Remembersees
Part Seven
"It is as I predicted. Her role is absolute." Washu turned to his cohort, staring down at the masked figure.
"We already knew that. What we didn't know was how to proceed." Slade replied, waving his eye from Washu to another set of eyes in the room. His eyes were dead, blank as a victim to murder: but alive in a way that only Washu could control. Slade turned his attention from the mind-manipulated boy when Washu's voice came again.
"Now we know without a doubt. We must act immediately to ensure that her condition remains appropriate for our goals."
Slade tilted his head. Washu could see from the angle that Slade was regarding more than one person at the moment. Between them swirling energy wrapped and danced around each other, some intertwined and some flexed and pushed against each other.
"Her energy is changing: the gold overlap is impending. She will be useless if we do not move forward." Washu said with more than a hint of annoyance.
Slade's head nodded up and down smoothly, his fingers drummed against his arms. From behind his back he retrieved a small envelope bearing his mark. He held it between his black clad fingers before tossing it the boy with dead eyes.
"This is the last measure before the initiation of our plan. Have your messenger boy deliver it: you know she'll do the rest."
Slade walked away leaving Washu and his messenger boy alone. Washu pointed a finger at the envelope and the boy retrieved it. The boy nodded at Washu's command and made his way with the engraved invitation.
…
The battle ground could not contain the passion of the fight. Laser beams and sonic cannons ripped through the air as arrows and a giant boomerang soared against the noise pollution. The Tameranian righteous fury, in green, purple and blue, bore through their enemies, crumbling walls and caking the ground with defeated foes.
The group of ten collapsed many of the Yinti arsenal, but as soon as one fell to the floor, two more emerged from the hidden fortresses of the Grugdindorf headquarters. Robin caught Raven, saving the mystic from slamming into a wall. He pulled a pair of exploding disks from his utility belt.
"Titans fall back!"
The barrage of energy kicked up enough smoke for them to make the beginnings of their escape. As the team pulled free from the building they realized that escape would take much more than running away.
Aqualad skidded to a stop, just feet outside the entrance to the building. The soles of their feet halted their forward moment, screeching against the pavement. One by one the Titans stopped beside him. Terra swallowed hard, her finger jutting out to count the individual bodies in the wall of opposition in front of them. She stopped counting when she couldn't figure out what came after a trillion.
"Umm… I think we're outnumbered." Terra said.
"Just get ready to rock their world… 'cause we're not staying here." Speedy replied.
"We need to clear a path to the ship." Cyborg posited.
"But the blockade!" Terra replied.
"They might have already begun their move to attack Tameran!"
"We must not allow them to proceed any further!" Starfire replied.
"These guys are blocking our way…"
D'ucel's eyes took their bright blue glow. "They shall not for much longer!"
"Titans! Go!"
The group of ten charged forward into battle: Robin, Sakura and Aqualad demonstrated their martial arts as Cyborg charged forward with brute strength; purple and green eye beams tore through the air; black storms of energy rained from the sky, pierced by thundering arrows.
Starfire flew in, grabbing Robin's arm, catapulting the Titans' leader into a cluster of foes and clearing his landing path with eye beams. Blackfire did the same with Terra: the blonde rolled sharply landing crouched on bended knee. Around the pair, Orcrixian Battle Hammers circled in closely. Robin threw freeze disks to the ground, unsteadying some of the approaching Battle Hammers. Terra raised her arm in a hooking uppercut, charging the land upwards, hurling dozens of them into the air.
"Nice work." Robin said.
"You haven't seen anything yet."
The Yinti and Battle Hammers waged back with clubbing blows, energy shields and energy blasts: through the air blue, green, purple, black and white energy waved to and fro, striking Titans and crumbling Yinti.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven's dark power tore a section of the Grugdindorf headquarters' wall free and slammed it into cowering Yinti. The ground shock and rumbled with the attack.
