This Fire
Part Two
Starfire stared at the shell of a girl that had the face and body of her older, tyrannical, devious, bad sister. Blackfire's eyes told her something, but she didn't know what, not yet.
Celine's fingers tugged at levers and spun dials, colored buttons flashed in yellows and greens and under her thumb a red switch hummed in excitement as it set off its specified chain reaction. Celine wore a face of displeasure as her device sprung to life.
"You guys make me look like some sort of mad scientist. You're the ones who want to scan her brain, but I'm the one who has to strap the poor girl down and run the machine. I do have a conscience you know. If you're going to exploit my genius, couldn't it be for something that isn't going to give Blackfire a heart attack?"
Cyborg turned from the initial diagnostic scan, half listening to her rant. He hadn't thought he was asking that much of Celine, but looking at Blackfire's worried face; he could see why she was so upset. Starfire took a step forward, hand held over her chest.
"Celine, I would be very much grateful if you would please understand. I fear something has happened to my sister and I would like to know the truth, it is not for my own gain, but for Blackfire's well being."
"I know. It's alright Star, I'm just blowing out some steam. I've got a lot of things on my plate and this is not the kind of distraction I was hoping for."
Blackfire wrapped her ankles around each other while Starfire tried to understand where Celine hid her steam valve. Blackfire's head was shielded by a helmet with several wires running from it to the large machine Celine was working with. They were in the medic room of the Titans' tower and all the Titans were present. Aqualad sat close to Blackfire, asking her if she were okay with what was happening. The girl nodded, though she didn't understand what was going on.
Celine flipped one last switch and began her scan. Raven had tried to use her soul self to look for any signs of trauma causing amnesia. Nothing in her memory told her anything, Blackfire's memory was only a few weeks old.
Celine had been given a crash course on Blackfire when Star decided that Celine should know everything there was to know about Starfire one afternoon. Celine was a good listener. Most of the Titans had at some point told part of their life to Celine, and each of them realized how she was not as eager to return the favor.
No one but Cyborg and Beast Boy, through his constant weaseling (literally), knew what Celine's middle name was or what her favorite color was or what scared her. Celine wasn't reserved; she just never found the necessity. She had heard enough things from the Titans to know that telling secrets got them in trouble and Celine wanted no part of that. It seemed half of the cast Celine had been introduced to held some bad memories for at least one of the Titans.
The scanner whorled, a vibrant purple light flashed from the inside of the helmet running across Blackfire's eyes. An image of Blackfire's mind flickered across the monitor of Celine's device.
"That's really strange… There's no apparent damage to her memory storing regions in her brain." Celine pointed out the regions on the brain image. "But there is no output for activity… it's like all the memories from before three weeks ago were deleted."
"Like brainwashing?" Robin asked.
"No, brainwashing is a little more complicated. But this isn't brainwashing, things haven't been turned off… they've been taken away."
"But you can't just take away part of a person's mind."
"I feel like… like it's the manipulation of time. Loss of memory occurs at old age, portions of the mind become inaccessible… but no, that can't be right. She hasn't lost the capacity to remember. Everything since three weeks ago is still there." Cyborg observed.
Celine and Cyborg studied the output chart while the others studied Blackfire. They remembered her from their encounters, when she had come to the Tower and when they went to her on Tameran. Then, she was confident, strong-willed, full of poor will towards Starfire and determined to get everything she wanted. If it wasn't for Star, they were sure she'd get everything she'd ever want.¹
But that wasn't the girl they were looking at. The Blackfire they were looking at was timid, incapable of more than single phrases and apparently petrified to be the center of attention. The old Blackfire wouldn't have fought Mumbo, not even for kicks, but this one had. The Titans had only been confused once like this before; when Terra had turned from good…
"What is that?" Cyborg asked, pointing to an image localized at the basal end of Blackfire's brain. Cyborg's metallic finger traced an off color region in the image, it was slightly yellow but distinctly out of place.
Celine enhanced the image, reaching across Cyborg's arm. They touched there for a moment and they blushed. Cyborg turned his eyes away as the blush took over his entire face. Dozens of hearts fluttered about Celine's head. All of them burst when the rest of the Titans politely coughed in unison. Startled, Celine continued her adjustments.
The small yellow area was shaped like a -G-, but upside down and backwards. It looked like the beginnings of a tattoo, terribly, terribly out of place.
"It looks like some sort of marker, but it's very strange. It's alien; I've never seen it before."
"Grugdindorf." Starfire whispered.
"What?"
Blackfire turned to the red head, as if she were responding to the word. In her mind, she felt like it was familiar, but she didn't know why.
