Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. The people of Tamaran mentioned are mine, so BACK OFF MAN!
Hi guys. Once agian I take a week to upload another chapter of the saga. I just can't pull myself away from my Playstation. Another thing is, I celebrated my 20th birthday on the 10th, so I took some time just for myself. Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 5: The Flaming Battlefield, the Last Key
The Titans approached the colossal square-shaped box, made of black steel. This was no doubt the Galactic Matter Way described to them at the briefing. Their gear was a little modified, with each of them given a medium-sized pack of supplies. Robin had some thin, extra plating of Kevlar on his arms, legs, and abdomen. They made him heavier, but he still was allowed full movement of his limbs. Raven had refused any extra protection. Beast Boy had been given additional plating like Robin, and Cyborg was more than prepared just as he was.
They came to a large, which opened as if to signal their arrival. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, they were shocked, as they seemed to be the last to arrive. Massive armies of foot soldiers, each with colors to show their nationality, were layered at the front of the room. Behind them, tanks and more monster vehicles stood motionless, their size promoting their power and ferocity. Batman and the League were the first to welcome them.
"It's time, your ride is over there," said Superman, as he pointed to a supply truck at the side amongst the foot soldiers. The Titans approached and entered the back of the truck.
Wonder Woman stood in the doorway, "Remember, it's your job to make the general surrender. We'll do our part and make sure you're unnoticed." With that, she closed the trucks backdoor. The small light, the only thing keeping visibility decent, suddenly shattered, much to the surprise of the Titans.
"What the heck caused that?" shrieked Beast Boy.
The Titans, after their eyes adjusted, turned to Raven
"Sorry," she simply replied to the sudden attention.
Cyborg, the one next to her, put a hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong? What could be bothering our dark sorceress?" he asked.
"It's just," she hesitated, "War was something normal in my dimension, but I never was old enough to participate. Now that I'm here, I, I don't know if I'm up to it."
"C'mon Rav, we're going to need one of us to keep a cool head," he smiled at her, "and I was hoping to count on you for that."
Raven smiled, and attempted to take comfort in her friend's words, but still, a lingering fear stayed in her mind. She took to reading the thoughts of her friends, as if to keep a personal record of them in her brain. She started with Cyborg, who was thinking of his body and if it would be able to take Tamaranian weaponry. Beast Boy was singing a song in his head. 'He must be petrified of being a soldier in a full-scale war. Hmmm, he' s singing "45", he's preparing himself for death. He should just relax, but then again that was never his strong point.' Her last mind on her schedule was Robin. There was silence at first, which surprised even Raven. Then a soft number of thoughts came echoing from his subconscious. 'If I find her, if I see her, I will not fight, I can't.' The four thoughts echoed for a couple of rounds, and then Raven returned to her own subconscious. 'Speaking of Starfire, or rather thinking of her, I wonder what's she up to?'
"Princess all troops present and accounted for," said a Porthock (Four Legs) Officer.
Starfire turned to her right upon her Porthock, "Good, have the other Captains been briefed of Terran weaponry and technology?"
"Yes Princess," the officer replied.
"Please Welcrinken (Bravery Kind), I've known you since we were little. And I can see that all your training has paid off."
"Yes Koriandor, I'm glad that I can fight by you to show you my prowess."
"You don't have anything to prove to me Welcrinken," she smiled brightly, "as the youngest Captain of the Heavy Elite Guard, you're a great warrior, and I know you'll do just fine."
"I hope so, as we have advantage of terrain," Welcrinken said and looked to the South.
The long grass and lofty hills showed untouched beauty. A long dirt road seemed to be the only other proof of civilization. The other sign was the large steel square at the far end of the Princess' eyesight. To her left and right, her Commanding Officers sat upon their Porthock, looking over their own legions of loyal troops, who stretched as far as a man's eyes, could take them. Starfire took in the entire sight, breathing in deeply, as if to taste the fresh air for the last time.
"It's a shame, to see such tranquility tarnished by our scuttles with mankind."
She was snapped out of her wonderful thoughts by the unbelievably strong sound of the large door of the Matter Way opening. As it opened, you could see the giant glow of purest blue poring out of the doorway.
Starfire's eyes glowed, and she held her gauntlet up, "Captain, on my signal, you will order the troops to go to pincer formation."
Welcrinken shouted, "Pincer on grand command!" Which was answered with the rest of the Officers repeating the order down the line.
