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Chapter 12
AN: So, I started school again. If there is a lack of updates its because my English and Math classes are brutal. Don't worry. I have too many ideas to stop writing this fic now.
That is unless I stop getting reviews :P
Two things:
One: I need a new summary. Anyone have any ideas?
And two: I really want to write a new one-shot but I need someone to give me a good topic to write about. Maybe a contest topic or challenge or something…
Ryand'r stared at the retreating Earthian Ship. His men, hundreds of thousands of them, were ready to attack with raids of Tamaranian bombs and weapons. He wondered if they had been stupid enough to bring along his sister, Koriand'r.
He sighed. Although he and his sister had been close, he was shocked to see her on the side of the enemy. Losing contact years ago had made Ryand'r think that she was dead, prisoner or something else just as horrendous. Although nothing as horrendous as this. He wanted nothing more than to obliterate the human race.
He watched as the fleeting ship left the atmosphere, a indignant smile upon his lips.
"You and you're family will be punished for you're betrayal, sister."
Galfore had doted over her.
Kori hadn't minded in the slightest. She was as close as she could be to peace. She asked many questions to her old knorfka, and without much discussed, Galfore related his awful tale.
It had all started three earth years before. Ryand'r had finally had his Tamaranian coming of age and was given the thrown by Galfore in an instant. Under his rule all women were given obscure jobs around the kingdom that Galfore strictly disagreed with, including building weapons and training with them. He mentioned how he had not seen Fryia, his wife and Koriand'r's only motherly figure, in several months. When he finally mentioned, and verbalized his disagreements to Ryand'r, he banished him for treason.
Kori sat in silence, wonder and worry in her face all at once. Dick noted how well she was taking the news, but said nothing. He knew she would be upset later.
Then she began to tell Galfore of her life on earth.
"We were married nearly four years ago…" she began. Dick grinned.
He looked around the room for the hundredth time that day. He couldn't remember when he had been so nervous. The woman of his dreams walked down the aisle, on the arm of Alfred (Bruce's butler and Dick's most trusted friend), wearing the most beautiful, pearly white dress he had ever seen.
He remembered how perfectly it had clung to her body, how incredible it made her look. The bodice fell delicately upon her chest leaving a beautiful bare patch of skin that Dick yearned to touch.
Kori smiled sweetly at him, her glossy lips giving a slight pout as she neared his side and realized she could not greet him with anything more than a smile. Dick stared in a stupor, completely oblivious to anything but her.
As she finally reached his side she gracefully grabs his hands, and their vow's began.
Kori smiled sweetly at her old 'nanny' as she recanted the tale. Galfore whispered something to her in Tamaran but Kori just smiled.
"This is our first child and I am very happy here. Nightwing has done nothing but be a wonder husband. You must understand why I chose to stay."
The giant nodded as she continued to tell him of her travels since they had last spoken. Telling him about their tries for children. The terrible gunshot wound Dick had received and even the break up of the Titans.
Dick sighed. Yes, he was glad that his wife could have her Knorfka at this impeccable time, but he was beginning to wonder if letting him into the room was the best idea. Galfore had just walked in and stared at her in the beginning, making sure she was as comfortable as could be.
Finally, after receiving all the attention he could possibly give her and recounting his misfortunes on Tamaran and hers on earth, she had fallen asleep. Dick stifled a smile.
He watched his wife sleep quietly. She was the love of his life, the mother of his child, his Princess. Their beautiful daughter slept peacefully in her father's embrace. In the little time he had sat there she had hardly stirred. Things were most surreal at that moment. He cradled his newborn in his arms, wishing more than anything that he wouldn't have to get up and leave the two behind again. However, Bruce had explained to him that they would need to start the mission again, without delay, and Dick reluctantly agreed. He smiled down at his daughter as she opened her big green eyes.
"Hello Mar'i." He cooed, kissing her sweetly on her soft forehead. He smiled as he spoke her name, the name he and Kori had picked out only months before.
'After my mother, but still Tamaranian.' he mused. He sighed in content as the baby once again shut her eyes and fell into a peaceful slumber. A small knock on the door broke his thoughts and after a quick 'come in' the door opened.
"Dick, we gotta go." Roy said quietly, a gentle smile on his face at the sight of his best friend. Dick nodded sadly, getting up to place Mar'i in the make shift bassinet they had been using for her unexpected arrival. He kissed his wife tenderly on the cheek, not bothering to wake her.
"She's going to be very pissed off when she wakes up and you're not there." Dick nodded, looking once more at his sleeping wife.
"Yeah, I know." Dick looked to Galfore, who was still intently sitting to Kori's side. He waved his goodbye to the monstrous sized man and together Dick and Roy walked out and down to the main room. Although still donning the Nightwing uniform, Dick was completely missing the mask. He placed a hand to his face, trying the best he could to remember exactly where he had left it. Roy, sensing his discomfort, handed him his own, which was strikingly similar. Dick thanked him quietly.
"Don't mention it."
As they walked through the big oval doors, Dick couldn't help but smile at the welcome.
"Congrats Dad!" and a few, "Way to go!" greeted him.
Along with countless of other awaiting remarks. The pats on the back, hugs from the women and shouts from the men made him realize how incredible what just happened really was. He took it all in quickly, and set back to work.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked nonchalantly, mind still in a fuzz. Bruce walked to his side. Dick noted the peacefulness in his stance.
