A/N: And the fifth chapter is…Cyborg! Poor under appreciated guy, his past is actually pretty tragic…after writing this, I understand more than ever how he feels about being a robot. Anyway, once again, influenced by comic book history, but with changes. Oh, yeah, sorry for "LAB TROUBLE Redux!" I know it's a lot like BB's lab experience, but I couldn't think of any other way to have Cyborg interact with his father and get a good fight otherwise. BTW, I tried to add page breaks this time, hope they work.
Cyborg
"When there's trouble you know what to dooooo…call Beast Boy! He stays healthy by eating tofuuuuu…cuz he's Beast Boy! When bad guys have gotcha kidnapped, he'll change into any animal to getcha back, cuz when the food chains loooosssiiiinggg all controlllll…"
"Beast Boy, stop singing your theme song! We're on stakeout!" Cyborg snapped.
"Dude, I'm bored! We've been here, like, two hours, and nothing's happened," Beast Boy whined.
"Surprisingly, he has a point, Robin," Raven's voice fizzled in on the communicator. "I don't think they're gonna show."
"They are," Robin's voice chimed in. "Just sit tight. I got a tip about this gang bang…"
"Gang bang?"
"Different people come and try to shoot each other for no apparent reason, other than the fact they belong to different clubs," Raven explained to Starfire.
"Oh."
"Why aren't the police handling this again?"
"Because, this whole thing is said to be orchestrated by some supervillian," Robin hissed.
"Slade?"
"I don't think so. Someone new. One of the gangs is working for him."
"It could be a girl," Raven pointed out.
"…Or her. Anyway, we need to find out who's behind this. So be quiet!"
Robin's voice fizzled out and Cyborg put down the communicator. He and Beast Boy were perched on the edge of a building, looking down at the dirty streets below. Raven and Starfire were hidden in an alley at the other end of the street, and Robin on the west end. Cyborg felt slightly nervous, especially as he peered at the sign staring at him and Beast Boy from far away. STAR LABS. He looked back to the street again.
Suddenly, Cyborg saw a shadow approaching.
"Robin, we've got trouble."
"I see them, Cyborg. Titans, stand down until I give the signal."
Teenagers streamed into the street like running water after Cyborg's first sighting. Soon, they were all huddled together, talking quietly. Cyborg scanned for objects being passed around, but couldn't find any…until…he saw one kid hold out a package. He grabbed his communicator to tell Robin, when suddenly a gunshot fired. Beast Boy gasped.
The guy who had fired the gun appeared to have missed his target, but Cyborg spotted him squeezing the trigger again. This time, however, black magic swooped down, stopping the bullets dead.
"What the-?" the gunman muttered, but before he could finish his sentence, Raven and Starfire landed in front of him, followed by Robin. Cyborg bounded in behind them and Beast Boy flew in as a hummingbird, and dropped in the rear.
"Sorry to interrupt the fun," Raven said dryly, showing them a glowing black hand.
"But we need to have a little chat," Robin extended his staff. "About what you're selling and who you got it from."
The gunman responded to this by raising the gun and shooting at them. Raven shielded the Titans from the onslaught of bullets and soon it was a free for all. More kids whipped out handguns and attacked the team; soon a pulsing mob had gone crazy, bullets and weapons flying. Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire defended themselves with their respective powers, Robin yelling "FIND THE PACKAGE!" while Raven tried desperately to shield everyone from the onslaught of bullets.
As Beast Boy ducked and dodged screaming like a maniac, Cyborg yelled, "YO! TURN INTO A T-REX AND SCARE 'EM OFF DUDE!"
"I-I'm trying, it's really hard and I can't concentra-ate, whoa!" Beast Boy cried as someone tried to stab him with a knife. He turned into a wolf and tackled the wielder, while Cyborg blasted some guys attempting to kill Robin with his sonic cannon.
As Beast Boy turned back into a human kneeling over the slashed and unconscious form that had tried to stab him, he suddenly found a knife pressed to his throat by a burly youth.
"Urk!" Beast Boy gasped. "CYBORG!"
Cyborg immediately charged at the guy holding his best friend captive.
"Get off him or else!" he snarled, leveling his cannon at the boy's head.
