Author's note: Hopefully, we could all take a bit of a breather in this next chapter. It will still have drama towards the end (of course), but a lot of this chapter will be much lighter than the rest of the story, so far.
Standard disclaimers apply.
PATH TO TAMARAN
Chapter Six – Art of War
Starfire looked at the painting for another minute, hoping she could make some sense out of the lines of color and the image it abstractly portrayed.
The painting was set on a plain white wall, the lighting in the gallery perfect for showcasing all the artifacts the gallery was hoping to sell, but however wonderful the shapes and colors of the gallery's wares were, the place was a work of art in itself.
The Wayne Contemporary Art Gallery was a wonder of architecture. The entire façade was made of thick clear glass, decorated with geometric dots and lines in chrome, like alien scripture. They accented what would have been an otherwise plain sheet of glass, but the design was in no way overwhelming to what was inside. The walls and partitions within the gallery, combined with the bleach-picket flooring, looked like a geometric illusion from outside, but by stepping into the maze, there was an amazing clarity to how everything was in place. Even the receptionist's desk, set just outside the Gallery Director's office, looked unobtrusive. It belonged where it was, and it was as if the gallery wouldn't exist without it.
There were low, bronze designer benches set along the walls of the showroom floors, far enough from the displays not to hinder close observers, but clear enough from the middle to accommodate large sculptures. The space was still big enough to let people walk unhampered, and the spacious feel was still very much present.
On the Gallery's grand opening, the floor was filled with people. Champagne and hors d'ovres were constantly being served by dignified waiters. Most of the guests were grouped as they talked in pleasant tones, some walked around in a leisurely pace as they looked at the art, but there were others like Starfire who had taken a particular fancy to a painting.
Starfire looked to the bottom of the canvas and saw the painting's title: "Burst in Beethoven's Notturno for Viola and Piano in D Major". She was still trying to decipher what it meant, even if the painting looked nice enough by itself. She also wondered if at three hundred fifty thousand dollars, someone would readily buy it. She may not be an Earthling, but she knew what was expensive and what wasn't. There was nothing cheap about this painting.
"What do you think, dearie?" asked Dr. Leeman. "Does it do Beethoven's Notturno for Viola and Piano in D Major justice?"
She leaned her temple against Dr. Leeman's shoulder, perhaps hoping she could get some of the brilliance she assumed a doctor of Wayne Enterprises' laboratory had. "I have not yet heard Beethoven's Notturno for Viola and Piano in D Major, but I am quite sure the painting does it justice. It must, for three hundred fifty thousand dollars."
Dr. Leeman laughed. "Well, if I had tree hundred fifty thousand dollars to spare, I would buy this."
"It is a good painting, yes?"
"Very good. It has, in fact, already been bought." Dr. Leeman pointed to a tiny red bow tacked to the description card at the bottom.
Starfire had noticed the red bow on most of the description cards of the various paintings in the gallery and she marveled at just how much money there was walking in the room. "Uncanny! And these paintings are quite expensive!"
"Speaking of expensive," said Dr. Leeman, nodding towards the side of them. "There's Bruce Wayne with your date, looking at an Inna Guevarra painting. Her work sells for a cool one point five mil."
Starfire's eyes widened in awe.
"Come along now. More art to see. We will see Inna Guevarra's painting later." Dr. Leeman pulled her along with him as Starfire craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of the high-priced work of art.
Robin's gaze caught hers and he smiled fondly. She smiled back and gave him a small wave, just to show that she hadn't forgotten him.
He looked so handsome in his tux; so composed, as if he hadn't a care in the world. It was strange that only two nights before, he was so immersed in the dark workings of criminals and Bludhaven.
After they deposited Maxwell Victoria in the police station, Robin had the receptionist page Inspector Dudley Soames. Minutes later, a telephone call was given over to Starfire, and sure enough, when she answered it, it was the inspector, sounding every bit as greasy on the telephone as he was in person:
"You work fast. I fancy that in a skirt," he said.
"I'd expect you to be as diligent, Mr. Soames."
"Well, don't get your pretty little knickers in a twist. You needn't worry about your prisoner going anywhere. In fact, I will be there in ten minutes or so to take care of it. I'd tell you to stay your arse there so we could meet again, but I've been told you brought your boyfriend with you. You naughty little thing… why didn't you tell me he was in Bludhaven?"
"Did you prefer to have him in your bedroom?"
He chuckled. "Oh, behave, luv."
Starfire grimaced. She didn't have to pretend to be coquettish over the phone. "Just make sure he stays behind bars, Mr. Soames."
"I swear it on m' mother's grave."
"I know not whether you value your mother or your mother's grave."
He laughed. "Alright then, I swear it on m' percy. And believe me, luv, I, like any man, value m' percy more than anything."
Starfire wasn't sure what a "percy" was, but if she understood it right, she certainly didn't want to talk about his percy with him or anyone else. "Ugh. Goodnight Mr. Soames."
"It was a good night indeed."
Starfire still felt the hair on her back rising when she remembered him. After she told Robin that Soames was on his way to the police station, he hurried them out to the back of the building. She was surprised when waiting in the shadows was a uniformed police officer; short, a bit stout, almost nondescript.
Robin knew him:
"Glad you're here, Harris," he said.
The man nodded, his eyes shifting suspiciously to Starfire.
Starfire had to wonder just when Robin made arrangements with him but decided it was unimportant at the moment.
Robin took out a transmitter similar to the one he gave Johan, but this time, a thick wad of bills went with it. "I want to know everything that happens to this guy while he's in your detainment facility. I want to know who'll come around to see him; what they talk about; what he says when he's in his cell; whenever he takes a piss, tell me. Got that?"
Harris nodded, taking the transmitter and the money. After that, he cautiously slipped back into the police station through the back door.
"Can you trust him?" Starfire asked.
Robin grinned. "Well, like I could trust Johan, I guess."
"Oh."
It meant, of course, that Harris was only as trustworthy as Robin's money. Ultimately, it was enough.
"Robin, why do we not just bug Maxwell Victoria? If we had placed a bug underneath the collar of his shirt, he will likely not notice it, and since he will be in jail, a change of clothing will not be forthcoming. We would at least be able to listen to him for a few days."
"We can't risk that much. A bug like that could be easy to find and he'll have proof. If he finds it, he'll blame the cops for it. That could lead to a dismissal of his case."
She nodded and decided to look it up. The system of law in the United States was sometimes too complicated to take at face value. She had referred to many books of law in the Tower library just to understand, but it was no simple task. She was sure, at least, that Robin would discuss the finer points of it with her when she gained a basic comprehension on the subject of "bugging" and "dismissal of a case".
Robin led them back to Gotham soon after, and when they arrived at the Bat Cave, they wasted no time in contacting the Titans.
It was Raven who had answered the call, eyeing them both impassively. If she had any questions regarding Starfire's presence in the meeting, she made no mention of them. All she said was, "Glad to see you both."
