Chapter One:: Scar Zone
Every step she took was beginning to sound the same, the humdrum she was used to in the palace of Tamaran and she had yet to leave the ship. Was she really going to give up this easy? No. No way. That wasn't Starfire, at least, not any more. Living with the Titans was a new experience for her, it made her stronger, and it made her realize that life wasn't about pleasing others with things you don't want to do. She knew she didn't want to be here with the woman she once idolized. Aunt Purefire was a beautiful, strong, and compassionate person. Starfire had once wanted to be like her, but every time she thought about getting closer that was when Blackfire would get in the way and she would slip back into old ways. Suddenly Starfire wondered if Blackfire had been doing this on purpose...did Blackfire know how Uncle Redfire and Purefire truly were beneath their skin of kindness? That would explain a lot about her uncle and aunt's behavior over time. They were never completely the same with her as they were with everyone else on Tamaran, but she had told herself that was because she looked and acted too much like her mother or possibly that they even loved her more. Now she wasn't as certain. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the distinguished woman on her left, hoping to see a ray of sunshine that meant she was going to be able to get away and get to Robin before it was too late. But Purefire wasn't interested in being lovey or friendly even. She looked straight ahead and walked as though she had a book on her head. Starfire's shoulders slumped. This was hopelessly impossible.
"Good, cause as I seem to remember doing the impossible before." The words rang through her head like a gong. Nightwing's words, though not exactly the same, were coming back to her. Encouragement? Hope? A plea bargain from the future? What would happen to the Titans if she gave up now and went home forever? No, home was on earth. She'd rather live in poverty on earth than rule in wealth on Tamaran, that was certain, though she did love her home. The boy next to her cleared his throat quietly and drew her attention. He was the one that had fired those orange starbolts at her and Raven and the one who had dried her tears. He was nice. She could use that and then later she could save him from punishment with a decree from earth, but getting away and through him was the problem. She watched the tiles on the carpet move underneath her as she began to formulate a plan.
Meanwhile Robin was tossing in his silky sheets. Everytime he moved the name Starfire reverberated through his head and tingles of her touch prickled his skin. She had been here just the night before. Where was she now? Was she hurting? Crying? No doubt she was scared...who would've done it? Who would've taken her when they were so far away from earth and had no enemies? Slade couldn't reach all the way up here, could he? He rolled over on his side and the stars greeted him brightly through the window. Star...his mind went back to the unanswerable questions. What if she was in some place dark and cold with no bed or no food. Starfire hadn't eaten anything in the last two days, he was getting worried about her as it was. This was making it worse. He could hear Cyborg's restless snoring. He only did that when his mind was overwhelmed with dark thoughts, and Beast Boy kept screaming out incomprehensible words that didn't connect. He was obviously worried too, not just for Star, but for Raven who had disappeared. What would make Raven do that anyway? Was the attack that bad? Was Starfire hurt when it was over? Did she die???? Robin jolted up in bed and made a dash for his clothes and utility belt. Starfire had been smiling before the camera went out on the video tapes they watched earlier. What if she was coming to tell him something? Those words he was longing to hear..."I'm in love with you"....he loved her so desperately he couldn't communicate it with her. He couldn't think clearly when she was around because all he wanted to do was touch her, be close to her, and comfort her. If someone had taken that away from him before he could truly reach the peak of their emotions for each other...he didn't know what he'd do. But someone would pay. He would guarantee that. As he clipped on his belt he heard Beast Boy toss over in his uncomfortable bed. A pang of guilt and sorrow filled him at the same time. The only reason his were so soft was because Starfire wanted him to sleep on good and comfortable sheets because she was worried for him. He glanced back out the window at the stars and pleaded with whatever God there was to make her safe and most importantly alive.
