Thanks for the suggestions. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to keep a good story, well, good! Thanks again for your help and here it is Ch.11. Because that last entry didn't really count as a chapter. Since I have to put a lot in this chapter it will be kinda long. Thanks also to Koriand'r Star and Triumphantpickle for their helpful suggestions. R&R.
Ch.11
Lee was in a vacant tent preparing for his match with Iris. He usually wasn't the type of person to fight just for the sake of showing that he was better, but desperate times call for desperate measures. He removed his sword from his waist and set it down on the table next to him. Aurora poked her head in and watched him heat up a small fire.
"It's alright Aurora you can come in", said Lee not looking up.
"How did you know it was me", she asked, she sat down next to him.
"Everyone sounds different when they walk on the ground". He smiled up at her. "Your step is quite unmistakable". She blushed and turned away for a moment. She bit her lip and turned back to Lee.
"Lee I have come to ask you to-to not go through with this challenge". Lee stopped and looked up at her curiously. He reached up to the table and took his sword. He slowly removed it from the sheath and placed the blade over the fire.
"Why would you ask that"?
"Lee, Iris was the general not just of a section of our forces, but of the entire army. If you fight him he way kill you and"-. She broke off and looked at him with a concerning face. He reached over and picked up a small hammer. He then began to lightly hit the reddened blade. "What are you doing", she asked.
"Tempering it makes the blade sharper and stronger". Aurora disregarded the answer as if not even hearing it.
"Why do you feel you must risk your life? There are other ways Lee, other paths that we could take".
"This is the only way", he said shortly. He stopped hitting his blade and looked up at her. "Iris will not listen to what he does not respect, few people would. Therefore I must make him see reason so he will fight for Star-San. I do this as much for me as I do for my friends".
"What does that mean"? Lee wished he hadn't said that. Now he would have to explain himself even further. He sighed as he began to re-polish his sword.
"I am without my honor, I lost it long ago. So I live with the Titans and I serve Robin-San to slowly regain it". Aurora was utterly perplexed by this.
"But you fight alongside such great heroes, how could you be without honor"?
"You remember Nayia, my sister"? She nodded.
"When I left to search for her, I left my post at the city wall. That night it was attacked and we lost five hundred men because I abandoned my post. Instead of granting me the redeeming honor of taking my own life, the Shogun bore upon me the ultimate shame; exile". He got up and sheathed his sword with a snap. "I promise you I will not fail, I can't. There's just way too much at stake. Besides, I may end up giving you all a short lesson". She got up and took his hand.
"Just be careful. I have never seen Iris lose a battle before". He smiled and shrugged.
"Maybe you should get out more". She smiled back and they left the tent.
GETTING BACK WITH STARFIRE...........................
Starfire slowly opened her eyes and looked around at her surroundings. She found she was lying on the cold floor and that her wounds had been bandaged up. It was definitely a room for someone special but for who she couldn't remember. She moved forward but didn't get too far. She was suddenly stopped by an invisible field.
"Careful there". She looked over to see Orion sitting in a chair not to far from her. "That's a fifty kilowatt force field; I wouldn't want you to get hurt". She stood up and walked over to her boundary line.
"What have you done with my friends"?
"Nothing, I have no idea where they are. If you ask me, it sounds like your Robin simply took off and left you for dead". She turned her head away from him.
"I do not believe you. Nothing you have said thus far has been true, why should now be any different"?
"You believe what you wish, but soon you will see what I am saying is the truth". She sat down and faced away from him. "You liked it didn't you". Starfire didn't answer. "You enjoyed having the power to decide the fate others. The thought of spreading your name to other worlds, putting that boy in his place; as a commoner. Even more so; as a human". She turned her head swiftly at him.
"DO NOT TALK ABOUT ROBIN THAT WAY", her eye beams fired but they bounced off the field and ricocheted around in her small confinement. She got back up. "You would be surprised at what the human spirit can accomplish! And my friends are not ordinary humans". A thought then occurred to her. "As I recall, it was a group of mere humans who defeated your right hand man", she said smirking at him. His face turned rather nasty. He got up and walked over to her.
