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Chapter 2
Kory was nervous - extraordinarily so. Since the moment that the Titan's ship landed at her family's Tamaranean castle, Kory hadn't been able to catch her breath. What was she walking into? What was she bringing Dick into? She hadn't been home in so long; she had no idea what to expect from her family, not to mention her constituents. Dick reached down and grabbed her hand, enveloping it inside of his own. "It's gonna be okay, Kor. I'm here." Kory nodded - accepting that fact - but not feeling too much better about it.
"Thank you for coming with me, Dick," she said, almost out of obligation. She appreciated his presence, but nothing about it was comforting. She didn't think anything could be.
The ship's doors opened, revealing a room completely sealed - top to bottom - with space titanium alloy. She didn't remember the landing pad being so - enclosed. "This room must be new," she spoke aloud, causing one of the castle guards to confirm her suspicions in their native tongue. She furrowed her brow in worry - had the castle been under attack?
The guards quickly rushed both Kory and Dick off the ship and toward an automatic door. As they briefed Kory on current events, she looked over at Dick who looked perplexed as he tried decoding what they were saying. "They are taking us to Galfore," she leaned over and whispered to him, knowing that telling him was easier than leaving him to wonder. Dick nodded and squeezed her hand tightly as the guards continued to ramble on about things that, at the moment, Kory considered pretty inconsequential.
"Is he still..." Kory began in English, causing the guards to stop in their tracks and turn their heads. She stopped herself from finishing the thought - too scared of the response. All she cared about was whether he was alive or not, but all she wanted to hear was 'yes'.
The guards ignored her thought and continued leading them through the long hallway. Dick looked at her concerned that she wasn't speaking as regally as she had been on the ship. Where was the Kory that went on a long diatribe about her duties as a Princess while he and Cyborg had to sit and hear about how they'd "probably be on their own for a large duration of the trip."
When they finally exited the hallway and entered the grand hall, Kory noticed it looked the same as it always had. Millinnea worth of Tamaranean armor lined the walls, documenting the progress of planetary advancement. The armor hadn't changed too much over the last thousand years, but it was still a comfort to see all the minor changes. Above the suits, were shields that proudly displayed all the royal family crests, ending with the And'r seal. Her family had been in power for the last two thousand years; she couldn't imagine turning over such a legacy, but did she have a choice?
"Koriand'r!" Galfore's voice boomed as he entered the room. His giant smile immediately lightened the mood as if it commanded happiness. "It has been so long!"
Kory ran up to him immediately, taking as much as she could of him into a hug. "Galfore, it has been too long." she closed her eyes, taking in his scent. He smelled of home and childhood - everything good about it, that is. "I think I have missed you, most of all."
"Koriand'r, you flatter me," he responded, purposely in English. "And you!" Galfore boomed, recognizing Dick.
He was even larger than Dick had remembered him to be, towering over him by at least three feet. His beard reminded him of Kory's hair, flame red combined with a few random strands of pure orange. Dick smiled for the first time that day, allowing Galfore's positive energy to resonate within him. "It is always a pleasure to see you, Richard. Welcome to our kingdom!" Galfore waved his left arm in the air gesturing to the room, but referring to the palace as a whole - or perhaps even the planet.
Dick may not have noticed, but Kory saw the minor glimpse of shock in Galfore's eyes the moment he saw Dick. She felt an odd need to justify his presence, but stopped herself; it wasn't important.
"Is he gone, Galfore?" She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst possible answer, but hoping for the best. She re-opened her eyes and tears sprung immediately as she saw the look of regret plastered all over her childhood guardian's face. "X'hal, no. I was too late."
"Koriand'r, I am afraid it is worse than that," Galfore hung his head, sorrowful. "He is in a coma - been so for seven days. Things do not look good."
Kory stood still, the words washing over her like a tidal wave. She was sure that her face held a look of shock, but she felt more relief than anything else. Her father was still alive; however, the grief-stricken Galfore worried her. "K'norfka, why are you filled with such anguish - as if searching for repentance?"
"Child I am," Galfore choked back tears, something that Kory had never witnessed. "I went against your father's wishes and now I must suffer the consequence. Please forgive me Koriand'r."
Dick looked upon the display in confusion. "Forgive me for asking," he tiptoed up to the topic at hand, worried that it wasn't his place to say anything about it , but too curious not to ask. "But isn't him being in a coma better than him being dead? I mean, people can come out of comas."
