Chapter 13

Robin stood on the roof of the tower, gazing not toward the city, but out over the ocean, watching the seagulls performing their aerial acrobatics, thinking of how Starfire enjoys watching the sea birds, thinking of how sad she would be right now knowing she's unable to take to the air herself. Because of him. He climbed up on the edge or the roof, and sat with his forehead resting against his knees. He knew that he had no other options than to give Starfire the Veka serum, and what its effects were, but Starfire wasn't listening to him, so he couldn't explain it to her "Well at least I'm acting more like her shalocfa now." he muttered to himself, as he remembered the communication he had when he stopped at his room on the way to the roof. He was jarred from his thoughts a while later, when he heard the door to the stairs open. "Cy, BB, which ever one of you it is I'm really not in the mood for company right now." he said.

"Not even me?" asked a beloved voice.

Robin quickly spun around as he stood up, his face split by and ear to ear smile, which quickly faded, as he remembered her feelings toward him when she threw him out of the med lab. "Shavota, vidi'an Koriand'r" he said, placing his right fist on his left shoulder, and bowing slightly. He saw the puzzled look that passed over Star's face, and was stunned by her response to his formal greeting.

Starfire crossed her arms over her chest, her fists going to her opposite shoulders as she dropped to her right knee, and bowed her head. "Shavota Robin, ne mathad, genthalas du penefa e ne shalocfa," she said formally, then stayed in that position.

Robin stood stock still for a moment, totally surprised at the subservient position Star had taken, and he strode over to her, and pulled her to her feet. "Star, I am not your Gordanian slave master, nor are you my servant," he told her, "Don't ever think that you are."

"I have been a klorbag, and a fool Robin," she said, then looked down at her feet, "I will understand if you can not forgive me for my words in the med lab."

Robin had to swallow the lump in his throat when he saw that she was crying, and he cupped her chin in his hand, bringing her face up so he could look into her eyes. "Kori, what you accused me of hurt, I will not deny that, but I hurt you as well, by breaking your trust."

"But what you did was necessary, what I did was not. It was cruel and spiteful. You would never take pleasure in my being like this," Star said tearfully, "and I should have known that you would not betray my trust and love."

"Come here Star." Robin said softly and pulled her into a warm embrace. He felt the bittersweet feeling of Star's arms tightening around him, but not tight enough to interfere with his breathing. After a moment, he pulled back a little so he could see her face, then cradled her face in his hands and gently brought his forehead into contact with hers, and he smiled softly at her sigh as she relaxed, and her hands slid up his back, pulling him closer to her.

"Ahem." a voice said from off to Robin's right.

With a sigh, Robin broke the contact with Star, but kept his arm around her shoulders as she swayed slightly. "Yes Cyborg what is it?"

"Just thought you'd want to know that the VELANCE'R and four other Tamaranean warships have entered the solar system and should be in orbit in about three hours," Cyborg informed them.

"And you couldn't use the communicator to tell us that?" Robin asked, then knew what Cy's reply was going to be by the evil grin on the titanium Titan's face.

"I kinda hoped I'd catch you two in a moment," Cy replied, heading back down the stairs, "and I was not disappointed." he concluded with a laugh.

"We must get him back for that." Star said, "I am sure Bumble Bee would enjoy helping."

Robin looked at Star in astonishment, then broke out laughing. "No Star, we'll let that one pass," he told her, "But next time. . ." he said with a grin.

"Yes next time." Star said distractedly, then looked sideways at Robin as they walked along the roof, his arm still around her shoulders. "Will things always be this way between us my love?"

"If you mean my loving you and wanting to protect you and keep you from harm, I'd say yes, that will not change."

"I mean this fighting that we seem to be unable to avoid doing." Star said softly, "Although I have noticed I am the one that gets angry."

Robin stopped and turned so that he and Star were facing each other. "We're new at this Star," he said, taking her hands in his, "Our relationship has changed over the last month, for the better, to be sure, but it has changed, and it's going to take a while for us to adjust, that's all."

Starfire smiled softly, and cupped Robin's face with her left hand. "I have chosen someone most wise for my shalocfa. I shall try to be patient as we do this adjusting." she said, "and be more trusting of you." Robin felt Stars hand pull his head toward hers gently, and just as they were inches apart, Beast Boy came running up.

"Hey Robin, you expecting a lap top computer or something?" he asked, then saw how the couple was blushing, "My bad, I guess I should have taken Raven's advice and used the communicator," he added with a nervous laugh.

"No not a laptop but something from Wayne Tech." Robin said, "Go tell Raven and Cyborg there will be a team meeting in half an hour," he told him.

