Chapter Twenty-Three

Gods and Titans

"Starfire-" Cyborg took a step forward and Starfire immediately raised her fist. Her regenerated powers produced a ready starbolt and she backed away. "Whoa Star calm down."

"Its no use Cyborg," whispered Raven. Starfire stared at them wide eyed and nervously shaking. "Her feelings for Robin mixed with…whatever that thing really is, is clouding her judgment."

"Do not speak of me as if I am not present!" Starfire spat. "I am hopeful you will simply come with me."

"And we're hopeful that you'll see our point and know that Osiris isn't the only with fancy tricks." Starfire sighed and nodded.

"Oh Friends…please forgive me." Two beams from her eyes shot out and traced the ground around them. A suffocating blanket of dust rose up allowing Starfire to quickly glide past them. Raven closed her fist and a black energy shield cleared away the dust.

"Come on!" Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Lee followed Raven after their friend. "STARFIRE WAIT!" Starfire meanwhile flew through the tunnels they had left behind and tuned out their voices. As she went Starfire's mind raced with a variety of things. 'Oh I am a bad friend, they will hate me later. But I must save Robin. Do not fear Robin, I am on my way.' She flew like a bullet past long tunnels and caverns they passed through, while her powers remained inexplicably untouched. As Starfire flew forward Raven suddenly popped up through the floor and hovered ahead of her. Starfire squeaked in surprise though never decreased her speed. Raven, now realizing this, moved aside at the last second. She stared after Starfire with a mixture of sympathy and fear.

"Don't do it Starfire, please." Not long after Starfire had spontaneously left her friends behind she saw light ahead and within moments flew up into the vast hall that housed Robin's body, Osiris, and Osiris' men. She looked down at Osiris and he stared back up at her. Starfire slowly glided back to the floor and stood before the villain. He glanced at the object that she held tightly in her grasp.

"I'll say this; you have certainly surpassed my overall expectations."

"Really," replied Starfire crossly.

"Indeed, gone are the days when I felt comfortable entrusting such a task with a mere mortal."

"Such thinking could be your downfall," warned Starfire with a notable amount of derisiveness. Osiris smirked ever so lightly. He held out his hand.

"The eye if you please, I am long overdue for a planetary purging." Starfire backed away slightly.

"First give me your assurance that upon receiving it you will revive Robin as you have promised." Osiris stepped towards her making her back up all the more. He stretched his hand forward.

"Give me my treasure." Starfire gulped.

"No, not until you give me your word." His hand reached her hair and she desperately wished to pull away, but couldn't. He ran his fingers through the crimson strands making a feeling of immense dizziness come over her. Her eyes dropped and she tried with all her might to pull away.

"I said, give it to me. Now!" Starfire suddenly put out her open hand and he snatched it away. Starfire staggered backward and sent him a glare. He slipped the red gem on his hand decorating his palm. He closed his eyes and cocked his head toward the ceiling. "Yessss, I can feel my powers returning to me." Starfire bent down gently held Robin's head.

"Yes you have your treasure back, now please fulfill your promise." Osiris looked mildly perplexed.

"Promise? I not sure I recollect making a promise." Starfire's eyes adopted a dulled shock.

"B-But you did, we were all witness to it."

"I remember saying that if your retrieved the Eye for me I would consider reviving Robin. Well I am not so sure I consider your efforts worthy of reward." Starfire rose to her feet and lit her fists.

"You will bring him back or..or else!" Osiris chuckled maliciously.

"Well that is certainly ambition unbefitting your character, but perhaps with the proper incentive I could grant you one last request." Starfire heard footsteps behind her and she turned to see the other Titans just now returning from the caverns. "Wonderful, you are all just in time to witness the beginning of the end."

"You mean your end," said Lee reaching for his sword. Starfire immediately raised her hand.

"No! Do not attack him!"

"Star-San?"

"Without him Robin has not a chance of survival."

