A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: What is Blackfire really up to? And will Cyborg and his team save the captured Titans?

Chapter Nine: Lines

"Eat, please," Red X said, his voice wavering with concern.

Starfire, still bound to her scarecrow pole, clenched her jaw shut. She turned her head away from the X's offering of broiled tenderloin with a horseradish mustard sauce, but locked her eyes him angrily.

"Isn't mustard sauce your favorite? It's not poison, I promise."

The beautiful alien turned her head further away from the skull masked X. The mysterious thief leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply, pouring himself a large glass of red wine. X silently watched Star before suddenly standing and leaving the plate and the glass on the table nearby, and then left. The aromas of the steak, the sauce, the expertly seasoned squash, all filled Starfire's nostrils, and her mouth reflexively salivated. It smelled heavenly.

Starfire swore in her native language and hung her head.

The Red X watched from the next room. The wall was actually a one-way mirror, and he spent almost the entire time since her capture in this room. Watching her. X studied every inch of her body, the shape of her eyes, the natural pout of her lips…

"You desire her," a cold dry voice cracked.

"Did your telepathy tell you that, Psimon?" X growled.

"No, boy. It's as obvious as the day is long." The grotesque robed villain sat next to the X. He narrowed his sallow eyes on the willowy girl. "And not that I blame you, she is very beautiful. Hmm. I've never broken an alien mind before," he said. "It should prove delicious."

X leapt on Psimon, driving him into the soundproof wall.

"Touch her," X warned, "and I will kill you."

…..

Argent looked for the cleanest part of the wall to lean on. She was bored. Speedy was still flopping around the room, mapping out everyone's movements based on a scuff here, a bent piece of metal there with Kid Flash in tow. Cyborg and Jericho were taking fingerprints, footprints, hair samples, anything they could find. The technological Titan analyzed each clue, cross-referencing it with the database at Titans Tower. Everything was moving painstakingly slow, and she berated herself for giving up her concert tickets to stand around in a dirty, smelly, burned out room with four overly serious teenaged boys.

Not one of them noticed her new dress, or that she dyed the red streak in her hair purple, but, at best, they were only acquaintances. Cute, super powered, beefy, hot acquaintances, though.

Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

"Cyborg!" Kid Flash yelled. "We've found a new set of fingerprints!"

"Be right there."

Kid Flash pointed out the prints on a handrail.

Cy frowned, "It'll take longer to compare them with the files at the Tower. Having problems connecting."

He took pictures with his artificial eye as Kid Flash lifted the prints carefully. The red headed speedster smiled broadly, as he affixed the prints to cardstock. His uncle would be proud. He said, too quickly to really be understood, "Hey, I'll be right back; gonna compare this with the hardcopies," as he vanished.

"What do we do next?" Argent asked.

Jericho smiled, shrugged and sat down.

Argent frowned at first, let out a heavy sigh, and sat next to the blonde hero, tucking her legs under her. They didn't have to wait long before a gust of wind heralded Kid Flash's return. His eyes were wide with worry.

"Oh man do we have a problem," he announced.

"What?" the other Titans demanded together.

"Okay, first we know that the crater there was caused by Cinderblock tackling Starfire. We've found rubble traces of him and Star's hair, so one and one make two right? Okay, the fight on the rafters: Robin always wears gloves, but there were two distinct sets of handprints, Raven's and some one we don't have on file. It could be a new player, or yeah… anyway, there's evidence of a fourth player up there, according to Speedy, but we can't confirm or deny it based on forensics…"

"Kid Flash?" Argent asked. "Can you take a breath please? You're talking too fast!"

"Huh?" Kid Flash responded, his train of thought derailing. He glanced to the other Titans: Speedy was equally lost, Jericho glanced around, and Cyborg was obviously slowing his words down on playback.

"Sorry, guys," Kid Flash said. "I checked with the fingerprint files at Interpol, and found a match for the set on the rafters. It matched Cheshire's."

The young speedster let the news sink in, before continuing.

"Now do you want to hear the really good news?" Kid Flash said.

"Lay it on me," Speedy groaned.

"The set we found over there? It's Psimon."

"Who's Psimon?" Argent asked.

"Who's Psimon?" Speedy repeated in shock. "Who's Psimon? He's like Hannibal Lecter but with telepathy and telekinesis! We are talking some serious evil here. Cinderblock and Cheshire are bad enough, but Psimon too? It's like the BoE all over again!"

Argent's eyes narrowed angrily. She glared at the young archer.

"Quiet, Roy," Cyborg said. "You aren't helping."

Speedy slumped his shoulders and leaned on his bow. "Sorry, Vic. I'm just worried about Rae and Star."

…..

Beast Boy tugged at the tether attaching him to the wall. It was like being trapped with that blockheaded Soto again. The collar he wore expanded and contracted, keeping pace with every sudden transformation. He swore angrily at the collar and transformed into a dog, desperately trying to scratch it off. Eventually he gave up for the moment and shifted back into his human form. Beast Boy leaned into the wall and slid down into a crouching position.

He ignored the door as it slid open.

"Beast Boy?" a familiar voice said.

"Robin! Dude! I knew you'd find a way to get out whatever hole they threw you in."

"Thanks, do you know where Raven and Starfire are being held?" The Teen Wonder rubbed his right shoulder as he looked over the tether.

"Sorry, I sure don't. I think Raven's nearby, though. I thought I heard her an hour or so ago. Any idea where we are?"

"The old Gallows Way Inn," Robin said.

"Aw man, no wonder the beds are lumpy," Beast Boy joked. "Can you get this thing offa me?"

"No. But I'm sure Raven or Starfire can. I need to find both of them, make sure they're safe."

"But…"

"No, buts Gar."

"But what happened to you?"

"I had to dislocate my shoulder to get out of the handcuffs," Robin said matter of factly, as if that action were an everyday occurrence. "But I think I tore something getting back into place. Hurts like hell."

"Okay, I'll play dumb," Beast Boy said, "I never saw you."

"Thanks, again. We'll get you out of here as fast as we can."

Robin walked slowly out of the room and into the darkness of the halls..