The boy looked up in contempt, which quickly changed to shock. "Vic?"
Cyborg recognized him as well. "Ron?"
"DUDES!" Beast Boy screamed.
Ron dropped the knife he was holding and let go of Beast Boy. "Vic Stone? Is that really you, man?"
"Uh, yeah, hi," Cyborg said as Beast Boy got up, dusting himself off.
"So it's true…I didn't believe it…I thought you were dead!"
"Yeah, he's not, isn't that great?" Beast Boy said, stepping closer to Cyborg. "Um. Cyborg, who is this guy? And in case you haven't noticed, there's still a seriously deadly fight going on?"
Cyborg looked around at the chaos, then back at Ron. And he noticed that he was holding a package.
"Ron, what's in that package?"
"Drugs."
"Man, I know you're lyin'."
"I'm serious! Some freaky guy gave 'em to me. They're like nothin' I ever seen before."
"Did the freaky guy have one eye?"
"Uh, no, he had two, but one of them was like, red. Kinda like yours."
Cyborg felt his insides freeze. "WHAT? Ron, you gotta tell me. What did the guy look like?'
"Couldn't tell. Had a cloak on. Said his names was…uh…something…bloody…anyway, he's payin' me a lot."
"Was his name Brother Blood?"
"Yeah, thas it. How'd ya know?"
"I've met him. Ron, can ya hand me that for a second."
"Sure." Ron handed Cyborg the package. Immediately Cy shoved it at Beast Boy.
"Go tell Robin we got the package and to get out of here as fast as possible!"
Beast Boy took off into the air, the package clutched in his talons. Ron swore and tried to shoot Beast Boy down, but Cyborg grabbed his gun and crumpled it into scrap metal. Ron furiously tried to punch Cyborg, but his hand merely thunked painfully off his metal chest.
"You sold me out man! How could you do that?"
"Yeah? What about the time you pinned that drug heist on me? Or told everyone I was sucking face with Tyrone's girlfriend? Or-" Ron cut Cyborg off.
"How about how you DITCHED me once you became 'Mondo Hero Football Star'? You went around acting all high and mighty…and look how much good it did ya!" Sneering Ron gestured at Cyborg. "Now you're a freakin' monster!"
Cyborg couldn't help it; he threw Ron against the wall as hard as he could. Before the dust could even clear, however, Robin had jumped down beside him
"Cyborg! We have to get out of here and call the police. Come on!"
Starfire flew in and lifted Cyborg easily off the ground, Raven grabbed Robin and Beast Boy flew beside them as a hawk and soon they were far away from the crappy little neighborhood where Cyborg had lived the first sixteen years of his life.
As the team settled back into the Tower, Robin X Ray scanned the package with the Titans computer.
"What's in it?" Cyborg asked.
"Brain washing drugs," Robin said after hitting a few keys. "Definitely Brother Blood. I'll inform Titans East about this. They'll find him and put him back in jail. I wonder why Blood targeted this specific neighborhood though?"
Cyborg had a feeling.
"Sooooo….what was that thing with that guy with the knife about?" Beast Boy said, bounding down beside Cyborg.
"Old friend," Cyborg grunted.
"C'mon, the guy tried to cut out my throat, you gotta tell me more than that!"
Cyborg rolled his human eye. "Ron Evers. We were best friends when we were kids. Well, I was his friend. Not sure 'bout the other way around. He used to get me into lotsa trouble."
"Oh," Beast Boy flopped on the couch and looked innocently up at Cyborg. "Am I a better best friend?"
Cyborg couldn't help but smile. "Yeah. But don't flatter yourself. That isn't exactly a great feat." He turned to walk out of the living room.
"Hey, where're you going?"
"My room," Cyborg grunted. "Got some stuff to do."
And he disappeared down the hall without another word.
