Chapter 27

"Robin?" Cyborg called when he saw him come out of the room, followed by Batman and Wonder Woman.

"My Lord, what of them?" Kim'r asked.

"They are my guests, Captain," Robin said. "Unless specifically request by Koriand'r, he is not to be allowed into her room, otherwise they are to be given every courtesy."

"I ask to take the first watch at guarding her room, my Lord."

Robin turned at the sound of the new voice, and for the first time in almost two months, he smiled. "Mik'l! It's great to see you!"

"I only wish it was under better circumstances, Rob'n." Mik'l said shaking Robin's hand, then chuckled at Robin's confused look at the way he pronounced his name. "While you were Koriand'r's shalocfa, we did not find it necessary to make your name more like ours," he explained. "However, as our Emperor, even if for a short time, that has changed."

"Then why didn't it happen before?"

"It did, my Lord. You simply did not notice."

Robin shrugged slightly. "The first watch is yours, Captain, and congratulations on the promotion."

"Thank you. I noticed that you were not stopping at the Empress's room. May I ask where you are headed?"

"Two doors further down. To see our son."

Mik'l nodded. "So it is true. You share a crystal with him."

"He has the half that was Starfire's before she left it on her dresser at the Tower. How common are these anyway?"

Mik'l looked at the two crystals that Robin held. One glowing green the other red. "The crystals themselves are common enough," he replied. "It's the fact that you are able to handle being linked to two minds at the same time that is rare." He reached out and touched the ruby colored crystal. "He nears consciousness then?"

"And I want to be there when he wakes up," Robin said, and half turned away then turned back. "Captain, I would like to have you in my personal guard. Would you be interested in heading it up?"

"I would be honored, my Lord. But what of Kim'r and the Palace Guard?"

"There are some. . . . .personal issues between the captain and myself."

"Her lack of trust when you produced the document confirming you as Nie'l's Pah'kesh," Mik'l said softly. "Very well, Rob'n. Do you have any who you wish to be in your guard, or am I free to choose them?"

"Shel'b and Chr's are the only ones I want. If you feel that I should have more then three, I leave that to you."

Mik'l touched his right fist to his left shoulder. "As you command, my Lord. I shall attend to it as soon as I have completed my watch over Koriand'r."

Robin returned the salute and entered Nie'l's room. He was surprised at finding someone already in the room.

"Greetings, my Lord," Vern'a said, dropping to her left knee. "I will leave you in peace."

"Vern'a stop," Robin said as she went to slip past him. "You will return to being the Royal Healer."

"My Lord, I endangered her life, and caused her to lose your child. I am not fit to serve you."

"Vern'a, you didn't know. If you had, I'm certain that you would have refused to help Batman."

"I should have anyway. My loyalty is to the Royal Family, not to some ruthasha who claims to have your approval."

"He what?"

"He told me that before you lost consciousness that you had given him permission to use what ever was needed to keep the Empress from being a danger to others, my Lord," Vern'a replied. "I can see from your expression that he lied."

"Yes, he did," Robin said then looked down at the youngster in the bed, his hand absently ruffling his hair.

"Robin," Vern'a called. "She will recover, and you are both young. There is no reason why she should not be able to bear children."

Robin was surprised at how much of a relief that news was to him. Not just for himself, but for Starfire as well. "Thank you." He watched her continue toward the door. "Vern'a, if this is what it takes to get you to be her healer, it is not my request, but my command."

Vern'a smiled softly as she bowed from the waist. "As you command, my Lord. I shall go check on her now."

Just a few moments after the door had slid closed behind Vern'a, Nie'l moaned softly, his arms and hands twitching slightly, and Robin could feel that he was reliving the challenge in his mind. "Athani, ne shoka. Shu vata serena." He smiled softly when he noticed that his telling Nie'l to be calm and that he was safe must have worked, as the youngster's face looked more peaceful and he stopped twitching.