Robin gave them the bare facts of what had transpired in Bludhaven, after which he hooked the tower system up to communications with Harris, so that if, for some reason, Robin couldn't receive Harris' transmission, anyone in the tower would.
"Cyborg, I need to know if you detected anything in the radars before we got news of Victoria's appearance in Bludhaven," said Robin as he typed information into the Bat Computer. "It seems our friend has been traveling in space, and the fact that he suddenly showed up after a long disappearance…"
"… means he might have flown in on a ship," finished Cyborg. "I have to go back on it again, but if I missed anything, somebody else should have picked it up…"
Robin nodded. "But check on it again, anyway."
"If a ship's advanced enough, it could be cloaked in space," said Raven.
"True," said Cyborg. "But space is a vacuum; once the ship enters the Earth's atmosphere, it disrupts the elements: rises in temperature, changes in the wind patterns, displacement of water, seismic activity. We might not be able to see it, but there are other ways to detect it, and our radars are prepped for that sort of thing. Whatever ship they're using to get Victoria, it has to come down to Earth."
Beast Boy's hand popped out from behind Cyborg's shoulder. "Ooh! Ooh!"
For a moment, it looked like Robin was going to ignore him.
Starfire gave Robin a nudge. "I believe Beast Boy wishes to share something." She knew she had great powers of intercession when it came to their leader and she was not shy about using it, especially for Beast Boy whom she had a soft spot for.
Robin gave a small sigh, but he never could say no to Starfire on such matters. "What is it, BB?"
Beast Boy eagerly popped his face up on the monitor and began to draw an image on the screen with a stylus. The neon orange glow of the digital ink was absolutely distracting. He drew a saucer-shaped UFO. Shooting from beneath it was a column of what might have been light, and Beast Boy labeled it "TB". At the very end of the "TB" was a stickman that looked like it wore spectacles and a lab-coat. "They could have powerful Tractor Beams! They could suck him up from Earth and straight into space where the mother ship could stay cloaked and undetectable!"
"A tractor beam is even more conspicuous than a space ship, Beast Boy," said Raven. "It'll be visible for miles around."
Beast Boy wasn't easily deterred. He began to draw swirls on the "TB" in several places. "Maybe they put some kind of hypnotic pulse on the tractor beams! You know, like Mad Mod does, so that people don't know that they're seeing it! And—"
"Beast Boy, some of us don't get as easily hypnotized as you do. Besides, a tractor beam emits great quantities of energy. It would have been detected by the radars anyway."
"Shoot! I thought I had something!"
Starfire smiled. "It would have been a good theory, Beast Boy."
Robin's eyes implored her not to encourage him. Starfire merely shrugged.
Cyborg came up to the screen, wiping off the digital drawings. "Maybe Victoria only thinks he's going to space. Could they have a base on Earth? Underground, maybe?"
Robin shook his head. "Negative. The Justice League makes routine checks for facilities that operate suspiciously; they don't make raids, but they keep an eye on such places. They would have found something out already, especially if it's underground. When something's underground, you can be sure they're not making bottle caps."
"Maybe the Justice League just hasn't found the base."
"Impossible. To build and use a facility underground would've generated enough seismic activity to call attention. You couldn't hide something like that; not even if they were based on some remote location in Siberia. Remember, the more unlikely the place, the more we keep an eye on it."
"Any chance Victoria's lying?"
Robin nodded gravely. "Hell, yeah. We'll need Aqualad for a bit. Maybe he could confirm if there've been any underwater crafts zipping around the coast of Bludhaven."
Starfire tried not to react. She may love Robin to distraction, and she may think Robin the "handsomest boyfriend in the world" but eye candy was eye candy: Aqualad was too gorgeous for her or anyone to ignore. Before she and Robin became a couple, she had written at least three fan letters to Aqualad, and while Raven wouldn't admit it, Starfire knew for a fact that Raven had written one or two fan letters as well.
She knew Aqualad had received them, because he had written in response twice. There was nothing very special about the contents of his letters. It had sounded casual enough from teen hero to teen hero (who was secretly a fan), but at the time, Starfire had been thrilled out of her boots and of course, each letter earned two full pages on her scrap book.
"I'll contact him," Raven said immediately.
Starfire noted how Cyborg and Beast Boy exchanged wry looks.
It was evident enough when Raven had Aqualad on her T-Comm. Color actually showed through her pale cheeks and when they heard Aqualad say Raven's name, the TV remote control exploded to bits.
Beast Boy, fingers digging into his hair, screamed like a school girl. "Noooo!"
Raven, cheeks flaming, scampered to the computer panel. "I'll—er—hook him up to the system."
She did, and Aqualad's face on the monitor was most definitely a sight to see.
"What can I do for you?" asked Aqualad.
Starfire swore she blushed to her roots.
Robin was yet too focused on his work to notice that anything was amiss. He asked Aqualad's help in obtaining information from the marine life along Bludhaven's coast. "Ask them if they've seen any unusual underwater crafts lately."
Aqualad nodded. "I could do that, but it's going to take some time to get that information. There hasn't been much marine life in Bludhaven since the whalers began hauling in chopped up whale parts on its shores. Add that to the pollution from the factories and—well, it ain't a popular ecosystem if you know what I mean. But don't worry; I'll find something if there's anything."
"Thanks, Aqualad. We could use all the help we could get."
"No problem." He was about to sign off when he paused and smiled. "Hi, Starfire. Did you get my last letter?"
Starfire prayed to X'Hal that she be struck from existence that very moment. On the one hand, she felt like a fan girl at being addressed by the mega teen-idol Aqualad, yet on another, more important hand, Robin had this look.
She nodded dumbly at Aqualad in response.
"Great! Thought it got lost in the mail when you didn't write back, but then Raven replied so—"
Raven was so busted that she was in dire danger of passing out from mortification.
"Anyway," continued Aqualad. "Robin, we'll talk again. Over and out."
Aqualad's face and signal disappeared.
Robin eyebrow was arched to the high heavens, staring at Starfire.
She twiddled her fingers, flashing an embarrassed smile. "'Twas months and months ago; considerable time before—erm—us, Robin."
Cyborg began to laugh and if Beast Boy hadn't been so upset by the loss of their remote control, he would have been laughing just as loudly. "Raven and Aqualad are pen pals!"
Raven's hand fisted and glowed black. "I was being courteous. I had to write back."
"But who wrote first?"
Raven ignored Cyborg's question. "Robin, we should focus on the case."
Robin still had his eyebrow arched at Starfire and all Starfire could do was bat her eyelashes at him. She flashed him a pleading look, beseeching him not to get upset. He was unable to resist a small smile and a chuckle. It relieved her to no end to see him taking it so well.
"Raven's right," said Robin. "We have to focus, people. Cy, stop laughing. Beast Boy, we'll get a new remote. It's no big deal. I'm hooking everyone up to Aqualad's system. If he calls, we'll all get the signal. That ought to make Raven and Starfire happy."
