Chapter Nine

The Last Three

"STARFIRRRRE!" Robin rolled around some more trying to find a way out. "NOOOO!" His voice rang throughout the entire complex as he shouted her name over and over again. From in his study the Arbiter listened to ever shout and cry. "Fragile minds."

Cyborg turned over onto his back sleeping soundly. All of the Titans were sprawled out on the ground completely bushed from their sudden escape from RM 111. They had made camp in a small clearing during the night and upon laying on the softness of the ground almost instantly fell asleep. As he slept is nose twitched from detecting a familiar scent. His eyes snapped open and he sat straight up.

"BACON!" He looked around as if he didn't find it in the next few seconds he would melt right on the spot. He looked over to his right and saw Lee sitting over a small fire.

"Actually it's a species of sparrow that when cooked gives off a smell similar to bacon," he said adding some twigs to the fire. Cyborg stood up and walked over to the small campfire the samurai had managed to create. He looked around for a moment and noticed that one of them was missing.

"Yo where's Raven," he asked scanning the trees for a blue cape.

"Raven-San has elected to gather more wood for the fire and some medicinal herbs for BB-San. Her healing powers have not yet fully returned to normal and BB-San is getting worse." Cyborg looked over at Beast Boy and saw he had a damp towel on his head and beads of sweat were running down the side of his face.

"What's wrong with him exactly?"

"We're still unsure what it is exactly, but Raven-San believes it may be a strain of anthrax bacteria." Cyborg's mouth dropped.

"Y-you can't be serious, anthrax?"

"Most likely he was exposed to a small amount while under torture, it appears they neglected to give him the anti-virus," said Lee poking the fire with a stick.

"So what are a couple of leaves gonna do for Beast Boy?" Cyborg's voice was starting to get louder.

"With some luck Raven-San hopes to find some common plant life which have natural properties that could help slow down the virus however, one of two things must happen before tomorrow; we must either find the anti-virus or Raven-San's healing powers must return to normal." A silence followed Lee's last statement and they simply sat and watched the fire. Finally Lee decided to try and lighten the situation somewhat.

"So, you sleep well?" Cyborg shot him a half a grin and nodded.

"Like a sack of rocks, I didn't know the ground could be so comfortable."

"A stone floor will do that to you." They both nodded at the small fact of life and then looked around quickly when they heard someone coming. From behind a group of trees Raven appeared, her arms full of sticks and various plants.

"Was your search successful," asked Lee. She dropped the sticks at his feet and moved on over to Beast Boy. Cyborg and Lee looked from Raven back to each other and shrugged. "I'll assume that's a yes."

Starfire lay on the ground tossing and turning somewhat, her mind was filled with visions of what must be happening to Robin right at that very moment. She mouthed things in her sleep that went along the lines of; 'Robin……….no! come back!…………..cannot leave you………… please come back!" In her dream she could see Robin quickly moving away from her. The more she tried to run toward him the farther away he seemed to get. As Starfire ran she tripped on her own feet and fell forward. When she looked back up she saw Robin being engulfed in the darkness and disappearing forever. "ROBIN!" She shouted out his name and sat bolt upright. Her eyes were wide with shock and she was completely oblivious to the rest of the Titans staring at her in wonder. Raven came over and picked up Starfire's limp wrist and felt her pulse.

"Her heart rate is racing, we need to be careful calming her down or she could have a stroke." Raven slowly laid Starfire back down on the ground and put a hand on her chest. "Starfire, can you hear me?" With a dulled look Starfire gave her a nod. "Good, now I want you to do something for me, I want you to try and relax for me. Can you feel my hand pressing down on you?" Star gave her another nod. Rave then began to press harder then release somewhat. "I want you to time your breathing to my hand, when it presses down breathe out and when it releases breathe in." Starfire complied and soon Raven could see Starfire's facial expression getting more relaxed and returning to normal. She sat her up and patted her on the back.

"Now, are you alright?"

"Yes friend Raven, thank you for your assistance."

"Now don't do anything fast paced for awhile and you'll be fine soon enough." With that Raven returned to tending to Beast Boy. She would try her powers and if they didn't work completely she would use some of the herbs she gathered, hopefully her pattern would do well in healing Beast Boy completely. Starfire slowly got to her feet and leaned against a tree for support.

"Friends, I do not believe we should continue on without Robin." They all looked up at her. Lee was in the middle of using his short sword as a shaving razor. Cyborg walked over to her and took her shoulder.

"Star it was late last night, we were tired and in a hurry, we don't really know where we are or even where RM 111 is."

"So what are you saying," she asked frowning slightly. Cyborg's hand dropped and he sighed.

"Starfire we may have to go on and hope Robin catches up with us."

"But he may never escape from there again. Suppose last night was his one and only chance of escape by himself. He may be in a position to where he could not get out on his own. SO WE MUST HELP HIM!"

"Easy Star," said Beast Boy in a groggy voice. He was still lying down but had awakened earlier. "We'll find a way to help Robin and then we'll get he hell out of here, won't we?" He directed his last question to everyone but Starfire. Cyborg, Raven, and Lee all looked at each other then finally gave Starfire a nod.

