Chapter 12: Perfect
Kori awoke in a room that was clearly not hers. It was much too gray and blank to belong to the tameranean princess. She then retraced the happenings of yesterday and remembered falling asleep.
She got up slowly and sat up straight in her bed.
She groaned lightly and shook her head, as if to get rid of her drowsiness.
"Good morning princess" A voice said from the shadows.
Kori gasped and brought the thin black covers a bit over nose to show fear.
"Who is there?" She squeaked out.
A figure walked into what little light there was in the room and began to chuckle.
Kori let out a sigh of relief and then narrowed her eyes at him.
"Do you think frightening me is to your amusement?" She asked in a tone like a mother scolding her child.
His laughing continued, "Yes very much." He answered in between laughs.
Kori continued to glare more fearfully at him and he got the message.
He stopped dramatically and seized his laughing.
"Forgive me, it was just your face when you get scared and that little voice you make, that's funny." He apologized.
Kori let the thin line of fabric fall from her body and then noticed a uniform at the foot of her bed.
Was it hers?
"Kevin what is this?" Kori asked picking the black, orange, and silver suit up.
He glanced at it and looked back at her.
"It's what Master wants you to wear. It's your suit." He explained.
Kori grimaced at the thought of wearing the clothing and calling her used to be number one enemy "Master".
But, she agreed, and with this agreement comes consequences she was willing to take.
"Must I call him "Master"? Or anything at all?" She asked not entirely liking the concept.
Kevin nodded and sighed.
"It's not so bad Kori, I mean, it gets some getting used to yeah, and if you don't say it, he'll probably smack you, but you just have to think of it as his name. Just replace Slade, with Master." He said trying to make her feel more comfortable.
She still shivered a bit at the name "Slade" but she guessed, "Master" would be more appropriate.
"I will compreheand." She agreed. "But, this suit, it means I will be doing more that is already to be done? I was not informed of this, I was just to give you the power, not commit anymore crimes."
Kevin shook his head.
"I din't think you'll have to. You just have to wear the costume, not actually do anything in it except maybe use it when testing your power. And speaking of that. I had to tell you to put the suit on, and meet me and Master in the training room." He informed her.
"Oh…okay, I shall, but where is this training room of which you speak?" She asked.
Kevin began walking towards the metal door and glanced back at her.
"I'll just come pick you up when you're done changing. You might get lost if you go on your own." He offered.
She nodded and he left the room.
She was alone.
Again.
'Well not entirely.' She thought. 'He just left me because he respects my privacy to change.'
'You're still alone.' A voice kept nagging at her as she slipped the slender black uniform on.
'Kevin is with me'
'But you want someone other than Kevin to be here with you.' The voice fought back.
'I don't know what you're talking about, I love Kevin and I want to be with him and no other.' Starfire was competing against herself.
'Robin, he is the one we dreamt of last night. He is the one we wish to be with. The one we want to be here right now. Not Kevin.'
'We?'
'Yes, we. I am you Starfire. Your inner voice. Your conscience.'
'I am NOT Starfire anymore. I'm-''Kori? That's only a part of who you are. You are Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran. Starfire of Earth. Numbers 22137 of Gordinia. And Kori of Evil. They are all different part of your lives taking their course to change you into yourself but the one thing that is similar between all of them is that they are all you. You were them at one point or another. Kori is who you are becoming right now. Do you truly wish to be Evil?'
'If it is what I help better in then yes.'
'Do you have no dignity? No pride? What has happened to my old self? What has happened to Starfire?'
'She left, and became Kori.' Kori ended the conversation as she zipped up the front of the uniform and flexed her black tight gloves.
She felt, evil.
And the patch on her right signaled she was.
The jagged "S" told all. But the conversation she held with her conscience didn't go un thought of. She was beginning to take second thoughts. But then of course, she thought probably everyone did. So she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on what lay ahead.
A knock came at her door.
"I'm finished." She called out to Kevin.
He opened the door at looked her over.
She was putting the finishing touches by tying her hair into a high ponytail with an orange band.
Her suit was half orange and half black. With a silver lining and the all to common "S" patch on the right. Her gloves tight around her hands.
She had the look of determination. Of confidence.
She looked evil.
He gave her a look the asked if she was ready. And she just stared back with the same expression.
She was ready.
She walked over to him and he held the door open for her.
They both made their way silently, to the door of the training room where Slade was waiting.
The sound of a motor filled the air of the early morning. Its speed was none to match any other vehicle.
The way the motorcycle swung in and out of the lanes of roads would've have stated that the driver was drunk or crazy.
But the driver wasn't drunk. He was although, crazy about finding a girl. Afraid for her safety, zooming around the whole base of the city, so he would have a higher chance of finding her.
The sound of this scary motor had been in the mist of the city since yesterday night.
And he had not stopped once to rest.
Some might of thought him tired.
But he pushed his lack for energy aside, for it was fueling on the fact that his love was still not by him. He wouldn't stop until he saw her. And she had better be safe, because if she was hurt he was prepared to kill whatever, or whoever did it to her.
