Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. "The Hollow Men" was written by T.S. Elliot, and the use of passages to open each chapter is done with the utmost respect for one of the English languages best craftsmen. Thank you, and enjoy.

Titans Broken

Chapter 3: Remember Us

Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom
Remember us—if at all—not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.

- T.S. Elliot's "The Hollow Men"

Black Canary stepped into the small room. Raven followed and closed the door behind her. Both of them were aware of the eyes staring from behind the one-way glass. Zatanna was there, watching and taking notes.

Neither of them knew what to make of the pair of glowing green eyes that turned to face Raven as she stepped up next to the seat facing her.

Koriand'r stared at her, eyes glowing as she sat down. Rachel reached out with her empathic abilities trying to get a read on the woman that had once been her best friend, the woman sitting across from her.

There was nothing, no flash of recognition, no flicker of awareness, no outraged acknowledgement of who she was and what she'd done. Rachel lowered her cowl and stared into those glowing green eyes. She felt her heart tighten at the cold expression on those features.

"Starfire." Rachel said quietly and shook her head. She was beating back the small horde of emotions screaming in the back of her mind. It hurt and she squashed the pain. She focused on Starfire, reading her emotions and thoughts as best she could.

There wasn't much there except fundamental underlying instincts it seemed... There wasn't even much emotion, a hint of curiosity flickering behind the eyes, a bit of fear as well, but there was nothing left of the loving and bubbly personality she had once held. Her mind felt dead. Apparently, the benefits of the endorphin injection were fading fast.

She'd felt such minds before, it was inevitable when working as a hero or counselor. A psychotic's mind was like a thunderstorm of emotion and anger. A sociopath's mind was as dead as hers seemed...

The problem was sociopathic tendencies was something that was inborn in people, and it wasn't something she could hide behind acting, not from her empathic abilities. No, this was like reading someone rendered cationic by some traumatic occurrence. Still she was responsive and vocal...

She'd encountered such personalities before. They were often the result of sexual assault, rape, and other exploitation. She'd seen it often times with professional prostitutes as well.

Raven took a deep breath and pulled her senses back within herself. Then she strove to harden her resolve. "Starfire, this is Black Canary she'll be helping us with your evaluation."

Her green eyes flickered slightly and she stared at Black Canary.

"You understand that you have been brought into this room for an interview regarding your psychological health." Black Canary said.

Starfire nodded once. "I do."

"I've been told you have trouble remembering and associating names with people... that your memory of earth things is poor?" Black Canary asked.

"Yes."

Canary nodded. "Very well, I'm going to give you a list of names... I want you to respond with the first thing that comes into your head."

"Very well." She answered looking rather bored.

"Robin."

Raven saw the woman's green eyes flicker for a moment.

"A bird, is it not?" She answered.

"Alright... just one word answers please, Victor." Black Canary said.

"Callsign." She said with a furrowed brow.

"Garfield?"

"Cat."

"Gar?"

"Fish."

Raven stepped up to her. "Rachel?"

Kori's eyes flickered again and she stared at her for a long moment. "Roth?"

Raven smiled faintly and felt her heart squeezed in her chest. She glanced at the table for a long moment. Black Canary laid a hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to continue this?"

She swallowed a lump in her throat and glanced at Black Canary before nodding. Then she straightened and took a deep breath. "Richard?"

Kori's eyes suddenly glowed brighter. "Pain."

Raven stared at her and cocked her head. "Why?"

"That is not a name." Koriand'r said.

"No, why do you think of pain for, Richard?" Raven asked.

Her glowing gaze flicked back to the table. "I... I do not know. I cannot remember."

Raven reached out with her empathic abilities. "Try."

She could feel them in her mind now, enormous blocks of memory walled off as if to protect the mind. The whole of her mind seemed to have cut off her ability to associate earthen names with people and faces. It was strange, saddening, and heartbreaking for her as Raven slowly pulled her senses out of Starfire's mind again.

"I cannot." Starfire said quietly. "I cannot remember."

"I see. I believe you've suppressed a number of memories... important memories." Black Canary said.

Raven's earpiece squawked and she glanced out at the one-way mirror, "Excuse me."