"Do you really think that Alexei is gone for good"? Starfire opened her mouth but didn't answer, Orion smiled at her confusion. "Your witch friend injured him most tremendously. Grant you that when he re-emerges many of his former powers will be gone. But you will see him again I assure you. After all, he now has a score to settle". (Author's Note: Ream will not appear for the rest of this story. However, he may come up again in another fic). Starfire narrowed her eyes at him.
"If my father were here he would make you pay dearly for this treachery"! Orion laughed out loud and pointed to something off to the side. Starfire looked and she gasped and fell back. It was Starfire's father, but he appeared to be cryogenically frozen. From inside the glass cylinder his skin appeared pale and lifeless.
"I just couldn't find it within myself to kill him", mocked Orion. Starfire felt a sudden burst of rage. She charged at Orion who simply stood his ground, as she hit the force field dead on. A powerful surge went through her and she sank to the floor. He bent down to her level. "Please keep on doing that, I'm sure the continuous shocks would be a good substitute for my tonic". Starfire got to her feet.
"You no longer have me as your slave. You've lost me, Ream, and Liman; you're all out of puppets".
"Oh Starfire if only you knew how wrong you were". He snapped his fingers and someone Starfire new only two well stepped into the room. She was around Beast Boy's height and had bright blue eyes. Her blonde hair had been cut so that it just touched her shoulders. Tera was standing next to Orion. Starfire couldn't believe her eyes, this was not possible. By all accounts Tera was dead. As Tera looked down at the floor Orion slowly circled her.
"Magnificent isn't she. Aurora and I discovered her while on our temporary stay on Earth. And with the help of Alexei and a little ingenuity we were able to revive her".
"For someone who hates humans so much, you keep them strangely close", said Starfire not looking away from Tera.
"They are not so different than cattle; they serve their purpose for as long as it is needed. Her's might I add, may go even after this is all over". He ran his fingers through her hair. He then began to walk out of the room. "I'll be back my princess with you're daily tonic. Your going to help me, whether you want to or not". So saying he opened the door and left. Starfire glanced at the door and then looked back at Tera who hadn't moved.
"Tera"?
"Spare me your sweet talk Starfire, I have nothing to say to any of you".
"Please Tera come back with us, we have forgiven you", said Starfire reassuringly. Tera walked over to the wall and disengaged the force field.
"Orion will be back soon. Go, now while you still have time. And don't bother lighting that beacon on you're way out", she said sharply.
"Tera do not do this, Beast Boy would be most pleased to hear of you're recovery".
"DO NOT TELL BEAST BOY"! Bellowed Tera. Starfire jumped back and lit up her fists out of instinct. She then calmed herself. "I will not be so generous the next time we meet, so I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity".
"I ask you again Tera, please return to us", asked a humbled Starfire. Tera began shaking her head.
"It's too late for me".
"Never, you still have a choice make the right one"!
"I can't fight what I have become"!
"Yes you can", Starfire approached Tera who backed up and frowned.
"The Titans and their planet hold one too many memories for me. And as Earth dies you will see that it's time has come. Or Orion's voice will echo through time long after yours has faded. From the dim memory"!! Her eyes turned yellow and she flung Starfire back and out the window. Star would have fallen except she was caught by the waiting arms of Robin.
"Miss me"? He smiled at her and the two climbed back through the window. Starfire looked around the room and saw that Tera was gone. They were then joined by the other Titans who levitated up by Raven.
"MY FRIENDS! You came for me"!
"Course we did", said Robin making sure the room was secure.
"I am happy to see you all victorious. But what of the general", she asked curiously.
"Oh you mean the guy you said would be hard to beat", asked Beast Boy. They all turned to Cyborg who brought forth a small bolt and handed to Starfire.
"I do not understand", she said innocently.