Raven was watching those same stars, though through the cracked glass of her and Starfire's room. She was thinking about how careless she'd been with Starfire's feelings in the past and how thoughtless she had approached her secret. Starfire wouldn't have acted that way if she had admitted her emotions for Beast Boy. She would have done everything in her physical power to bring them together and make them all a happy family, because that was just the way Starfire was. Motherly and sisterly at the same time, enough to make you feel cozy but also enough to make you feel like you weren't alone. No wonder Robin loved her. She actually felt sorry for him at that thought. He didn't even know how much he loved her or how much she loved him. They knew they cared but did they know that they would willing give up their lives to save the other or commit murder for harming their beloved? If Starfire never came back that was the one thing she could do for Robin. She could tell him how much she cared and how hard she fought this responsiblity being shoved on her. Then she would tell the others about how Daraow had deceived and used them to get to Starfire and she honestly, without clouding her emotions in the slightest, hoped he would die for his transgression at the hand of a Titan who always wore a mask. It was only fitting after all.
She rose from where she had been sitting silently and pushed her hood off of her head. She had heard nothing from the others for nearly six hours. Were they searching for Starfire? Had Daraow gotten to them? Were they after Pludunn again? Pludunn....Daraow said he wanted him out of the way too. Maybe this Pludunn could help them in some way. She'd run that past Robin too and she'd do it within the next hour. Determinedly finding herself more and more longing for the sight of the red head and the sound of her voice happy again Raven's footsteps got harder and harder. The boys were in for a rude awakening once she arrived.
Starfire leapt suddenly to her right and dived toward the ground. Purefire wailed in fury and fright, calling for the Princess to be captured before she could get away. Starfire mentally praised Robin for all of her training days, especially the private lessons he had started before the Super Computer started up. She dodged starbolt after starbolt, fired several that knocked down full grown men, and zippped out of view of the others. Her mind was reading two words "Robin's room" as she flew faster than she had ever flown before. She prayed he would be there, that the Tamaranian guards couldn't defeat Cyborg and the others and that she could still be with her friends by the end of the night. She wasn't giving up now! She was loose, there was hope! A smile crept it's way to her face and her emerald eyes glowed with a new sparkle.
Raven lifted into the air. Every inch she moved, she felt like she could feel Starfire coming nearer. It was a freaky thing that she had learned to control when they switched bodies, but it was helpful in times like this. She could almost even hear shouts, but that was impossible right, it was one o'clock in the morning. But she was certain she was hearing them. She stopped as she turned a corner at the intersection of the halls and listened. It was coming from one of the other halls. Could it be Starfire?? She turned just in time to see a flash of green and red smash into her.
Starfire shrieked as she spotted Raven's figure last second. She had gotten so far ahead she could think of nothing else but to get even farther away, but when she saw Raven she associated that with Robin and stopped too late. The impact knocked them both to the floor and Raven groaned painfully.
"Get off!" she said and Starfire grunted as she weakly lifted off of her friend.
"Raven! I am...glad to see you," she smiled. Her smile was weak, defeated, tired. Raven could have at that moment taken her red headed friend into her arms and soothed her, but the voices she had heard were gradually getting louder.
"Starfire, what happened? Did you get away?" she asked. Starfire stood extremely slowly, favoring her right side as she covered it with her hands. She noddded.
"Yes, I managaed to escape before they could transfer me into my quarters. I must find Robin!" she said and Raven nodded.
"Yea sure, but what happened to your side?" she demanded. Starfire gingerly removed her hands from blocking the view of Raven's eyes. Blood dripped down between her fingers and over the rim of her skirt. She'd been attacked! And that collision had to have made it worse. "Starfire! What happened! Are you alright???"
"Robin...I must find Robin," she whimpered and the sparkle was officially gone from her eyes.
"Starfire! Answer me!" begged Raven, grabbing on to her friends upper arms to steady her. The voices were getting louder. Raven concentrated on rather or not it would be logical to fight for Starfire. Afterall, she couldn't save her before, what honestly made her think it was different?
"We must go immediately to Robin! He can protect me," she assured but Raven didn't think so and wasn't going to move her injured friend. Those words shattered her hold on sanity. The guards were almost on them now and Raven quickly made the decision that could cost her more than just her life.
"Starfire..." Raven's eyes were filling with tears of promise when the footsteps had come upon them.
