Chapter Eight
The Parting of the Ways
"You will be believers my friends, the Arbiter will see you now." He had tow more guards come in and put the two of them in chains. They led Robin and Starfire out and began walking them in separate directions.
"ROBIN! Robin please what should I do?" Robin struggled against the zealots and looked back at Starfire.
"Do your very best not to scream." Starfire's eyes widened and she tugged and pulled to try and get away from the ones holding her.
"ROBINNN!" As Robin did the same in trying to get free they clunked him over the head and he went limp. She stared down at him before feeling a pain a in her neck and everything went black.
Starfire moaned a bit as she came to not long after. She opened her eyes only to see that a thick sheet of metal covered them. She tried to move but found that she was completely restrained at her wrists, ankles, waist, and her neck. She lying a bed that was at an angle, like a dentist's chair. Again when she tried to summon the might of her powers she was disappointed to feel nothing. She so wished Robin were there with her, or any of her friends. What she didn't know however is that they were all with her, in the same room, retrained just like her. They were arranged so that they formed a spacious circle with their slanted beds. Not one of them had a clue they were all in the same room with each other. They heard a door open and they each gulped in anxiety. A solitary man with a black staff entered the room. His entire face was covered and even his hands were adorned with black gloves, it became a wonder if this man even had human skin. He walked to the center of their circle and cleared his throat.
"Greetings," his voice alone made the hair on back on their necks stand on end. He spoke softly and slowly to allow them to take in every word. "There is no need for introductions, you know how I am and I know who you are." He spoke in such a way to further the Titan's belief that they were each alone in the room.
"You believe yourself to be a strong and defiant hero to the last. However there is a simple fact of life which disproves this shell you have erected before you; and that is the human mind is a fragile thing, oh so fragile………..weakness. It is the weakness of the mind that will cause you to fall before me, because past the rough and valiant exterior there lies a helpless worm cringing and cowering. It is an unavoidable fact of life." He walked over to Starfire and bent down next to her to whisper in her ear.
"It is so, even for extraterrestrials." Starfire balled up her hands to try and tune him out, but his voice penetrated every barrier she struggled to put up. "A wickless innocent who clings to a useless strand of hope that stands upon the edge of a knife!" He moved on to Cyborg.
"You, are not a human being. You are artificial. An abomination to this world even until your end comes creeping around the corner you are Nothing." Cyborg did his best to try and disregard everything he said. The Arbiter then spoke into Beast Boy's ear.
"People who are mutated due to genetic defects as with family defects. There is only such an explanation for such a ruined flaw of life!" Beast Boy suddenly remembered his mother and father and how they took care of him when he was ill and dying. Raven then felt the man's breath next to her.
"Individuals who insist on lives of solitude and confinement from the world. You will never truly experience anything but your pathetic life in all it's sadness and woe." Deep within her Raven couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was right. She tried to force the thought out of her head and found it put up a good fight. He then bent down next to Lee.
"An exile who is lost on a barren and futile search for those of his dishonored past. What chance do you think you have of ever seeing your beloved sibling again? She is lost, and you will spend the rest of your life traveling only in your mind and being just one step behind her!" Lee closed his eyes tight shut and mouthed his sister's name to try and stay focused. 'Nayia…..Nayia." Finally the malicious Arbiter settled next to Robin.
"Or even those who charge confidently into battle, you know if anything goes wrong it is your fault. That leaves only one explanation for you and your team's capture………you were incompetent." The word hit Robin like a giant weight. He had sometimes thought of himself as incompetent when something had gone wrong, but he had always had his team to tell him otherwise; that it wasn't his fault. This was the first time Robin had ever heard someone tell him he was incapable of properly leading. The Arbiter straightened up and returned to the center of the circle. He then began to pace around in it confines.
