Titans Go!

Scene 14: Sisters Part Ways

If Raven had not called and said she had gone to Star City to get Speedy out of danger, Oracle would have been worried by her absence. Then she had just been contacted by Nightwing, who said he and the others were heading back to the tower.

However, the anxiety Oracle had been feeling moments before returned when Nightwing had reported Starfire missing. As he had requested, she was now in the computer room, trying to find out what could have happened to her. She had just started attempting to gain access to a satellite orbiting the west hemisphere of the planet when she heard a special news report being broadcasted.

According to the reporter, an incident had just occurred at the city's boxing stadium. Details were still vague, but six unconscious bodies had been found and taken into police custody. From what the security cameras had shown before being destroyed was they had attempted to murder Alexander Hawkins and his daughter. Yet no one knew what had stopped them, or injured them so badly.

Oracle knew, though. Those guys were H.I.V.E. agents, and Brother Blood had sent them to kill Hawkins because to unbalance Starfire. Who knew where Starfire had gone now.

That was when she heard the sound of footsteps in the tower. Leaving the computer, she made her way to the main corridor and found Nightwing by himself, no sign anyone else. She had not been expecting to see Raven return with them yet, but she had hoped the others would be with him.

"Dick, Dick, what happened?" she asked frantically. "What happened to everyone?" Nightwing was breathing heavily. He was so tired, he didn't stop himself falling to his knees as he set down a gun on his back and took a flash drive out of his pocket. "What are those?" Oracle asked, suddenly distracted.

"That can wait," said Nightwing. "Raven's still at Star City. She called and said she would stay with Speedy until he woke up so she could explain what had happened to him. Cyborg and Beast Boy just called back. They're on their way here now." He stared into Oracle's eyes then asked his old friend, "Have you got any news on Starfire."

Oracle's skinned paled as she replied, "Dick, I think you should see this."

***

The drive back to the Hawkins house seemed to last an eternity. As they got closer to their home, Starfire could think of nothing else except about what she had just done. Although Jennifer and her dad was still alive, what she had done to save them continued to haunt her.

She had been full of so much rage when she had flown to save them. But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst of it was she had allowed that rage, that hatred, to guide her. She had allowed it to take control, with disastrous consequences.

She knew she had come close to killing those men. Perhaps they did deserve what had happened to them. They were evil, but the manner in which she had fought them terrified her.

She had no idea what to expect when they pulled up in front of the house. She was afraid of what she was about to hear when they went inside. She was aware of Jennifer leading her inside. She did not resist, because all the fight had left her ever since they had left the boxing stadium.

When Starfire finally looked up, Jennifer had seated both of them on her dad's couch. Mr. Hawkins had seated himself in front of them in his armchair. His expression was hard to read, so Starfire stared at the floor again.

"Before you say anything, Mr. Hawkins," said Starfire, aware she was still crying, "I just want to tell you I am sorry for what I have done. I will not justify what I did back there. All I was thinking about was saving you and Jennifer. I never meant to go that far. I am so very sorry."

Mr. Hawkins leaned forward and placed a hand on her leg. "Starfire, will you please look at me." When Starfire met his gaze, she was surprised to see no anger in his eyes, just sadness. "I want you to understand I know why you did that, and I want to thank you for saving us."