The wind felt good blowing against his face, even if it was mostly metallic. The Titan's human eye wandered to the sea. It wasn't a hard angle, considering the road he was driving on was conveniently situated right beside the ocean. The sun was just now beginning to rise and fill the sky and water with bright oranges and yellows. After driving almost all night, it was a welcome sight.

He had turned his music off hours ago and just listened to the sounds of the wind as it soared through his mechanical ears. It had been so long since the accident that he couldn't even remember if the wind sounded like this to a normal ear. It sure didn't sound abnormal to him now. In fact, it was quite calming.

Although he didn't want to admit, it Cyborg needed this. He needed a ride in his car; he needed the calm and the quiet. It had been only a few days since Beastboy and Raven were taken, but they had been the worst days in Cyborg's life by far. The tower, the ship, everything he had built and spent his life on had been all but destroyed in a single day and, on top of that now, all of his friends were gone, too.

Cyborg's hands subconsciously gripped his steering wheel tighter as he made a turn on a particularly narrow bend in the road. He turned his eyes away from the rising sun to focus entirely on his driving.

He never felt more useless than he did now. Beastboy had been taken right under his nose. He always tried to show off how great he was, giving his younger teammates someone to look up to. Yet he couldn't even protect his best friend when it mattered. He couldn't stop Blackfire from destroying their tower and taking Raven. He couldn't stop Starfire from going after her sister alone...and he couldn't stop Robin from going after her.

Cyborg rolled up his window as he stepped harder on the gas pedal.

Why couldn't I have said anything? Why couldn't I do anything?

Fixit's face bore into his head. He thought he had changed him, thought he had helped him.

Why did I fail? Why couldn't I help...anybody?

The sudden alarm on his car's dashboard broke Cyborg from his dark thoughts. Keeping his human eye on the road, he pressed a button near where the small red light was flashing. Immediately, a screen revealed itself in a previously blank space on the dash, a panicked looking Aqualad appearing on the screen moments later.

"Cyborg! Where are you?!"

Sparing Aqualad a confused glance, Cyborg one again moved his human eye back on the road. "I'm on my way to you guys right now, shouldn't be longer than another hour or so." 

Aqualad rubbed a hand over his face and looked over at something off screen; it seemed like he wasn't even listening. 

"What's the deal? What's happened?"

"Someone broke into the tower and attacked Bumblebee; she's really banged up..." Aqualad answered after a moment, still looking off screen. Cyborg had to fight the sudden urge to turn both eyes back to the screen.

"What?! Who broke in? Was anyone else hurt?

"Mas and Menos are looking over the security videos now. That Kid Flash guy was there too, but I think he was just knocked out. But... Cyborg..."

Cyborg was forced to turn his eyes to the screen then due to the sudden urgency in Aqualad's voice. Aqualad was looking directly back at Cyborg now, his two black eyes looking much more menacing than usual.

"Whoever did this stole the ship as well."

"What!" Cyborg exclaimed, taking a stronger hold on the wheel and forcing his normal eye back on the road as he started to swerve. "I thought the thing wasn't even fit to fly yet! How did this happen?!"

"Hey, give us some credit, Cyborg," Aqualad answered with a weak attempt at a smile. "We aren't as dense as you might think, the ship just had its engines put in last night so it could fly, but..."

"But?"

"Whoever took the ship is making a one way trip. There's no way the engines will last long at the stage we left them in."

Cyborg focused both eyes on the road then, lost in thought for a moment. Finally, he let out a single sigh before turning his mechanical eye back to the small screen. "Alright...Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can. Just make sure that Bumblebee and the others are gonna be okay. I'll take care of the ship."

"Cyborg?"

"I gotta go."

And with that, Cyborg pressed the same button near the screen; the picture of Aqualad's concerned face vanishing into static. The Titan let out a sigh as he kept his finger against the button.

Just one more time.

Just one more time he wished he could feel the breeze. Just for one more moment he wished everything was the way it should be.

"Calling Titan's East Ship, Code: Cybee118."

He released his finger from the button as static continued to buzz on the screen. It was a long shot that the person who just jacked the ship from him would answer. But it was still worth a--

"Hey, Cyborg," Jinx  answered, her face filling the screen.

"Jinx? Wha-?"

"Don't ask what. You know what."

Jinx spoke in deadpanned words, her eyes focused somewhere off screen, reminding Cyborg of Raven. Those kinds of thoughts he had been trying very hard to ignore. Just thinking about them--

"Okay, then, why? Why did you take Titan's East ship-- my ship? Where are you taking it?"

Jinx didn't answer for awhile as Cyborg drove on down the quiet road, the sun rising ever higher. Finally, with a sigh, she said, "I'm going to save them."

