Ah, so this chapter's rather short...

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have I ever owned, anything related to the Teen Titans universe. Only the storyline is mine.

Chapter 14: Arrested

"So, where are we?"

She rolled her eyes. "I thought you were the expert."

"I am," he agreed, then fell silent, not about to insult his pride by admitting that he didn't know where he was going.

At least he was going in relatively the right direction. She could begin to sense Ensing Logan's presence. And the feelings of distrust must have been from either Princess Koriand'r or one of the Tamaranean warriors watching their camp.

"We're getting close," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Do you recognize something?" she asked, preparing to receive another lecture on some small, insignificant detail, like that boot.

"No. It's just a gut feeling."

She raised an eyebrow; she had not been expecting that one. "Okay."

Sure enough, he soon pointed into the distance. "There's the cave."

Though she could not quite see it, she squinted in that direction, smiled, and nodded. "Right."

He took off running in that direction, finally confident with where he was going, and she followed after. She had a hard time keeping up with him, not only because he had longer strides, but because he could run so fast.

"I take it this means you actually made it to the doctor?" she asked when he paused to make sure he wasn't walking into a trap or something.

"Yeah. He was working on an experiment for higridilium poisoning. I took some with me; we should make sure the rest of the team gets some of the antidote."

She shook her head. "And how did it go with your ribs?"

He shrugged, "Simple procedure, as always."

They both fell silent. Raven wasn't sure what to say. After that experience, after seeing what he had endured, why he was the officer he was today, he didn't feel the same. He made a little more sense. And it was a bit strange; she wasn't sure how to react to him. She didn't like not knowing; she was usually in control of everything.

"There's a couple soldiers at the mouth of the cave. It shouldn't be too much of a problem getting past them. Although, if you want to help us out a little bit, I wouldn't complain," he said, flashing her a small smile.

She returned the smile. "I think I could manage that."

As she was about to engulf the two of them in her powers, though, they both heard a loud whine behind them. They both spun around to see a Tamaranean ship descend out of the clouds. "Where did they come from?" Richard shouted above the whine of the engines.

"I don't know, but I'm not betting they're too friendly!" she shouted, then wrapped her powers around both of them. After a moment of that familiar tingling sensation, they appeared just outside the mouth of the cave. They weren't in the cave; she was not about to go anywhere near that higridilium.

"Nice save," he said.

They both turned to see the ship land. "It's too decorated to be a warship," she observed.

He nodded in approval. "My thoughts exactly. It's missing the markings on the underside. Besides, warships would have a latch for their cannons, and there isn't one on this ship, although I can see where the weapons are in the front."

"So there was a point to killing yourself over research."

He turned to say something, but a small, green blur attacked him. He reached behind him and pulled his attacker over his shoulder, pulling a fist back to strike. Then he saw who his attacker was. "Ensign Logan?"

The changeling nodded, eyes wide. "Don't hurt me. I'm on your side!"

Richard grinned. "Relax, Gar. Just, don't sneak up on me like that again."

"Don't worry; I've learned my lesson." He looked over his shoulder and gave a low whistle. "Hoo boy, here comes trouble."

Koriand'r stalked over to the two of them, eyes blazing green, which was probably not a good thing. "Perhaps you would care to explain to me where the two of you have been this entire time?"

"Simple. They were going to get their partners," a voice said from inside the cave. "I'm just glad I got here first."

Koriand'r's eyes widened, and she rushed towards the voice. "Sister!"

Princess Blackfire stepped out from the shadows, arms wide, to embrace her sister. "Kori! I was so worried about you!" When she broke the embrace, she looked her sister over. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"I am in good health, sister. Fortunately, the higridilium does not seem to have any lasting effects on our people, although it is overwhelming at first."

"Still, we should have our doctors look you over." Blackfire turned to the four wide-eyed officers. "I recognize you. Aren't you the pod we stopped from entering Tamaranean space? Some thanks we get for helping you with repairs."

"Helping?" Victor shouted. "Are you kidding? Your people shot at us!"

"An unfortunate incident, I assure you. I have personally made sure that the captain responsible was reasonably reprimanded. As for you, I'm going to have to ask you to come with my security officers. I'm afraid we'll have to place you under arrest."

"On what charges? We rescued your sister; we didn't kidnap her," Richard said, keeping his voice calm and passive, though Raven could feel the frustration inside of him.

"You have been found with her, and my officers reported your attacking them."

"Because they were at the scene of the crime! We thought they were the ones who had kidnapped the princess!" Gar shouted in exasperation.

"They were my scouts, Ensign," Blackfire said with some distaste, as if it were beneath her to speak to an officer of such lowly status. It probably was.

Raven narrowed her eyes. "And what were your scouts doing so far from home?"