D'ucel reacted in time to throw himself in front of an attacking Battle Hammer intending to strike Blackfire when her back was turned. His feet steadied as he spread his arms wide to ensure none of the attack connected with Blackfire. Blackfire turned her head of her shoulder sharply when she felt D'ucel behind her. Her eyes took relief when a knock out arrow shrouded in dark energy knocked the charging foe off course, leaving them both unscathed. Blackfire took to the sky.
Robin and Sakura moved in parallel evasive back flips, their hands and feet touching down in nearly perfect unison. Their tumbles stopped and both of them set their feet.
"What do you say? Strike of the Flying Snake?" Sakura asked.
"No, Claws of the Iron Bear."
The two set their arms and dove forward, slamming their palms into a pair of Yinti-men. They gave each other a quick congratulatory high five before a laser beam ripped between their bodies and they were back into the fray.
It was Blackfire who saw the perforated wall of the Grugdindorf headquarters begin to shake and tumble above the head of a distracted Foxfire. With a short gasp, the Tameranian's eyes took on their purple glow as she dove in to hold the wall up. D'ucel knocked away his opponent just in time to feel the shadow of the falling building. He turned to brace himself when he saw Komand'r pushing the wall away. A wave of wellbeing shot through him in the display.
A thunderous Yinti-cannon exploded the wall under Blackfire's hand, throwing stone into her face and collapsing the brick to the ground. Starfire unleashed her own eye beams to reduce the size of the fragments. Raven dove in quickly; rescuing Blackfire from harm. On the ground, Aqualad charged forward and tackled D'ucel, clearing him from danger as well.
The blue eyed Tameranian stared in something of confusion. "You are helping me?" Foxfire asked.
"You may be my rival, but I'm still one of the good guys." Beneath their feet the earth began to shake and rumble.
"Laaa!" Terra raised both her arms above her head and tore a chasm into the alien soil, up heaving the Titans' enemies. A path cleared and a wave of Robin's hand directed them all to charge forward.
Cyborg leapt behind the control console and brought Foxfire's ship to life. The loading ramp slid shut after Aqualad climbed aboard. When he reached the cockpit he realized there were only eight aboard.
"Blackfire?"
From the window he could see Foxfire hurling Fox Shots with dead accuracy, knocking away all those who had followed their escape. Beneath the ship, Star and Blackfire lifted the vehicle with all their might, boosting the craft into the air. Starfire flew back to the ship while Blackfire hesitated for a moment before D'ucel too made an escape.
The Tameranian trio landed and the other Titans gathered around them.
"The Battle Hammer fleet is on the move." Cyborg shouted, watching the sonar readout.
"They are preparing to attack Tameran! We must return and warn the people!"
"No! We must stop them!" Starfire shouted.
D'ucel shook his head in the negative. "I can not defeat the entire fleet alone."
Starfire stepped forward, behind her Blackfire stepped forward as well. "You forget D'ucel, we are also warriors of Tameran."
Blackfire nodded in agreement. Foxfire's eyes wavered slightly as he looked down at her to meet her eyes. Aqualad stepped forward and put his hand gently on her shoulder.
"Are you sure Blackfire?"
The Tameranian princess nodded. "This is for the good of my people… I wish to help as I can."
"Then please be careful." He touched the side of her face gently, drawing heat to the black-haired girl's face. She nodded.
"I'll keep a barrier around the ship, so don't worry about protecting us." Raven said.
"One of those things has got to be the hive ship: take it out and take out the threat to Tameran." Cyborg posited.
"Understood. Sister, Foxfire let us fight again for Tameran." Starfire flew into space. A few seconds later D'ucel followed, Blackfire left when he did. An ache throbbed in the pit of Aqualad's stomach. He turned to face the window and watched Star and Blackfire float side by side in the harshness of space. Their hands glowed as D'ucel's did above them. When Foxfire moved forward, so did the princesses.
…
"So explain again to me how this works." Beast Boy said as he watched Celine twist in the final screws for her device.
"It's an instantaneous transporter for non-living carbon based material. By placing an object in the center of the transporter, you can transmit it through space to another transporter."
"But where is the receiving transporter?"