"Indeed you are correct," said Osiris. Starfire returned her attention to him. "You stand in the presence of the god of the dead. And like all the others you must first submit your will to me before I grant you a request." Starfire's mouth hung ajar.

"Wha-" He took a step towards her.

"You heard me. Bow before your god, or I will allow Mr. Grayson's soul to wander away forever."

Flabbergasted, Raven responded. "You've got to be kidding! There's not a snow ball's chance in hell of any of us bo-" She stopped upon seeing her friend. "-wing," she finished grimly. Tears flowing down her face, Starfire sank to her knees before Osiris. She looked up at him and sniffled.

"Please, please bring Robin back. I cannot go on without him." Her head sank back down in emotional agony. Osiris smiled and placed his fingers below her chin. He pulled her face back up so she could see him.

"I know. Now witness the power of your god." He stood above Robin and held out his hand over his body. A soft glow emitted from the red crystal. Starfire had long forgotten that Osiris towered next to her as her attention was now completely on Robin. Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Lee also stared at Robin as if mesmerized. Then quite suddenly Robin arched his back and he took in a long breath. Starfire put her hands to her mouth. She crawled next to Robin and supported his back while he made a blind attempt to get up. Raven and Beast Boy glanced at each other apprehensively. Robin scrunched his eyes shut then slowly opened them. He cast quick and sleepy glances around until he laid eyes on Starfire.

"St-Starfire?" A teary smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She wiped her eyes and nodded.

"Yes Robin, you are safe now."

"I thought…wasn't I just dead?" Starfire bit her lip but hesitated to speak. He noticed her eyes had quickly darted up then back down. He looked up and saw Osiris looking quite smug. He then snapped his head back to Starfire. He took her shoulders. "Starfire, please tell you didn't-"

"Forgive me Robin, we had no choice." He moved his gaze to the others and they all nodded solemnly. He had more to say but a blue suddenly encased Starfire and drew her away from him. Robin, Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Lee all swiftly moved into ready positions. Osiris guided Starfire through the air and against the wall; where upon her arms were stretched out horizontally.

"STARFIRE!" Robin ran toward her but Osiris stepped in front of him.

"You have not the right to touch her, she is mine now. She has pledged to herself to me. In order to save your worthless life." Robin looked past him at Starfire. She only closed her eyes and hung her head. "You may all leave now; however should our paths cross again I will most certainly not be so generous."

"We're not going anywhere!" shouted Cyborg. Robin drew his staff.

"You heard him, let Starfire go or else!" Tiny sparks issued from the eye as Osiris let out a few amused chuckles.

"Or else I will be forced to witness the overall futility of your struggle? Mr. Grayson do not be so boorish." Robin gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his weapon.

"I'm serious! I've spent enough time and ignored my friends long enough because of you and damn order. Fight now or just surrender. Either way Starfire and my friends are getting out of here." Osiris held his empowered hand to his chest. He stepped toward Robin.

"Is that a challenge?"

"I can make it again if you want?" Starfire watched the two of them with a growing anxiety.

"Very well, as it is I cannot resurrect Isis here. But first I will test my required powers by finally ridding myself of you. If you defeat me you will all go free as I will be destroyed. However…" He glanced back at Starfire. "In the far more likely event that you and your friends are liquidated, Starfire's body will belong to Isis." Robin's mouth dropped. "Your lives may be on the line, but her soul is now in danger of being forever silenced. She would not be dead, worse, for all eternity Starfire would sleep as a prisoner of her own mind." Robin's face shown with a terrible glare.

"That's why we're not going to lose." Lee grinned and pushed the hilt of his sword up out of its sheath. Osiris curled his lip and backed away.

"Good then!" The Titans gathered around Robin.