"Grugdindorf. It is Tameranian for Restart. It is a technology from the Yinti scientist planet. The Yinti are Tameran's nearest ally. The Grugdindorf allows those whose lives have been filled with tragedy to remove their memory. It is a start of freshness…"
"So Blackfire did this Grugdindorf to herself?" Robin asked.
"It is a voluntary procedure, but…"
"But what, Starfire?" Raven asked.
"The Grugdindorf is only given to those who prove their tragedy… if my memory serves me correctly, nothing more recently than eight years ago qualifies…"
The team turned to face Blackfire, who seemed to shrink under their questioning gaze. Cyborg hid his mouth behind his hand. "I'm not sure I can believe this." He whispered to Robin. "What if it is a trick?"
"I don't know Cyborg… Ultimately it is Star's decision."
Outside the sky opened up and rain began to fall across the tower's windows.
Starfire wasn't one to stand still, even if it was something as simple as raising her weight from her heels to her toes, Star would choose movement over inaction. It bothered Robin, who knew her best, to see her standing so still. He placed a gentle hand on her arm, trying to coax something out of her. Sakura's eyes shifted when Raven stepped forward to stand beside Starfire.
"Starfire, what do you want to do?" Raven asked.
"If it is the Grugdindorf as I suspect, the loss of memory is irreversible… My sister is not who she once was. Something very bad happened to my sister."
"So you don't think it's a trick?"
"That, I can not say." Neither of the trio turned back to look at Blackfire who was being helped to remove the scanner. "My sister, for a long time, has been able to trick me… However…"
"This doesn't sound like Blackfire's style." Robin posited.
Starfire agreed.
"I understand your concern, Starfire, but do you think we should turn her away… What if…"
"Friend Raven, I have given up the trust in my sister, but she is still my sister. I would like Blackfire to stay with us. I am needing to know what has happened… if that is possible."
Star finally turned to look at Blackfire, who's hand wound was being healed by Sakura, just as her's had been earlier that day. Star glanced down at her hand and watched both the healed skin and Blackfire as the dark haired girl whispered a thank you before turning her face back towards her lap.
"I guess I'll turn down the sheets in the guest room." Raven said.
"Do you think she should be alone right now?" Aqualad asked.
"You're right… I guess, she can stay with Sakura and I. Our room is the biggest. She might be more comfortable with girls closer to her age." Celine offered.
"No, my sister will stay with me." Starfire decided.
"Thank you… sister." Blackfire seemed uneasy about using the word, as if she were committing it to memory for the first time. Cyborg wished the scanner was still connected; they might have been able to see if that were the case.
Raven exited the room silently. She walked down the corridor to the spare utilities closet and found blankets and personal effects that Blackfire would possibly need. Robin found her, piling blankets to make a futon and laying out a basket of soaps and hand towels.
"You seem eager to help Blackfire." Robin stated.
"If this Grugdindorf… is legitimate, I think there are only two possible explanations to why she went through with it."
"Assuming that it was voluntary, either something really bad happened to her since the last time we encountered her…" Robin presented.
"Or Blackfire has come to hate what she was, all the terrible things she had done. I suppose everyone deserves a second chance, if they prove that they realize they need one."
Robin said nothing, dropping to his knees to help Raven organize her supplies.
…
Meditating with Raven improved Sakura's control on her Holy powers. Genuinely, Sakura enjoyed being friends with Raven. They spared together, cooked dinner for the Titans together, though Sakura did more of the cooking for the benefit of the others; Raven could burn a salad. Sakura found she liked Raven as a person, but the best part of being friends with Raven is that she could tease her. Teasing Raven was something Sakura would never get bored with.
Raven and Sakura stood in perfect stillness in the training room. Aside from Blackfire, who was observing the two, the training room was empty. They began, in perfect unison; taking the tranquil forms of Tai Chi. Their bodies slid forward and back gracefully, completing movements without hesitation. Their eyes stayed closed as their hands and feet danced gently. Sakura's breathing was slower, more relaxed; but Raven's body held the calm of the Tai energy better, her control much superior.
Blackfire's exit was only briefly noticed, the wind changed around them. They were alone in the great calm energy. Raven's long hair spun around her, dropping and rising with her shoulders and wrists, Sakura's leather capris brushed against her leg guard, the same with Raven's cape, but no sound escaped. Sound disappeared; light vanished, save the spotlight of their energies. Raven's steps fell silently, Sakura's extensions completed without a whisper.
They closed their minds, the freedom from emotions gave Raven the peace of Tai Chi and allowed her to totally obey her body. It was a peace she was claiming more and more as the days grew longer and longer. Calm, at least until the final form.