Going to the old neighborhood had brought back memories…and few of them good. Cyborg could remember growing up in that neighborhood. His parents, scientists, had never been around much, especially his father. Cyborg has learned how to take care of himself at an early age, making himself dinner when he got home, because his parents worked late, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, all that stuff. His mom tried, at least, to spend "quality time" with him when she could, but whenever his dad had a spare minute he'd spend it drilling his son with science questions. Mr. Stone wanted his son, Vic, to be a scientist like him someday. Vic was a bright kid, he learned fast and his IQ was above normal. He wanted desperately to please his parents. But he also had an aptitude for sports, which he loved more than he ever loved science. Due to his brightness, he had a hard time making friends in the neighborhood, and lonely, he became best friends with Ron Evers, who got him into all kinds of trouble. But Vic had nobody else…so he hung around. His dad would always say something to the effect of "I can't deal with this" or "you're supposed to be smart" when Vic got in trouble, but it was the look on his mom's face that would get Vic. Cyborg could still remember the hurt in her eyes, the sad shaking of her head…Mom was always on his side. It was her who convinced Dad to let Vic go to a "normal" public high school. It was there Vic found his calling: football. He was the best on the team, and some said he WAS the team. Mr. Stone was disappointed in this. Though Vic maintained straight A's, Mr. Stone could tell his son liked football better than anything. This argument came to a head when Vic went to visit his parents at the laboratory one day.
Victor Stone strolled carelessly down the street, a smile on his face, towards his parent's laboratory. Last night, the school team had won the championship game. They said it was because of Vic, but he knew the whole team worked together. It had been the greatest night of his life. His parents hadn't been there.
He shoved open the door to STAR Labs, knowing he's find his parents in the second room to the right, as always. When he came in, his mother looked up and smiled him. "Hey, sweetie. Congratulations on winning the game! Sorry I couldn't be there."
His father grunted, not bothering to look at his son.
"Thanks, Ma. I think some scouts were there!"
"You aren't going to college on a sports scholarship. It will distract you from your studies," his father mumbled.
"No it won't. It ain't distractin' from my studies now, is it?"
"It is. You could have won the Science Fair this year."
"There was a game…"
"My point exactly. If you want to be a scientist, you'll need no distractions."
Vic looked down at his shoes. "Maybe…I don't want to be a scientist."
Both his parents froze. Mr. Stone turned away from the crackling device he was working on. "What?"
"I- Dad, I'm not you! I like Football!"
"Football will get you nowhere-"
"It might! I'm really good, Dad! Everyone says so! And I'll still keep up my grades in college!"
"No," Mr. Stone shook his head.
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Football is NOT a future, Victor. Science is. If something happens, if you get injured…"
"I'll still have a good education to back me up! I'll keep up my grades! I just want to try this!"
"No. You are a scientist."
"NO I'M NOT! YOU ARE!"
"Don't give me that! I only want the best for you!"
"Football IS the best for me! Science is the best for YOU!"
"No, it isn't!"
"How do you know what's right for me? You never even bother to get to know me!"
"Silas!" Mrs. Stone said, eyeing the crackling device Vic's father had left on.
"Why you-"
"Um, Dad…" Victor was now looking at the pulsing object too, but Mr. Stone didn't appear to hear.
"Victor, if you're going to be a part of this family-"
"SILAS!" Vic's mother screamed.
The crackling device that Victor's dad had left on now had the appearance of a black hole. Elinore Stone stepped back, knocking over some cybernetic parts for disabled soldiers she had been working on. Silas Stone finally turned around and saw what was happening. "Oh my God…"
"MOM!" Victor screamed.
The world seemed to explode. There was a flash of fire and sparks, Mrs. Stone screamed and fell back and suddenly a giant blob-like thing was taking over the room.
"WHAT IS IT?" Elinore screamed, but she had barely finished before the blob was upon her, crackling fire and lightning.
"NO!" Vic jumped forward.
"VICTOR, WAIT!" Silas cried, but the young man was already halfway there. The blob was made of something horrible, Elinore was jerking randomly, her flesh being burned apart by the acid, blood gurgling out of her mouth.
"HOLD ON MOM!" Vic grabbed his mother, whose eyes were dark and wide, tears and mucus streaming out of them. He tried valiantly to pull her away, but suddenly he was up against the blob now, and all he felt was horrible pain, he could feel his skin burning, ripping apart, his bones splintering his muscles tearing, he could smell blood and he couldn't tell if he was screaming or not. He could hear his father calling his name, but all he could see was his mother, her flesh ripping off from her bones, which glistened pale white in the acid, her burning face, her wide bleeding eyes…and he could feel himself being RIPPED APART…he wanted to die…and then the blob was gone, his dad had pushed the recall button…but it was too late…
"Victor…" his mother managed to gurgle…. and then her eyes closed…and she died.
