The young scrubs gathered anxiously around Wally and Jinx. The red clad speedster studied the mission console with wary eyes. Jinx bit her lower lip as she too saw the output on the display. Young Robin elbowed his way in to get a better look, earning an annoyed glare from the pink haired hextress.
"It's about time we had a mission." Superboy grumbled.
"I agree with Connor, we're all getting cabin fever all cooped up in here." His blond girlfriend chimed in.
"So, where is the mission?" Bart Allen, the new Kid Flash, asked.
Wally bit his lower lip. "We aren't going anywhere."
"Why the hell not?" Mia Dearden thundered. "I'm also fed up with hiding in here like a bunch a cowards."
Jinx gave the young female archer a mild glare. "Because, Spee-dee, the mission is coming straight to us."
The Tower, like its twin in Steele City, was under siege by bounty hunters, and was shrouded in retractable armor, which was fortunate as the rabble outside had not one, but two BFG-9000's aimed at the Tower. The giant viewscreen in the common room switched views and showed a fleet of small alien vessels approaching the Tower.
"Who are they?" Mia asked.
"They're Tamaranians. How did they get past the blockade?" Tim interjected while Wally tried to hail them. "Attention, Tamaranian flotilla. Do not approach Titans Tower, we are under siege and you might be fired upon."
The Tamaranians responded in their alien language and continued to approach. It didn't take long for the mob to notice them. As predicted, one of the BFG-9000's fired, vomiting a deadly plasma bolt, which soared across the bay. The Tamaranians were flying in close formation and the shot found a target. One of the Sunfires began to sparkle as its shields were overwhelmed by the shot and the ship exploded in a green fireball, damaging the ship flying on its left flank, sending the second ship tumbling into the bay, where it exploded upon crashing.
An all out battle broke out as the remaining eight Sunfires began to fire upon the militia camped out on the island. Most of the crowd ran for cover, while the few with serious firepower shot back. The Tamaranians were trained warriors, unlike the bounty hunting thugs opposing them. The Titans watched the battle unfold.
"They don't stand a chance, the Tamaranians will slaughter them." Robin remarked.
"We won't let it go that far. Once they take out those BFGs I'm letting the Tamaranians into the landing bay." Wally remarked.
"You're letting them in?" Conner gasped.
"We have to, if we don't they kill everyone out there. It's obvious they came to see us."
"We should go outside and fight!" Superboy shouted while he pumped his fist.
"A good friend of mine once said that fighting isn't always the answer." The Flash calmly remarked as he watched the fight outside continue to unfold. The Tamaranians, who flew their ships skillfully, took out the first BFG. Another Sunfire was shot down before the second gun was taken out. At that point the battle became a rout and the mob fled Titans Island any which way they could, even swimming. At that point he opened the hangar doors on the roof and hailed the aliens a second time. Again, they responded in their strange tongue, but upon seeing the hangar open the broke off their assault and, one by one, entered and landed in the hangar. Once they were all inside the overhead doors closed with an authoritative thud.
Wally and his team were already in the hangar, ready to greet their visitors, who disembarked from their ships, shouting in what sounded like angry voices. Connor bristled at their perceived attitude and yelled back at them.
"This is our house, no one talks to us like that!"
A male warrior, who sported a large red beard and mustache, gesticulated angrily at the half Kryptonian.
Bart snickered. "The dude looks like an overgrown Yosemite Sam! This is so crash!"
"Connor!" Tim interjected. "He means no disrespect. It's just how Tamaranians are."
The Tamaranian squad leader continued shouting in his alien tongue. Connor shook his fist and the Tamaranian lunged at him. Superboy caught him with a right jab and send the alien flying into a wall. After falling to the ground the orange skinned alien slowly got up, and began to snicker, even though he was clearly in pain.
"You want more, chuckles? Cuz I got plenty more where that came from."
Superboy, with a scowl on his face, closed in on the Tamaranian, who was in no shape to defend himself. Several of his comrades formed a perimeter around him. A young female began to shout at him.
"What the hell do they want?" Connor groaned.
Cassie intercepted him. "Connor, take it easy. We need to communicate with them."
She turned around and faced their visitors and spoke slowly. "We don't understand you, and you don't understand us."
'Yosemite Sam' slowly approached her. He looked calm and he stopped in front of her.
"OK, that's better … no shouting." She spoke in a soothing voice. "Now we need to find a way to communicate … and I have no idea of how we're going to …"
The Tamaranian male grabbed her and kissed her. Wonder Girl went bugged eyed and froze.
