Sarasim watched as the T-Car drove out of the hangar and down the narrow tunnel that connected Titan's Isle to the main streets of Jump City. A shiver rippled down her frame as she felt the wind rustle through the underground hangar, realizing for seemingly the first time just how cold it was down here. Or perhaps it was her armor... it certainly felt very cold against her skin. With Cyborg around she'd never noticed, but now...

She needed a change.

About forty minutes later her armor was resting upstairs in her room, and she was outside of Titan's Tower, back in the tunic, belt and boots she'd brought with her from five thousands years in the past. She sat down on the rocky edge of the island with her arms around her knees and her gaze directed towards (but not directly at) the brilliant crimson sun as it set on the horizon

She'd always loved this time of day most, when light and shadow were interplayed across the landscape, one no stronger than the other, one no better than the other. It was such a peaceful visage. To say nothing of the quiet that seemed to settle over the world. Even in this time, in this place, people took time to notice the beauty of a sunset before the darkness set in and the city lit up with a new kind of life. The night life.

"Miss him already?"

Sarasim started but instantly relaxed as she recognized the voice, turning around only partially to confirm it by getting a glimpse of midnight-blue before turning back to her sunset gazing.

"Raven... you have a knack for startling people," Sarasim said by way of greetings.

An awkward silence reigned for a moment before Raven replied. "... yeah." With a soft swirl of her cloak, she sat down on a rock beside Sarasim, following her gaze out towards the setting sun. "Robin may be our resident early bird, but we seem to be the night owls."

Sarasim nodded. "My home was one where the sun's gaze was harsh and unyielding... a necessary trouble to endure if we hoped to farm, but I have always preferred the cool and quiet of the early evening. What of you?"

"Came out here to think... you're in my favorite sitting spot."

"Oh, my apologies, I will..."

"Joking."

A few soft, short chuckles were drawn from both girls, neither of whom was usually the most responsive when it came to jokes. Raven didn't care for them, and Sarasim more often than not didn't get them. It was an odd relationship they'd settled into. Raven had done her best to help Sarasim relate to the women of modern times, and Sarasim was to Raven like an older sister she'd never had. Starfire related to them both as the younger sister neither had ever had... or wanted, at times. Like when she was a sugar binge.

"Yes, I miss him," said Sarasim, going back to their earlier conversation. "I am worried for his safety."

"Guy can bench press a bus," replied Raven quietly, as the sun slipped lower along the horizon, now only a faint sliver atop the ocean. "He'll be fine."

"It is not his strength or his courage that worry me, I know he has more than enough of both," she replied. "It... it is his nature. I... I am worried of what he may do in order to finish his foe."

"Sacrifice himself," surmised Raven. She recalled back to the day she'd yanked Cyborg back out of the past. When he'd arrived, he'd been on less than two percent power, battered, broken, and close to collapse, and yet if her portal had lasted half a second longer, he'd have hurled himself headfirst back into it.

"Yes... he was willing to give his life to save mine... to save my people. He barely knew us..."

"Big guy's got a big heart," said Raven, with a little smile on her face. "Always has." Sarasim quirked an eyebrow at the sudden change of tone in the voice of her companion, glancing over at Raven. The pale girl, noticing her gaze, quickly changed gears. "Not my type," she said. "He's more like a big brother."

"I see..." Sarasim smiled, slightly relieved, even though she was glad to know she was not the only woman who could appreciate the man beneath the armor. "You prefer the attentions of Beastboy then?" she asked innocently.

"WHAT!"

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On the opposite end of the country in cold, gloomy Steel City, the T-Car had finally reached it's destination. Forgoing directly stopping at Titan's Tower, Cyborg had met up with Titan's East at the docks, where they'd just finished their search.

So far, no traces.

"Blood's hiding himself good this time around," quipped Bumblebee. "After that last fiasco six months ago. He didn't get very far."

"Any other recent breakouts?" asked Cyborg. "Someone who might've freed Blood?"

"Psimon broke out last week, but we haven't heard of him in ages. But he doesn't give two damns about anyone but himself," replied Aqualad without hesitation, having anticipated this question.