"Cyborg just arrived..." Zatanna's voice answered.

"Okay..." Raven stood. "I'll be back in just a moment."

Black Canary nodded and glanced over at Starfire. "Now… let's get back to the name recognition exercise, shall we?"

Raven walked over to the door and it opened with a hiss. Outside Cyborg stood with a set of cases and a single worn looking blue and black uniform draped over his arm. Her eyes went wide when she saw the insignia. "Vic?"

"I found a whole closet full of them... cologne... other trinkets." Cyborg said quietly. "Everything looks worn and tattered like she'd been handling them a lot, probably daily."

Raven swallowed as she took the uniform from him and the case. "Are they all Dick's?"

He nodded once. "What do you think?"

"Her people are descendants of felines and even humans seem to have better scent memory than facial ones." Raven said quietly as she took the small case. "Was there cologne on the uniform?"

"Yeah, a lot of it..."

Raven felt her cheek twitch before she pulled out a small swipe card from her uniform pocket and handed it to him. "I have some old uniforms... could you collect them and bring them back as well as my deodorant... I haven't changed the brand since back then. Call Gar and get him to do the same."

"Would wearing one first help? If she's trying to remember us, our scent might be important." Cyborg said quietly. "What about Nightwing?"

"Steal one of his uniforms from the laundry before it's washed." Raven said before letting out a long sigh. "I hope this helps..."

"Okay, I'll see about it." Cyborg said before stepping back out into the hallway. The door hissed shut behind him.

Raven turned back to the green eyes watching her. As her gaze caught sight of the case and uniform, Starfire shot upright. "You have no right!"

With a flash of dark energy, the Tamaranian was slammed back into the chair and anchored there. "Attacking me will not help your case, Starfire." Raven growled before walking to the table between them and spreading out the uniform there. "Why do you have this?"

"I..." Her gaze flickered and dropped to the uniform for a moment. "I do not know... I cannot help myself."

"You touch them often?" Black Canary asked.

She nodded and pulled the worn uniform to her chest before taking a deep sniff from it. Raven swallowed, as the woman seemed to deflate almost like a drug addict getting a fix.

"What do you feel?" Raven asked.

"I do not understand your question." Koriand'r said quietly. Raven scowled at her and reached out again with her senses. What she felt stunned her.

A deep melancholy longing had filled her coupled with a strange comfort and warmth. She seemed more alive than before, but still dark and cold... broken. Raven stared at her. "Wistful maybe?"

"I do not understand." Starfire said.

"This uniform... it belonged to your closest friend, a human. I think you're trying to remember him." Raven said.

Slowly Starfire lowered the uniform to the table and she slumped forward, her hair falling down around like a curtain to hide her face. "I cannot remember as much as I once could... his scent is gone from them." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I do... do not understand. How can I have ended up like this? Is he dead? If he was my closest friend why can I not remember him except through... these."

"He's alive, Star, we're all still alive." Raven said quietly.

"All? I do not understand, what do you mean by all?" Starfire asked.

Raven sighed. "You were my best friend for many years." The dark band of energy that had anchored her to the chair dissolved. "You, him, me, Gar, and Vic were a team... we used to do everything together."

"I do not remember." She said quietly and sobbed again. "I am rutha... you make me rutha!" She suddenly snarled and the dark energy appeared again and anchored her to the seat once again.

"You are not weak." Raven said.

"You know the meaning?"

"Of course I do." Raven said. "You told us there was no word for nice on your world, that the closest was weak..." She glared at Starfire. "You were such a nice person..."

"Were?" Starfire said quietly.

Raven swallowed. "You have been working with Red Hood and Arsenal. They are not nice..." She shook her head. "How many have you killed on Jason's orders?"

Her glowing green gaze turned stony. "I am a warrior."

Black Canary scowled and shook her head.

Raven rolled her eyes. "And I am the daughter of a demon, but do you see me killing people in their hundreds for a bit of money?"

"I..."

The door hissed open and Cyborg stepped inside carrying a set of different uniforms in a laundry basket. "BB is trying to find some that aren't pizza stained or anything." He dropped it beside the table. "Star?"

