TADA! Here is the next chappy. Hope you enjoy!

SR09

Kori's eyes widened when Red X said those words. She looked over at Richard, who was looking at Red X with hate. She couldn't believe that Red X would kill her best friend if she didn't do what he said. She looked down, trying to contemplate over the previous events. She finally gave in.

"Fine…" she began, still looking down. "I will…do as you please." Richard looked surprised.

"No Kori, don't give in to this. We will find another way. I promise..."

"Do not promise me anything." She interrupted, "If you get hurt again, I might just die inside. Please leave this between my boss and me." She looked up at Red X. She could tell he was smirking behind that mask. Richard as silent.

"Good Kori. You came to your senses. I'll call you and tell you where to meet me. From there, I will tell you all about what I need you to do." The screen went blank. Kori fell to her knees and slammed her fists into the ground. When she lifted them, the ground had been dented by the force. She shook out of hatred. Richard was almost afraid to approach her, but was still able to. He bent over and patted her on the back.

"Kori, are you sure you know what you're doing?" his voice gave a hint of concern. She nodded, still looking down.

"Yes, I am sure. I understand the consequences of what action I have just bestowed upon myself." She got up, fists still clenched tightly. "But that is a risk I am willing to take for my best friend." Richard frowned.

"But, what if it's a trick? You know he is known for that."

"Yes, I know. But I still need to get Maria back. She has nothing to do with the problems between us and Red X." Richard nodded.

"Okay, I understand. Just be careful. I don't want to lose you." Richard hugged her close. Kori sighed and hugged him back.

"I promise, I shall return to you." They stood there, holding that strong embrace for a good 5 minutes when Kori's cell rang. She let go of Richard. "I think you need to go. I will try and call you later." She sounded almost gloomy now."

"Okay…"he kissed her on the lips. "Good luck" he ran out the building and revved up his engine. Kori answered her phone.

"I'm all alone. What is it you want?" she asked. Bizarre's voice was on the other line.

"Good. I want you to go to the abandoned warehouse at the end of the street. There is a secret door under the stairs inside. Take those stairs and you will see me and your friend Maria. You have 5 minutes." The phone went dead. Kori's eyes glowed as she flew out the doors at light speed and to the abandoned building. She kicked the door in and ran to the stairs. She found the door and rushed down stairs. He told the truth, she did find him and Maria, who was still out cold. She stood their, eyes glowing and fists ready to fire at movement. Bizarre Clair stood there, smirking at Kori. She felt disgusted.

"Well, I am here. What do you want?" she said in a low, angered voice. Bizarre began to walk forward.

"Why cut to the chase? Can't we just get along?" he said in a cool voice. It sent a chill up Kori's spine.

"No, we can't get along. You kidnapped my best friend and almost killed Richard! There is not reason why I should want to get along with you now." She shot back. Bizarre stopped walking.

"Is that anger I'm hearing in your voice? I think it is. It's cute when you're angered. You think you can do anything." he chuckled. Kori took a step back.

"Just tell me what to do. I want to get this over with so that I will never see your face again." Her eyes glowed.

"Fine, I'll tell you what you need to do." he suddenly disappeared. Kori looked around desperately until she felt a tingle on the back of her neck. She froze as she felt his presence. "I want you to kill Richard for me…" he whispered in her ear. Her eyes widened as she turned around and stepped back.

"No...I would never do that for you. You can't make me kill the one I love. You just can't!" she screamed at him.

"Oh, but I can. And if you disobey me, then I'll kill Maria right in front of your very eyes. It would scar you for life; you'd have nightmares every night, along with the thought of it being your entire fault kid." Kori's eyes looked cold. She slumped over and looked down at her feet.

"That would never happen. I will not kill Richard, and you will not kill Maria. I won't let you." She said angrily. Bizarre laughed.

"Look who thinks they can do it all. It seems you and Richard have a lot in common." Kori could hear him walking closer to her.

"It is true me and Richard have a lot in common," she began. He was getting closer. "But that's why we love each other; because we can relate to everything. But there is one thing we both know we have in common, even at this moment." She could see his feet in front of hers. Kori shot her head up, eyes glowing. "And that's the hating of you!" she yelled as left hooked him in the jaw with her he alien strength, sending him into the wall with a crash. He got up from the rubble and glared at her with hate.

"If it's a fight you want," he cracked his knuckles. "Then it's a fight you'll get" he charged at Kori with his battle cry. Kori charged at him on foot. Bizarre threw his punch first, aiming right at Kori's abdomen. But she back flipped out the way and kicked his head up from under his jaw. He flew back and landed on one knee. Bizarre smirked as he rubbed his chin. "Not bad…Not bad at all Kori Anders." Kori got into her fighting stanz.

"I will not accept a compliment from the likes of you." Bizarre scowled as he disappeared again. Kori looked around, but then flew up in the air, remembering what had happened last time. She looked over at the unconscious Maria in the corner of the warehouse. Suddenly she heard foot steps. She looked around franticly, but saw no one. "Show yourself!" she growled.

