Back again after a small break. Well how've all you guys been? I had a great time with my Dad and Uncle on a small get away, but here I am again. Hope you all enjoy this new chapter!

And thanks for reviews, everyone likes reviews (especially me). Thanks Valda, Samanthe2121, Koriand'r Star, Rose Red2.0, Starfire I, Das Ubermann, & Realfanficts.

Chapter Fourteen

Moral Dilemmas

Isard watched the door hoping Beast Boy would storm back through in a blazing rage of fury. But the next sound was the high pitched whistling of a tea kettle off behind her. She took it off the heat and poured the hot water into a cup with tea leaves. One slice of lemon and her drink was complete. She carefully sipped it and dreamt of being able to communicate telepathically.

"Behold Dragon; I have acquired yet another pawn." Yet just as Isard began to savor her victory she paused as doubt pushed its way up front. True the ultimate false yet powerful thought of Raven's death pushed Beast Boy across a line, but he remained defiant. Each person's mind was different in its own way, some provingto be more difficult than others. She smiled from ear to ear as Kaede came to mind. "Then again, where there's a will there's a way."

CURRENTLY IN ROME…………..

"Oh come on!" Cried Robin incredulously as Ross gave his latest in anti-Starfire propaganda. He realized he had once again spoken out of turn as all eyes turned to him slightly irked. He steadied himself to deliver a proper response. "The fact that it was Nightingale at the time aside, if we hadn't intervened the village might still be standing. The fact is we instigated the rebellion and the town was punished for it; it was our fault."

"Can you say with certainty that the town in question would have survived for long?" asked Ross snidely. Robin mouthed wordlessly as he honestly couldn't answer the question.

"He cannot." Both Robin and Ross glanced down at Starfire. Her voice had risen without anyone's permission. "I am afraid I must disagree with Robin; it was neither his fault nor mine. Being the blood craving tyrant that she is Nightingale would have destroyed the village at some point simply for amusement."

"You mean…you would've done so for amusement," said Ross. Raven shot up.

"Objection; the Minister is putting words in her mouth."

"Sustained," replied Becket. Ross reluctantly excused himself. Raven seated herself allowing Robin to continue in Starfire's defense.

"Since the day we crossed paths with her it was obvious there was a conflict with Starfire. Whichever personality was in control seemed to be directly related to whoever was in the vicinity; her vampiric self kicked in almost every time Rafael was close to her."

"So essentially her personality is triggered by an environmental stimulus," suggested Becket. Robin nodded.

"Something like that, it's probably a little more complicated."

"Arbiter that is an assumption based entirely on an opinion," argued Ross. He put up a finger and walked up to their table. Everyone watched them apprehensively. "Nightingale…" Robin fought back the urge to forcibly remind him that wasn't her name. "You really believe this idea that everything you've done in the past has been the doing of an alternate personality?" Starfire avoided his eyes somewhat.

"I do." He narrowed his icy blue eyes.

"Then maybe you wouldn't mind proving that notion by submitting to a hypnosis session with Dr. Samir Adara." Starfire seemed confused. "Where we will open the door for this so called 'Nightingale personality'."

"NO!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Becket and half the people in the hall jumped slightly. She noticed their shock and adopted a quieter tone. "That is, I do not wish to give Nightingale any opportunity to regain a foothold."

"Or you've just been playing us all for fools with this elaborate act!"

"I HAVE NOT!" Starfire pounded her fists on the desk making two sizable dents. She looked down at her hands despondently.

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Ross and his two assistants walked down the hall after the Tribunal had been recessed yet again. Starfire peered around a corner and walked swiftly to catch up with him.

"Minister." He glanced back but kept walking. Robin ran around to catch up with Starfire, the last thing anyone needed was for things to get out of hand again. "Minister!"

"Ahh Nightingale, this is highly unorthodox," he said while walking.

"Starfire," she corrected him.

"I'll stick with Nightingale." She glided up in the air and landed in front of him. The security in the area startled to life but stayed at bay from a simple hand gesture from Ross. "Wt'hell do you want?"

"Is it truly so unbelievable that I have returned where I belong?"

