Before I begin, I feel I should say thank you to the wonderful people who reviewed, followed, favorited, and waited ever so patiently for this chapter. I'm not entirely happy with it, but I've had limited laptop access as of late and don't know when I'll get it again, so I'm just going to publish this as is.
Please please please feel free to review, even with harsh comments. Nobody will hurt my feelings:P
Also, as a little update, if you've noticed, I haven't included a disclaimer on my chapters so far. If you are interested in reading my disclaimer, please go to my profile. This will be the only time I mention it, so don't complain.
Anywho, here it is! Try to enjoy!
The screen went black, casting the dark girl farther into the shadows that littered the steel room she sat in. Only the whirr of the computer selecting a memory to display accompanied her thoughts, which were plagued by the great damage she could cause when let loose.
The human hand of her computerized friend lay limp, but still warm, in her hand. The tension which had built up in the minutes before his present slumber had been released. His brow no longer was furrowed, his eyes no longer painfully open, his head no longer pounding to the beat of a silent drum. The cyber parts of the metal man were just as dormant, albeit not as apparently so.
It was as though he would wake at any moment, and the empath guarding his side was determined to be there when he did.
A quick rapping of knuckles on the door brought Raven out of her stupor. "It's open," she informed the (somewhat unwanted) guest in the quietest tone she could still be heard in.
The woosh of airlocks being released and re-sealed behind the Tameranian perfectly expressed what the girl herself could not; the feeling of opening a horrible wound that, though sealed, would forever change the air in the room beyond. In her hands, two steaming mugs were carefully grasped, as to ensure their safe passage.
"Hello, friend Raven," Starfire began rather timidly, "I brought you the tea of the herbs... perhaps you would enjoy my company in your quest to ensure the proper down facing of friend Cyborg's experiences?" Her hopeful green eyes prompted the tiniest of smiles from Raven as she nodded and gratefully accepted the tea.
"Friend Beast Boy is doing much better now..." the alien claimed, "he says of himself to be the 'peachy'. Friend Robin tells me this is a good thing on this planet..." Raven nodded and pulled her hood up around her shame-ridden face and declined to comment on the subject.
Starfire, to her credit, left Raven to her thoughts until the screen began to showcase the second memory. This time, a far older scene had been chosen.
"Mama, I don't wanna eat my vegie-tables..." an 8 year old Cyborg complained, "I wanna eat cake..."
"Honey, you know you have to eat your veritable if you want cake," a plump woman with flour on her jaw and all over her flower-printed apron cooed.
"Well, if I don't eat any cake, do I have to eat any vegie-tables?"
"Yes, dear. Now no more complaining. I don't know what's gotten into you today, but you aught'a know you have to eat all of your vegetables if you wanna leave the table."
"But Mama!"
"No buts, Victor!"
Uh oh, Mama said Victor... I bet Imma be in troubleeeeeeee... the little boy's mind explained.
"Yes, mama," he said hastily in an attempt to save himself from whatever trouble his mother decided he was in. After scarfing down the remains of his peas and creamed spinach, the small Victor was permitted to be excused from the table, and he went to watch some cartoons on the living room television set. No sooner had his rear end hit the floor than he heard his father, a tall, handsome, and stern man come home.
The gentleman took off his hat and bellowed "Susan, where are you?". After her reply, he quickly made his way to the kitchen, just next door to the living room, and began quietly conversing with her.
"He eaten yet?"
"Yeah..." a moment of silence from Mrs. Stone, followed by, "Are you sure we're doing the right thing, Robert?"
"Don't worry, honey, he'll be fine! I even developed the parts myself!"
"I know, I know, but still... he's just such a healthy and happy boy. Why not at least wait until he's older, and he can choose to test out your parts?"
"Susan, we've been over this."
"Yes but... it just that I don't like the idea of our son being a lab rat, especially not so young!"
"Susan, you knew when we had him that he was going to be testing out the parts! We talked about it for weeks to make sure it was what we wanted! Don't tell me you've gotten attached to him!" His wife lowered her eyes in submission, then promptly lifted them back up to meet his scathing gaze.
"No, I just want to make sure it's still fine to rest on both of our heads until we're dead and gone."
The man considered the validity of her statement, then nodded. "Alright, well you put the dose in his spinach right?"
"Yes," came her curt reply.
"And he ate it all?" After hearing her confirmation, he continued, "Excellent. He'll be out in a couple of hours and probably won't wake up for at least 72 hours while we do the operation." After a long pause, he resumed, "After all these years, we're finally on the brink of a scientific and medical breakthrough: developing prosthetic limbs. Just think of it, Susan! He won't have to have the parts replaced as he gets taller or larger or anything! They'll just develop with him! And with all the weaponry and life sustaining and improving technology we put on those parts, he'll be a super hero by the time he's 20!"
"God, I just can't believe my boy is going to be the first ever Cyborg... I'm so proud of you darling! It's so funny. If someone had told me a decade ago that I'd have the first cyborg kid, I'd have asked what medication they were on!" The pair laughed and shared a kiss.
In the adjacent living room, Victor Stone, who was far more intelligent, clever, and observant than his eight year life span would indicate, was peering around the corner with tears in his bright blue eyes. He'd heard the entire discussion, and after hearing of his father's controversial work ever since he was old enough to understand basic English, he knew exactly what a cyborg was.
Mommy and Daddy wanna make me a robot? Why don't they love me like me? Why do I have ta' be a robot? I wanna be Victor...
The screen dimmed for a moment, causing Raven, who sat with her hand over her mouth in horror, to start, as she was afraid the file wasn't uploading properly. Her worry was for naught, as the screen came to life after only a few seconds. Early on, Starfire had left the room, realizing that, as a memory from before Cyborg was, well, a cyborg, was not something she was entitled to see.
Cyborg slowly and groggily opened his eyes and peered around him. He realized that he was in his father's massive lab, where the young boy had visited often. Upon attempting to sit up, he realized he was strapped to the hospital bed beneath him. He thrashed about in an act of sheer terror as his father, who upon closer inspection was far older than many would have originally thought, came into the new robot's view, causing him to immediately cease all movement.
Only one thought ran through the boys head, as he knew what had become of him, and he spoke it aloud.
"Daddy, am I Victor now?"
"No son. You're Cyborg."
"Daddy, do you love me now?"
"Yes, son. I do."
So, any and all comments, reviews, followings, favoritism, and the like shall be accepted! As stated before the chapter, I don't mind negative reviews and I'd adore some constructive criticism. Thanks a billion and I hope you like it!
P.S. I realize that this was not the story of how Cyborg became Cyborg in the comics or the show, but I really felt this would add a more touching and deeper element to the story, as Raven would now be the only one trusted with the secret that his parents made him a cyborg for their own gain.