The door now was wide open, and the first sights were small humanoid figures rushing out of the glow. Starfire grunted, charging her power, and fired a Star Bolt into the air. All lines except Starfire and Welcrinken charged into the battlefield.
"Go! Go! Go! Defense formation until the rest makes it through!" The Commander of the Terran's army shouted at the top of his lungs. The troops around him fanned out and formed a large outside wall. It wasn't long until all foot soldiers made it though. Soon the tanks and heavy weaponry began to come through.
Starfire spoke to Welcrinken, "Hold all troops until they make it through."
Welcrinken looked to his General, "Are you sure General? The enemy is still not ready."
"Exactly," said Starfire, "I will not attack an enemy not fully prepared. This battle will not shame father. When all enemy troops are through, attack on full signal"
"Very well," said Welcrinken and he relayed the command to his troops scout.
'I need to see if they will show up.' She thought to herself.
The minute were few in-between, and soon both lines had full strength. The troops of Tamaran were bunched close in groups of 5 or 6. The Terran forces made a solid line of foot soldiers, with reinforcement tanks and heavy weaponry behind them. Starfire started the full signal, which all other Officers continued.
"Glory for our Kingdom!!!" Shouted the Tamaran in battle cry.
"Forward!!" shouted the Terran General, and the troops charged with all their might.
The tanks shot their first volley of shells, falling into the enemy lines and decimating several dozen in a short second. The Tamaran armies fired a volley of their own from their battle gauntlets. One set of groups of troops would stop and fire; the other would continue their charge towards the enemy. They continued switching roles until they were in melee distance. Once close enough, the Tamaran shaped their energy into a shield in one gauntlet, and a sword or spear or other melee weapon in the other. The Terran troops responded with sending in ground medium-artillery vehicles and bayonets. The battle continued in this fashion, with each side suffering their side of casualties. The Tamaran, with their superior experience in melee combat, though, seemed to have the upper hand.
The Titans were still inside the truck at this juncture. They only could hear the screaming, firing, and explosions outside. Beast Boy was gagging from all the deadly yelling, choking on the vomit he was trying to suppress. Robin, used to the sounds of war and death, only cringed in pain and fear on occasion. Cyborg closed his eyes, trying to let the noises outside tell the tale of battle for him. Raven too had her eyes closed and was quietly trying to meditate as the truck hushed the sound to a dull roar. The heard the trucks suddenly pick up speed quickly, and the driver spoke on the intercom to them. "I've found our opening, I'm taking you around the fight."
"Hm? Commander what is that in the distance?" asked the Princess. She saw a small group of people break from the battlefield and to the side.
"It seems they are trying to send an assault squad. Princess, they seem to be a small platoon of about 250 men, should we attack?" asked Welcrinken
"Yes, we will meet them head on," Starfire said, and she formed a blade with her right gauntlet, "full charge!"
The two met in the middle, and the Heavy Elite charged for a volley.
"Shit!" exclaimed the truck's driver, "they're going to fire, everybody out!"
The Titan's evacuated the vehicle just in time to see the barrage of energy bolts savage it.
The foot soldiers stood their ground to defend themselves from the charge, and for some it was futile as the enemy blades easily sliced through several of them.
"Titan's GO!" Robin commanded, as he drew his Bo staff; 'I hope this is stronger than those soldier's guns,' he thought, and he parried an attack and jabbed a guard in the abdomen, taking him off his steed.
Raven raised herself above her opponents, and began her signature chant. "Azarath, Metrion, Zynthos!" Raven created several post-shaped objects with her dark magic, and hurled them towards more of the charging guard. Several more Elite were knocked off, and immediately thrashed upon by the Terran foot soldiers. Cyborg was fighting more of the enemy with his bare hands, as it seems his alloy was tough enough to withstand the energy blades. He landed a left hook on one in front of him, and pointed his right hand behind him and shot off a sonic blast, knocking another soldier approaching him from behind. "Like I have eyes in the back of my head," he smirked.
Beast Boy was surprisingly left well enough alone, excluding one extra large Elite who was eyeing him down. 'Huh, what's a mere green child suppose to do to our ranks?' Terran's sure have strange battle methods.' He stepped down from his Porthock and approached him.
"Come boy, show me why you are among your planet's finest."
