Chapter 23
"Shel'b, I have a question for you," Robin said as he and Starfire met Raven and Shel'b at the large training room. "How did you get into the Tower without setting off the intruder alarm?"
"Because I gave her the access code so she could come in through the roof door," Starfire said. "Do not give me that look Robin, Raven, I made sure she was alone before I gave it to her," she added, seeing the glares she was getting from the pair.
"Raven, are we alone right now?" Robin asked tensely as he looked towards the doorway to the room. "I thought I just heard something."
Raven closed her eyes for a moment, giving the tower an empathic sweep, "No we're not," she said a moment later. "Three Tamaraneans headed this way."
"In here," Robin said as he pressed on a spot on the wall, which opened to reveal a small room. It was a tight fit but the quartet managed to get in and close the panel that acted as the door.
No sooner had they hidden themselves they heard whispered voices speaking in what Robn recognized as Tamaranean. "They are supposed to be here," one voice said loudly enough to be heard by them. "If this was a waste of my time, I'll make sure that little troq regrets it."
"Do not be too harsh," another voice said, louder, the speaker evidently thinking the Tower was empty. "At least the access code she gave us was accurate. Maybe they have already left after that warrior from his Guard surprised them by showing up."
"True, coming here was pretty obvious, even for a ruthasha," a third voice said, and Robin stiffened when he heard it. "Come it is time I returned to my ship, after all. . . ." the voice said, then trailed off as they left the room.
"They've left," Raven reported a few minutes later, and Robin pressed the release on the door and they left their hiding spot.
"Robin I know you wish to follow him, but we have no ships to pursue him with," Starfire said, as Robin strode purposefully towards the door.
"You know one of the intruders Shalocfa?" Shel'b asked, when Robin turned back towards them, blowing out his breath in frustration.
"Teranc'r," he growled, and both Shel'b and Starfire giggled at what he muttered under his breath in Tamaranean. "Mik'l and Stev'n should be warned that he's loose, and someone should let Kim'r know so she can arrange protection for Sher'l."
"I will notify Stev'n and Mik'l," Shel'b said, taking her communicator out. "You notify Kim'r."
Robin reached over and put his hand on Shel'b's communicator before she could use it, "I'll notify Kim'r, but not on a Tamaranean frequency, one they will most likely to be monitoring if they expect either of us to contact her for any reason," he said. "I'll use this and have her pass the word," he added holding up his Titan communicator. "Kim'r," he said into it and a moment later her face was on the small screen.
"Run into trouble already Robin?" she asked, then grew serious at the look on his face. "What has happened?"
"We just got paid a visit by three Tamaraneans," he replied. "One of them was Teranc'r, who is supposed to be being held aboard the SOMON'R waiting for some sort of trial about what he did to Sher'l."
"That is not possible," Kim'r said incredulously. "As head of the Palace Guard, I would have been notified if he had escaped because of his words to the Princess."
"Because of those comments, and others made to me during his challenge to my becoming Koriand'r's shalocfa, I would recognize his voice anywhere Commander," Robin insisted. "Check to see that I am right, then tell Mik'l and Stev'n, and get Sher'l somewhere protected."
"Done Shalocfa," Kim'r said. "I have just checked and found that he has been turned loose, supposedly on a order from Galfore himself. I will take charge of Sher'l myself. Mik'l and Stev'n are with her right now, so all will be done in short order. Concentrate on keeping the Princess safe," she concluded, and broke the connection
"You know, Robin, I could have made your testing of Shel'b's loyalty not only easier, but more reliable," Raven commented, then shook her head at Robin's lack of understanding. "I'm an empath, remember?" she prodded. "All you had to do was ask her where her loyalties lie, and I could have told you if her answer was the truth."
"I didn't think you would want to invade her privacy like that."
"Robin it's something I would get from the surface. I wouldn't even have to concentrate that much.
"So you could clear the rest of my Guard?" Robin asked and Raven nodded. "It'll have to wait for later, I don't want to make that many transmissions, too close together, from one location.
Raven nodded her understanding. "Starfire said something about some training?"
"For starters it'll keep her mind off things, and we could use the practice. Especially against fully powered Tamaraneans," he said, then looked over where Star and Shel'b were talking, and was struck again at how much Shel'b resembled her princess. "Planning strategies ladies?" he asked. "We'll start off with the two of you against Raven and I, then we'll try some other team ups."