"Alright, we go back for him. But only after BB is at least able to walk again, cause we're gonna need all the help we can get." Starfire nodded at Cyborg's compromise and they set to formulating an escape plan.

BACK WITH ROBIN……………………

Robin sat against the wall in his six by six stone cell with only his thoughts for company. Over the past few hours his shouts and cries had died down to mere mumbling and staring off into space. At his door sat fifteen hours worth of meal slop that so far remained forgotten by its receiver. Robin didn't speak, cry, yell, or even moan. Robin only sat against the wall with Starfire's emerald chain in hand. He began to wonder if he should even try to escape anymore. He kept thinking that his friends might need his help with some areas of the map and that e should do what he can to get out. Then he would see a face appear in his mind, a face with the most beautiful and mesmerizing green eyes he had ever seen; and all would fade to darkness. He would no longer see the point of pressing on, trying to live out his life without her. He would simply remain here, because they killed her and-

It was as if a light bulb clicked on in Robin's mind. He picked his head up and stared forward wide eyed as though he had just seen Starfire's ghost. He then began to mouth wordlessly until he blurted out something with some spit. "They…. killed…her." He closed his fist tightly around the emerald gem and his face twisted into an evil frown. Hatred as he had only known Slade to spawn began to spring to life within him. Robin knew just what he was going to do. Just then his door opened and two guards came in and id him to rise and come with them. He looked up at them and shook his head.

"Get away from me." They looked at each other for a moment.

"Here now! Get your ass up and lets move it along!" The guard spat back. One walked over and gave him a hard kick in the side. Robin quickly pocketed the chain and looked back up at the one who kicked him.

"I'm giving you a fair honest to God warning; get away from me now, leave the door open and never come near me again, or I'll kill you." Under his hood the guard frowned in both confusion and fear. A long tense silence followed between Robin and the guard. Robin was looking up at him with wide eyes and grinding teeth. Very slowly the guard began reaching for the lever on his AK-47. Robin noticed immediately and decided to make him blink first. "BOO!" The guard reached up to cock his weapon but in a flash Robin was up and took the man's rifle. He smacked the guard twice across the face with the butt of the gun and then grabbed his neck. With a quick snap he crushed the man's neck and the guard fell to the floor. Robin then focused on the other who began backing up. His gun was shaking in his grasp as he tried to put Robin in the sight without worrying about death. From the struggle a dangling light bulb was swinging back and forth. The light shown on Robin's mad face and then darkened it as he walked toward the trembling guard. Only when the light swung in Robin's direction could the guard see him, while it swung away Robin was in complete darkness. With each swing Robin took a step forward. The light shown on the guard's face and when it went back to Robin the guard saw that Robin wasn't there. He let out a stifled gasp and gripped his AK. Robin slowly rose up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. The guard closed his eyes and slowly turned around. Robin shoved him back into the cell and bore down on him.

"She's dead because of you people, killed in cold blood. Before I kill you know that I will not rest, I will not stop, I will not sleep for an instant until every last one of you is dead!" He reached into the guards robe and pulled out a side arm. He cocked it and put it to the guard's head. Just as his finger was pressing on the trigger he began to hear some faint whimpering. He lowered the pistol and dragged the guard into the lighted hallway. He pushed him against the wall and slid him to the floor, the whimpering was coming from the guard. With a small frown Robin reached up and pulled back the guard's hood. Robin saw before him the face of a young kid a few years younger than him, probably no older than fourteen. He saw his face stained with tears of fright and couldn't help but take pity on him. He slid the pistol apart and put the pieces down.

"What's your name," he asked the young boy. The kid looked surprised for a moment but still kept his pure abject terror.

"Chr-Chri-Chri"-

"Christopher?" Robin prompted him and the boy nodded.

"P-please don't kill me," he simpered. Robin was by now means going to take this boy's life. He reached down and held the Order's insignia that was worn around the boy's neck. He ripped away the Osiris medallion and threw it aside.

"Your free, now go home Christopher." Robin then stood up and walked down the hall toward the Arbiter's study.

ELSEWHERE IN RM 111………………..

Decker quickly moved down the hallway with his personal assistant close behind him. Everywhere he turned he first made sure that no one else was waiting around the corner. In allowing the other Titans to escape Decker had failed the Order once again, and for the last time. He knew his head was now marked and that if he didn't get out of there now Élan or someone else would kill him. He reached a doorway and opened it to reveal a small parking lot. It was an area that was out in the open and easy to see form a high position. He took a long look at his car and after a moment of thinking handed his keys to his assistant. With reluctant fear he took them and headed for Decker's car. He climbed in and closed the door. He put the key in the ignition and after taking a deep breath started the car. He closed his eyes in massive relief that it didn't blow up and opened the door to get out. He stepped out of the car and waved to Decker saying it was all right. As soon as he closed the door however the car burst into a giant ball of fire and sent shrapnel in all directions. Decker jumped back and stared at the smoldering ruins of his car and his dead assistant. He then looked up at the sky and gave a short laugh.