"Now that's a laughable sentiment," chuckled Ross. He moved past her rudely. "It hardly matters to me whether you're half, two thirds, or three quarters vampire; a monster is still a monster." With that he continued on his way and Starfire stared after him. Robin walked up behind her ant laid a hand on her shoulder.

"You okay Star?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Please inform Becket…..that I have agreed to meet with Dr. Adara." Before Robin could voice his support or disapproval of her decision Starfire allowed herself to be escorted away by security. Raven finally joined him carrying an armful of papers.

"So, anything I should know about?" He glanced at her then back at Starfire down the hall.

"Things are heating up Raven, its going to take a miracle to keep them from totally going bonzo."

BACK AT CYBORG'S APARTMENT……..

Robin walked in through the door with an exhausted sigh. Cyborg worked over an array of beakers and test tubes. He saw Robin out of the corner of his eye.

"How was the roast?"

"Medium rare today," replied Robin. He nearly collapsed on the couch and noticed with a sideways look that Cyborg was alone. "Where's Liz."

"She's gone out." Robin rubbed his forehead with a confused frown.

"On a date?"

"No just out."

"Doing what?"

"I don't know," said Cyborg tired of answering short questions. Robin rolled his eyes half heartedly.

"What're you working on?" asked Robin finally taking notice of Cyborg's labor.

"A retrovirus," replied Cyborg simply. Robin sat up, the fact that he hardly heard it the first time peaking his curiosity.

"A what?" He walked up behind Cyborg to see for himself. Cyborg allowed three precise drops to fall from an eyedropper into a test tube.

"This is a prototype retrovirus, designed to reverse and suppress the vampiric attributes in a turned victim." Robin blinked a few times.

"I'm pretty sure I heard you right you said…this is a cure to vampirism?"

"Not a cure, a retrovirus; a formula that reverses the effects. Mind you its in no way in the phase of optimal success but I'm getting there." Robin rubbed the back of his neck as new and hopeful possibilities began to set in.

"Could this help Starfire?" Cyborg seemed disappointed to answer this.

"Unfortunately I haven't quite gotten that far yet. If this formula works it'll only work on someone who's been bitten within a few hours." Robin nodded and gave Cyborg a few pats on the back.

"Well even this is…well it's just amazing." Robin felt at a loss for words. They had all been conditioned to believe that it was impossible to ever become human or otherwise your former self once turned vampire. Obviously they had all neglected Cyborg's obvious talents. "I'm hit'n the sack for an hour or two."

"What's up?"

"Starfire's gonna try something that could totally bring down our house of cards," said Robin kicking off his shoes. Cyborg nodded and turned back to work.

"I'm confident it'll be okay."

"Yeah," said Robin. "Me too."

LATER THAT EVENING…………

Robin, Raven, Ross, Becket, and a few others sat observing the session with Dr. Adara. The man had been well into the procedure when the last few onlookers finally entered. Starfire sat comfortably with Adara sitting directly in front of her. By now Starfire's eyes were firmly shut and her head sagged somewhat.

"3…2….1, we've reached the bottom of the staircase. How do you feel?" he asked gently. She didn't answer at once.

"I feel…fine."

"Nice and relaxed?" she nodded. "Now Starfire, I just want you to understand that you are in complete control of everything that happens from here on. Do you want to continue?" Starfire frowned somewhat and shifted in her seat.

"I…I do not..know."

"It is entirely up to you," repeated Adara. It was as if Starfire sensed it when Ross rolled his eyes. She took in a deep breath.

"I want to continue," she said in a faraway voice. Adara looked up at both Robin and Ross and received a nod from both of them.

"Okay in a moment I'm going to count down from five to one and snap my fingers, when I do you'll allow Nightingale to resurface from your mind." She still seemed a bit unsure. "At any moment if I snap my fingers twice you will immediately awaken as Starfire and only Starfire. Is that okay?"

"…Yes.." Raven curled up her hand under her chin, eager yet apprehensive to see how this would unfold.

"Five…four….three…two…one," he snapped his fingers and her eyes fluttered open. Robin took Dr. Adara's place before and sat down. Her eyes followed him all the way down and Robin shrugged.

