Chapter 17

"Raven!" Robin yelled. "Why aren't you able to get those doors off!"

"I told you! The doors have some force that doesn't work with my powers." Raven snapped. They could hear shouting from the inside. Starfire then all of a sudden grew quiet. They had no idea what was going on inside there. They couldn't even imagine the tortures she was going through right now…

BOOM!

Beastboy rammed up against the doors again as a bull. He turned into a goat, tried again…turned into a bull, tried again. Then a dinosaur, but nothing worked.

"Let me try." Cyborg said, taking out a tiny bomb and stuck it next to the doors.

"Good…my head hurts…." Beastboy swayed, turning back into a human.

"Here…" Robin threw an electric disk at the door, next to Cyborg's bomb. The two went off together, and the door started to fall.

TTTT

Starfire stood in the dark, motionless. She didn't know which way to choose. Then she remembered Robin's words… no matter what happens today, I will still love you…

Starfire slowly took off her neck guard, revealing a large 'S' scarred onto her skin. "You did this to me…It stands for Slade, yes?" she asked.

TTTT

The doors fell down with a hard thud. "Star!" Robin called as he walked inside. They soon saw a green light. They ran at it, "Star!" Beastboy yelled.

Robin ran up, but when he saw her, he stopped in his tracks. She was frozen, no one was around. He walked up slowly to her, "Oh, Star…" he sighed. She was frozen in time, and wearing her old costume. She had her green light in her hand, which he guess is how she was when they used the machine.

"Starfire…" Raven gasped, running up to them.

"I'm so sorry." Robin walked up to her, cupping his hand around her cheek.

He didn't see her sad expression turn upwards into a smile. No one did, well, no one except X and Slade. She used the lit starbolt and hit Robin in the chest, then grabbed her knives. "Sorry to keep changing my name, but call me Nightblade…" she yelled, charging at the four remaining Titans. She let the knives cut through their skin, their costumes. She left them on the floor and very bloody. They weren't dead, just close to death. Just where Nightblade wanted them. She walked back to Robin, using her knife to cut a gash along the right side of his jaw, "And don't forget it." She said, leaving them there, once again, to join Slade and her sweetheart.

Nightblade couldn't help but feel horrible for what she had just done. She couldn't even look behind her as she left because she knew the sight was horrible. She just returned to the team and then she betrays them again. Her heart broke in two as she followed X. She dragged her feet, her head down and if she were a dog, her tail would be far under her body, between her legs.

Nightblade just wished she was dead. She didn't like this, she had entered a gang and couldn't get out.

"Nightblade?" X's voice seemed far off, almost echoed. That's when she realized she hadn't taken a breath for about a minute. She just had been holding it since seeing Robin, almost as if taking a breath would force her to realize she would have to kill him soon.

"Huh?" She asked as she staggered a little bit.

"Are you okay?"

"Would you be okay!" she snapped. "Oh, I don't feel so-." She couldn't finish her sentence, everything went black, she sighed, "Robin…", as she collapsed on the ground.

TTTT

Nightblade's eyes opened to find she was in a regular room, just like her old one when she was with the villains. She turned to the side to see X was sitting next to her, his head laying on the bed. She stared at his gorgeous brown hair that usually swayed in front of his face in a sweep. His face was cut so beautifully, he was flawless. How could he be so perfect? She was almost envious of him.

She sat up slowly trying to go over everything in her mind. Had she actually asked for Robin when she fainted. She could remember just a little bit. Red X lay so peacefully that it pained her when she woke him up, gently tapping his shoulder.

"Nightblade?" he picked his head up slowly, adjusting his eyes so he could see her.

"Hey sleepyhead." She smiled at him.

"Are you…happy…to be back?" X stared.

"Not entirely, but seeing you sleeping right there, just to wait for me to wake up, well, it was sweet. Although I don't want to be here, I know it's the only way to buy my team time. I know they need it, and when they figure everything out, they will succeed by themselves. They don't really need me."

"Well, yeah, they do need you. But you aren't there to help them out. I wanted to leave too, but I guess this place is like a gang. If you leave, you are asking for hurt, not death, but by the time he would be finished with us, we would want to be dead. I know that for sure." X smiled.

"I know. But I guess I should try to make the best of this bad situation." She pulled him up on the bed with her.

"I promise you, if that ever happens agai-." X started, referring to the baby.

"No need to even bring that up. I know you will include me next time, if there is a next time." She placed a finger next to his mouth. "So what is scheduled for today?"

"Slade said whenever you get up, we must go and meet with him."

"Alright. One more question…is this our room again?" she gave him a very sexy smile.

"Of course. Same one as last time. We were surprised when your team didn't even come in. We were ready for you. But you never came, so we never moved."

"And Slade knew if I told Robin, then Robin would barge in right away."

Red X nodded. "Why didn't you tell?"

"They never asked. I guess we all figured you would move." She smiled.

"What we liked about this building was the secret elevator that leads to the top of the building. A place to hang out and sunbath on the tallest building around." He smiled, "I assume you'll need to do that soon."

"Yes, that would be good. Maybe you could join me?" she smiled.

"Sure, I'd love to, but let's get to Slade first."

"Okay." She smiled as he helped her out of bed and led her to the Operation's room.

TTTT

"I can't believe we are off the hook today!" Nightblade smiled.

"I know…you do need your rest!" Red X smiled at her, as they walked into the mall holding hands.

"So that means we shop till we drop!" Nightblade gave him a peck on the cheek, and he reached down, picking her up and cradling her in his arms.