"It is amazing how little the mind requires to brake from what you believe to be it's firm and resolute form. What you must understand is that I don't care about you fragile minds; I don't care about your pathetic souls. My only concern is the eye and whose neck is belongs around. It is unavoidable, it is your fate that you are here in the palm of my hand; resistance is futile." They all decided on the darkness of their own eyelids rather than the piece of metal that impeded their sight. They all closed their eyes and tried to thing of something else. "However, such tedious and laborious actions need not occur if you so much as yield right here and now. I offer you this one chance which is valid only in this moment; bow before the Order's infallible Arbiter, and you will feel no more." Not sure what to do Robin twitched his head signaling the Arbiter to come closer. He took a few steps in Robin's direction and awaited a response. Robin looked like he was strewing up something in his mouth then spit right into the Arbiter's hood.
"Thanks," whispered Robin. 'I couldn't quite reach you from where you were." Starfire tired to move franticly as she now realized that she was not alone, the other Titans soon followed suit. The Arbiter removed a small handkerchief and whipped his face. He threw the handkerchief to the ground and left the circle.
"Begin," he muttered to the guard as he passed by. They unlatched Raven and she quickly closed her eyes at the blinding light. They dragged her away as she squinted one eye open and looked back at her friends. They hadn't gone far when they opened a door and threw her in. The only dim light came from the center of the room; Raven staggered over to it and stood looking around for anyone. She then heard a shuffling noise behind her. She turned around swiftly and saw a lone figure approaching her. Shaking a little she tied to focus her eyes.
"Beast Boy?" There was no answer to her call. "Cyborg? Lee, Starfire?" Whoever was coming toward her then let out a tired moan. More small dim lights came on and Raven gasped when she saw a decrepit zombie coming her way. She then heard more stifled moans all around her and turned in all directions to see not two but dozens more coming from every which way. Raven now understood what was in RM 111, they intended to unleash her greatest fear on her and that was a monster. As much as Raven hated to admit it she felt absolutely terrified by them. She did everything she could to try and use her powers but couldn't. She could do nothing except watch every single zombie close in on her with every second.
From down the hall the Titans heard a muffled scream and wondered just what they were doing to their friend. Before she knew it Starfire was being pulled out of her containment and forced down the hall. As she passed by Raven's room she looked in and saw flaying around and trying to defend herself against nothing. She was literally running away from just the empty air around her. Thinking Raven must already be losing her head Starfire wondered with dread what they intended to do with her. She entered a room with a chair in the middle. They strapped her down in the same way as before except for her waist. A device was then firmly fixed to her head forcing her to look forward. A man then walked in and pressed a button on a small remote. At once four large super bright lights came on and Starfire squinted and tired to look away.
"How many lights do you see?" She struggled to get a good look then quickly closed her eyes.
"I-I see four," she responded tensely.
"WRONG! There are five lights!" He then pressed another button and Starfire felt a wave of electricity go through her. She cried out and slouched limply in her chair. "Once more, how many lights do you see?" Starfire struggled to look up and winced at the pain.
"F-four lights." The man's eyes narrowed and he gave her another dose of pain. She couldn't help but let out a painful scream as her entire body felt like it was on fire. Then quite suddenly the pain stopped and her bindings came free. She fell to the floor and turned on her back. As soon as she re-opened her eyes she saw the man standing over her.
"There are five lights, we're not through yet!" He grabbed her and pulled her into the darkness.
TWO WEEKS LATER…………………..
Robin sat cross-legged and his hands behind his back. His facial hair had grown to form a small beard. In fact with less than negligent care the Titans have been left dirty and disheveled for the past two weeks. He sat with his eyes closed and tried to block out the pain. There were many cuts and bruises on various parts of his body and his clothes had been torn here and there. Throughout the time they had been there the Titans have been subjected to various forms of merciless torture, Robin had just returned from a traditional beat down and felt quite miserable. His door opened and Starfire was thrown in roughly. He jumped up and caught her before she hit the rock hard floor. Holding her in his arms he moved her dirtied hair out of her face and stroked her cheek.
"Starfire?" She didn't move or speak. Her eyes were half open and her mouth hung ajar. Fearing she had been through the conversion he began to shake her slightly. "Starfire!" He said her name urgently. "Please Starfire say something, anything, just give me a sign your still you." Her head fell limply as she breathed erratically. Gritting his teeth Robin picked her up and laid her down on the extremely thin mattress. He then held her face and tired again.