"Well, I bet it feels good to finally stretch your legs." Nightingale smirked and moved her eyes about until she spotted Ross. "So are you gonna say anything or are you just going to give me the silent-" She silenced him with her hand while not taking her eyes off the older man. She stood up but was smart enough not to do anything too quickly.

"Why minister," said Nightingale in a tone that was obviously mocking him. "You did not appear so frightened when last you spoke to us." Robin and Raven figured she meant her and Starfire. Ross straightened his tie.

"And how long did you spend in front of a mirror hammering up that line?" She giggled derisively.

"I assure you minister I am far different from her," She turned her head toward Adara. "Thank you by the way for riding me of such an unwanted trouble maker." Robin took her shoulder and turned her toward him.

"Hey, you're only here so we can prove you exist." Nightingale regarded him silently. "So don't get too comfortable." Nightingale emphasized her attitude with a few blinks his way. She stepped closer to him.

"She is nothing, you are nothing, and your people are nothing to me. When the time is right they shall either fall before me onto their knees or they will die." Ross adopted a challenging demeanor.

"It seems every time you underestimate our people though one of your great and powerful sovereigns ends up in the vampire cemetery." Nightingale smiled at Robin then turned on her heel to face the aged minister.

"When my forces finally raise this city to the ground…..I will drink your blood myself." It was then as if all in the room fell under her spell, she began walking toward him in a way that clearly showed her intentions yet none stopped her. "And I simply cannot wait to do it." She swiftly grabbed hold of his neck and his eyes bulged in pure abject terror. A few well placed Starbolts knocked the few guards off their feet. Raven threw a shield over herself and Robin. The boy wonder found his way over to Adara and managed to pull him out from under his desk.

"You better do your thing like now!" She steadily brought Ross closer and closer to her when Adara snapped his fingers twice beside her ear. It only took half a millisecond for Starfire to realize that she was gripping the minister of city security around the neck. The first thing she did was to release him then fell back into the chair she sat in. Ross rubbed his throat and motioned for the guards.

"Take her into custody."

"Hold on a second," said Robin jumping in front of them. "Becket put Starfire under my care; your Templars have no jurisdiction over her."

"I think we can all agree things have changed, and need I remind you that you happen to be a Templar yourself at the moment." Robin glanced down at his uniform. "Take her away." Powerless to stop them Robin cast Raven an infuriated look which she only supported by a shake of the head.

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A short time after that small debacle Robin and Raven stood in Becket's office. Robin slammed a book down on the desk for emphasis and pointed to Ross off to the side.

"He completely manipulated this whole thing from the time he suggested Starfire undergo the procedure."

"All I did Arbiter was the next logical thing anyone would do under the circumstances, and it is so far yet to be determined as to whether Major Grayson's defense has been of genuine fact."

"Minister Ross," began Robin. "If you're suggesting that we would just make something like this up-"

"Well now that you mention it Grayson that's exactly what I'm suggesting!"

"Yeah well that's exactly what we do," said Robin gesturing to himself and Raven. "We sat around all day long on our lazy rears making stuff up that puts the city at risk yes that's exactly what we do."

"Oh I'm sure you'd do just about anything."

"Gentlemen, gentlemen please," said Becket from his perch above them. "Allow us to continue, allow us to be generous." Both former boy wonder and minister halted their rants. Not at all happy with the days events Robin politely excused himself from the conversation. Raven decided it was up to her to lessen the tention.

"I think what we all need to bear in mind here is that we gave way to a personallity and a way of life that has dominated Starfire for a good number of years now, I'm quite frankly not at all surprised by what happened. And I don't think changes need to be made as far as security goes." Becket considered her recomendation.

"I tend to agree, but for the for the time being Starfire will have to remain under watch util we can further evaluate the session in greater detail." Robin nodded irritably and after paying an amount of respect toward Becket quickly took his leave. Raven hesitantly followed after him.

Robin could think no one else to visit at the moment. He 'convinced' the guards outside to allow him access and stepped inside the room that held Starfire captive. At first glance she took him for the man that normally brought her food. Then a double take told her it was Robin.