"Did bring in Cheshire recently," Speedy remarked from where he leaned against a building. "Put up quite a fight," he added with a smirk. "Think I still got a scar or two."

"Ever think maybe she's not interested?" asked Herald dryly. Honestly, half the time he thought Cheshire pulled stunts just so Speedy would come and bring her in. And Speedy would patrol just on the off chance she was working.

"They were love taps," said Speedy with an arrogant smirk.

"'specially the kick to the head," quipped Bumblebee. "Actually improved his personality."

Speedy's grin faded, replaced by a scowl. "Not her style either. She's work for higher, and you no Blood isn't big on paying his employees," replied Bumblebee to the original question, knowing firsthand what it was like to work for Blood.

Cyborg took a moment to process this information, and then decided to look at the mission from a new angle. Brother Blood, with a few alterations, was now essentially no different from Cyborg himself. If -he- had just broken out of jail and was low on power, where would -he- go?

"Is there a branch of STAR labs around here?" Cyborg asked.

"Si," replied Mas.

"Es muy grande!" added Menos, waving his arms in an animated fashion to give them an idea of just how big the place was. Both twins, near simultaneously, pointed it out.

"You serious Sparky...?" said Bumblebee with a thoughtful nod. "Blood would have a ton of trouble breaking into a place like that on low power. That ain't some convenience store, STAR labs are only the best security short of Luthor Corps."

"Blood probably -didn't- break in," replied Cyborg. "Not on low power, no... but all he needs really is enough power to keep awake... and he can walk past any security guard on the planet."

"Telepathy," surmised Herald, with a thoughtful nod of his head. "So he's juicing up?"

"No doubt. Let's go pull the plug..." said Cyborg, slamming his fist into his open palm, with a small metallic thunderclap ringing in the area.

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The next day seemed to come and pass by quickly, and before Sarasim knew it, it was already mid-afternoon and combat practice was over. She'd just had her first test run in the cybernetic armor Cyborg had given her, under the watchful eye of Robin and up against some modified combat drones (one of Slade's old designs).

She'd edged out Beastboy's best time by a good three seconds. Although that wasn't something considering his time was at least twice that of the second worst Titan's score.

"Not bad... that's some good armor," remarked Robin.

A resulting crash from one of the drones falling to pieces seemed to be in agreement. Sarasim smiled, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Thank you. It is... incredible. I have never felt such power."

Robin nodded, fairly accustomed to this sort of response. Metahumans and the like were common enough in the world. But there were also those who gained their power from an external source. A weapon, a bit of armor, even something as innocuous as a ring. Personally, he didn't care for it, to rely so completely on a single thing other than yourself. One reason he, and his mentor, had never used anything of the sort unless the situation required it.

Still, seeing Sarasim so happy could make even him relax a little.

"Just remember that armor won't run forever," he remarked as she climbed up onto the observation platform alongside him. "Power cells last a day at most."

"I understand," she replied. "I am... aware of my limits."

"Dunno about that," he replied with a smirk. "You're still learning... few more days of training like this and I'd put good odds on you in a fight with Cyborg."

She chuckled at that. "Coins wasted," she replied. "I would hold back... I could never hurt Cyborg," she added, holding out her hands and carefully grabbing the ends of her gauntlets, pushing down on the near-invisible buttons on both sides. They were designed so that they had to be removed simultaneously, so that nobody could simply rip them off in the heat of battle. She shrugged them off, placing them under her arms so she could flex her fingertips.

"And he'd never hurt you."

Now to that, she could only smile. "True."

"Robin!"

Titan and honorary guest's heads snapped up as Starfire dropped down swiftly beside them, her face full of worry. Robin's demeanor instantly changed from fun to serious, and Sarasim's very nearly followed suit, though she switched from carefree to worried.

Starfire's expression foretold bad news.

"Strarfire... what is it?" asked Robin.

"It is Titan's East... we received word from them. Something has gone wrong in the City of Steel."

Rather amazing that a boy who trained diligently nearly all his life and a girl who could fly at supersonic speeds made it upstairs to the living room far behind a barbarian queen from the past.

