Chapter 11

None of them understood. The alarm had gone off. The cameras had clearly shown Red X destroying a building downtown. And yet, when they arrived the building was still intact, and Red X was nowhere to be seen. Robin ran his hand through his hair, clear frustration etched into his face. They had searched the area and found nothing. They had checked the security cameras but they were in perfect working order and hadn't been tampered with. So what was going on? Robin didn't have a clue.

As they continued to search the area, just in case there was anything that they had missed, all at once the alert on each Titan's communicator went off. They all looked at each other in surprise. Robin pulled his T-Comm out of his belt and flipped it open. In a matter of seconds his face went from pure confusion to pure anger. "It was a ploy. A trick to lure us away. Someone's tripped security at Titan's Tower."

Without hesitation the four of them raced back to their respective vehicles. Robin jamming his helmet on as fast as he could, and speeding away. Cyborg got into the T-Car and did the same. Raven and Beast boy were left to fly back. It only took them five minutes to return, but that was still too long for Robin's liking. When they arrived Robin pulled out his communicator. "Beast Boy, Raven, I want you two to go in through the roof. Stop anyone from getting out that way. Cyborg, Start at the basement. I'll go straight to the Command Centre. Titans, go."

And they did what they were told, fanning out to their respective areas. Cyborg entered the basement and, finding nothing out of the ordinary there, decided to work his way up the tower to join Robin. Beast Boy and Raven had gone through the roof and made their way down, also to join Robin. Robin had found nothing in the Command Centre and so he found himself silently searching down the endless maze of corridors that the tower consisted of. If he was in the right state of mind to do so, he would have put a complaint forward about how complicated it was to navigate.

He heard a bang, and he knew exactly where it had come from. "The investigations room." He ran full pelt toward the room but hesitated before going through the door, mentally preparing himself for what could be anything. Slade's robots, Red X, possibly even Slade himself. Staff in hand, he burst through the door, letting it close behind him. There wasn't much light in the room, just a few rays of orange from the setting sun seeping in through the edges of the curtains. He could see an outline of a person who was kneeling before the desk. They had gasped when the door opened, but hadn't moved. "If you give yourself up now, I might not have to hurt you."

The figure rose, staying in the shadows as much as possible. They did not speak. "What are you doing here? Who are you?" When he still didn't get an answer, Robin realised that talking wouldn't get him anywhere. Instead he raised his hand and flicked the light switch. What he saw caused his heart to leap, and his staff to drop. "Starfire?" And there she was, stood behind his desk, looking as normal as she ever did. He was so happy! Until he noticed the look in her eyes. She looked sad. Her eyes dropped to the floor, and he followed her gaze. In her hand, he noticed she was carrying something. His laptop.

"Starfire what are you doing?" He didn't understand. None of this made sense.

"I am sorry."

"Sorry? For what? You're back. You're safe now!" Robin walked towards her and made to grab her arm but she moved back. "Starfire what's going on." He looked her up and down, and then he caught sight of the bruise surrounding her neck. Brushing his fingertips across it, he knew exactly how she'd gotten it. "He hurt you didn't he?" She didn't respond. Robin was getting frustrated by her lack of explanation, but was just so happy that she was safe. "Star please, talk to me."

"Robin I…" She stopped for a moment, seemingly in concentration and then looked back at him. "I cannot stay here." She raised her free hand at him, and he stepped back as the familiar green light was held at his face. It was then that the pieces fit together, it was then that he realised what she was doing.

"Star no! You don't have to do this. I can help you out of this. I know all too well that Slade is manipulative, but that doesn't mean you have to be his apprentice. We're here for you. I'm here for you."

"Robin, you do not understand. I am not Slade's apprentice. Not technically."

"Well then what are you doing? This looks a lot like it did when he got to me."

"I am not his apprentice Robin. I am his pawn." And without warning she shot a starbolt at him. Quite a powerful starbolt. It sent him back through the door, and he landed on the other side of the corridor. Robin was in disbelief. There was nothing he could do but watch as Starfire opened the window and left, his laptop still firmly in her hand.

Cybrog, Raven and Beast Boy all arrived at the scene. Raven helped Robin to his feet, but he was still in shock. "What happened?" Cyborg looked into the room, only to find the window open. "Robin?" Robin looked at his feet, and rubbed the back of his head.

"It was her. It was Starfire."

"What?!" Beast Boy faced Robin, the disbelief shown clearly on his face. "Are you sure? You must be joking! She would never…"

"She did!"

"Slade must be controlling her. He must really want someone to be his Apprentice." Cyborg was thinking what Raven and Beast Boy were. Slade can only turn the Titans against each other if he was threatening them with something. They knew that first hand from what had happened with Robin.

"No." Everyone looked at Robin. "She said that it's not like that. She's not his apprentice, she's his pawn. I'm not quite sure what it means, but it can't be good."