"Robin…"

"Starfire, about today." He sat down beside her. "It wasn't your fault." She nodded with a slightly open mouth. He frowned as he noticed she looked slightly pale. "Are you okay Star?"

"I am…fine, they have simply forgotten to give me my dose of syn-plasma." Robin however didn't hastily accept that.

"How long has it been since you've had some?"

"Twelve hours," she answered through a tired sigh. "Robin, I am feeling…the thirst." Robin took her hands in his. "Without my syn-plasma…I will not be able to endure the thirst…for long."

"How long do you think until Nightingale takes over?" She slowly shook her head.

"It is not that, I will not……be able to survive for long…if my thirst remains unsatisfied." Robin's mouth slacked open. He should have seen it from the moment he laid eyes on her a few seconds ago; they were keeping her needs from her.

"Starfire, don't worry. I'm going to get you what you need." She only glanced down. "Okay?" She looked up at him and smiled weakly.

"You should not stay, in a moment I may become dangerous." She scrunched her eyes shut then reopened them in surprise. "Oh my, I feel….so tired." Robin lowered her down to her pillow and gently ran a hand through her hair.

"I'll be back."

ROSS'S HOME…………….

Ross entered through the front door of his darkened house. He allowed a tired sigh characteristic of a man his age and set his coat and brief case aside. He sauntered into the kitchen then poured himself a glass of sherry. As he made his way into the lounge he thought he heard something and switched on the light.

"NO!" He dropped his glass and ignored the stain on the carpet. A man sat in a chair off in the corner with a book shielding his face. Though he needn't have bothered for Ross knew exactly who it was. Rafael lowered War and Peace to the coffee table. "What the hell are you doing here?" demanded Ross in a hushed whisper. Rafael looked down at the large book.

"Have you read that? I would surmise that you haven't because you would not believe the amount of dust I found on it." Ross shook his head while pacing back and forth.

"Do you have the slightest notion of what would happen if you were to actually be seen here?"

"Well I'm sure I would only be mildly inconvenienced, but I do wonder what would happen to you," said Rafael with a lewd smile. "Today's incident with our missing sovereign was…entertaining at best, your methods to control the vampire mind are seriously flawed."

"You do absolutely no good by spontaneously appearing in my house. What are you trying do, destroy everything we have both slaved for!"

"Calm yourself minister," cooed Rafael. "You're attracting too much attention." He sent a sideways glance toward the door and Ross followed it to see his body guard being led in. Rafael's men disarmed and held him at bay. "I need something minister and I'm sure we both know what it is." Now for the first time Ross smirked.

"You still haven't been able to get Nightingale back have you? Well don't bother; with her death I'll inspire an anti-vampiric movement like no other. She shall be Rome's sacrificial lamb." Rafael's eyes flashed dangerously. He stepped toward Ross showing his teeth partly.

"You will do no such thing human," hissed Rafael. "I will not allow a lesser of the food chain to slay such a beautiful creature."

"Or are you simply upset that Grayson has been more of an influence on her than you have?" asked Ross pouring himself more sherry.

"The Dragon has been as much a thorn in your side as he has in mine, and yet you allow him to escape with every act of defiance against you."

"What's your point?" he asked taking a swig.

"Are you or are you not his superior at the moment?" Ross seemed to taken ill by the question. "Do you really think that whilst the Dragon roams free among your people that they will conform to whatever grand scheme you have stored away. They will raise him up and you will come crashing down." Ross now gripped his glass rather tightly. "Kill him," said Rafael as if it was the most obvious choice.

"And have five hundred thousand Grayson disciples parading through the streets, no thank you. The last thing either of us needs is for him to become a martyr."

"And yet you will simply allow him to bring ruin to your plan." Rafael spoke while moving past the lines and lines of books on the shelves. "I wonder, can anyone learn from history if they do not even know it? It is after all one big story." Ross's bodyguard had thus far remained perfectly still.

"I find your super villain riff a little boring," replied Ross. Rafael let out a sputter of marveling laughter.

