Chapter 36
"All should be prepared by the time we reach the VELANCE'R, Empress. I ordered preparations started before we left."
"Thank you, Galfore," Starfire replied, then switched her radio off for the moment. She gently chewed on her lower lip as she decided whether or not to try to talk with Robin. She knew he was angry, even without using their bond. During the short time between Kor'mel declining Robin's challenge and their leaving the TAMAR, he had kept his distance from her and spoke to her only when necessary, and even then kept his responses short, even for him. What their bond did tell her was that his anger was divided three ways; at her, at Shel'b, and at himself. What was directed solely at her was his feelings of hurt and betrayal. All of which she only had herself to blame for. Bracing herself for a rocky conversation, she keyed her intercom to Robin's pod. "Robin, Shel'b and I can. . . . "
"Not now, Starfire," Robin's voice came back over the intercom of the T-ship, his tone civil, but she could clearly hear his anger. "There's a lot of things I have to make sure are covered before you make your announcement. Fortunately, Mik'l is still aboard the flagship and is taking care of most of it."
Starfire was aware that security preparations were his responsibility, but with himself and Kim'r not aboard the flagship, Mik'l and Brend'r would be getting together to work things out in their absence. She looked from her pod over to his, and marshaled her determination. "I understand your anger with me, my love, but. . . . "
"Does your calling me that mean I can call you Kori again, or have you actually dismissed me as your Shalocfa? Will I be looking at a charge of treason after your announcement or not?"
"Robin, please, I did not intend for things to go this way."
"No you didn't, you planned on being married to Kor'mel, and my thinking that Shel'b was you. How long did you plan on that deception going on? You instructed her well, Empress. The way she looked, spoke, moved, even down to the way she looked at me. Do you have any idea how I feel knowing that I could have been fooled like that by her? Realizing that anyone as well disguised to look and act like you could probably do the same? At least when I became Red X, I never intended to leave."
Starfire flinched at the way he called her Empress, and she cringed at his reference to when he became Red X as she clearly remembered how she felt when she found out. "Yes, beloved, I do. I did not realize that she would perform the role so well, and thought that the crystal would prevent it sooner."
"Your blocking our bond through the crystal ensured that it wouldn't cause me to figure it out until too late. You were right, Empress, I betrayed you with Shel'b by enjoying our walk through the arboretum because of how much I enjoyed it, but it wasn't with you. Don't bother telling me that you forgive me. I know you do, but I've got to be able to forgive myself."
Just then the radio in Robin's cockpit beeped, and he breathed a sigh of relief for the distraction. "Robin here."
"Robin, I know you told me before that your T-ship was originally built as a submersible, but you had Cyborg enable it to go into space, why?"
"It was when Starfire had her transformation, Kim'r. Although we didn't know it at the time. She thought she was too ugly to remain on Earth and flew off into space."
"Why would she have thought that, the only change she should have had was to turn green for a couple of days."
"No, she went through some major changes, and ended up in some type of cocoon."
"Robin, only very few Tamaranean undergo their transformation in chrysalis form," Kim'r said in a slightly awed voice. "It is no wonder she was able to defeat Komand'r before."
"Why is that, Kim'r?"
"Tamaraneans who undergo chrysalis transformation have stronger powers than the rest of us."
"I always knew she was special," he said. 'Which makes my not noticing it was Shel'b all the worse.' He thought to himself.
As if guessing his thoughts in the silence, Kim'r spoke up again. "Robin, I had an opportunity to speak with Shel'b during our flight to the TAMAR, you did no dishonor, to Koriand'r. I know you feel as though you should have known it was not Koriand'r you were walking with, but that is not the case. With the use of the voder, the contact lenses, and coaching by Koriand'r herself, Shel'b's disguise was complete, and would have fooled anyone. If anyone is at fault in this, it is her, as she should have trusted you to do the right thing more."
