Author's Notes: There...really isn't much excuse for how long this has taken me. All I can say is I'm sorry, and I've honestly been writing a lot, as you will see from the several new fics I posted...just not this, unfortunately. I have, however, made it my New Year's Resolution to finish this story by its two-year anniversary in August, so with any luck, this'll see more frequent updates from now on.

In any case, hope everyone had a Merry ChristmaHanuKwanzaakah and a Happy New Year.


Thresholding by CidGregor

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.


This fic is dedicated to Post, for all that he has contributed to its existence. (BardStar ftw!)


ACT THREE


Chapter 28

"Status report. Now."

Emperor Galfore watched as Lieutenant Kornan'm swept her cybernetic eye over the displays. "We've lost eight flagships, sir, including the B'kumm and the Matraaz. Most are complete losses, though the Matraaz may be salvaged for parts. Repair crews are en route now to salvage engine parts to repair the lost engine drives on the Z'daan. The Mothership has sustained some damage, but nothing critical. The rest of our losses are a few dozen fighter craft."

"And what of the Princess' vessel?" Galfore urged.

"The Echo'r does not seem to have suffered any damage. However there has been no word yet regarding the princess herself. She has been absent longer than expected."

Galfore frowned slightly, but let it pass. "Even in these times, hers is a duty not to be rushed. The rites of betrothal are vital to this alliance. She will return in due time."

"Yes, sir," Kornan'm replied dutifully. Then, "Sir, I'm receiving a transmission from Captain Tromand'r."

Galfore opened the waiting line immediately, and smiled at the face that appeared onscreen. "It is good to hear you have not joined the heavens just yet, my friend."

"Indeed, X'Hal will have to wait to get her hands on me another day," Tromand'r replied with a brief smile, then set his face to business. "Sir, the Gordanians have dug themselves into the Terran moon far deeper than we could have guessed. It appears they have been there for several hours before the battle already, constructing a base of operations. Their defenses are too well dug in already for us to penetrate as we are. By the time repairs to the remaining fleet are completed, their defenses will be that much greater. We can maintain a barricade and holding perimeter, but no more. And that is to say nothing of the troops they managed to land on the surface within those hunks of lunar rock."

"Nngghh…foul lizardlings…" Galfore growled. "What devastation have they caused?"

"It is minimal as yet…but that will not last," Tromand'r admitted grimly. "The Gordanians…have constructed and successfully landed…Graviton Emitters at each impact site."

Galfore's eyes widened. "Graviton Emitters…! Then their intentions for the moon…?"

"It appears that way, sir."

Galfore snarled. "So…they truly are desperate…"

"I have informed the humans of our situation up here…but they know nothing of what those Emitters can do."

"Well then, inform them!"

"With all due respect, sir, that may not be the best idea."

"Explain."

"The humans realize the necessity of stopping the Gordanians. That is enough. There is no need to cause them potential despair with the knowledge of what those things are capable of."

Galfore frowned as he considered. "…It does not bode well to withhold information from our new allies, Captain. It does not bode well at all."

"The information would do them no good. It may only serve to weaken them with the sting of fear and despair."

Galfore grimaced a bit, but ultimately nodded. "You may be right…very well, but do not think to withhold this from them if there is any chance the knowledge will help them win this war. This is far too vital a conflict for us to fail."

"Understood, sir."

"Lord Galfore!" Kornan'm abruptly interrupted. "One of our ships has just broken from the fleet!"

Galfore whipped his head up. "What?"

"It appears to be a small transport craft, sir. Its current trajectory suggests it is heading for the surface of the Terran planet. The craft is not responding to any of our hailing calls."

Tromand'r could be seen snarling from the view-screen. "A deserter…"

"What are your orders, sir?"

"Bring that ship back," Galfore said. "Deserters cannot be afforded. We need every available warrior on hand to--"

"No. Let it pass."

Galfore stopped mid-speech and turned toward the soft, subdued voice. Somehow, Starfire had slipped into the room without his notice, and she now stood right beside him, not looking at him, but rather gazing out at the fleeing ship. Gone was the ceremonial wedding garb; she now wore something much more resembling her sister's choice of dress, Tamaranian battle armor that encased her arms and legs in strong, flexible metal.