"What I'm trying to tell you is that soon you may not be able to simply push aside what must be done." He rolled his eyes at Ross's unwillingness to see reality. "The Nocturna Council, the Red Wolf, even the Lycons are beginning to see the signs of death for the human race. And that's why you've embraced my offer," said Rafael looking over at him. "Because you know it will give your dear species a new beginning, a fresh start. But how badly do you want it minister?" Ross looked uneasily into his glass. "Because there are difficult decisions to be made now." Ross decided not to try and counter Rafael's argument. "Now when will I see Nightingale set free?"

"You must understand," said Ross. Rafael began smoothly inching toward the door. "What you're demanding can't possibly be done at the moment….I need more time." Rafael cocked an eyebrow.

"More time." Without warning the tyrannical vampire grabbed hold of Ross's bodyguard and greedily sank his teeth into his neck.

"MOTHER OF G…." Ross became lost in stupefied shock. Rafael let the man fall to the floor having been drained to the point of death. Rafael worked some stiffness out of his neck apparently uncaring of the thin coat of blood covering his mouth. He finally looked down at Ross and let out a few amused chuckles.

"Don't be so squeamish minister." He reached down and pulled the handkerchief out of Ross's breast pocket. He wiped his mouth clean and pitched the reddened cloth back at the old man. Ross jerked away from it somewhat then found Rafael coolly leaning over him. "Take care minister, I am not someone to trifle or play games with." He gave Ross a long hard stare then shifted his eyes over at the fallen bodyguard. "Now if I were you I'd get him out of here, before he starts to stink." And in a swoosh of his long coat Rafael left the minister with a troubling rain cloud over his head.

REJOINING OUR HEROES…………..

"I know you're not thinking of doing what I'm pretty sure your getting ready to do," said Cyborg as Robin bounced back forth between the various shelves and his room. "What exactly are you doing?"

"Going to get Star," said Robin simply.

"That's not really what I would call diplomatic Robin," said Raven. She was seated next to Liz on the sofa. Robin almost scoffed at her comment.

"You know Raven we've been going through these debates for days now and you know what I've decided?" She shook her head. "Screw-diplomacy." Raven scratched her head hesitantly.

"And after we manage to fight off Rome's entire contingent of security maybe even the military; what then? Where are we supposed to go?" Robin considered the question for a moment.

"We find someone who can perform the Trepanning ritual." Raven looked about incredulously.

"The 'what' ritual?" asked Cyborg and Liz in unison. Robin went back to packing so it was left to Raven to clear the fog.

"During the middle ages priests and monks used this ritual to exorcise demons from people who were usually sick rather than possessed. Anyway the one performing the ritual would have the subject's hands and feet securely bound and…" She trailed off. Cyborg motioned for her to continue with his hands.

"Annnnd…what?" Raven again appeared as though she didn't want to continue.

"They would take a hand drill of the time and bore a hole into the person's head." Cyborg and Liz's faces both grew disgusted. "That in turn was supposed to vacuum out the evil spirit and allow the person's soul to pass into Heaven." For a long moment the two were at a complete loss for words.

"Well that sucks!" exclaimed Cyborg.

"And that would be why they called it the 'dark ages'," said Raven. Cyborg shot a disbelieving look over at Robin.

"No," said Raven evidently. "About two hundred years ago the ritual was adapted by a monk of the Carpathian brotherhood.He somehow redesigned itto ascend the spirit of a turned vampire from the damned and return them to their human form." Liz's eyes blinked with interest.

"So, it actually turns someone back into a human being?" Raven shook her head somewhat.

"Unfortunately of all the three times that it has been attempted over the years not one has been successful, with the death of both subject and performer."

"It'll work," said Robin popping out of his room.

"What makes you so sure?" asked Raven.

"Because Starfire is different," replied Robin. "But if we don't act now there won't be a Starfire to save."

"But are you really prepared to rise against the full force of the city?" asked Liz. "It's pretty big." Robin tired of their nagging and slammed his latest gadget to the floor. It shut them all up without effort.

"They won't let her have her syn-plasma, any food or water; they won't even let her get by on the blood of animals. Ross is literally starving her to death and I don't know about you guys but I'm not about to let that happen."