That was the last thing he saw before his eyes closed as well.
CYBERNETICS ACTIVATEDEMERGENY WAKE MODE LOADING…
He could see everything through a plastic screen…oddly distorted…oddly…mechanical…where was he? He felt…numb…almost painfully so…what had happened…. what were the fuzzy lines going through his vision?
SYSTEM REBOOTINGSYSTEM ONLINE
What?
The world cleared. He could see everything perfectly. Too perfectly almost…he felt…cold. And heavy. What had happened?
"Hello?" he croaked.
"Victor!"
"Dad?"
"You're alive! It worked! Oh, thank God!"
His father came into view, staring down at him with joyful tear filled eyes…was it his imagination, or did his dad look ten years older?
Vic tried to sit up, but found he couldn't. He wished the numb feeling would stop.
"Wh-what happened? Where's mom?"
But then Vic remembered, as his father's eyes filled with tears once more.
"Gone," he whispered. "She's gone."
Gone…
Gone.
She's gone.
Forever.
"No…"
She couldn't be. How could-?
"But…why am I alive…?"
Silas gulped. "Son, this will come as a shock."
"What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing…nothing's wrong with you…it's…just…different…you see…you…had some parts…replaced…"
Vic wanted desperately to feel his stomach clench, but he couldn't. "Show me a mirror."
"Victor…"
"NOW!"
Silas got a mirror. Vic couldn't believe what he saw…
"What…"
"You were horribly injured, Victor. I had to…rebuild you. Those cybernetic parts for disabled soldiers we were working on…I used them to replace the damage…it was highly experimental...but it worked! You would have died…"
"I can't…feel…anything…"
"Yes."
"Will that ever-?"
"Well…no…you're made of metal now…"
"I'm…not human…"
"Yes you are! Well, halfway…"
"I'm NUMB!"
"But your cybernetic parts…are very powerful…you could bench press a bus if you wanted to…"
"Hardly…any skin…at all…you can hardly tell what color I am! Just…half my face…and a tiny bit of my arms-!"
"Victor…Vic…."
"I'm a MONSTER!"
"No! I had to save you!"
"WHY?"
"What?"
"WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE?"
"Victor-"
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" Vic was crying. But the tears would only come out of one eye. "YOU FINALLY GOT WHAT YOU WANTED, DIDN'T YOU? THERE'S NO WAY I CAN EVER BE NORMAL LIKE THIS! AND MOM-Mom…" he gasped. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"It…it…no…"
"YES! I'D RATHER BE DEAD! WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME DIE? IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE! I'D RATHER BE WITH MOM!"
"Stop it!"
"YOU FINALLY GOT WHAT YOU WANTED! A FREAKIN' ROBOT FOR A SON! A SCIENCE PROJECT! A EXPIRIMENT!" Tears blinded Vic's human eye. He stumbled up, sobbing. He still felt so heavy and numb! "I HATE YOU, OLD MAN!"
He ran away as fast as he could, dizzy and clunky.
"Victor!"
"I'VE LOST EVERYTHING NOW! WHY…DIDN'T…YOU…JUST…LET…ME…DIE?"
With that final scream, Victor Stone ran away from his father's lab never to return.
He went to the seedy part of town. Thos first few weeks were awful. Vic had heard about people having phantom pains when an arm or leg was cut off…like their arm was still there, but riddled with bullets. He had the same thing…for his whole body. Eventually that settled down, but then it was worse. He couldn't feel his body…at all. It terrified him that he might stop feeling at all. And Vic had always been someone who felt everything…loved feeling alive, loved feeling every little sensation…even pain. But now…. his body was dead…cold unfeeling machinery…was it such a stretch that his soul might die as well?
He longed to feel.
And it went on like that…until one day he heard an explosion nearby…until one day he met the Teen Titans.