Galfore nodded, accepting the question and Dick's need to inquire. "Myand'r is gravely ill, my friend. A coma will only prolong the disease - not cure it. Your father," he turned to Kory. "Asked me to make sure that nothing like this happened. When the doctor came to us with an elixir that could buy him a few more years, I knew it was too good to be true. All I could think about was you and how you needed to see your father one last time...and Tamaran without an And'r rule. I was weak - I urged your mother to agree to the treatment. Now, he is in a long-term coma; the one thing your father wanted least of all."
"Do not feel troubled over this matter," Kory said sternly. "Even though the decision brought upon unwanted results, my heart is relived that you chose it." She placed a hand on her heart and breathed a heavy sigh. "This whole trip had me worried that I would not be able to be in the presence of my father, but you alleviated those fears. I am so grateful to you in this moment."
"I am glad that I have brought you peace," Galfore smile slightly. "Would you like to see him?
Kory nodded and turned to Dick, who from the moment they stepped of the ship, had not loosened the grip on her hand. "Dick, would you be okay to explore on your own? I am sure Cyborg is finished powering down the ship; perhaps you could use this time to get settled in?"
"Are you sure that you don't need me for any moral support?" Dick asked, but already knew the answer. His fiance was the strongest woman he'd ever known. She confirmed with a nod and with one final squeeze, he released her hand. "Let me know if you need anything; I won't be too far away."
"Guards!" Galfore bellowed in Tamaranean. "Please show Mr. Grayson and his companion to their quarters!"
Dick watched as two armed guards appeared gesturing back towards the long hallway; he nodded and followed, hoping that they were taking him back to Cyborg and not sticking him in some weird holding chamber. He looked at Kory one last time before exited the grand hall and smiled, hoping that she would be okay.
The last and only time he'd been on Tamaran, it'd been to stop one of Blackfire's - Kory's crazy sister - horrendous schemes to kill Kory and take over the planet. It had been before they'd officially announced themselves as a couple (even though they had secretly been dating for six months) and he remembered meeting Kory's dad. He had been so regal and nice; it was hard for Dick to believe that Myand'r had literally banned him from the planet when he found out that he was dating his daughter.
Dick's thoughts were interrupted by the guttural sound of the Tamaranean language and assumed that it was the guard showing him where his room was. Dick nodded and entered into the room hearing the door close behind him.
The room was gigantic.
The violet walls popped out against the white and mint-colored drapery that adorned all of the room's over-sized windows. Dick walked over and swiped one of them to the side, not prepared for the overwhelming view of the grand city that emerged. He had seen some of Tamaran, but not much - definitely not this. In the short distance, he could see of of Tamaran's moons creeping up behind a tall skyscraper, surrounded by smaller, but similarly tall buildings that Dick only assumed were apartments. Intermingling with the modern skyline, were bursts of epic scenery - blue and purple-colored trees, orange canyons. He'd never seen anything like it; it was shame that such a beautiful planet had so many problems.
He closed the curtain and took in the rest of the suite. The walls were bare, aside from the paint, but somehow the room still held a large amount of character. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with what Dick assumed to be classic Tamaranean literature, filled one entire wall, making it seem like a library. He scanned quickly through the titles, searching for recognizable words, but gave up quickly knowing it was a lost cause.
"I wonder if there is an iPhone app that quickly translates Tamaranean," he thought aloud, smiling as his eyes landed on a picture of a younger Kory, holding what looked like a kitten with a rat's tail. He picked up the photo from the bookshelf, admiring it in his hands. All he knew about her childhood started with her teenage years - when she was sold into slavery. He relished in her photogenic smile; did she even remember good memories like this one? Or did they just get shoved aside in order to block out all of the bad?
He gently placed the photo back on the shelf it came from and walked to the other side of the room, half-filled by a sizable four-post canopy bed. He parted the soft netting and crawled onto the mattress, looking out at the vast suite. He let out a sigh as he fell backward onto the bed. Kory would probably be a while longer and he'd only left Victor 30 minutes ago - he was probably recharging in his room. Dick thought about roaming the city, exploring the caverns downtown and seeing what adventure he could have, but he decided against it. He had promised Kory that he would be close; plus, his eyelids were getting really heavy.