"Acting against them this way will be seen as treason," warning Liz. "We will be exiled from the city possibly for the rest of our lives." Robin looked over at her.

"Maybe we will….but it's the right thing to do, why? Because it just is," he said with finality. Cyborg stood up in front of him with a look that said 'I'm your friend but you better listen'.

"At least try to talk to him first," suggested Cyborg. Robin looked away not wanting to believe Cyborg would suggest something so insane. "I know he'll probably tell you to take a hike but at least you'll have exhausted every option you have." Robin paused with grueling rue as to possible outcomes to either course of action.

"Fine," said Robin quietly. "But when I come back if we have to take matters into our own hands are you guys gonna be with me?" Raven rolled her eyes.

"What kind of a question is that Robin?" he stared at her. "Of course we're with you," she said with a smile. He glanced over at Liz who held the same assuring beam. Cyborg came over and landed a brotherly slap on his shoulder.

"We'll be right here."

Ross had been scared away from his home with the shattering prospect that Rafael was still looming over him. He then drove to the only place he thought he could find solitude; his office. He stood behind his desk shifting some papers when he heard a knock on his door.

"Come." Robin walked through and stood in the middle of the room. Ross glanced at him. "There something I can do for you Major?"

"Well yeah now that you mention it you can give Starfire what she needs to survive." Ross continued to ignore him for his endless paperwork. "You've kept me waiting for a little over an hour now."

"I was busy before now," replied the minister. Robin noticed a half eaten bit of food off to the side.

"Yeah I can see that, it's only Starfire's life at steak sorry to take you away from your ham and cheese sandwich," said Robin sarcastically.

"It was a bacon and egg actually," said Ross with little regard for Robin's reasons. "I can only assume you came here for a reason."

"I just told you," said Robin already loosing his patience. "Starfire's doses of syn-plasma have been cut plus there's absolutely no food or water being sent to her, now you tell me what the hell's with that?" Ross quickly shot a look at him.

"Watch it mister." Robin drew closer to him.

"I won't let you kill her Minister; I will take this to the Tribunal!" Ross sniggered.

"I'm almost acting on orders from the Tribunal." Robin looked about in a confused manner.

"How can there be an order to just abandon one of our highest laws; the ones that says its wrong to murder someone."

"I believe the DA defines murder as one human being taking the life of another." Robin steadily narrowed his eyes. "When last I looked, Nightingale was no more human than you are a true ally of humanity. And I would wonder," said Ross as an added thought. "How far you and your abnormal cohorts would go to prevent me from becoming Arbiter." Still keeping his narrowed stare Robin moved his head about with a slacked jaw.

"You think this is all about you?" Ross regarded him suspiciously. "Oh my God; of all the self centered, arrogant, egotistical-"

"Oh judge not lest ye be judged! You're the one who decided to place God with our safety by bringing that monster back with you. And if she isn't taking the long nap by tomorrow I have a potassium nitrate syringe waiting for her." The depth of Ross's depravity began to stun Robin anew. He was actually talking about executing her by lethal injection of garlic. "And I'm going to make sure you're the one who pushes the plunger."

"I'm not under your command anymore," said Robin stiffly.

"And that's where your wrong, Major. As long as you're wearing those officer buttons…you damn well are under my command." He allowed the remnants of his sandwich to fall into the trash and retrieved his coat. "I think you'll find many things are going to change around here soon, starting with our leniency toward Council collaborators."

"You won't get away with this," said Robin through gritted teeth. Ross chuckled and walked toward the door.

"I've been getting away with it since day one, file whatever protest you want." He opened the door and looked back at Robin. "By the time you do, this will all be done." He left and Robin fell short of the heated tirade he had planned earlier.

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Robin returned to their apartment in silence. They all rose from their seats and stood around him. Robin slowly moved past them over to a table, removing something from his neck collar and left lapel as he went. Cyborg and Raven glanced at each other nervously as they saw Robin set all signs of his rank and officer status, one by one, on the table.

Well again I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting for too long. Hope it was also worth the wait and I'll write lots more as soon as I feel like it. ;) LOL. Sorry, I've been around my Uncle for a little while too long.