The red headed alien chic beamed as Robin handed her a communicator, so different from the snarling glowy eyed butt kicking nightmare she had been just a few hours before. He gave one to the pale girl and the green kid as well. After that, they all stood in awkward silence.
"So, do any of y'all have a place to stay?" Cyborg asked.
"I shall slumber in the ship of space for this glockrox," Starfire said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, the Gordanians have proper living conditions…they just do not allow their prisoners such pleasures."
"I have a place," Robin said shortly. "I'll see you around."
The green kid, Beast Boy, merely said, "See ya," and turned to walk away.
"Yo!" Cyborg called. "Do you have somewhere to sleep?"
"Oh…" Beast Boy scratched his head sheepishly. "Uh, not really. But I'm fine. I've been traveling around for a couple months, I can usually sleep with stray dogs and stuff…"
"Well, you don't have to do that, you can sleep at my place tonight."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Hey, where's the Goth chic? I doubt she has a place to stay either, seemed to be new around here."
"Over there," Beast Boy pointed to Raven, who was already halfway to shore, levitating along with her boots skimming the water.
"Let's go ask her."
Beast Boy contorted his face slightly, then turned into a raptor, and lifted Cyborg up by his arm, and they flew after the cloaked telekinetic. Raven turned around once she reached shore, and her eyes widened in surprise to see Cyborg and Beast Boy trailing after her.
"Yo! Goth chic!" Cyborg said touching down.
"What did you just call me?"
"Uh, it's Raven, right?"
"Yes. And I've been here long enough to know what that term means. I am not. Goth."
"Okay, we get it," Beast Boy said.
"What's your name again?" Raven asked Cyborg.
"Vic-Cyborg," he corrected himself. He had forgotten Cyborg was his new name, for the new person he was. Fitting. "I was wondering if you had a place to stay."
"Oh, not really. I'm used to…drifting…I couldn't really…"
"You wanna stay with us?"
"What?" Raven looked completely floored by this. "Oh…no…I couldn't…" She was blushing.
"C'mon, I have an apartment. Wouldn't want you out on the streets."
"Really, you don't want me around. I'm…trouble."
"You didn't seem to be trouble today. In fact if I remember, you saved our butts."
"And you saved mine," Raven said, raising her eyebrows.
"So? Come on."
"Well…" Raven looked down at her boots. "If…if it isn't any trouble…"
"No way! I need company in that stupid place! C'mon!" He grabbed the sorceress and the kid and dragged them to his apartment.
"It ain't much," he showed them his dingy three-room apartment.
"It's fine," Raven said.
"Dude, you have a pad!" Beast Boy jumped around like a rabbit on crack. Cyborg smiled. For some reason, he really liked the little guy.
"Who wants pizza?" he asked.
"Ooohh! Dude! Awesome!" Beast Boy cried.
"You don't have to," Raven muttered.
"What kind?"
"Anything's fine," Raven said.
"Ummm…would…you mind…if there wasn't meat…on it…" Beast Boy muttered.
"Dude, you don't eat meat? How is that possible?"
"Uh, hello? I kinda identify with animals? One time, I turned into a pig and I couldn't change back. So this farmer, who must have been like, color blind or something, took me into the slaughterhouse…dude, you have NO idea what they DO to those animals…"
"I don't wanna hear about it…"
"I was lucky to escape…I'll always remember…"
"Okay, okay…I'll get a large pepperoni for me and Raven, and a small veggie for you."
"Sweet!"
After Cyborg dialed the order, he and Beast Boy sat down and discussed video games for a while. Raven broke in cautiously, "Um, do you mind if I meditate? I need to do it…to calm my powers…"
"No problem," Cyborg said.
"Thanks."
Raven pulled some candles out of her cloak and lit them, then crossed her legs Indian style, floating a few inches off the ground. "Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos…"
Cyborg watched her. She seemed like a really sweet, shy girl…
"Touch those and you DIE," she snarled at Beast Boy as he reached a hand toward one of her candles. He jumped back in fear.
Or not…
The doorbell rang. "Must be the pizza guy," Cyborg said.
But when he answered the door, he found his father standing there.
"Victor…"
"How did you find me?" Cyborg said, stunned.