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"... STAR labs already trashed... went back to Titan's Tower for a break... security codes hacked... took us out too fast."

The image crackled again with static. Aqualad was using the Titan's communicator, but it wasn't his. Only Aqualad's and Tramm's had ever been adapted for underwater use, specially made waterproof. But Aqualad had lost his and had to swipe Meno's before he'd leapt out of the Tower and into the water to avoid capture.

"Who? Who took you out? How'd they hack into Titan's Tower?" asked Robin.

"No idea... lots of 'em... some of those Brotherhood guys..."

"Narrows down the list," deadpanned Raven. Most every villain the Titans had ever fought, and some they hadn't, had been part of the Brotherhood of Evil.

"... they took out Cyborg... Blood's got him now... Brother Blood's taken the Tower..."

Sarasim felt her breath freeze in her throat in a silent gasp, her worst fears realized. Cyborg. Captured... possibly... no. She didn't even want to think about that possibility. It was too awful a thought to take root in her mind.

"... oh god they're coming... send back-up... we need... aaaaaghh..."

The line went dead, the screen was filled with static. Robin stared impassively at it a moment before he shut it off. "Everyone get down to the bay, we'll take the T-Ship," he snapped, immediately filling the void of confusion with order and orders. The gathered heroes turned as one to make their way to the door, slipping into their accustomed roles.

They all, simultaneously, came to a dead-stop when they saw Sarasim standing between them and the exit.

"I am coming as well."

"Sarasim..."

She cut Robin off. "No. I am not some child, to be coddled and protected. I am a warrior. Yes, I admit I am not accustomed the evils of this world... it's dangers. But I am not afraid."

Sarasim's gaze swept over each and every other Titan there and, as one, they saw in her what they sometimes saw in themselves. A desire to do the right thing. Had she stopped then and there, she would've already won them over, but the next thing she said completely sealed the deal with no chance of them arguing further.

"And the man I care for is in danger. I cannot sit idly by."

Robin nodded, then turned to Starfire. "Prep Cyborg's usual place. Sarasim can fly in the rear segment." The Tamaranian girl nodded, and again the Titans were off, heading down the hangar and off towards Steel City to save Cyborg and Titan's East.

Sarasim's misstep came only briefly.

"Fly?" she asked nervously.

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Author's Notes:

And now they're off to save the day. It's a little close to the Titan's East origin episodes, though from a different perspective. Things will change once they arrive.

Toddfan: Famous last words. What could possibly go wrong? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. It's perfectly safe. They all just send off warning bells in movies and stories.

Ray1: Meet being a polite term for clashing swords, yes? Oh yes. However, this story does carry Rurouni Tyriel brand twists and turns.

Yomiori-Wolfdemon: One of my biggest troubles with other fanfiction is characters out of character. Hate it. Or -too- in character to the point they become stereotypes.

SxStrngSamurai13: One of the first images in my head when I thought of this story. Armored Sarasim (tm!) Brother Blood was, as I said, inspired by the main theme of the story.

Blackbird: Happens to us all. Very fitting indeed, though where this story ends up we'll see. I haven't fully settled on an ending yet.

Jimmy the Gothic Egg: A lesser theme, actually, but close. Does have something to do with tech. And the trick is to work on it in-between classes at college.

Comet-hime: Technically Ms. Bee only got a mention, but she showed up here, didn't she? Sorry to include her boyfriend, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Angsty romance? Thank you. I'm saving the fluff for later.

Pnaixrose: Ah, the conflicts of love. Make for better story resolutions, ne? As for Blood's escape... next chapter. Man is a crafty fellow, after all.

Guardian of Azarath: On occasion she'll get a reference or two, generally as one of Cyborg's few flings (and often as a comparison to current fling Bumblebee) but yeah, I wanted her in the story, alive and breathing. Enjoy.

ViciousAssassin: Admittedly the title should've changed when I decided to expand upon the story, but I'm keeping it. As for Sarasim in cyborg-esque armor... well... I say we all bug Comet-hime until she draws it.

BlackoutHart: I updated a short while before you reviewed, and generally faster than most people on the website. Patience, please?