Robin shifted slightly in his seat as he thought over Kim'r's words. As he was doing that, he felt the intensification of Starfire's presence in his mind as she stopped blocking their bond from her end, her anger at herself for going through with her plan coming through clearly. Muttering his thanks to Kim'r, he switched off the radio again. 'Kori, I'm sorry I didn't realize it wasn't you at the arboretum, but she acted so much like you,' he said through their bond, and he felt her touch on his mind as she viewed his memory of the meeting.
'I was not aware that I had instructed her quite so well.'
'She learned well, I say that for her, but that is what you intended, so that she would fool me.'
"Such will not happen again, I promise you. I will not block myself from you again."
"And neither will I. I only wish that you had trusted or believed in me more."
"What would you have done if I had told you of my intentions?"
"Reminded you that the treaty was all but signed, and if you had been able to give me a good enough argument for your doing what you planned, I would have. . . . "
"Would have what, Robin? If I had given you reason that my marrying Kor'mel would have been the only way to end the war, what would you have done?"
"It would have torn my heart out, but I would have brought you to him, and hoped you would have been able to forgive me for not staying for the wedding, but you never gave me the chance."
"I know Robin," she said sadly. "In answer to your question before, I do not dismiss you from being my shalocfa. My heart and my head would not allow me to do that, though you may wish to shun me."
"I'll have to give that some thought," he said, and immediately felt her sadness rise like a tidal wave. 'Whoa, Kori, I was only joking! You know how I feel about you.'
'Do you truly still feel that way after what I have done?'
'No, Starfire, he only challenged you and Kor'mel just because he likes to fight," Raven cut into their telepathic conversation. 'Azar's mercy you two can be so thick at times.'
"Star, you were doing what you thought was right for Tamaran, and in all honesty I can't fault you for that."
"And I will not lose my trust in you again."
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
The rest of the trip back to the VELANCE'R went smoothly as Starfire and Robin talked things out. Once they landed, Starfire gave Robin a quick hug before she went to meet with Kor'mel and Galfore concerning the announcement.
"Lieutenant, I want to have a word with you."
Shel'b looked to her right and saw Mik'l striding over, his anger clearly visible on his face, "Yes, Commander?"
"What in the known universe were you thinking, letting the Princess go off without escort, and leading her shalocfa to think that you were her to keep him from finding out?"
"She was doing as Starfire ordered her to, Commander."
"And in so doing, prevented you from keeping your oath. Her first obligation, as part of your Guard is to assist you in protecting Koriand'r. The wedding she was planning to propose was not sanctioned by Galfore."
"It did not need to be Commander."
Mik'l turned at the sound of Starfire's voice, and Robin watched the look of astonishment sweep over his face. He froze for a moment as his brain processed the fact that she was wearing the Grand Ruler's crown, and he quickly dropped to one knee. "Highness, forgive me, I did not know."
"Rise, Commander. I do forgive you, and you must not hold Shel'b in dishonor for following the orders of her Grand Ruler. Robin and I may have personal reasons for being angry with her, but from your standpoint, she has done nothing wrong."
"As you wish, my Lady."
Starfire nodded her acknowledgement of Mik'l's salute, then watched him walk away to finish up the security arrangements.
"Empress, I can understand why Robin would be angry with me, but I was only doing as you ordered."
"To a point I will agree with that, Lieutenant, but you forget that with our bond I can see Robin's memories, and I have a question for you."
"Yes, Empress?"
"Do you have any interest in him?"
"All due respect, my Lady, but you especially are aware that he is very handsome, and a most skilled warrior, but my heart already belongs to another. Lieutenant Commander Chr's, a secondary weapons officer on the ROHA'N. You have no need to fear me."
"I am pleased, and relieved to hear that Shel'b."
"If I may add, Highness, he is most charming when he lets his guard down," she said in a conspirital whisper, seeing that Robin was busy talking to Stev'n and Shar'n.
Starfire giggled softly, "You may, but only this once," she whispered back.