"I looked all over…"
"Who is that?" Beast Boy popped up beside Cyborg.
"Salesman," Cyborg grunted.
Silas looked at Beast Boy, and then past him to the floating Raven, who was still meditating. "Friends of yours?"
"What's he selling?" Beast Boy asked.
"Um, Beast Boy, give me and the salesman a minute to talk, okay?"
"Roger," Beast Boy bounced off and Cyborg moved out into the hall.
"Go. Away." He snarled at Silas.
"Victor, I just want to talk…"
"It's Cyborg now. And there's nothing to talk about."
"Please…"
"Look, Dad, I didn't mean all the thinks I said when I woke up…I don't think the accident was…completely…your fault. But it's just…you never…listened! I'm a different person now. My life has changed. And…I just can't face it. I just can't face you anymore."
"I…understand…" Silas said. "I'm glad you've made friends. I…if you never need me…"
Cyborg turned around and walked back into his apartment, closing the door behind him. He sighed and leaned against the door. Raven was now chasing Beast Boy around the living room; apparently he had set her cloak on fire or something. As she pelted him with random objects, Cyborg couldn't help but smile.
Nope, definitely not shy.
Maybe things weren't so bad after all…
That night, Raven insisted on sleeping on the couch, so Cyborg slept in his room, with Beast Boy curled up next to him as a cat. The next day, the doorbell rang, but this time it was Robin, asking if the three of them would meet with him and Starfire and discuss and idea about forming a team…
"CYBORG! DINNER!"
Cyborg jumped out of his reverie to find Robin standing at his door. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Oh, yeah," Cyborg said. "Always." He jumped up, his heavy boots vibrating on the floor. At least he could still taste food…
Alarm bells sounded all around Titans Tower.
"Trouble!" Starfire called.
"Where?" Cyborg ran in with Raven.
"STAR Labs," Robin said.
Cyborg's eyes widened. You've got to be kidding me.
"But we were just there," Beast Boy complained.
"That was another lab, Beast Boy. STAR Labs is more…downscale. But just as good. Anyway, one of their machines went haywire, and there are a couple of guys trapped in there. Titans GO!"
Raven, Robin, Beast Boy and Starfire sprang into action, Cyborg following with some trepidation.
When they got there, it wasn't the scene of panic they'd seen when they'd invaded that lab with the crazy guy who knew BB's parents. There was no crowd, just a few policemen. The inside of the lab was vibrating slightly. The five of them trucked into it, to find many different directions, as Cyborg had known there would be.
"Titans, split up!"
Cyborg had a feeling from the general look of the building where the trapped people might be, and he checked his scanners, and saw he was right. The other Titans had already split, he took the middle hall.
Radiation Center…Radiation Center…Aw man.
A group of robots blocked his path to the radiation center.
"Okay, I'm gonna try this…" Cyborg muttered. "Will you guys move?"
The robots moved forward, machines clanking.
"Guess not," Cyborg muttered. He sheared a robot's head off with his sonic cannon, and then they all seemed to lunge at him at once. Going through a mechanical stomach with his fist, he used his chainsaw arm to cut up several more, ripping one's head off with just raw strength. A rocket from his shoe detonated three of them, and he finished off the rest with a martial arts combination. Finally, robot parts littered around him, he was able to find the Radiation Center.
As he expected, there were two guys trapped in there, pinned by a fallen piece of machine. The radiation was on top of them, coming from the machine. Cyborg destroyed it quickly with a sonic cannon blast, and arms up to protect himself as best as possible from any remaining radiation, he kicked the machine off the two men and lifted them up easily, sprinting out of the room with them over his back like a sack of potatoes. He got outside and laid the men on the grass. Flipping his communicator on, he said, "Robin, I got the guys. There's radiation, so get out of there."
"Good job, Cyborg! Robin out!"
One of the men stirred slightly, opening his eyes. Cyborg knew he looked familiar, but couldn't place him.
"It's okay, man, you're gonna be okay," he assured the conscious man, although he doubted a man exposed to this much radiation would last the night.
"Vic-Victor?" the man muttered.
And Cyborg recognized him.