"Perhaps Galfore was not clear, Princess," Tromand'r said. "We cannot afford--"

"I said, let it pass."

Galfore studied the young girl's face, but it seemed unreadable. Stoic. Both traits very unlike her.

"…Sir? Your orders?" Kornan'm prodded.

"You heard the princess. Let it pass."

Kornan'm nodded, drawing back from her command console and letting the transport sail unchallenged through the line of flagships around the planet and head for the northwestern hemisphere.

Galfore stepped up behind Starfire, his posture one that would have intimidated most anyone, except her. "Koriand'r…what do you know of this?"

"…Robin was aboard that transport," she admitted after a pause.

Galfore frowned. "Robin?"

"Yes. He is returning to his team. He believes…he will be able to more effectively battle the Gordanians on the planet's surface than here. I…do not disagree with him."

Galfore knelt down beside her, and his gruff, commanding tone faded into a quieter, more fatherly one as he placed a massive hand on her shoulder. "Something troubles you, my Bumgorf. You do not seem yourself."

Starfire did not answer.

"You may tell me anything, Koriand'r," Galfore pressed again. "What troubles you?"

"…Nothing is wrong, my Knorfka," Starfire said quietly after a pause. "I am simply…melancholy, in the wake of Robin's decision, and his absence."

Galfore nodded slowly. "I understand. Yet perhaps he is correct. He does not know our workings. He will be better suited to working with his own people."

"I suppose that is true."

"You are sure that is all that troubles you?"

"I am sure, my friend."

"The ritual is complete, then?"

The barest of hesitations. "Yes."

"Excellent. Then the alliance is sealed. And it is high time we continue to do our part. Tromand'r, reform our barricade around the Terran moon. Let not another lizard spread its slime beyond that rock's surface."

Starfire heard Captain Tromand'r reply, but she paid little attention to it. Her eyes remained fixed on the fleeing transport, just barely visible now. And as it vanished completely beneath the cloudy skies of Earth, her heart stung.

I hope you are happy, Robin… she said to herself, an unseen tear leaking past her carefully-guarded, stoic mask of a face. I defy tradition…break ancient law…and lie to my Knorfka…for you.


"That is the nature of the ritual of s'lor, Robin. For the marriage to be made truly official, and…t-to cement our peoples' peace…y-you and I…must……we are expected t-to…to…"

He had to get out of there.

That was the sole and solitary thought dominating his mind from the moment Starfire had finally answered his question.

Robin steered the craft down toward the surface far outside of town, away from prying eyes. Ultimately he found himself landing on a familiar ridge outside of town, looking down over the city from high above. He stood there now at the edge of the hill, gazing out at the city he'd sworn his life to.

One of our first missions was here…Robin observed to himself. …She was mad at Beast Boy and his motor oil balloon prank…

……It feels like it was ages ago……

His head drooped a bit, and he sat down on the lips of the slope, sighing to himself. Why does this have to be so damn complicated? Robin demanded of no one. How can they expect something like this from her? From us?

"It is the way of our people, Robin…I realize that it is not your way, but it must be done nevertheless…for the good of both our peoples…"

He rubbed at his forehead, hating the echo of her words in his head. He didn't care how sacred their traditions were, there was no way in hell he was going to…do that.

Can't you see this is moving way too fast? his head pleaded with her memory. This just isn't something to rush into…

"I understand your concerns, Robin…truly, I feel the same. This is not how I would have liked our first joining to come about. But there is nothing that can be done about it…"


"…If the Ritual of S'lor is not completed, then the marriage will cease to exist, and the alliance we worked so hard to forge will be destroyed. There is little we can do but…make the best of things."

Her white-gloved hand brushed his, squeezing it gently. "Besides…it is not as though it is some horrible, difficult task before us…it is…a pleasurable experience…is it not?"

He felt her hand leave his as he stared at the floor, mind racing. This was insane. Absolutely, one hundred percent unquestionably insane. There was no way the Tamaranians could actually expect them to do this. They were locked in the middle of a war, and they were actually telling him to forget about it for a while and…

No. There was no way they were going to tell him that. He'd be damned if he was going to let them. If they thought getting their princess laid was more important than fighting a war, their priorities were messed up beyond repair.