"Sorry Élan, guess I was just one too many steps ahead of you." As he turned to back inside he was shot in the head twice. He fell to the ground and lay motionless. From a high hilltop about twelve hundred yards away Élan Sacha peered through his riflescope at Decker's lifeless form. Making sure he'd done the job he disassembled his rifle and took out his flip phone. He had received two text messages; one was an order to execute Steven Decker, the other was track down the Teen Titans and to eliminate them. He closed his phone and began walking back down the hill.

GETTING BACK TO ROBIN……………

The doors to the Arbiter's study burst open and Robin stood in the doorway. He looked around for the infamous cult leader and found the room to be completely empty. He looked around the room and noticed the walls were covered in various forms of weaponry and instruments of torture. He glanced over at a closet and walked over to it. He removed certain articles of clothing to replace his torn ones. He basically looked the same as before his clothes were ripped apart. He found his black long coat and put it on. As he was closing the door he stopped when he noticed someone had come through the door. Neither had made the slightest sound however both knew of each other's presence. Robin closed the closet door and spun around pistol in hand. He turned to see another hooded man standing before him. Keeping his pistol up Robin put on a crooked smile.

"So, you're the one they call the Arbiter?" The man snickered under his hood.

"Me? Oh dear me no, the Arbiter is no longer here. I am the only teacher left here in this complex." Robin frowned somewhat. 'Teacher?'

"You were one of the re-educators, which Titan were you assigned to?"

"A girl."

"Great, now be just a little more specific please."

"She had skin with an orange tint, and eyes greener than the healthiest trees."

"Starfire……" The man gave him a short nod. Robin put the gun back up. "Who are you?" The man lowered his hood. "Meric, I was wondering when I'd run into you in this place. So you had Starfire to brainwash huh?"

"I pride myself in my work Richie." Robin then put on an annoyed look.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?"

"About as many times as I did call you it." They both paused while Robin took aim at Meric's head.

"What did you do to Starfire?" He shrugged and smiled.

"Just ask her how many lights she sees and you'll find out quite easily." Robin was getting closer and closer to just puling the trigger.

"How can you do that to people?"

"You know my saying; 'Get em' while they're young and innocent and the possibilities are endless." He could tell Robin was only seconds away from blowing a hole in his head. "Remember Dalton's school for super agents? It was you, me, Élan, and then way at the bottom of the class was Decker." He laughed at Decker's memory. "If ever there was such a useless shit. Well now we are the last three real super killers in this world."

"Speak for yourself," said Robin. "I can't ask Starfire how lights she sees, I can't ask her how her day went, I can't ask her what she wants for breakfast or how things are on Tamaran because SHE'S DEAD!" Meric leaned back a bit at Robin's shout but didn't seemed phased by it. "She doesn't belong to anybody." Meric's eyes narrowed and he began stepping toward Robin.

Ownership is in the eyes of the beholder. I trained her, I conditioned her, she's MY DOGGIE!" Robin fired a single shot but hit nothing but air. He turned his head and saw Meric leaning against the wall. "Did you really expect to hit me Richie, especially from that range?"

"No, but we are in a room full of weapons," said Robin with a smirk. "I wouldn't call this the safest place for you." Meric returned Robin's smirk and removed a bo-staff.

"Who do you suppose trains with all of these?" Robin threw the gun to the floor and looked around the wall. He finally spotted his utility belt and expanding staff.

"There they are," he said to himself. He reached up and took them down. Removing his coat he expanded his staff and got into a ready position. "As I said before, I will personally see to it that the Order of Osiris falls, even if it starts with you!" Robin charged forward and they clanged their staffs together. Robin spun around to try and back slash him. Using his staff Meric flipped backward and avoided the slash. He went to trip Robin but failed when Robin did a downward block. Meric grabbed a handful of Robin's hair and spoke in his ear.

"There is no escaping what you are Richie!" He spoke while struggling to keep Robin in his grasp. "Accept it!" Robin elbowed him in the face and straightened up out of Meric's hold. Twirling his staff behind his back Meric returned with a series of combo attacks, all of which Robin had a fairly easy time blocking. Somehow throughout the fight they interlocked staffs and struggled to get free from each other. They pulled away harder and harder when they suddenly both came free with so much force that they both flew backward. Meric flew up against the wall and lost his staff while Robin twirled through the air and landed with a smalls slide. Meric glanced to the wall beside him and took up a machete. As Robin came charging at him Meric threw the large blade directly at Robin. Robin quickly stopped and leaned off to one side narrowly missing the speeding machete. Robin roundhouse kicked Meric across the face and he flew out of a nearby window. Robin watched him fall down into a small river. "Goodbye Meric."

After getting together more supplies Robin set out to find the other Titans. He would mourn Starfire until he met his own death but would not just walk out of the obligation he had to his friends. Although the Meric talked it was as if he thought otherwise about Star's death. If Starfire was alive then there was not a soul on earth that was going to stop Robin from finding her. From down stream a hand suddenly popped out of the water and gripped the shore line. "This is far from over Richie!"

Thanks for your reviews from last chapter; I hope your liking the story itself so far. Thanks for reading so far, Laters!