Chapter 24
He will recover, Raven?"
"I think so Starfire. He has a couple of broken ribs, but the worst of it is that he's had several blows to the head. I called Doctor Benson and all we can do is monitor his vital signs and wait for him to wake up."
"I see," Starfire looked down at Mik'l as he lay on the bed. "Was your conversation with Robin helpful?"
Raven made a quick check of the monitors, then turned and faced the redhead, "If you're sure you want me as your shalay'fa, then I agree, and I'm honored to have earned your trust."
"It is I who am honored as I know how closely you guard both your trust and your friendship," Star said softly putting her hand on Raven's shoulder. "You do so even more closely than Robin."
Raven gave her a wry smile, "His trust maybe, but he gave us his friendship easily enough."
Star nodded in agreement. "Each time I think about that day I am amazed at how things happened. If you, Robin, and the others had not distracted me from my rage I would have done far more damage and who is to say where we all would have ended up," she was thoughtful for a moment, then surprised Raven by giving her a quick hug.
"What was that for?"
"I have never thanked you for stopping the boys from continuing the battle."
"I could sense that all you really wanted was to be free of those shackles. That and the fear of being on a strange planet." Raven chuckled at the look Starfire was giving her, "Don't worry, shalay'fa your fears are safe with me, and I believe Robin as well."
Robin was walking down the hall, his left arm across his chest, his left hand cupping his right elbow and his right hand cupping his chin his index finger tapping his jaw line as he thought furiously on how to convince Sher'l to either tell Starfire herself or let him tell her about Teranc'r and Nie'l. He was so engrossed with his thoughts that he was paying no heed to where he was going, but simply letting his feet wander the halls that he knew well enough to travel with his eyes closed. However, he wasn't used to there being six new arrivals in the Tower, and he grunted when he walked right into someone.
"My apologies, Shalocfa. I guess one of us should have been watching where we were going," Shel'b said with a laugh. "May I ask what troubles you? You seem very preoccupied by something."
Robin was thoughtful for a moment, "Thank you Shel'b. Walk with me, I have some thing I want to discuss with someone other than the Princess and you're just the one."
"I am honored, but what would you wish to discuss with me that you do not wish to share with the Princess?"
They walked to the elevator, and Robin composed his thoughts as best he could. "It concerns Sher'l," he said at last. "I know that the training that Tamaraneans undergo starts at a very young age, and is far more rigorous that what we humans go through. I curious as to what type of reward and punishment system you use."
Shel'b was silent as the elevator door opened, and they walked to the door to the outside of the Tower, and for a moment Robin thought she wasn't going to answer him. "What she has gone through at the hands of that . . .nechevu Teranc'r had nothing to do with normal training and discipline. He has. . .abused his position, and Sher'l too I fear."
"Yes he has, and he's blackmailing her too."
"How, and why? She is too young to use for any power or political gain he may have in mind."
"The how is by using her younger brother, Nie'l. He has told her that unless she does what he says, he'll make sure that he is the one to train Nie'l. The why is more complicated," he said, then related to her what Sher'l and he had discussed in the training room.
"So he has been the one behind the attacks on the Princess?"
"Obviously he's not working alone, and I don't think he's the one behind it all. What would happen if Galfore were to step down and something happened to Koriand'r?"
"Despite that fact that the Princess banished her, the throne would go to Komand'r, X'Hal help us. You are correct in not discussing this with the Princess, she has enough to worry about, however, I would not trust Sher'l too much. I agree that she will be a useful source of information, but she will probably still be under Teranc'r's influence. May I ask you a question?"
"Of course. I'm afraid you'll find things down here a lot less formal than you're used to."
"Why did you say that I was the one you wanted to have this conversation with?"
"You are the youngest of the warriors in my Guard, correct?"
"Yes, I am six months younger than the Princess herself."
"I want you to talk to Sher'l and see if you can convince her to either let me tell Koriand'r, or do it herself. You might be able to relate to her more, and you know as well as I do that she will not banish Sher'l and would most likely giver her even more protection from Teranc'r."
"Agreed," Shel'b said with a nod. "I will make no promises, Shalocfa, but I will try."
"Thank you that's all I can ask."
They turned to walk back to the Tower, and saw Starfire flying towards them. "Robin why are you out here with her, alone?"
"We're just talking Star. Nothing that concerns you or that you should worry about."
"If it concerns you it most certainly concerns me, and will cause me the worry."
Robin was now getting confused at Starfire's attitude. He could hear the anger in her voice, and it matched what he was feeling from her, but he didn't understand why she was angry, or at who. "It wasn't about me either, Star, it has to do with Sher'l." he said, hoping to calm her with the truth, and found out he was wrong.