Starfire glared at him as Raven reached down and grabbed a red and black uniform from the mix. With a slight scowl, she dropped it before the Tamaranian. "Give that a sniff."

Slowly Starfire raised the uniform to her nose and took a long sniff. Her green eyes grew wide. "It is... it is him?" She lowered the kevlar and nomex from her nose and stared at the insignia. "I have seen this... recently. The one called Nightwing?"

"Yes." Raven said quietly.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and she hugged the uniform to her chest. Slowly Raven pulled a dark black leotard from the pile and set it down before her followed by a rather worn and battered set of coveralls stained with grease and engine oil. Star lifted them to her nose and took a sniff. A strange look passed over her face and she buried her face in the overalls and cried.

"Who?" She squeaked out before holding up the overalls. "Who is it that gives me such comfort?"

"That one is an old one of mine." Cyborg said quietly.

Starfire glanced at him and gaped. "Did... did we have sex?"

Black Canary's eyes were the size of saucers at that statement and Cyborg sputtered. "No, no... You were Dick's girl, always Dick's girl."

"Dick?" She asked quietly. "I... I know the name somehow."

Raven nodded and put a finger on one of the old worn Nightwing uniforms. "Dick..." She pointed to the leotard. "Me." Then she pointed to the overalls. "Victor."

She cried. "I do not remember you..." Her hands shook as she cuddled the uniforms to her chest. "Why do I not remember?"

"You've repressed your memories of us... all of us." Rachel said quietly.

"Raven, that's... that's years' worth of memories." Black Canary said quietly.

"I know." Raven said with a growl. "Star... do you remember, the Citadel?"

She shook her head and cried. "The Citadel? Yes, some, but there are gaps… things are missing..."

Raven cursed under her breath and stood. "Okay... you, you can keep those, Star." She said before standing up and walked to the door. "I'll talk to you later."

Cyborg nodded and followed Raven out into the hall. After the door slid shut behind them, they glanced at each other. "Azar..."

"She's really badly broken isn't she?" Cyborg said quietly. "How could she repress all that? That's years and years of her life!"

Raven nodded. "I need to talk to Zatanna." She said before floating toward the door to the observation area. "I suppose you can give an opinion as well, Dr. Stone."

"Very funny." Cyborg grumbled. "BB asked about you when I called him."

"That's not even his name anymore, but I wish he was here..." Raven said with a sigh. "I need to focus on Star. Can we talk about my train wreck of a love life some other time?"

Cyborg stopped and scowled. "You don't think... damn, could her breakup with Nightwing be the cause of this mess?"

Raven swallowed. "Batman thinks so." She chewed on her lip for a moment and remembered a discussion she'd had with Starfire years earlier when they were still the Titans. "Do you remember her talking about something in Tamaranian psychology?"

"Nah, you were the one she went to for girly stuff like that." Cyborg said.

"She... she told me once that there is no harder thing for a Tamaranian to deal with then heartbreak... she was always so worried Dick didn't love her like she loved him..." Raven cursed quietly under her breath.

"Oh fuck!" Cyborg said. "And it was Dick that broke up with her?"

Raven nodded.

"That's it. I'm going to go kick his ass! Where is he?" Cyborg growled.

Raven cut him off and grabbed him by the chest-plate. "Don't, it'll only make things worse!"

"You think so? He turned my baby sister into... some damn walkin' zombie or somethin'. He broke her. I'm gonna fuckin' break him!" Cyborg snapped.

"Then we'll never get her back!" Raven snapped. "If this is what I think it is, the only way to fix it is to get them back together!"

"Oh fuck!" Cyborg snapped then punched the wall in frustration making it ring from the impact. "Really? Does Dick even have feelin's for her anymore?"

Raven scowled. "I think he does, since they got here... he's been a mess."

"This is such a fuckin' mess, Raven. I don't know how to fix it!" Cyborg said.

"How do you think I feel? I want my best friend back!" Raven yelled. "I want a life besides this... this... whatever the hell this is."

Cyborg fell silent and stared at her. Finally, he said. "You okay?"

"No, I'm not and I won't be until this is fixed." Raven snapped and headed into the observation room. She took a deep breath as she stepped inside and saw Zatanna staring at her from their seats.