Starfire felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "Robin!"
"I don't do happy," said Raven. The couch behind her jumped a foot in the air and crashed back down.
The smirk on Robin's face wasn't particularly amusing.
After their meeting with the Titans, Robin finished encoding his reports, referring to Starfire constantly to confirm facts. When the reports were done, he tenderly suggested that they go to sleep.
She had snuggled into his embrace when they sank into the sheet of her bed, and as she got comfortable, he asked one last question.
"Aqualad wrote to you?"
She giggled. "Twice. I could—um—show you the letters. They are in my scrap book."
"No, that's fine. Go to sleep."
She gave him a kiss goodnight, bidding him sweet dreams.
The following morning, they were shocked to discover they had slept in later than they hoped.
At breakfast, Alfred reminded them of the gallery gala opening for the following night. It meant Robin had to have a new tuxedo made.
"My old one's fine," he had said.
Alfred did not humor him. "That may be, Master Richard, but since you are here Master Bruce thought you should have a new one made."
It was then that the quick transformation from Robin to Richard Grayson began. Alfred spent all day reorienting Robin on the finer points of red-carpet etiquette and modern art.
Robin had to remember artist names, their works, their mediums, which millionaire bought whose art and which art was in what museum. When Robin had his art down pat, Alfred tutored him on who was who, who was not, who was rising and who was going down; who had lypo-suction, hair implants, nose jobs, boob jobs, chin reductions, chin enhancements and who had lost weight the traditional way.
"And I urge you, Master Robin," said Alfred. "When you see Madame Louisante, do not, under any circumstance, comment on her rhinoplasty. She thinks it's wonderful. That is all that matters."
"Well, what does it look like?" asked Robin.
Alfred hesitated. "If I may be so blunt…"
"Please. Be blunt."
"She should sue her plastic surgeon."
"Yikes."
"You may concentrate on her dog. It is a newly acquired Schnauzer and she seems very proud of it. So far, she has taken it to all the social functions she'd had to attend in the last month. She has only left it at home once, when she had to meet Karl Lagerfeld in CHANEL at Seventh Avenue; they don't allow pets inside the store. Mr. Lagerfeld gave her a Gucci Dog Carrier as a peace offering; you may comment on the bag as well. She will appreciate it."
Robin got along fast enough; his IQ and memory had always been superior, but he certainly looked bored out of his mind.
At the grand opening, Robin and Starfire walked the red carpet together; him in his new tux and her in her beautiful amber-tone evening gown. When Richard Grayson was asked by the small group of reporters whether she and he were dating, his answer was smoothly evasive; neither confirming nor denying. He smiled with practiced ease, showed his best side as instructed by Alfred and casually placed a friendly arm over her shoulders, just so the "body language experts" could have their own field-day. "Ms. Starfire is dating Robin, the Boy Wonder. I don't want to be getting on the bad side of a superhero, now would I?"
As they left the reporters behind, Starfire gave him a wry smile. "Impressive. And you did not have to lie, either. Bruce and Alfred would be proud."
"I'm never going to hear the end of it from BB and Cy."
She giggled.
They stayed together for quite some time as they mingled with Bruce Wayne and the rest of Gotham's elite. As the evening wore on and everyone fell at ease, Dr. Leeman, one of the few unexpected faces in the guest list, appeared and offered to take her on a tour of the art. Since Bruce needed to take Robin aside anyway, Starfire agreed to go with Dr. Leeman.
So far, walking around the gallery with Dr. Leeman had been an interesting education. He knew his art. The painting after "Burst in Beethoven's Notturno for Viola and Piano in D Major" was a silhouette of a woman who looked half cat, one arm extended like a whip while her other hand looked ready to claw someone's eye out.
"Ah," said Dr. Leeman with a wistful sigh. "Saul Mantis; absolutely one of my favorites, mainly because, like I, he has a fascination for superheroes and supervillains. This work is entitled Feline; it's Catwoman. Can you see?"
Starfire looked at it with sincere appreciation. "Oh, yes. It is very sensual."
"Do you like it?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Good! I bought this one for myself."
"Oh, my! Well, it is glorious artwork." She looked at the price and saw it at two hundred thousand. It made her think that anesthesiologists must get paid quite a bit.
Dr. Leeman chuckled. "My grandmother, rest her soul, left me quite a sum when she passed away. My only vice is art, dearie, and it's an expensive habit, but it feeds the soul like nothing else. I collect art such as this. Feline will hang right beside my Hero on the Parapet by Lissette Schwann. It's a captivating portrayal of Batman."
"That sounds fascinating, Dr. Leeman, but why put the Catwoman beside Batman?"
"Because there are strong rumors that they have a thing for one another," said the familiar voice of Robin behind them.
Dr. Leeman laughed, shrugging. "Call me a 'shipper, if you wish."
Robin came up beside Starfire and he looked at Feline critically. "Nice strokes. I like how the he makes the whip looks like a tail and an extension of her arm at the same time."
Dr. Leeman nodded. "Yes, and Catwoman's inherent seductive allure just makes the painting all the more alive. She's vicious; and fierce."
Robin nodded, his eyes glazing over as if a memory filled it. "Yes. Yes, she is."
Starfire stifled a giggle. No doubt, Robin had, in the past, found himself on the unfriendly end of Catwoman's whip and claws. She hooked her hand on his arm and they stared at the painting together.
They were suddenly joined by another guest, and for a moment, Starfire was completely won over by the Schnauzer-pup that was whining pitifully in its mistress' dog carrier. She was about to comment on how adorable the dog was when she looked up and realized who the dog's owner was.
Even before introductions were made, Starfire had a feeling that she was looking right at the awful rhinoplasty of Madam Louisante.
"Whoa," said Robin, caught completely by surprise.
Starfire stepped on his foot without batting an eyelash, but she couldn't entirely blame him for his reaction. The thing in the middle of Madam Louisante's face was, in essence, a perfectly sculpted piece of art, but it was huge, and grossly incompatible with the rest of her which was basically delicate in feature and bone structure. The appendage looked like someone had pulled it out of her face and it never went back to its normal size.
Dr. Leeman did the honors. "Madam Louisante, this is Starfire."
Madam Louisante gave her a dignified nod and Starfire replied cheerfully. "It is nice to meet you, ma'am."
"And this is Richard Grayson," continued Dr. Leeman.
"How do you do?" asked Madam Louisante.
Robin gave a nod of his own, though in a slightly distracted manner. "It's nose to—nice to meet you…"
Starfire turned to him discreetly and widened her eyes at him in warning, but he was too preoccupied with the travesty of a nose to notice.
If Madam Louisante heard the lapse, she made no sign of it. She began talking about how wonderful the gallery was, and how the Gallery Director's taste was proving to be exquisite. She made comments about how she admired Bruce Wayne for extending himself to the fine industry of intellectual beauty and creative genius. It was all going quite well, until the small dog sneezed twice and stuck his head out, panting and yipping for Starfire's attention.