Beast Boy growled at the sudden insult, "With pleasure!" He charged the Tamaranian, and morphed into a rhino, which caught the alien off guard. "Urrggh!" he grunted, ashamed of lowering his guard. The Elite charged right back, and formed a Halberd with his battle gauntlet. Beast Boy dodged the wild swings pretty easily, and morphed into a bear and began a counter attack. The guard ducked and thrust the spear end of the halberd into him. Upon the impact, Beast Boy reverted and coughed up some blood, but the Kevlar saved him from a fatal blow, unbeknownst to Beast Boy.
"I-Is this it? Is it over?" he spoke softly.
"Not quite," said the guard and started to swing around in a circle, sending Beast Boy with the halberd, "this is the end!"
With that, his eyes glowed green and he roared with sudden power. The Tamaran threw the changeling into the air like a tossed hammer. Poor Beast Boy was sent soaring until he was gone from sight.
"Well, that was mildly amusing," said the guard, amused in his victory.
"See if you find this amusing," said a low and angry voice.
The Elite turned around and, three sudden flashes followed, with Robin behind the Tamaran. He groaned in pain, and feel to the ground with a loud thud. 'Jerk, abusing Beast Boy like that.' He looked around as the Titan's were looking fatigued as they continued to fight. To his left he saw a tuft of red and turned to see a sight he did not want to see.
Starfire was there on her Porthack, with Welcrinken on her side, smirking with astonishment. "Well done Terran warrior. You are truly one of your kind's greatest."
Robin just stood there and spoke softly, "Starfire."
"Robin," replied Starfire, not missing a beat.
Welcrinken was struck with surprise yet again, "Koriandor, you know this human?"
"That's right, she does," interrupted Robin, and began to approach the two, "Star, I've come to look for you. Please tell me you're not the one in charge here?"
"Sadly I am, it's my duty as the one of the last of the Royal Family. What brings you here? Shouldn't you be protecting Jump City?"
"I am protecting Jump City Star, Planet Earth for that matter. I'm here for you Star. You could surrender and then come home with us."
"So you're after Koriandor eh? As the Commander of the Elite Guard, I will not let that pass!" It was Welcrinken's turn to interrupt, and he charged at Robin, sword formed in his hand.
Robin was quick to react, and swiftly parried his opponents attacks. Welcrinken seeing his advantage continued the assault. 'Shit, this guys as good as Bruce back home, I can beat him though.' Robin parried and landed a counter hit on the side. Welcrinken flinched, and then it was his turn to defend.
Starfire just watched, surprised at herself she finally spoke up, "Enough both of you! Stop this useless battle now!"
Robin turned his head at the sound of his name. Welcrinken saw this and smacked Robin's hands with the flat part of his blade; Welcrinken finished with a slash across the chest, cutting Robin and tearing his costume. Robin was sent to his knees by the brutal assault and his chin rested on the blade of his opponent.
"I would of thought a warrior such as you would never break the first rule of combat: never take you eye off your opponent. You might be the Princess' friend, but in battle friendship must be put aside. Now I will finish you as the solider you are." Welcrinken raised his blade to finish off Robin, and was caught in the downswing by a Star Bolt in the arm.
Welcrinken stood in shock as he looked over to Starfire and spoke in a quelled rage of disbelief. "Princess Koriandor," he spoke, "surely I don't need to tell you the penalty for treason!"
"Star...fire," Robin spoke as his new wound started to take its toll. He began to feel dizzy from the loss of blood. Robin's vision began to blur, and then fell face first into the grassy field, staining it with his blood.
"Robin!" cried Starfire, and started to run towards him. She went past Welcrinken and was suddenly hit upside the head by something, and she feel to the grass as well.
"Commander Welcrinken," an Elite guard ran up to him, "All enemy soldiers are either killed or taken into custody." The guard turned his eye to Starfire and Robin. "What has happened to Princess Koriandor?"
Welcrinken spoke, "I've relieved her of her rank soldier, and she has turned out to have mixed emotions about the war."
"I see," said the guard.
"Take the princess to her father, she and that other one will need to see the counsel."
"You mean Jah Dokori Yenma (Elders of the Stars)?"
"Yes," he said, as he noticed troops carrying the unconscious bodies of the other Titans. "Those two will need to be kept in the strictest isolation, along with the other Terran Elite."