In the atonement stand, the closing art of their movements, Sakura didn't open her eyes before she spoke. "How long have you been burning like a bridge for my brother?"
Raven's total balance and calm was shattered in that instance. Her surprised mind wrapped around her body, throwing all her weight onto one leg. Wildly, her arms swung to keep her balance. Sakura extended her arm towards Raven's back; using one finger she nudged the offset girl. Raven yelped and toppled over. Raven landed chin first, but only stayed on the ground for less than a second, jumping back to her feet and shaking an angry fist under her chin. Sakura smiled innocently. A vein throbbed in Raven's forehead.
"Well?"
"Robin and I are just friends." Raven replied.
Sakura put on hand on her hip. "I didn't ask that. I want to know how long you've had a crush on my baby brother. As his older sister, I demand you to tell me."
"I… er… You haven't the authority to ask me that!" Raven declared. Sakura laughed gently at Raven's retreating back, she had never seen a more half-hearted furious exit. I don't know who's got it worse… her or him…
…
The Titans were finding Celine's notes everywhere. In the kitchen, the common room, the hallway and even once or twice in the bathroom, each of the Titans had found at least one of Celine's furious scribblings, balled up and abandoned. Most of them couldn't make heads or tails of it. When they asked Cyborg, he put his hands up defensively. He wasn't putting his fingers on that train wreck.
The first principle of Reverse Engineering, equations with dozens of variables, abandoned architecture for some plan of action, half of the second principle, broken pencil tips and pen blotches ran along each sheet of paper. Each one also had a huge X across them; each plan and note was a failure in Celine's design.
Celine wasn't able to focus. Even when Bumble Bee returned, the presence of her best friend and partner was not satisfying. Bumble Bee came and visited her the night of return to find Celine packing a bag.
Bumble Bee raised a sleek brow. "Where are you going?"
"Slowly insane. But first, I'm going to return to the AGU. At least for a little while. I don't think I have the resources here to complete our mission."
"Lying doesn't become you Celine."
Celine dropped her bag and sat on top of it with a deflated sigh. Loberos nudged the frustrated girl. Celine rubbed his chin.
"What is going on?" Bumble Bee asked. "You couldn't have been more excited to come to Jump when you heard you could work with the Titans. We've been having huge gains with tracking Brother Blood down and Victor is here! Why would you want to leave? I know our last mission was a bust…"
"It was more than a bust, it was a complete failure… I'm starting to feel a pattern and I don't like it."
"So Operation Red Hawk Sting didn't work…"
"Red Hawk was a major disaster-piece!"
Bumble Bee was a junior agent in the Justice League. When rumors had surfaced that Brother Blood was active in Jump City, Bumble Bee had been assigned to Celine as a partner to infiltrate the HIVE academy to get as close to Blood as possible. Celine had donned a character and entered the HIVE alongside Bumble Bee. Only a few short weeks into operation Red Hawk Sting, Celine's cover had been blown. She managed to escape without giving up Bumble Bee's role in the operation and Celine returned to the Armed Guards Union. Alone, Bumble Bee hadn't been able to gather anymore useful information. Later Bumble Bee joined the Titans after learning that Cyborg had come close to stopping Blood.²
"Celine, everyone hits setbacks even Super Geniuses and Super Heroes. Sometimes we need saving too, that's why there are so many of us."
"Bee, it's bigger than that."
"Things aren't going well with Cyborg?"
"If only it were just that. I'm a big girl Bee. I can handle a little turbulence."
"Then what?" Bumble Bee asked, leaning over Celine with an inquiring eye.
"Then… I don't know. It's the end of the world it seems like."
"I can see how that would make you uneasy."³
"I've never met a challenge before that I couldn't overcome. But now, when someone's heart is on the line, someone I care about… my genius is useless."
"Don't say that. Come on Omicron! You're perfect, you just need more time."
Overhead an alarm blared angrily, demanding Celine's attention.
"Time is the commodity that I don't have enough of."
The Titans charged into battle against Cardiac. Robin was front and center; brave and handsome as always. Blackfire had come as well, she didn't know a thing about Cardiac, but from the way Starfire acted, she knew he was a bad man. The Tameranians' eyes flared as they rained down energy bolts. Cardiac's veins and arteries lashed out wildly, striking down Robin, Aqualad and Beast Boy in one sweep. Raven's energy held the beast still and Sakura's flying hiraikotsu toppled half its legs.
But like most of the other villains they had faced in recent weeks, Cardiac had picked up a few new moves. After a few seconds of remaining completely stationary, Cardiac regenerated its veins before growing smaller veins which protruded several new, smaller Cardiacs.