"Oh, isn't he precious? Aren't you the cutest little doggy? Yes, you are!" said Starfire, tenderly shaking the dog's paw. Madam Louisante seemed pleased by the compliment and Starfire elbowed Robin to say something. Alfred did mention that the dog was the lady's pride and joy.
Robin was quick to comment. "It's one of the best shnoozles—Schnauzers—I've ever seen. Did you get it from Hayden Kennels?"
It took all of Starfire's willpower to let it pass. Shnoozlewas even worse than nose.
Madam Louisante's eyebrow arched ever so slightly, but she replied. "Oh, yes. He breeds the best Schnauzers this side of the country."
The dog sneezed again.
"Something must be irritating it," said Starfire. "Perhaps he does not like my perfume?"
"Oh," said Robin. "Dogs have extraordinary senses. Hunting Breeds like this tend to get affected easily by unnatural scents. Its smeller is its best asset on the hunt." Of course, he had to tap a finger on his own nose twice to emphasize the point.
Starfire had had enough. "Richard, might you accompany me outside for some air?" She didn't even wait for him to reply. She just took him by the arm and pulled him to the back exit of the gallery. After the bouncer at the exit let them through, they found themselves alone in a secluded alley.
She turned to him disapprovingly. "Richard! Were you doing that on purpose?"
He groaned. "No! Of course not! It's just that it was all I could see; that thing in the middle of her face… God, it put the rhino in rhinoplasty. She paid for that? Alfred's right. She ought to sue."
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Goodness… that was so embarrassing! You just kept saying it and saying it!"
"I'm sorry!"
They fell silent and after they had taken the time to breathe, they began to laugh.
Starfire was laughing so hard her stomach began to ache. They doubled over in mirth, expelling the last of their laughter. Finally, they settled down, gasping for breath.
"Honestly, Richard," she said, grinning. "Do you think this affair so terrible? In truth, I am having fun looking at all the wonderful paintings. Just the thought that I could have missed this makes it all worth while."
He shrugged. "Oh, I guess I've had more than my fair share of events like this when I lived in Gotham full time, but I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. We'll be back in the tower in a couple of days. It'll be goodbye to three hundred fifty thousand dollar paintings and hello ten dollar pizzas."
She giggled. "Sounds like home."
"Nothing like it." He took her hand. "Come on. Let's go back inside. Might as well see this thing through, and hope that I don't have to talk to Madam Louisante again."
Smiling, she stole a kiss and it was evident enough that Robin didn't mind at all. He did, in fact, let her steal at least two more before he led her back into the art gallery.
88888888888888888888
Starfire leaned sleepily against the car door from within Bruce Wayne's stretch Jaguar. The billionaire "playboy" sat across from her, his gaze trained outside, the colors of the world reflecting on his face. She wondered what such a man as he thought idly about. Did his mind wander just like any ordinary person, or was even his random thoughts extraordinary? He had demons, they said. Did they come to him when he was awake, or do they come to him in his dreams?
Beside her was Robin, coat off, his gaze just as far away; just as enigmatic as Bruce, but was he just as solitary? It would seem he wasn't, being a leader of a team, but she remembered something Diana said; something about Robin being nomadic…
It made her shiver as she turned her gaze back on the streets outside.
She felt a warm hand descend on her arm and she was startled out of her musings.
"Cold?" asked Robin.
"A little bit."
He reached over, draping his coat over her shoulders.
She could smell his cologne on the material and it made her smile. She pulled the coat closer around herself and leaned her head on his shoulder. Never mind if Bruce was there; he seemed too preoccupied to notice, anyway.
Robin gave a small smile, leaning back comfortably on his seat before staring at the scene outside the car. She was glad he didn't mind so much.
The gala opening was supposed to be a relatively relaxing affair, filled with easy conversation and the occasional intimate discussion, but at the end of the long night, it was as exhausting as any party. She hadn't realized how being with so many pleasant and beautiful people (sans the bad nose jobs) could be so tiring.
She knew she wasn't the only one feeling low on her batteries. Most of the drive was spent in silence, and while it was common to have Bruce and Robin silent when they had no choice but to be within close proximity of each other, it was evident enough that the quiet was brought by having already talked enough at the gallery.
Starfire dozed off sometime during the ride and before she knew it, Robin was nudging her gently awake having arrived at the mansion.
Drowsily, she walked into the house. Halfway through the reception hall, Bruce separated from them, heading straight for the one of the many secret doors that led to the Bat Cave.
"You doing your rounds tonight?" asked Robin.
"Yep," said Bruce.
Starfire couldn't even imagine how he could fight crime after such an exhausting event. She had to remind herself that it was the lifestyle Bruce and Batman was used to. Just thinking about it tired her. Her eyes fluttered lazily and Robin, seeing her, gave a soft laugh.
"It's all that talking; and being polite. That's what used to drain me," he said.
She yawned. "And you used to do this constantly? How exhausting!"
"Didn't you do it as a princess? I bet you and your family had a ton of social obligations."
Starfire chuckled. "I was a child then, remember? While I did have to go with my parents and sister to social functions, there was little expectation from me, so I was not as important enough to pay attention to. I could do as I pleased, so if I did not wish to talk to anyone, all I had to do was disappear into the gardens and wait it out with baby Ryand'r and his nurse. And when I became crown princess after the Okaaran trials, I might have gained importance in rank, but I was still only just eight. Besides, by that time, there weren't many social functions anymore. The star system was at war; not many people felt like celebrating anything."
A melancholic looked passed over his eyes and he expelled a deep breath. "Every time I think about you being caught in a war at such a young age, I feel—well, really bad. I had it so easy compared to you. I shouldn't have complained about anything."
She shook her head. "Do not think that way. It belittles the pain you felt for the loss of your parents. If I had to choose between what I had to endure and what you had to endure, I would choose the slavery still."
He put an arm around her as they strolled through the chamber hallway. "But you lost your family anyway."
She shrugged. "It is different when you lose parents who were ripped away, like what happened to you. With me, we merely drifted apart. Maybe one day, I will see them again—"
She was interrupted by the incessant beeping of their T-Comms. They exchanged a significant gaze before they bustled to grab their communicators. Harris' face came on screen.
"Something's happening," he said in a confidential tone. "Some chick came in here about five minutes ago, asking about your prisoner and his bail. It's weird because bail on your prisoner hasn't been set, but Soames just called her to his office. I don't know what Soames has to do with all this, but it don't surprise me one bit that he's stuck his nose into the matter."
"Could I get an ID on this woman?" asked Robin.
Harris nodded. "Tall; at least six feet. Lots of curly brown hair. Big boned; fit."
Robin and Starfire exchanged looks. It didn't sound like Blackfire at all.
"Good work, Harris. Keep me posted. Over and out."
They snapped their communicators shut and rushed to the Bat Cave.
