Chapter 5- Interrogation

"Tell us your name."

"Robin."

"No. Tell us your real name."

"Sorry."

"Sorry what?"

"Sorry, but I can't do that."

"Listen, son, you may not believe this, but we want to help you. But we can't do that unless you tell us who you really are. Otherwise, we can't guarantee that your rights will be protected."

"If you want to know so bad, why don't you just pull my mask off and see for yourself?"

"You can't expect us to recognize your face."

"Maybe not, but I have fingerprints, DNA. Why not just use that?"

"Let's just say that certain… parties wouldn't take kindly to our treating a superhero in that way."

"I get it. You don't want to tick off the Justice League, right?"

"You're a clever young man, er… Robin. Now tell us- why did you attack a United States military facility?"

"I had been led to believe that it was a base under the control of an enemy."

"Who told you this?"

"You wouldn't like the answer."

"I see. And who were you led to believe this base belonged to?"

"A terrorist named General Immortus."

"General Immortus is a myth. Tell the truth- who did you believe the base belonged to?"

"I'm not lying! You have to listen to me! Immortus is real, and he's planning to take over the world. He's thousands of years old, and he's a genius- and he has something that he took from you. Ask your men what's missing from the base. Immortus has it now, and whatever it is, he'll use it. You have to find him now, before it's too late!"

"Enough. It seems that 'Robin' here isn't willing to cooperate. Gentlemen, take him back to his cell, and bring me the redhead. She doesn't look as stubborn."

"You're making a huge mistake…"

"Get him out of my sight."

############

"What is your name, young lady?"

"In your language, it would be Starfire. This is what my friends call me."

"In 'our' language? You don't have an accent. Where are you from?"

"I am from the planet Tamaran."

*Laugher* "Wait- you're serious?"

"Yes. I am Starfire of the Royal House of Tamaran, and you will explain why you are treating us like this!"

"Royal House- listen to me very carefully. I don't care if you're the lost princess of Mars- just tell me why you attacked a United States military base!"

"It all began several days ago after we had just defeated Plasmus and eaten pizza with mustard when the Red X appeared and attacked Robin but said he needed our help to fight the General Immortus, and-"

"Red X? Red X the infamous thief?"

"Yes. I did not think we should trust him, but Robin insisted and I did not want to say anything. But he tricked us and then betrayed us."

"Did it occur to you that you should have turned over a wanted criminal to the police the moment he set foot in your tower?"

"We followed Robin's decisions."

"So you always do whatever Robin tells you to do?"

"I would appreciate you not prying where you do not belong."

"I am the one asking the questions here, and in the name of governmental security I have a right to know whatever I need to know!"

"I am a Princess of Tamaran and you are not my government!"

"Get her out of here, and bring me someone sane!"

############

"Tell me your name."

"The name's Cyborg."

"A cyborg is what you are- what is your real name?"

"It's also my name- you have a problem with that?"

*sigh* "Have it your way, then. Why did you attack a United States military base?"

"If Robin and Star wouldn't tell, I'm sure not going to."

"I was told a fanciful story involving an immortal terrorist and a notorious thief. I was hoping you might be able to tell me what actually happened."

"You just said what happened- Red X lured us into a trap, then him and Immortus swooped in and stole something from your labs. Maybe you'd better put someone on that little problem rather than wasting your time with us."

"We have men working the theft. But you and your friends were there too, and several of our men at the base claimed that you attacked them or sabotaged their technology. Any reason for this?"

"Yeah- we though you all were the bad guys, and we were doing our job. Now we know you're not, and we're sorry- so let us go so we can go find the real bad guys and kick their butts, alright?"

"Fighting 'bad guys' is our job, and the police's- not yours. Who gave you the authority to go out and fight 'bad guys' wherever you find them?"

"Well maybe the fact that we took down an alien battlecruiser while the police and the army sat back and did squat has something to do with it?"

"Aliens. Yes, I've heard that before."

"Well, yeah- maybe someday you'll wake up and realize that you're living in a world of aliens, magic, and talking gorillas, and then you'll feel really stupid. Until then, let us our and we'll handle 'em for you."

"I will not be spoken to in this manner. Remove him!"

############

"All right, I've learned better than to ask you people for you're real names, so just tell me what you call yourself."

"Beast Boy, but in a couple of years I'm changing it to Beastman. Sounds cooler, and don't you think the girls'll just love it? Beastman- yeah."

"So perhaps you could tell me, Beast Boy, why you and your friends attacked a United States military base?"

"Well, maybe we could make a deal. I'll answer you, if you'll answer me."

"Well, this is headway, of a sort. What do you want to know?"

"Do you have any food? I'm a shapeshifter with an accelerated metabolism (or something like that- ask Cyborg), and I need to eat! But no meat- I'm a vegetarian, you know."

*stunned silence* "This isn't a joke, boy!"

"What made you think I was joking? I'm starving!"

"If you answer my questions, I'll feed you- deal?"

"You have yourself a deal, mister- er, sir."

"Why did you attack the base?"

"Are you thick, or something? My friends already told you- we thought it belonged to Immortus!"

"I see. You expect me to believe this 'General Immortus' garbage too?"

"It's not garbage! You see, General Immortus used to work for the Brain and Monsieur Mallah as part of the Brotherhood of Evil, and they wanted to capture all the superheroes in the world and freeze them because we wrecked their black hole machine, and they did catch us, but I brought in back up and there was a big fight, but we caught them, and-"

"Gag him and get rid of him! God, I hope that girl's normal."

############

"All right, young lady, tell us-"

"My name is Raven."

"Raven what?"

"Just Raven."

"Now see here- if you tell us you're full name, we can identify you and give you full protection under the law."

"I'm not a US citizen. I was born in Azarath."

"Where?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Now then, please tell me-"

"You've been told the truth four times. I don't think a fifth will make any difference."

"I've been told a fanciful story that cannot possibly be true. I hap hoped you would be more reasonable."

"You small-minded little man. You live safe in your own little world, and when something comes along that doesn't fit you stick your head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. Well, it does exist, and you and your precious government are all going to die unless you believe us."

"You will not speak of the United States government in that tone!"

"You don't scare me. I've seen things that would make you and all your precious army claw out your own eyes, I've dreamed of things that would make you terrified to sleep. I have defied powers beyond your comprehension, have walked in paradise and hell- and you are just a man."

"Get… her… out!"

"I'll be leaving on my own, thanks."

"Ha! You're handcuffed, under armed guard- what? Where is she? Don't just stand there you idiots, find her! People don't just disappear. She's got to be around here somewhere. If she's not, it's the end of all our careers."

############

Raven rematerialized several floors below, on the same level as the cells. "Fools," she whispered under her breath, and set out to free her friends.