"What the hell?" Superboy boy shouted as he lunged at the Tamaranian.
Before Conner could reach him Cassie punched 'Sam' and sent him flying into the wall a second time.
"If that's your idea of a joke, I'm not laughing." She screamed.
His comrades came to his aide, but he waved them away as he stood up.
"I did not know that humans were so strong. We are told on Tamaran that you are all weaklings." He enunciated carefully while he rubbed his bruised jaw.
"Oh, so you do speak English." Connor snarled at him.
"I do now, young man."
"Why the hell did you kiss my girl, you old goat?"
The man shook his head, as if he didn't understand. "The lip contact, you are offended?"
"Duh! Yeah!" Cassie screamed at him.
Robin stepped in. "Tamaranians don't kiss."
"He sure as hell kissed Cassie ... what the hell? Are Tamaranians pervs or something?"
"No, you don't understand … he called it lip contact … they can download information, knowledge by kissing. It doesn't have any romantic meaning for them."
"Download knowledge." Wonder Girl growled. "That has to be the most pathetic excuse I ever …"
"Yes, young lady, knowledge." 'Sam' interrupted. "My name is Sergeant Helfar. It is how I learned to speak your language. I was unaware of the intimacy aspect the lip contact has for humans. I apologize for violating your person. I assure you that I did it out of ignorance."
"You're lucky you didn't try to cop a feel." She snarled at him.
He processed the slang expression and after a few seconds an alarmed expression appeared on his face.
"What? Why would I do that? Knowledge cannot be transferred in that manner."
Wally stepped forward. "Now that we've dealt with that and we can communicate … why are you here?"
"We seek the Princess Starfire. She is to return to Tamaran."
"I thought she was already there." Jinx interrupted.
"She was, but she returned to Earth to seek her mate."
"Well, you came to the wrong place. She hasn't lived here for years." Cassie barked at the man.
Helfar's face fell. "Then we have failed.'
"She's in Steele City, with her husband." Wally announced.
"I see, then it is time for us to leave. I ask for yours and X'Hal's pardon for intruding on you like this."
Helfar barked a command in Tamaranian to his troops, who immediately returned to their ships, except for a shapely young woman who approached.
"This is Annikka, she is my second in command."
The woman and Robin locked eyes. Tim smiled and she immediately pulled him into a kiss.
"Annikka! Do not do that! It is offensive to them!"
Tim grinned a dopey, love struck smile as Annikka released him. "It's cool … I'm good."
Annikka smiled at Robin. "Farewell, Boy Wonder. Maybe if we meet again, we can do more than just kiss."
Robin stared dumbfounded as the two Tamaranians returned to their ship. Annikka winked at him, before closing the hatch. He didn't move as the ships took off and left. Mia approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Are you OK, Tim?"
He snapped out of his trance and grinned. "I'm better than OK, I'm in love."
-( scene break )-
Hal Jordan grimaced as he dodged the starbolts the battle cruiser fired at him. Millenia had passed since the treaty was signed, the one that kept the Green Lantern Corps out of the Vega system. Much to his, and his fellow Lantern's chagrin, Tamaranian warfare had come a long way since that day and the orange skinned aliens were proving to be formidable foes. Now he understood why the Gordanians were unable to breach Tamaran's borders.
In the end it would be of no consequence, when it would be over the Green Lanterns would win this battle, though it pained him to think of the outcome. Such tremendous loss of life. As he spun around he caught a glimpse of his home world below. Billions of lives would be lost if Boodikka made good on her promise. And he was in a bad position, other than the other human Lanterns and Kilowog; he had no allies to turn the tide against the usurper who stole his command. He knew that the Guardians would punish her later, possibly taking away her ring of power. But that wouldn't bring Earth back.
Jordan did a barrel roll and just as he was about to form a giant baseball bat his ring buzzed, indicating an incoming call.
"Now's not a good time, whoever you are!"
"Jordan! It's me, Mento from the Doom Patrol."
"I'm kind of busy right now, Dayton."
"I know, but it's good news. A cure's been found."
Hal finished forming his giant, emerald baseball bat and slammed the cruiser with it, sending it tumbling in space.
"A cure! Are you sure?"
"Yes, we'll begin administering it in a few hours."
"Dayton, that's the best news I've heard in hours. Would you mind telling the Tamaranians too? We could use a cease fire up here."
"They should know by now."
As if on cue, the Tamaranian cruisers broke off their attack, and after firing up their FTL drives one by one they jumped into otherspace, heading back to Tamaran.
