Chapter 20
The first thing Kayliss was aware of when she regained consciousness was that she was shackled to a wall with her wrists above her head. The second thing was that her mouth felt as though it had been packed with cotton with a healthy dose of sand added in.
She had barely become aware of these things when something slammed into her stomach, driving the air from her lungs in a whoosh. With a groan she lifted her head and looked to see what or who had hit her.
"It is good to see you awake, sister," Dexor said from a few feet away.
"I have been vondering vhen you vould make your move," Kayliss said. She looked around and saw that she was in what appeared to be a security cell. "Let me guess: I am aboard the VELERATHON. Father vould not permit vhat you are doing aboard the VLELORUM."
"Very good, sister. Yes, the crew of the VELERATHON is loyal to me, and supports my claim to the throne over you."
"I knew you vere power hungry," Kayliss shot back. "But I did not know you vere stupid."
"I see that the years have not blunted either your tongue or your spirit," a voice said from the shadows behind Dexor.
A voice that made her blood run cold.
A form moved from the shadows of the dimly lit room and resolved into a being Kayliss knew well. She closed her eyes as she tried to keep the memories from flooding back. The Gordanians had sent Overlords to transport herself and Chareesa to Vespar. In her mind's eye, she could still clearly picture Logaar, the one that now stood before her.
"I can see that you recognize me," Logaar sneered, "I am touched." He reached out and used one claw to push her chin up forcing her to look at him. "It is good to see you again, Princess. You have grown much since I last saw you."
Kayliss jerked her head to the side, freeing her chin from Logaar's claw, and did her best to ignore the Gordanian, focusing instead on her brother. "Dexor, I know that you vant the throne, but I did not know that the hunger for power robbed you of any good sense. You know how the Gordanians vork, they vill betray you and take our planet from us."
Dexor smiled evilly at his sister. "And vaht makes you think that it is Shavar that I vant? Besides, they vill not take it but simply return it to Gordanian occupation, vith myself as administrator, not only of Shavar, but Tamaran, and Earth as vell." Dexor moved closer so that he was eye to eye with Kayliss. "I vill enjoy having both you and Koriand'r as my personal slaves. To Logaar I vill give your precious Robin to repay for his humiliation of Trogaar."
Kayliss gave her brother a frosty glare, "You are insane. But it is no matter, you vill not see your plans bear fruit. I vill be rescued."
Dexor smiled evilly. "Ve are very secure here. Rescue is impossible," he said, then was startled when an alarm sounded.
"Highness," a bridge officer called out. "The LUAND'R has also broken avay from it's fleet and is taking station vith the VELERATHON."
"That does not surprise me," Feytirnara said. "Evidently, there are factions in both our sides that do not vish the treaty to go through." He nodded toward Robin and the others. " May Keysah vatch over you, and may you bring my daughter back safely," he said.
Robin nodded, and he and the others left the bridge of the VELORUM, Robin snapping out orders as they walked.
"Raven, I'll need you to teleport us aboard the VELERATHON. Ryma, Starfire and myself will rescue Kayliss, while you take Cyborg and Beast Boy aboard the LUAND'R and do what you can to disable her, and return her to Nie'l's command."
"How will you get back off the VELERATHON?" Raven asked.
"With Ryma's knowledge of the ship, we'll fight our way to a transporter room."
Raven sighed softly, not liking the last part of Robin's plan, but not about to argue with him right now. "Alright," she said. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos," she chanted and they were all enveloped in black energy and vanished.
A moment later, aboard the VELORUM, a dark bubble phased up from the floor of an empty corridor. It then dissolved to reveal the Teen Titans, along with Ryma.
"I know someone aboard the LUAND'R that I can trust to help us," Raven said. "He's in the engineering section."
"Good," Robin said. "Get him together with Cyborg and disable the LUAND'R, but make sure they can control the ship to keep it from crashing onto the Earth."
"Gotcha," Cyborg said, and Raven teleported them away.
"Which way?" Robin asked Ryma.
Ryma looked at the identification plate on a nearby door. "This vay," he said and started leading them down a long corridor. "If ve meet anyvon, attack immediately, do not give them the chance to raise the alarm."
Robin and Starfire nodded their heads, and they headed down the corridor with Starfire about a step or two behind the men. They were just short of an intersection when they stopped dead as three Shavari warriors came around the corner.
Before either Robin or Ryma could react, a lavender blur passed between them. One of the warriors fell victim of a star-bolt charged right cross while the second went down after a sweeping kick to his jaw. The third almost moved fast enough to the communications panel on the wall, but Starfire rammed her shoulder into the warriors back, slamming him into the wall, his head leaving a fair sized dent.