Starfire flew straight to the locker rooms where she put on the uniform Alfred had made for her. Bludhaven was an hour and a half to two hours away by motorcycle and she considered telling Robin she should fly ahead. She could get there in thirty minutes at full speed.
When she flew out of the locker room doors, Batman and Robin were just then emerging. She had never seen Batman up close and personal and she had to shake off her awe. It was as if his cape made him look ten times bigger, and his mask ten times as scary.
"Batman's agreed to drop us off at Bludhaven," said Robin. "It'll take us thirty minutes, tops."
Starfire had to wonder what sort of vehicle could take them to Bludhaven in thirty minutes when it usually took them much longer than that, but she wasn't about to ask such questions in the face of Batman and Robin.
Robin strode to his R-Cycle and she was even more confused. He kicked his motorcycle to life.
"I'll see you at the airfield in three minutes, Robin," said Batman, jumping gracefully into the Bat Car.
Robin grinned. "Slowpoke," he said, strapping on his helmet. "Starfire, you're with me."
She nodded, gliding to his side.
Robin took off into one of the caves while the Bat Car shot into another. She noticed that Robin was driving much faster than his usual ninety-five miles per hour. She had to increase her own speed, but it wasn't a difficult thing to manage.
Approximately three minutes since they first left the Bat Cave, they emerged into a deserted airfield. In the distance, she could see something black and immense rising from the ground.
She heard the scream of an engine coming from another direction, and seconds later, they were riding side by side with the Bat Car.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she realized what was rising from the ground. It was a chopper; sleek, looking almost as liquid as ink. The Bat Car and R-Cycle came to a screeching halt and Batman was quick to hop out of his car.
Robin did not move from his cycle.
Batman passed them with quick strides. "Took you long enough," he said to Robin aside.
"Didn't want to leave you too far behind," Robin shot back.
"Starfire, come with me," said Batman.
She felt herself follow the command with almost mechanical obedience.
Batman led them to the copter and he hopped inside the cockpit, flipping switches one after another with practiced speed. "Crank the hatch-lock at the back for me, will you? It's a bitch at the first turn, and the hatch door's heavy as hell, but I'd imagine you'd have no problem with it."
She nodded, zipping to the back of the copter to search for the hatch-lock. She found it, turned it with hardly any effort on her part and pulled the hatch open. There was a buzzing sound, like oiled gears and hydraulic mechanisms. She stepped back as a platform was lowered by four retractable arms. A minute later, there was a thick slab of metal laid out towards the back of the copter.
Robin revved his motorcycle and quickly drove it up on top of the platform. Thick metal clamps popped out of the platform and secured the motorcycle. Robin did not turn the motorcycle off as he dismounted and headed to the cargo doors.
He jerked his head to the cockpit. "Go sit beside Batman. I have to stay at the back."
Still following orders, she got into the copter. When the copter doors were secured, she proceeded to buckle herself down and put on her headpiece. The copter lifted off the ground quicker than Starfire expected.
Robin began to bustle at the back, shrugging something on. "Starfire, get Aqualad on the T-Comm. Ask him if there hasn't been any craft-activity in the water in the last few hours. I'll talk to Cyborg. They should've gotten Harris' message, too."
She nodded. Oddly enough, she didn't feel quite fan-girlish at the moment. Aqualad was quick to respond. "Aqualad here."
"Have you managed to communicate with your aquatic friends near Bludhaven?" asked Starfire.
Aqualad nodded gravely. "I have, but they couldn't tell me much. Apparently, Bludhaven waters are more uninhabitable than I thought. The fish swim through the waters, but they don't live there, so not many fish stick around long enough near Bludhaven to notice anything unusual. They did report feeling unnatural changes in the current. Sporadic, mainly, hardly disruptive, but I've taken to investigating. I think maybe I felt it a few hours ago, but I couldn't get a lock on what it was or where it came from."
Starfire nodded. "Could current changes be caused by a craft shooting through the water?"
"Definitely, but unless I see it, there's no telling what it is by the feel of the current. I'll be patrolling Bludhaven waters in the next few hours. Whatever caused the currents earlier has to go back where it came from. I'll keep you posted."
"Please do. We will be in Bludhaven also. Hopefully, we could get a more solid lead on this trip."
"Alright. Over and out."
Starfire looked over her shoulder at Robin who had just finished communicating with Cyborg.
"Cyborg said there was nothing on the radars to show there was a craft entering the Earth's atmosphere," he told them.
Starfire told Robin what she learned from Aqualad and he started to shake his head.
"It doesn't make any sense," he said. "That woman has to be someone from Blackfire's camp then. It's evident enough that it's someone who's willing to pay more than just his bail, or else Soames wouldn't be wasting his time on her. You think Blackfire's wearing a cloaking device?"
Starfire shook her head. "A cloaking device could change her appearance, but not her height; even if she wears height enhancing shoes. And there is absolutely no way Blackfire has grown another five inches since the last time we saw her. Whoever that woman is, it is not Blackfire."
Robin frowned. "Dammit… how are they hiding their ship's signal?"
Thirty minutes later, they were flying above the city of Bludhaven and Robin jumped to the far end of the cargo compartment.
"Starfire, I'll see you in the Bludhaven police station," said Robin. "Batman, thanks for the ride. Loathe as I am to say this: I owe you one."
"I'll hold you to that, Boy Wonder," said Batman, a tiny smirk forming on his lips.
Starfire realized with great anxiety that Batman was not going to land the copter.
Robin pulled open a hatch on the copter's floor and slipped through it. Starfire bit back the urge to yell at him to be careful.
"Thank you, Batman," said Starfire. "I shall see you back at the mansion."
Batman nodded, pushing a button on the control panel.
The passenger-side door slid open and a blast of wind shot through. Gauging its force, she jumped out of the cockpit.
She felt the wind hit like a tornado, whipping her hair back and forth and pushing her back several meters, but she had flown through stronger winds, and all it took was a few seconds of adjustment. She shot forward, gliding to the copter's side. She saw the door sliding close.
Starfire adjusted her flight, lowering herself to fly beneath the helicopter. She saw Robin securing himself to his motorcycle and pulling at the buckles strapped to him. On his back was what looked like a parachute. Her stomach turned, knowing how dangerous the stunt would be. Ever since she knew Robin, he was fearlessly throwing himself off building ledges and cliffs, and he always came out unscathed. Nevertheless, it never ceased to frighten her; the things he did. He could get seriously hurt; or he could die.
This time, though, she would be there to catch him. She watched, heart thudding, as he readied himself for the drop. His lips moved, and seconds later, the latches on the motorbike snapped away. The platform fell open like a trap beneath him.
His freefall began as wings snapped out of the motorcycle's sides. The wings were not meant to make the vehicle fly, but it guided his descent, just so the motorcycle wouldn't flip awkwardly while in mid-air.
Starfire moved far enough away from him to give his parachute space but close enough to save him in case something went wrong.
