Chapter 29
As things turned out, Sher'l didn't spend that much time confined to Starfire's room. Bright and early, she was up with the rest of them, training so the Titans and Robin's Guard would be able to fight together as one team. From what Starfire described to him and from what he could sense himself, the last week and a few days had been very productive, and he wasn't ashamed to admit that Starfire had been right, as he hadn't had all that much to do with it.
Things had not always gone smoothly, as was natural trying to get people who never worked together before to do so. There had been some personality conflicts, but Robin knew better than to try to force things, and he was relieved to see them worked out between the ones involved.
Kim'r had been true to her word, and six Tamaranean fighters were stored at various places on the island, and with the exception of Robin, everyone was able to fly both the pods from the T-ship and the VALNO'R class fighter.
Now his hand was held in Starfire's strong grip as they flew toward his appointment with Doctor Kingman and Doctor Benson to remove his bandages. He knew that off to his left Raven, was keeping pace with them. He had intended it be just himself and Starfire, but Star had been very insistent that Raven come along.
'You worry overmuch on how others see you, my love,' Starfire's thoughts came to him. 'The others have been around you the last two weeks, and are not uncomfortable with your inability to see.'
'I know, Kori, it's just that I don't want that many people around if this turns out not to be temporary.' he thought back to her, then smiled in spite of himself as he felt her amusement at his stubbornness.
'Give it up, Starfire,' Raven thought to them both. 'He may have opened up some to the rest of us, but only with you can he almost completely relax.'
A few minutes later, they touched down in front of the entrance to Saint Mary's Hospital. Robin put his hand on Starfire's arm and even through his gloves she could feel the coldness of his hand. "Be confident, Gentha'fa, your vision will be returned to you, I feel sure of it."
"Oh, good you're here," Robin heard Nurse Ramsey's voice say. "Bring him in here, Starfire."
Robin allowed himself to be led into a room, and with the nurse's assistance he was seated in a chair very much like a dentist's. After he had gotten comfortable, the room fell silent, and just as Robin was getting even more nervous, he heard Linda Benson's voice in the hall as she approached the room.
". . .adjusted in only two days," she was saying as she came in. "Ah good, I see you're here and ready. I would have thought you would have brought more of your friends, but that is your decision."
"So how do you feel?" Doctor Kingman asked.
"Fine, no pain at all, just a little itchy this morning."
"Okay then let's get those bandages off and see where we are. Jennifer, bring the lights down please."
"Yes, Doctor."
Robin relaxed as he felt his head tilted slightly forward, and he felt the blade of a pair of bandages scissors slide between the back of his head and the gauze holding the pads over his eyes in place. A moment later he felt the bandage go slack as they had been cut through.
"Now Robin, I want you to close your eyes and keep them that way until I tell you to open them."
"Understood, Doctor." Robin felt the rush of air against his eyelids as Dr. Kingman removed the pads covering them, and he involuntarily jerked his head back when he felt his fingers on his face.
"Relax, son, I'm on your side." the doctor soothed as he gently probed around Robin's eyes with his fingers. "Right, now open your eyes, and don't be alarmed if you can't see anything, I've got the lights dimmed very low, and it's almost completely dark in here."
"Thanks for the warning, Doc, but is it possible I might see anything?"
"In this light, it would be only the vaguest shadows, no definite shapes."
"Like, here, here, and here?" Robin asked raising his hand and touching the outline of the shape he saw.
"Very good, Robin. That was my left shoulder, my face, and my right shoulder. Now I want you to cover your eyes with one hand. Good. Now Jenny, bring up the lights, slowly to about fifty percent."
Robin couldn't help but smile as he saw some of the light bleed past his hand.
"I can tell by that smile that we may be getting some good news here. Now Robin, slowly, and I do mean slowly, take your hand away from your eyes. If the light seems too bright, go even slower."
Robin slowly lowered his hand, and his smile grew broader as the wall across from him came into view with some kind of painting in a frame on it. Suddenly he found that he had to blink his eyes rapidly, as they suddenly started tearing.
"Easy, Robin, the tearing is normal, as your eyes are adjusting to being uncovered and receiving light again," Dr. Kingman assured him. "It should clear up in a moment. No don't wipe them with your hand, let me," he added, as Robin went to wipe the moisture away, and he used a sterile gauze pad to do the job. "Okay Jenny, bring the lights the rest of the way up, slowly."