"That's all that remains of him", said Raven rather proudly. Starfire smiled and threw the bolt away. "Quickly friends Orion will return soon. We should leave now".
"What about the beacon", asked Cyborg.
"We'll get that on the way out", said Robin. He went to the front door and put his ear to it. "It doesn't sound like anyone's there let's go"! He flung the door open and came face to face with Orion. Both stared at each other utterly surprised, then Orion's eyes turned red and his face spelled Hell. "WHATCH OUT", said Robin pointing behind Orion. Orion turned around and was then punched in the jaw by Robin who slammed the door and put his staff between the two handles. Starfire then grabbed hold of Robin, Raven levitated Cyborg, Beast Boy became a hawk and they flew up to the tower. They landed and Robin turned to Star.
"HURRY STAR LITE IT UP"! Starfire didn't' need telling twice. She dashed over to the generator and placed her hand into the reader. The room immediately lit up and Star ran back outside with her friends. They gathered each other up and began flying towards Lee, via locator signal. They looked back and saw a bright beam of light suddenly shoot up from the tower and into the sky.
"If we get a return signal then we are assured assistance", said Starfire as they continued toward the camp site. From the window that they exited out of Orion watched the beam sail upwards and then disappear. He put on a terrible grimace and signaled Tera on the wall com.
"Prepare our forces, if it is a battle they want then a battle they will have. Wipe out every-last-one"!
GETTING BACK WITH LEE...................
A circle of Tamaranian soldiers had formed and standing in that circle on either side was Lee and Iris. They had been staring each other down for the past half hour and were about to move when they just noticed the last remnants of the beam. Iris looked from Lee to the sky. Whispering began to erupt all around them. One walked up to Iris and spoke quietly.
"Sir the beacon has only been lit once in its entire existence. Perhaps we should forego this challenge for now", he suggested. Iris thought about it for a moment then shook his head and spoke out loud.
"We'll finish here, and then tend to those matters". Lee nodded and reached for his sword. He unsheathed it but instead of holding on let go and threw to the middle of the circle. It flipped in the air and landed point first in the ground. It swayed in the wind as all eyes concentrated on Lee and Iris.
"If you so desire my sword, then try and take it"! They stayed silent for another moment. Aurora was unconsciously fiddling with her hands while Liman concentrated on the pair. Iris then shot forward and flew straight for the sword. Lee ran forward and jumped off the ground. He sailed forward as though gliding on the air itself. He reached the sword first, kicked it up and swiped Iris across the arm just as he flew by. Iris gripped his arm and smirked at Lee.
"Impressive". He fired off a dozen well aimed starbolts which Lee blocked and dodged. "Most impressive, I didn't know humans could fly though".
"Not fly, just utilize the air". He leapt forward and swung diagonally at Iris who flipped out of the way and kicked Lee twenty feet backward. He landed with a small thud and looked back up at Iris. He was hovering in the air with his fists charged. Lee then decided he should fight on a smaller scale. He sheathed his sword and got into a battle stance. Iris let loose more starbolts and Lee ducked and flipped forward to avoid them. Iris flew in for a punch but Lee swiftly moved out of the way. He then came up in front of Iris and sent a few psychic blasts his way. Iris clutched his head and blindly fried a few starbolts followed by his eye beams. A few of his soldiers dived out of the way while others simply got hit.
"Iris wheeled around and punched Lee in the back sending him to ground once more. Iris went to stomp down on him but Lee rolled backward and kicked him in the jaw as he rolled. Iris was getting fed up with this fight; he flew up and released his largest assault yet. Combining starbolts with eye beams Iris made a huge attempt to incinerate Lee. Who at this point was having to run like hell in order to avoid being burnt to a crisp. He whipped out his sword and lightly kicked off the ground. He once again sailed into the air and flew straight at Iris. Iris charged up an empowered starbolt and released it, as Lee was coming in he swung his sword forward and sent the bolt crashing back into its originator. Iris fell to the ground and Lee landed not far from him. Lee slowly sheathed his sword and bowed to his defeated opponent. Iris got up and walked over to Lee, everyone held their breath. Iris then let out a laugh and slapped Lee on the shoulder.