He looked up. "Starfire, I--…"

His words were blocked the moment he caught sight of her. She had moved off the bed to stand with her back to him, undoing a line of clasps on the back of the dress to loosen it. Once finished, she slid the single shoulder strap of her dress off and let it slide down her body to pool around her feet. And as she stepped out of her elegant shoes and turned to face him, he realized that all she had left covering her was lacy undergarments, of the same beautiful material as her dress, hugging her hips and upper chest.

She moved back to the bed, sitting next to him, and felt her hand take his again. He could feel her pulse where his fingers brushed her wrists, and it was racing. Her skin seemed flushed all over her body. Robin, however, felt pale.

"Star, look, I--"

Again he was cut off, this time by the incredible, electric feel of her kiss, warm and wanting, strong yet gentle. It would have probably been the best kiss of his life, if he hadn't known exactly where she was headed with it. She was going for it.

"This may indeed be our duty, Robin…" she broke from the kiss long enough to whisper, "…but I will not pretend that I do not desire you…"

Panic flooded him completely. That was the last straw.

He jerked away from her and rolled off the bed. "No, Starfire! Just…no! This is wrong, this is messed up!"

Starfire looked wide-eyed at him, blindsided. "Robin, it is--"

"I don't care about these stupid traditions!" he burst out. "I don't care how old and sacred they are, I am not going to stand here and be told to do this kind of thing when we should be out there fighting! We swore an oath to protect this planet!"

"We also swore an oath to each other!" Starfire shot back. "To both our peoples, we swore to forge an alliance, and we must uphold it!"

"I refuse to believe that the fate of this alliance hangs on whether or not we--!" he trailed off. "No. I just won't believe it. Getting through the wedding ceremony was one thing, this…this is too much."

"Robin, our traditions--"

"Your traditions are insane!" he cut her off again. "What sense is there in forcibly hindering their own people in a war?.! None! It does nothing but reduce their numbers, and they still shove us into a bedroom and expect us to--!" Again he couldn't say it, and changed tack at the speed of light. "How would they even know, anyway? What if we just SAID we did?"

Apparently that was entirely the wrong thing to say, because Starfire had never looked more offended in her life, and before he could draw back she'd flown toward him and slapped him across the face.

"How dare you suggest such an atrocity!" she said furiously. "These are our oldest and most sacred traditions! How dare you suggest we defile them with lies and deceit!"

"Well you better get used to the idea," he countered, "because there is absolutely NO WAY I'm doing this."

"But you MUST!"

"Forget it. My duty is to protect the people of this planet, not…this. I belong down there, fighting alongside my people and protecting them. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. You can tell Galfore whatever you want about your 'traditions.' I'm done."

And he left. Without so much as another word from his own furious mind or her shell-shocked horror, he grabbed his normal costume that lay waiting for him by the door and stormed from the room.


Starfire…

He hated that he'd left it like that. But there was nothing else he could have done. Didn't she understand how foolish it was? Didn't she realize they were both needed elsewhere? That they couldn't afford to just…take a break and roll around in bed for a while?

Robin shook his head, forcing the recent memories from his mind. What he really couldn't afford was to dwell on it, and he'd already wasted enough time. He had to get back to his team, and do what he should have been doing all along. He had to fight the Gordanians.

He turned from his view of the city and climbed back into the transport shuttle. With any luck, he figured, everyone would still be at Area 51, preparing their assault. As the ship started up, he keyed in a transmission on the Titan frequency. "Cyborg, come in."

Static.

"Cyborg, this is Robin. Do you read?"

"Skknnt—Robin…if it's at all possible, you need to get your ass down here ASAP."

Robin tensed. "What's the problem?"

"…Slade. He's here. At Area 51."

"Slade?.! He's attacking?.!"

"No…he wants to help."

Robin's eyes narrowed to slits. "…I'm on my way."

He slammed down the com-link, let out a furious curse, and rocketed across the landscape as fast as he could go.

As though this day couldn't get any worse… he growled to himself. Whatever you're up to, Slade…I WILL find out…and you WON'T get away with it…