"I'm going to set it up in your bedroom. This way you can send letters back and forth with your mother and never worry about delays in mail. We can't have you rushing home every time the postman screws up."
Sinora clapped her hands together. "That is wonderful!"
Beast Boy and Celine's bags were packed, though Celine's seemed infinitely lighter than when she had brought it. If Beast Boy stopped to think about it, he might have realized her intention all along.
"How did you ever think to do that?" Beast Boy asked.
"Its one of the few things that genius is always good for…" Celine stood up, smoothing out her grey skirt. "It won't be operational until we return to the tower…"
"But having it will give me some piece of mind." Beast Boy replied.
"Actually… that's not why I made it."
"What?"
"Don't concern yourself with the details… I do want you to have piece of mind… that's why I'm leaving Loberos here."
Celine bent down to pick up her kit and packed it into her bag. Beast Boy's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Celine? You're leaving Loberos here? He's like your best friend!"
"Don't be so dramatic. He's a very good friend and he's very dear to me… just like you are… If he stays here with Sinora, it will give you some piece of mind won't it?" Beast Boy nodded. "And I'm sure he'd be happier running through the prairies with Sinora than cooped up in the tower."
"I guess… but can you really do that?"
Loberos rose to his feet as if he had understood every word of Celine's statement. Celine bent down and looked straight into Loberos' grey eyes. She didn't say anything, just ran her hand over the rough fur of his snout. The beast licked her face once before moving over to lay by Sinora's feet. Sinora's face tightened a tiny bit as she watched Celine watch Loberos.
Celine stood up. "I just did." She finally replied. The red-haired super genius picked up her pack, slinging it over both her shoulders. "I'll meet you at the T-copter." Celine left the room, left the house without saying goodbyes. She didn't intend it to be the last time she saw them.
Sinora stepped forward as her son turned his head back to her. They had both watched the red haired girl's exit with something close to stupefaction. The worry wore off of Sinora's face, but lingered a little longer on Beast Boy's. Beast Boy stepped forward and hugged his mother.
"Take care of yourself mom. I know Loberos will guard you… but still…"
"You worry too much… it's bad for your digestion."
Beast Boy laughed, pulling back from Sinora. His green eyes were on the verge of tears as they made to say their goodbyes. Sinora wiped a tear from Beast Boy's green skin doing her best not to cry. She kissed his cheek and smoothed out the cloth over his left shoulder.
"Garfield, please… be sure that she is taken care of… I fear she has a very fragile heart."
Beast Boy nodded. "I'll make sure to let Cyborg know too."
Sinora's nod was hesitant, but Beast Boy didn't notice. He pulled his pack to his shoulders and left his mom to return to his home. Beast Boy couldn't think of anything to say to Celine when he sat down in the passenger seat of the T-copter. He could tell every time her fingers flickered that she was reaching for her companion that wasn't there. The brown eyed girl said nothing as she piloted them back across the Atlantic Ocean. After a few hours of silence, Beast Boy curled up in the copilot's seat and fell asleep.
…
The princesses followed their hero. Their great Tameranian might soared through the void of space, shooting devastating streams of energy into the hollow of their battle field. Ships blew up under their might; those that survived sent their counter attacks in rushing laser beams from sparking energy cannons. The trio spun and dodged, splitting up the burden. D'ucel's fists ripped through metal crafts as Starfire's eye beams shred through metal frames. Blackfire took the charge of a dashing craft, catching the vehicle. The pilot's eye widened in shock as the blue eyed girl sunk her fingers into the metal and used her grip to spin the craft around in a spin that would inspire a tornado. When Blackfire released it, the Battle Hammer ship careened through the void and collided with another craft exploding them both. The eruption ripped apart two neighboring ships.