"Mmmm. . . .father?" he moaned when he opened his eyes and saw Robin. "I am sorry that I failed you. I did not win the challenge."

"It's alright, Nie'l. To lose against a larger, more experienced opponent is no dishonor. In fact, I believe you surprised Galfore and quite a few others with how long you held out."

Nie'l gave a small gasp. "You wear the crown? If that is possible, then where is mother, and why does she not rule?"

"Starfire is ill, Nie'l. She will recover, but isn't able to rule at the moment, so as her husband, and your father, I have taken the throne until you are able to reclaim it."

"But the Ca'ri. They ordered mother to. . ."

"I know, Nie'l. What they tried to do didn't work. They can no longer keep her and I apart."

Nie'l was quiet for a moment, and Robin could tell that he was thinking. "Then that means that I will have a brother or sister," he said. "But that does not account for the sadness I feel from you."

"There were problems, Nie'l caused by the cure she was given and that fact that she was given veka serum afterward."

"Father, I am so sorry," he said as he reached up and placed his hand on Robin's. "I do not fully understand what veka serum does, but Jane'l, my older sister, went through the same a few years ago. How is Mother bearing it?"

"She's sleeping right now," Robin said after a moment.

"Father, you must be there for her when she awakes. I know you were there when she woke before, but she will want you there when she awakes this time, and her shalay'fa, ummm, Raven, too."

"Okay, but I can sit with you for now, right?"

Nie'l smiled softly and Robin caught a mischievous gleam in his eye. "For the present you are my Emperor, but do not get used to that father. I am the rightful ruler of Tamaran, and I will reclaim my crown." He was silent for a moment, then looked sideways at Robin. "Although I may find it relaxing to be in this bed for a few days."

Robin chuckled lightly and pulled a chair over to sit beside the youngster. "She hated that she had to just stand there and watch when you faced Galfore. It shouldn't have been your fight."

"Neither of you failed me, father. In a few years, I will be a warrior. If I do not learn to stand up for myself, I will dishonor that title. I know how you and she feel about me, but this is the way of things."

"If that is really true, Nie'l, then I don't believe that you will lay in that bed any longer than needed. You will want to get up and do what must be done."

"We shall see which side of myself wins, father," Nie'l said, then yawned. "Excuse me. My apologies, Father, but I find that I am very tired."

"It's alright, Nie'l. I'll stop in later."

As Robin walked back toward where the rest of the Titans were waiting outside Starfire's room, he knew how Nie'l felt. The eight hours he had been unconscious after Blackfire attacked him was the closest to any real sleep he had gotten since Starfire left the Tower.

"Robin, you should get some rest."

"I know Raven, but I'm sure you know that the only place I might get some sleep is while sitting in a chair at her side."

"I'm afraid that will have to wait, my Lord," Galfore said. "Kor'mel has requested an audience with you. He is waiting in the port observation lounge." The big warrior looked undecided for a moment then went on. "I would speak to you myself concerning Captain Kim'r."

"What about her? She is still the head of the Palace Guard."

"And has found herself left out of your personal guard. You would do well to keep her good favor."

Robin stopped walking and turned to face Galfore fully. "If that is a threat, even a veiled one, you over step yourself, Galfore. Even if I was not holding the Grand Rulership, I would not include her in any guard I would form. At least, not right now."

"Robin, she did not intend any slight when she asked to see the documents. At least not toward you. Komane'r and the representatives of the Ca'ri here have been pushing their authority, attempting to wrest the powers of the Grand Ruler for themselves. With what was happening, when you came forth with those documents, she was suspicious of them, not you."

"I'll think about it, and have a talk with her. As far as having her in my personal guard, I've already got one Captain heading it up, bringing in another would cause problems."

"As you command, my Lord."

Robin resumed walking, and noticed that Galfore kept pace with him, as did Chr's. "Am I right in thinking that it was the Ca'ri that ordered you to challenge Nie'l?"