"Lieutenant, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Shel'b took a steadying breath as she turned toward Robin, and followed him into a ready room, where pilots a given their pre-flight briefing. Commander. . .Robin, I . . . . " she began but trailed off at the look he was giving her.
"Shel'b today was the second time that you have been used by someone to impersonate Koriand'r, and at least this time she wasn't injured."
"I understand, Commander, but she. . . "
"Yes, Shel'b I know she is your princess, and her orders take precedence over mine, but right now I want your word as warrior that you will not do anything like this again. It isn't fair to you, or to the Empress and myself that you get caught in the middle."
"You are not angry with me? You are not going to demand some punishment for what I did?"
"No. Don't get me wrong, I was. I was more angry at you than I have been at anyone for quite a while, and as I said that isn't fair to you as you were following the commands of your Princess. Actually I owe you a thank you for pointing out to me a blind spot of my own. I've grown to dependent on our bond to know how Koriand'r feels, what she's thinking."
"You are welcome. . . . .I think. Robin of Earth, Shalocfa of Vidak'an Koriand'r, I give you my solemn word as a warrior that I will not attempt to make you believe that I am Koriand'r."
"I am happy to accept it , Shel'b." he said, offering his hand which she shook warmly.
"Your talk was productive?"
"Let's say that my mind has been put at ease, my Lady."
Starfire giggled softly at Robin's addressing her so formally, and wondered if it was because Shel'b was there.
"My Lady, all is ready."
"Thank you Kim'r." Starfire found herself loosely surrounded by eleven people as she walked toward the dais in the hanger bay. As with Robin's Confirmation, the bay was filled with representatives from all the ships in the fleet. The Palace Guard were spread out in strategic places around the room, and Robin's guard were teamed up with the Titans around Starfire. She was surprised that although Robin was the nearest to her, he was about two steps behind her and off to her right. She was happy to note, however, that he stood beside her when she stepped up to the dais.
"It is with a light heart that I speak to you today, as I bring the news of a peace agreement between Tamaran and the Salvainian Empire. One that I worked hard to complete, and has earned the agreement of Kor'mel and myself. As you can all see, I have exercised my right as Crown Princess, and taken the throne. It is my hope that the division that has arisen may be bridged and we can live as Tamaranean warriors are supposed to, as one people."
"Is there anyone who challenges the rule of Empress Koriand'r?" Galfore asked as he stepped up beside her.
There was silence for a moment, then the telltale hiss of a fighter canopy opening could be heard. "You ought to know better than to ask that, you old k'norfka," an all to familiar voice said.
Robin watched as Blackfire flew down from the cockpit of the fighter, and his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword.
"I was wondering when you would come out of hiding, Sister, as you retreated from our last encounter on this deck."
"Let's just say that it wasn't the time then. So do you accept my challenge?"
"I am surprised that you make it, Sister, seeing as you have no Jewel of Charta to enhance your powers."
Robin fought back a smile as Starfire's taunt had it's effect, and Blackfire launched a star bolt at her with a snarl. Starfire calmly stood her ground, her hands glowing in front of her. When her sister launched the bolt she quickly moved her hands apart, creating a shield of energy before her protecting her from the bolt.
Thinking to surprise her, Blackfire flew at Starfire, her right fist pulled back and glowing, intending to give her sister a star bolt enhanced right cross. Unfortunately for her, Starfire saw her coming, and twisted her body to her left, letting Blackfire zip past her. At the last moment Starfire grabbed Blackfire's left hand and pivoted redirecting her sister's direction so that she slammed into a near by fighter. Following up Starfire flew at her sister as she rebounded off the craft, and connected with a sharp upper cut that threw Blackfire back and up into the overhead piping.
"So who is the better fighter now, Sister?"
In response, Blackfire fired a fusillade of star bolts which her sister nimbly dodged. Having lost track of her opponent in the smoke, she was startled to hear her voice behind her. Blackfire turned, only to receive a left cross to the jaw that threw her several feet back.