The chain reaction gave all three of them a spark of an idea. As they flexed and dodged attacks, their power sent cascading ripples, one bolt devastating several Battle Hammers. The three moved in a frenzy of power and the Titans watched them from behind Raven's barrier. Aqualad was standing perfectly still; his dark eyes watched the way Blackfire battled; how she grabbed D'ucel and catapulted him forward to speed up his attacks; how she recovered quickly from Battle Hammer attacks. His eyes followed her closely and nearly every movement of hers that he captured, D'ucel was close: working with her, protecting her, proving his devotion… Speedy and Raven couldn't focus as closely on the battle as the other Titans were: their attention was divided between the warring Tameranians and the irresolute Atlantian watching the battle.
Speedy frowned as his best friend's eyes followed the battle. He doesn't deserve this… he'd fight for her people too if he could… Raven nodded her head, the same sentiments running through her mind. In the time Blackfire had been with the Titans, Aqualad had never been happier and as best as Raven judged, neither had Blackfire. Blackfire had become a dear friend to Raven: she had helped the girl with her training, talked to her over lunches, let the older girl brush out her hair, whispering this or that of what Aqualad had said to her or had meant to say. Raven saw vividly the way the black haired girl smiled when Aqualad stood close; that smile on her face, the smile on his face could allow Raven to look past what was a rocky introduction and onto a hopeful future… Hopefully…
The ships circled around the three fighters. The trio backed up tightly until their shoulders were nearly touching in their taut ring. Eyes echoed their righteous fury and six hands rose above three heads. Their powers mixed in a massive sphere of energy: the blues slid over the purples and greens until the energies ceased to be separate energies and formed one sparkling ball. The three fanned out: D'ucel stood with a princess on either side of him. Blackfire placed one hand on his left shoulder, Star with one on his right as D'ucel took over the control of their energy. With one downward swing the energy sphere soared through space and collided with a dozen ships: the echoing crashes igniting all the other ships. The trail of exploding ships fanned outwards in both directions from the hit: two flaming tails howled burning energy, consuming every Battle Hammer ship in its path. The two ends caught up with each other, meeting and crushing the last enemy ship in space.
The glow from their eyes dissipated as the last flames dwindled out against the might of space. Blackfire turned to D'ucel and smiled, her fingers squeezing his shoulder. D'ucel returned the smile, reaching his fingers to touch the side of her face. Starfire swallowed hard, slowly taking her fingers from D'ucel's shoulder and moving it to his wrist, her other hand did the same to Blackfire. It was Starfire's pull that lead them both back to the waiting Titans.
D'ucel assisted in guiding Starfire into the haul before jumping aboard himself. His arms reached up and gently guided Blackfire in by the waist. Raven swallowed hard, in her mind she didn't see Blackfire and D'ucel: she saw the moment similar to this one but the players changed. Instead of D'ucel and Blackfire, she saw herself and Robin: the way they moved together when Raven had become free of Trigon's will. That moment had been beautiful to her; but with the way Aqualad worried his fingers at his side, Raven could not see anything beautiful in this.
"That was amazing." Cyborg finally said, stepping forward. "I've never seen fighting like that before."
"We are very fortunate to have victory. We have saved Tameran from another terrible war." D'ucel replied.
Blackfire's brow tightened as a short pain jolted through her mind. War? Aqualad noticed and behind D'ucel's back, Starfire saw as well. D'ucel turned his feet to address Blackfire.
"It is as I expected. We fight well together Komand'r, just as we were meant to."
Speedy stepped forward, drawing D'ucel's attention from Blackfire. "Hey Fox, do you know why those Battle Hammers were really planning to attack Tameran?"
"It has been a war that has waged for many years… we had thought we saw a resolution but the Battle Hammers are very proud and very resourceful… it was only a matter of time before they gathered their strength to fight again… Such a constant struggle… I understand Galfor's troubles."
Gal…for? Blackfire's headache surged through her head, causing the girl to grab the sides of her face. Her black hair flailed as she shook her head, trying to remove the pain. The girl gasped for breath, a terrible sweat ran down the side of her face. Her breath staggered and her body waved. The Titans froze helpless as Blackfire lost consciousness. Aqualad stepped forward, hoping to catch the girl before she hit the ground. Fingers secured the girl's body, but they were not Aqualad's.