-( scene break )-
The common room in the Steele City Tower was getting crowded as everyone made their entrance. The view screen showed a small squadron of Sunfires approaching. Starfire and Nightwing were the last to arrive.
"Looks like we have visitors from the old country." Cyborg remarked. "I'm hailing them."
Within seconds Galfore's cross face appeared on the screen. Grayson placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. "He looks pissed." He whispered into her ear.
"He always looks that way." She replied. "Or have you forgotten?"
Cyborg opened the doors to the hangar bay. "Y'all come in. Those folks outside aren't friendly."
"I will have my people eradicate them." Galfore announced.
"No, wait, we don't want to hurt them." Cyborg replied.
"You humans are peculiar; you are so violent, yet at the same time so merciful. You are an enigma … is Koriand'r with you?"
"I am here, my old knorfka."
"Good, there is much we need to discuss." He replied.
The connection was severed. Cyborg sighed. "Well, we'd better go and meet him in the landing bay; I don't want them trashing the Tower looking for you."
-( scene break )-
Cyborg, Bumblebee, Batgirl, Nightwing and Starfire entered the landing bay just as the Tamaranian corvettes were shutting down their engines. Galfore's flagship stood out as it had the Imperial Crest painted on its side. A loud hiss was heard and a hatch opened on its side. The corvette had a crew of five, including Galfore, who was the last to emerge from the small ship. Flanked by his crew, he approached the Graysons.
"Welcome to Titans Tower East." Nightwing formally greeted him.
"I did not come here to speak with you, human."
"You will not speak to my husband that way, Galfore."
"I am the Grand Ruler, I will speak with him as I please."
"Why have you refused to accept him?"
"He is an outsider and a commoner too. Why did you leave Tamaran in secret to reunite with him?"
Grayson bristled at Galfore's words, but Starfire took his hand and calmed him.
"He is my spouse. That you do not approve does not change that. And I left in secret because you would not have allowed me to return to Earth."
"How did you get past the blockade?" Cyborg asked.
"We did it at a great cost. Lives have been lost, Koriand'r, because of your stubbornness."
"You did not have to come after me."
"Yes, we did. Princess Mar'i is the sole heir to the throne. Had she died on Earth, there would have been no one to succeed me. Chaos, perhaps even civil war would have ensued. Where is the child?"
"I left her with Raven and Beast Boy. She is safe"
"Wait a minute … if Star and Mar'i had died, wouldn't Blackfire's claim to the throne been reinstated? Is that why you risked so much to save them? To keep Blackfire off the throne?" Nightwing asked.
A pained expression appeared on Galfore's face. "I am afraid that I have bad news regarding Princess Kommand'r."
"What? Did she try to take over another system and now she's rotting in some alien prison?" Dick asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
"If only that were true, the news would not be so bad." Galfore replied in a flat monotone.
"Galfore, what has my sister done now?"
The Grand Ruler shook his head. "She has done nothing."
"I do not understand."
Before he could reply a black hemisphere rose from the floor. After fully emerging It faded away, revealing the Logans, who had Nightstar and Coraline with them. Beast Boy smiled sheepishly before greeting them. "Surprise?"
"Daddy!" Nightstar shrieked as she flew into her father's arms. Grayson wrapped his arms around his daughter and squeezed her tightly. A single tear leaked out from his mask. Galfore looked upon the scene, saying nothing while subtly nodding with approval. Babs was sporting an ear to ear grin. Starfire approached her friends and hugged them both. Raven pulled Coraline out of her sling and handed her to Starfire, who began to coo the tiny infant. Mar'i took her father's hand and led him to Starfire.
"Baby Coraline's here." She beamed. "She was born!"
Nightwing approached the group and his wife turned to present Coraline to him. He took her from Starfire.
"I haven't held a baby for a while." He chuckled while he traced a gloved finger across the gray skinned infant's forehead. "But that's going to change soon."
Other Titans crowded around Nightwing, and began to ooh and ah at little Coraline. Once they all had a chance to see her, he handed the infant back to her mother, grinning mischievously. Raven arched an eyebrow at him, silently saying "What?"
"I think she needs a fresh diaper." He chortled.
She handed Coraline to Garfield, who had the diaper bag slung around his shoulder. "Your turn, dad." She smiled.
"I'm on it." He replied with a grin.
"Wait!" Galfore raised his hand. "I have news about Kommand'r, you should all hear it."
Galfore paused and furrowed his brow. All eyes and ears were upon him.
"Koriand'r, I'm so sorry to tell you this. Your sister … she is dead."