She ran a finger along her temple and shook her head. "That was... interesting, you and Cyborg alright?"

"No, but I can handle it." Raven said as she sat down.

Zatanna looked nervously at her before shaking her head. "So... your assessment?"

"Near sociopathic state brought on by emotional trauma, severe repression of memories spanning from childhood to present day. She feels like... well, a rape victim or professional prostitute. The only sign of emotionality and connecting to others came through those uniforms Cyborg found." Raven sat down and keyed up a computer panel. "I think I know the source of the problem."

Zatanna glanced at Starfire and shifted in her seat. "Let me guess... Batman was right?"

"Partly..." Raven typed in a series of search criteria into the computer and swallowed as the information she was looking for appeared. "It's called Z'hom in Tamaranian, which translates as 'sickness of the soul'. Essentially heartbreak can make a Tamaranian suppress all memories of the loved one in a psychological attempt to erase the relationship so they can move on to someone else. They often become rather emotionless wrecks and, depending on the length of the relationship, and can lose a significant amount of their memory."

"What about the sex... we know she's been sexually active with a number of people..." Zatanna said.

Raven sighed. "Sex in Tamaranians releases a lot more endorphins then in humans... they enjoy it more, something about higher birthrate in a warrior race."

"Damn..." Zatanna said with a smirk. "I wouldn't mind that bit of their physiology."

"She's... well, she's become addicted to that little bit of feeling it brings back to her. I asked the medics to give her a physical… and well, her endorphin levels are dangerously low. A booster shot seemed to wear off almost immediately." Raven rubbed her forehead. "I don't want to think about it... in short, the only way for the effects of this to end is to try and get her and Nightwing to patch it up."

Zatanna ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Oracle is going to be pissed. What if they can't patch it up?"

"Then we have to get her as far from the planet as possible." Raven said quietly. "If she goes back to the Outlaws..." Raven shuddered. "I've seen the same reports you have... Starfire is powerful enough to challenge Superman in a straight up fight."

"Well, before anything else... let's try some other techniques first." Zatanna said. "I'll try hypnosis and see if we can pull her memories back."

"Good luck." Raven said as Zatanna stood and headed for the door.

She stopped there and arched an eyebrow. "What's with the uniforms anyway?"

Raven sighed. "Scent memories are stronger than most other memories... even in humans. She's hanging onto the emotions those scents give her desperately, I wouldn't be surprised if they're her most prized possessions." She glanced through the glass. "Without them she'd probably be even more dangerous."

"Almost like a security blanket." Zatanna said quietly. "I'm amazed we haven't had more people screwed up like her... considering everything we've gone through."

"The other Outlaws are just as broken as she is, but not nearly as dangerous... Starfire is like a flying solar powered laser cannon... Roy and Jason Todd are just an archer and a gunman." Raven said. "We can deal with those two if they go on a killing spree... but Starfire? We'd probably lose people."

"That's Batman's assessment." Zatanna said. "What about Nightwing?"

"He's not broken yet. But he's close." Raven said quietly. "Look at his life... I'm shocked he hasn't broken but that's probably Batman's influence."

"Gotham toughens people up more than any other city." Zatanna said quietly. "I also heard a rumor... not sure how much truth is in it."

Raven glanced at her. "Yeah?"

"Nightwing may have been raped by another crime fighter."

Raven blanched her mind racing to the comment Batman had made on his arrival. "Has he said anything?"

Zatanna shook her head. "As few women report being raped, how many men do you think report or admit it? I don't know if it's true or not but Oracle and Batman suggested something like that happened..."

"Batman did mention something about Tarantula," Raven nodded. "What about Oracle? She's been interested in Nightwing forever... since the days when he was Robin."

Zatanna sighed, "She loves him, but sometimes they seem so much like bickering siblings I get sick to my stomach."

Raven nodded, "Good luck pointing that out to her."

"You should leave it to Black Canary," Zatanna stated.

"I suppose that makes sense considering they're friends," Raven stood. "You know... even if we get them back together and Starfire's normal personality returns... she's going to need to come to terms with what she did."