"It's good to see that you have learned, little sister. Your hand to hand techniques are much better than I thought." Having said that , Blackfire swept out her sword and lashed at her sister. Her realization of her mistake was plain on her face as Starfire drew her own sword and parried the blow almost to fast for the eye to follow. She then watched her sword go flying through the air as Starfire's counter strike knocked it from her hand.
Recovering quickly Blackfire snapped off an eye beam shot, catching Starfire in the chest and smashing her back against a wall. Following up with a flurry of star bolts, she then stood there with her hands on her hips as she watched the smoke clear. "What!" she gasped seeing that Starfire was nowhere to be seen. She quickly glanced up to find a pair of violet boots filling her field of vision the impact following a second later driving her to the deck.
Starfire touched down a few feet away and watched as her sister struggled to her hands and knees, then tried to get to her feet. "I . . . .will. . . .not. . . " she panted then fell flat on her face at Starfire's feet.
Starfire stood there for a moment as Blackfire went limp with a groan. Looking up at the assembled throng, her voice rang out firm and clear, "The challenge is complete, I am the Grand Ruler of Tamaran!" she announced, and bedlam ensued as warrior milled around cheering, several wanting to offer their congratulations.
"What is to become of her?" one of the asked, pointing to Blackfire as she moaned and managed to get to her knees.
"I have not yet decided. It will depend on how she answers some questions I have to ask her."
Suddenly, Robn saw something that froze the blood in his veins. Brend'r had stepped up behind Starfire and her right hand moved swiftly forward, a vicious looking dagger clenched in her hand. Not even realizing he threw it, he watched his birdarang spinning through the air, impacting Brend'r's forearm guard deflecting her aim, the blade cutting through the armor, and into the top of her arm, severing the tendons and causing her hand to go limp.
The room went silent at the sound of Starfires grunt of pain as she fell to the deck, the dagger still lodged in her back. "Komand'r shall rule!" Brend'r exulted in the silence, cradling her injured arm.
"Starfire!" Robin shouted in a drawn out cry, and he sprinted to her side.
"Sister!" Blackfire cried, then with a feral growl, she slammed Brend'r with an eyebeam shot and bombarded her with star bolts, driving her back into a wall. "Pa rochena, I surrender," she told Mik'l and Shel'b who happened to be closest to her, and stepped in to take her into custody. "Please let me go to my sister."
"Raven, can you do anything for her?" Robin practically begged as she came over to where they were.
"She's losing a lot of blood, but there is nothing I can do with the knife still in her back," Raven replied after touching Starfire's shoulder. "No! Don't pull it our or she bleed to death before we could get her to the healing section, or I could do anything" she told Robin stopping him from pulling the blade from Starfire's back.
"Robin?" Starfire called painfully. "Oh X'Hal it hurts."
"Kori, don't move. A healer is on the way and it's important that you don't move."
Starfire turned her head so she could look at Robin. "Mathad, pa va aparo.. . . " she began, but slipped into unconsciousness.
"You're sorry? For what?" he asked, then felt the last thought she had as she lost consciousness.
"What?" Raven asked as Robin hung his head.
"She's sorry that she didn't get the chance to take the Oath of Bonding with me."
"Shalocfa, we have a dire problem." he heard Vern'a's voice say, cutting off his and Raven's conversation. "Her blood is of a type that is rare among out people. There is none in our supplies in the healing section, and I know of no one in the fleet that matches hers."
"Mine does." Blackfire said as she was led over by Mik'l and Shel'b. "You can take what you need, all of it if necessary." Robin looked up and saw that she was crying, "X'Hal, Kora, I didn't mean for this to happen. Never this."
Robin didn't order his two Guard members to take Blackfire away. He had heard the pain in her voice as she called to Starfire when she was stabbed, and he saw it now. "If you really want to help, after you've donated some blood, call for those who claim to be following you to stop, and accept her rule. For once think of your people, instead of yourself."