"Starfire, its me Robin. Open your eyes Starfire; I need to know your still with me." Still she simply lay and stared blankly ahead. Then quite suddenly she gasped and began looking around franticly. "STARFIRE!" Robin shouted and picked her up in a tight embrace. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
"Robin," she said weakly. He pulled away to look at her. "We-we must find a way out soon. I do not believe I can withstand one more session with my teacher," she said referring to the one who was assigned to her. "Five lights! There are fiv-, I mean there are four lights Robin." Robin looked fearful at how she was so close to giving in to their brainwashing.
"Starfire you have to resist them."
"I am trying Robin, I am trying. But I am just so tired." She fell forward uncontrollably and fell into Robin's chest. He then felt her chest rise and fall against his and knew she ad fallen asleep. He gently laid her back down and sat with her. As Robin thought about everything he knew Starfire was right, they couldn't stay much longer or one by one they would surely brake under stress. He held Starfire's hand, leaned against the wall and allowed himself to finally get some sleep as well.
Cyborg sat in his chamber and looked longingly at the dim light that was in his room. He along with the others wanted so much to bath in natural light and feel rejuvenated. He hung his head in despair though as the mental pain from the Order's chamber of horrors came back to him. Their door slid open and in plopped Lee. Cyborg ran over and picked him up. He put one of Lee's arms over his shoulder and helped him up. Lee looked up at his friend and blinked several times.
"I feel terrible, he said in a matter-a-fact voice. Cyborg led him over to the bed and Lee sat himself down. "How are the others?" Cyborg sighed for a moment and shook his head.
"I dunno, Beast Boy was twitching from some electric shock therapy. I haven't seen Raven this scared in my time of knowing her. When they took Starfire away she looked pretty out of it, and I'm not sure what's going on with Robin."
"And yourself," the samurai nodded to his friend.
"Me? I screamed like a little girl." Both he and Lee laughed silently for a moment. Though Lee was grateful for Cyborg's attempt to lighten the situation he couldn't help but feel like it could only get worse.
Raven sat over Beast Boy and tied her best to make his wounds less unbearable. It seemed that her only ability that wasn't completely nullified by the light was her ability to heal, which was still far from being up to par. Beast Boy turned his head and winced at one of his blisters.
"Dude, n-not cool." Raven smiled down at him and healed over his hurt. She couldn't help but see Beast Boy in a different perspective right now. She had always been a little cruel in her sarcasm, but the truth is it was her way of shielding her true feelings toward him. In her mind the only way he would not grown suspicious of her liking him was by being a little mean now and again. Though there have some times when he deserved a dope slap or two, Raven had always thought she could find a better way to hide her feelings. Then there was also the small problem with her powers, her emotion driven powers. How was she to love anther if doing so in the slightest posed a very dangerous threat to everyone around her? She bent down and put her hand on his forehead. Her eye widened when she felt it was red hot. Beast Boy was ill, and she didn't get her powers back to their full extent then Beast Boy might not last much longer.
Starfire eyes blinked open and she sat up in her bed. She looked around and saw Robin sitting next to her. He was still asleep and his head rolled to one side. He was about to fall over when Starfire reached over and grabbed him. He startled awake and reflexively looked around for her. Seeing that it was Starfire with a firm hold on him he relaxed and sat back up.
"How you feeling Star?"
"I have improved slightly after yesterday, how have you been fairing?" He sighed and nodded his head.
"Surviving," he said adding a small laugh. Starfire smiled and Robin felt at ease. The way he saw it as long as she could smile he would be happy. He then thought of something. "Oh Star I have something for you." She looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you know I was…. gone during Christmas day this past month?"
"Yes I remember, you were absent for quite awhile," she said thinking back.