Every step she took was beginning to sound the same, the humdrum she was used to in the palace of Tamaran and she had yet to leave the ship. Was she really going to give up this easy? No. No way. That wasn't Starfire, at least, not any more. Living with the Titans was a new experience for her, it made her stronger, and it made her realize that life wasn't about pleasing others with things you don't want to do. She knew she didn't want to be here with the woman she once idolized. Aunt Purefire was a beautiful, strong, and compassionate person. Starfire had once wanted to be like her, but every time she thought about getting closer that was when Blackfire would get in the way and she would slip back into old ways. Suddenly Starfire wondered if Blackfire had been doing this on purpose...did Blackfire know how Uncle Redfire and Purefire truly were beneath their skin of kindness? That would explain a lot about her uncle and aunt's behavior over time. They were never completely the same with her as they were with everyone else on Tamaran, but she had told herself that was because she looked and acted too much like her mother or possibly that they even loved her more. Now she wasn't as certain. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the distinguished woman on her left, hoping to see a ray of sunshine that meant she was going to be able to get away and get to Robin before it was too late. But Purefire wasn't interested in being lovey or friendly even. She looked straight ahead and walked as though she had a book on her head. Starfire's shoulders slumped. This was hopelessly impossible.
"Good, cause as I seem to remember doing the impossible before." The words rang through her head like a gong. Nightwing's words, though not exactly the same, were coming back to her. Encouragement? Hope? A plea bargain from the future? What would happen to the Titans if she gave up now and went home forever? No, home was on earth. She'd rather live in poverty on earth than rule in wealth on Tamaran, that was certain, though she did love her home. The boy next to her cleared his throat quietly and drew her attention. He was the one that had fired those orange starbolts at her and Raven and the one who had dried her tears. He was nice. She could use that and then later she could save him from punishment with a decree from earth, but getting away and through him was the problem. She watched the tiles on the carpet move underneath her as she began to formulate a plan.
Meanwhile Robin was tossing in his silky sheets. Everytime he moved the name Starfire reverberated through his head and tingles of her touch prickled his skin. She had been here just the night before. Where was she now? Was she hurting? Crying? No doubt she was scared...who would've done it? Who would've taken her when they were so far away from earth and had no enemies? Slade couldn't reach all the way up here, could he? He rolled over on his side and the stars greeted him brightly through the window. Star...his mind went back to the unanswerable questions. What if she was in some place dark and cold with no bed or no food. Starfire hadn't eaten anything in the last two days, he was getting worried about her as it was. This was making it worse. He could hear Cyborg's restless snoring. He only did that when his mind was overwhelmed with dark thoughts, and Beast Boy kept screaming out incomprehensible words that didn't connect. He was obviously worried too, not just for Star, but for Raven who had disappeared. What would make Raven do that anyway? Was the attack that bad? Was Starfire hurt when it was over? Did she die???? Robin jolted up in bed and made a dash for his clothes and utility belt. Starfire had been smiling before the camera went out on the video tapes they watched earlier. What if she was coming to tell him something? Those words he was longing to hear..."I'm in love with you"....he loved her so desperately he couldn't communicate it with her. He couldn't think clearly when she was around because all he wanted to do was touch her, be close to her, and comfort her. If someone had taken that away from him before he could truly reach the peak of their emotions for each other...he didn't know what he'd do. But someone would pay. He would guarantee that. As he clipped on his belt he heard Beast Boy toss over in his uncomfortable bed. A pang of guilt and sorrow filled him at the same time. The only reason his were so soft was because Starfire wanted him to sleep on good and comfortable sheets because she was worried for him. He glanced back out the window at the stars and pleaded with whatever God there was to make her safe and most importantly alive.