"...Raven and Beastboy?" Cyborg had to ask, even though he was suddenly sure what the answer was. 

Jinx chuckled dryly in response. "If that's what you want to think, then sure."

"...What's going on with you, Jinx? Aqualad said you attacked Bumblebee...and Kid Fla--"

"They got in my way, simple as that."

"Don't give me that!" Cyborg  shot, both eyes momentarily glaring at the screen. Jinx still didn't look back at him. "You helped us defeat the Brotherhood; Kid Flash said you had changed! Robin trusted you...I trusted you! What happened that made you suddenly change your mind again?!"

No answer.

"Jinx..." Cyborg tried to calm his temper, saying her name slowly, "I'm putting in an override to the ship. You are gonna have to come back and explain to all of us about what's going on."

The pink trickster closed her eyes for a brief moment, slowly taking in and releasing a breath. She then opened her eyes and finally looked at Cyborg through the screen.

"Goodbye."

Jinx then raised her arm in a very quick moment. Before the Titan could react, pink energy suddenly shot from her fingertips. The screen immediately began to short circuit and a last picture of Jinx's unemotional face was all Cyborg saw before his own screen suddenly burst in a shower of pink electricity.

The energy did not stop there, however. It reached out through Cyborg's car, though it appeared to have affected nothing. That is, until Cyborg tried to turn the steering wheel in preparation for another narrow bend.

Odd, the steering wheel won't turn...no matter how hard I try to turn it...

His car went uninhibited towards the very fragile fencing that separated the road from the sea below.

How...unlucky....

Cyborg lost all traces of fear and panic as he allowed his single human eye to close, removing his hands from the wheel.

For just, one more second, he wished--

All thoughts were then interrupted as the T-Car easily shattered through the wooden barrier and plummeted into the sea, floating for only a moment before sinking into the depths below.

...

I tried not to think of anything as I watched what unfolded around me. 

Starfire being embraced and handled by her thousands of fellow Tameranians, all weeping and sobbing pitifully at her sudden arrival.

The two Titans held in chains at the back of the room. They looked more like sacrificial lambs than people. I tried to ignore Happiness's voice inside my head as I looked away from them.

And...him. Robin, the Titan's leader. It was oddly ironic that one of the few times I see the supposed brave and heroic hero is when he is being held forcibly against his will. A prisoner. Like all the other Titans have become. My claw twitched as I looked upon his masked face, but I kept such desires in check. If even a handful of the aliens in this room had the power Starfire had, there was no way I'd even have a chance of getting close to him.

With left me with--

"Dang, Blackfire!" See-More called as he hopped away from several of the Tameranian's bolts of energy. "You're getting better with your aim, you been practicin'?

"Do not patronize me, insect!" Number 26 replied to See-More's almost genuine praise with a hiss. "In seconds you'll be nothing more than a stain on my dungeon floor!"

My....friend. See-More. Fighting Blackfire, seemingly holding up his own...with help from Fixit, I'd imagine, but still.

"Speak one more word and I swear it will be your last!" Number 26 cried, black hair flowing wildly around her as she threw constant energy blasts, a very  twisted smile on her face. "I'll crush your little throat with my bare hands before I'm through with you!"

Number 26 wasn't holding back. Whatever cool, controlling air she seemed to have had around her before was all but gone. She was different now. Different from the Blackfire that controlled me. And much different from the young girl I thought was my friend so long ago. Whoever she was now, she was looking for more than just beating See-More. She was trying to kill him.

I felt another twitch then. Though it was in my legs this time. I rose to a standing position in the darkness.

You cannot help us.

A voice in my head, the last voice I wanted to hear right now.

I'm helping See-More, not you. I thought back, making sure my thoughts had every inch of malice I could fit in them. At first, I thought it had succeeded when Fixit didn't answer right away, the satisfaction was quickly diminished.

This is a fight for the crown. No one can interfere or See-More dies here and now.

It took a few moments for me to process this.

No. At least, that is not our ultimate objective. This is the only scenario where we come out victorious. See-More and I are outnumbered and outmatched any way you perceive it. This scenario had the highest rate of success.

I thought on this for a moment as I watched See-More continue to dodge Number 26's attacks, occasionally using a laser ray from his eye to keep her at a distance.

It doesn't look like you guys are holding out too good.

Another span of time where Fixit didn't answer. Being so used to his habit at being able to answer immediately, it only took a few seconds of silence to know when there was a problem.

Even in this best case scenario, the odds of success are still below average.

...Sounds like you guys could use help.

Another few seconds of silence.

It would be appreciated.

You know, this would have been a lot easier if you didn't push your whole team away.

Even though I knew it was pointless, it had to be said. Even if Fixit would now berate me with his logical reasons for leaving Red-X and I behind. Even if-

I know, and I am sorry.

