Chapter 9: The Search for Truth

Sunlight filtered in through a window, casting a warm glow on an otherwise frosty room. The light's warm fingers wrapped around the only resident in this chilly place: a young woman lay on a low mattress, draped in a lavender quilt. She began to stir, ruby hair falling, like a shimmering waterfall, across her smooth cheeks. Then, she opened her eyes, revealing jade orbs of pure emotion. She looked around, emerald eyes taking in her surroundings. With a gasp, a memory flickered in her mind and she hastily sat up. Her young figure was clothed in a flowing snow colored gown, made of fine silk. She swung her legs out from beneath her covers, revealing feet clad in white slippers. She stood, cautiously and strode quickly to the window. Hands resting on the smooth glass, she gazed out and sighed. She stood there, lost in thought, for several moments before a sound brought her back into reality.

"Mom?" The young woman turned and a smile lit up her face, casting a glow about the room more vivid than that of the sun, which peeked in through the window.

"Rosefire! You are the OK!" She hurried over to where her daughter stood, now garbed in all too familiar clothes. She embraced her little girl, then stood back to look at her, eyes taking in every plate and every color of the new garment that her daughter wore.

"Rosefire, why are you wearing the uniform of Slade…and how did we get here? Are you all right? What is going on? Where…" She was interrupted by a laugh from her daughter.

"Guy, mom. Not so many questions! I'm fine and dad's gonna train me in some more martial arts, so I thought I'd look the part." She laughed again. "Now, to answer your other questions, this is dad's place. I brought you her with dad after you passed out." Her smile melted away.

"Listen, mom. I know seeing dad after all this time must have been a shock, especially after what those liars told you and dad thinks that they might have tried to brainwash you after the…incident, so he's gonna do some tests. He'll be over in a few minutes."

"Actually, I'm here now. Hello darling. Hello Starfire."

Slade walked into the room, not wearing his mask. He had dark hair, cropped short with some spikes, much like Robin's. His stormy grey eyes were filled with malice…and lust.

Starfire shivered and looked at her daughter, who was clothed in the uniform of her most hated enemy, Rosefire's father. She opened her mouth to speak, to tell her daughter of all the atrocities that this man who was her father had committed…but she never got the chance.

"Mom…dad told me that the Titans have done something to you." Rosefire spoke up, looking at her mother with concern and then her father with adoration. She looked back at her mother. "He said they brainwashed you…so that if you ever saw him again…if he'd somehow survived, that you would think he'd…raped you." She paused, momentarily too choked up to continue. Slade moved up behind her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. He looked up at Starfire, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"It's OK Rosefire. We'll find some way to get your mother's memories back. Now, come. We must allow her to rest. She's had a trying day." He turned and began walking out, bringing a teary Rosefire with him. Then, he paused and looked back, gazing over his shoulder.

"Dear…I'll come by later. Oh, if you need anything, anything at all, all you have to do is ring that bell over there, by the bed." His eyes gleamed in a way that spoke more than words.

Starfire shivered at the implied meaning behind his kind facade. She walked toward her bed and lay beneath the covers, facing away from the dreaded bell.

She prayed Robin would find her.

BAAAAM!

Robin's fist smashed into the metal table, leaving a dent on its otherwise smooth surface. He swore colorfully, cursing the man who had dared to come back after everything he had done, the man who had tricked his daughter with his evil lies. He flipped open his yellow and black communicator.

"Tell me you've found them." His voice rang cold and hard over the screen, traveling miles in moments to reach those on the other end. An image appeared, soon followed by a voice.

"Not yet dude." Beast Boy's sad face appeared briefly on the small screen, then shrunk to allow another to appear.

"Ditto." The blonde titan frowned in anxiety, worried for the safety of her friend.

"Same here." Cyborg's metallic features flashed, before giving way to the darkest Titan.

"Robin, if I find them you're likely to see half the city blow to bits." The goth's violet eyes glowed with anger and frustration, almost turning red. She paused. "I have to meditate."

Robin nodded. No matter the importance of the mission, if Raven lost control over her dark side…he shuddered at the thought of what could happen. Masked eyes turned back to the monitor, his friends concerned faces growing larger as Raven's vanished.

"Robin…I swear, if it's the last thing I do, we are going to find them. Both of them." Cyborg spoke, his normally emotional voice as robotic as the half he never allowed to show through…until now; he seemed to be running on automatic.

"He's right Robin. We will NOT let Slade get away with this." Beast Boy grimaced. He disconnected, opting to continue his search. This left only Terra on the other end.

"We'll find them Robin. I swear it." When Robin gave a slight nod, she spoke again. "Terra out. Good luck."

The screen blacked out, leaving the boy wonder staring at it, blankly, for a few moments. Then, he closed it, masked eyes taking in the warehouse he had searched but a minute ago. Then, he did something he had not done since the death of his parents. He prayed. He prayed he would find her in time.