Raven was watching those same stars, though through the cracked glass of her and Starfire's room. She was thinking about how careless she'd been with Starfire's feelings in the past and how thoughtless she had approached her secret. Starfire wouldn't have acted that way if she had admitted her emotions for Beast Boy. She would have done everything in her physical power to bring them together and make them all a happy family, because that was just the way Starfire was. Motherly and sisterly at the same time, enough to make you feel cozy but also enough to make you feel like you weren't alone. No wonder Robin loved her. She actually felt sorry for him at that thought. He didn't even know how much he loved her or how much she loved him. They knew they cared but did they know that they would willing give up their lives to save the other or commit murder for harming their beloved? If Starfire never came back that was the one thing she could do for Robin. She could tell him how much she cared and how hard she fought this responsiblity being shoved on her. Then she would tell the others about how Daraow had deceived and used them to get to Starfire and she honestly, without clouding her emotions in the slightest, hoped he would die for his transgression at the hand of a Titan who always wore a mask. It was only fitting after all.
She rose from where she had been sitting silently and pushed her hood off of her head. She had heard nothing from the others for nearly six hours. Were they searching for Starfire? Had Daraow gotten to them? Were they after Pludunn again? Pludunn....Daraow said he wanted him out of the way too. Maybe this Pludunn could help them in some way. She'd run that past Robin too and she'd do it within the next hour. Determinedly finding herself more and more longing for the sight of the red head and the sound of her voice happy again Raven's footsteps got harder and harder. The boys were in for a rude awakening once she arrived.
Starfire leapt suddenly to her right and dived toward the ground. Purefire wailed in fury and fright, calling for the Princess to be captured before she could get away. Starfire mentally praised Robin for all of her training days, especially the private lessons he had started before the Super Computer started up. She dodged starbolt after starbolt, fired several that knocked down full grown men, and zippped out of view of the others. Her mind was reading two words "Robin's room" as she flew faster than she had ever flown before. She prayed he would be there, that the Tamaranian guards couldn't defeat Cyborg and the others and that she could still be with her friends by the end of the night. She wasn't giving up now! She was loose, there was hope! A smile crept it's way to her face and her emerald eyes glowed with a new sparkle.
Raven lifted into the air. Every inch she moved, she felt like she could feel Starfire coming nearer. It was a freaky thing that she had learned to control when they switched bodies, but it was helpful in times like this. She could almost even hear shouts, but that was impossible right, it was one o'clock in the morning. But she was certain she was hearing them. She stopped as she turned a corner at the intersection of the halls and listened. It was coming from one of the other halls. Could it be Starfire?? She turned just in time to see a flash of green and red smash into her.
Starfire shrieked as she spotted Raven's figure last second. She had gotten so far ahead she could think of nothing else but to get even farther away, but when she saw Raven she associated that with Robin and stopped too late. The impact knocked them both to the floor and Raven groaned painfully.
"Get off!" she said and Starfire grunted as she weakly lifted off of her friend.
"Raven! I am...glad to see you," she smiled. Her smile was weak, defeated, tired. Raven could have at that moment taken her red headed friend into her arms and soothed her, but the voices she had heard were gradually getting louder.
"Starfire, what happened? Did you get away?" she asked. Starfire stood extremely slowly, favoring her right side as she covered it with her hands. She noddded.
"Yes, I managaed to escape before they could transfer me into my quarters. I must find Robin!" she said and Raven nodded.
"Yea sure, but what happened to your side?" she demanded. Starfire gingerly removed her hands from blocking the view of Raven's eyes. Blood dripped down between her fingers and over the rim of her skirt. She'd been attacked! And that collision had to have made it worse. "Starfire! What happened! Are you alright???"
"Robin...I must find Robin," she whimpered and the sparkle was officially gone from her eyes.
"Starfire! Answer me!" begged Raven, grabbing on to her friends upper arms to steady her. The voices were getting louder. Raven concentrated on rather or not it would be logical to fight for Starfire. Afterall, she couldn't save her before, what honestly made her think it was different?
"We must go immediately to Robin! He can protect me," she assured but Raven didn't think so and wasn't going to move her injured friend. Those words shattered her hold on sanity. The guards were almost on them now and Raven quickly made the decision that could cost her more than just her life.
"Starfire..." Raven's eyes were filling with tears of promise when the footsteps had come upon them.