"Well Dalton had a job for me, and I probably should have said no, but I didn't and I'm still sorry about that. Anyway here's your post Christmas present." He produced a small box from behind his back. She looked at it with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"You have been holding that since the day of Christmas?" Robin shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I've wanted to find some quiet time to give it to you but with being a crime fighter and a black ops agent, I haven't really had too much down time. I know this may not be the best time but…"
"No Robin it is alright, you are making me feel much better." Smiling he handed it to her and she bit her lip.
"What's wrong Star?"
"I, I do not have anything for you." Robin smiled and pushed the small box toward her.
"It's alright Star, go ahead and open it." She looked between him and box several times and finally opened it. Her mouth fell and she brought out the box's contents. It was an emerald gem that hung from a fine silver chain.
"Robin, it is beautiful. He helped her put it on and he took a moment to just look at her. Even when dirty from weeks of torture and mistreatment Starfire still managed to keep her warm cheery smile. Perhaps she was farther from breaking then they all thought. "Thank you Robin." She leaned forward and gave him a warm kiss, she then pulled back suddenly and giggled.
"What," he asked playfully. She giggled once more and pointed to him.
"Your facial hair has 'tickled' me." Robin began to laugh with her and for a moment they forgot about where they were and the situation they were in. A few of the guards slid open the small slate on the door and leered at them. Robin hid Starfire from their view and gave them a mad glare. They left and Robin took a deep breath.
"That's it, your getting out of here. All of you and its going to be tonight."
"But how?"
"When they open the cell there is a blind spot where the lights don't shine"- Something clicked in Starfire's mind.
"Four lights, there are four lights," she said her eyes going glassy.
"NO STARFIRE!" She was startled out of her semi-trance by his booming voice. "I'm sorry Star but I couldn't let sink back into that. I meant the lights that keep everyone's powers down." She nodded and gestured for Robin to continue. "Anyway we can take advantage of that and try and knock away the guards then you can take out the lights and everyone's powers should return to normal."
"And then what do we do?"
"You still have the map?" She reached under the mattress and held up the slightly wrinkled envelope.
"When you get out find a way to bring the map back up and use it. Follow the clues to find the markers and get the eye before they do." Starfire frowned in confusion at his explanation.
"You speak as if you were not coming with us." Robin gulped.
"I'm not," he said shaking his head.
"No. No Robin you cannot remain here! We cannot leave without you!" He put up a hand to silence her.
"They still think I know where the map is or even better that I have it, if I remain behind they will be less inclined to go after you and the others." Starfire was shaking her head and a steady stream of tears stained her face.
"But Robin"-
"No buts Star, it's better for all of us if I finally got out of your lives."
"What do you mean," she asked incredulously.
"Ever since I became an agent for Dalton I've brought nothing but trouble for the team, since I've taken up the map we've been hit by assassin after assassin. I don't want anyone else to suffer anymore, Raven's been communicating with me and she says Beast Boy isn't doing well. You have to save yourselves while you still can." She looked down at her post Christmas present.
"And, what will happen to you?" Robin glanced downward then he gave her a small smile and touched her face.
"I'll find a way out, sooner or later I will find a way out and I will find you." She held Robin's hand against her face and sighed shakingly.
"Will I…will we ever see you again?" He nodded confidently.
"I promise." Robin then brought to him and he hugged her tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried him an ocean.
LATER THAT NIGHT……………..
The guards unlatched Robin and Starfire's room and entered. They then looked around hurriedly as they saw no one was in there. Robin and Starfire were up on the ceiling by pushing against each wall. With a nod to each other they dropped down on the guards and knocked them out cold. Robin and Starfire then stepped out of the room and Starfire balled up her fist trying to conjure a Starbolt. She struggled for a few more seconds but let out a "YES!" When a small Starbolt formed in her hand. She zapped the nearest light and felt a little stronger. She then knocked out the rest of them down the hall and could feel power radiating throughout her whole body. Running down the hall she burst through each of the Titans cells and led them out into the hallway. Robin helped Cyborg regain the use of his weaponry while Raven helped Beast Boy out the door. Once Robin was done with Cyborg he turned to Starfire and looked down the hall.