"Dick?"
He cracked one of his eyes open and saw the blurry figure in front of him walk closer to the bed. He rolled over, flopping his hand over his face before opening both eyes completely. "Is everything okay?" he asked groggily. "How long was I out?" He looked at his watch - he'd taken a two-hour nap, but his mind was trying to tell him that it had only been 10 minutes and that he should go back to sleep.
"I do not know, I just got in here."
Dick fought the voice inside his head and leaned upright on his elbows, forcing his muscles to wake up with him. "Are you okay?" he asked, stifling a yawn.
Kory plopped down on the bed and shrugged in defeat . "He does not have long; there is nothing I can do about it."
"Kory, I am -"
"I am fully aware."
Dick shook his head. "I'm confused - did I do something wrong?"
"No, not at all," Kory stood up from the bed and smoothed out her dress. "I am experiencing conflicting emotions and am trying to figure out how to sort them."
"What happened?" Dick now crawled out of the bed and stood up beside her, his eyes searching over her for clues. "Did someone say something to you?" He lifted her hands, checking to make sure they weren't bruised or battered. She quickly withdrew them and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Dick Grayson! I am fully capable of defending myself on this planet just as I am on Earth." Kory narrowed her eyes and then retreated back, semi-regretful of her sudden outburst. She looked at the shock on Dick's face and frowned. "I know you are just trying to help; there is nothing that can be done. Part of me is devastated that my father is ill; he is my family, my flesh and blood. He is also the same flesh and blood that allowed me to be sold into slavery, an act that over my years on Earth have desperately tried forgive him for, but the pain still exists. And then I get angry. Angry that he has tried to make you into a villain, as someone unworthy to be with me, when all you've done is prove your worthiness." A small tear made it's way to the surface, but she wiped it away before it could fully form. "On top of all that, I am scared. Scared for Tamaran...scared for myself...scared for you."
Dick reached out and took her into a hug. "Don't worry about me; I can defend myself, too." He smiled as he pulled away from her and pressed his forehead against hers. "So what happens now?"
"Tomorrow, I make a speech. I have to publicly announce my intentions - whether or not I will assume the position of Grand Rular." Kory pulled away. "What if I don't make the right choice?"
Dick cocked his head to the side, silently urging her to continue, but not wanting to push it.
"Gorond'r..." she muttered through clenched teeth. "He was in the room today and... I really do not like him."
Anger began to seep into Dick's veins; as far as he was concerned, Gorond'r was the scum of Tamaran. Kory had told them (he and Victor) all about Gorond'r the moment they left Earth. Dick hoped that Myand'r hadn't been fooled and saw through his schemes- that maybe, just maybe, he'd seem him as a threat and not a confidant. "Did he say something to you?"
Kory threw her hands up instantly, noticing and attempting to calm down the raging inferno building inside of him. "Please calm down. He did not say anything to me that was not true," she admitted, starting to pace the floor. "He said that that I would not be a good Grand Rular for Tamaran - which is true." Before Dick could protest, she turned around and held up her finger. "I am not what is best for this planet; it is not my home anymore. All it holds are memories - some that I wish I could forget more than keep. Knowing this, however, does nothing - I cannot think of any solution. I certainly will not hand my crown off to Sorond'r!
My father told me that I had to be the one to carry on our legacy and I obviously cannot talk to him about it now."
Her mind flashed back to the moment she stepped into her father's chambers, stricken by the image of a once powerful king looking more weak than any man could. He laid there, a shell of his former body, hooked up to every machine imaginable. She winced, remembering the sounds of the ventilator pumping fake life into the man that used to be able to pick up all three giggling And'r children and toss them over his shoulder as if they were as light as pillows. It wasn't until she walked up and took her father's cool hand into hers, attempting to warm them up a little, that she even noticed Gorond'r in the room. Hating that bastard was easy, but being her father's adviser made it impossible to express it.
She walked over to the same window Dick opened earlier and spread the curtains, remembering the view of Tamaran that she adored every day as a child. "Enough of this depression," Kory said, placing one hand on the glass. "I am home; it is a beautiful planet and," she looked over at Dick, "I am with the man I love. Let's go explore the city."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to leave the castle?" Dick asked. "It may be dangerous."