"Stop it!" she smiled, laughing as she pounded his arm, "I'm wearing a skirt!"

"I know…" he was just about to flip her over when she whispered,

"There's a security guard over there, the same one that chased us a while ago. Duck."

Instantly, he ducked into the hall that lead down some more shops. Nightblade was indeed wearing a skirt. A very short one at that, that was black and so was her tank top. It was the same one that held her costume, her belt was the same silver one, but she wore a large coat so no one saw the knives. Slade had made a little design in it so that the metal leggings she wore could start as a single band and slide down her arms and legs. She could wear the bands under her skirt and on her shoulders and just slide them and hook the gloves around her index finger, which Slade had changed it to.

She wore her same black boots, and her mask was in the pocket on her belt. X's costume was easy, he just wore it under his jeans and red shirt. He still wore very dark sunglasses and she actually joined him in that act. Her hair wasn't tied back like it usually was, so when people saw her, they thought it was Starfire. People would stare at her extra long to make sure that it really was Starfire who wasn't with Robin.

Red X smiled at Nightblade, "I am going to get a drink, want anything?"

"Oh, yes, a soda would be lovely, whatever you have." She said as he turned and walked away.

Nightblade felt a little tug at her skirt when she turned around and saw no one.

"Excuse me?" a little girl whispered weakly.

Nightblade looked down and saw the sweetest little girl who looked like she was about three. "Hey little one. What's your name?" Nightblade gave her a large smile. Her sunglasses didn't actually cover her eyes, she had pushed them up and on top of her head like a headband. She really liked it that way.

"Kori…" she smiled sweetly.

"Oh, that's my name." Starfire squatted down so she was eye level with the adorable girl.

"But I thought your name was Starfire…" the girl sounded sad and hurt, almost embarrassed.

"Yes, that is my Earth name." Nightblade gave a little laugh. "But you might not know this, but I am not from Earth."

"I know, you are from another planet…what's it like there?"

"Oh, it is beautiful. The sky is always pink like the sunsets here, and the land is just spectacular. But not as pretty as here. The palace is where I used to stay. You know I am a princess there?"

"My Mommy says I'm a princess too."

"Really?"

"Starfire?"

"Yes?"

"I saw the Teen Titans yesterday and you were not with them…" the girl looked sad, "You are my favorite…"

"Kori…" Nightblade's smiled turned into a frown, "Maybe one day you will understand better, but I needed to get away. I have things I need to sort out. I can't do this as a Titan. Do you understand?"

"No…" Kori's beautiful green eyes grew narrow. "I do not understand Starfire."

Nightblade sighed… "I am not Starfire anymore. My name is Koriand'r, I am very sorry, but I am no longer a Teen Titan."

The girl's mother walked up behind Kori just as Nightblade just said that. "That's right, sweetie, Starfire wants to be a regular person. She wants to live a regular life."

"But don't you miss Robin." Kori said finally. "Don't you miss your friends?"

"I do…" tears threatened Nightblade's eyes, "But I can never go back."

Red X walked up behind her and handed Nightblade a drink. In public, they agreed that if anyone asked, Starfire would pose as Koriand'r, claiming she wanted to live a regular life and get away from all of that pain.

"Thanks honey." Nightblade took the drink, and sipped it, standing up, "Kevin, this is Kori, my new friend."

"Um…hi…" X said nervously.

"Is he your boyfriend…" Kori said with much interest.

"Yes…he is." Nightblade giggled and bent down, "Please do not be sad, Kori. I am no longer a Titan for a good reason. Hopefully one day, I will go back, but I do not know right now. I have to sort out a few things before I am eventually able to return." She smiled and held out her arms, welcoming a hug.

The mother looked at Nightblade for a long time, then finally spoke, "You are very good with children, Koriand'r."

"Oh thank you, ma'am." She held out her hand, "I do not believe I know your name."

"I am Kristine." She reached out shaking Nightblade's hand, "But I was wondering, we were looking for someone to baby-sit, and since you are trying to live life like a regular teen, maybe you would like to make some money?"

Nightblade's smiled grew about twice it's size, "Really?" she asked, "Would you like that, Kori?" she asked the little girl who was also grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh my gosh! Starfire's going to be my baby-sitter!" the girl was squealing.

"I shall take that as a yes." Nightblade said, then looked at X with pleading eyes, needing his okay. When he nodded slightly, she looked at the woman, "Well, I need to know where you live and when you need me."

"That is great!" the woman wrote down a few things on a small piece of paper and gave it to Nightblade. "Around seven tomorrow okay?"

"Sure."

"I will probably need someone every Thursday and Monday."

"I will check my schedule and see." Nightblade said, graciously accepting the paper, "And I will be at your house at seven tomorrow."

"Koriand'r." X looked at her now, "We have to go." He said with concern in his voice, when he put his cell phone away. "I just got a message from…um…Slater…" he said.

"You mean…"

"Yeah…he's really upset…"

"I apologize, but I must go. I will see you at seven." Nightblade smiled then ran with X in the opposite direction. They ran out the doors and back behind an alley where they ducked down and ran through the sewer to a secret passage under Metro-Link Station 7. When X typed in the code to get inside, they sat down on a bench that sat on four wheels. After buckling themselves in, he pressed the 'close' button and the chair moved very fast backwards until it came to a very fast stop under their headquarters. A hole appeared above them and the chair lifted them up into the operations room.

"You…" Slade walked forward, "You!"