Chapter 13.

Hey guys, I'm super sorry. I've been in and out of the emergency room and doctor's offices with a pretty nasty back injury. I've been on some pretty crazy drugs and could barely function for the last 6 weeks. For those who like anatomy or are interested in googling, I strained my latissimus dorsi muscle. The pain started below my false ribs on the right side and has been radiating outward as time progresses and no help. It was reaching up across both shoulder blades, stiffening my neck and right hip. They were worried it was going to turn into sciatic pain if they didn't figure it out soon. Then my right ankle gave out on me and my right leg was joined to the mix of pain. The muscle relaxants they put me on messed up my heart pretty good and even on Vicodin, I was still in pain. My heart rate was hitting 146, and again for those anatomy lovers of googling experts, that's very bad. 150+ and you've got yourself SVT or super ventricular tachycardia. It's only dangerous if it prolongs for more than a few seconds. Any guess on how long my heart rate was up there? The moment I was on muscle relaxants. Turns out I'm very intolerant (basically allergic) to a stimulant in medications like steroidal anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. Since it wasn't 'necessarily' deadly, they kept me on the medication, changing my prescription without waiting for the previous drug to clear from my symptom. As an example, I took flexeril at 6am and had my doctor's appointment at 8am. He listened to my heart took me off the flexeril and put me on steroids and had me take them right then and there. Fun stuff, drug interactions, it's like a surprise, you never know what you're going to get. For me, SVT, more pain, inability to pump enough oxygen through my body or stay awake.

For those who skipped the long read, that's okay. Long story short, I'm alive! I'm back! I'm still writing this story! And keep a look out for some other one shots, I've built up an arsenal of ideas since my disappearance: P

"Cease your attack!" Starfire screamed at batman and superman. They ignored her, still trying to figure out what was happening. It wasn't them who were firing, so who was? Their question was answered when a ship slipped out of its stealth mode. Nearly five times bigger and black as the sky around them the ship was absolutely frightening. Batman started to call them, "they need to know there's an innocent person on there, they can have Blackfire," he growled.

"Ne!" Starfire cried, Beastboy and Raven having to restrain her.

"Get her out of here" batman snapped. The call answered as Beastboy and Raven dragged Starfire out. The only reason they managed was that she caught a glimpse of who was on the other line. She allowed them to drag her out and then tore from then, running down the hall. Beastboy changed into a cheetah, chasing after her as Raven flew after them too.

"Starfire where are you going?"

"To save my sister!"

"Cyborg, we're getting hit hard" Bumblebee shouted through her communicator. Speedy flew into view, hardly winded but a cut was seeping blood from his cheek. He brushed the blood away, "how much longer should we play defense?" Alfred walked back into the room with a handful of gadgets. He handed them to Cyborg who started testing them out, "I'm going as fast as I can, I've never faced anyone like Harley Quinn," he said truthfully. Bumblebee yelped and the connection cut out.

"Shit, Alfred what do we do?" Cyborg said, anger making his handiwork sloppy. Alfred took the gadget from his hands and finished tightening the screws and replacing the faulty wiring, "distract her, I'm afraid"

"You don't think we can handle her?"

"You may be 3 against 1, and though you may be able to get the best of her if need be, you would not take the steps necessary to do so if it were to cause her great harm- it's just not who you are as a person or how you were trained" Alfred said, handing back the gadget. Cyborg snapped it into place on her arm and stood up, rolling his shoulders back, "Looks like I'll have to prove you wrong then"

"I'd be disappointed with anything less"

"Starfire you can't go out there" Raven snapped, blocking the door. Starfire's eyes engulfed in flames, "I do not wish to hurt you but if you block my way any longer I will be forced to do so" She growled. Raven swallowed at the anger there but stood fast, shaking her head. Starfire's lip curled back into a snarl, "I apologize in the advance friend, but this is my sister," She said, lighting a starbolt from her hands. Beastboy stood in front of Raven, "This is the same sister who just tried to kill you and Robin!" He exclaimed, "You really want to risk everything, your own child's life, to save her?"

"I cannot allow my sister to be taken prisoner by the psions again, they will not let her leave alive this time," she argued, both hands lighting up. Beastboy braced himself, "you're not leaving," he promised severely. Starfire hesitated, her starbolt flickering. Of course, she didn't want to hurt her friends, but this was her sister. She had to help her, no matter what had happened in the past. She let her starbolt fade and her eyes clear, "You're right," she said softly. Beastboy relaxed, "Thank you, I know you want to help her but batman and superman will- Starfire!"

She had zipped past them down the hall, flying at super speed. She'd curse her decision for taking this energy from the baby later. She reached the trash chute and glanced back. Beastboy's face turned from anger to terror and he found the nearest room and pulled Raven in with him. Starfire hit the door release and was sucked out of the ship.

"Why the hell did the trash chute just open?" batman asked, hitting buttons for security footage. Superman stilled his typing and pointed out their windshield to where Starfire was zooming away from them and towards the battle. Batman swore as The Psion's ship suddenly opened what looked like a maw and the space pod was dragged in. Starfire grabbed onto the top of the pod and allowed herself to be dragged in with it.

"We literally just saved them from an enemy, and behold another enemy" batman growled. Superman sighed, "Life of a superhero, I'm going to make some calls on who exactly that ship belongs to and go from there, we can't just burst in there with no plan"

"My son is in there, barely healed from the last attack, and you want to sit on your ass and make a phone call?" Batman yelled. Superman stood calmly, "We need a plan or we'll only make it worse"

Beastboy and Raven came back into the control room and batman whirled on them, "You couldn't watch one girl?"

"Batman, enough, we have bigger problems to worry about" superman said, moving past the changeling and Raven without a side-glance. Batman grumbled but followed, not enjoying his new role as an assistant. Raven slumped into the nearest seat, seething, "She isn't thinking straight! She's gone crazy!"

"Raven, she's doing what she thought was best"

"I thought you were on the side of keeping her safe!"

Beastboy gripped her shoulders, "of course I would've rather her stay here and let us handle the fighting, she's pregnant for fuck's sake, but instead of cursing her to the heavens and back why don't we come up with a plan to save them?

"Starfire what the hell are you doing here?" Robin exclaimed as they were marched down the hall. Blackfire chuckled, "I would think by now you would know that she doesn't listen to orders"

"I spent long enough following commands," Starfire snapped, causing Blackfire to laugh more. Robin growled, "as much as I want to sit around fighting each other, let's focus on this newest problem okay?" he asked. Blackfire and Starfire had a tense stare off before they nodded. The doors around the slid open in unison and an army walked in, surrounding them. Lizard like in appearance they walked on two legs like a human. Scales and spikes covered the back of their neck to their tails; anywhere not spiked was covered with metal plating of some sorts. They held lethal looking spears that crackled with electricity. Robin's body unforgivingly remembered the electricity of those collars with a painful ache from his throat.

"Do not resist, it will only make it more enjoyable for us," the largest lizard said. He pushed through the crowd and removed his helm, black glittering eyes paired with a smile of razor sharp teeth. "We've already been acquainted to the Tamaranian princesses, but you…" he trailed off as Robin involuntarily tensed. The lizard chuckled, "Yes, him I would like to test, though we did have some unfinished tests for the girls" he said sinisterly. Starfire moved to partially protect Robin from the lizard's sight, though her actions only made him laugh.