"And you could not discuss it with me?" she asked angrily. "Maybe she was right and this warrior can not be trusted around you."
"She said what? Star the reason I can't discuss it with you is because I gave Sher'l my word that I wouldn't. I was discussing it with Shel'b for two reasons. First because she was the first person I ran into, and second, she's the youngest Tamaranean here and would be able to relate to her better."
"She made you promise to keep something from me?" Robin nodded and watched as the confusion on her face deepened. "I shall be right back, please do not move from here."
They watched her fly back to the Tower, then looked at each other and shrugged. "I knew she was not happy with my joining your Guard, maybe it would be for the best if you released me from my oath."
"No, Shel'b, it's not just you. Any female warrior I took into my Guard would meet with the same. In all honesty half my guard should be female, and she knows it." He was silent for a moment as he looked toward the Tower. "Deep down she knows you're not a threat."
Shel'b nodded knowingly, "She is feeling insecure due to her failing to defend herself."
"Thank you, Shel'b you just gave me the missing piece to a very difficult puzzle. One I've had in the back of my mind since shortly before we left the flagship." Just as Robin finished talking, Starfire returned with Sher'l in tow. "Sher'l, we need to talk."
"Robin, do not be too harsh with her. I misunderstood her before."
"No, my love, you did not. Sher'l, there are three things I do not like being toyed with. My honor, my trust, and my relationship with Koriand'r. You have done just that in the last five minutes. I should tell her what you told me."
"Shalocfa, no!" Sher'l cried kneeling in front of Robin. "You gave me your word!"
Robin looked down at the youngster, and sighed heavily.
"If you gave her your word, my love, I can not ask you to break it."
"Sher'l, I give you my word that the Princess will hear you out, and I will personally provide you with protection if she does not."
Sher'l rose to her feet and floated up slightly to whisper into Robin's ear, "Nie'l too?"
"Yes," he whispered back.
Sher'l turned toward Starfire, and stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her head bowed. "Highness, I have done some terrible things, that have caused you pain. Yesterday morning, after you sent me away, Teranc'r was waiting just down the corridor, and I told him that you were alone, unprotected, and still under the influence of the veka serum," she related, her voice flat, emotionless. "I was also supposed to be the one to bring you to the Grand Ruler, 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 your shalocfa 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, and I passed it on to him. I am sorry for what I have done," she concluded, her eyes closed and tears streaming down her face.
"You did all these things?" she asked, and Sher'l nodded sadly. "Do you hate me that much?"
"No, Highness! I. . . ."
"But you must if you were able to do those things."
Star that is enough!" Robin said sharply. "I promised her that you would hear her out, and that includes the reason she did those things."
Star looked at Robn in surprise. She remembered one other time that he had used that tone of voice with her. It was when he thought she had let Slade get past her when he was under the influence of the dust from Slade's mask. "Robin how can you defend her for what she has done?"
Feeling that her Princess was going to banish her, or worse, Sher'l had turned to Robin and had wrapped her arms around him as she shook with fear. She felt him reach down and pull the back of her top up, exposing her scars to the Princess, and she heard the gasps of shock from both Shel'b and the Princess at what they saw.
"Because of these, my love. Given to her by Teranc'r, and the same promised to her younger brother unless she does what he tells her to. If Ryand'r was still alive, and you were in her position wouldn't you have done the same?"
Sher'l felt gentle fingers trace over one of the healed scars, then pull the back of her top back down over them, then she felt hands on her shoulders turning her around, and she found herself looking into the Princess's face, her emerald eyes shining with tears.
"Sherana, why did you not tell me of this earlier? I had only been told that he overpowered you in hand to hand training. I had never imagined that he had used an electro-lash on you."
Sher'l gasped her eyes wide in surprise and shock, "You know what he used to cause those!"
Star smiled softly, almost sadly and cupped her cheek, "I was on a Gordanian slave ship for almost a year, so yes, I have some personal knowledge of the Gordanian's first form of punishment." She saw the look on Robin's face and explained, "It is like your Earthly whips, but the lash is electrically charged, which burns and cuts the skin in addition to giving the victim a large electrical shock," Star ran a hand over the back of her shoulder, her eyes vacant as the memory ran through her mind, "A most painful experience I assure you," she whispered.
"Shel'b, find Stev'n and Pet'r. You will take your ship and find Sher'l's brother and take him to these coordinates. Pet'r is to stay with him, and use this to contact us if needed."
"As you command, Shalocfa, But if I may say something?" Robin nodded, "If the boy suddenly vanishes, Teranc'r is sure to figure out that we took him and that we are aware of what he has been doing to Sher'l, her plan to get information for us will not work."