Blackfire looked in surprise at the anger in his voice, but nodded, and turned to the crowd that was gathered. "The division among you has gone on too long. Koriand'r is the rightful Grand Ruler, and I pledge my allegiance to her and demand that everyone else do the same. I denounce my claim to the throne."
There was silence for a moment, then someone in the crowd called out, "All hail, Empress Starfire!" The call quickly spread and the hanger bay soon rang with it.
"Robin, I have need of one of your special weapons, er, birdarangs I believe you call them."
Guessing what Vern'a wanted with it, Robin was already dismantling it, removing the tiny canister of wistona gas.
"Every time we go to move her the pain causes her to try to move," Vern'a explained as she took the canister. "She must be sedated, and this is the only available thing to do that with that will work quickly enough and not endanger her." There was a small hiss of escaping gas, and Starfire went totally limp and her breathing slowed. "Shalocfa, I do not know if we will be able to get enough blood from Komand'r for the surgery we must do on the Empress."
"Raven, the blood bank she has set up at Saint Mary's. Go and get what you can and bring it back here."
"Of course!" Raven gasped, remembering the supply. Taking a quick couple of breaths to calm herself she then vanished.
Robin and Cyborg helped the nurses from the healing section as they gently lifted Starfire onto the stretcher that had been brought. He went to follow it, but Galfore's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"I can tell that you blame yourself for this attack, Robin," he said softly as he watched the stretcher vanish into the crowd. Once it was out of sight the turned and looked Robin straight in the eye. "Know this, if you had not thrown your weapon and deflected Brend'r's aim, the Empress would have died almost instantly. You are solely responsible for saving her life, and for that I am deeply in your debt."
That had been two hours ago. Raven had returned with five units of Starfire's blood, and was accompanied by Doctor Benson and Nurse Ramsey, who were both concerned for Starfire. Starfire was still in surgery, with Doctor Benson looking on from an observation room, and Robin had been banished to a waiting room along with Galfore, Kim'r, the other Titans, and his Guard. Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy and the members of his Guard knew enough to leave him alone as he paced the length of the waiting room and back over and over again for the last hour, and they all looked at him in shock after he snapped at Galfore when he tried to ease his mind again. "Galfore, I'm sorry. Listen guys I've gotta do something to get my mind off this."
Robin entered the training room, as was surprised to see Kor'mel standing there looking out the view port. "My apologies, Jemidar, I didn't meant to bother you."
"You didn't, Robin, and for now you can drop my title, as I will the several you now carry. What news of the Empress?"
"She's still in surgery."
"And you grew irritable at waiting, and needed something to take your mind off your worry about her," Kor'mel added for him. He softly chuckled at the look Robin gave him. "Are you certain you aren't at least part Tamaranean? I share your. . . . . .reluctance at showing my feelings to others, and my father always told me it was a trait I inherited from my mother."
"I'm sure that since you've met Koriand'r, you have your doubts about that."
"To be sure, Robin, to be sure," he chuckled, then grew serious. "What do you know of her sister, Komand'r?"
"Probably not as much as you would, seeing as you've looked into Star's family history. She's been nothing but trouble for Koriand'r for quite some time."
"What will become of her now?"
Robin looked intently at Kor'mel, trying to figure out where this conversation was leading. "I'm not sure. I do know that the penalty for treason is death, but I also know that Koriand'r has some questions she wants to ask her."
"Will you be speaking with her?"
"With Blackfire? Not if I can help it."
"I can understand your reluctance, Robin. Koriand'r admitted to me her suspicions that her sister had started the war. I met with her about two months ago, although I didn't know who she was. All she told me about herself was that she was tired of Galfore's weak rule, and that she had evidence that Tamaraneans were responsible for my ships vanishing." He was silent for a moment. "I will leave you to yourself, Robin. Know that my hopes are for Koriand'r's speedy recovery."