After what seemed like forever, Robin rose on his haunches, bracing himself. Parachutes shot out from the front and back of the cycle, halting the motorcycle's descent with a snap. Robin kept his balance in spite of the jolt and soon, he was gliding down with her towards one of the many abandoned lots of Bludhaven.
Robin gave her the okay sign with his hand and she smiled, knowing it meant he was safe, and that she could go on ahead. She nodded, shooting off ahead of him.
She would be waiting for him at the police station.
88888888888888888888
Starfire jumped off the ledge of the police station rooftop the moment she saw Robin's motorcycle roaring into the station's front steps. Together, they barged into the station, and fists aglow, she demanded to see Inspector Soames.
At least three officers scampered to follow her command.
Seconds later, one of the officers told them Soames would see them in the conference room.
They made their way quickly and soon, they were watching Soames light a cigarette with one hand while the other held a cup of coffee.
Soames smiled through his cigarette. "Well, aren't you two inseparable?"
Starfire narrowed her gaze at him but said nothing.
"Where's the visitor?" Robin asked.
Soames looked mildly surprise. "Well, well, well. Someone in cop-shop's been telling tales. And here I was, thinking I was special."
"We have our sources. Now talk, Soames. We haven't the time for this."
Soames chuckled. "That trading card you sent me was good stuff. Prancer sang like a nightingale the moment I flashed it, but I don't think it buys you customer care, Boy Wonder. Perhaps if you got your girlfriend to ask me nicely… I don't mind at all if you watch."
Starfire, not the least bit pleased that he was taunting Robin, surged forward, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and slamming him against the wall. Soames dropped his coffee on impact and the cigarette shot from his lips as breath was forced out of his lungs.
Soames gasped in pain and shock.
She smiled, baring her teeth. "Nice enough for you, Mr. Soames?" She felt the heat emanating from her eyes and she forced herself to calm down. It wouldn't do to char him, or perhaps even herself, unwittingly.
Robin was beside them both in an instant.
"Spill it, Soames," said Robin.
"You missed her by ten minutes," rasped Soames. "She introduced herself as Betty Mae Clampett, but there was absolutely nothing hillbilly about her. She does talk very strangely, like a foreigner who doesn't know how to use common slang words."
"What else? Come on. You could do better than that!"
Starfire shook him again.
Soames grit his teeth but he spoke. "The boys told me she drives a beaten up white pick-up truck. She said she would be coming back to bail Victoria out when bail was set."
"Which is when?"
"It's not going to happen in Bludhaven. They'll be transporting Victoria to Jump City tomorrow. I'm sure he'd have bail set a few hours after he gets there. Your justice system is so much more dependa—"
"Quit babbling! Did she give you her contact information? I bet you managed to weasel her into paying you to keep her posted."
"Now, why would I do that if I knew bail wouldn't be set for him in Bludhaven?"
"Because you're greedy. Contact information, Soames. Now!"
In response to Robin's demand, Starfire charged her fist, holding her glowing hand up for him to see. She smiled. "I am told that when certain parts of a man's body is exposed to extreme heat, it could cause sterility."
Soames gulped, but he smiled back. "Starfire, my love… you needn't do that. You know I could never say no to you."
"Give us her contact information."
"She gave me a transmitter. A small one; like a penlight. It's in my left pant pocket. If you don't believe me, you could frisk me."
She didn't know if she wanted to be sticking her hand into his pants, pocket or not.
Robin smirked. "In your dreams, buddy." He fished out the transmitter. It was indeed as small as a penlight, but it had intricate carvings on it familiar to them both.
"That'll do, Soames," said Robin, turning to leave.
Starfire tossed Soames to the side and he toppled over some chairs.
"Easy, luv! I thought I meant something to you!" Soames cried after her.
"Ugh!" She said, rolling her eyes as she followed Robin out.
8888888888888888888
Robin pulled a chord out from his R-Cycle's computer, pulling up a map of Bludhaven on its small monitor. He undid the clips at the end of the chord exposing bare copper wiring.
They worked fast. Starfire selected an adaptor among the many stored in the cycle's utility kit and Robin began winding the wires around it. When the chord was ready to be used, she jammed the adaptor into one of the transmitter's slots. Of course, the fit was not at all perfect; the slots were as alien as the technology, but she knew it would be enough to give them a connection. The transmitter was, after all, Tamaranian in make.
Sliding her fingers down the right carving, she established contact with its sister transmitter. All they needed were six seconds.
The answer came. The voice from the speaker was distorted, but understandable.
"Hello?" said the voice. "Mr. Soames? Hello?"
Robin counted it down. "…two… one… got it!"
Right at that moment, the transmitter at the other end was turned off. It didn't matter. They had a lock on the transmitter's location. The red dot that was their quarry beeped and moved slowly on screen.
"She's heading east through Littleneck Narrows Bridge," said Robin. "You go on ahead and intercept her; I'll follow. She could take the northbound exit, stay the course southbound or head east. At any rate, keep your radio open. Go!"
Starfire took off, cranking her sense of direction to high gear. She wasn't afraid of getting lost, unfamiliar as Bludhaven's geography was to her. After having traveled galaxies, it was easy to find ones way in a small city, especially from the air.
She sliced through the air at full speed, orienting herself to north, south, east and west. Soon enough, she saw an east-bound bridge. It crossed over a river that emptied into what she could only assume was the Narrows. She lowered herself, reading the signs. It read LittleneckNarrowsBridge
She was on the right track. She radioed Robin. "Robin, might you tell me where to go? I am at the bridge of Littleneck Narrows."
Robin's voice came over the T-Comm. "She took the northbound exit to Mealtide Island and went further north. Off-road, in fact. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's headed to Langley Point. Maybe Victoria was telling the truth about underwater crafts after all."
"Agreed. We must contact Aqualad and brief him of the situation."
"I'm on it."
She tucked her radio securely on her belt and surged full-speed-ahead. Soon enough, she spotted moving headlights in the distance, rocking and lurching on the un-paved road.
The blare of a fog-horn rang in the night air and the rhythmic sounds of moving train cars clanged on railings. Beneath her, she could see a slow moving caboose. She pushed forward, passing it, and she flew over the train-cars pulling it along.
The salty smell of the sea grew even stronger as the wind of the Atlantic blew ever nearer. She contacted Robin again. "I could see the vehicle. It does not seem to be moving."
"It's at Langley Point. I'll be there in five minutes. Aqualad said he's on his way. Try to find out who this person is and if you can, detain her. And… be careful."
"Affirmative."
Determined to catch their prey, Starfire search the darkness for anyone who might be traveling on foot. She spotted someone walking purposefully towards the Atlantic shore.
Langley Point used to be a pier of common use. Fishing boats and barges would dock at its shores and unload its cargo straight to the trains for future pick-up. In time, as commerce picked up in central Bludhaven, Mealtide Island, too far east and relatively inaccessible, became less and less practical for drop-offs. In the last ten years, Mealtide Island, though still useful for many things, like homes and parks and train yards, had lost much of its allure for international and domestic shipping and trade.