Well, that was...unexpected.

You're...sorry?

See-More has taught me about...hope. Something I had forgotten after my previous life. It is flawed, illogical, and irrational but I see now that it is the only thing we have in our favor. So, I am asking you, Kyd Wykkyd, for your forgiveness and your assistance. If you give me these two things, I promise to you that I shall never suffer from another error in judgment when it comes to my...teammates.

To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. For such a long time, I thought Fixit had no semblance of being human left in him...especially after his detachment from his body, and whatever human parts were left in there. But, hearing him now, I could almost picture that human scientist version I saw when I first met him.

I looked down at the black and purple claw; it twitched reflexively under my gaze.

If someone like Fixit could still hold on to his humanity, then, maybe--

Kyd Wykkyd? Is something the matter?

Fixit's voice in my head quickly snapped me back to reality. No, nothing. I'm helping. What do you need me to do?

Another, although this time unexpected, pause.

I need you to...free the Titans.

I quickly looked from the two chained heroes to Robin. It was not exactly an enticing idea. Why?

Another pause, this one longer than all the other combined. His plan was already starting to form inside my head. I thought I was going to be sick. I really hoped I was wrong.

We need their help.

Nope.

No. I'm sorry, but I can't do that.

And why is that?

Because! Because...

Because Robin killed my friend. Because I want to kill Robin, not ask for his help. I want to be his enemy, not his ally.

Thankfully, it appeared quite easy to separate the thoughts I wanted Fixit to hear and the ones I didn't want him to...Actually, it was quite odd that I could do that. Regardless, I took it as a good omen for now.

Because they are our enemies.

I hoped Fixit couldn't pick up tone through brainwaves or whatever he is using to communicate with me. I couldn't exactly say I had a practiced skill with lying and, while it wasn't exactly a lie, it wasn't the whole truth, either.

Enemies or not, we will not likely succeed in our escape without their assistance.

Whether Fixit picked up that I wasn't telling him everything or not was uncertain, but it definitely did not convince him.

But, how do you know they will even help us?

I cannot be positive about it. But Blackfire is an enemy to the Titans. Currently a direr enemy than either you or See-More. Logically, they would focus their efforts on Blackfire and her associates...However...

Humans aren't always logical.

I could easily picture Fixit nodding in that philosophical way he does. Eyes closed and in deep thought. Indeed, but it is a minor setback, at most. In every scenario I have discovered Robin will attempt to free Raven and Beastboy if he himself is freed. This will keep the guards attention and potentially distract Blackfire at key points and lead to her defeat.

I looked from Robin, to See-More and Number 26 still having their death dance. While my friend still seemed capable of avoiding the alien's attacks and keeping her at a distance, I could clearly see the fatigue getting to him.

And you're sure this is the best way I can help See-More?

It is the only way, I'm afraid. Unless you believe you can distract the guards and the rest of these Tameranians by yourself.

I looked at the three guards that hovered in the air slightly above the crowd and the remaining one that held Robin effortlessly with one arm. Each was dressed in very flamboyant and sharp purple armor, coating every part of their body. A spiked helmet covered each head, revealing nothing of the face save for two glowing purple eyes. In each of their hands was a very long and dangerous looking spear. Switching my gaze to the crowd itself I could see hundreds and hundreds of fit looking and unstable aliens, all with potentially the power of Starfire and Number 26. A chill ran down my spine.

Okay, fine, I'll try and get the Titan's to help, but I'm not sure how I'll be able to convince them...or how good we'd even do against an army of Num- Blackfire's.

I am afraid I cannot guide you on how to sway the Titans, though I believe not many Tameranians possess powers to the extent of Blackfire, Starfire, or even Blackfire's guards. Many may have great strength and endurance, but the ability to fly and use energy as a weapon is a rarity.

Ah, so just an army of supernaturally strong warriors. That's so much better.

Just keep your focus on the guards and never stay still in once place. I believe Starfire will strive to keep her people out of harms way.

Here's hoping.

I then gripped my cloak, eyes focused on the guard holding Robin.

Kyd Wykkyd.

Fixit's voice suddenly echoed in my head again, prompting me to lose my focus for a moment.

Er, yeah?

Good luck.

Surprised, I quickly had to force back a smile that tried to surface on my face. Thanks, you too...and tell See-More...

Tell him what? I'm sorry? Please forgive me? It all sounded so petty and futile in my head.

I shall tell See-More you wish him luck as well, Kyd Wykkyd...and I would not worry, it was his intention to go back for you after we had finished here.

Fixit remained silent after that and I knew he would remain so until further notice. I couldn't fight back the small smile that escaped on my face that time.

Okay, let's get this over with.