The Breaking Wheel

"You and me have a disease..."
-From "Infected", by Bad Religion


Cyborg quickly cut through Starfire’s top and handed the blood soaked garment to Raven who dumped it into a trash can next to the bed. Cyborg’s shoulder-light flipped up casting an intense beam onto Starfire’s chest, the light made the blood and the edges of the wound look almost black. About an inch deep into the wound he could see the base of the bullet and his electronic eye measured it to be point forty-fifths of an inch. Nasty stuff.

“The bullet didn’t pass all the way through, I’m going to try to pull it out without cutting her open.” Cyborg said, “Forceps.”

Raven placed the forceps into his hand and took a step closer to watch, an innate curiosity driving her to witness something she had never before seen. Somehow she had expected more, there was only the nickel sized hole and a bit of blood. Nothing so dramatic as in the action movies that Cyborg and Beast Boy sometimes brought home, and nothing even close to some of their video games. The sight of Starfire’s naked breasts did cause an unexpected blush but that was easily blocked out and she again concentrated on the operation.

Cyborg carefully guided the forceps in and grasped the edges of the bullet, stopping to take a deep breath before extracting it. There was an awful drawn out sucking sound as he slowly pulled the bullet out to prevent further damage and when it was finally clear he deposited it on the edge of the metal tray that held the other surgical instruments.

“There doesn’t seem to be any damage to any arteries or veins or major organ systems,” Cyborg said, “do you think you can heal her from here Raven?”

“I could try,” Raven said, taken a bit by surprise by the request, “I’ve never tried to heal a serious wound though.”

“I just want to try to avoid giving her stitches, if you can’t its okay.” Cyborg said.

Raven nodded and moved beside Starfire, taking a deep breath she placed her hand gently on Starfire’s chest with her palm covering the wound. She was only a little uncomfortable, after all this was the most intimately she had ever touched another person in any situation. Closing her eyes she began to channel her emotions, picturing tissue and flesh growing back together. Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos...blood bubbled up from the wound as it pulled itself shut, the skin sticking and melting together leaving no trace of what had happened. Raven removed her hand, a little surprised with herself that she had been able to do it.

“Alright Raven ” Cyborg said, a bit of his personality coming back to him as his neural circuits began to deactivate, “I knew you could do it.”

Raven, caught slightly off guard as she was by most compliments, quickly changed the subject, “So, is this it?” she gestured toward Starfire, “Is there anything else we need to do for her?”

Cyborg glanced over, “There isn’t much we can do, other than hope that she wakes up soon so she can tell us who did this.”

“So she’s going to be okay?” Raven asked.

Cyborg nodded, “Her vitals are picking back up quickly, brain waves are normal for her species...honestly the bullet didn’t even do that much damage.”

“So...there was no reason for me to lose control like I did?” Raven felt a dismal embarrassment creep onto her shoulders.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself Raven,” Cyborg said, putting a hand on her shoulder, “you reacted like anyone else would have, probably faster thanks to your control. Star was dying when you brought her in, if it wasn’t for you the bed sheet would be pulled over her head by now.”

Raven felt a dip in her stomach at that thought but nodded and managed a small smile, “Thanks.”

“Hey, no problem, its what I’m here for.” Cyborg said, “Now I’m going to tell Robin and Beast Boy that Starfire’s gonna be okay and you’re going to put her in one of those gowns and tuck her into bed, I figure after being shot even she could use some rest.”

Raven opened her mouth to protest but Cyborg was already on his way out the door, “Yes, you handle the awkward job of telling them our friend is going to be just fine, I’ll handle dressing her.” She said to herself, already feeling uncomfortable.

She knew that she lacked the physical strength to lift Starfire’s body again so instead she used her powers to lift the Tamaranean girl, quickly stripping her of her long boots and skirt, before attempting to struggle the cloth gown around Starfire. Raven had nearly completed her task, though she was in awkward positioning being half on the bed and with Starfire’s limp arms around her, when she heard a voice.

“I am glad for your hug of affection, friend Raven, but why are you dressing me in such strange clothes?” Starfire asked, sounding no worse for the wear as she tightened her arms around Raven.

Raven blushed as her face was nearly crushed against Starfire’s chest. The empath could literally feel the other girl’s skin through the paper thin, though thankfully opaque, hospital gown. Raven tried to pry herself loose and answer Starfire but she was trapped and could only manage a few muffled words into Starfire’s right breast.

“Though as you rarely share your affections with me, I am joyous at whatever custom this is.” Starfire said, giving the smaller girl another squeeze.

Being caught in Starfire’s crushing, though loving, grip wasn’t all that bad it was just when Raven heard the door open and Beast Boy snicker that she realized whatever was left of the day was going to be extremely long.

It was just past nine o’clock when a knock on her door interrupted Raven’s meditations. She opened her eyes slowly, even through the door she could feel the energetic waves of happiness pouring off of Starfire. Raven descended from her perch above her bed and made her way across the room figuring that Starfire was here to tell her dinner was ready. After Starfire had regained consciousness Raven found herself quickly fading into the background as the other Titans crowded around. A bit jealous of them for stealing Starfire’s attention away, a strange thing for her to feel, Raven had stayed around only long enough to find out what had happened before excusing herself to her room.