"As you wish my love," Starfire said, taking up a defensive stance. "The usual conditions I believe."
"Actually no," Robin replied. "We need to see how well we do against you with your full powers," he explained. "Just don't use full power star bolts against us or your full strength."
"Agreed," Shel'b and Star said in unison, as they lifted from the floor, their hands glowing with energy.
"Watch yourself," Raven said softly, as she too took to the air.
"You realize I'll also be using my utility belt weapons," he called out to the two Tamaraneans. In reply they both launched a pair of star bolts at him which he dodged easily.
"Hey!" Shel'b cried out, as she found herself covered with black energy and gently slammed into the wall.
"She was not half trying Shel'b." Starfire said, as she kept her eye on Raven. "She could have put you through that wall. . . .oooff!" she began but cut off when Robin collided with her.
While Starfire was keeping her attention on Raven, Robin had taken one of his grapnels and shot it into the ceiling. Letting it pull him up he swung over to, then pushed off a wall, aiming for her as she hung in mid air.
"First fall to us Raven!" Robin called out triumphantly.
"Speaking of falls," Shel'b said, and quickly cut Robin's grapnel line with a star bolt. 'Impressive,' she thought to herself as she watched him roll with his landing, spending the energy from the fifteen foot drop.
Robin suddenly found himself the top point of a triangle formed by himself, Starfire, and Shel'b.
"Watch his hands!" Star called out to her teammate, then flinched as Shel'b shot the three disks Robin had sent her way from the air. "Rrah! Hah!" she shouted as she launched two star bolts at him.
Robin deflected the first bolt with his forearm guard, sending it right at Shel'b who barely managed to dodge in time, only to be caught by Raven's power again. The second one caught him square in the chest, throwing him backward through the air. Gathering his legs under him as he hit the wall, he launched himself straight back at Starfire, who couldn't see him because of the smoke.
Starfire was shocked to see Robin coming straight at her, and she reacted almost reflexively, exactly as Robin had taught her. She saw the look of surprise on Robin's face, as she grabbed his shoulders. Going with Robin's momentum, she fell backwards. As she fell, she planted her left foot in his midsection, flipping him up and over her as she ended up on her back on the floor. She gasped as she heard the impact of him hitting the opposite wall. She didn't need to look at her crystal to tell he was unconscious, she had felt it. "Robin!" she cried, as she quickly rose and went to his side. "Raven is he alright?"
Raven and Shel'b touched down beside her, and Raven put her hand on Robins chest, her eyes closed. "Yeah, he should wake up any moment," she replied.
As if on cue Robin groaned softly then tried to sit up. "Robin I am so sorry! I did not expect you to come through the smoke like that. and . . ." Starfire said in a rush.
". . . .and you reacted just as I taught you," he finished for her with a groan as he slowly sat up. "I guess that would be ruled a draw," he commented as he looked at Raven and Shel'b.
"Yes, she most formidable," Shel'b said, rubbing her shoulder where it hit the wall both times. "If she had been not holding back at the least I would be unconscious. What paring would you like to try now?"
Before Robin could reply his communicator that Kim'r had given him beeped. "Yes Kim'r."
"Shalocfa is the Princess with you?"
Robin looked over at Starfire, confused. "Yes. Is something wrong?"
"I have learned some information and I need to meet with you to pass it on. It is to important to trust to an open channel, and it is imperative the Princess be told."
"Understood, Commander, there is a rock quarry just outside the city. We're not at the Tower so it will take us some time to get there so let's set the meeting time for two earth hours from now."
"Until then Shalocfa."
"That was most unusual," Starfire commented as Robin put the communicator away.
"She was being monitored or wasn't alone," Robin said softly, his mind going over the possibilities as to what was going on.
"How could you tell?" Raven asked. "I mean it wasn't as if she said so directly."
"First she kept referring to me as Shalocfa, and Starfire as Princess, and second she was on a discrete channel, but said the information couldn't be sent over an open one. That's why I set the meeting at the quarry. If there's going to be a fight, I don't want any innocent bystanders in the area."
"Highness, I hope you will forgive me, but I did not know your shalocfa's suspicions when you called me before."
"Forgive you for what, Shel'b? I know you are loyal to me and you have my trust.