The rotting wood of the port platforms, suspended ten feet above the sand and rocks by thick stilts, creaked and groaned as the waves splashed against it, but the tall stranger with the long brown hair walked over them unafraid.
Starfire landed on the gravelly ground some distance off as quietly as she could manage, the soft chime of her powers petering as she let go of flight.
The pounding of waves against the rocky shoreline of Langley Point was enough to drown out her approach and the lone figure standing at the dock stared out to the open sea, as if too filled with thought to notice anything else.
Even from afar, Starfire saw the stranger's proud posture; how she stood straight, her shoulders fanned out without the slightest hint of a slouch. Her flowing chestnut brown hair reached her waist and it teased the wind with ringlets. The stranger turned, showing a strong profile in a feminine mold.
Starfire knew she could incapacitate the stranger with a simple ambush; she had the advantage of surprise. But for the meantime, she had to heed Robin's words; she had to learn what she can before she fell upon the stranger.
Sinking into the shadows, Starfire approached her quietly, formulating a plan as she skulked in the darkness. She wished earnestly that she had Robin's swift cunning. If she had half his intellect, a plan would have come automatically, and it would work. She cursed her own inability to think past a head-on attack. She used to be much better at plotting a strategy in any kind of situation. She had, after all, trained under the Warlords of Okaara and she passed the trials when her sister hadn't. But ever since she came to Earth and joined the Titans, it seemed her ability to formulate strategy had dulled.
It just seemed so much easier to trust someone like Robin with the important stuff. She was spoiled, and so were the rest of the Titans, which was probably why they all fell apart when Robin wasn't around to formulate an attack plan.
Amidst the crashing of the current, Starfire suddenly heard an odd sound.
At low tied, she could peek beneath the wooden platforms; see through the stout legs of the elevated dock; past the rocks lining the shore. A thick froth was forming on the surface of the water, just underneath the stranger's gaze.
The water splashed; the foam thickened for an instant and then disappeared, as if whatever was causing it underwater had risen out of its depths. Starfire blinked and squinted, trying to understand just what had happened. Whatever it was, it was dripping salt water from above the surface of the sea.
She trained her gaze above the docks and the stranger raised a hand, spreading her palm in front of what looked like a mirage. Starfire had to blink again; disoriented. It looked like a blob of clear water rippling ever so slightly in mid-air.
Another heartbeat and Starfire gathered her thoughts: She must not let the stranger get away.
Starfire shot into the air, powers shimmering in the wind.
The blob of water gained solidity, becoming a strange, streamlined craft; one that could slice through water with great speed and ease. A hatch was opened and Starfire surged forward.
She swooped down.
The stranger looked up.
And everything changed.
8888888888888888888888
The familiarity in her brown eyes was astounding. Even after all their years apart; even with the passage of time, living their lives, the recognition; the affection; the tragedy and the sharp bitterness in her gaze was ever present and clear.
Displace, Starfire lost her focus. Her thoughts scattered, her resolve twisting awkwardly into indecision. The aggressive approach she had planned shriveled at the strong wave of love and affection that befell her, recognizing the face of the woman before her.
Starfire pulled back her flight, but not soon enough. She barreled into the stranger, tossing them both against the rotting boards of the pier. It shattered under the force, landing them awkwardly in the pebbled sand underneath. They both cried out as they fell, tumbling awkwardly as they struggled to regain their footing. Sea foam and water lapped over them, causing them to sputter.
Starfire pushed the hair from off her eyes, blinking back the salt spray and staring at the woman's face. She was dreaming, surely, but the sting of the salt on the scratches wrought by the sharp wood splinters and roughened pebbles tingled through her arms and legs. Pain was real; she was awake.
"X'Hal!" said the woman in a language Starfire hadn't heard in a long time. "Koriand'r! G-Girl, how did you… "
The structure of the language assembled itself in Starfire's mind, and gasping, she spoke the language of Kalapatt. "X-Xyannis! How—why—what are you doing here?"
They stared at one another, hopelessly confused.
Pushing herself to her feet, Starfire stood, stepping away from the woman who gave her hope during all those years of awful slavery. It occurred to Starfire that this was not the kind of reaction she had expected from herself, seeing Xyannis again. Starfire thought that at least, she would be overjoyed to know that Xyannis was still alive; but to be standing, face to face with her spirit-sister, and know not what to make of it, was the kind of first meeting Starfire never envisioned.
So far apart, thought Starfire, sadness blanketing her as the reality of the situation dawned on her. Starfire knew—from the very marrow of her bones—that whatever game they were caught in, they were on opposite sides.
"Starfire, Goddess be! You are alive! You are—I am so happy!" Xyannis, smiling, stepped towards her, hand outstretched. Starfire, brows knotting, stepped back in response. A look of surprise fell upon Xyannis' beautiful face. "Girl, are you not glad to see me?"
Starfire blinked back tears. She was! Oh, she was! But why this way, Xyannis? Why have you let Blackfire poison you this way? "Y-You work with Blackfire…"
Xyannis' eyes widened before anxiety befell her features. "How did you know… what do you know of it? Girl, Blackfire and I… we have similar ideals. In many things, she and I agree—"
Starfire shook her head. "No, you are not the same!"
"Starfire…" Xyannis attempted to approach her once more and Starfire moved even farther away. She looked even more perplexed; hurt. "Why do you run away…?"
"What you do with Blackfire is wrong! You are killing people and hurting their loved ones and letting others suffer! Who do you think put Maxwell Victoria in jail? Who—did Blackfire not even mention me? I have taken to protecting the people in this side of the planet. Blackfire knows this! Do you think I would let you keep harming innocent lives? I cannot stand by—"
Xyannis' lips tautened to a line, the friendly and affectionate expression fading from her eyes. "No, Blackfire did not mention your name, but if she had, I might—I would still pursue this path with her. Starfire, whatever you know of this, this does not concern you! You understand that I would never drag you into this if I could help it, but I made a promise to Blackfire and to myself that I would see this through no matter what—"
Starfire grit her teeth. "Well, I am here! And I am involved! What will you do now?"
At first, Xyannis said nothing, but from her expression, it was evident she knew what she was going to say. "I am sorry, Starfire, but I cannot let you stop us."
Something turned in Starfire's stomach, and the situation became more real to her. "I know Blackfire has been coming to Earth, attending to matters here, but she sent you this time. This is your first time on Earth, isn't it?"
Xyannis did not reply.
Starfire nodded. "Blackfire sent you because she knew that we the Titans would be making our move. She wanted you to be the one to face me; to hurt me even more. When I delivered Maxwell Victoria to the police, he unwittingly alerted Blackfire to the fact that I have found her out, and Blackfire is striking back at me by sending you."
"She is ruthless that way."
"It is her way."