"Sister!" Starfire called out as her fingers tightened around the slack girl in her arms. She had been closest to Blackfire when the older girl had collapsed. She stopped her fall, cradling her close and out of the range of both Foxfire and Aqualad. Starfire's eyes wavered as she watched her sister gain consciousness. The black haired girl sat up quickly, surprising them all.
"Galfor!" She yelled before collapsing back into another faint.
The Titans watched puzzled. Starfire stood, lifting her sister's body and taking it to rest on a bed. Without having to be told so, Cyborg set the ship's course to Tameran.
…
Beast Boy woke up, startled from his sleep. His eyes blinked open; his yawn widened his mouth to the size of a basketball. Celine unbuckled her seatbelt and made to exit the plane. It was like she hadn't noticed he was awake. Beast Boy's eyes focused and something became very obvious. They weren't at the tower. Beast Boy didn't have to shield his eyes when he emerged from the cooling T-copter. The sky was overcast and to his memory, Beast Boy couldn't remember seeing a landscape so depressing. The buildings were mostly grey, the water locked island floated dully in the water. Nothing seemed to be happening, even though there were people milling around. It took Beast Boy a minute to adjust his focus and find Celine walking away from the T-copter.
Beast Boy ran to catch up with her. "Celine? Where are we?"
"This is Brock County… It's where Cyborg and I are from."
"You lived here?"
"That depends on how you define lived." Celine replied.
Celine stopped walking, her grey boots rolled loosely under her weight. Beast Boy stopped as well. The brick building looked close to condemned.
"I hope no one lives here." Beast Boy said.
"No… and no one wants to. This house has a reputation." Celine's normally graceful steps were interrupted by the rocky pathway she took to the back of the house. Beast Boy pushed a fallen slab of paneling to clear his path. When he turned his eyes forward, he found what Celine had ventured to. The tall girl-genius stood in the backyard of the crumbling building and in the middle of a field of day lilies. Celine stood perfectly still as Beast Boy made his approach.
"No one's tended this place in four years… but the Day Lilies¹ never stop growing." Celine said.
Beast Boy knelt down by Celine's feet and stared at the grave marker just feet away from where they were standing. He brushed away some of the debris until he could discern a name.
"Elaina Keelin… who is she?"
"She's my mother."
Beast Boy frowned. "But your last name is Fletcher."
Celine nodded. "My parents weren't married… most of my life the majority of this town looked down on us because of it… I swear I hated this place and so did she… but she was so sick that we couldn't move… we couldn't afford to. We survived off what flowers my mother could sell, but eventually this town stopped caring for Day Lilies."
"You were trapped here?"
"Everyone is trapped here… most people just refuse to see it… This is only the second time I've been back here since I left… I know my mother didn't ever want to tie me to this place and I stay away just as much for myself as her wish…"
"Why did you come back?"
"I don't know."
Beast Boy didn't believe her, but he decided against pressing the issue.
"You still cry about her don't you?" Beast Boy asked.
Celine crouched down, ignoring the stains that built up on her skirt. Her fingers reached out and removed the rest of the debris that tangled up her mother's history. Beast Boy read the numbers marking the date of her birth and death. She wasn't thirty years old when she died.
"Her heart was weak." Celine supplied when she noticed his realization.
"She loved you."
"I know that."
"You didn't answer my question." Beast Boy said.
Celine sighed. "I gave up crying a long time ago, Beast Boy."
"Everyone needs to cry every once in a while."
Celine's finger nails scratched off the last bit of dust from her mother's grave. Her fingers lingered on the death date. Beast Boy noticed that today was the forth anniversary of Elaina Keelin's death.
Beast Boy saw Celine's fingers flinch; they were searching for Loberos on their own accord.
"With that kind of pain in your past… how do you stay hopeful?
"I don't know how much is hope and how much I fake… I can't say that it doesn't hurt when I remember her… but it hurts just as much to try to forget... Beast Boy, can you promise me something?"
"Of course."
"Whenever you feel scared… run to her with everything you've got."