Robin breathed a sigh of relief as the new level of light didn't hurt, and he could see things in better focus. "No offense, Doc, but I thought, by the sound of your voice, that you'd be younger," he said, as he looked at the bald headed man with a neatly trimmed, salt and pepper moustache that sat beside him.
Neil Kingman chuckled as he patted Robin's shoulder. "No offense taken, son, I get that all the time. Now just a few more moments and I'll let one of the young ladies take my place." For the next few minutes, Neil had Robin follow a pen with his eyes in all directions, then finally in a circle, and he grunted with satisfaction. "Consider yourself lucky that you're as young as you are and in as good a shape; you healed very quickly."
"Thanks, Doc." Robin said as he watched him get up, and Starfire take his place.
"Robin, your sight has been returned?"
"Yes, Star, and you have no idea how glad I am to see your face again."
Starfire glanced around and saw that the two doctors were busily talking near the door. "But I do, Gentha'fa, and I am equally pleased that you can once again see."
"Okay, let's get him on his feet and see if he can focus enough to walk around," Neil said as he walked back over.
Sliding his legs to his right, Robin swung himself around so he could stand, and he slowly rose to his feet, conscious of, and thankful for, Starfire's support, both mental and physical at his side.
"Doctor, what is wrong? Why does he have trouble with his balance?" Starfire asked nervously, as Robin swayed on his feet as he tried to walk.
"His body has to readjust to his having sight giving him references again," Neil replied soothingly. "Just let him lean on you if he has to, just like you are."
Starfire relaxed somewhat as Robin's steps grew more confident about halfway around the room, and the second time around he didn't use her support at all.
"I think you may want this," Starfire said as she handed him his mask.
"I assure you that none of us will reveal what you look like without that." Neil said, and Linda and Jennifer agreed.
"Thanks again, all of you," he said as he put his mask in place. "Good to see ya, Rae"
"Good to be seen."
Doctor Kingman shook Robin's hand, and put one on his shoulder. "All I've got to say is: relax, and the only restriction I would put on you is to avoid swimming for about a week. The chlorine from a pool, or salt from the bay would irritate your eyes too much and probably bring you back here. I'd give you a set of exercises to do twice a day, but knowing you, you'd ignore them."
"Give the list to me Doctor Kingman, I will ensure that they will be done."
"Yes, I believe you will."
The three Titans left the treatment room and headed down the hall, only to be greeted by the rest of the team.
"I believe it is good news," Mik'l said when he saw them.
"Yes, I can see, now what are you guys doing here and not running through those drills I set up for you?"
"Well, I kinda thought a morale boost like this would be good for the team. Besides, we've been training our butts off for the last week I thought we deserved a break."
Robin chuckled softly, he felt too good to stay mad at anything right at the moment. "Okay Cy, point taken, so what are we doing?"
"Well, I've got the T-car loaded up with ribs, steaks, burgers and dogs for on the grill, so I thought we'd head for the park for a good old fashioned bar be que."
"That sounds like a good idea, Cy. It'll give us some time to relax before I call Kim'r. Star, do you mind flying me over to the park?"
"Would you not be more comfortable in the T-car?"
"Maybe, but I just want to get a view of the city from the air again."
A couple of hours later, Starfire and Robin were walking arm in arm through the garden part of the park. "Robin you are acting much as I did the first time you brought me here. Are you not familiar with these plants and flowers?"
"Kori, I just spent the last two weeks unable to see, and not sure if I ever would again. I'll never take my sight for granted again." he stopped and turned so he was facing her. "And more than any of these flowers and plants, I feared that I'd never see your face again." Star nodded, and Robin could see the relief in her eyes. "And even if I couldn't see right now, I wouldn't blame you."
"Yo, Robin! It's getting close to sunset, so we'd better be getting back to the Tower."
"On our way Cy!" Robin called back with a chuckle.
About an hour later, Robin, Starfire, and Raven were on the roof of the Tower, watching the sunset. "Robin, if you were a Tamaranean, you'd be almost ten feet off the ground right now, you're so happy."