"What plan is this?" Starfire asked, and Robin related how Sher'l wanted to act as a double agent of sorts. "Out of the question, I will not allow it, she will go to the monastery with her brother if that is what she wishes, but I will not put her in any more danger."
"But Highness, I must redeem my honor!"
"Sher'l your honor will do you or Nie'l no good if you are dead, and I have no doubt that is what Teranc'r will do if he learns you are helping us by passing on information.
"As you command, Highness. I will go with them to keep Nie'l calm, but I will come back with Stev'n and Shel'b. I am your handmaiden after all.
Starfire smiled softly and nodded her agreement, and Sher'l and Shel'b flew off. Starfire started to walk back toward the Tower, and looked at Robin in surprise when she felt his hand gently tug on her arm.
"This way, my love," he said as he slid his arm around her waist, and led her towards the area where the obstacle course and her garden were. They walked in silence for a few moments, then Robin sighed softly. "Star what's bothering you? Before you tell me nothing is bothering you remember you never could keep your feelings from me, even before I got the crystal." They walked on and Star stayed silent. Robin stepped in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes, "Mathad ca naf gentha fetan zelo na."
Starfire shrugged from his touch, and moved a few steps away from him. "I do not wish to keep this from you, my love, but I fear what your reaction will be."
Robin came up behind her, put his hands around her waist, and used his chin to move her hair so he could give her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "You know I won't laugh at you, or think any less of you, my love, so what have you to fear?"
I have thought of myself as a warrior. Strong, able to protect my friends in battle as well as myself," she said softly, not turning to look at him. "On three separate occasions I have found myself severely lacking."
Robin raised his hands to her shoulders and turned her to face him again, then framed her face with his hands. Kori, the first time you were attacked, you were under the influence of the veka serum, and didn't have your powers. I saw the video, and you defended yourself quite well against an armed opponent in that situation, and you knew when to try to escape when he sprayed the wistona gas in your face."
"Fortunately I did not breathe too much in, and I was able to get away. I collapsed in the first room I came to, but realized that I must have left a blood trail from the blood from my nose, so I managed to struggle to my feet and continued down the corridor to the room where I was found.
Robin nodded, then continued, "The second time you were led into an ambush. There's no video that I've seen of the attack, but I believe that your escort struck first."
"Yes, he hit me with a star bolt which slammed me against the wall, then a door opened and I saw the Gordanian. I froze for a moment, and the warrior that was escorting me grabbed my arms and pinned them behind me. I should not have hesitated, I should have attacked first."
"Kori, you faced a Gordanian, on Galfore's flagship, and he was fighting with a Tamaranean warrior," Robin listed. "Of course you hesitated. You would have been shocked beyond all imagining by those circumstances. My love, I think no less of you and my love for you hasn't changed."
"But you are ignoring the third instance I spoke of. I could not fire on that fighter that was attacking you," Star pulled away from him again and wrapped her arms around herself as if warding off a chill. "X'Hal help me Robin, but I've replayed that moment in my mind over and over again, and I still can not find it in me to fire. Any other warrior would have, but I could not and I do not believe I ever would be able to."
"Which is as it should be," Robin gently argued. "As you, yourself told me in the hanger bay. You aren't an ordinary warrior, you're their princess."
Star turned back and looked at him and he could see the doubt fading in her eyes as she thought over what he said. "Are you certain of this, my love? You do not think of me as a failure as a warrior."
"No I don't think of you as a failure as a warrior, for you are the warrior that conquered my heart." he said, keeping a straight face.
"Oooo Robin that was almost as bad as one of Beast Boy's jokes," she chuckled then hugged him tightly.
"Okay I'll grant that the line may have been corny, but it was no less heartfelt, Kori. I've never taken the time to thank you for what you've done for me."
"What I have done for you? It is I who owe you the thanks. After fighting with you, you welcomed me to this planet as a friend. You have taken the time to tell me about your world and show me its wonders. Your kindness still amazes me at times and there are times when I wonder what I have done to be worthy of it."
"Kori, you're the most amazing fighter I have ever known, but in an instant you change into one of the gentlest people I've ever met. You say you wonder what you've done to earn my kindness, well as I've been showing you what you call the wonders of this planet, you've shown it to me through new eyes, letting me see the wonder again in those things that I used to take for granted. To top it all off, I owe you a large debt of thanks for helping me come out of my shell. Actually I think the whole team owes you a thank you for that."
Star laughed at that but nodded her head. "We are going back to the flagship, Robin. Not tomorrow, but as soon as Mik'l is better and we have all had a chance to train together we are going back. I will not let the likes of Teranc'r keep me from being among my own people."