"Come with me, and you will see." Shel'b said and lead them outside. "I had some fears that Robin had acted without thinking, and that I might have had to take you back to the fleet by force," she explained, then took out her communicator, and pressed a series of buttons on it. "Pet'r, Diet'r, Shar'n menia leva roka" she said into it. "Pet'r, Diet'r, Shar'n, come out now," Ravens translator whispered into her ear, and the three warriors came floating out from behind the bushes near the shore. "I give you my word as a warrior that they are as loyal as I am to you and the Princess, Robin."
Robin looked over at Raven, and she nodded her head slightly. With a sigh of relief he waved them over to join them. "We have some planning to do."
Two hours later Robin, Raven, Starfire and Shel'b were watching a fighter descending to land in the center of the quarry. Shortly after it landed then hatch opened and Kim'r stood there with Sher'l. Robin felt his expression harden when he saw the Sher'l had a bruise on her right cheek, and she held her left arm at an odd angle.
'Be calm my love, anger will only serve the enemy,' Starfire thought to him, and he forced himself to put Sher'l out of his mind and relax. "What message do you bring for me Commander?"
Suddenly Kim'r shoved Sher'l out of the ship, then jumped into the air herself. "Ambush!' she shouted, and three star bolts struck her at once and she dropped from the sky.
"Titans go!" Robin shouted, without thinking as he threw three explosive disks in through the open hatch. Raven and Starfire reacted quickly as they were used to that call to action, and to her credit Shel'b was only half a heartbeat behind them as five warriors quickly left the ship, as the interior was rocked by the explosions caused by Robin's disks.
Starfire fired a flurry of star bolts at one of the warriors, and he quickly ducked behind the landing strut of the fighter, and took occasional shots at her. "Come out and fight like a warrior, not cowering like a jelara!" Star taunted and was gratified to see her opponent come out from where he was hiding his hands glowing blue.
"Highness look out!" Sher'l shouted, and Starfire just managed to dodge a pair of red star bolts from one of the others. Sher'l quickly scurried behind a boulder as the warrior whose shot she ruined turned his attention to her.
As Robin fought his opponent he tossed a couple of disks at the one that had been hiding behind the landing strut, and distracted him while Starfire was dealing with the one that was threatening Sher'l. He had left his katana in it's scabbard, and was using his bo staff, and had been dealing a beating to his opponent.
"I had heard you were good Earthling," he said, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. "But how can you hope to defeat a much stronger opponent?"
"Like this," Robin replied as he charged. He planted one end of his staff on the ground and swung around it to plant both feet into the man's chest sending him backwards into a boulder. As he rebounded from the rock, Robin quickly slammed his staff into first one then the other side of his head, knocking him down and out.
"Robin!" Raven shouted in warning, which was all the warning he got that there was someone behind him. He didn't even see the flash of the bolt that hit him, but it's impact threw him against the boulder he had just bounced hi opponent off of. Fortunately his armor protected him, but he had the wind knock out of him and was slow to get up.
"Azarath. . Metrion. . .Zinthos!" Raven chanted and levitated two very large boulders and sent them flying at two of the three remaining warriors. One managed to shatter the boulder coming at him with a star bolt, the other flew straight at his and found out that granite was harder than he thought as he dropped unconscious to the ground.
"Is that the best you can do, girl?" Shel'b's opponent asked after she had thrown a boulder at him which he dodged.
"Then let us try this." she replied, firing a barrage of star bolts at him, driving him backwards. He looked up in confusion as the barrage ended, and he lowered his arms just In time to catch a right hook from Shel'b as she flew full speed at him. "Come back and fight you jelarana!" she called after the other two that were quickly flying away as her opponent dropped to the ground.
"We, or rather you, have done well, capturing a VALNO'R class fighter, and three warriors," Pert'r said as he and the others walked over to where Robin was standing, looking at his fallen opponent. "You must administer the serum, Shalocfa or they will be a real danger when they awaken," he added, handing the box to Robin.
"How are Sher'l and Kim'r?" he asked as he knelt beside one of the warriors and gave him the injection.
"I am uninjured Shalocfa, but Kim'r was dealt a beating by those that escaped."
"As were you Sherana," Starfire said softly as she looked at the bruises on the youngster. Sher'l blushed slightly at the affectionate name Starfire had called her. "Did they do this to you or was it Teranc'r?"
"Shortly after I heard that you had left the VELANCE'R, Teranc'r came to my quarters and demanded that I return to the ROSHON'R with him for continued training. He was most displeased when I refused."
