Disclaimer – Not mine. ((sobs uncontrollably in corner)) Though I've never heard of a game called Cosmic Strikers 3. So maybe I made that up. Don't know.

Warning – Eh, a little messing around with mentality and sanity? Betrayal, yadda yadda yadda.

Other – Rubber ducky, you're the one. You make bath time OH so fun. Rubber ducky. I'm overly fond of reviews. Now that that's out of my system, I must apologize if my updates are coming too quickly. I wish to get this story, and a few others done by the time school starts again next week. So yeah.. Chapter five. You'll love it so much you'll wish it didn't exist?

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When Starfire didn't appear for dinner, Raven was a little worried. When she didn't show up for breakfast in the morning, Raven was extremely worried. Worried enough to go and knock on Star's door.

"Uh, Star? Are you in there?"

No answer.

"Star! Open up!"

The silence on the other side was killing her, so she pulled the door open; it was unlocked. Glancing around, Raven found the room empty, if a little messy. But she didn't make it a habit to come inside Star's room, so maybe that was normal.

The alarm sounded through the building, and Raven withdrew knowing that her ever pressing duty to the city overrode her self-imposed duty to find Star.

Robin leaned on the console, thinking, "Alright, it's just a bank robbery. Raven and I can handle this one on our own."

Cyborg shrugged, "Hey grass stain. Up for having your butt whooped at Cosmic Strikers 3?"

Beastboy chortled, "In your dreams, man!"

They lunged for the game system, barely remembering that the alarm had gone off at all. Raven trudged for the T-car, Robin hot on her heels. He seemed a little anxious about something, but she couldn't fathom about what.

He couldn't be nervous about the bank robbery; he himself stated that it would only require him and Raven. Raven sighed half-heartedly; Robin was probably still beating himself up over Mumbo.

"Robin, I hope you aren't still blaming yourself over Mumbo."

Forcing a smile on his face, he shrugged, "I guess it was bound to happen sometime. Everybody messes up." Everyone except me. I don't mess up. That was your fault.

"That's good. Try to relax a little. You seem awfully tense for a bank robbery."

"Raven, look. This isn't a bank robbery. I sounded the alarm because I wanted to talk with you privately. Somewhere not in the Tower. Inside there are too many… distractions."

She nodded, "Alright, Robin."

Robin hid his inner glee; this was going almost too well. He drove out of the garage, through the city, to a wildlife preserve. Nothing to arouse her suspicion just yet. Heart pounding wildly, he opened the door for her – he at least could have manners – and lead her to a little picnic table.

"What do you want to talk about Wonder Boy?"

That's right. Think you're safe. Let your guard down. "About Mumbo. About how you killed him."

She sat up straight, "I. Did. Not. Kill. Him."

"Ahahaha. Joke's over. I saw you in the museum."

Her face paled more than usual, "You saw me?"

He had struck a nerve. That was just the damning evidence he needed to feel justified in hurting her, "And it's time I had my revenge."

She started to get up and leave, but her brain was having trouble processing things. It felt like a load of marshmallow fluff had been dumped behind her eyes while she wasn't looking. Needle pricks of pain danced along her finger tips.

"What… what did you do to me?"

Pain was etched on her face as her stomach started to rebel. Robin gulped as his self-assurance faded. Maybe this was a bad idea.

"I—

"Why did you kidnap… Starfire?"

"I didn't! Wait, Star's missing?"

"Since…" Raven closed her eyes in an attempt to make her thoughts collect in a coherent fashion, "Last night."

Robin cursed under his breath. What had his employer done with Star?

"Good job, Robin. Very good." The figure from the alley appeared on a tree branch far above Robin's head. He pulled out small vile which he tossed down to Robin, "There's the cure. I don't believe you shall be needing it, but I think it adds a little spice to the game."

Robin tucked it into his shoe and returned his gaze to Raven, "He's got the plan. I just brought you here."

The figure jumped from the branch and landed as lightly as a cat on the ground. No matter where he went, the shadows seemed to cling to him, "There are three innocent people somewhere in this forest, all awaiting their death. And then there's one sparkling Star already half dead. Oh, did I mention that all will be dead in half an hour? And you'll be dead in twenty-five minutes, max." He nodded his head to Raven, "Good luck." He was gone before Robin could protest.

"I didn't want innocent people involved in this." He kicked the dirt, "Go save them, murderess."

She blinked at him sluggishly, "I… won't be able to save them all… You save some… hero…"

He licked his lips, trying to think of a way out of this, "I… you can't… Go save Star."

She stumbled to a standing position and sent out waves of power, trying to locate the one that felt like Star. It was three hundred yards west of their current position. Meditating was hard work, but she had to do it. In her Reaper state the poison wouldn't be as strong.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos…" It was almost too hard to concentrate clearly enough on relaxing her body. Five minutes passed before she was able to step out of her body. Robin was long gone, off rescuing the people he had stupidly put in danger.

In her astral state, trees weren't an issue, so she ran in a straight line to Star's side.

The picture that met her wasn't a pretty one. The alien girl had been nailed to a tree, straight through the palms. She was standing on little wooden slats. The tree had been stained red with blood, from her hands and from the thousands of little scratches that appeared to cover Star's body. As soon as the other girl was in sight, her Reaper's sense tugged. Raven's face contorted in rage.

She wouldn't…. she couldn't possibly reap Star! It wasn't supposed to end this way!

She ran to the tree, pulling at the nails with her bare hands. Several of her nails cracked and blood of her own mingled with Star's. Star coughed slightly and gazed up, eyes glazed over.

"Raven… I knew you would come."

Raven's heart broke and she renewed her efforts. The tug to reap Star's soul was growing by the second, but Raven fought it as best she could. The nails appeared to be stuck fast to the tree, so Raven tried to figure out what was causing the rest of the damage. Most of the scratches she saw were minor, but she could only see the front half of her friend.

"Star, I'm going to move you. Please don't panic."

Star groaned; Raven took this as an agreeing sort of noise, and carefully lifted Star's feet from the posts to look at her back.

Her back was a bloody mess. Someone had stabbed her several times. Raven concentrated on trying to work her healing powers. They were greatly dulled in Reaper form, but still usable. She placed her hand on the wounds, hoping that this would at least help the problem.

The blood flow slowed and the infernal tug to do her job ebbed. It was still present, though, and Raven didn't like that. It was clear that Starfire needed real medical help, quickly. She had lost too much blood.

As much as Raven hated to admit it, she needed Robin. She bit her lip and stared at her dying friend.

"Starfire… hold on. I'm going to go get help."

It was times like this when she wished Red X hadn't crushed her communicator.

Zooming back to her body, she found Robin standing nearby, all three people bleeding, but not near death. Fifteen minutes had passed. Robin was staring at her mortal body oddly, like he expected her to be somewhere.

Right. He thought she was saving Star.

She phased back into her body, feeling the effects of the poison immediately, "Robin… Save Star… Nailed to tree…. Three hundred yards..."

His face twisted, "Is she alright?"

"She's… dying."

He blanched, and ran in the direction that Raven was pointing to, her finger shaking.

She felt her body start to shiver, but it was a sort of unconnected feeling, as if she were watching someone else deteriorate. From shivering she fell into convulsing in thirty second stretches.

And finally, her spirit pulled free of her body.

Just because you couldn't kill the Reaper didn't mean you couldn't kill the host.