"Do you truly believe that I would fight one so young on my own? Komane'r informed me that Koriand'r had gone back on her agreement with them and that she was not surrendering her crystal to them. I found out, while you were in with her, that they never asked for her to do so. They have been most underhanded in their dealings of late."

"Thank you, Galfore, I will be careful. While we are alone, I will give you the same courtesy you gave me, and you can call me by my name."

Galfore nodded his thanks as the doors to the observation lounge opened.

"Lord Galfore, I demand to know why you have not joined me in requesting that Komand'r be released by the Earth defenders known as the Justice League?"

"Jemidar Kor'mel, it isn't customary to begin negotiations with a shouted demand," Robin said softly. "I welcome you aboard the ROHA'N."

Kor'mel opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out as he saw that Robin wore the crown. "You?" he finally managed to say. "I was led to believe that Galfore was Grand Ruler."

"At the time you were told, that was correct," Galfore said.

"Jemidar, I understand that you are upset, and I will dispense with the usual formalities of our meeting," Robin said. "Among other things, I would feel uncomfortable having you bow to me. Galfore, Chr's, leave us. We have things to discuss, and I'm certain that we can both trust each other."

Both Galfore and Chr's bowed slightly, then left the room. Robin crossed over to the large view port and looked out. "Your flagship still the TAMAR?" he asked looking the large starship over.

"You have a good eye, Robin. The VENAR is holding position off her port quarter. How is it that you wear the crown? Don't get me wrong. Personally, I think it is great, but with what Koma has told me of the Ca'ri, I did not think they would allow it."

"They aren't happy with it, but they have no choice," Robin said then and gave the older man a quick rundown of events. "Nie'l is resting comfortably, as is Koriand'r."

"And how are you holding up?" he held a hand up stopping Robin's response. "I know you wish to appear to be strong for Koriand'r and your son, but we are both warriors here."

Robin pulled the cloak he wore closer around him and looked out at the TAMAR, absently studying the ship as he collected his thoughts. "Seeing as they will both recover, I'm much better," he admitted. "Even my anger at Batman has gone down some, since I've talked with him. Kori is strong, she'll pull through this. I'm not saying there won't be rough spots, but she'll have help dealing with those."

Kor'mel nodded. "By the way, I commend you on your knowledge of diplomatic customs."

Robin felt his cheeks burn slightly as he blushed a little. "The credit for that goes to Koriand'r. While she's simply sleeping, it's easy to find stuff like that when needed."

"Just do not pry where she would not want you to look."

Robin returned Kor'mel's soft smile. "Do I detect the little voice of experience speaking?"

"The only answer I am going to give that questions is, yes."

Robin nodded his understanding. "So the League is still holding Blackfire?"

Kor'mel's face hardened slightly as he nodded. "They are not holding her in a detention cell, but she is not allowed to contact anyone, or leave the room she is in."

Robin took a device from his belt and slid it into his right ear. "Superman, do you copy?"

"Yes, Robin," the man of steel's voice said into Robin's ear.

"I'm standing here with the Dynast of the Salvainian Empire. I would like to know why you are holding, not only his wife, but a citizen of Tamaran?"

"Robin, she nearly killed you," Batman's voice said.

"She attacked me because she thought I had given Starfire enough veka serum to make her powerless permanently, Batman. She was understandably upset and was taking revenge for that. If it wasn't for her, Starfire would still be under Slade's control, and Earth would be at war with Tamaran." Robin raised an eyebrow as he heard a series of clicks over the comm link.

"Robin, you have my word that she will be released immediately," Superman said after a moment. "Please extend my apologies to the Dynast."

"I'm certain that Jemidar Kor'mel will understand your caution in holding her, and appreciate the treatment she was given."

"They are releasing her?"

"And Superman offers his apologies, as do I. If I had realized that they were still holding her, I'd have gotten her released sooner."

"You had other things on your mind, Robin. Thank you for clearing that up."

"My pleasure, and please give her my thanks for what she did."