"Right." Beast Boy said, and headed back down the stairs, he was about to close the door, when he heard Starfire's voice.

"YOU WANT ME TO WHAT!" she shouted.

"You were the one that said I needed to act more like your shalocfa, and this is part of it," Robin said, "I'm thinking of your safety, and I'm not so sure of it here, especially if Cyborg finds what I think he will, when he looks over the video files from last night," he added. Just then his communicator beeped. "Robin here," he answered.

"You and Star better get down here to Ops," Cyborg said, "You're not going to like what I've found."

"We'll be right there," Robin said, then put away his communicator, and looked back over at Star, "It will also look better to your people," he told her, completing his argument with her, and he sighed with relief when she nodded her agreement. He could tell she wasn't happy, but she saw his point and agreed with it.

"I shall have another set of armor sent down, as yours is no longer useable," she said softly, gently tracing her fingers over his face.

Robin walked into the living room of the tower, five minutes late, carrying a box. Nodding to the three others in the room he set the box on the floor, and opened it. "Okay, this meeting is now in session," he announced as he rummaged in the box, then handed what looked like a portable CD player to Raven, and Beast Boy, and a chip to Cyborg.

"Um Rob, this is supposed to be a team meeting, shouldn't you wait for Starfire?" Cyborg asked.

Robin sighed heavily as he hung his head, then spoke so softly that the others barely heard him, but what he said echoed in their minds. "Effective immediately, Starfire is on a temporary leave of absence, and will be going to the VELANCE'R until she decides to return," he told them.

As he took another device from the box, Robin's mind went back to the rest of the events after Beast Boy had left them. He and Star had gone to Ops to see what Cyborg had found. "I found this on the video scans last night," Cyborg said, "This is from the hall outside your rooms," he added, telling them what they were looking at. For the first few minutes the screen showed only empty hallway, but then a figure moved into view, then stopped outside Starfire's door. The person wore a long billowing hooded robe, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female, or even what race it was. It knelt down, and held something to the bottom of the door, where it met the floor, for a moment then stood back up and waited a moment before entering Star's room. Five minutes later the screen showed the person coming back out, moving toward the camera, then out of the view of the camera.

"No." Star whispered as she watched, "That explains the headache I had this morning," she said softly, "It must have been wistona gas," she went on, "Nothing else would have worked that quickly, to keep me sleeping." she was silent for a moment, then whispered sadly into Robin's ear. "You were quite correct my love, though I wish you were not. I will take this leave of absence you spoke of on the roof."

Shaking his head slightly, Robin brought his mind to the present. "Seeing as sometime tomorrow morning we're all going to be on the VELANCE'R, and possibly other ships in the Tamaranean fleet, I had these made up by some people I know over at Wayne Tech," he explained, holding up another of the devices, "This clips to your belt," he instructed, holding up the hand sized round part, "and this slips into your ear, like this." he added, placing a small plug into his right ear.

"I take it this plugs into the sonic analyzer in my arm?" Cyborg asked, holding up the chip Robin had given him. "Gotcha," he said when Robin nodded, and he quickly opened a panel in his arm and slid the chip into an empty slot.

Seeing they had things set up right, Robin spoke. "Shu shesas tarkan du na chana fet?"

"You truly think of me like that?" a flat, computerized voice said through the plugs in Raven and Beast Boy's ears, and from Cyborg's analyzer.

"Dude!" Beast Boy exclaimed excitedly, "Translators!"

"I have Galfore's assurance that everyone on the ships knows and speaks English, but this way there won't be any misunderstandings," Robin said, "I am fairly certain that Star will come back with us, after the Declaration, but if you want to see her before she leaves right after sunset today, she's packing right now," he added, then adjourned the meeting.

Beast Boy and Cyborg left the room, and Robin felt certain that Cy was heading for the hanger bay, and from which way he turned in the hall, Beast Boy was probably headed for Ops to see what all he and Star said in the training room.

"Was this her idea, or yours?" Raven asked, as she headed for the stove to boil some water for her tea.

"Mostly mine, but she agrees it's for the best."

"Convenient."

"Just what do you mean by that Rae?" Robin demanded, feeling in his gut that she was up to something, but didn't know what.

"Well you two have a little spat, then suddenly she's off to the fleet." Raven said crossly as she poured the water into her cup and added a tea bag. Robin opened his mouth to speak, but changed his mind, and Raven almost sloshed her tea when she turned at the flash of emotion she got from him. Narrowing her eyes she took a quick empathic scan of Robin's mind.

"Raven!" Robin shouted in shock, as he felt her mental touch. "I trust you to stay out of my mind!" he reminded her angrily.