"She was still sitting on her bed crying when Mik'l and Stev'n went to her quarters under my orders," Kim'r said, then chuckled softly. "X'Hal I hope to get that on video sometime before we leave," she said still chuckling at Robin's response to her unexpected voice behind him.. "Your draw and turn are so hestana fast and. . . . .fluid. Again Robin I am at your mercy."
"Then tell me where your loyalties lie."
Kim'r's smile vanished instantly, "Are you challenging me Earthling?"
"He is asking you a question, Commander, I advise you to answer him."
"As you command Highness. My loyalty is to the Grand Ruler of Tamaran, the members of the Royal House, and because of my oath to Robin, and his friends while they are aboard the vessels of the fleet."
"Thank you Kim'r, I know you thought that was uncalled for, but with Koriand'r's life on the line I must be sure of who I allow near her and into my trust," Robin said, then repeated the process with Pet'r, Diet'r and Shar'n. They were all cleared by Raven. "Let's get this ship back to the Tower where it will be out of sight.
"Robin there's someone else aboard, two some ones," Raven said as they entered the fighter.
"This is a fighter, not a cargo ship. Shar'n, Shel'b, Pet'r, Diet'r check every where.
"As you command Commander," they chorused, and started searching the ship. As Kim'r had said the vessel wasn't built for cargo, and they quickly discovered Mik'l and Stev'n crammed into an equipment locker.
"At least now I know why they were not at their post when I went to get Sher'l," Kim'r commented.
"Raven?" Star asked as Raven knelt between the two and placed a hand on each of their heads.
"Mik'l is in a bad way, but Stev'n is just unconscious."
"Raven, you teleport Mik'l, Kim'r, Sher'l, and Pet'r to the med lab at the Tower, and do what you can for Mik'l, and check Kim'r and Sher'l over. The rest of us will be coming back in the fighter."
"With your permission Shalocfa, the rest of us would prefer to fly outside the ship. Agreed there is room for us, but only two seats on this particular ship."
Robin nodded and he and Starfire sat at the controls while the others went outside to follow them back to the Tower. Robin looked over the panels in front of him and was at a loss as to what buttons to press to operate the craft.
"Relax Robin, it may have been a while, but I do remember how to fly our ships," Starfire said as she quickly pressed a series of buttons and the ship came alive with power. A moment later it lifted off and Starfire steered it toward the Tower.
"Looks like the others are back," Robin commented as he saw the T-ship in it's launch cradle.
Once Starfire had landed the fighter, and shut it back down, they met the rest of the group outside the med lab. "Glad to see you back." Robin said to Cyborg and Beast Boy as he walked up to them. "Why were you back on the flagship and not back here when I called Raven?"
"They came to my aid," Shar'n replied. "Three of the fighters had pulled in behind me, and the others were occupied with their own opponents."
"I saw that she was out numbered and had taken a couple of hits so I turned us around and fired a couple of warning shots," Cyborg related.
"And if you had hit any of them you could have pulled the Earth into an interstellar war." Robin said angrily, "Which is exactly why I sent you back to the Tower."
"Would you have preferred that I had gotten killed, Shalocfa?"
"That's not the point Shar'n, Robin had a very good reason for ordering us back to the Tower, and I disobeyed that order."
Robin sighed then held out his hand to Cyborg, "And you saved a life when you did. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"Like I said, you had good reasons for your orders, and I honestly didn't think about what would happen if I had actually fired on one of them." Cyborg said, shaking Robin's hand.
"Shalocfa," Sher'l said coming out from the med lab, "This is normally my training time on the VELANCE'R. I was wondering if you could give me some training."
"BB and I will take the others around to show them the place and find somewhere for them to sleep while they're here. Raven's keeping an eye on Mik'l."
Robin nodded, then turned to Kim'r. "Why did they bring you down here? I mean after the meeting had been set up, they could have just attacked up from the ship rather than have you warn us."
"Because they needed clearance to leave the flagship, and my being the Commander of the Palace Guard, I can come and go as I please without getting prior clearance from the bridge. I will not be needing a tour of this place or some where to stay. I must be getting back to the flagship, to start the search for Teranc'r, and to put the three you captured in the holding cells."
"Kim'r I know your loyalty for Galfore and Koriand'r is unwavering, but if I have to check the warriors in my Guard, I've got to check every one I let get near her or into my trust," Robin said holding out his hand.