"I know... we really should consider hiring a real psychologist." Zatanna said as she headed for the door. A moment later Black Canary stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

Raven closed her eyes and tried to quell the internal turmoil that raged within her, the competing emotions vying for dominance. Timid was most certainly hiding under the proverbial bed while Rage and Love had words and the other emotions looked on. Sometimes having little personas of the emotions running around one's head was infuriating.

"How are you holding up?" Black Canary asked.

"It'd be easier if I could meditate without being interrupted." Raven snapped before taking a deep breath and opened her eyes. "I'm sorry. I know you're just trying to help."

"It must be hard seeing your friends like this." Black Canary said quietly.

Raven nodded once, still floating in the lotus position. "It's worse than just having friends fight… they're my family. I've tried so hard to keep in touch with everyone, but Starfire and Nightwing just… dropped off the grid. If I tried harder maybe… maybe this wouldn't have happened. If I'd not been possessed those two would be happily married." She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "So much of this is my fault."

"I'm sure there's enough blame to spread around without hogging it all to yourself," Black Canary said. "Do you think this is easy on me either? We in the Justice League all saw Robin grow up. A lot of us were quite happy when he finally got out from under Batman's shadow and became Nightwing. The Titans were really a great accomplishment. He really spread his wings when he left for New York and Jump. Then it seemed like Gotham was reeling him back in, Batman was clipping his wings. Really, Blüdhaven was just a suburb of Gotham and when it was destroyed he went back to the Batman's city, even donned the cowl when Bruce disappeared."

"He was so stressed before the breakup. The wedding seemed to be the only part of his life that had been his choice and I… I destroyed it." Raven closed her eyes. "Gotham and Batman are slowly killing him."

"Really?" Black Canary cocked her head.

"It's like he's being groomed to be the next Batman, but he's not… it's not in his nature to be that single minded, that obsessed, that cold. His heart is too big for that. Sure we saw hints of that with the pursuit of Slade but… he never was that single minded about it, he had hope. He saved me from my father when the entire world burned." She sighed. "Batman doesn't do hope, or fun, or living… he simply exists."

"Bruce is broken in many ways, there's no doubt about that, but he has his rules and lives by them." Black Canary said quietly. "I know Batman is really his identity, Bruce is just an act, anyone that's been told his identity knows that."

"I know, but every time Dick went back to Gotham he came back darker, broodier, and more sullen than before. Starfire was the only one that could snap him out of it." Raven sighed. "Batman's also a bit of a xenophobe. He doesn't trust aliens at all… I mean, who else but Lex Luthor would always carry a stash of Kryptonite on his belt? He thinks they can't be trusted and yet how many aliens are in the Justice League? Of course, I'm not exactly a friend of your League either. I asked for help when I first came to this dimension from the League, but was denied assistance… and ultimately the world very nearly ended because of that."

Black Canary's eyes widened. "Are you sure you're not the one with trust issues?"

"I don't give out unearned trust, my friends, the Titans, Garfield… I trust them. As they'd put it, once I give someone my trust I don't take it back." Raven said. "I should tell you, I'm not exactly a fan of Zatanna either. She spoke against my request for assistance when I first arrived."

"Admittedly not many people would walk into the Hall of Justice, announce that they were a portal to end the world, and beg for help." Black Canary said.

"I'm not normal, big deal." Raven said and closed her eyes. "Azar… is she done trying to hypnotize Starfire yet?"

"No, not quite yet." Black Canary said as she glanced through the glass. "You and Starfire were close?"

"Yes… with Beast Boy and Cyborg around, we girls had to band together." Raven said quietly. "She was very fond of 'the mall of shopping' in Jump City and I do remember a couple trips to Macey's in New York." A taut smile slipped across Raven's face.

"Dick always had a fear of becoming like Bruce… I remember it from the first couple sessions I ever ran." Black Canary said quietly. "I can see why now."

Raven nodded once as she leaned back on the seat. "Batman is a dark hero… Nightwing is a bit of a dark hero himself… I'm one as well, but we're all different. I'm an intensely private person and my powers rely on controlling my emotions, but when I let loose..." An impish smile slipped across her lips at that.

"I believe Garfield liked that, are you two still together?" Black Canary asked.