"And you can trust me to keep what I just found secret," she told him, then gently touched his arm in concern, "You're really worried about her safety, aren't you?"

"You're the one that just looked into my mind, you tell me." Robin snapped back.

"Stop being childish, and tell me what's going on." Raven insisted, "This is what you've been holding back."

Robin looked out the windows for a moment, then turned back to Raven. "Devon'r informed Star, that there is some kind of unrest or dissatisfaction with Galfore's rule," he told her softly, "Galfore, Devon'r and I believe what happened to Star this morning was part of that, and Starfire agrees," he went on, "Rae, we had an intruder last night, in the tower. He, or she used some gas to knock Star out then went into her room, and put the paste on her sword," he related, then Raven could see the fear creeping over his face, "All I can keep thinking is, what if the intruder had something else in mind?"

"Robin, I'm sorry, I had no idea." Raven said.

Cyborg stopped at the doorway of the hanger bay, and watched as Starfire was packing some of her belongings into her pod of the T-ship. When she turned toward him, to go get another load, he couldn't help but smile as she startled at seeing him, her hands coming up defensively for a second.

"Friend Cyborg, why do you smile" she asked as she lowered her hands.

"Because the last time I saw you in an outfit like that was when we first met," Cy replied, "We came up behind you in that video store, and you turned towards us with your hands and eyes glowing green, and demanded to know why we were being nice to you."

"Robin's actions were a mystery to me then," she said softly, as she too smiled, "I had no knowledge of beings who would be nice simply for the sake of being nice," she was silent for a moment, then looked up at Cy, who she looked up to as an big brother, her sad green eyes searching his face for answers, "Just as his actions are a mystery to me now," she went on, "Why is he sending me away, after all we've been through?" she asked, then sniffled softly.

Cy opened a panel in his left arm, and handed her a handkerchief, "He's scared Star, and after last night, and this morning, he's got good reason." he said softly, then cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head so she was facing him, "He'd rather die than have something happen to you Star."

"He is that way about the whole team." Star said.

"Nice try girl," Cy chuckled, "But you know, as well as I do, that he'd react differently if BB, Rae, or I got hurt, than if you did. Heck, three weeks ago should have told you that." he told her, then changed subjects, "I've been looking over the database Tamaran," he informed her, "I know I'm not telling you anything new, but as your shalocfa you safety and well being becomes his personal responsibility, not just the fact that you're dating and such. To a point you were right to tell him to act like you shalocfa when you were in the med lab. He needed to get more serious about your safety."

"But it was only one break in," she argued.

"Starfire, only three people have ever gotten inside the Tower without setting off the alarm," he told her, his voice stern, "Whoever it was last night, Red X, and Slade's robots, and they had inside help."

"There was a fourth, friend," Star said softly, knowing that he was probably blaming himself for the security system failure, "My sister was inside the Tower waiting for me, and she did not set off the alarm."

Okay then four." he agreed irritably, "Listen Star I didn't ask Robin abut this, I figured it out on my own," he went on, "There's someone trying to remove Galfore from the throne, isn't there?"

Starfire's look of surprise was enough to confirm his suspicions, "Yes," she said softly, "There is a growing dissatisfaction with his rule, and some are talking of removing him from the throne," she explained.

"Star think," Cyborg said, "Galfore has gone on record supporting Robin as your shalocfa. If something happens that makes either of you call that off it'll weaken his position."

"So they send someone here, to break in and put Vartoch paste on my sword hoping to split Robin and I apart," Star reasoned, "and it almost worked. Does Robin know about this?"

"If he hasn't figured it out on his own yet, I sent him a message on the computer right before I came up to the roof." he replied, then gave Starfire a quick hug, "You be careful up there girl, you hear?"

"Yes friend, I hear you quite well, and thank you for your insight," Star replied as they broke the hug.

Not long after Cyborg had left Starfire had the feeling she was being watched, as she stowed the last of what few things she was bringing with her. Turning she saw Raven at the doorway, and climbed down from the cockpit. "I take it you are here to say the goodbyes?" she asked.

"I really don't see the point though," Raven replied, "You are only going to be gone for a day."

Starfire looked away, her face worried, "I hope you are correct," she said softly, and there was an awkward silence.

Starfire, I have a question to ask, and I'll understand if you don't want to answer it," Raven finally said, and Starfire nodded for her to go on, "Your people actually make your children to lose control of their anger?" she asked incredulously.

Star sighed, knowing how abhorrent that idea was to her friend, "What happened to me this morning was not normal," she explained, "When the training starts a very small amount of the paste is used then slowly increased over a month as control is mastered."