"Since when can hearts self generate?" Beast Boy asked.
"Since when did you know what self generate means?" Cyborg asked. The tiny cardiacs flung themselves at the Titans. Some then scurried in a frenzy throughout the area.
"Keep an eye open guys… we're dealing with one bad heart."
The Titans broke into three teams of three. The Tameranians and Aqualad chased down the mini-heart-attackers⁴ that headed towards the downtown area; Beast Boy, Bumble Bee and Cyborg rounded up the remaining little machines, while Sakura, Raven and Robin chased Cardiac towards the water front.
Cardiac drove its metallic veins into the ground to steady its position, as it remaining arteries controlled a huge suction force. The three Titans held their ground. Sakura threw her hiraikotsu, only to have it sucked cleanly into the pump.
"Hey! Give that back!"
Robin rushed at Cardiac, drawing freeze discs from him belt. His throw was interrupted by the quick slash of one of Cardiacs protruding veins. The Boy Wonder was hurled through the air until he slammed into the waterfront, dragging sand until he stopped, head and neck assaulted by beach water.
"Robin!" Raven called out, taking to the air.
"He's fine!" Celine's voice yelled through the communicator. "Raven, take him apart!"
Raven rose her arms above her head, the dark energy encircling her fingers. Cardiac hurled a vein at her, but it never made it. Raven stared at the silver-white guard in front of her. She quickly turned her head to Sakura and found Sakura's fingers wrapped in a silver glow. She smiled at Raven.
"Get 'em! I'll take care of Robin!" With that Sakura took a running leap and somersaulted above Cardiac, striking the machine with her foot and throwing it off balance. She landed in a tight roll but got to her feet quickly and continued after her brother.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Dark waves of Raven's demonic powers assaulted Cardiac, pulling in opposing directions until finally it tore. The mechanical Cardiac minis ceased function.
Raven flew to Sakura who was hefting Robin to his feet. He was water logged and covered in seaweed, but aside from minor scratches, he didn't look any worse for wear.
He developed a fever that night, Sakura noticed after she had healed a tiny cut on his face. She couldn't do anything about it, leaving Robin to tough it out. Sometime near midnight, Raven walked past Robin's room and heard a groan. Worried, she entered without knocking. Robin laid on his bed, face tight with fever. Raven sat down on the bed and assessed her leader.
"I thought your sister healed your wounds."
Robin's face relaxed a little as he tried to sit up. Raven's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "She did," Robin replied, "but she couldn't do anything about the fever."
Raven put a hand on his head, he was burning up. Raven concentrated for a moment, trying to find some side to her power that could reduce his pain. The two said nothing for a few seconds.
"I like your hair."
Raven nearly pulled back but didn't. Somehow she managed to hide her surprise; at least that is what she told herself. Robin smirked a little, his eyes closing behind his mask. She traced Robin's forehead, sending a calming energy through him. Robin sighed as some of the pressure from the fever was relieved.
"Thank you." Robin whispered.
Raven nodded, her hair slipping over her shoulder and onto his chest. As she sat back, a few strands ran over his bare arm.
Robin propped himself on one elbow. "You haven't been cutting it back."
Raven shrugged.
"I liked it before too. They're both you."
"I've never knew you to be so easily satisfied. Since when do you notice the physical?"
"Rae, I wear a mask and I have the coolest outfit out of all of us."
Raven's eyebrow rose, whether from the use of a pet name or from his statement, neither of them considered. "Coolest outfit? Anyone could wear what you're wearing."
Robin smirked. "I know, you did."
"Right. But no one can pull off a leotard but me. Picture yourself trying to pull it off… No… never think of you in a leotard."
Robin laughed and Raven smiled gently.
Robin still remembered the first time he ever saw Raven smile. A real smile: all teeth accounted for, perfect day, favorite ice cream flavor, genuine smile. She had been sitting on the beach on a blanket nearing dust. The sun was setting over the water, her book had been abandoned, pages spread near the hand that supported her weight. Her face was turned, half of it kissed with the sun, the other hidden in darkness. It was her true state; it was the moment when the outside world matched her inside. But Robin didn't know that at the time, he but he did know at that moment that he thought Raven looked beautiful. The shadows flickered along her body and Robin was glad he was the only one there to see her that way.
Raven's eyes were closed, but her smile was there, letting him know that Raven was still aware of the outside world. When he sat behind her, body on his knees, he knew that she had felt him there. But that smile remained, even as she turned her head to have her face bathed entirely in light. They sat completely still together and watched the sun finish its decent over the water.