"DAD?" His father looked like he had aged even more since Cyborg had last seen him, making him virtually unrecognizable.
"Victor…it is you. You saved…me…"
"Dad…what were you doing pinned under that machine?"
"An…accident…"
"Another one?" Cyborg said automatically, and then regretted it. Seeing his father in such a state seemed to have wiped all the bitterness away from him.
"Yes…I'm…sorry…"
"No, Dad. Don't talk…you need to rest…oh man…maybe Raven can heal you…"
"Raven…she's…member of your…team…"
"Uh, how'd you know that?"
"I've…been…following…the news…about the…Titans…I'm…proud of you…Victor…you…have saved…many…"
"I-"
"And…found…friends…good…friends…"
"Yeah…" Cyborg felt lost.
"A…better family…than I…ever gave…you…"
"Don't say stuff like that! Stop the self pity!" Cyborg felt confused. "You need to stop talking!"
"Sorry…"
"Cyborg!" Robin landed down next to Cyborg, making him jump.
"Ahhh! Robin, my…this guys seriously been exposed to the radiation. We need to call an ambulance. Maybe Raven can-?"
"What about the other one?" Robin gestured to the unconscious man.
"He's…dead…" Silas muttered.
"WHAT?"
"He…died…a few minutes…before…you came…"
Robin leaned over the man, checking his pulse. "He's right."
The other Titans joined them.
"Raven, I need you to heal this guy!" Cyborg begged.
"Radiation poisoning?" Raven knelt carefully down beside him. "Cyborg, he's in pretty bad shape…I'll do my best…" she said in a tone that suggested there was nothing she could do. But she fired up her light blue healing powers, passing her hands over Silas's body.
"An ambulance is on its way," a police officer said.
"Victor…it's…too late…" Silas muttered.
"Victor?" Beast Boy said in surprise. "Cyborg, how-?"
Robin shushed him.
"Just hang on, old man. Hang on!" Cyborg felt desperate.
Silas shook his head. "I…will be…with Elinore…"
"Well, maybe you don't deserve to be with her!" Cyborg said angrily. "You don't, so LIVE!"
"I…can't…I'm…sorry…Victor…son…about the…accident…you were right…my fault…"
"Not…really…" Cyborg felt so confused.
Raven was straining now, apparently using up the last vestiges of her power, but she persevered, having guessed Cyborg's relationship with the man.
"Don't…waste…your efforts…girl…I am gone…" Silas informed her.
With a gasp, Raven gave up. She shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry, Cyborg."
Cyborg could feel something burning. Was it tears? Anger? He cradles the old man in his arms.
"Dying…" Silas's eyes fluttered. "I'm sorry…I…"
"I forgive you, Dad," Cyborg said softly. "I forgive you. I-I love you."
Silas smiled peacefully up at Cyborg. "Me…too…Victor?"
"Yeah?" Cyborg said his voice cracking.
"I…think…you could have…made the Olympics…if it weren't…for me."
And Silas Stone closed his eyes and died.
The Titans around Cyborg were silent. Starfire was crying silently, and she gripped Cyborg's shoulder, bending the Titanium slightly. Beast Boy looked lost, Robin solemn, Raven looked sadly at Cyborg, pulling her cloak tighter around her. Cyborg merely stared.
And then the ambulance arrived, too late.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Cyborg bounced a basketball against the wall, alone in his room. Feeling…numb…
THUNK!
The basketball accidentally smashed straight through the wall.
Feeling…angry…
Cyborg put his head in his massive mechanical hands.
Feeling…sad…
He looked at the hole in the wall…right through a science poster…
Feeling…confused.
There was a knock on his door. It opened automatically. In came Beast Boy. He didn't say anything; he just sat down beside Cyborg.
Feeling…?
Then Raven came in…then Starfire…then Robin. They all sat around Cyborg, in a sort of silent vigil. Beast Boy and Starfire leaned against him; Robin sat below with Raven. Cyborg felt oddly comforted…
Feeling…
Feeling…
Endnote: And so the fifth chapter ends. ISN'T IT SAD? POOR CYBORG!
Anyway, I'll have one more chapter to finish it up! I'm not promising anything, but there might be a little Terra…and Slade…