"Sort of, we have different lives now… separate lives. It's hard to keep a relationship going in that sort of situation." She smirked. "Plus, as much as he loves me… I'd never be able to get him away from being part of the Galaxy Trek: Interstellar Station 9 series."

"He plays that shape-shifter… Iota, doesn't he?" Black Canary grinned. "I think it's hilarious that boy can pull off being such a stoic character… I mean, would you think Beast Boy could be that cool and collected?"

"He told me, he decided to deliver his lines mimicking me." Raven deadpanned. "It seems to work."

"Green Arrow is a bit of a fan." Black Canary said with a smirk. "Though I hear the Green Lanterns hate IS9, says it doesn't fit with the rest of the Galaxy Trek series."

"Azar…" Raven groaned. "I never thought they'd be fans."

"Yes well, Green Lanterns live Galaxy Trek so I don't know why he bothers watching it." Black Canary joked quietly.

"I do remember Garfield complaining about the CGI overlay they do on the show… says he doesn't appreciate being a walking breathing green screen." Raven said.

The door opened and Zatanna stepped inside. Raven's empathic senses could feel frustration rolling off her in waves.

"We're going round in circles." She said with a scowl while Raven hovered behind her, looking through the one-way mirror at Starfire. "I've tried hypnosis to access her repressed memories, but as soon as I reopen them she buries them again. I'm sorry, but we're going to have to take them both off active status at this rate. As Black Canary said, finding out that Starfire didn't remember him is damaging the crap out of Nightwing. He looks so desperate whenever he sees her."

"Of course he does, he believes he did it to her." Raven said. "And he's right."

"Do you sense anything from her, any spark when she sees Dick… something we can use to get her to face what happened?" Black Canary asked.

Raven closed her eyes and lowered her cowl. "There is a flicker of recognition each time she sees him, especially if she smells him… but most of the time, there's nothing. Just… void. Tamaranian society is focused on joy, emotion, and love… even among her own people they'd say she was broken, more broken then even Blackfire."

The door to the compartment hissed open and the familiar black armored figure of Batman stepped inside. It snapped shut behind him as he glanced out the window. "Report."

"Nightwing is emotionally fragile, Starfire has been reduced to a near sociopathic state thanks to her species reaction to heartbreak, and we found she recognizes scents better than people." Raven said. "She doesn't remember anything from her time as a team member."

"I'm open to ideas Bruce… nothing we've tried so far has come close to working." Zatanna said.

"We're running out of time… and I have cases waiting back in Gotham." Batman straightened up and stared at the bronze skinned woman sitting in the observation room. "I do have one idea. Her abilities are keyed into her emotions right? We haven't seen her use any of her powers, if she has to become emotional in order to use them it may give Raven a better sense of what needs to be done."

"So… a sparring session?" Zatanna asked with an arched eyebrow.

Raven shook her head. "That could be dangerous. In her current state she has no problem inflicting pain or killing."

"So… the 'Kitchen' then? Make her work with him?" Black Canary suggested.

Batman nodded. "Perhaps that will work, we'll try it."

Barbara Gordon stared down at her computer as she sat back in her chair and removed the glasses. A single tear ran down her cheek as she glanced at the holographic image of Dick and her clad in their original costumes. She reached under her shirt and pulled out the engagement ring hanging from the chain he'd given her.

"What do I do?" She murmured to herself before twirling the gold ring and watched its diamonds glitter in the reflected light.

She'd watched for computer searches from Raven and stared at the document that had appeared. Slowly she glanced down at the ring hanging between her fingers and closed her eyes. "Hell Dick, talk about being the Boy Blunder. Did you even know what you did to her? Do you care?" She shut her eyes and felt another pair of tears stream down her cheeks. "Dick, you're such a fucking dick." She snapped the chain and stuffed the ring into her pocket.

"Damn Bruce... I bet this is all his fault somehow." Barbara said before leaning over the computer and bringing up the information that Batman had requested from the Green Lanterns. "The Citadel... the Branx... the Gordanians… the Okaarans." She sighed. "What does he want this for?"

Dick swallowed as he stared at Black Canary, a look of complete shock on his face. "The Kitchen, you mean the training room right?"