"Since landing on the planet didn't work out, I was thinking that we need a new way of gaining entry." he paused. "I was going to ask Raven to teleport us."
The said woman blinked from the corner.
"Me?" she asked hesitantly. Bruce nodded stoically.
"You are the only one with the abilities, I trust you're years in Azarath have helped you to develop you're powers further." The purple haired woman stood in shock.
"You know of Azarath?" Bruce nodded a grin playing on his lips. "I know everything, you forget that I funded you're years as Titans. So my question is, can you get us in there?" Raven looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Yes, but I'm not too sure how many I can teleport, It takes a lot out of me." Dick crossed his arms over his chest.
"But do you think you can do it?" he asked a bit more bluntly than Bruce had. Raven put a finger to her lips in another thought.
"I can sure as hell try." Dick, seeming satisfied, smiled kindly to her.
"It's going to be risky, but when has our job ever been easy."
"-I'm going along with you!" a voice trailed. Dick turned to the source, a grin forming on his lips.
"If you think you can help us, BB." The green changeling smiled brightly. "Course!"
Vic raised his hand from outside the group, shocking Karen slightly. He took a step forward and placed the hand on Dick's shoulder.
"I'm going too man." Karen's eye's widened. Dick, although surprised, nodded.
"We can use all the help we can get."
Turning back to Raven, and walking to her side, he smiled.
"Do you think you can get us all there?" He questioned. She smiled slightly and then nodded.
"I've done it before, remember?" Dick grinned sharply.
"Then lets do this."
Setting back to work, Dick devised a plan. All in the room listened attentively.
"Lets make our entry at the palace. Hopefully it hasn't changed much since we were there. We can have Raven scout out the rooms, find the best one for us to enter in." The group nodded. Bruce jumped in quickly.
"Raven and Garfield, you're going to scout for soldiers, take Roy with you, he's quick, can take them out in seconds. If there's anyone in the palace, you're going to take them out as quickly and as quietly as you can."
Dick, although put off by Bruce's intrusion, nodded in understanding.
"I'm going after Ryand'r Bruce." he said reluctantly. The older man turned to Dick, chuckling slightly. Bruce placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder.
"I know. Kick his ass boy. Make me proud." A grin formed on Dick's lips
"What about me?" Vic asked, crossing his arm's over his broad chest. Dick looked completive.
"You're going with me Cy. I might need back up." Vic chuckled slightly, as if the old times were upon them again.
"Sure thing Nightwing."
Babs cleared her throat, opting to stay with Kori. She was hoping her friend wouldn't be too terribly upset when she realized her husband was gone. Dick thanked her wholeheartedly, wishing even more than before that he could stay behind.
The group thought it best to leave right away. Gathering their things they all walked to the middle of the room, readying themselves for a new adventure.
"You ready Rae?"
Closing her eyes tightly, Raven focused the best that she could on her task. She meditated to herself, placing her hands out and chanting her normal chant of 'Azarath Metrion Cynthos'. The room watched in awe as her pale body began to glow a deep and frightening black. Suddenly she was enveloped in darkness and before their eyes she disappeared.
Dick held his breath. There was no telling how long it would take.
Raven felt herself begin to fade. Bringing forth memories of the palace all those years ago when they were teens and had last visited, she concentrated on her goal of entry. She remembered a particular part of the palace that had been used very rarely. She focused her mind on that space, which ended up being a bedroom.
It was Starfire's room.
She pulled herself into the room. She peeked her head through and noted that there was no one there, and hardly any lighting. She opened the portal further, walking in and checking around more thoroughly. When made sure that she was alone, she headed back into the portal and back to Headquarters.
Dick signed in relief as she pulled through.
"Hurry, I can't hold the portal for long." She shouted to the team. Nodding quickly they stepped in.
Nightwing, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg, Batman and Speedy fell completely silent as they filed into the room. Nightwing pointed to their position, making sure everyone knew what they were assigned to. With practiced ease Raven chanted again and stuck her head through the wall to look for soldiers. Pulling her head back though she grinned.
"All clear."
Nightwing thought it strange but said nothing. He opened the door and together the team made their way into the hall.
Raven moved the fastest, checking every corridor for soldiers. When none presented she began to wonder,
What was Ryand'r trying to pull?
"This has to be a trap." she whispered to Nightwing. He nodded in agreement but trudged on regardless.
"We have to find him, all traps aside."
Bruce, although walking alongside the group, had began dropping sensors. If someone were to walk down the hall, he would know.
Nightwing searched each room, finding absolutely nothing. The Palace seemed completely empty. As each new corner was turned he noted how incredibly large the Palace really was.
His mind was still on his recovering wife and newborn daughter. As much as he tried to pull his thoughts away from them, he was unable to. Roy placed a hand on his shoulder sensing his sadness.
"They'll be fine man." He whispered. Nightwing smiled gratefully.
The team trudged on, dispite their leader's worry. Suddenly the hallway turned into two and they were forced to split up. Roy, Garfield and Raven went one way as Dick, Victor and Bruce went the other.
Walking in several feet they were halted. Without warning a mechanical laughter filtered through both hallways and a strong, pungent smell filtered into their senses. Within seconds everything went black, for everyone. Dick was the last to fall to the floor, images of his love flashing in his mind.
"Kori."
AN: Dun Dun Dun. Please, lets get more than 2 reviews this time, its not that bad… bye all !