Chapter 28

"Might I inquire as to what is troubling you, Gentha'fa? You seem unusually quiet.

Robin and Starfire had left the meeting with Kim'r, and Robin had been lost in thought the whole time, trusting Starfire to guide him along. Her question and observation finally broke through his preoccupation and he realized that she had taken him outside.

"I'm not sure Kori. I guess I'm sharing Kim'r's feelings that her not being shown the video is odd in the extreme. Another thing that's bothering me is that she wants us to return to the flagship as soon as my bandages are off, just over a week away, and I had hoped to have some training time so the Titans can get used to fighting with Mik'l and the rest of my Guard. Thanks to these, that's not going to happen."

"If you can fight without your sight, can you not train without it?"

"It's not as simple as that, Kori."

"Why is it not? You defeated Kim'r with your staff, why can you not train the others to fight together? You already know how we fight, and how the Titans fight, do you not believe that they would be able to work things out between themselves?"

Robin stopped, and turned so he was facing Star. "Are you saying that I should stay on the sidelines and let them train themselves?"

Star smiled softly as she cupped his cheek, her thumb gently stroking below the bandage over his eye. "Even with your sight that would be my. . . .suggestion. You and I have fought in the Tamaranean style, and we have also fought with the Titans. You will not be alone on the lines of the side.

Robin thought about it for a moment, then decided that Starfire was right. 'I am glad that you have seen things my way, Gentha'fa,' she thought to him through their bond, then he felt a gentle thump on his shoulder. "Once again, my love, you are the it," she said gleefully.

"Star wait! I don't even know where I am, let alone where you are," he said, and heard no response. "Okay, Boy Wonder, focus," he muttered, and concentrated on his training. Actually, it was the crystal bond that gave away Starfire's location to him. He lunged to his right and touched her arm, announcing that she was it, then he sprinted to his left and swerved between two trees. He could feel Star's amazement, then frustration, as five minutes later she was still it as he kept weaving in and out among the trees. Then, finally, she managed to get him in a position where he had to come out from the trees into a small clearing and she tagged him.

He rested a moment, getting his breath back, then he felt for her through the bond. "Kori?" he called when he discovered he wasn't able to locate her that way. "Stop blocking the bond." There was silence for a few moments, and that realization made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he noticed it was way too quiet with the lack of birdsong or the buzz of any insects. "Starfire, where are you!" he shouted, hearing his voice echo softly. Suddenly, he realized that there was someone off to his left, and he turned that way, his hand going to the small of his back removing his bo staff from it's storage clip. He never got it out, as he felt a star bolt slam into his chest, knocking him out cold. He never even felt himself slam into the tree behind him.

Starfire knew that her lifting off the ground and blocking her thoughts from the crystal was not entirely fair, but she reasoned that Robin was using some type of power, so it was even. Her attention suddenly focused on their bond when she felt Robin's apprehension at something, and she heard him call out to her. She turned and saw him through the trees, his hand reaching for his staff. "No!" she gasped when she saw the red star bolt slam into Robin's chest and slam him into a tree. Realizing that Robin was in his regular uniform, and not his armor, she quickly flew toward him, and saw the cloaked figure float towards him, another bolt ready.

Giving her battle cry, she fired first and her bolt flew true, slamming into the charged hand and making the bolt fizzle out. "Leave. Him. Alone." she said in cold fury, warning the intruder as she pressed her distress beacon. "You will not harm him," she added as she placed herself between Robin and the intruder, her hands bright green, almost white, and her eyes literally flaming in her righteous fury. She didn't recognize the voice that spoke the curse in her native language, but she saw the movement of the intruder's hand and she acted first, her eye beams and a star bolt form each hand striking almost instantaneously, slamming the intruder through a smaller tree and bouncing him off a larger one. Not knowing if there was another intruder, she kept her guard up her warrior trained senses alert for any movement.

"Whoa, Star it's us!" Cyborg said as he coming to a skidding stop face to face with one absolutely furious Starfire, her hand drawn back to launch a star bolt at him. The only time he remembered seeing the bolts at her hands so bright was when they first met, and she had just gotten the ends of the Gordanian manacles off her hands. The other time was when they faced Slade in his failed attempt to make Robin his apprentice.

"He is still unconscious, Titan Cyborg," Mik'l reported as he checked the intruder.

"Starfire it's over, Robin is safe now," Raven said softly as she approached her. They watched as she cooled her bolts, and stood there a moment, her head down, and they all jumped when she cried out and slammed her fist into the tree. "Shalay'fa take it easy, it's over."