"TITANS GO!" Osiris shot his hand forward and immediately blasted Raven and Cyborg backward. Starfire let out a frightened scream at the sight. Robin, Lee, and Beast Boy darted straight for their enemy. Beast Boy took the form of a charging rhino and Lee's sword was poised to strike. Osiris prepared to hit the two with another blast but at a staff popped out of nowhere and knocked his hand down. Before he had time to react Lee slashed him across the chest and Beast Boy rammed right into him. Robin darted back to help Raven and Cyborg. Osiris staggered to his feet and washed away the bleeding wound to his front. Robin curved an eyebrow.

"Titans hit him; hit him with everything you've got!" Raven brushed herself off.

"Lee!" The samurai gave her his attention and she jerked her head in Osiris' direction. He nodded definitively and tucked away his sword. Osiris fired off bolts of energy their way. Raven shielded herself as best she could and Lee ran up beside her. They crossed their arms and charged up the full might of both their mental strengths. As Robin and Cyborg prepared their own combo Raven and Lee stretched out their hands and a barely visible shot forward. Osiris barely had enough time to react before being caught in the field and thrown backward once again. Robin smirked at Raven and Lee's assault.

"Cyborg, sonic boom." The two took off running. Raven produced two black platforms for them. They jumped up onto the fling round disks and began to pick up speed. Osiris' face grew both a furious and hungry look. Robin and Cyborg's platforms began to move about until they circled upside down and passed each other, in that moment Robin threw an explosive disk and Cyborg coated it in his sonic cannon. The enhanced blast reached Osiris just as he put his hand back up. His feet inched backward from the force but because he managed to actually put his defenses up this time he remained untouched. The blast dissipated showing Osiris' very angry features.

"This…is getting very aggravating." Thick streams of light shot out of his hand like electricity and toward each of our heroes. Robin ducked out of the way but his friends unwittingly watched him instead of the light coming their way. It struck each of them in stomach and the shook and twitched in place.

"FRIENDS! NO!" Robin stood up with both his mouth and eyes wide. Osiris tortured them for a few moments more than severed the streams. At once their bodies hardened and they were but statues frozen in the moment. Robin looked at each of them in turn. They all resembled a fine likeness of granite. Robin retrieved his staff from the ground. He looked over at Starfire. She was gazing at him with nothing but pain, she was in pain.

"She knows Mr. Grayson," said Osiris quietly. Robin ignored him. "She knows better than any of you, against the power of a god…there can be now victory." Robin moved his eyes over to him. "This is your last chance Mr. Grayson. You must follow your friend's example and join with me." Robin shook his head.

"She didn't join you, you enslaved her through me. And I don't appreciate that. ARRRAGGGHHHHH!" bellowed Robin. He charged with all his might at the one who hurt them so much these past months. He finally reached him and swung in all directions. Osiris moved about to avoid the attacks and on the last one caught his staff in mid air. He then slammed is palm down on Robin's chest and held it there. Robin cried out in pain. Starfire pulled and tugged at the magical restraints holding her in place but to no avail. Beads of sweat moved down her head as she tried to ignite the energy from her eyes. Osiris bore the energy into Robin further and further. Starfire gritted her teeth and soon her effort finally paid off. H quick bolt of green light shot out from her eyes and it struck Osiris in the neck. Almost as if a golf ball had hit him Osiris wobbled off balance giving Robin the reprieve he needed. He swung a punch for Osiris but he caught his hand. Their palms locked Robin barred his teeth as he felt a burning sensation on his hand. He kicked away Osiris and inspected his hand. Osiris mark from the eye had been burned into his skin. Osiris pulled a dagger out from his robes.