This smile was different, but it still struck Robin right between the eyes. He sighed for a minute and without thinking stood up in his bed.
"Come on." Robin said. He offered a hand to her.
"What are you doing? Lay down, you need to rest."
"You healed me. I'm alright. Come on." Robin bounced slightly on his bed, jostling the green monkey under his sheets.⁵
"Come on where?"
Robin didn't answer, knowing by that little admission that she was willing to go with him. He grabbed the sorceress' hand and made her stand on the bed beside him. He gave her a cocky smile and before she could protest, he had catapulted them out of his bed room window and towards the beach below.
"Are you crazy?" Raven asked as she finished levitating them to the ground. The black barrier dissipated. Robin stepped clear of her and held his arms to the night air. "What is wrong with you? You didn't even try to use a bird-a-rang! You can't fly!"
"Yes I can." Robin said grabbing her wrist and squeezing softly. Raven blushed. Robin smiled. "Tag. You're it." Robin took off into a run, leaving a stunned Raven behind him. He looked back after a few seconds. "And no powers!" Raven laughed at the situation and took off into a run after the Boy Wonder.
That same night, underneath the same sky, Beast Boy took a seat under the stars and stared over the water. He pulled his knees to his chest and held perfectly still as the water crashed under the pull of the moon.
Pacing was not Celine's favorite activity. She only did it when she couldn't concentrate. She had been pacing a lot the last few weeks. The moon threw its light into the room, casting its marks along her profile. If anyone had been awake to see her, she would have been beautiful.
Celine continued her path, etching her trail deeper and deeper into the carpet as the hours carried on. She passed Sakura's bed for the ninth time, catching from the corner of her eye the other girl turning in her sleep. Celine stopped moving. She pulled off her scouter, closed her book and left them both on her desk. Rubbing her neck, she stepped outside the Tower and headed towards the beach.
She was startled to find Beast Boy as still as stone sitting on the beach. His gaze was intended for someone, she had a suspicion for who that someone was… inside her heart began to hurt, like it did every time she thought that she was failing the sweet green changeling.
"Beast Boy… It's late."
Beast Boy turned to the older girl and smiled. "Hey Celine… I know it's late, but I like the water now."
"Who are you thinking about?" Celine asked as she sat beside him.
"Huh?"
"No one stares out at the ocean so lovingly unless they're thinking of someone they care about." Celine replied.
"Aqualad does."
Celine laughed and nodded in agreement. "I think Aqualad is more concerned with Blackfire than the water these days."
"You're right." Beast Boy agreed.
Celine let the silence lay between them for only a few seconds. "Are you thinking about Terra?"
"No, I wasn't. I was thinking about my mother."
"Your mother?"
"Yeah. Whenever I think about her, I think of the ocean, so I sit out here. It makes me happy."
"Is she alive?"
"Yeah. I write her letters and she sends me letters too. I got one today."
Celine remained silent.
"Celine, is your mom alive?"
"No."
"Oh… I'm sorry."
"It's alright Beast Boy. It's been a long time."
"Do you miss her?"
"Not as much as I should." Celine pulled her knees to her chin and watched the ocean as Beast Boy watched her.
"It's funny… how you take things for granted. I guess happiness and closeness can be at the opposite ends of the world."
Celine sat straight up as if struck by a lightning bolt. Behind her eyes, Beast Boy swore he could see equations and theories running around in her mind.
"Beast Boy! That's it! Opposites! You're brilliant!"
"… Okay…"
Celine grabbed Beast Boy and kissed him on the mouth quickly before running back into the Tower.
The next morning, the team would find Beast Boy scattered along the beach in several small pieces.
End of Chapter Five
A/N
¹Remember this.
²The timeline is as follows: Celine and Bumble Bee enter the HIVE. Celine is found out. Celine leaves. Cyborg enters as Stone. Bumble Bee does research on Stone that leads her back to the Titans. Bumble Bee doesn't recognize Cyborg as Victor (she's never met him and Celine didn't tell her "hey look out for a guy who looks like my boyfriend", Celine doesn't know anything about the Titans involvement with Blood, she didn't know that Cyborg was a Titan.) Bumble Bee joins the Titans as an interim member. After the HIVE attack, Bumble Bee returns to the Justice League to report, while she is leaving the Tower, Celine is heading for it. Their paths don't cross. When Bumble Bee finds out where Celine is, she sends Celine a message telling her of her return. Then Bumble Bee returns… I hope that makes everything make sense.
³Slade's line: "It's the end of the world, did you think it would be easy?" One of the best lines in the series.
⁴I couldn't help myself. I really couldn't.
⁵Of course he kept it!