The hangar fell silent. Starfire covered her mouth with her hand and her body began to tremble.
"No." Raven whispered. Nightstar ran to her mother and wrapped her arms around her.
"How did she die?" Nightwing asked.
"She was murdered."
"Murdered? I thought that there was no crime on Tamaran. Who did it?" Raven asked.
"It was her lover, a junior officer named Frassa'd."
Starfire became livid. "He murdered her!? That sniveling ingrate! The glork worm! Tell me you have not executed him, for I wish to do that myself."
"Whoa … Star." The changeling interjected. "You don't want to do that."
"He murdered my only sister, Garfield. I know that we had our issues and that she was not a person of good moral character … but she was my sister ... and despite her immorality … I loved her."
Starfire fell to her knees and began to weep uncontrollably. Her husband knelt next to her and wrapped his arms around her in a vain attempt to console her. Bumblebee did the same for Nightstar while Cyborg frowned at the bad news.
"I am afraid that Frassa'd is already dead. The coward killed himself after he murdered the princess."
"Do we know why he did it? Did he leave a note?" Raven asked.
"No … his motives remain a mystery. It is possible that she was about to replace him with a new lover, Kommand'r was known to do that on a regular basis. But we Tamarians … we do not kill over spurned love, it isn't our way."
"I'd like to go to Tamaran to investigate." Grayson replied.
"That would be helpful. Crime is so infrequent on Tamaran that we lack detectives such as yourself."
Galfore knelt next to Starfire, who continued to blubber. She buried her face in his chest.
"You need to return to Tamaran for the funeral … I would like the five of you to come. I have been informed of the discovery of the vaccine. The blockade should soon be lifted."
"I will be the judge of that!" A female voice interrupted.
Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was a female humanoid alien Green Lantern who glowed as a protective field shielded her from the environment.
"You're Boodikka?" Nightwing announced. "Hal has told me about you."
"Jordan has told me about the discovery. Before I lift the blockade and spare Earth from its fate, I would like to see this vaccine."
Beast Boy opened a satchel. "I brought some with me, to inoculate my friends; I believe that it will protect you as well."
He presented a small vial to her, which she took with an emerald tendril. It floated into a position in front of her and her ring of power scanned its contents. She then returned the vial to the changeling.
"I am satisfied, Earth will be spared. The blockade however will remain in effect until everyone has been inoculated and a quarantine period has expired. And exception will be made for those present who wish to travel to Tamaran, once they have received the vaccine."
Cyborg cleared his throat. "Excuse me, where is Hal Jordan?"
"I relieved him of duty because of a conflict of interest."
She then turned to Galfore and frowned.
"Your attack against the Corps was foolhardy and possibly a violation of the treaty."
Galfore crossed his huge arms and glared at the woman. "The treaty was signed between you and the Psions, and it only covers the Vega system. We came to protect the princesses, which we have every right to do. As for it being foolhardy, I would say that we were evenly matched in battle. We do not fear the Green Lantern Corps. And I will file an official protest with the Guardians. And I will ask for you to be held accountable and to be disciplined for wrongfully attacking us."
Boodikka glared at the Tamaranian. "I will return command to Jordan. He was in charge when your fleet entered the system. If anyone will be blamed, it will be him."
Galfore grinned maliciously. "We will see about that … Boodikka."
Boodikka took her leave and departed. Galfore turned to face the Fab 5. "We will be leaving for Tamaran within the hour."
"I need to go back and square a few things away in the lab before we go." Beast Boy remarked. "It shouldn't take me long."
Raven conjured a portal for him. As approached it she followed him. He stopped.
"Why don't you stay here with Star?" He asked. "I think she needs you."
Raven looked at Starfire, who was still looking disheveled. "I think I will."
The changeling handed the satchel with the vaccines to Cyborg, before disappearing into the dark portal.
-( scene break )-
Raven's portal led straight into their apartment in the lab. They left in secret and choose the apartment as their point of departure. When Beast Boy stepped out of the portal he found that the room was dark, which disconcerted him as he was certain that the lights had been left on. He fumbled in the dark for the light switch on the wall. He found it and turned on the lights.
As soon as the lights came on he heard what sounded like a loud 'thwip' and felt a sharp pain on his left side. He instinctively reached for the source of pain and found that a large dart had pierced him. As he grabbed and attempted to dislodge it the room became blurry. He turned to his left and saw that he wasn't alone but couldn't recognize his visitor who also looked blurry.
"Who … are … you?" The changeling slurred.
