Chapter Two: Memories

"Nightwing, what are you doing?" Starfire asked. Nightwing playfully pulled her into a fierce hug, smiling, he kissed her forehead lightly.

Nightwing chuckled softly, "Making sure my wife is well taken care of." He kissed her lips gently, running his fingers through her hair. She wrapped her arms around her husband's waist, laughing quietly. He pulled her into a passionate kiss, gently holding her. She loved him more than she had loved anyone else, if indeed she had really loved anyone besides him. Smiling, Starfire looked up adoringly at her husband, who could only smile at her with happiness.

"So, you are going to take care of me, are you not?" she asked playfully. When she first came to Earth, she had been confused and mystified by Earth costumes and culture. Nightwing, then called Robin had promised her that he would look out for her, take care of her and teach her about Earth and the ways of the wide world she had come to. First, it was merely a friendship and then it became a simple crush that turned into a full blown romance that had eventually culminated into a happy marriage, so far.

"Yes, I'm going to take good care of you, Star. I promise," he chuckled, pressing his lips to hers as she wrapped his arms around his broad shoulders, falling back onto their bed, he stroked her hair as she deepened the kiss. Pulling away slightly, he gave her a wry smile. "I'll never leave you," he crooned sweetly in her ear, before he began to ignite a fire within her that she could not contain. Embracing him tightly, love blossomed as hearts, souls and bodies became one.

Kory Anders awoke the next morning with a sigh. She had been dreaming. Dreaming of him again; he had promised her that he would never leave. How naïve she was to think so. The Remkas, the Drifting had taken place between them. And now that life she had always dreamed of was gone. Kory Anders rolled over and stared at the alarm clock as it blared insistently, reminding her that another day had begun and that it was time to wake up.

Slapping the alarms off button with an irritated grunt, she couldn't help but stare at the picture beside the stand next to the bed. It was her wedding picture, the one of her and Nightwing. They were so happy, back then, she reminisced slightly. Back then, they were happy, Slade had not come back to torment him since Trigon the Terrible had tried to annihilate the Earth from existence. He had gone away, and all seemed well between them.

She sighed, dislodging the memory from her mind. She wasn't Starfire anymore. She was just Kory Anders, a normal, typical human being trying to make a way for herself in the world. She was a police officer, law enforcement. She had given up being a Titan seven years ago. She had lost the Unbridled Joy that fueled her flight, and the Righteous Fury that had fueled her Starbolts had drained away as a result of too many arguments and fights with her husband.

Now she was just a normal member of society, she no longer was the confused naïve Tamaranean princess who didn't understand Earth ways or customs. She had abandoned her style of speech and changed her hair by cutting it short as a sign of her sadness over the divorce that she had instigated. She blamed herself for what happened. So she changed her clothes too. No bright, warm, vibrant colors, now she just wore simple colors, mainly black as a symbol of her sorrow.

But nobody asked her about it. In fact, she was rarely asked about her personal life at all. Her coworkers just saw her as a private, introverted individual, which was hardly the case seven years before, having been an outgoing, extroverted, friendly, warm and open individual back then.

Kory got up and made herself a simple breakfast. Cereal and toast, on many days, eggs and bacon if she didn't have to head off to work too early; she brewed herself some herbal tea, smiling fondly at the memory of Raven, who always drank herbal tea. Her friend had disappeared now, she was unsure of what had become of her. Right at the moment when she needed her friends the most, they left her. Raven had disappeared, Cyborg had gone to Steel City with the Titans East, Beast Boy had gone to L.A. to start a Titans branch there, and Nightwing to top if off had emotionally rejected her, causing her to leave him when she felt she needed him more than anyone.

She sighed again, finishing her breakfast. Putting on her police uniform she gathered her equipment and drove her patrol car to the station. Climbing out, she gathered her written report into a messy pile and carried it into the building with her.

Police chief Nicholas Rufus Dennis looked up at her as she walked in the door. "Ah, Kory, do you have what I asked you for?"

"Yes, it is right here," she handed him her report. "All finished, just like you asked. " Kory set the papers down in front of his desk. He gave her a smile. "I knew I could count on you. I have an assignment for you and Robert."

Robert had just walked into the room and looked up, hearing his name called. "Yes sir?"

"I have an assignment for you both. " Chief Nicholas began. "The Wayne Enterprises building was broken into last night and I want you to go investigate."

"Nightwing didn't show up?" Robert asked, somewhat surprised. Kory wasn't at all surprised. She knew Nightwing couldn't be everywhere at once.

"Apparently not, but the Vice President of Wayne Enterprises, ah what's his name, oh yeah, Dick Grayson, he was there. Whoever it was attacked him real good. Has a few bruises to show for it, too."

"So you want us to interview this Dick Grayson?" Kory asked. This would be a typical assignment. Nothing new or out of the ordinary, the daily grind and routine was starting to get dull.

"Yes, and when you're finished, report back to me," Nicholas flashed a toothy smile. "Consider yourself very lucky Kory," he laughed.

"Why would I be lucky?" Kory asked, confused by the comment.

"Kory, Ladies would kill to get anywhere near Dick Grayson," he continued to chuckle.

"Why's that?"

"He's got everything. Money, looks, notoriety; everything women dream about. And you get to talk to him!" he noticed one or two of the female officers give off dreamy sighs as he snapped at them to get back to work. They all hurriedly rushed off to attend to their affairs.

"Like I would care," Kory replied. "Don't worry, Chief. This won't take long." She and Robert climbed into a patrol car and headed towards Wayne Enterprises. Kory sat in her seat silently, not saying a word. Robert looked at her curiously.

"What was all that?" he asked.

