Chapter 24
Robin shifted his position slightly, readying himself for Raven's counterattack and he managed to dodge the bursts of energy she launched at him, and he tossed a birdarang at her, distracting her enough that he was able to jump up and tackle her out of the air. He was surprised that she let him land on top of her, but realized her intention as he felt her knee on his chest and he was pushed clear when they landed. He lay there a moment, the breath knocked out of him, and he slapped the mat three times with his hand, signaling his conceding the round to her.
"At least this time I didn't break any of your ribs," Raven commented as she helped Robin to his feet.
"You're getting better, but I still feel that you depend on your powers to much," Robin said as he tossed her a staff, then brought out one for himself.
"Unlike Starfire, I don't know of any way for me to be without them," she said as she brought her staff to the ready position. The two circled each other for a few moments, then Raven lost her patience and attacked. As the rules for this part of the workout dictated she wouldn't use any of her powers, the only weapon either of them would use was their staffs. "Robin?" she called a few moments later as she managed to disarm him, sending his staff flying across the room.
Robin's reply was to jump backwards, and bringing his hands together with a shout. A maneuver Raven was certain she had seen before but couldn't place where. It dawned on her a second later when Robin landed his right hand drawn back as if to throw something. They were basic Tamaranean battle moves! Starfire used them all the time.
"Robin?" she called again, more softly as she approached him, her mind reaching out to him through their bond.
Robin shook his head, not in any resistance to Raven's mental touch, but to clear it of the images flashing through it. "Nie'l!" he shouted in response to them. He headed toward the door, almost bowling Raven over in the process. He came up short when two people blocked his path, each one grabbing one of his arms.
"We are sorry, Robin, but I can not let you go," Chr's said.
"Let me go! You don't understand! Nie'l is being attacked!"
"We know, Robin, but we can not let you go to him," Shel'b said as she held onto his right arm.
"What do you mean, you know? You're warriors, he's your Grand Ruler. You took an oath to serve and protect him, as I did. Now let me go!"
"Robin, please, you do not understand. You can not interfere with what is happening," Shel'b said.
"Robin, there might be more to this than you can tell." Raven said softly when she saw the tears in Shel'b's eyes. She gasped when something occurred to her. "Robin, use your bond with him, tell me who is attacking him."
Chr's and Shel'b almost stumbled when Robin suddenly stopped trying to move past them. "No!" he gasped. "What is he doing?"
"Assuming the throne, as directed by the Ca'ri."
"Who, Robin?"
"It's Galfore, Raven. He's the one attacking Nie'l. He challenged him for the crown."
"And Starfire allowed that?"
"She's not in a position to prevent it, Raven, nor are you, Robin." Chr's said, handing Robin a small message viewer. "It is verigraphed for you alone."
Robin nodded, and took off his right glove. He pressed his thumb against a small depression near the bottom of the device and he felt the slight sting of the needle as it took a sample of his blood and compared it to the DNA pattern the messaged had been locked under. A moment later the Imperial Crest appeared on the screen, followed by Starfire's face.
"Robin, I would much prefer to tell you this in person, however, that is not a choice I have. I am being recalled to Tamaran, my love, and must sever all ties with Earth. This is no reflection of my feelings towards you. The Ca'ri has given me the choice of either this or Nie'l's rule will be open to challenge. As I am seyla, and you are not from Tamaran, he would have to face such a challenge alone." Starfire paused, and Robin could see the sadness in her eyes at the decision she had been force to make. "Beloved, I do not believe he would survive such a challenge, as I know he would not know when he was nearing his limits and continue to resist until he could fight no longer." Robin swallowed the lump in his throat as he saw the control Starfire was exercising slip, and her eyes brimmed with tears and her voice cracked. "Robin, please know that despite this you will always be my gentha'fa, the keeper of my heart. Kim'r will contact you to reclaim the crystal we share. I fear she will do the same with the one you share with Nie'l as well. May X'Hal guide and watch over you, my love."
The screen faded to black and Robin stood there staring at it in shock.
"How could she be so cold?" Shel'b asked, breaking the silence. "I did not need to see the message, Robin. I was there when she recorded it."