"Yer alright Lee! I'll hear what yer friend has ter say about her mistakes. But first I want to know how you did all that 'gliding'". Lee smiled.
"The air".
"Come again"?
"An old Tibetan philosophy. The air is as real as flesh, earth, and wind. Once you realize this you can step on it as you would a stone, or swim through it as you would water. It's all in form, poise, and technique". Iris protruded his lower lip and nodded.
"Well when is Koriand'r goin' ter be here"? Lee gestured behind him. Iris turned and saw Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy standing there.
INSIDE IRIS' TENT..........
They all sat silently taking in all that has happened thus far. Iris finally got up and waved his hand across a large map of Tamaran.
"If what you say is all tru, then it is only a matter of time. Orion's army will come. For nearly three thousands years the leaders of this army the warriors themselves have protected the people of this world and many others. Now I, as the latest descendent have failed them all. It is the end", he said sadly.
"No", said Starfire. Everyone looked up at her. "We still have a good number of our own soldiers. And the Centari militias are on their way as well".
"Provided they got the message", said Raven.
"We are only seven thousand", said Liman from his chair.
"That doesn't matter", said Robin getting himself up. "Star's right we can't give up now. We're outnumbered yes, but against an army of drones. Soldiers who can't think for themselves". Cyborg smiled as he understood what Robin meant.
"Yeah I see where you going with this. Those things will be programmed to kill us all. They'll have no regard for their wounded or dead".
"Plus we managed to nick off Orion's one and only strong guy", said Beast Boy. An unsettling feeling went through Starfire. Raven was of course the first to notice and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Whats wrong", she asked as though interrogating Star. Starfire gulped and readied herself.
"I'm afraid what Beast Boy said was not entirely accurate". They all opened their mouths slightly.
"What do you mean", asked Robin. "Is Ream back or something"!
"No no, Ream has not returned. Orion has yet another pawn at his disposal".
"Well who is it", inquired Cyborg. Starfire hesitated.
"Tera".......
"Star we can't hear you", said Robin.
"TERA", Starfire clasped her hands to her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. Everyone except Iris, Liman, and Aurora fell down in shock. Cyborg got up and sat back down.
"You mean Tera's alive"?
"And well", finished Starfire.
"And she wouldn't come back with us", asked Robin not sounding to surprised at this. Starfire slowly shook her head.
"How well is she", asked Beast Boy. Raven put up her hood as a sudden wave of jealousy swept through her. She mustered all her strength to keep it in as a small light off to the side suddenly exploded. They all jumped and then looked at Raven who had just taken her leave. They all shrugged it off and went back to brainstorming some possible battle strategies. Beast Boy however went outside. It was nightfall by now as Beat Boy made his way around the camp area. He found Raven sitting at the peak of a small hill, meditating. He walked over and sat down next to her.
"Hey Rae, you okay"? Raven stopped reciting her words.
"Fine".
"Are you sure, I mean it's pretty obvious when your not", his thoughts went to the destroyed light. Raven hid her face even more in her hood.
"I am only concerned about the impending all out war that we are about to face. It's pointless to get worked up about Tera". Beast Boy smiled.
"Now I know you weren't reading my mind Rae. I didn't mention Tera, so how's you know I was talking about her"? Form inside her hood Raven to turn a shade of red. Beast Boy moved over and lowered Raven's hood. Now free her hair moved gracefully in the wind. Beast Boy found himself hypnotized by its fluidity. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on her lips.
"I hope you make through this okay Raven". He got up and went back over to the tents. Raven sat there completely red and putting in all that she had to keep from letting loose the full chaos of her powers. As Beast Boy was walking back he could have sworn he felt an unusually warm gust of wind.
Whew! I need to dip my fingers in water they've been moving so fast. Thanks again for your reviews and suggestions. Ch.12 is on its way!