Disclaimer: I own nothing but the storyline and any original characters. Everything else belongs to DC Comics.
Chapter Nineteen:
"More gang members?" Robin asks with an easy smile as he grabs Asteriel's hand. She shrugs. "They provoked me. Hey, do you know anything about this Jinx girl? Word on the street is that she's worked for both sides of the law."
Robin glances at the white-haired girl. "Jinx was undercover for the good guys while working with the HIVE. She's Raven's half-sister. Recently she decided to leave the Tower and become a vigilante. Why? Have you heard from her? It's been a few weeks since she contacted us and Cyborg's been getting worried."
Asteriel looks at him worried. "Jinx disappeared two weeks ago, Robin. No one's seen or heard from her! We're getting worried. Our circles intertwine. Most vigilantes aren't really vigilantes, y'know? We think she may've been captured by Slade."
Robin drops her hand in shock. Captured by Slade? Wouldn't he have done something for ransom by now? Of course he would've. Slade isn't the type to let something go like this!
"Can't be Slade," he tells her. "Slade wouldn't take this long to try and manipulate something out of us. Probably Raven as Jinx is her sister. In fact, I'm sure it would be Raven he try and manipulate. Either Raven or Cyborg, but Raven seems to be more Slade's… type."
Asteriel surprises him by busting up laughing. Her peals of laughter are so strong that tears fall from her crystalline eyes. "I can't believe you just called Raven Slade's type!"
"What?" He demands. "No! No! That isn't what I meant!" He waves his hands frantically, trying to explain what he'd meant so as to not describe anything else in a manner that would be far too suggestive and inappropriate.
"Of course it isn't what you meant. Anyway, I'm thinking it may've been Slade. Jinx isn't the type to just run off, Robin. In fact, I'm positive it's Slade. Maybe he didn't know enough about Jinx's connections to the team to begin any plans?"
"Maybe," Robin agrees hesitantly, "but I don't think it's him."
The news Robin brings back sends the Tower into disarray. Raven and Rorek immediately begin looking for ways to locate her while Cyborg interrogates Robin. He insists that Robin bring Asteriel over so that he can ask Asteriel everything she knows. Moments later, Cyborg is also questioning Robin's female friend.
When he realizes Asteriel doesn't know anymore than she told Robin, he walks away and begins pacing the common area.
"Have you tried tracing her yet?" Cyborg demands. Rorek and Raven sit on the couch, a map between them. "That's what we're trying to do," Rorek growls, "but your badgering is interrupting the scrying process!"
Cyborg suddenly shuts up, allowing Raven and Rorek to work.
"Thank Azar."
Raven's magic flows through the crystal. Rorek's eyes narrow in concentration. The chain flings back and forth, the crystal flying all over the map. Raven frowns when the crystal flies from her hand, the chain slicing her palm in the process.
The sorceress curses, biting her lip to keep her control. Rorek immediately grabs her hand and murmurs healing spells. "Are you okay?" He asks her. He kissed her palm, looking up into large eyes. "Yes," she murmurs, "but we have to cleanse the crystal now. We can't use it once it's been contaminated."
Rorek nods. "I know, my Raven, but we need to see why it reacted like that."
Raven looks to where the crystal landed, and sees it embedded in the middle of the control screen. "Cyborg, pull up an international map on that screen. Don't make any adjustments to it, just pull up the map."
The distressed half-robot basically ran to the computer. Seconds later a map of the world shows up. Raven walks up to it and looks at where the crystal landed. She raises an eyebrow. "Robin, contact Titans East. Jinx is in Steel City."
AN: I know, it's short. I know, it's a cliffhanger. Nothing more need be said.