Robin nodded. "She's not being cold," he said. "It's because she's concentrating on keeping this from coming through to me."
"Robin?" Raven asked, when she saw him flinch slightly.
"It's Nie'l. He's losing the challenge," he said softly, feeling ill at the thought of the youngster trying to defend himself fro the larger more experienced Galfore. He shook his head, trying to focus on what he could do to help him. "Shel'b, tell me more about this Ca'ri."
"There is not much else to tell, Robin. They are older members of our society, and see to it that our laws are enforced and obeyed."
Suddenly Chr's's face brightened as he thought of something. "They also judge on grievances brought forward by those who they have been treated unjustly."
"How does that. . . . " Shel'b began, but trailed off as she suddenly realized what he was thinking.
Robin thought furiously over what Chr's had said. "Okay, so this states that the Ca'ri has dissolved Star's and my bond, right?" he asked holding up the message viewer. Chr's and Shel'b nodded. "So I'm no longer a member of the Royal Family. Am I still a warrior, and can I bring a complaint to the Ca'ri on Starfire's behalf?"
"Correct on both, Commander." Chr's said, smiling.
"I don't follow. How was Starfire treated unjustly?"
"Because, Raven, the Ca'ri forced her into severing her ties with Earth and me with the assurance that if she did that Nie'l would be secure in his position as Grand Ruler."
"And they went back on that when they ordered Galfore to challenge Nie'l for the crown," Raven said.
"May we escort you to a meeting with the Ca'ri?" Shel'b asked.
"Right after I change," Robin answered, then turned to Raven. "I'll need you to take me to the Tower so I can get my dress armor."
Shel'b held up her hand, stopping Raven as she drew a breath to chant. "That will not be necessary. Chr's and I stopped at the Tower on our way here. There is a set of your dress armor and your swords aboard our shuttle."
"So you knew that Robin would figure something like this out?"
"No, Raven. Shel'b knew enough that keeping him from Koriand'r was a fool's errand, and that what ever course of action he takes, it would be taken more seriously if he wore his dress armor.
"Let's go," Robin said and started to walk out of the training room. He paused, then glanced over at Raven when he suddenly realized that though he could still feel Nie'l's experiences in his mind, they were somehow muted and not as vivid.
"You need to be able to concentrate on making this right," the dark Titan said. "For his sake as well as yours and Starfire's."
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Robin strode down the corridor of the ROHA'N, his cloak billowing out behind him. A warrior, old enough to have gray streaks through his red hair, kept pace beside him. Shel'b and Chr's followed behind them, and Raven brought up the rear. Robin didn't care that Komane'r was breathing heavily from the pace they were walking at. All that was on his mind was getting to the Royal chamber before it was too late.
As they approached the door, the two guards crossed their pole axes, barring their way. "You have no business here, Robin of Earth. I give you the opportunity to respect our laws and leave honorably."
"Stand aside, Lieutenants," Robin said. "I have business with both Nie'l and Galfore in accordance with Pah'kesh rok'oh."
"He speaks the truth," Komane'r said, snapping the two out of their shock. They snapped to attention, resuming their place on either side of the door.
Mentally, Robin grimaced at the sound of a star bolt being launched. He was pleasantly surprised to see that Nie'l was holding out against Galfore's attacks, but it was evident that the youngster was tiring as his movements were slowing. As Robin watched, Nie'l was hit by a star bolt, which knocked him from the air and into a wall. Nie'l sprawled out on the floor for a moment, then tried to get up, but fell back to the floor with a groan.
"Galfore, enough!" Robin shouted, when he saw him ready to launch a bolt at the semi conscious Nie'l. "He is beaten, or are you blood thirsty and power hungry enough that you would take this to the death?"
"Stay out of this. You have no standing here."
"I'm here according to Pah'kesh rok'oh. The Ca'ri may have ended my bonding to Koriand'r, but not my Oath of Acceptance. I'm still a warrior."
"You can not claim Guardian privilege. You were not present on Tamaran when Koriand'r adopted Nie'l, your name does not appear on the documents."