"Celine, why did you make the transporter?"
"Every time you get a letter… or send a letter… it will be through something I made… just a little bit, I'll feel like..." Celine couldn't find her words.
"You know… the Titans are a family too. We don't have the same parents, but we're all related by our feelings… You can always run to us, Celine."
Celine sat in silence. Beast Boy turned into a timberwolf and brushed against Celine's side. It was automatic, the way Celine's fingers stroked the short stubble on the green furred animal. When she realized that the hair under her fingers wasn't Loberos, she nearly pulled back. Nearly. Her eyes were unsteady for a moment, before she smiled weakly.
"I enjoy nothing more than being a part of our family."
…
Aqualad gently pressed the cool cloth against Blackfire's head. The girl had been asleep for nearly an hour, her body resting from whatever it was that had happened to her. Aqualad sat in uncertainty. His worry was nearly blinding D'ucel.
Starfire stood in her own state of worry. Her sister was obviously in pain from the fever that held her body. Star turned to Foxfire.
"Previously you had made the mention of Galfor and his troubles. Of what troubles do you speak?"
"My princess, for many months the Battle Hammers have made attacks on allies of Tameran. The grand ruler has deployed many of Tameran's great fighters to aid… The stress of battle brought him to his deathbed."
"Deathbed! Why was I not informed?"
"It has been half a blaxrig since he took ill. It is very unusual that you were not contacted."
"I have never encountered problems communicating with Tameran previously…"
"Starfire, on your birthday… The tower was attacked… we lost communication for days." Aqualad supplied.
"Yes that is correct! D'ucel, do you remember when the spread of words occurred?"
"Yes, my princess. It was within days of your birth. Galfor's health was in the most dire of conditions… but he has been making the mends."
"Then that is why the Orcrixian fighters planned an attack. Galfor's ill health gave them much opportunity for unrestricted conquer." Starfire replied.
D'ucel nodded in agreement. "When I made the coming to home, Galfor was still in an unhealthy state."
"Blackfire's Sweep was preformed those months ago, not long after Starfire's birthday… do you think there is some connection?" Aqualad asked.
A short groan escaped Blackfire. Aqualad turned his attention back to her. Her eyes held open, though her face showed fatigue.
"Are you alright?" Aqualad asked.
Before the Tameranian princess could think to answer, Cyborg announced they had reached Tameran.
"Tameran… Home… I need to… Galfor… warn something…" Blackfire sat up. Aqualad and Starfire helped her to her feet.
"Komand'r, are you alright?"
"Something… Galfor… be ready… Galfor…" Aqualad caught the unsteady girl and pulled her to cradle her in his arms. Aqualad carried the girl to the exit dock. The rest of the Titans said nothing at the display.
"Galfor… please let me see… be… okay… please…"
"Is she still feverish?" Robin asked.
Starfire nodded.
"Attack… sorry… be… let me see… please… Galfor."
"She's doing what the Battle Hammer leader said she would. She's trying to get to Galfor to deliver her message." Raven stated.
"She's regaining her memory?"
"The Sweep must be wearing off." Speedy posited.
"Maybe if we can get her in to see Galfor… that will be enough to drive back all her memories."
The team nodded and underneath the cover of her body, Aqualad's fingers tightened slightly against her armor. Uncover her memories… let her remember what she felt about him…With the return of her memory… will she learn to forget about me?
Aqualad kept his shoulders tall as he carried his precious burden towards the towering palace of Tameran where Blackfire would see her homeland and remember… She will act to bring love to her heart… isn't that what is really important?
D'ucel nearly stumbled when the wave of sadness Aqualad emitted crashed into him. Foxfire took to the air above his Komand'r and his rival's head. To his right, Starfire had taken to the sky as well. While she couldn't feel Aqualad's uncertainty as D'ucel did, she could see it. All the Titans could see it and they all could see Aqualad marching forward bravely into something that could take away Blackfire's heart… and give it to someone else.
End of Part Seven
A/N
¹ Reference to Say Your Name Chapter Two