"But I already have." Kori suddenly felt a streaking pain around her neck as she fell to the ground. She struggled there, choking. She felt like Bizarre had slipped a wire around her throat and was squeezing it. She couldn't breathe. Suddenly Bizarre appeared behind her, doing exactly as she felt. He had a crazy look in his eyes as he chocked her with a black wire. She was too confused to use her alien strength, but she wasn't too confused to bang her head against his forehead. He screamed in pain as he let go to put his hands over it. She coughed for air as she held a hand over her throat. She stood up after she caught her breathe and looked over at Bizarre, who was up and glaring at her. He charged again, and then kicks. Kori jumps over his foot and spin kicked him in the face. He didn't budge. Instead, he whipped around and punched Kori in the gut. Blood flew out her mouth as he kicked her away. She rolled on the ground. He ran and jumped in the air, ready to bring a kick down onto the fallen Kori, but she rolled out the way just in time. She kicked Bizarre's legs, causing him to fall over. She jumped up and fired starbolts at him, but he jumped out of the way. He stood up and looked at her. She was breathing heavily, as was he.

"Do you…really think that…you will win?" he asked her with an angry look. Kori was looking tense.

"Yes…I do…" she lunged at him and punched him on the gut. She then heated up her hand and held it to his chest. It glowed as she fired a starbolt. Bizarre blasted backwards into the wall. He ricocheted before falling to the ground, out cold. Kori put her arm down and then walked over to Maria. She picked her up by the arm and held her up as she walked over to the door. She turned to see if Bizarre was still on the ground by the wall. But he had disappeared. "Show yourself!" she yelled as she held onto Maria. All she could hear was Bizarre's laughter.

"I would, but that would make me too obvious. I'm in no shape to fight you anymore anyway. The same goes for you too I suppose." He noticed that Kori was holding onto her ribs with her free arm. "Next time won't be so easy Kori Anders. I'll tell you that right now" Kori snarled.

"No, next time, I'll kill you!" she yelled back at him. She then turned around and walked out the door. She was now outside the warehouse, but before she could call Richard, she collapsed out of exustion, dropping Maria.

Kori woke up to the sound of a door opening and closing. She looked around and saw she was in her hotel room, lying down in her bed. She looked at her side and saw Richard leaning back in a chair, asleep. She smiled. Suddenly the door opened again and Maria walked in. She smiled.

"Hey, I see you're awake." She said as she walked over to her Kori. Kori sat up in her bed.

"Yes I have. But what is Richard doing asleep over there?" she asked while pointing to him.

"Oh, well I called him after I woke up and saw you were out cold. He came and picked us up and he has been sitting at your side all night waiting for you to wake up. That's so sweet of him." Kori looked at Richard and smiled. She noticed his eyes stirring.

"I think he's waking up" Kori whispered to Maria. Richard's eyes popped opened and he looked directly at Kori.

"Your awake." He smiled.

"That's what they tell me" Kori giggled. Richard got up and embraced her.

"I'm glad you're okay" Kori closed her eyes.

"I am too." she smiled. Maria cleared her throat, which cause the couple to break and blush.

"So…what happened while I was out cold Kori?" Maria asked her.

"Well…He threatened me that if I didn't kill Richard" she looked down. "That he would kill you in front of me." Maria took a step back.

"How did I end up as the kidnapped one? And he wanted you to kill Richard" Kori nodded sadly. Richard looked at Kori, understand why she felt bad. He then answered Maria's question

"It's probably because you are best friends with a former teen titan."

"Yeah…" Kori looked at Maria.

"Don't worry. I didn't let him hurt you then, and I never will. I protect my friends with my life, and just because you do not have powers does not mean I won't protect you the same way." She smiled at Maria, who smiled back.

"Thanks Kori. You're the best." Kori crossed her arms.

"I know I am." she smirked. Suddenly Kori's cell rang. She looked at Richard warily. "It's him, I know it is." She told him. Richard picked up her cell to hand it to her.

"Just, answer it. Maybe you can find out where he is so we can stop him." Kori nodded and took the phone. She opened it up.

"Hello" she said.

"Hey Kid, I told you it wasn't over." Red X's voice came threw. Kori's eyes narrowed.

"What do you want with me? I already told you I will not kill Richard. I have already saved Maria. There is nothing else you can do"

"Yes there is" he said. She could feel him smirking.

"Then what? What else could you do?" she asked angrily.

"How about put a bomb in the very hotel you and all of your friends are staying at."

"What? No. There is no possible way that you could have a bomb in…"

"Yes there is. I'm Red X. There is nothing I can't do" he cut in.

"What do you want." she said gloomily.

"Well, since you said you would never kill Richard for me…I guess all that's left is you working for me."

"But I already do."

"No kid, not in the fashion business, the villain business."

"What? There is no way I would ever…"

"Tick tock tick tock. That bomb is lost somewhere in your hotel and I have the detonator in my hand as we speak. What you gonna do?" he said evilly.

"I…I…" she looked at Richard. I have to do it. I hope Richard understands. "I…I accept." Red X grinned.

"Nice choice kid. You might wanna tell your dear Richard and Maria to duck." Kori's eyes widened as she pushed her two friends down. All of a sudden, her window was busted open and a black figure swooped in and grabbed Kori.

"Richard!" She screamed as she dissapeared out the window. Richard got up and ran to the window screaming.

"KORI!"