"She's still Starfire though. We can get her back, I'm sure of it. We just need to find out what Slade is holding against her."

"It's deeper than that."

"How do you know?"

"She attacked me." Robin walked into the room and sat down heavily on the chair. It sounded wrong as he said it, and he hated the fact that it was true. Starfire had attacked him.

"So? You attacked us when you were working for Slade."

"No. I attacked you three. I never attacked Starfire. I only shot her with the thermal blaster when Slade had activated his nanobots. It was the only way I could save all of your lives. But Star, she just attacked me out of nowhere…"

"What did she take?"

"My laptop. Everything about every enemy is on that. Including everything I have on Slade and Red X." The silence hit. No one knew what to say. It was obvious now that Starfire was under the same manipulation that Slade had put onto Robin and Terra. But what was it? What was he holding over her that could actually cause her to attack Robin? Robin had been against attacking Starfire because of his feelings. Because hurting her was something he'd never want to do. So did that mean Starfire had finally let go of Robin?

"So…" Beast Boy piped up. "What are we going to do?"

"We need to find out what Slade is holding over Starfire. Cyborg, check for nanobots. We need to get her out of there as fast as possible. She had severe bruising around her neck, next time he might not let go. Raven can you please just keep trying to see if you can connect with her. I know she's blocking you but we have to try whatever we can. Beast Boy, fly around the city, see if she's still out there somewhere. I need that laptop back. If Slade gets his hands on that then I don't know what I'll do."

Robin sat as he watched his friends head off in different directions. He knew he should help them, but he was still in shock that Starfire had actually attacked him. She had only ever done that once and that was because he really needed it, but why would she do it now? It didn't make sense. She didn't need to protect anyone. Robin's head dropped to his hands. It was only when he flickered his eyes open that he saw a stray piece of paper on the floor. Gently, he picked it up, curiosity getting the better of him.

South bound freight train.
Docks.
22:30.

He gripped the paper, crumpling it in his hand. Whether Starfire had intended to leave this or not, Robin was finally one step ahead of Slade. He bolted out of the room, ignoring the pain that had decided to grip into his ribs where Starfire had shot him, and went to the Command Centre. Cyborg was stood staring at the computer. "Well me and Raven are free. Raven can't connect to Starfire."

"I've tried but she's pushing me out. There's something she doesn't want me to know." Raven walked up to Robin. "You should get tested for nanobots too, if Slade is using anything against Starfire, it's you." Robin was shocked by the statement. It wasn't like Raven to be so openly obvious about the relationship between Robin and Starfire. Whatever status it may be in. She had a point though. So Robin sat in the chair and let Cyborg do his thing.

"You're all clean man. No bots." Cyborg untagged all of the wires and set Robin free.

"Well that kind of blows that theory out of the water. What else could he have threatened her with?"

"Unless that's just it…"

"What?"

"What if it is just a threat? You know how much Slade holds onto his threats. They're always followed through."

"You might be onto something there Cyborg. We just need to convince Starfire that the threat can't hurt anybody!" Robin was growing happier by the second. Finally they might be able to bring Starfire back.

"Problem is where do we start looking?"

"I know exactly where we should start and the time too." Robin held out the piece of paper and smiled. He pulled his communicator out and called Beast Boy. "Found anything?"

"Nothing, she's long gone by now."

"Right, well come home. I have a plan."

At quarter past ten that night, Robin, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven were at the docks. They had located the old train track that ran through and had spread out at different points on the line. Robin had found out that there was a freightliner due to come through the docks, southbound to the next city. He didn't know what it was carrying, but it must be something that Slade was interested in. Everyone was told to wait in their positions for Robin to give his command. They had to separate Starfire and get her on her own. Robin's plan was specific. Do not move until he says so. So they waited.

After ten minutes, Robin could hear the train approaching. He could tell that this freightliner was full, as it was moving very slowly. Scanning the area, Robin noticed three figures stood atop a nearby crane. One was significantly taller than the other two. "It's them. Right team, wait for my signal. Our fight begins now." Robin watched as Slade swung his arm out, signalling the others to follow his direction. Starfire and Red X came into the light as they both swan dived from the crane down towards the train. Starfire took Red X's hand and they both landed gracefully beside each other atop the train. They then separated as Starfire started to use a continuous starbolt to break through the top of the carriage and Red X hopped to the one behind her, doing the same but with a red laser. Slade was still watching from atop the crane.

"Right, Beast Boy and Raven get X. Cyborg keep Slade from coming close if he tries. I'm going after Starfire. Titans, go!" With that they went into action, but quietly. This was a precision fight, not a full frontal attack.

Red X stopped firing the laser when a black pool started to emerge on the train roof. He was highly confused, and yelped as he fell through the pool. Not long after he was ejected out of the side of the train, and landed on the gravel beside the tracks. He only had time to stand before he was rammed into at the side and sent tumbling. Raven appeared behind him and Beast Boy turned human in front of him.