"Sorry Rae, it's just that I've never been in this situation before."
"It's okay, it's just that I'm not used to feeling this much from you, especially happiness, and it's kinda nice."
The trio stood there watching the last of the sunset, then they headed inside, and when they reached the living room, Robin had Beast Boy and Stev'n turn off the video game they were playing, and he pulled out the communicator Kim'r had given him.
"I hope you are calling with good news, Shalocfa."
"Absolutely, Commander, I've got my sight back, and we can be aboard the flagship in a little over an hour."
"Excellent, the sooner the better. I hope you were able to put the time to good use."
"Let's just say that instead of returning with two teams, I'll be returning with one."
"Very good, I hope your training will not be needed, but I fear that it will be. I will notify the Flight Traffic Controller of your estimated arrival time and what ships to look for. I will be there to greet you when you come aboard."
"Until then, Commander," Robin said, and closed the channel. "Cy, we launch in ten minutes, make sure the T-ship is ready." Cyborg nodded, and the group broke up.
"Highness, Shalocfa," Mik'l called, stopping them at the door. "These are yours, everyone else has one."
Robin looked at the wrist watch sized device that he and Starfire had been handed. "Battlefield communicators," Starfire said, identifying them.
"Correct, Highness. These are not a powerful as your Titan communicators, but have features that are better suited for our use," Mik'l explained then walked Robin through the operation of the device. "I trust you will be changing into your armor for while we are aboard the flagship. It would be for your own protection."
"That's where I was heading."
"As was I."
"Good. I am going to take the Guard up, and ensure that you have a clear run to the VELANCE'R."
"Well Star, there's the VELANCE'R," Robin said a while later as the ships of the fleet came into view. "That's odd, they've changed formation."
"Shalocfa, something is wrong. The fleet just went to battle alert."
"Thanks, Mik'l," Robin said, then changed frequency. "VELANCE'R control, this is Titan one on approach, request advice on your status."
"They will not respond, Robin," Starfire said over the T-ship's intercom. "For battle they will maintain radio silence."
"I just hope they don't think we're a threat," Cyborg commented.
"Titan flight, this is Strike Commander Kim'r, we have multiple hostile craft closing with the fleet. Titan one I suggest you return home, Guard flight, form up with my strike wing."
A moment later, several ships went past the T-ship at high speed.
"Star, what is it?" Robin asked, hearing her startled gasp.
"I recognize that ship design. They are Gordanian slip fighters."
"Kim'r, we just had several Gordanian slip fighters pass us on their way to you. Is there anything we can do to help?"
"What of your concern of getting Earth involved in an interstellar war?"
"Commander, if those are Gordanians, once they're done with you they'll attack Earth, whether we help you or not."
"His logic is sound Commander," Mik'l cut in.
"It is a pity you are not in the ships you had before. The one you are in now is too large and unmaneuverable."
"Give us thirty seconds, Commander," Robin replied. "Titans, separate!"
"Remarkable, Shalocfa, I have never seen a ship do that," Kim'r commented after the separation sequence.
"Cyborg invented it, originally as a submarine, but we had to adapt it for space travel. Titans, team up with your Guard flight member, and good hunting."
"I have one behind me!" a voice shouted, and Robin saw a flash to his right.
"Boo yah! Not anymore!"
Got one!" Shel'b's voice exulted. Robin looked and saw that she had picked up a trailer.
"On your six, Shel'b!" he warned her as he swung his ship around. "When I count three pull up hard left."
"But shalocfa, the standard maneuver is hard right."
"I know, but the change in tactic will confuse him for a moment, and that's all I'll need." He maneuvered for a moment , and came up behind and just to one side of the ship that was taking occasional shots at Shel'b's ship. "Okay, Shel'b, one. . . .two. . . .three! Hard left!" Robin smiled as the ship pursuing Shel'b seemed to run a simple straight course for a couple of seconds. The instant he got a weapons lock tone, he fired and the ship exploded.
"Thank you, Shalocfa."
"Where's your wingman?"
"Right here Shalocfa, I had a tail of my own to deal with."
"So I can see, Shar'n, your left wing looks a little singed." Robin looked at his scanner and saw that more than half of the Gordanian fighters were gone, and not one of the Tamaranean ships had been destroyed. "Kim'r, are the Gordanians normally this easy to fight?"
