Chapter 2: At Death's Door

Starfire didn't know what was going on. She could only remember how she had got here and being injected with something that stopped her arms and legs from moving. Now she was in black and panic was straining her heart to a great risk. She wanted to be with Robin, hug him, and smell the cheap hair gel that made her feel safe. But all that comforted her at the moment was the knowledge that she was alive. She began to go over the events of what had happened, though it just made her feel worse.

She had gone to bed at the earth time of 6:13pm, after feeling sick and unwell. She had gone to bed and fell asleep. Then at 01:34am, someone had entered her room.

"Robin?" She asked, but the figure hadn't replied. There was sharp punch to her face and Starfire felt herself fall of the bed and go black.

She had woken in the warehouse, her eyes popping with fear and sweat dripping down her forehead. The figure stood over her, laughing menacingly. He had said something, but she couldn't hear properly, but caught the last few words.

"…because you have the worst fever that any human can have." She had felt the wave of terror shock her body and make her tremble. Then she saw the needle. She felt the pain as the thin metal pierced her arm. Once again, she felt sick ad though she was going to be, but a great drowsiness over took her and sent her into the blackness.

Now she was in her mind, standing alone and watching the memories fly past. Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven and most importantly, Robin. Her heart panged as she though of her masked friend.

"If only I had the courage to tell him, tell him how I really feel." She sighed. Her voice echoed and to her surprise, it answered her.

"Then why not?" It asked. Suddenly an image appeared. It was herself in a mirror, except this Starfire had her hands on her hips and was giving her a stern look.

"Who, who are you?" Starfire asked.

"I'm surprised you don't give me a name in here, even though I am 'the voice inside your head' person." It replied, making a rolled eye look.

"Are you, you not Starfire?" Starfire asked.

"Course I am, but it's going to be pretty confusing is we are both called the same name." The other Starfire replied, shrugging.

"But, you do not act like me at all." Starfire pointed out. The other shrugged again and just said, "Who cares?"

"But is there no one, um, 'to care'?" Starfire asked. The other laughed. Her laugh was like Starfire's, but way more confident.

"No, don't be stupid." She snapped. "There can be only one of me in here." Starfire looked offended, but it died away as she felt the sickness wash over her.

"What is a fever of which my kidnapper talks of?" Starfire asked the reflection.

"It is a very rare human illness, the one you have claimed." It replied. "It's fatal." Suddenly she clasped her hand over her mouth. Starfire gasped and took three paces back.

"I am going to," She gulped. "Die!" The reflection rubbed her arm and replied quietly, "Not unless the team finds us soon." Starfire hung her head. She knew that she should have told them that she didn't feel well, but it hadn't seemed that bad then. She began to cry.

"Please don't cry!" The reflection pleaded, Her voice was softer now and her eyes looked sad.

"But, I am going to die. I haven't told Robin that I, I…" She burst into body shaking sobs and the reflection felt her heart melt.

"Then tell him through his dreams." She said quietly. "If you don't make it through this, tell him in his dreams." Starfire looked up and dried her eyes.

"But how?" She said her voice cracked and dry. The image walked up to her she raised a finger and placed it on her heart.

"Through this." It answered her. Suddenly there was a violent shake and the image faded away. Starfire could tell that she was getting worse. The floor gave way and she felt her body twist and wretch. The blackness was engulfing her. She cried out for the one person that she needed now.

"ROBIN!"

The R-cycle skidded to a halt outside the abandoned warehouse He threw off his helmet. It clattered onto the street, but he didn't care. He had to get Starfire out of there. He rushed inside, his breathing shallow. It was pitch black and he couldn't see anything.

"Starfire?" He yelled. There as the sound of footsteps and there was suddenly a flash of lightning. In front of him stood a tall figure. His muscles were clearly visible under the tight suit that he wore and there was a gun hoisted in his belt.

"You must be Robin. It is finally good to meet you." A deep voice said. Robin took out his retractable staff and whipped it open.

"Where's Starfire?" He growled. The villain laughed. It echoed around the walls.

"A mechanical stick isn't going to save her, Robin. Neither are you!" The end of these words turned into a snarl as a high kick whipped out of the blackness. Robin was thrown into the air but as the lightning surged through the windows he saw the structure pipes and grabbed onto one. He hung there and grabbed out five electric disks. They whizzed and let out a fierce explosion. There was a small groan of pain, but it was followed by a chuckle.

"Who are you?" Robin yelled as he landed on the ground.

"Kagan, a name that you can never understand." Snarled the voice again.

"Why take Starfire? What has she ever done to you?" Robin snapped. Kagan was hiding in the shadow, but he was too. As the voice replied, Robin followed the source.

"She wrecked my life. She took away me true love and sentenced her to a life of loneliness. That's what she has done!" Kagan spat the words, as though they left a bad taste in his mouth.

"You telling me that Blackfire was your girlfriend!" Robin exclaimed, realising the words that were coming out of this lunatic's mouth. But Kagan carried on, ignoring Robin's comment.

"So, I came to the Tower, hacked into the mainframe and stole her. But instead of doing the work myself, she seems of done the hard bit for me." Robin had seen the hand move and crept towards it, but the last words stopped him.

"What do you mean?" He growled. Kagan laughed again.

"I mean, Robin, that Starfire has a fatal fever already. There were the small things that I did to help it…" But he was stopped as Robin turned and side kicked him in the jaw. He heard the sigh and the body fall the ground.

That'll teach you to never touch my Starfire, He thought and suddenly he blushed. He had called Starfire his. But the happy sensation was gone when he was suddenly blinded by a pair of headlights. The team had arrived. Cyborg flicked his shoulder light on and it fell upon Kagan.

"Who the hell is…" Cyborg started but Robin cut him off.

"I'll explain later. But I need to find Starfire first." He growled.

"Then why don't we just turn the lights on?" Raven snapped. A black vein of energy flowed from her fingers and reached the lever. As though it was nothing more then a feather, Raven flicked her finger upwards. Light burst into the room and it fell upon…

"STARFIRE!" Robin screamed and he rushed over to her. There was no response. Robin scooped her up and felt another wave of panic. She was burning. Her skin was on fire and the slashed were bleeding angrily, seeping onto Robin's suit.

"Dude we need to get her back." Beast Boy exclaimed. Robin shook his head san nodded towards Kagan.

"No, I need to take her back. Take care of him and I'll meet you back at the tower." He snapped. He ran toward the R-cycle. He ripped off his cape and tucked Starfire up in it. There was still no response. Her face was clammy and the slash around her cheek was dripping blood own her neck. Robin placed her in front of him on the R-cycle and sped away. There was a chill running down his spine as the rain lashed down on him as he realised the terrifying face that he had always hated to think about. Star was at Death's Door.