Praise the Lord for snow days!
Chapter Seven
I had been in the new cell for five days. Within that period of time, Tuor had helped me claim back the sanity that I had not had since being on Earth. I felt stronger. Braver. This time, I would find a way out, and save Starfire. I had absolutely no idea how I was going to do that, but I was tired of being the victim.
I was doing push ups, while some of my cellmates observed me. "…67…68…69…70…" Apparently, they were not used to this sort of exercise. Someone had even joined me, but had only gotten to twenty before giving up. It frustrated me that I was going the rate that I was; I was used to going faster, for longer. Oh well, I hadn't done much of anything active in a couple weeks.
"Robin, vot are you up to?"
"I'm building up my strength. I want to be in tip top form when I escape."
A hearty laugh shook the cell and caused to fall flat on my face. "You can not escape! Is impossible!"
"No one escapes." Someone added in.
"Oh yeah? Then explain how I met Kori after she was captured."
Another laugh. "She is exception to rule. She and her sister."
"Yes," I concluded, proud of my victory. "They went their separate ways. Kori coming to earth and meeting me, and Komand'r going off and robbing the Centari moons of a precious jewel, which she later gave to Kori in an attempt to have her take her place in intergalactic prison. Which did not work, mind you."
"What a royal grimplork."
I laughed. "So 'no one escapes' is a false statement. Because Kori is a somebody."
"Okay! But cut your nose, comrade. Escape is extremely, terribly, painfully difficult!"
"Don't underestimate me." I smiled. I had been much more content in this cell then I had been in the other one, but I was still extremely worried for Starfire. Bringing her up in conversation made me start thinking about her again. I returned to my push ups in an attempt to think on other things.
"You are fooling no one Robin. It is alright to be vorried."
"Worry is a weakness." I recited. "I know she can take care of herself."
"You know, but do you believe?"
I rested at the peak of my rep. "No. Is it that obvious?"
"Is written all over your face."
I continued. "Tuor…They said they were putting her in the high crimes containment unit. Is that…bad?" I recalled the way the guards doubted their orders.
"I am unsure, but someone here will know. You follow." He walked away.
I hopped to my feet and walked quickly behind. We moved farther back into the cell then I had been before. Two slots illuminated a small sector of the room, and sitting in front of one was a girl. She was breathtakingly beautiful as her body was made completely out of clear crystal.
"This young lady spent some time in high crimes unit, her body made of diamonds, cut through everything else."
"Amazing!" I admired as the light sparkled off of her.
"There is but one problem."
"And that is…?"
"She mute!"
I let out a frustrated grunt, and then sighed. "Will ASL work?" I asked.
Tuor shrugged.
I believed it was paying off to have a mute on the team, Jericho kept up my practice in sign language. I signed, 'Hello, my name is R-I-C-H-A-R-D.'
She waved and began signing off much more rapidly then I could.
"She says her name is Dianna, and she is happy that someone can understand her."
"Ah! Good."
"Do you think you could tell me what the high crimes unit is like?" I asked Dianna.
She lowered her head, and raised her hands. "A horrible place," She signed. "They lock your arms to your chest, so it is hard to breathe. Only your head is exposed from a thick metal body clamp, and they make you wear a sedation mask to keep calm. Your eyes are blindfolded, and the whole room is dark, no sunlight can come in."
"And how about the guards?"
"There is not much need for guards, as there are cameras and automatic weapons."
I sighed as I scratched my head. Kori's forte was hand to hand combat. Her powers were controlled by emotions and her strength came from the sun. If she was calm, she wouldn't be able to get up the strength needed to get out.
Dianna placed her cold hand on my shoulder. "Is there someone in there whom you wish to get out?"
"Yeah, but I have no idea how." I answered.
"Do not worry, there is always a way." She took my hands and waved them in front of me. Then she took her index fingers and pulled them down her cheeks, and then made a 'U' shape with her pinkies in front of her face. 'Don't cry, be happy.'
"Thank you Dianna." I smiled.
I spent the next few hours speaking with her. She must have been incredibly lonely being here without anyone to speak to. She reminded me of Raven, back at home. Quiet, reserved, polite, very intelligent and yet there was a sense of sarcasm when she signed things. Speaking with her got my mind off of Star for a little while, and for that, I was grateful. Tuor joined us for awhile and learned some basic signs. It warmed my heart to know that he was trying to break their language barrier. That way, when I left, I wouldn't feel bad about leaving her behind.
A siren sounded.
"Someone's loose!" A monster shouted from the back. A cheer went up through the small crowd.