Beast Boy felt his legs go rubbery and he began to stumble, while he still clutched the dart in his hand, trying to pull it out of his body while darkness threatened to take him. His legs buckled and he collapsed, rolling on the floor. As he hit the ground the dart finally dislodged, rolling under a nearby chest of drawers.
He struggled to regain control but lost all consciousness as the world around him finally faded to black and his supine form ceased to move.
A mysterious figure knelt next to him and placed a small device on his neck, a single light on it began to flash. The changeling, still unconscious, morphed into a small mouse, which was scooped up by a leather gloved hand and placed into a small box. The intruder placed the box into a briefcase and turned off the lights before leaving the room. Walking down the hall, the kidnapper stopped in front of the elevator and summoned it.
The elevator door opened and the car was occupied. She smiled at the passengers.
"It's OK Doc, there's room for one more." Some called out.
"We're going home, finally!" Someone else cheered.
"Hey Doc, have you seen Dr. Logan?" A third person, one of the cooks at the dining hall, asked. "I just wanted to thank him for everything he did."
"No, I can't say that I've seen him." She replied.
-( scene break )-
And now we go into the final stretch, where all the mysteries will be revealed. I also apologize for this chapter. I was having some serious writer's block and this was the best I could do.
I watched the Dodgeball episode. Is there anyway to "unwatch" it. I'm afraid that my IQ dropped a few points. And I also saw the preview clip for next week's episode: where BB and Cyborg argues over whether burgers or burritos are better. Is that really the best the writers can do?
And now, it's mailbag time.
Reader - Sorry for the delay. I've had a bit of writer's block.
Bluedog197 – Trogaar always struck me as someone who was extremely callous.
Hayhay12 – I would never want to be the source for your unhappiness.
TW – They were manipulated by Slade.
Just a Thinker – Well! Thanks for not lurking anymore! And I'm glad you like it.
bigC94 - I never expected this story to do so well.
The Cretin - Grayson does have feelings for Babs, which makes it all that much harder.
TheDarkChangeling – Thanks! I wonder how far this story will go.
SuperNolon - I seem to recall that Luthor promised him quite a bit. Butt BB is the sole heir to the Dayton fortune, so I don't think he's too worried about money
DeeThom – You will find out soon enough.
Guest - I'll do my best to not make them too short.
Adventuresstime – for some reason that made me think of Darth Vader
Guest - Done!
Me – I like M'Gann, but I never know what to do with her.
gabylokita41 – I'm having a lot of fun making Mar'i "cute"
Sweetums14 – Earth is safe.
EP – Alexa: The blond, brainy bombshell you love to hate!
LSUABW - Rita would probably step on her.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast – Star seemed to take a liking to it. I recall reading that before making contact with the west, that the Japanese did not kiss!
mlbv-grimm – Leave it to BB
Shadico - Boodikka is in trouble and she knows it.
Fl4mingTurd - One thing is certain, Alexa is up to no good.
Skyblue271 – They are one happy bunch of nerds!
Katie TDC - But he's such a nice kid!
Evamntheawesome – Some questions are best left unanswered!
7SheWolfShaman7 - Some of the new episodes (most of them, actually) are painful to watch. And not just because they suck, but because we know we won't get the original show back.
JOHNXgambit – I always liked the Episode "The End Part 1" where Starfire smothers Raven's disgusting pancakes in mustard.
Ravenandthefire – Fantastic!
Soulsurfer2112 - Thank you!
JasonVUK – Can you get Krispy Kreme donuts in the UK?
Kidstandout - I think now you know.
titanfan45 – I was inspired by a Star Trek movie when the Klingon commander tells his gunner to disable the small Federation ship, and he accidentally blows it up. The Gunner looks at his captain and says "Lucky Shot". The captain then shoots him.
krostovikraven1 – Now that they have bigger fish to fry, I think Grayson will sit on that secret for a while. I agree, the Terra episode is one of the few good ones in the new show. And Terra is very "comic book" in the episode. She oozes contempt for BB.
Chayse-man – Yes … you're foolish
Notabotipromise – There is still some adventure and intrigue to go.
Randamwriter – Mento probably didn't get any nookie that night!
Death Stroke The Kid – It does bug me how everyone (except Raven) is portrayed as a knuckled headed idiot. Terra has them tied up and is ready to kill them, and all the others can do is tease Raven about being jealous?
Anoymous136 - The human knew that he had to be careful.
BartWLewis – Mark will be back.
Dragonkyng - I'm guessing that we have at least 10 more chapters.