"That has been changed," Robin said, holding up a small scroll. He was relieved to see that Vern'a and another healer were looking after Nie'l. He also saw Kim'r walking toward him.
"May I see that?" she asked.
"You doubt my word, Captain?" Robin asked as he handed over the paper. "Your amount of trust is amazing."
He saw the flash of anger in Kim'r's eyes at the jibe. "It is as he says."
"Then I am Grand Ruler, since I have defeated him," Galfore said, then looked over at Robin. "Unless you wish to take up the challenge, ruthasha."
"Robin, no!" Starfire shouted, stopping him from drawing his sword and accepting the challenge. It also distracted him from bracing himself for the star bolt the Galfore launched at him. It caught him in the chest and sent him tumbling back several feet.
"Robin!" Starfire cried in alarm, then cried out in pain as she clutched her mid section.
"Starfire!" Robin called back as he felt the wave of pain through their bond. He was shocked to see Raven not fly over to her side, but materialize there indicating the seriousness of what ever it was that was wrong with Starfire.
"Vern'a, Starfire needs to get to a healing room," Raven called out as she eased her friend to the floor. "She's bleeding internally!"
Vern'a quickly moved over to where they were and passed a device over Starfire's form from head to toe. "L'vov, na!" she gasped when she saw the readings. "You are correct, she must get to surgery immediately. I am not certain if we are close enough to the healing section. . . "
Raven nodded and began speaking even before Vern'a finished her sentence. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos."
Robin watched as the Raven transformed into the familiar raven shaped shadow form which enveloped first Starfire and Vern'a, then swooped over to Nie'l and the healer that was attending to him before phasing through a wall and vanishing.
"I know you have feelings for her, Commander, but we have decreed that she is to sever all ties with Earth," Komane'r said as Robin took a step toward the door. "You will surrender your crystal to Captain Kim'r."
"Then you will reinstate Nie'l as Grand Ruler," Robin said. "The Ca'ri went back on it's agreement with Koriand'r when you ordered Galfore to take the crown by challenging Nie'l."
"We had no agreement with her," Komane'r said, crossing his arms across his chest.
"I have proof that you did," Robin said. "Kim'r, Galfore, may I see you for a moment?"
"What is it, Robin?" Kim'r asked as they stood beside him.
"Galfore, right before you challenged Nie'l, I received this," Robin said, then played Starfire's message.
"X'Hal, no," Galfore gasped softly when he realized what had been done.
"You only have her word to this ruthasha," Komane'r said.
"You are saying that she would lie about what the Ca'ri had told her?" Galfore demanded.
"She would only make such a decision to forsake him with such a promise of Nie'l's safety. I will not obey your order to take his crystal. It is not in keeping with what you agreed to with her in good faith, and I will defend him from any who would try to take it."
Robin suddenly found himself in the middle of a circle that was made up of Kim'r, Galfore, Shel'b and Chr's, each with their sword in one hand, and the other glowing brightly with their star bolt power.
"We acted as we saw fit. The Ca'ri does not explain itself to anyone."
"Maybe that should change, Komane'r," Galfore said softly. "Go, Robin. I do not know if we can make things right for the two of you, but your place is by her side."
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"Raven, any word?" Robin asked as he saw her pacing outside one of the treatment rooms.
"Robin," Raven said, almost tearfully, then quickly got herself under control. "No. They're operating right now, that's all I know."
"Raven," Robin pressed.
"That's all I know, Robin," the dark Titan snapped, then looked at the door to where Starfire was. 'Although I suspect much more, I won't hurt him with that until I'm sure,' she thought, then closed her eyes sadly as she realized that the chances that her suspicions were wrong were slim. She looked over when she felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Robin standing beside her his apology clearly written on his face.
"Sorry, Raven. It's just. . . ."
"I know. I just wish that you'd realize that you're not the only one who worries about her."
"That I won't apologize for," he said. "You want me to contact Beast Boy and have him come over?" he asked softly.
Raven seemed to think a moment, and Robin realized that she was using her bond with the green Titan. He was surprised when she smiled softly. "He's already on his way," she said. 'But you're not going to like who's bringing him.' she thought.