"I'm glad you find this easy, Shalocfa," she replied, and Robin heard her grunt as her ship to a hit.
"Bulls eye!" Beast Boy's shout came in Robin's speakers. "Got another one!"
"Kovat shu," Kim'r said.
"God bless you."
Robin groaned at Beast Boy's reply, and he toggled the private channel with him. "Beast Boy, Kovat shu, is thank you in Tamaranean."
"Oh . . .heh heh. . . .my bad."
Suddenly Starfire shouted, "Robin, behind you!"
Robin swerved his ship from side to side, trying to shake his pursuer. "Take him out Star, I can't shake him."
I am try. . . ." Starfire began to reply, but cut out with a burst of static.
"Dude! Starfire's been hit!"
"Great," Robin muttered as his ship rocked from another near miss. "Raven, Beast Boy, give her cover, I'm a little busy at the moment."
"Something I can help with, Shalocfa?"
"I hope so, Kim'r. I can't shake this stravag ship."
"When I say now, dive hard," Kim'r instructed.
"Come on, Kim'r where are you?" Robin muttered under his breath as he barely managed to evade another blast.
"Now, Shalocfa, dive!"
Robin responded, despite the shock of seeing a Tamaranean fighter coming right at him, and closing rapidly. He had barely started the dive when he saw the lasers glow as they built up to fire. He heard Kim'r cry of triumph, and he gathered that she destroyed the enemy ship.
"That leaves three of them and they're buggin' out!" Cyborg announced.
"Did anyone see what hit Starfire's ship?"
"It was a bright blue flash, and I know it didn't come from one of those fighters."
"Titan four, do you read me? Kori, respond."
"From what I'm getting on my sensors, she was hit by a ionized particle burst. It's overloaded her systems, but she should be able to reset them and restart.
'Kori, are you alright?' Robin asked through their bond.
'I am uninjured, my love, which is more than I can say for my ship.'
'Cyborg says for you to do a complete shut down, and restart.'
'Understood, proceeding.'
"She's going through the reset sequence right now."
"Yep, and she's restarting. Main power, navigations." Cyborg reported as the systems of Starfire's ship came online.
"I am back in operation."
"Star do you have any idea where the shot that hit you came from?"
"Yes, I know exactly where it came from. Port side forward turret of the ROSHON'R."
"Shalocfa, I promise you that when Teranc'r is captured he will pay for his transgressions."
"It's more than just one man, Kim'r. He may have given the order, but he didn't fire the weapon. Let's get to the flagship, those slip fighters had to come from somewhere, and I'd rather not be out here when the mother ship shows up. Titans, regroup!"
A short time later, the T-ship was the last to enter the VELANCE'R's landing bay, and just like the last time Robin had entered it the deck was almost filled with warriors milling around. He carefully maneuvered the T-ship to the clear space he guessed he was supposed to land, then shut down the engines. Unlike last time, he wasn't in a rush to get over to Starfire, but he was concerned about her. Popping his canopy open, he unbuckled his harness and climbed out of his cockpit. He smiled softly in satisfaction as he realized that the Tamaraneans were cheering not just him, but the rest of the Titans as well. He scrambled over to Starfire's canopy, which was still closed, which worried him a little. Seeing that Starfire was pressing the buttons that controlled her canopy, he quickly tabbed the access number into the emergency release control on his side of the duraglass and with a tortured squeal it opened. "Kori, are you alright?"
Starfire coughed a couple of times from the lingering wisps of smoke from the overloaded circuits of her ship. "Yes, Robin I am fine, but Cyborg will have to do some repairs to my ship."
Robin put his hand out and gave Starfire some help getting out of her ship, then pulled her into a hug. "Just as long as the healers don't have to do any repair work on you," he said softly, giving her a quick kiss.
"Shalocfa, you and your team are invited to join us at the feast of victory." Kim'r said as she and Mik'l came walking over. "X'Hal, I have not seen flying like that before. I thought it was just you from before, but you all fly like veteran fighter pilots, even you, Highness. You have learned well."
Feeling Starfire's arm slide around his waist, Robin copied her and they followed Kim'r out of the landing bay toward the dining halls.