"You would dare challenge me? You are a fool Grayson; your love for her blinds you to reality. You, your friends, everyone is going to die and there is nothing you or she can do about it." Robin cradled his smoking hand. "I have waited a very long time for this day, Robin, and now finally I will have to concern myself with you no longer." He raised his hand to strike and Starfire turned to look away. Before Osiris brought it down Robin reach up and grabbed it. Osiris' eyes bulged out in shock. "WHAT!" A force from Robin's own hand now repelled Osiris' own power. He then remembered his insignia being branded on Robin's skin, an amount of his power going with it. A flowing barrier formed between them as one struggled against the other. Osiris made a feeble attempt to stab Robin with his dagger but the boy wonder intercepted it in mid thrust. With a wink Robin pulled his hand away from the so called 'god's' and guided the dagger through the back of his hand. Osiris shut his eyes tight. Robin moved the pointed front of Osiris' punctured hand to his chest. Osiris opened his eyes and for the first time showed Robin, a mere mortal, fear. Robin drew closer.

"Say-hello-to Isis for me." The next second seemed to last forever and Robin pushed the bloody point into his chest and through his heart. A high pitched and unearthly screech escaped Osiris' mouth. The restraints holding Starfire faded and she collapsed to the floor. Robin ran over to her and shielded her from whatever might happen. Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Lee all turned back to their original states and looked about for a moment. Once they laid eyes on the writhing Osiris they took cover as well. Steady rays of golden light burst forth from him in various places. The Eye cracked then finally broke apart, light poured from his mouth and eyes. Robin shot a glance at him then looked away when it grew too bright. A pure white bubble encased Osiris, took his followers with him, and in an instant they were gone. Then there was silence. Beast Boy peeked around his barricade and wiped his forehead.

"Whew! There's something you don't see everyday."

"Everybody okay?" asked Cyborg. There was a general consensus of okay-ness. Robin released Starfire from his tight grip. She swallowed and looked up at him.

"Robin, is it finished?" He nodded with a tired smile.

"Oh yeah, it's finished." Starfire sighed and sank into him. The scene would have grown just slightly more intimate had it not been for a growing rumbling sound.

"Or not," said Raven. Robin helped Starfire to her feet.

"Let's get out of here. Now. Starfire can you fly?" Starfire tested her powers.

"I am afraid not, my powers have been weakened at the moment." The rumbling grew louder and the caverns behind them began to collapse.

"Time to go," said Cyborg. Wasting not a second they all moved swiftly out of the large hall and up the enormous flight of stairs. It wasn't long before the whole of the secret underground chamber began to fall apart. A large piece of the hollowed out cave fell and broke apart a section of the staircase. Beast Boy and Cyborg turned back and saw the divide separated them and Robin and Starfire. They paused at the obstruction.

"Robin what are we to do, I still cannot fly!" Without a second thought he grabbed Starfire by the waste and lifted her up. "Robin! What are you doinAhhhh!" He pitched Starfire forward and Cyborg caught her. More pieces of the long flight of stairs broke apart giving Robin less and less time to make his own escape. He backed up then sprinted forward. He leapt in the air and almost missed the edge by an inch. He clung to the edge and scratched to climb up. He then saw Beast Boy's hand reach down.

"How 'bout a hand?" He gratefully took it and alongside his friend he climbed out into the open air. Clouds of dust and smoke rose up from the passage door signifying that the entire network had collapsed. The Titans all stared in silence for a while. Starfire trotted up next to Robin.

"Robin, you are okay?" For a moment it was as if he didn't hear her. He then rested an arm around her shoulder.

"I'm just fine Star, how are you?" Starfire smiled and leant against him.

"I will be okay." Not far from them Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Lee looked about in various directions.

"Alright yall we going this way."

"No way Cy, to get back to the city we need to head that way," said Beast Boy pointing in the opposite direction.

"I'm afraid you're both mistaken," said Lee. "It is in this direction that we must go."

"Well what are we supposed to do, ask how to get baaaahhhh…" Raven grabbed him, and Beast Boy by the ears. Lee looked slightly relieved until black energy grabbed his own. A she dragged the boys behind her Raven rolled her eyes.

"Men." Chuckling lightly Robin and Starfire followed them and they began their journey back home.

One more, one more chapter and this story is finished. This chapter seemed a bit clumsy to me but tell me what you think anyway. Hope you liked it. Last chapter to come soon. Laters!