that sounded like "Figures."
"Be extra careful everyone," Robin cautioned.
"I'll contact the local authorities for backup," Cyborg said. No one disapproved.
They arrived to find a group of the black-clad ninjas loading wood crates into a van and several guards lying immobile on the ground.
"We were wondering if you were going to show up," one of the mysterious fighters commented.
"Too bad we can't take the time to fight you right now," another said as he removed something from one of the boxes.
"You'd better make time," Robin said. "Titans, let's get them!" The five charged at the gathering of ten ninjas.
Terra finally realized what was in the man's hand when she saw him removed the pin. "It's a grenade! Get out of the way!"
Robin, Beast Boy, and Cyborg instantly followed her lead and separated.
"What?" Starfire asked confusedly. "What's a grenade?"
"Star! Move!" Robin cried as the ninja threw his explosive at the puzzled alien girl.
Terra hurled a rock to meet the bomb, but Starfire was still caught in the blast. Her friends rushed over to her to find her unconscious and badly burned, but alive.
"She doesn't look good. We need to get her to a hospital," Cyborg said.
Robin opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Beast Boy's cry. "Look out! They're still attacking!"
Cyborg gathered up Starfire and the five dove out of the way of a barrage of attacks. Outnumbered, the Titans fell one by one. Terra, occupied with dodging small bombs, did not see the nun chucks spinning through the air. She was knocked off of her boulder, and landed poorly, twisting her ankle. A nearby explosion sent her flying, and rendered her in the same state as Starfire. Robin tried to attack, but was easily surrounded and overcome. The hilt of a weapon was brought down painfully behind his elbow, effectively making the arm useless. Distracted by the sudden pain, he did not have time to move far enough away to prevent him from becoming another victim of the explosives. A deadly ninja star lodged agonizingly deep in Cyborg's shoulder, causing him to involuntarily drop Starfire. Something heavy hit him in the back of the head, and he remembered no more. Beast Boy evaded their foes for the longest by transforming into his pterodactyl form and remaining at high elevations except when attempting an attack. But once his fellow Titans had fallen, he, too, was defeated when he took two bullets in one wing and dropped heavily to the ground. Just before awareness left him, he heard the piercing wail of sirens.
XXXXX
As a woman in the white uniform of a nurse was leaving the building, the reverberation of a helicopter caught her attention. She had bleached pale-blonde hair tied back in a ponytail with bangs hanging free that framed her pale face. Her green eyes, which had an unusual tint of purple, watched as a helicopter landed on the roof. Not an unusual occurrence in itself, but the second helicopter that followed directly after it was extremely rare since the hospital was relatively small and considered not to be as technologically advanced as most.
She mentally shrugged. She had already informed the head nurse that she would not be returning, so the patients were no longer her responsibility. She loved helping others, but she secretly felt she should be able to do more. True, her patients always healed more quickly and more cleanly than those not seen by her, but she of course could not tell the doctors why that was.
"Salus!"
Raven turned at the call of her most recently adopted name: Salus Zhi.
A young assistant nurse ran up to her. "Please. Five just arrived by helicopter."
"I am no longer employed by the hospital."
"We know. But they're in serious condition."
"What are the injuries?" Raven found herself asking automatically.
Hope shone in the young woman's innocent blue eyes. "Two gunshot wounds, possible second-degree burns and broken bones, plus cuts and bruises."
"I have to be at the subway station in fifteen minutes," Salus stated monotonously as she began walking briskly back into the hospital. She had been planning to walk.
"I'll drive you myself," the girl said as she led the way.
The elevator doors opened on the intended level, and the two females rushed out.
"Ms. Zhi!" another voice called out. One of the on-duty doctors approached them. "We need you in surgery."
"I have already resigned, I am merely going to check on the new arrivals," Salus replied.
"The need for you is more urgent in surgery. The patient is loosing too much blood. Whatever it is that you do, if you don't do it, he probably will die."
"Get your car ready and meet me in front," Salus ordered the young nurse, who nodded and left.
Salus followed the doctor to the operating room where a man had been brought for a transplant. She performed another mysterious miracle, and left ten minutes later when the patient was stabilized and could survive the remainder of the procedure.
While Salus waited for the elevator, she thought guiltily about the five who had just arrived and who she did not have time to help. Because she would most likely never return to the hospital, she decided to attempt a feat she had not dared to try before for fear of how much of her power would be depleted. As the elevator chimed and the doors opened, Raven released a surge of healing power throughout the entire floor. She was left drained, but she highly doubted that she would need the power again soon. She arrived on time to catch the train, and traveled away with a free conscience.