"Shalay'fa I might as well have shot him myself!"

"No Starfire, you were relaxing, helping him to relax and take his mind off things for a time. This is not your fault."

Raven relaxed slightly as she saw what she said register in the bright green eyes she was looking into.

"Thank you, Raven," Star said softly, putting her hand on the dark Titan's shoulder. "How is he?"

"He's going to have a headache when he wakes up, but he should be alright. From what I can feel of his emotions even now, it would be best if you were there when he wakes up."

"Yes, even unconscious he is most concerned about my safety."

"Highness!" Mik'l called from over by where the intruder lay.

Reluctantly she left Robin's side and floated over to him. "Yes Commander."

"Do you recognize this warrior?"

Starfire looked at the warrior's face as Mik'l withdrew the hood of the cloak.

"Dude! That's the guy that was with the one who briefed us."

"You are quite correct, Beast Boy. Yes Commander, this is Lieutenant Ronsh'r, Weapons Officer of the SOMON'R."

"It will be some time before he troubles you again, Highness. From what I can discern of his injuries, he will be in the security section of the healing ward for at least a month."

"As he deserves," Shel'b said bitterly, drawing a surprised glance from Starfire. "He has no honor attacking a helpless, disabled opponent."

Star nodded. "Disabled with blindness he may be, Lieutenant, but helpless he is not. Had I not distracted him, he would have given a better accounting of himself."

"Starfire, you had nothing to do with this attack or it's outcome."

"You sound so certain, Shalay'fa, but I am not. After seeing his prowess at fighting Kim'r, I challenged him to a game of tag. I used an unfair advantage and he could not sense where I was. It was while he was looking, and calling for me that he was attacked."

"Starfire stop it! We all know Robin, and he enjoyed the challenge you presented him with and he was relaxed, having fun for the first time in days. That is the only thing you had any hand in causing."

Beast Boy's and Cyborg's jaws dropped when Star went over and gave Raven a hug. What caused their surprise was that Raven returned it.

"Let's get them both back to the Tower," Raven said, breaking her hug with Star. Using her powers she levitated Ronsh'r, and Star gently lifted Robin in her arms and they headed back to the Tower.

A short time later, Raven and Starfire were waiting for Robin to regain consciousness in the med-lab of the Tower. Ronsh'r had been taken by Diet'r to the VELANCE'R for the medical attention he needed.

"Raven, I wish to thank you for your faith in me, and for helping me realize that I was not at fault in this."

The dark Titan was glad that Robin picked that moment to moan softly as Starfire's attention was on him and she didn't see her blush. "I was only making sure that you were seeing things objectively." She was thoughtfully silent for a moment. "Starfire I'm your friend and I hope you don't take this the wrong way. . ."

"Raven you are more than my friend, you are my shalay'fa, there is nothing that you can not say to me."

"Okay, first off what is the Oath of Bonding?"

"It is an oath taken by a couple, and with proper witnesses it is looked upon by my people as a binding marriage. Why?"

"That's what I thought. After your first attack on the flagship, I was standing by the door and I overheard a conversation between Galfore and Robin. Galfore was explaining how some thought that you and he weren't thinking through your actions by making him your shalocfa. Robin assured him that you had, and told him about you speaking your half of the Oath, and him almost completing it, but realized that it wouldn't met with Galfore's approval.

"I see," Starfire said softly, sitting on the edge of Robin's bed, and reaching down to stroke his cheek. "What is it you do no think I will take the right way?"

"Are you both sure you're looking at the consequences of your actions objectively? Do you honestly believe that Robin will be able to simply give you up just because Galfore tells him to? I'll be the first to admit that Robin's sense of honor and duty would compel him to do just that, but I also believe that his love for you won't let him."

"So you too believe we are acting impulsively."

Raven not only heard the slight anger in her tone of voice, but felt it as well, and she sighed softly. "Honestly I'm not sure. I know that you have both taken things into consideration, but you may not fully or honestly asking yourselves what your reactions would be. I have no doubt that you would go through with any marriage that Galfore would decree, but I be concerned for your survival in such a relationship."

"Suicide is not acceptable among my people."

"I realize that, but could you truly be happy in such a relationship, knowing that Robin was still alive?"

Starfire had been angrily glaring at her friend, but now she lowered her gaze sadly. "No, I could not, but I would stay for the good of my people."