"These are my people." Kory smiled. "I feel safe. Let's go"
~*~Present Day, T-Ship, 4 Days from Earth~*~
"Just come with me, please!" she said, desperate. "I need you to come."
"Princess, you don't need me," the blurred image spoke. "You don't need anyone."
Kory's eye's shot open in fear as she quickly sat up in bed. Panting wildly, she wiped away the beads of sweat that had accumulated on her forehead. Part of her expected Dick to come to the rescue and lull her back to sleep, but when she instinctively looked over to the empty spot beside her, she remembered that he wouldn't be there and she'd made it clear that she didn't want him there, either. She turned on the lamp and looked at the clock on her nightstand - 5 a.m. Earth time. "Earth time," she said aloud, frowning at the thought. Earth time indicated that there was a comparison, another planet which held a time that she would need to keep track of. Sadly, that would never be the case again.
The dim light provided very little security - she shivered. When she realized that she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep (not that she wanted to) she sat up in bed and stared at the wall; visions of the explosions replayed in her head despite her best efforts to block them out. "Why in the hell is this happening to me?" she yelled, pressing her hands to the sides of her head.
Kory didn't want to yell or scream - she knew there wasn't a point. She got up out of bed and grabbed her robe; she couldn't be in the room anymore. She walked to the only place her body wanted to go - to the window where she witnessed it all. She took a seat on the bench and stared out into the empty space where Tamaran used to be. "Alturion Centarus," she said to herself, pressing her finger on the glass over a large star in the distance.
"Hey Goldie, I thought I heard someone out here rustling about," Victor said behind her, gesturing her to move down on the bench. "I thought you'd be sleeping, but then again..."
"I was asleep," Kory stopped him while quickly wiping away the tears that had formed in her eyes. "But I had a nightmare, so."
He nodded, taking a seat beside her as she shifted to the side.
"I cannot get his face out of my head. Why did he not just come with us?" She turned to her friend. "Why did he have to be so stubborn? Why do I even care?!"
"I think you know the answer to that."
"I do," she frowned, ashamed of the truth. "I should hate him; he lied to me - deceived and betrayed me! Am I stupid to believe his innocence? To believe that Sorond'r was just a puppet?" She shook her head, not wanting a response. "It is not Dick's fault; it just feels better to blame someone and he happened to be the last man standing."
Victor tried to reason with her, but Kory didn't want to hear "you should talk to him" or "he is hurting too." She shook her head, her emotion's barriers rising to her defense. "I am not a bad person."
"I'm not sayin' that at all, Kory." Victor said. "I don't mean to upset you; he's hurting because you're hurting. He loves you."
"Love does not replace a planet; love does not replace my people. I should have died there, with them. I had one duty and I could not even fulfill it. Dick doesn't understand what I am feeling...what I am going through."
"You didn't lose all of your people; we...the Titans...we're still here. We're your people." Victor said, standing up. "And give Dick a little more credit, will ya? He knows a thing or two about loss."
Kory's lip shook, threatening to release a sob, but she bit it. He was right, the Titans were her family. She didn't want to stay on Tamaran; she'd decided that much on her first day there. She nodded, hanging her head low and letting her tears fall down on her knees. "I am so sorry," she sobbed, succumbing to her body's urge to cry. "I am in such terrible pain; it is not my intention to hurt anyone."
"Kory," Victor quickly grabbed her into a hug. "It's okay; no one expects you to act like nothing happened. Grief is a process - I know that...and Dick knows that. "
She allowed her friend to smooth her hair in comfort as she cried on his shoulder. "Everyone I ever knew as a child is gone; I will never see them again. How am I supposed to live with myself knowing that it was my fault?"
"I don't think it was your fault; I don't believe that it could have been prevented."
Kory desperately wanted to believe what Victor had to say, but her guilt kept rising within her, preventing her from seeing anything but fault. Could it have been avoided? Is there absolutely anything that she could have done that would have changed the outcome - saved her planet? She stood there, in the embrace of her friend, and remained silent - full of grief, full of guilt, and full of hypothetical questions that would never be answered.
That day, in her father's hospital chamber, Gorond'r warned - predicted, rather - that she would eventually "kill them all."
She thought it was stupid at the time.
Final Statement: FINALLY - A new chapter, you guys! I know it took absolutely forever, but I hope you think it was worth the wait. :) Please leave me awesome and lovely reviews because you know how much I love those!