Blackfire flushed. "We thought for sure we'd find my sister on Earth. We were right, weren't we?"

"And you were upset about us coming into Tamaranean space?"

"We thought you were kidnappers."

"Sister," Koriand'r interrupted. "I am certain that the ones called Ensign Logan and Commander Stone know nothing of any plans these two might have had for me. Se initur's fi tura cirte'n."

Richard blinked in thinly concealed surprise. When she raised an eyebrow in silent question, he said, "She just gave an oath to Gar and Vic's innocence. Blackfire is now legally required to let them go free."

Blackfire considered this, then said, "Then they will be our guests. If they truly did rescue you, we should honor them. As for these two, you don't have a problem with me bringing them as prisoners, do you?"

Koriand'r shook her head. "If they were part of my kidnapping, then I have nothing to say in their behalf."

"Your Highness, why would we kidnap you, only to set you free so that you could run away? It doesn't make sense, and you know it," Richard said.

Koriand'r glared at him. "Are you asking me to trust you above my sister? I have only known you for a few hours, Lieutenant."

"I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to your sister. I'm saying that you should at least give us a chance to defend ourselves. Harislun'd dif cridn'p."

Koriand'r's eyes widened. "Where did you learn the language of my people?"

"I only know a little bit. I haven't had enough time to learn the entire language."

"Yet you learned one of our oldest customs, the concept of innocence until one is proven guilty."

He smiled. "Let's just say that our world's aren't as different as we thought."

"But that is an old custom, no longer in use, especially in a time of warfare," Blackfire insisted.

"I thought we weren't at war, seeing as you have your sister back now."

Blackfire smirked, "Didn't we find her where we thought we would?"

"Sister," Koriand'r said, putting a hand on Blackfire's shoulder. "We should not start a war simply over my welfare. Besides, if Ensign Logan and Commander Stone had no knowledge of this incident, what evidence do we have to indicate involvement by anyone else but these two?"

Blackfire's mouth worked furiously, trying to calm herself down. "Sister, you must be confused. Perhaps the higridilium did have an effect on you after all. Guards, please escort my sister to her chamber. And take the prisoners below."

One guard, a tall Tamaranean male with long arms and a balding head, reached out to grab Raven's arms, but she pulled away. "I can escort myself," she snapped. She looked at Richard, her eyes silently asking him how they would get out of this one.

"It wouldn't help if we ran," he whispered, allowing two guards to get on either side of him. "It should be relatively easy to clear our names, anyway." To Blackfire, he said, "Am I to assume that we'll still have a fair trial, as our treaty says?"

"Yes, fine," Blackfire said, waving her hands in the air in exasperation. "I don't care. Guards, just get them out of my sight."

When one of the guards started to push Richard forward, he said, "I've studied the layout of Tamaranean ships. I know where the brig is." He then proceeded to lead the confused guards right into the ship.

"Little wonders never cease," she muttered to herself as she followed.

The last thing Raven saw before they entered the ship was Blackfire and Koriand'r leading Ensign Logan and Victor to a different level of the ship.

......

"It just doesn't make any sense," Victor said as he lay across the large, luxurious bed Koriand'r had prepared for him.

Gar nodded, stretched, then jumped onto his own bed. "How are we supposed to argue, though? For all we know, those two really did have a part in this."

"Right. So Robin broke his ribs just to convince Koriand'r, you, and me that he was on our side?"

"Maybe he was faking it."

Victor shook his head. "I scanned him. His ribs were definitely pretty beat up, and there were a couple other bruises Raven neglected to notice, and he wasn't about to point them out to her."

"So it really doesn't make any sense."

"No, it doesn't."

After a moment, Gar asked, "Can we trace where they went?"

He shook his head. "If we were back on earth, I could scan for their bio signs, but as it is, it would be hard to prove because of all the shifting snow."

"So how are we supposed to help them?"

"Tell the truth," Victor shrugged.

"And what if they don't believe us?"

"That's their problem. Besides, Robin's pretty good at smooth talking."

"I hope it's enough."

"Me too."

......

The door opened, and a beam of light penetrated the darkness he had been sitting in. Raven was seating next to him, her legs crossed, calmly meditating. She peeked one eye open.

"Hey, kid. Long time, no see," said a familiar voice. Red X stood, leaning in the doorway.

"Red X," he nodded calmly, leaning back and picturing a vault locking away his frustration.

Red X smirked. "They'll find you guilty."

"That's the decision of the jury, if I'm not mistaken."

"Which is going to be mostly Tamaranean."

He shrugged. "I'm not going to shy away from your justice system. Besides, it seems to me to be a pretty clear cut case."

"I think you're guilty."

"You were part of the whole thing!"

He grinned. "Yeah, but I still think you're guilty. I mean, if you worked for Slade, what's to stop you from kidnapping a princess?"