Raven reached over and gently took Starfire's chin and raised her face so she was looking at her again. "Star, in a relationship like that under that kind of stress subconsciously, a person would become self destructive. Your spirit would suffer. You would become a shell of yourself, and I don't want to see that happen to you."

Starfire was silent for a few moments as she looked down at Robin's face. "I know that you have felt what we feel for each other, so you will understand when I say that it is too late to be having this discussion. I will say this though: we both know that within a month we most likely will have to part, as our outlying colonies will need to either be abandoned, or face a slow painful death without zorka berries."

"So Kor'mel has said that he would accept a marriage to you to seal a peace agreement?"

"No he has not. From my understanding he has not brought the possibility up, nor has he responded to the suggestion of such a compromise. From what Galfore can tell, if he can guarantee that the ships will stop being attacked, the war would be over, but so far Galfore has been unsuccessful in making such a guarantee that is acceptable to Kor'mel."

Before either of them could speak, Robin moaned loudly, and Raven could feel that he was nearing consciousness. "Kori, where are you? Why is she blocking the bond?" His head whipped back and forth as he struggled to wake up quicker, so he could protect himself and Starfire. "Who's there?" he groaned, then sat bolt upright on his bed. "No!"

Raven grunted as Robin's right hand swept over and slammed into her shoulder, knocking her off the edge of the bed where she was sitting.

"Gentha'fa, be calm, you are safe in the Tower, I am here with you."

"Star? What happened? Where did you go?"

"I used my ability to fly, and blocked our bond in order to take an advantage over you, and you were attacked by Ronsh'r. He has been taken to the flagship for medical attention, and I brought you here."

"I don't remember attacking anyone, why did Ronsh'r need medical attention."

"I was. . . .upset, by his attacking you, and I. . ."

"From what we could tell, she hit him with a star bolt strong enough to push him back through one tree, and bounce him off another. Then she stood guard over you until we arrived."

"Thanks Rae, could you give us a moment?"

"She is my shalay'fa, Robin, you can speak to me as you will in her presence."

"If you say so. What's bothering you, Kori?"

"Nothing," she replied, and could tell that he didn't believe her. She glanced over at Raven and saw the smug look on her face. "I wish to apologize to you, my love. If I had not distracted you by blocking our bond you would have been able to defend yourself."

Robin could tell by the sound of Starfire's voice that she had taken a few steps from his bed. He swung his legs over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Kori, come here," he said, and when she got close enough he pulled her into a hug for a moment, the held her back, his hands framing her face. "Your blocking our bond distracted me, yes, but I would not have been able to defend myself any better. Yes I knew there was somebody there, but I couldn't tell who, and they still would have been able to hit me with the star bolt."

"But you were able to defend yourself against Kim'r."

"Only because I struck first when she didn't identify herself to me. To be honest I thought it was Mik'l wanting to test me, to see if I was still fit enough to be his Commanding Officer."

"And I would still like to have that opportunity, Shalocfa." Mik'l's voice said from the doorway.

"Much as I don't believe we have the time for this, Commander, I understand your reasons for this, so I accept."

"Your large training room then, at your convenience. I trust Commander Kim'r's judgment, but I can not believe that without sight that you are much of a threat."

"Then you are a fool, Commander," Sher'l said from the doorway. "I was there and watched as Robin had Commander Kim'r at his mercy not once, but twice."

"And I'm supposed to take the word of one so young?"

"Remember, Commander, she is my handmaiden and as such speaks with my honor."

"My apologies, Highness, Sher'l, but I still must see for myself."

"Very well then, Mik'l," Robin said standing up, and heading out of the room unescorted, "As the one challenged I don't have to ask this, but I don't want any doubts left in your mind Commander. What conditions would you find agreeable?"

"I will not fly, use star bolt energy, or super strength."

"Is hand to hand agreeable to you?"

"I would have thought you would have preferred hand weapons, but hand to hand is acceptable."

A few moment later Robin turned into the doorway to the large training room, stopped almost dead center, and turned to face Mik'l, "Let's do this."

Matching Robin's defensive stance, Mik'l showed the first glimmer of concern at Robin's ability to maneuver without sight. Deciding to move things along, he took the first move.

Robin swept Mik'l's hand aside, and countered with a blow that landed on the right side of his ribs, pushing him back a step. He smiled softly when he heard his opponent's frustrated growl, and he jumped up over the leg sweep, and delivered a kick of his own that landed on Mik'l's shoulder throwing him off balance. Robin pressed his advantage, and threw a combination of punches that all landed on target snapping the Tamaranean's head first one way then the other.