"Why are they happy?" I asked Tuor.
"You should know most inmates are not criminals. Ship like zoo, if you get out, vi happy for you." He explained. Made sense. I heard a loud bang and the ship briefly shook. "Seems zat someone getting out today, yes?" Another bang and the power went out.
Now's the perfect time to escape! I thought. I maneuvered through the cell, passing my cell mates. Coming up to the door, I pulled at the edges, trying to figure out how to open the dumb thing.
"It's not going to work. Since the power's out, the doors can't be opened." A prisoner said next to me, noticing my strain. Well, that wasn't what I was hoping for. I sat with my back against the door. There had to be some other way to get out. Maybe there was a ventilation system? That could be risky, besides, the ceiling was too high for me. I tapped my finger on my chin. I could probably get some of the other cell mates to help me open the door, but I wanted to sneak out. Still…
I stood up about to divulge my plan, when the ship suddenly shook and made me fall over.
A voice echoed from a couple of corridors away. "KEBER STO, RUTHA'T! BAY BESTIST JZORK!" 'Stand down, weaklings. Or fight me.' I'd recognize that Tamaranian anywhere.
"STARFIRE!" I shouted, my mouth near the crack of the door.
A pounding sound came from the end of the hall. "Will it hold?" A guard asked.
"It better, there's nothing else we can do."
"Zat is your friend coming?" Tuor asked.
"I believe it is. Do you know anyone else that could scare the guards so much?"
"Not many."
The noise down the hall grew louder and louder. At this point, Star was shouting obscenities instead of insults. I didn't know she had it in her to talk so foul. We heard guards running down the hall towards her, yelling at each other.
"Who thought that thing would hold her?! She escaped last time."
"It didn't help that you went down there to taunt her!"
"I was the one who said not to separate her from the Earthling!"
"Where is it now?"
The other guard was quiet.
"You idiot! If she goes to get him out, they'll all escape!"
Suddenly all noise stopped. Then there was a massive scream that hurt everyone's ears, followed by the sound of clattering metal.
"VORGY BOR FLUG HAUS JZORK!" 'Give him back to me.' So it would seem that she was angry.
"Fire at will! Don't let her leave the ship alive!" That command was followed by weapons being fired.
"STAR!" I screamed.
"ROBIN!?" She answered. "THOOT VON BOO!?" 'Where is he?'
"Star!" I called again. I heard large thumps echo through the hall as her screams pierced the air.
"KORIAND'R!" Someone else shouted from inside the cell. Soon everyone was calling for her. Silence in the hall.
The door suddenly became dented, in the shape of a foot. Two more kicks, and it was open. She broke at titanium door as if it was aluminum. My cell mates cheered as she entered calmly, her eyes glowing behind her glasses.
"Thoot von boo?" She asked panting.
I walked into the light and smiled at her. In response she pouted, raising her wrists where large cuffs kept her secured. I reached for my utility belt that she was wearing and pulled out a lock pick. After a few moments, they fell with a clang to the ground. I had a moment of deja vu and wondered if she was going to kiss me or not.
She didn't, but she pulled me into a bone crushing hug, lifting me off the ground. "GLIKE HOG OKMAR HOOTNTAINI GIMMER HATH ZOTA!" 'I am so happy you are okay.' Good to know, but I wouldn't be okay if she didn't put me down soon. It was getting hard to breathe.
"Nochta haus thig gimmer tullna." 'Glad to have you safe.' I replied, hugging her back.
"I hate to interrupt your reunion, but now be good time to make with the haste." Tuor spoke, changing back into his alien form. "For us all." We looked back to see only a few prisoners left in the cell, and they were on the verge of leaving.
Starfire looked at me questioningly.
"Vy ecth. Bomumna." 'We leave. Now.'
A quick look of panic crossed over her features.
"Something wrong?"
She shook her head, ridding herself of the thought. "No, nothing is wrong, never mind." She cleared her throat. "There are escape pods on the lower floor. We will have to be quick, I do not wish to endanger you anymore then I already have." She grabbed my wrist and took off running.
I sighed. So much for me saving her this time.
I ran to keep up with her. She had my arm in her iron grip and the Lord knows she would rip it off I fell back. She moved swiftly, but carefully. The hallways were slowly flashing red and guards were no where to be found. It was eerie.
"I have taken out most of the guards, but I believe the remaining ones are coming up with someway to stop me."
She turned a corner sharply, then stepped backwards, firmly yanking me behind her.
"What gives!?" I whispered sharply.
