Author's Note: I'M BACK! I can't tell you guys how sorry I am for not updating... I really should have told you my schedule at the end of the previous chapter. Immediately after finals week, I had to get on a plane and fly out of the country to flee from thnx4killingme (nah just kidding) but really my family and I went on a 2-week vacay and I didn't have time to write on the trip so I hope you guys understand. But now I'm back, school's over, and I will be able to post weekly :) So read on, and don't forget to tell me what you think by leaving a REVIEW! FAVES/FOLLOWS are also appreciated thank you so much guys for staying with me it really means a lot :")

To laniDG11: Thank you so much omg this really put a smile on my face :D I do hope that I answer your questions throughout the story and who knows... I might write a sequel if I'm not able to answer all of those in this one *wink wink* Again, really sorry for the late update, hope you enjoy this one and thanks again!

To Levi16: Thank you thank you! Really appreciate the support :D Glad you liked it!

To thnx4killingme: I really really like your enthusiasm I'm not kidding HAHAHA you remind me of my little sis XD Finals were a pain, but I managed to push through but thanks for the prayers and the review! (I can't even begin to apologize for not updating pls don't assassinate me I have more stories to post *cough* sequels *cough*)

To reader . scorpio: It's alright hahahaha thanks for coming back and reviewing anyways :D Thank you also for the support it really means a lot to me :") (finals suck btw it's really creatively draining)

To 4Eva Dreaming: Firstly I like your username :D Secondly, thank you so much! I was a wee bit worried that I may have made Red X a little OOC but it's what works with my story and quite frankly, he's a complex character... which is why I love him so much :) Hope you like this one and I'm really sorry that I kept you waiting... enjoy!

To 9linn8: Awww thank you so much! :") Sorry for the late upload, but I still hope you stick around and read this one!

To Datan-shi. okami: I wish it was but I was going for the typical Red X x Starfire x Robin... but you never know I might change things up a bit *cough* maybe in the sequel *cough* Hope you still stick around to find out ;) Thanks for the review!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the story line and plot of this story.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"The gem is at its full capacity," Val-yor noted. His computers were beeping madly as light from the Imperium Crystal pulsed, turning almost the exact same shade of green as the eyes of the Tamaraneans. The last of them were being hauled away to the dungeons by schlurches, their bodies hanging limp and unmoving. They didn't even put up much of a fuss. Troqs, Val-yor thought in disgust, cringing inwardly. No wonder the Gordanians invaded this planet.

Blackfire tossed her hair impatiently, the heels of her boots clacking loudly against the floor as she approached him. "It will hold all their energy," she said in utmost confidence, "With nothing and no one left to defend Tamaran, I'll be unstoppable."

Val-yor rolled his eyes, but Blackfire didn't notice. He still questioned himself as to why he chose to work with a Tamaranean—and a princess at that. But his thoughts were disrupted when all of a sudden, a loud boom echoed within the walls, shaking the railings of the platform. The Imperium Crystal glowed ominously at the blast, the force field surrounding it pulsing slightly. Val-yor leaned over the railings and narrowed his eyes at the intruders.

"Sorry to crash the party," Robin said, "but it looks to me that there is someone left to defend this planet."

"And that's us!" Beast Boy added. The Titans stood in the hole they blasted through the wall, their stances ready—behind them was Galfore, the largest and fussiest Tamaranean he had had to deal with, accompanied by a rather lean man clad in a black suit, the eyes on his skull-like mask piercing and narrowed to horizontal slits.

"TITANS, GO!"

The Titans lunged with Robin in the lead as hundreds of schlurches attacked them, jumping at them from the upper platform than lined the dome ceiling with green projectile slime oozing from their mouths. The drones that were hovering around transformed into the same type of robot that Red X fought on the ship, their huge hammer-like hands prepared to crush their enemies. "Get them!" Val-yor ordered from above. He raised his gloved hands and fired a continuous flow of explosive X-shurikens at the schlurches, causing them to explode to bits of green goop. The center stalk whirred and light from the platform above them shined brightly. "Careful, X!" Cyborg warned. He punched a robot squarely on the jaw just before it could smash him with its hands. "That thing's in a balance! If you tip the scale, we'll all go down with it!"

"Then what do you suggest I do?" Red X shouted back, teleporting away when another robot came charging at him. Galfore charged as well, him and the robot colliding with a force that shook the entire building. Beast Boy, who morphed into the same alien animal as Galfore's steed, and Raven were back to back, her dark energy tearing the schlurches apart at the same time shielding herself from the slime projectiles. Beast Boy roared, his huge maw closing down on the upper half of a schlurch, biting it off and spitting it back out immediately, returning back to his original form. "GROSS!" he winced, tears forming in his eyes as he desperately tried to wipe the taste off of his tongue.