"All what?" she asked in reply. "I do not understand. What do you mean?"

"All those things you said back there. That you wouldn't care about going to see Dick Grayson; like the Chief said, anyone else would be dying of happiness if they were in your shoes."

"Oh, it is nothing really," Kory said trying to end the discussion.

"It's not nothing Kory. What's the matter? Not had any good experiences with men?" Robert asked. That of course was far from true; she had had wonderful experiences with Nightwing when they had been married. This Dick Grayson reminded her of her ex husband, for he had money, looks and notoriety as well. Memories of Nightwing brought back the sadness, and she didn't want to think about it.

"You could say that," she replied as they pulled up to Wayne Enterprises. Shutting the door they walked in. A man in three piece suit met them standing near the doors.

"Hello, officers, I'm Dick Grayson," the man introduced himself. Kory decided to reserve her judgment for him later as Robert introduced her.

"I'm Officer Robert Thomson, this is Officer Kory Anders," she shook his hand firmly and looked into his pale, sky blue eyes. He looks familiar, she thought. I wonder where I have seen him before.

"Now you wouldn't mind if we have a look around, would you Mr. Grayson?" Robert asked.

"No, of course not, Officer Thomson," Dick Grayson replied. "Feel free to look around." He ushered them into the building. Kory was impressed by the size of the place. She'd seen Wayne Enterprises before, from the outside. Many years ago she had fought with Robin on that very roof. But she had never actually gone into the building before.

Dick Grayson kept his voice normal and his actions neutral, not wanting to draw any excess attention to himself than needed. He felt Starfire's, or Kory's strong grip as her companion had introduced her. He had heard, through the grapevine that she had lost her Righteous Fury and Unbridled Joy that fueled her powers. He let out an audible sigh that he hoped she didn't hear as he began showing them around. He could tell she was impressed by the place. He felt a special sense of pride well up within him as he led them to where the break in had occurred.

It was a laboratory, filled with Zinonthium Immediately Kory remembered an incident long ago when the Titans had faced off with a new Red X and he had wanted the Zinonthium because it was what had powered his suit. She didn't want to jump to conclusions though, so she kept silent. Dick Grayson had the sneaking suspicion that Red X was behind the break in as well, but he didn't offer any suggestions to her as he opened the door. "Feel free to look around. I'm afraid that there's not much to see."

She looked around, noticing the broken glass and scattered beakers strewn all over the floor, their contents spilt, splattered on floors and walls. She looked on the ground and noticed something. Her suspicions were confirmed. It was Red X who was behind the break in.

"I think we have found out the identity of your thief Mr. Grayson," she picked up the X-a-Rang and handed it to him.

"A Red X, hmmm, very interesting," he muttered to himself mostly.

"Kory, you've heard of Red X?" Robert asked, surprised.

"Once or twice, a long time ago," Kory said, covering for herself, concealing any vast knowledge of Red X, she had fought him twice, once when he was Robin in disguise, and again when he was someone else. Who he was, she had no clue.

"We'll tag this, Mr. Grayson," Officer Robert said. Kory snapped a few pictures of the damage for the report they might have to file later on.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Grayson," she said politely, noticing that he gave her an odd smile as she left the building. Driving back to the station, she looked at Robert. "So, how do you think it went?"

"Not bad, actually," Robert admitted. "I'm surprised you've actually heard of Red X, Kory."

"Let's just say I had a run-in a long time ago," she said, keeping her face neutral.

"You seem to have a lot of run-ins with people, Nightwing, Red X, what's next, Raven?" he laughed. Climbing out of the patrol car they walked into the station. Chief Nicholas Rufus Dennis looked up at them from his desk.

"So, how'd it go?" he asked.

"Fine," Robert replied. "Kory thinks Red X is behind the break in at Wayne Enterprises."

"I did not—" Kory protested.

"Really, you all but said it out loud," he smiled.

"Well it might be a hunch," she sighed. "Is my shift over yet? I think I have forgeotten."

"Yeah, your shift's about done Kory," Chief Nicholas said. "You should go home, you looked exhausted."

"Thank you, I think I will. You will have my report by tomorrow morning."

"Good," Nicholas said. "Now get out of here," he said playfully waving her away with his hand. Kory Anders drove home in silence. Parking her car, she went out to the mailbox and grabbed the letters. Sitting down at her kitchen table she began looking at them. Most of them were bills, but one of them caught her eye.

Raven Roth
105 St,
Devils Tower, Wyoming 82714.

Opening, the letter she began to read:

Dear Starfire, AKA Kory Anders,

I heard about you and Nightwing. I'm so sorry. So, you work with the police now. Must be hectic, but not near as hectic as being a superhero, I suppose. I work with my mother, Arella, in nearby Jackson Hole at her place for troubled teenage girls. It's going well. I plan to come and see you in a week.

Have some new news on Beast Boy, too. Apparently, the Titans branch in L.A. didn't last that long so I guess he's moving back to Jump City. Well, I'll see you in a week or so. We have a lot to catch up on.

Your friend and fellow Titan,

Raven Roth

Kory smiled at the letter. Things were starting to look up after all. Sighing, she sat down at the computer and began writing her report. At least she had something to look forward to this week. Things in her life were starting to improve.

Dick Grayson watched Kory and Robert leave Wayne Enterprises. He was surprised that Kory, Starfire had implemented Red X as the culprit behind the break in. He had his suspicions as well, but she had confirmed them. Once they were gone, he walked back to the Men's Restroom.

Changing out of his three piece suit, he donned on his Nightwing costume. If Red X really was the culprit, he would have to be very careful. Climbing up to the roof, he scanned the area. This was going to be a long, long evening.