Black Canary nodded as Dick stood and checked the gear he had integrated in the suit.

After a moment he stood. "Why?"

"It occurred to Bruce that Starfire's powers are based on her emotions, he wants to see if she can still wield them despite the ordeal you two have been through." She said quietly. "Plus, fighting alongside her might jog her memory."

He swallowed, it made sense but then a lot of Batman's ideas made sense at first glance. There had to be more going on, some other objective to this plan. He checked his tonfa and glanced at Black Canary. "You agreed to this?"

She sighed. "Dick... I have no idea what else to do. Zatanna tried to pull her memories back with hypnosis but she turned around and buried them immediately. We don't have any other ideas."

"Raven... couldn't she link with her like she did with me?" Dick asked.

Black Canary shook her head. "I know... I even asked, but Raven said that she didn't want to risk it. Starfire's mind is different, she's not human for one thing and she really doesn't want to risk it Dick."

He growled in turn and stared at her. "You really think this will help?"

"I don't know... but we need to test her abilities anyway." Black Canary said. "Look... this is a chance for you to help jolt her memories of you, maybe bond with her a little."

"Okay... you're right." He took a deep breath and stared at her. "I want to help her, Dinah."

She smiled faintly at him. "I figured you knew my real name... guess Batman's at fault again."

"He doesn't trust anybody, so he digs up everyone's identity." Dick sighed. "You've been a real friend to me over the years."

"I'm glad... you've always been a good kid. If Oliver and I ever get around to settling down, I hope my kids will end up like you." She smiled faintly. "Come on Dick... lets see if you can at least fight still."

Dick nodded. "Yeah... demolishing a test course sounds like a good way to blow off some of the steam that's been building up in me."

"Alright, that sounds like old Dick shining through, finally." Dinah said before squeezing his shoulder.

He gave her a weak smile and nodded. "I try."

Raven swallowed as she watched Starfire step into the turbolift and adjust the strange blue-white armor she wore. Still, it was definitely an improvement over the clothing she'd seen her wearing in the videos, but it retained the same skin tight nature, despite its armored appearance.

How they could still move with such clothing on, Raven didn't know. After a moment she glanced at Starfire. "How are you feeling?"

"I am uncertain, it has been some time since I have undergone any sort of... test of my abilities." She said. "Why are you asking for Dick to be with me?"

"We're hoping the experience will jog your memories... the two of you have fought alongside each other before." Raven said nervously. "Plus, you once told me that your powers rely on your emotions... how you're able to use them at all in your current state I can't imagine."

"I am uncertain what you mean..." Starfire said quietly as the turbolift stopped and hissed open. "I have engaged many in combat alongside Roy and Jason without any problem... save for a single incident fighting the one called Crux."

"What happened?" Raven asked.

"Crux utilized an old slaving device to temporarily neutralize my powers... unfortunately for him, the modifications made to me by the Psion experiments allowed me to regain them given a short rest." Starfire observed.

Raven nodded. "Alright." She followed Starfire out into the middle of an immense circular chamber lined with sensors, cameras, holoprojectors, and hidden dispensers for training equipment, robots, and other challenges.

Black Canary and Dick turned to greet them as they approached. "Wow... nice kit, when did you get that Starfire?" Dick asked.

"It is a Tamarnian battle suit, unlike your earth clothes, it was specifically designed to allow the energy of the sun through to my skin, keeping my powers charged." Starfire said.

"So it's like an armored version of that 'solar suit' Superboy had." Dick said. "Nice..."

"I am unfamiliar with what you speak of." Starfire said. "I am told we are to work together then?"

Dick nodded. "Yes... hopefully it'll be like old times."

"I would not know." She said.

A loud speaker overhead crackled to life and Raven glanced toward the monitoring station. The hard voice of Batman echoed in the chamber. "Black Canary, Raven clear out... we're about to start."

Dick swallowed. With Bruce at the controls, there was no way they'd be going easy on us.

"Hell." Dick said as he pulled he set himself and pulled a set of bird-a-rangs out.

"Why are you cursing friend Dick?" Starfire asked.

"Activating chamber." Bruce's voice echoed overhead and Dick spun as two heavy robots clambered out of a recessed panel in the floor. Their camera lens turned toward him and he swore as bolt of golden energy shot from one of their trunk sized arms.