Robin stared out of the view port in the training room he was in. The velvety blackness of deep space matching the feeling in his heart and soul. His talk with Kor'mel had helped take his mind off Starfire being in surgery, far better than smacking away at the heavy bag had been. Every time he would start, her face would appear before him, her emerald green eyes pain filled as Brend'r's blade bit into her back. He rested his head against the duraglass of the view port the event paying through his mind again. Blackfire stepping from the crowd issuing her challenge to Starfire for the Throne. Her accepting it, and their battle with Starfire emerging triumphant. The combined shouts of alarm from Beast Boy, Cyborg, Shel'b and Raven that he hadn't even realized he had heard, as they saw Brend'r step toward Starfire from the back, her hand raised and filled with a vicious looking dagger. In reflexive desperation he had thrown a birdarang hitting Brend'r's arm, deflecting where the blade fell. The healers, and Galfore had told him that if he had not thrown the birdarang, Starfire would now be dead. Opening his eyes he saw the blurred form of someone behind him, reflected in the duraglass. Seeing that the form was white he figured it was someone from the healing section. He was half right.
"Robin," a feminine voice called softly, in perfect English, and he sighed raggedly as the first thought that ran through his mind was how much like Starfire's voice the woman's was.
Jennifer Ramsey, the nurse that had helped work on Starfire when she first came into the ER if Saint Mary's hospital, and again with himself when he had been blinded stood not five foot behind him and she heard the half sob half sigh that escaped his lips, "I have something I want to talk to you about."
"How did you find me?" he asked, not turning or otherwise moving.
"That was easy," she replied. "All I had to do was walk up to a Tamaranean and say 'Fana vat che shalocfa du Vidak'an Koriand'r', and they showed me. Robin, they, . . .we all know how you're hurting," she began but recoiled from the fury on his face when he turned to face her.
"How I'm hurting!" he shouted. "Starfire's laying in that bed, on death's door, and may not walk again, and you say I'm hurting!" He wasn't surprised to see the nurse turn and go to the door. What surprised him was that she locked it and came back into the room.
Jennifer took a steadying breath as she came back into the room. She had seen videos of Robin in action, and figured he wouldn't wear a sword if he didn't know how to use it. She reverently prayed that she would survive the next few minutes, but she was resolved to make him see the truth. "Would you rather she was dead! You blame yourself for not preventing the attack, but in reality if it hadn't been for your actions Starfire would be dead right now. Robin, sa vata he mathad, she deserves more from you than your going anywhere on this ship except her healing room."
Robin's eyes narrowed as he realized something, "That's the second time you spoke Tamaranean, Nurse Ramsey. Where did you learn it?"
The brunette instantly broke into a nervous sweat. She knew he wasn't going to like the answer. "From her sister, Blackfire," she said softly.
"What!"
"About a week after Starfire had been admitted, Blackfire showed up at my apartment and she showed me some things that proved to me that her threats to harm my sister and mother were sincere. We spent three days of my vacation time while she taught me enough Tamaranean to be able to read what she wanted me to look for."
"What did you find and give to her?" he asked, knowing that there were times when Starfire wasn't in her room and as a nurse the woman before him had access to it.
"Fortunately, nothing. She advised me not to talk to you about her in order to keep Kari, and my mother safe, but she didn't need anything from me. You have no idea how relieved I was about that the day Starfire was discharged. She was down at X-ray having her last set of films taken and I was stripping her bed to put new linins on when the card you gave her fell out of her pillow case along with your letter to her. A strange thing, even with all those lessons Blackfire gave me, I saw nothing I could have told her to use against you, and now I can't even remember what I read. Just in case you're interested, she came out of surgery right before I came here, so she should be in recovery now."
Jennifer smiled when she saw Robin's face brighten with that news. "Will I be able to sit with her until she wakes up?"
"That was Vern'a's intention when she sent me to find you," Jennifer replied, then watched with a smile as Robin sprinted to the door, unlocked it and headed down the corridor.