Xyannis nodded. "But you are wrong about Maxwell Victoria alerting her. She knew, long before, that she would be sending me. She made me learn the language of this America before Maxwell Victoria was caught. You are, however, correct about Blackfire striking back to hurt you. One way or another, this meeting between you and me would have happened; she made sure of it. It hurts you, and it tests me. It is the way a real Tamaranian warrior was taught to fight a battle; strike where the enemy is most vulnerable. You should know this. You did, after all, pass the trials when your sister did not."
Xyannis' words hurt Starfire inexplicably. "So she has taught you to hate me as well?"
The woman's expression was immovable for an instant before it softened ever so slightly. "I cannot hate you, Starfire. You, who were so dear to me during those months we shared in slavery… but I have commitments; I swore loyalty to your sister and our cause. Much as you are so near to my heart, my mind is inevitably set in a different path."
Xyannis strode forward and Starfire flinched back, but Xyannis did not go to her. Instead, the tall woman walked past Starfire, climbing back on to the platform to go to her ship.
"Xyannis, do not do this!" said Starfire, half-pleading, half-forcefully. "Blackfire is ruthless, but you are not. You care what happens to people! Have you forgotten Thurden? When they whipped him and I tried to stop them? You suffered my punishment with me! You said you did not want me to suffer alone because you did not want them to break me! Xyannis!"
Xyannis whipped around, keeping her gaze on Starfire steady; intense. "Girl, do not think I have forgotten all those things. That is a part of me I remember each day. I remember the face of Thurden, dying from hunger and injury. I remember your face, so young yet made to suffer just like the rest of us. I remember Chisa and Holroth and Ganyd and Nenita and Galaroth; I remember them all!"
The very core of Starfire's being shook at the names from their past; the other slaves who endured with them.
"Don't you see?" continued Xyannis. "It is the very memory of them that drives me. Until now, I thought you were dead as well!"
Starfire's heart skipped a beat. "W-What do you—"
"They are all dead, Starfire. They died as slaves! The others too, are gone forever: Yensai, Beshira, Bethen, Wix, Shada… all but Ganyd were fetched back by his family. All the others' bodies were burned in the Gordanian incinerators. And I had to watch them die, Starfire. I had to watch Galaroth and Shada waste away while the others were gutted and beheaded when our master began the slave purge."
Slave purge? Gutted? Beheaded! Starfire tried to push the revolting thought from her mind, but it was there, and she could not un-hear it.
"When the Citadellian-Gordanian Empire began to fall, our master began to kill the slaves off in his compound; one by one; telling us that for every Citadellian government overthrown, he would kill one slave; for every Gordanian government overrun, he would kill two. Blackfire and I were able to escape with Galaroth in the end, but slavery had done its worse on him. He did not last long…"
Starfire's eyes stung. She placed faces to the names, and only the warmth of her hand against her heart gave what little comfort she could find from the grief. "Galaroth…" she whispered. She could not believe that they were all dead.
"And who put us all in bondage? Who placed us at the mercy of these monsters? It was the Gordanians and Citadellians who bound us in shackles, but it was the weakness of our rulers, our supposed fathers and mothers, who let us be taken. How could we put our trust on leaders like them? How could entire planets be expected to prosper if their leaders could not lead them in a fight against such stupid, mindless, grunting lizards? Slaves like us; we knew our masters. We saw how uneducated they were; how impossibly idiotic they could be! How in the galaxy were they able to overrun the likes of us; proud, intelligent races like the Kalapattians and the Tamaranians? Our leaders were inefficient. Our governments were flawed. We need change; we need unity under one leadership. It is the only way we are going to survive. You shake your head like you do not agree, but look at you… you haven't even gone back to your planet. You do not wish to see your parents; the ones who exchanged their children like export goods."
"No… it is not like that…"
"So you see, Starfire, I cannot let you steer me from this course. You saw your share of the dead, but it is only when you look upon the eyes of the dying, like I did, that death really changes you."
Starfire's hands fisted and it pained her to hear such words. It took all of her will power to remind herself that she had a duty to uphold; that she had people to protect. She cannot let Xyannis get away.
"I am sorry, Xyannis. You have your course, and I have mine." Starfire surged forward, charging her hands. She threw the starbolts and the wood split in an ear-shattering explosion. Xyannis cried out just as she jumped into the craft's hatch, sticks of sharp wood embedded into her arm.
Determined as Starfire was of stopping Xyannis, she could not bear it. She gave a cry of horror, letting remorse wash over her. For a moment, she wavered. How could I? Oh, my dear Xyannis!
In another heartbeat, Starfire found the sense to remind herself once more of what her mission entailed.
Xyannis closed the hatch and Starfire shot her bolts, one after another, battering the ship with highly charged missiles. There was smoke; there were explosions, but the craft stood unharmed. It had a force field, and it flickered momentarily before it faded back to invisibility.
A sickening sensation rippled through Starfire. If the craft got away; if Xyannis got away; it could mean the suffering, pain and possibly the death of so many people; she must hesitate no further.
The craft began to move away from the pier with astounding speed, lowering itself just above the water like a speedboat.
Starfire heard someone behind her calling her name, but she paid it no heed. She shot after the craft, intent on trying to stop it. Starfire desperately fired bolts at it but found no success. She caught its tail with her hands, the force field letting them through. The moment she charged her bolts, the force field threw her back. It felt like she had blasted herself, and she gasped from the blow. She fell back, but she forced herself to recover, flying after the craft again.
She knew she must try to disable the ship with her own strength. Again, she caught the craft's tail, but just when she was about to rip its tail off, the craft sank into the water.
The force of the current shocked Starfire as she held on with an iron grip, the craft pulling her deep underwater. Her eyes widened, seeing the glow of charging turbo engines. If she did not let go, she would be charred black. Starfire had little choice but to release.
She let go, covering her face with her arms. She closed her eyes and desperately kicked herself from harm's way. There was a flash of heat, pain piercing through her arms. She was pushed back by a massive force and she felt the jarring crash of the sea-bed.
Starfire opened her eyes; the rumble of the water in her ears the only thing to indicate she was alive. There was no ship in sight. She needed to go to the surface; she needed air, but she could not move, and heavy, unidentifiable things began to fall on her. She wiggled and pulled and she saw that her legs were tangled in debris; pollutants. Crates were piling upon her; rusty oil drums and rotting fishing nets. The Bludhaven seabed was filthy and she was caught in its poison.
She tried to use her arms to pull away, but pain roiled through her. The skin of her arms stung, but she could not make out the extent of the damage through the murky waters. And then the pain in her lungs began. There was no air; only water. It was as if her body had ceased to know how to breathe.
The agony of living became so great that she understood how some could welcome death so gladly.
She might have heard a voice in her mind; perhaps it was a memory.
Starfire, hold on! Hold on!
And she replied, somewhat cheerfully. For even in her last moments, she had that kind of heart. Oh dear… that is quite difficult at this point…
She gave herself over to the darkness of the sea.
To be continued…
Author's notes: Please don't kill me.
Many thanks! Detailed remarks to follow! I'm still typing it out, but I certainly wouldn't want to deny any of you this chapter.