She clapped her hand over my mouth. "Pas tous là." She whispered in reply, pointing to the hall in front of us. A soldier stood in place, an enormous blade slung over his shoulder. He had a long snout like an alligator, but it was skinny like a bird. He was very much in shape, but his rips were showing. His eyes darted around, and they were a glowing yellow. Just his appearance gave me chills.
"He's one of the Warlords of Okaara. Ten Tamaranians went to train under him, only my sister and I survived. His name means 'not all there' as in; he has no scruples and will not hesitate to kill for fun. I do not understand why he is here, but we will find another way to the escape pods, there is no way I'm endangering you by going up against him." She explained.
I took one last look at the reptilian warrior and shivered. I definitely didn't want to run into him again.
She turned around we went back down the hall. I could feel her hand shaking in mine. Star always hated sneaking around. That was one of the things she despised the most about our job. Fortunately, that was my favorite part, and my specialty. We played a game once, a series of pranks on Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Raven. Of course, they were all royally pissed afterwards, but it helped Star tame the fear of the dark, and her skills in sneaking. Maybe bringing it up would ease her. I stepped up next to her and gripped her hand tighter. "First rule…of game in dark."
She looked perplexed for a moment, and then realization dawned on her. "There is always darkness…" I nodded and tugged her down a darker corridor. A guard passed, but no evidence of him seeing us appeared on his face.
"Second rule."
"You can do practically anything when you're not seen." She recited.
I nodded and took off my shoe. Promptly, I chucked it, and it hit the guard square in the head. He spun quickly.
"WHO'S THERE!?"
I motioned her to stay back, while I slipped forward. My dark uniform and hair helped blend me into the walls. I waited for the light to blink out and snuck up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned while I danced around him. I held up three fingers as the guard passed the hall.
"You're always more effective when you do the same thing in different spots."
I waited for the light to go out and then sprung across the hall on my hands, grabbing my boot as I did so, and hid behind a ledge.
I rammed my fist back and made a loud bang from the wall. The guard jumped. I couldn't see Starfire because of the darkness, but I knew she was probably holding in a giggle. The guard came steadily my direction. As he was right in front of me, I held my fist up. She saw the gesture and struck the wall she was hiding behind and caused an even louder bang. The guard ignited his weapon, letting the tip spark as he went back towards Star.
"Rule number four: Even if you're not prepared, the dark can make you seem prepared." She whispered.
The Gordanian must have heard her, because I heard a swift intake of breath. "Prisoner! Get back to your cell! The inmate that escaped is dangerous, and your return is for your own safety!" He called to her, still not seeing her. He crept closer still, and just went he was looking right at her, I held up my hand for the last rule.
"The dark can only help you so much." Her eyes glowed green.
"TAMARANIAN!" He shouted and took off in a sprint down the hall.
I released a thunderous guffaw as he screamed. Star came out from her hiding place and grabbed my arm.
"Oh that was fun! I have not laughed since we have gotten captured. Thank you."
I smiled and ushered her forward.
The rest of our trip was relatively easy. We ran into another guard, and we scared him just the same as the first one. I actually managed to swipe his blade from his belt and sliced an 'R' into the back of his uniform.
We reached the docks for the pods and I jumped in a small one. "Quick! Guards come!" I commanded.
She looked back determined.
"Star?"
I saw her sigh as she climbed in the pod. I watched her carefully, suspicious. She did some fiddling on the controls and then suddenly looked at me. "Robin, I can no longer ask you to put your life on the line. I have something that needs to be done, and I am afraid that you…are not equipped for the task." She hugged me. "Goodbye dear friend. If all goes well, I will come home soon."
I pulled away in shock. "What!"
She pressed a button on the console, vaulted out of the pod, and slammed the door shut.
"Star!? What are you talking about!? Get back here!" I tried to open the door, but she held it shut.
She mouthed something and kissed the glass of the window.
"Stop! Starfire!" I pounded on the window. A door closed off the docking station, she still stared at me through the small window. Her face was sad, but a diminutive smile graced her face. The pod floated away from the docking station.
"Launch sequence initiated, auto pilot engaged."
There was nothing I could do, I found myself just a few feet away from the most important person in the world to me. We were separated by space itself. As the jets on the pod ignited, she lowered her head, turned, and walked away. Her ruby red hair flowed in a trail behind her, waving farewell.
And let the angry reviews commence!
This chapter has been brought to you by Swamp People and ScarletDrake's amazing fiction 'Shadow Games', I stole the rules of the dark from there. :P Read it! (on ff) /s/8575399/1/