"But why?" Raven asked, confused.

Starfire's face was thoughtful for a moment. "Anger in battle is not your ally," she said, quoting her old sword master, "An angry warrior makes mistakes, takes risks," she added, "But there is another reason," she continued, "Control is necessary for when we attain our star bolts, otherwise a simple argument could be disastrous. It also teaches us what. . . .level to shift to for battle."

"I don't follow," Raven said.

"You have been beside me when we have gone into battle," Star explained, "Surely you have felt a difference in me."

Raven thought for a moment, then her eyes opened wide when she realized what Starfire was talking about. "You mean. . ." she began, and Starfire nodded, "Whoa!" she said, awestruck, "Your control is phenomenal," she went on, "And you can just switch it on and off?"

Starfire nodded, and almost laughed at the look of awe on her friends face. "Focus your empathic power on me for a moment," she told her, and a moment later Raven nodded. Star tried summoning her star bolts, causing the dimmest flash at her hands.

"Star that was incredible!" Raven gasped, stunned at what she just felt, "I always thought you didn't have any emotional control, and for that I apologize."

"My control is not as strict as yours, I do not have to watch my temper as it is separate from my righteous fury," she explained, and Raven nodded her understanding, "Now I have a question to ask, and you also may not wish to answer," she said.

"What is it Starfire?" Raven asked.

"This bond you share with Robin," Star began, "What is it?"

Raven sighed softly, "I had a feeling he'd tell you about that," she said, "Remember when that dust from Slade's mask had Robin thinking he was fighting Slade?" she asked.

"And you had to go into his mind to try to convince him of the truth, that it was all in his mind," Star replied.

"That was how the bond was formed," Raven said, "Through it I can tell if he's feeling extreme emotions, and we can communicate telepathically." she told her, "It is no threat to you or your relationship with Robin."

"Are you?" Starfire asked, her face very serious.

Raven was taken aback by the directness of the question, but realized that it was only natural for Starfire to ask since she was the only other female living in the Tower, making her the only real competition for Robin's affection.

"No Starfire, I'm not," she replied, "Though there was a time I might have been," she continued, "Shortly before I became Trigon's portal I thought there might have been something between us, but I discovered that though I may have a piece of his mind, you have his heart and soul. The two of you are my dearest friends, and I wouldn't hurt either or both of you by trying to split you up."

Starfire nodded, satisfied with Raven's reply, "So with your bond, you could tell me what Robin is thinking, yes?"

"Not without violating the trust between us, that I wouldn't do that," Raven answered, "All I can tell you, you probably know already," she went on, "He's very concerned for your safety, he's feeling guilty about telling us about the Vartoch paste, and giving you the Veka serum." she listed, "He also feels as thought he's let you down by letting things go to get you in this situation."

"Yes you are correct, I already knew those things," Starfire said softly, "and I apologize for asking you to betray the trust Robin has in you."

"It's okay Star," Raven said, putting a hand on the redhead's shoulder, "To be honest I would have been surprised if you hadn't asked," she told her, "I'll see you tomorrow." she added, as she headed for the exit.

A short time later, Starfire was in the middle of doing some instrument checks, when she heard a knock on her canopy. Looking up she saw Beast Boy looking in at her. She pushed a button, and the canopy opened.

"Star do you really have to go?" he asked, "I could morph into a dog, and sleep outside your door, to keep you safe," he offered, making Starfire laugh.

"No friend, it is best that I go, even for this short time," she told him, "Not because Robin has said so, or because Galfore, and Devon'r have agreed, but because it is the right thing to do," she explained, "At this moment my presence here is endangering you and the others."

"So you should be back tomorrow afternoon, right?" he asked, "After this Declaration thingy?"

"Unless something very unforeseen happens, yes," Starfire replied, "After that there will be no reason to threaten me any more," she added, then looked up again and saw the worry on Beast Boy's face, "What is it that causes you the worry friend?"

"Robin's attitude toward you," the green Titan replied, "He says he loves you, but he's sending you away," he went on, "How can that be right?"

Starfire sighed heavily, then looked up at her friend, "For much of this afternoon I have been asking myself this same question friend," she replied, "This time all the intruder did was put Vartoch paste on my sword, but after using the wistona gas to make me the unconscious, he or she could have killed me or taken me away," she explained, "This is why I must leave."

"But what difference will one day make?" he asked.

"It is not so much the length of time, as much as Robin being confirmed as my shalocfa," Starfire replied, "Once that happens, those who may be trying to stop it will have lost, and there will be on further need to bother us," she concluded.

Beast Boy nodded, then leaned in and gave Starfire a hug then left