Starfire didn’t remember much, only that a rather tall man dressing “in the Gothic” had pointed a strange device at her before the feeling of being struck hard in the chest and unconsciousness. After explaining to her what had happened Robin had, of course, wanted to tear the city apart looking for her assailant but was reminded by Beast Boy and Cyborg that there were thousands in Jump City who owned guns and that a reckless search would only waste time. Robin had finally relented, still swearing to find the person who attacked Starfire and personally pistol whip him with his own weapon. That had been the point at which Raven had left, desperately needing to clear her mind after the day’s events as well as escape the thick fog of emotions pouring from everyone in the small room.

Raven opened her door only enough for her face to be seen, “Yes, Starfire?”

“May I come in, friend Raven?” Starfire asked.

The unexpected request took Raven by surprise but she opened the door wider, “Uh, sure...just don’t touch anything.”

Raven stepped aside to allow Starfire entry and quickly shut the door behind her. When the pretty Tamaranean girl didn’t say anything for the next fifteen seconds Raven began to worry, Starfire was usually never quiet for this long.

“Are you...”

Raven’s inquiry died on her lips when Starfire dropped to her knees and placed her forehead against the toes of Raven’s boots.

“Most glorious friend!” Starfire enthusiastically said into the floor, “How shall I serve you? How shall I repay my...” at this point Starfire seemed to struggle with her words, trying to find an English approximation, “...repay my life-debt?” It was close enough to what she was trying to say.

Raven could only stare in shock, all words escaping her. Response wasn’t necessary though as Starfire began to suggest things.

“I could serve your meals to you while you remain in the bed, or I could carry objects that you require so they are not your burden, or I could sing to you while you are getting ready for sleep, or I could scrub the parts you can not easily reach while you bathe...”

The last suggestion snapped Raven from her speechless state, “Starfire, please get up.” Raven said, no longer confused. The practice of life-debts was fairly common throughout the cultures of the universe.

Starfire immediately stood, waiting intently for command.

“I appreciate the sentiment Starfire, but it really isn’t necessary, I only did what any of your friends would have done.” Raven said, “We’ve all saved each other at one time or another.”

“No, this is different!” Starfire said, her green eyes fairly glittering, “We are together when we protect one another in the battles, I was alone! Cyborg told me of how you appeared with me and how you helped to heal me from the toxic projectile I had been wounded with.”

“Toxic?” Raven asked, an eyebrow raising slightly, though it would explain why Starfire had been near death from what Cyborg had essentially said was a superficial wound.

“Yes the metal that the...bullet was made from is extremely toxic to Tamaraneans, as I said, most glorious friend Raven, you saved my life!”

Raven held up her hands, “Again, I only did what any of your friends would have done Starfire. I was meditating when I felt a surge of emotion from you, I found you and brought you back here, Cyborg did most of the actual saving, I just closed up the wound.”

Starfire began to protest again but Raven cut her off, “I don’t need you to do anything for me, you don’t need to serve me, okay?”

Starfire’s smile faded and the shift in her emotions was felt immediately, “I understand Raven, I thank you again for saving my life.” She began to float somewhat listlessly toward the door, “Oh yes, I was to tell you that we have ordered the pizza for dinner and it will be here soon.”

With that Starfire left Raven’s meditative efforts of the past hour nearly meaningless. Somehow Raven had direly upset her friend, judging from the emotional shift it was almost as if Raven had said that she no longer wanted to be friends with Starfire. The small empath shook her head lightly, calming herself before her own emotions were thrown out of balance. She would fix everything after dinner when she could talk to Starfire privately again. For now though she was nearly starving and pizza did sound good.

Opening her door she found Cyborg just outside, poised to knock, “Yes?” she asked, unfazed at finding him there.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that,” Cyborg said, speaking of Raven’s uncanny ability to answer her door just before someone actually knocked on it, “but I just saw Starfire go down the hall looking like someone had just told her that her pet had died, you know what’s up?”

Raven sighed, the question was not accusatory only concerned, “Yeah, that would be my fault,” Cyborg was the only other Titan Raven felt comfortable enough to confide in other than Starfire, “she wanted me to make her repay a life-debt for saving her, but I didn’t feel such a thing was needed, its what any of us would have done.”

Cyborg nodded, “That’s true Raven but without you she would be dead, give yourself some credit.” He tousled her hair in a brotherly gesture that Raven didn’t mind, though she didn’t respond to it, “And as far as the life-debt thing goes, by refusing to let Star repay you, you basically told her that she wasn’t a good enough or close enough friend to repay a debt to you.”

The grinding wheel came back down, hard. Raven sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging, she really had hurt Starfire and in turn herself. She just couldn’t win today.

“Hey, come on now, you didn’t know,” Cyborg said, easily reading the depression from Raven’s body language, “and I know you’re not the type to be exactly comfortable with it, but just pick something for the girl to do and she’ll be back to being annoyingly happy in no time.”

Raven looked up at him, about to say that he was blessedly more mature than the other two boys and that he wasn’t completely useless in attempts to make her feel better but then he opened his mouth.