Starfire turned back to the others, dusting her hands off as she did so. Robin and Ryma exchanged a stunned look, then looked back at Starfire after Robin shrugged his shoulders.
"Star!" Robin called out when he saw a fourth warrior round the corner.
Just as the new arrival pressed a button on the panel, Starfire grabbed his shoulders and threw him across the corridor, where his body made a very impressive dent in the wall.
As the alarm sounded, Ryma crossed over to the panel and quickly entered a series of digits into the number pad, and the alarm was silenced.
"Ve must move, and quickly," he said. "Other varriors vill be coming to check the alarm."
They quickly dragged the warriors into a nearby room and Ryma destroyed the locking mechanism.
"What?" Starfire asked after Robin had given her an odd look a few times. "Did not Ryma say to attack at once?" she asked.
Robin nodded slightly and the continued on their way. "You enjoyed that didn't you?"
Starfire was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Actually, yes. Yes I did."
Before Dexor could move, the alarm was silenced. He crossed over to the communications terminal and activated it. "Who silenced that alarm and vere vas it?"
"My Lord, section twelve, level six, port side," came the reply. "Silenced by the code of Kvano Norla."
"Is that varrior assigned to this vessel?"
"Yes, My Lord, she is in the engineering division, environmental controls section." the officer replied. "Ve have also dispatched a squad of varriors to double check."
"Very good," Dexor said, then signed off. "It may be best if you returned to your ship."
"You're right." Logaar said, then looked over at Kayliss. "I will return to continue this conversation, Kayliss."
When Logaar left the room, two warriors entered. "My Lord, the Captain sends his respects, and us to provide protection for you," one of them said.
"He suspects something?"
"Yes, My Lord. Kvano Norla was off duty, and her quarters are near vhere the alert vas sounded. In response to the captains questions, she states that she vas adjusting some of the electronics in her quarters vhen she accidentally triggered the alarm."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes, My Lord, but vith a technician who is the level of Norla, unlikely."
"I see," Dexor said then turned toward Kayliss. "So, sister, you vill tell me vhat plans you have made viht Koriand'r,"
"Plans? The only plans I made vith her vas to have her challenge me for Robin."
Kayliss was surprised by the speed and force behind the slap Dexor gave her.
"You take me for a fool? I know you have been plotting to get this treaty signed. Vhat agreements outside of the negotiations have you made?"
"Your dealing vith the Gordanians has branded you vorse than a fool. . ." Kayliss began, but cut off as Dexor slammed his fist into her unprotected stomach.
"You vill not speak to me in that manner. I does not matter that you are my sister."
As Kayliss struggled to get her breath back, she glared at her brother. "You vould not be so brave if I vas not shackled to this vall. Vhat is the matter; are you afraid to face me on more equal terms?"
"I am Prince Dexoranara, son of Feytiranara. I do not have to prove my courage to anyvone."
'That is vere you are wrong, little brother. Shavari Voariors vill not follow you unless you earn their loyalty and respect.' Kayliss thought. She also realized that he wasn't going to release her as he moved to a cabinet built into the wall and opened it. Her eyes narrowed in anger when she saw what he had. "A gift from your reptilian friend I see."
Dexor held the staff up and looked at it closely. Three foot long and slightly tapered, it ended in a small, two prong fork. When Dexor pressed a small button a few inches from the butt, the forks glowed blue and a crackle like static electricity was heard.
"Yes. I see you recognize a pain stick. An interesting device, it causes varying levels of pain to the subject, but does not injure them," he looked over at Kayliss. "I really do think you should consider telling me vhat I vant to know."
"I have already told you, there is. . .unnnggghhh!" Kayliss began, but cut off as Dexor pressed the forks of the pain stick against her side.
"That vas setting vone, the lowest setting, they get vorse as they get higher," Dexor said, then moved closer, the glow getting brighter.
"Ve must go faster," Ryma said as they watched yet another patrol go out of sight around a corner.
"If we do we will surely be captured by one of those patrols," Starfire said. "We can not risk being detected either. We can not fight the entire crew."
Under different circumstances, Robin would have smiled softly at Ryma's growl of frustration. "You are correct, of course, Highness, but that does not mean I have to like it."
"Ok, it's clear," Robin said and they moved down the corridor. "How do you know where she's being held?"
"As you know, Shavari vomen are telepathic," he replied. "Vhen they marry, there is a short ceremony during vich their mind is linked to their husband's."
"Much like our sharing of a Shinrah Crystal," Starfire said.
"I do not know vhat you are talking about, but I am concerned as I do not feel her presence as strongly as I have been," Ryma explained. "It is almost as if. . .arrgghh!" Ryma began then cut off with a painful groan as he almost collapsed. "Unngghh, by the ancients vaht is happening to her?"