Muttering a Tamaranean curse under his breath, Mik'l managed to lunge forward fast enough that he was able to grab Robin's shoulders and he intended to pull him into an up thrust knee. It didn't work.

Robin heard Mik'l's shout of pain as he pried his thumb clear of his right shoulder and twisted it quickly forcing the older warrior into an arm bar. He was about to lift his arm to force Mik'l to his knees, but he felt him shift his weight, and barely avoided the roundhouse kick he threw.

The combination of their movements left the two about three feet apart, and Mik'l saw that Robin's back was to him. Thinking to gain an advantage he crept up behind him and snaked his right arm over Robin's right shoulder planning on grabbing him, and pulling him backward and off balance.

He was stunned to feel his hand grabbed and Robin slid under his arm, pulling his hand down and back, neatly flipping him onto his back. He looked up and saw that Robin had his left hand drawn back, and knew where his next blow would fall. He saw no option. "Pa rochena!" he shouted, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Robin's hand freeze, then relax.

"Shalocfa, I am gratified to see that my thoughts were in error," he said as he accepted Robin's hand to help him to his feet. "I am glad that I have not gone up against you when you have your vision."

"He is most formidable as an opponent, I can assure you," Starfire said, then felt Robin's anger at her reference to when he was Slade's apprentice. 'That is not what I meant," she thought to him. 'Remember I have sparred against you on many occasions.'

"Right, now that this is out of the way, starting tomorrow morning, training begins for all of you."

"You can not be seriously thinking that you have anything to teach us, Shalocfa."

"While I have no doubts about your abilities, Stev'n, you have not fought alongside Cyborg, Raven and Beast Boy. Kim'r wants us back aboard the flagship as soon as my bandages come off, and I need to be sure that you can fight as one team together before then. Before anyone thinks it, I will not be spending the whole time on the sidelines, as you're going to have to get used to my style of fighting as well. However, Koriand'r and I are familiar with Tamaranean fighting styles, and we've both been fighting with the Titans, so we shall see how things go."

"Very well, Shalocfa, we will be ready, and I hope up to your expectations."

"I have no doubt about that Mik'l."

Later that night, Starfire and Robin were walking towards his room, arm in arm. "You realize, my love, that I know perfectly well that you are able to walk these halls without my guidance."

Robin smiled and gave her waist a slight squeeze. "Yes Kori, I know. Let's just say that it's far more enjoyable this way."

Robin felt the usual thrill as Starfire giggled softly. "We have reached the door to your room."

"No this should be your room, mine is the next one down."

Starfire watched as Robin reached his free hand out and traced his fingers over the name plate on the door, and she sighed. "I thought I might have been sufficient enough of a distraction that you might have been fooled. My intentions are honorable, though, as I wish to talk to you about Sher'l and this trip to the flagship she needed to take."

"All you had to do was ask, Kori," he said as he pressed the door actuator and the door hissed open.

"Shhaavoka, Highnish, Shhhalofa."

"Sher'l?" Robin asked, recognizing the voice, but stunned by the way she was slurring her words.

"Sherana did you get into some xanefa?"

Before Sher'l could answer the door hissed closed. "Actually no, Highness, but I do not know who to trust so I kept the act up until I got you alone."

"Sher'l what have you been up to?"

"Shalocfa, Teranc'r has still not been captured, and we have need of information. No one pays that much attention to a simple handmaiden, especially if they believe she's had to much xanefa. They say things that they normally would not."

"Sher'l, I expressly stated that I did not want you doing anything like this."

"But Highness, I did find something out. Commander Sea'n was talking to another warrior, and they were talking about an operation that will take place some time soon. They called it Operation Seyla, and it is something that will effect the entire fleet.

"Did they say when it would happen?"

"No, Shalocfa, nor did they speak of the specifics of the plan."

"Kori, I don't know that word, Seyla."

"It is not one that I taught you. It is one you would have no experience with as it is the word for the feeling we have while under the influence of the veka serum.

"Well it's late right now, and we're going to get an early start tomorrow," Robin said then headed for the door. He stopped just short of it, then turned back to Sher'l. "You are confined to this room for the remainder of your time on this planet, young lady. Except for times when you will be training. As a warrior you must learn to take orders, even if you don't like them, or be prepared to face the consequences."

"Yes, Shalocfa.