“And if you decide to let her wash your back, remember to take pictures.” A grin split his face.

“What? How did you know she said that?” Raven yelled, small black sparks flickering through the air.

Cyborg’s playful grin turned into a nervous one, “Its common between Tamaranean females.” Noticing that Raven’s withering stare was getting darker he began to retreat down the hall, “Well, I’m sure the pizza’s here by now, see you downstairs!”

“Ugh...boys.” Was all Raven was able to say before she slipped into a pool of shadow.

Rising up from the kitchen floor Raven saw that the room was devoid of pizza as well as the others though she found the latter when she ventured into the living room. Everyone was on the couch staring blankly at some mindless show and hadn’t noticed her enter. Quietly she made her way across the room and sat next to Starfire on the couch, casting a sidelong glance at the girl. Starfire sat dejectedly, head down and hands folded in her lap and Raven felt a stab of guilt. Just as she was about to speak though a red light began flashing on a console underneath the large screen that doubled as a TV and sort of video phone.

“Man, if that’s the pizza guy again asking what tofu is...” Beast Boy grumbled as he got off the couch and flipped a switch underneath the flashing red light.

“Well hello dear Titans, sorry to call so very late.” It was most decidedly not the pizza boy.

At the sound of the vaguely familiar voice Starfire looked up and nearly screamed, “That is the one who attacked me! But I do not know who the other person is.”

Robin was on his feet immediately, “Who are you?”

The two young men on screen could have been brothers by their similar looks, slender, pale skin, delicate features and blood red hair.

“One moment if you please, Robin, we will get to that, but first an apology is in order I believe.” The one with long braids said.

“Yes, Miss Starfire, we are indeed sorry,” his companion continued, “had we know it was you, we would not have attacked.”

“We are new to this city,” the first one started again, “and we were in too much of a rush to start things. Truly our mistake.”

“Oh but again, we are ahead of ourselves Titans and I believe Robin had a question for us,” the man with shorter, spiked hair said and without waiting for Robin to repeat himself continued on, “I am Malakai and this is Mortekai.”

There was a moment of confused silence between the Titans before Robin spoke, “What do you want with us?”

Mortekai’s ghostly smile grew a tiny bit, “Inquisitive and direct, such the detective you are Robin but I’m afraid that question isn’t answered so easily.”

“If it can even be answered by us,” Malakai said, “in the end I fear you will have to answer that for yourself.”

“That doesn’t make sense!” Robin stepped closer to the screen, he was not in the mood for cryptic answers, “Just tell us what’s going on, why you shot Starfire, and why you bothered to contact us or leave us alone, I’m not in the mood for word games.”

Mortekai and Malakai both looked as if they were about to snap at Robin but quickly recovered, “It’s the Breaking Wheel, dear Titans, and as you are about to witness its lessons are harsh.”

The screen went blank for a second before coming back to life with a different image, this one a wide angle shot of Mortekai and Malakai inside a cavernous building, their backs to each other and pistols drawn in each hand. At first it was unclear what they were doing, their heads snapping back and forth at random as if following something only they could see.

“This was, of course, recorded earlier dear Titans.” Mortekai’s voice announced.

“Do pay close attention to your first lesson.” Malakai added to the voice over.

Suddenly a red and yellow blur passed in front of whatever camera had recorded the action and recognition dawned on Cyborg, “Its Kid Flash!”

“Very good, Cyborg, but please, no talking during class.” Mortekai said.

On screen Mortekai and Malakai continued to follow the blur that circled erratically around them. Neither moved only seeming to be waiting for something to happen.

“You can’t really expect to hit me can you?” came Kid Flash’s voice, “I’m pretty sure I can out run a bullet!”

“The most important thing to remember when firing at a moving target is to lead it, aim at where it is going to be.” Malakai said on voice over.

The Malakai and Mortekai in the recording suddenly sprang to life, both shifting positions quickly and then firing rapidly into open air, all four guns sending out a hail of lead. For a brief moment it seemed as if they were only wasting ammo but then the red and yellow blur that was Kid Flash turned into a wildly tumbling mass, crashing over and over itself half the length of the large room before coming to rest in a heap. The view zoomed in close to the body of Kid Flash, blood spraying wildly from several bullet wounds and compound fractures.

The Titans could only watch in horror as Mortekai and Malakai calmly walked over to the fallen teen, both simply standing over him for a moment. Malakai’s arm whipped upward and a slender knife was suddenly planted in the middle of Kid Flash’s forehead, and the honorary Titan was no more. The screen went blank again for a brief moment and then Mortekai and Malakai were back.

“Study well, dear Titans.” Mortekai said.

The screen went back to the show the Titans had been watching before as the transmission was cut. None of them spoke but after a moment Starfire began to sob quietly and Raven found herself putting an arm around the girl’s shoulders and pulling her close. Starfire buried her face underneath Raven’s cloak and continued to cry as Raven lightly stroked the back of her head. The silence continued on, no one sure what to say or do until a voice finally broke through.

“And I thought Slade was evil...” Beast Boy trailed off, words failing even him.