"Only you can answer that, Ryma," Robin said, putting his hands on Ryma's shoulders, and looking him in the eyes. "Concentrate. Focus your thoughts on her."
Ryma realized that Robin was speaking from experience. He nodded, then closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "She. . .she is shackled to a vall, and Dexor is interrogating her. He is convinced that Kayliss and Koriand'r have been plotting something, and he is not believing her vhen she says there is no plot. He is holding something in his hands. A pole of some type that ends in a two pronged fork that is glowing blue. He coming closer, moving the end of the pole to touch her side."
Ryma's description of events was cut off and Starfire shoved him roughly against a wall.
"Vhat did you. . .unnnggghh!" he began but cut off as another wave of pain coursed through him.
"My apologies, Ryma, but from your description I recognized a Gordanian pain stick. If you had remained so tightly focused on Kayliss, the effect would have been much worse. I had to break your concentration."
Ryma nodded as he got back to his feet. "If that vas reduced, I thank you. Dexor is not alone. There are two other varrioirs with him, to provide protection against us."
"Right," Robin said. "Starfire, Ryma and I will take on Dexor and one of the guards. You are to ignore the other guard, free Kayliss and get her to safety."
"I will not leave you to face uneven odds." Starfire protested.
"Robin's plan is sound, Highness. Dexor only has something to bargain vith as long as he holds Kayliss. Vithout her, he has nothing to force his father into recognizing his claim to the throne."
Starfire opened her mouth to argue, but realized that Robin and Ryma were right. "Then let us get to her quickly. Maybe she will be able to turn the odds into our favor."
Robin watched Starfire stride down the corridor to check the next intersection, then looked over at Ryma who gave a slight shake of his head.
"Kayliss vill not be in any condition to aid in her rescue," he said softly. "She vill not even be able to leave the room vithout assistance.
Robin nodded grimly, then they both headed to where Starfire stood waving them on.
"Looks clear," Raven said softly after she, Beast Boy and Cyborg appeared in an empty corridor aboard the LUAND'R.
Cyborg consulted a display on his wrist. "Engineering should be this way," he whispered.
"Shavota, cutanera," a deep male voice said from behind them, freezing them in mid-step. "I am most relieved to see you well, Beast Boy."
Cyborg was the first to relax, once he translated them being greeted as friends. They turned slowly and Raven found herself looking at the same warrior that she met outside of Beast Boy's healing room.
"Captain Selto'n, if I'm not mistaken," Raven said.
The big Tamaranean smiled broadly as he nodded. "I had my suspicions that Koriand'r would not let this vessel be rogue for long," he said as he stepped around them. "This is one of three places that you could have come aboard without being seen." He turned and motioned for them to follow him. As the walked he pulled out a small communicator. "Plasma conduit three five one is clear and aligned," he said into it.
"Understood, Captain, proceeding with test."
"Not all the warriors aboard are set against the Emperor," Selto'n said as they entered a lift. The doors shut, and he keyed in a series of numbers into a keypad, activating the lift. After a moment, it started moving. "Those warriors that made their loyalty show are currently in holding cells. Fortunately, those in Engineering were wise enough to play along and are free to act." The lift came to a stop, and they left it and started walking down a corridor. After they had gone a few feet, everything went black until Selto'n ignited a star bolt in his hand. "The ones in the cells are now free to join us."
They stopped at a door, and Selto'n opened an access panel and pulled a lever, manually opening the door. The room they stepped into was brightly lit with emergency lamps and several warriors saluted Selto'n as he entered.
"All is in readiness, Captain," one of them said, stepping forward. "We have control of all systems, and have sealed off areas that have the largest concentration of rogue warriors. Environmental controls on the bridge have been cut off, as has life support. The Admiral is on the intercom for you."
"Admiral Stor'n, this is Captain Selto'n."
"You will return control to the bridge and restore life support, Selto'n; that is an order."
"You will return control of this vessel to warriors that are loyal to the Emperor then?"
"This vessel is under my command. You will follow my orders."
"Admiral, if you do not release control of this vessel to warriors loyal to the emperor voluntarily in about an hour there will be no one conscious on the bridge to resist us taking it."
"This is mutiny!"
"Perhaps, Admiral, but that is a far lesser charge than treason. I can wait the hour, Admiral; it is your choice." Selto'n switched the intercom off, and turned to Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy. "There is nothing he can do; all controls on the bridge have been severed and ships operations are being handled here. In an hour, possibly less, the outcome will be certain. While we wait, I shall give you a tour of Engineering."