XXXXX
Cyborg blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. He slowly sat up on the foreign bed and looked around to find himself in a hospital room. Memory returned to him, and he looked around to see his fellow Titans behaving much like he was. He also noted several nurses and doctors gaping at them.
"What?" Beast Boy asked, bewildered. "What are guys staring at?"
"Good question," Robin stated. "But is everyone all right?"
The Titans nodded, then waited for Beast Boy's question to be answered.
"How did you…" one woman attempted, but lost her train of thought.
"How long were we out?" Terra inquired, noticing that her ankle did not cause her pain when she moved it, and she had no marks on her skin from the burns. Indeed, Starfire and Robin also showed no signs of having been burned, Beast Boy could not find any scars from the two bullets in his arm, and Cyborg saw no indication of where the deep gash in his arm had been.
"You've been here less than two hours," one finally answered.
The Titans mirrored the surprise of the hospital staff.
Suddenly a thought occurred to Beast Boy. "Do you think that maybe…"
"I didn't know she was that advanced in healing," Robin said. "But it must have been her."
"Is there a nurse or doctor here with purple hair and eyes?" Terra inquired with anticipation. "Maybe who goes by the name of 'Raven'?"
The staff shook their heads.
"Well," the young woman who spoke was intimidated by the expectant looks from the five, "Salus did look like her eyes had some purple in them, though they were green also. She's not here anymore," she added quickly, before she could be interrogated. "She got on a subway train about an hour ago. I don't know any more than that."
Raven had unknowingly saved them yet again. They had so much to thank her for. If possible, their resolve hardened further. They had to find her and let her know how much they wanted her back with them.
KidFlashisHot: Thank you very much! I am glad you like Raven's assortment of occupations. I hope the wait was not too long for you.
The Wings of a Raven: Why not Canada? Lol. And no worries, they will meet soon! Sorry I did not update sooner. Thanks for reviewing!
otakualways: I am pleased you think so! I hope you like this chapter, too. Thank you for the review!
The Last: Lol. I know about that kind of humor. I updated in less than one month, though still not as soon as I had hoped to get the next chapter out. Yes, writer's block is part of the delay. However, today I had an idea for later in the story, so I worked hard to get this chapter out tonight. I think I will end up shortening the number of chapters until they find her, but I have not decided for certain yet. Thank you for reviewing!
Lexi The Writer: They will…eventually. Lol. Thanks for the review!
DelofDani: I hope the slight change made the chapter a bit less tedious. Not much longer. I am considering reducing the remaining number of chapters left before they find Raven. Thanks for reviewing!
fan: Yes, she is a genius, and my favorite character. Could you tell? I'm glad you like my story so much. I hope it continues to meet your expectations. Thank you for reviewing!
Sparrowing: Not quiet, but they will catch up to her eventually. And yes, the missing child will have significance in later chapters. I am glad you think I am doing well, and I hope you continue to think so. Thanks so much for the review!
JMPchick: Thank you for the kind review! I am pleased you enjoy my story so much. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
donthaveascreenname: I hope you did not get in trouble. (I know I do for doing the same thing.) I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Thanks very much for the review!
moo: Thanks! I got this chapter out a bit sooner, yes? Thank you so much for reviewing!
Zicora: I have that memory problem as well. Yes, I'm sure if Raven knew the Titans were searching for her, she'd come back on her own. I am glad that chapter helped to clarify some things. Thanks for reviewing!
Raven of the Night676: Thank you, I am glad you liked it! I know it deviated quite a bit from my norm in some instances. And I may end up reducing the number of chapters until they find Raven, but nothing is definite yet. Thanks again!
Darkofthenight: I know I did not update too soon, but I hope the somewhat shorter wait was not too bad. I hope you liked this chapter. Thank you for reviewing!
dancingirl3: Thanks for the review! I am sorry to disappoint you, but I don't write romance. This is a non-pairing fiction.
animegoddess12345: Thank you very much! I am pleased you think so highly of my story. I hope it continues to meet with your expectations.
VashTheStampede7123: Thanks so much for another nice review! I am honored you like it so much! I hope the wait was not too long this time.
teenRAVENtitan: Not much longer, I think. I've yet to decide exactly how many more chapters until they meet. I am glad you enjoyed my story so much. Thanks for the review!
Neko 1392: That's okay. I'm tired, too. Lol. Thank you for reviewing!
GS Dragono: Yes, it did take some time. That you liked it makes the time worth it, though! Thanks so much for the review!