"Red X apprehended."

This was Robin's cue. He grappled onto the train a few carriages behind where Starfire was, and ran along them until he was on the carriage that Red X had previously occupied. Realising that she had almost burnt a full square into the roof of the carriage, he decided he should make his move now.

"Robin! Slade's disappeared!" Cyborg's voice came from his communicator. Starfire heard it and stopped what she was doing, turning to look at Robin. She wasn't looking at him though, she was looking past him. Without even a hint of acknowledgement she turned back to her task. When Robin stepped forward to jump onto her carriage, he was pulled back by something hard across his chest, and his back hit something harder. Looking up he saw the black and orange that was Slade's mask. Slade had used his staff to pull Robin toward him and held him firmly in place.

"She's mine now Robin. You've lost." Slade whispered into Robin's ear, and it angered him. He was not, under any circumstances, going to lose her to this psychopath. Robin ducked under the staff and took a running dive onto the carriage in front. He caught Starfire around the waist and took her down with him. The two of them hit the roof and tumbled off the side of the carriage, Robin landing on top of Starfire pinning her to the floor. Robin was aware that Slade had continued with what Starfire had started, but right now he didn't care. For the first time, Slade was not his priority.

Robin looked down at Starfire; she had no emotion on her face. She wasn't happy to see him, or that he'd gotten her away from Slade, but she wasn't sad either. Not like he thought she would be. He knew how he felt when he was caught by Slade; he felt ashamed. That he wasn't the best he could be if he was manipulated by the enemy. But Starfire, she just seemed numb. "Starfi…" He didn't have time to finish her name before she shot him in the chest with her eyes. He was thrown off of her by the blow and landed on his back a few metres away. Flipping over he got back onto his feet at the same time she did. They were at a standoff. "Why won't you talk to me? What does he have over you?"

"It is about you Robin. It has always been about you." She looked down. Robin's head spun as he the words reached him. Slade has said those exact words to him when he had made Robin his apprentice. It was him. Or at least something to do with him. He slowly approached her; he was actually worried that she would attack him for a third time that day. When he got a few feet away he put his arm out to her. To which she responded by grabbing it and throwing him the opposite way over her shoulder. Again he noticed the lack of emotion that she expressed. She just did it. It wasn't a provoked attack, but she had just tossed him with no emotion. Almost robotic. She'd been told to, he was almost certain of it.

After one more try of getting close to her and being put literally flat on his face he realised that she didn't want him there. He could get close, but if he tried to touch her, she would attack. Robin dusted himself off and stood again. "Look Star, I don't know what's going on, but I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you."

"I am not worried about you hurting me, because I know that you will not."

"So why do you keep attacking me?"

"I must protect." Before Robin had chance to even be confused by this, he was shot with a starbolt and sent back. He hit a post and fell to the floor with a grunt. Starfire took off leaving him there; Robin was in too much pain to move.

Raven and Beast Boy didn't have time to blink when Starfire sped in and grabbed Red X's hand, who waved at the two as he was taken into the sky by Starfire. Cyborg had run up as the two flew away. "Train carriage is empty. Whatever Slade wanted, he got it." They all sighed, it hadn't worked.

Robin tilted his head back against the post and ran a hand through his hair. He pulled his Communicator from his belt. "Titans. Let's go home."

XXXXXX

When Starfire and Red X had finally made it back –thanks to Red X since Starfire had no idea where Slades hideout was- they were greeted by a slow applause. Slade stepped out of the darkness, clapping his hands. "Well done Starfire. Not only did you get me Robin's laptop, but our plan went off without a hitch and I got exactly what I wanted. Today could not have gone better." Slightly relieved but disgusted by this, Starfire turned to leave, having enough of seeing Slade for one day. "However…" She stopped in her tracks and cautiously turned to look at him "I would like to know how the Titans found out what my plans were for tonight. If either of you know anything about this, please elaborate."

After a few moments of silence Slade became impatient. "No one would like to explain to me how they knew that we would be at the docks for that specific train?..." He walked in front of the two. "Red X, leave." And he did. He wasn't planning on staying around to see Slade's wrath. When he'd left, Slade turned to Starfire. She was tall but he still towered over her. "I have to admit, I expected it. I still don't trust you. And I have to admit though you have guts. Going against me whilst you're under my… supervision, that's daring I must say. Daring but risky. Robin is safe for now, but if I find out about anything like this again, he will pay for it. Mark my words Starfire; I am not a force to be reckoned with. You may leave now we have a long day tomorrow."

Starfire turned and walked towards the door, annoyed that Slade had figured out what she'd done. "Oh and Starfire…" She looked back at him. "Well done on your attack on Robin. It was most pleasing." He left her then with her own thoughts, and with a sigh she trudged off.

So guys this is to make up for not getting any in lately :) hope you enjoy it! Midge