"I would rather you test me the way you did, and not the way you tested Shel'b," Kim'r replied, taking Robin's hand and shaking it warmly. "You are her friend, and her leader as a Titan, but most importantly to me you are her Shalocfa. I am most impressed with the way you are handling that responsibility. Never apologize for what ever measure you feel necessary to ensure her safety."
"Thank you," Robin said blushing slightly at the praise. "Sher'l, let me show you where the training room is so you can do some warm ups while I check on something before we train."
Ten minutes later, Robin walked through the doors to the large training room, and saw Sher'l standing near the middle of it, the effect making her look smaller than she really was. He closed and locked the doors then turned and got her attention. Directing her to the bench near the doors he sat beside her.
"What shall we train, Shalocfa?"
"We'll train on hand to hand, but first I want to talk to you," Robin said, as he looked over at her, and she met his gaze. Her soft brown eyes gave her a look of innocence that rivaled the looks Starfire would give him from time to time. She had her hair up in a pony tail for training but a few of the brown strands had escaped and she had to brush them from her cheeks from time to time. "You were the handmaiden that Koriand'r sent away yesterday morning weren't you?" he asked and almost wished he hadn't when he saw the look of surprise and fear on her face, as she nodded. "I thought so. Sher'l, I know that you are not a warrior yet, so I can not ask for your word as a warrior, so I want your word of honor that you will answer the questions I am about to ask you with the truth.
"You are the Shalocfa of the Princess, for me to lie to you is something I can not even imagine," she replied, meeting Robin's grim gaze. She quickly got up and knelt in front of him. "I give you my word of honor that I will answer your questions truthfully and to the fullness of my knowledge."
"Where did you go when you left her?"
"I. . . .I. . ." Sher'l stammered, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Teranc'r was waiting just down the corridor. I told him that the Princess was alone and unprotected," she related, then swallowed and whispered, "and still under the influence of the veka serum."
"What else have you done for him?"
"I was supposed to be the one to bring the Princess to Galfore, but Teranc'r told me to go to the observation lounge and wait with Lieutenant Shel'b. He told me to tell her that it would be more believable to you if I was there with her. I was also outside the door to the room Lieutenant Shel'b was in when the Princess gave her the access code to this place," she concluded, her eyes closed and tears streaming down her face.
"What does he hold over you, or threaten you with?" Robin asked softly.
"I care not that he beats me, but my shaloha, my brother, Teranc'r tells me that he will ensure that he is the one to instruct Nie'l as he has instructed me unless I do as he says." she replied, then suddenly gasped then fell to both knees before Robin, her eyes pleading with his. "You must not tell the Princess of this! You must give me the opportunity to regain my honor." she begged.
"Sher'l calm down," Robin soothed taking both of her hands in his and pulling her to her feet. "I'm not going to tell her." he assured her. "You are."
Sher'l staggered backward a couple steps, her face almost paper white, "I. . . I can not! She will banish me or remove her protection from me and leave me at Teranc'r's mercy." Suddenly Robin found himself on the defensive from a furious Sher'l, and she threw a flurry of punches at him which he blocked easily. "You are the only other who knows the truth! I will keep you from telling!" she shouted as she threw blow after blow at him
Robin managed to easily block the blows she was throwing at him but a spin kick made it past his guard and hit him hard on the shoulder, knocking him into the wall and to the ground. He got up with a growl, his hand raised to strike as he took a step toward her. . . . .and he froze when he saw her reaction. "Sher'l no, I will not hurt you," he assured her as he knelt in front of where she knelt, her head down, arms raised and crossed, protecting her head. He closed his eyes for a moment, knowing he would regret the decision he was about to make. He reached out and gently tugged on her chin, tilting her head up so she was looking at him. "You have my word that I will not tell the Princess of what we have just talked about."
"Shesas, truly?"
Robin nodded, "Now how do you plan on regaining your honor over this?"
"I still have duties aboard the flagship, and I am sure that Teranc'r will find some way to get into contact with me again. As much as I am able, I will keep you apprised of his plans."
"Sher'l do you have any idea. . . ."
"Yes I do Shalocfa," she said, turning her back to Robin and pulling the back of her top up, revealing several scars, some still new enough to still be red, and several recent bruises.
"X'Hal Sher'l! He did that to you?"
"And I will make sure that he does not have the opportunity to do the same to my brother." she said, her eyes glowing red with her anger and determination.