"Alright, its not going to take them long to figure out something's wrong. So you guys better hurry."
"Wait a second Rob," said Cyborg walking up to him.
"You're not coming with us?
"I can't, Starfire will explain later but there's no time now." Beast Boy picked his head up and felt dizzy.
"But, y-you can't stay here. What are you going to"-
"I'll live I promise, NOW GET OUT!" With one final look of disapproval they all began running down the darkened hall. Starfire stopped and looked back at Robin. She gave him a saddened look and then joined the others. Robin turned back around and was hit in the face by the butt of a rifle. He hit the floor and blurrily saw people step over him as he was dragged away.
With Cyborg's shoulder light and Starfire's hands lighting the way they made ran like the wind through the fortress of darkness. They rounded a corner and a few guards spotted them. They brought up their AK's and opened fire. The Titans ducked back behind the corner and fired back at them.
"Aw man we don't have time for this! Raven!" He looked back at her and she nodded. She set Beast Boy down and put her hands together.
"AZERATH METRION ZINTHOS!" Black energy covered the guard's weapons and they broke to pieces. They looked down and at their weapons and when they looked back up saw Lee running right at them. He performed a series of well done punches and kicks and sent them falling to the floor. One was backing away and took out a pistol. Quick as lighting Lee unsheathed his retrieved sword and sliced the gun in half. The guard stood petrified for a moment with the other half of the gun still in hand. Lee then made a fake move toward the guy who took off and ran right into the wall. Once the coast was clear they made their way down the hall once again. As she was gliding along side her friends Starfire's emerald chain got caught on something. It broke from her neck and clattered to the floor. With a gasp she felt around her neck and looked back.
"STAR LETS MOVE," shouted Cyborg.
"Wait! I do not have my"-
"COME ON!" Cyborg grabbed her arm and pulled her though the nearest way out. They soon made it out of the complex and into the open air, it was nighttime so they were unsure of what kind of an environment they were in. They quickly made their way into a forested area and left RM 111 behind. Starfire peered from behind a tree and looked back at the seemingly God forsaken fortress.
"Please Robin, come back to us soon." With a final look up at what she hoped to be Robin's window she turned and joined the others.
Robin's new door opened up and Robin shielded himself from the blinding light that was being let in. Decker stood in the doorway and was shaking his head.
"I'm sure by now you've heard."
"That the others got away from you and your Arbiter," spat Robin hoarsely. Decker smiled and stepped in.
"Its too bad she took your advice and tried to run, really very tragic." Robin looked at Decker from behind his hands.
"What are talking about?"
"It really pained Élan (spelled it wrong the last time), to shoot her as she tried to escape, truly it did. We had considered her for conversion; she was a very nice person. But thanks to you and your leaderly wisdom she's now pushing up daisies." Robin slowly began shaking his head.
"No. Lie, you lie!"
"Do I?" Decker then held out his hand and let the emerald pendant dangle in front of Robin's face. Robin felt his breath leave him as he tried to reach up to take it. Just as he was about to touch it Decker let it fall. It hit the floor and a good chunk of the gem broke off. Robin fell forward and gazed down at it. "Pleasant dreams Robin." He walked out and shut the door. He gestured to one of his associates and whispered;
"Contact Élan, find them and find them now!"
Back in his cell Robin gazed steadily down at the broken pendant. With trembling hands he picked it up and cupped it in his hands. He found it difficult to breath and fell over on his side. He pressed the stone to his mouth and coughed out loud as he began to cry. Robin rolled around on the floor covering his face with his hands. He mumbled incoherently while trying to keep hold of the last bit of Starfire that he had. Finally he tore his hands away he cried out.
"STARFIRRRRE!" He rolled around some more trying to find a way out. "NOOOO!" His voice rang throughout the complex as he repeated her name over and over again. In his study, the Arbiter listened to every shout and cry until they finally died down. "Fragile minds."
Sorry this one was way longer than the last one. I know it seems really dark right now, but it will get better for our heroes. Hoped you like it so far and I'll get the next part soon. Thanks for reading so far, Laters.