He rolled out of the way and hurled his bird-a-rangs at the closer foe. The weapons struck it in the middle of the arm, and an explosion blew it off. With an electronic roar it lifted the second arm to attack him.

Then the entire robot disappeared as a purple blast of energy enveloped it. Energy shields built into the walls flared to life as the robot detonated sending tiny bits of itself in all directions.

"Jesus." Dick said as he turned to see Starfire standing in the middle of the chamber, one arm outstretched to the second mech. A purple bolt leapt from her hand and tore the vehicle apart from a single hit.

Dick gaped as she lowered her arm and glanced around in confusion. "I was informed that this would be a difficult exam."

Cyborg swore as he looked up from the monitoring console. "She... she blasted straight through em, the energy shields barely absorbed the blast Batman."

Batman nodded. "Well, then we'll have to treat her as a tougher opponent then." He tapped the controls and pursed his lips, scrolling through the different settings. "We have to challenge them if we're to get any real result."

"You don't get it! Starfire is going all out, full power. She never used to deliver that much force." Cyborg snapped.

"No finesse or control... just max power or nothing?" Raven asked.

"Activating K01 program." The computer stated and Cyborg swallowed.

"What is it?" Raven snapped.

Cyborg stared back at her. "That... that's Superman's training program, lowest setting."

Another pair of mechs shot out from the storage compartment. Dick rolled aside from a blast of golden energy that scorched the metal plating beneath the shields. His eyes went wide as he saw that and he hurled a bird-a-rang toward the robot.

It bounced harmlessly off an energy shield and he swore. "Fuck! Shields?"

"You are useless, are you not?" Starfire said before unleashing a blast. The purple bolt exploded against the shield filling the room with sparks and smoke. She lowered her hand and smiled. "Feeble machines."

Then the robot burst from the smoke and slammed her with a swipe of the arm. As she tumbled through the air, purple energy enveloped her body and she burst into motion hurtling like a javelin toward the mech. The bang she smashed into the massive robot and knocked it back to the ground. With a yank she pulled her fist from it's electronic innards.

Then an energy blast slammed into her still glowing form, tossing her across the room and into a wall. The purple light that enveloped her before was gone and she tumbled forward with a groan.

"Star! Starfire!" Dick yelled and scrambled toward her. A whine filled the air and he glanced over his shoulder to see the second mech aiming it's canon toward him. With a snarl he rolled away from blast. When another one followed he somersaulted clear and felt a slight smile slip across his lips.

The adrenaline of the fight was beginning to kick in and override the pain in his chest and omnipresent guilt. As he hit the deck he tossed to bird-a-rangs and watched them bounce futilely off the shields the shields. He swore again. "Starfire! Get up!"

A low groan came from where she lay and he saw her stagger to her feet. He nodded to himself and dodged another energy blast before running straight toward the mech.

He pulled a collapsible pike out and extended it before slamming it into the ground and using it to propel himself up over the massive mech. He somersaulted over the robot and dropped it to a crouch behind it. As it lumbered to face him he yelled. "Star, blast it!"

She did, with probably ten times the force that was required. Two brilliant purple bolts lanced from her palms and into back of the robot. It disappeared in a blinding flash of light and the shockwave tossed Dick onto his back. He stared up at the ceiling dazed for a moment before glancing back at the robot.

All that was left were two carbon scored feet and black mark on the plating it had stood upon.

"Jesus... Star." Dick said. "Be more careful! You could have killed me, use less power!"

Starfire blinked and a look of total confusion slipped across her face. "But... I can not, I do not know how."

He gaped at her. "I've seen you stun people with starbolts... it took practice, but you could control it."

"How?"

"No control..." Raven whispered as Batman disengaged the training program and stood. "How... how can she even wield her powers at all?"

"I don't know... it's almost like she's forcing them somehow." Cyborg said. "It's like she only has two settings, on or off."

"And when she's at full power, she can vaporize a shielded droid designed challenge Superman." Raven said quietly. "What does this mean?"

Batman scowled to himself. "It means, she's even more dangerous than I thought."