Chapter 2: Ultimatum

Starfire lay on her circular bed in her room. Her emerald green eyes watched the ceiling. Her eyelids drooped a little. She tried to fight sleep, but was losing the battle. A light knock on her door brought her back to life. She sat up and swung her legs onto the ground and then walked to the door, her bare feet making no sound against the carpet.

"Who is it?" Starfire asked cautiously, leaning with her ear against the door. She was pretty sure of who it was, but recent events had taught her not to let her guard down.

"It's Raven." Starfire opened her steel door. "Are you ready to leave?" Starfire swallowed. Her throat was dry from anticipation.

"One moment more please. I have one last task to attend to," Starfire responded.

Raven nodded her head once. "Alright, but hurry. All three guys are in the living room, but I'm sure they won't remain like that for long." Starfire shut her eyes in consent and closed the door softly so that she wouldn't make any noise. She walked back into the room and stood at her desk. A mirror hung on the wall just above it. Starfire opened a drawer to the desk and lifted up several stacked up folders inside. Underneath them a cream colored envelope rested at the bottom. Starfire picked it up and placed it on the surface of the desk. She set the folders back down and closed the drawer. Then she grabbed a pen and wrote on the envelope If I do not return… She set the pen down and took a deep breath. She looked at her face in the mirror studying her grim features.

"I'm so sorry Robin. I know that you would never give in to his demands." She then pulled her purple boots on and walked to her door.

Raven was waiting for Starfire outside of her room. She had her blue cloak on and her hood drawn over her face. Starfire nodded silently and stepped to the side. Raven raised her hand so that it was directed at Starfire's door.

"Azarath metrian zynthos," Raven muttered under her breath. Her hand radiated a black glow. Starfire could hear the bolt to her room slide so that the door was locked. "That should keep our absence undiscovered for a while."

The two girls walked the long walk down the hall until they came to the staircase that led to the roof. Both climbed the stairs in silence. They reached the top within ten minutes and opened the hatch. Starfire was the first the climb onto the roof. A cool breeze blew past Starfire as she gained her feet on the launch pad. She walked several feet away from the hatch to allow Raven room to crawl out. Starfire crossed her arms across her stomach, fear gripping her. A small click told Starfire that Raven had closed the hatch.

"Okay, Starfire. I want you to tell me the scenario one more time. I know you told it to me last night, but I want to make sure that this is our only option before we take it."

Starfire swallowed her fear and turned to face Raven. "Last night…"

flashback

Starfire was walking around her room getting ready for bed. She had already put on her lavender shorts and gray tanktop pajamas. Her window was propped open letting a cool breeze flow through her room. She was busy organizing some folder in a drawer when she heard the dull thud of something hitting the carpet. She swiveled around so quickly that she nearly lost her balance.

"Is anyone there?" Starfire questioned. She looked around and saw no one, but she spotted something on the floor. She walked over and picked it up. It was a hand held device. On one side was a dark screen. She flipped it over and saw a silver 's' on the back cover. She flipped it back over to the screen. It lit up and Slade's face appeared. Starfire dropped the device onto floor. Slade's face still watched her from the screen.

"Hello, Starfire," Slade greeted her in a sardonic tone.

Starfire took a step back. "Robin!" She yelled.

"I don't think you want to do that my dear. Send him away when he comes or you will regret it." His cold command stunned her. Her breathing was shallow. She heard Robin's door open and him begin running down the hall to her room. "You can either follow my orders or have to bury your friends and live with that on your conscience." His malicious tone got her under his control. Starfire bowed her head and closed her eyes. The sound of someone banging on Starfire's door broke the silence. "Not a word to him about this. Get rid of him," Slade whispered.

"Starfire!" Robin yelled in between bangs on the door. "Who's in there? Open up!"

"I am…fine… Truly. You may depart," Starfire tried her best to sound convincing. She did a poor job.

"Starfire, I'm coming in!" The banging on the door ceased. Starfire knew what Robin was about to do and kicked the device to the side of her desk where Robin wouldn't be able to see it.

"I am getting rid of him," she whispered to the device.

"Good," Slade said in a satisfied tone. As soon as Slade finished speaking a loud bang filled the room, followed by Starfire's door flying open and hitting the wall so hard that it made a dent. Robin entered her room with his staff drawn.

"Starfire, are you okay? Who were you talking to? I heard voices."

"Nothing is wrong, friend. I was merely speaking to myself. I didn't mean to call your name. It was an…an…accident." Robin noted the terror in Starfire's eyes and words.

"Star, what is going on?" Robin took a few steps forward, but stopped when he saw Starfire take a step back. Her green eyes pleaded with him and her vision pooled as she tried to hold onto the tears. She refused to let them brim over. Robin's fierce look softened a degree. He lowered his staff.

"I wish you would go now, please," Starfire said urgently. She prayed she wouldn't have to do this.

"Starfire…" Robin's low voice implored. A tear escaped Starfire's iron hold as she brought her arm up and her hand began to glow bright green. The emerald orb pulsed, ready to be fired.

"Leave now, please." Robin retreated a few steps. His eyes narrowed in frustration. "Please, go," Starfire said again.

"I thought you were in trouble. I'm sorry for barging in." Robin turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. His face looked taken aback which made Starfire feel even more guilty. The glowing green orb encircling her hand faded away. She walked to the door and bolted it, taking the opportunity away from Slade's vision to recompose herself. She walked back to the handheld where Slade's cold face awaited her. She picked the device up slowly.

"He is gone," she said with guilt and shame dripping from her tongue.

"Very good, Starfire. It looks like I chose the right Titan to come to," Slade grinned malevolently.

"What do want?" Starfire's voice growled. Her Tameranain accent was quite apparent.

"So quick to get to the point. Very well then. You Titans have failed to realize what I am now capable of. I have nuclear technology set and ready to blow at different locations around the country." The screen changed from Slade's face to one of a large nuclear warhead. His mechanical minions surrounding it. " One of the locations not even a mile from your tower, your city, and your friends." The screen flipped back to Slade's face. "My offer to you is this…If you come to the abandoned warehouse on Fifth Street at around midnight tomorrow, then I will spare the lives of the countless that could die. If you do not I will leave the city and set off the bombs. Your friends will not even have a chance at surviving." Starfire held his gaze and her face broke into a confused jumble of emotions.

"Why are you going to all of this trouble just to capture me? I have never been of any interest to you before." Starfire wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Because…you are like the leading dominoe in this game. I knock you over and the rest will follow in only a matter of time. If I take you out, Robin will carelessly come searching for me. He will be off of his guard and I will take the opportunity. Then only three will be left. A much easier target rather than all five together. And then there will be none." Slade smirked. Starfire averted her gaze.

I have to stop him from setting off the bombs. Even if it means I might die. At least my friends will have the chance at survival and they might even be able to stop him. Starfire made the decision in her mind. She realized that she was a lost cause either way. The choice was between saving people or condemning them. It was only possible for her to choose one of the options. "…I will come tomorrow." Starfire finally said. She tried to gather her courage, but found it scattered and was unable to retrieve it.

"Come alone or suffer the consequences." Starfire nodded slowly and the screen went blank again. She set the device into a drawer of her desk. She stood for a moment just taking in what had happened.

end flashback