"Do you see Starfire?" Robin asked. He swung his staff around, twirling it with his nimble fingers, slicing the schlurches in his way. Red X looked up just as Val-yor descended on him, almost crushing him if not for Cyborg's timely sonic blast. He didn't have the time to say thanks—Beast Boy was knocked against the wall by a robot, which glowered over him with a raised hammer fist. He teleported instantly, extending his foot as reappeared, kicking the robot and throwing it off balance. The robot was stunned, but it charged still. Red X threw Beast Boy to the side as the robot's fist collided with the wall, creating a deep dent on it. Red X slapped an X-shaped time bomb on its side and grabbed Beast Boy by the arm, leading him away before the robot exploded. Raven shielded them both from the blast with her force field. "I'm going for the crystal," he said, leaving Beast Boy by Raven's feet. He didn't catch what Raven said after, though it sounded like she was complaining about always being the babysitter. He took off in teleportation immediately, reappearing in front of a computer panel facing the Imperium Crystal—a rather small white gem that pulsed neon green light. As Galfore mentioned, a force field protected the gem and prevented its energy from escaping. All he had to do was find away to bring the shield down. His fingers were about to drum on the keypad when a glass capsule caught his eye, just across from him. He instinctively left the panel and ran to Starfire, her body limp and unmoving inside. "Cutie?" he said, pressing his forehead on the glass. "Starfire? Starfire, wake up! I'm here. I'm gonna get you out, just hang on." He shot an X-portal at the glass, creating an opening wide enough for him to get Starfire out. She fell into his arms, her eyes barely open. She looked worse—dark circles appeared under her eyes, and her face looked shriveled up and hollow like a skull. Her right eye opened slightly as he brushed the hair from her face and pressed two fingers under her jaw to check her pulse, which was faint. "Hey there," he said. Starfire just smiled weakly, lacing her arms automatically around his neck as he carried her. "Not so fast, tough guy," a voice said behind him. He didn't have the time to look back—ultraviolet energy hit him squarely in the back, sending him and Starfire off the railing. He managed to hold on the edge of the platform with one hand while the other desperately reached out for Starfire's—and he nearly missed. His fingers closed tightly around Starfire's, but he could feel her slipping. "ROBIN!" he yelled, but he was too busy fighting the schlurches that were overpowering Galfore. Starfire's head lolled to the side, her hand slipping out of his grasp even further. He looked up, and saw Blackfire glowering over him with a wicked grin plastered on her face, her eyes glowing lilac purple.

"DICK!"

Robin looked up in shock at the sound of his true name, just as Blackfire stomped hard on Red X's hand, causing him to cry in pain as he let go of the railing. Starfire's hand slipped from his as he fell. He teleported and reappeared just above Blackfire, shooting a concentrated beam of Xenothium energy at her, which she dodged by flying straight up. He landed on the platform, racing to the edge in time to see Robin soaring through the air, catching Starfire's unconscious body before it collided with the concrete floor. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're new. Name's Blackfire," she said, landing behind Red X and striking a pose, "Empress Blackfire."

"Not interested," Red X snapped, shooting X-shurikens in her direction as he turned. Her eyes glowed light purple, shooting the shurikens out of the air—but it caused her to be distracted, allowing Red X to grab her midsection and throw her down. She grunted as she hit the floor, her eyes still glowing. "You're sister's cuter, though. She single?" he teased. He disappeared when Blackfire gritted her teeth together, right before another beam of violet energy shot from her eyes. She got up and he reappeared, throwing his right fist at her.

She caught it in her own hand with ease. Red X stared at their hands in disbelief, his entire arm shaking as he fought against her strength. "You're strong for an earthling," she noted, pressing down and twisting Red X's wrist, causing him to wince in pain and buckle down to one knee. "She may be, as you say, 'cuter', but I'm stronger."

She kicked him hard, the sole of her boots colliding with his chest, sending him to the opposite wall. He turned and flipped mid-air despite the pain, landing gracefully like a cat at the opposite end of the platform. Sweat trickled down his back and his heart was racing. He breathed hard, trying to even his gasps. Violet bolts appeared at her hands as she approached him menacingly. "I always was the better fighter. Still think you can beat me, tough guy?" she cooed, smirking evilly.

"Are you kidding me?" he said, levelling his tone. He stood up, his X-blades sprouting from the back of his gloves, their red tips gleaming.

"I can do this all day."