"Sir!" said the guard, and left to carry out his orders, leaving Welcrinken to himself and newly flowing tears from his eyes, as he looked over his former friend. "Now, I'm guilty of breaking another rule of battle: tears cannot be shed. Koriandor, why?"
Korisunjin was in his throne room, waiting for news of the battle. 'Omjudasin should have news by now, what is keeping him?' He stood up and walked to the middle of the chamber. "Omjudasin, what is the news of the battlefront," he asked.
"I'm afraid Omjudasin will not be able to hear you, your Excellency," echoed a voice, shadowing its location of origin.
Omjudasin was looking all over for the origin of his answerer, "Who's there that would enter this room without my blessing?"
"Your blessing? With war waging outside these walls, your blessing's amount to very little."
"How dare you? What kind of nerve do you have?"
"This much nerve, King Korisunjin," as the voice now came from behind him. Korisunjin turned to see a man his height dressed in orange, silver and black.
"I see, a heretic of Tamaran law then? Speak rouge, where is Omjudasin," demanded the King.
"He belongs to the stars now," Slade threw a head in Korisunjin's direction. Korisunjin saw the head of his former attendant, a sigil burned into his forehead. The king recognized it as the same found when his wife and son were murdered.
"You," Korisunjin spoke.
"Yes, me your Excellency. Tell me, how does it feel to start a war with a planet that had nothing to do with your family's death? How does it feel to destroy peace for 200 years and cause turmoil that will never vanish? After all Korisunjin, this is the same turmoil your ancestors caused my family generations ago."
Korisunjin's anger was rising incredibly fast, "Who are you to say and do such terrible things? Show me your face cur!"
"Gladly, seeing as it's the last face I want you to see." Slade unattached his facemask, and revealed an older Tamaran, with spiky white hair. His eyes were orange and showed a large amount of contained rage and knowledge, a dangerous combination.
Korisunjin looked at him for a minute, trying to piece a puzzle he knew he had done before. "Those eyes and hair, could you be the same person 5 years ago? Yes, that's it; you're the son of that heretic. You're Morugenji (Demon Gear), son of Welicgenji (Demon Hand) and grandson of Genjidasin (Demon Sword)."
"I'm honored that a king remembered me. I'm here for my fathers key."
"I will not hand it over. You know why I killed your father, and he knew as well. Your family should have never used forbidden technology. There are grave consequences for its use. I struck him down, knowing he was too far gone to reason with."
"Forbidden technology, humph!" smirked Slade; "My father was a man with a dream, a dream of advancing Tamaran into a glorious new age. You and those elders are the stubborn ones. Your stubbornness to change and freedom was what struck him down, something I will never forgive." He smiled coyly, "but now that will change, with your armies dwindling down fighting a pointless war. My army has returned, and my father's Godstar is the final piece. I was going to let you hand it over, but it makes me so much more satisfied that I will take it from you corpse!"
Korisunjin had finally had enough, "I will not be beaten by such an insolent child! Prepare yourself!" He formed a blade and charged the assailant. Slade pulled out one of his lasers and shot the king, knocking him down. Slade retracted his staff and stood over the king's body.
"With this blow, the sins of your family are repaid!" and Slade thrust with all his might the staffs end into Korisunjin's throat, crushing it with one blow.
Korisunjin struggled to breathe, leaving Slade to reach down and take the jewel atop the king's circlet. "As you struggle meaninglessly to breathe, know that I have only your daughter to kill, along with the entire kingdom." With that, he left, leaving the king in his final moments.
"Thank You!" to the following readers:
ssjEasterBunny
Thanks for the advice on Beast Boy and Terra. No, I can't tell you what goes down, but hopefully it'll be in chapter 7, I've been putting the scene in my head for weeks now. :D
ShadowCatMage13
Thanks for the review. Every little bit counts!
Peppermint Dream
Thanks! One question though: My story has a twist? I would of sworn somebody came up with the basic plot by now.
DIWaRrIa
Congratulations! You're the first reader to ever be "gobsmacked" by one of my stories. I came up with the idea because I was thinking of trying to make a grand space drama, like Crest of the Stars (btw I would reccomend this anime to anyone into drama). Korisunjin dosen't know to this point who exactly to blame, all he can go on is the attackers from earth. Slade was counting on Korisunjin to go on a power trip, but even if he did'nt I'm sure he would of come up with another way to get them to fight.
K'ay that's it for now. See ya on chapter 6
KPAAF