His tastes directing to a boy he had just seen a couple days ago. He wanted to tear him into shreds.
The name rolling around his mind, his hate strictly directing to the gold-eyed boy.
His gloved hands remaining tight and stiff around the handlebars.
His expression fixed into a glare. He was angry. But worried was there in a splash of his feelings.
His teammate.
His best friend.
His secret love.
Was gone, and he was thinking the worst. He was thinking, and was sure and certain that a stranger to him,
Slade's Apprentice, to be accurate was behind it.
He was certain that he was the one that took.
Because, she wouldn't leave.
Would she?
No.
Not his Starfire.
She wouldn't leave. If she was gone it was because someone took her. He was going to find her.
He was going to rescue her. And he was going to succeed.
But what he didn't know was that he was wrong about everything except for one thing.
She did need to be rescued. But just as she had said the first time this all started.
"In this case, I am not sure you may be able to be there for me"Robin was going to make sure he was, because, if his Star needed help, he was going to be there to give it whether she like it or not.
'My Starfire?' He thought, 'where did that come from?'
He continued his search around the perimeter of the city. But where his target was to be found wasn't up in the city.
But right under.
He was certain he had already been around this part of the city before but it wasn't so bad to double-check.
Just as he was about to round the corner into another street his communicator beeped for the umpteenth time since yesterday.
His teammates, no doubt, were as worried as he was. He knew this, but they also cared about their leader and knew that if he hadn't found her already, and neither have the rest of them, the situation was looking bleak and they needed to get him back at the tower and rested.
But every time they attempted to get him off the damn bike and into their home. He would just ride off again.
So translation. He wasn't going to stop searching for her until he found her.
The beep was getting annoying to the masked boy's ears, and it was his duty to pick it up.
Although he already knew what was coming out of it.
One of team members most likely, Raven or Cyborg, would come on the screen and tell him to come home.
But he wouldn't. He couldn't. He just plainly shouldn't.
(a/n: Again I know that was corny, but again, just bear with me)
But he picked it up anyway, his mood grouchy already; with his glare ready to pounce on any victim he shot up the screen and Raven's face showed up again.
'I guess they're taking turns' Robin thought remembering before it was Cyborg who came on.
"What!" Robin growled scowling fearfully at the girl.
But she wasn't intimidated, and he knew all to well to try and scare her with silly looks.
"Grouchy much?" She sarcastically implied.
He grunted.
"What do you want Raven?" He retorted.
"Robin, you need to get back here. You're tired and weak. I know you don't want to admit it but-" She started, but he cut her off.
"Shut up Raven. I'm not weak and if I am I don't care. Star's out there and I'm going to find her? You understand that?" He yelled losing his concentration on the road and almost colliding into a car.
"Watch were you're going you punk!" The driver shouted while honking his horn hysterically.
Robin was losing what little patience he already had and was ready to tear, not only Kevin to shreds, but also anyone who got in his way, or made his angry at the point.
"Robin, control." Raven tried calming him down before something bad happening hearing what was going on in through her communicator.
Knowing Robin though, no one would be able to control him except for Starfire.
And she was gone.
So why was she even trying? It was already a lost cause.
Robin growled and met his fist to the glass on the car.
Shards of fragile glass flew wildly around him and the poor mad driver.
"What the hell was that for!" The driver yelled now pissed that Robin had just wreaked his Mustang 2005. (a/n: I don't know car language but I do love mustang cars and I'm guessing they've made a 2005)
Robin's glove protected him from getting seriously cut by any flying pieces of the window, and luckily nothing serious happened to the driver.
Raven heard the shattering glass in the back round and heard the driver's yells, so she put to in to together and shook her head in shame.
Robin didn't even answer the driver who pulled to a stop to the left of Robin and continued shouting his insults.
That is until Robin drove up to the guy steeping out of his car.
The driver ran a tan hand over his blond locks, clearly frustrated about the events and cause of his outburst on the Titan leader.
He was quickly inspecting the damage while shouting out his insult to the already angry Robin.
Robin jumped off his bike for the first time, which seemed like ages, and trotted harshly over to the freaking out man.
His footsteps pushing down on the soft dirt forming imprints of his rather hard and steel shoes.
As his footsteps became more noticeable the man turned to face a very, very pissed off Robin.
Raven knew what was to come of this, and had to stop him before the titans would be sent to court.
"Robin! You idiot, stop right now before you do something you'll regret later! You smashed the window remember!" Raven tried calming Robin. But he ignored her calls and continued his fierce walk to the man.
Who was growing paler by the second. He was shaking violently looking at Robin as if some monster was about to eat him.
"P-p-please, Robin Sir, I-I-I-, didn't…you see, it's my new Mustang and-and- well-y-yo-you like busted the wi-win-dow…" The man stuttered afraid that Robin would hurt him or maybe send him to the hospital.
Robin got closer to the man and picked him up by his shirt collar.
His gloves brushing roughly on the man's polo shirt, causing it to seem like burning fire to the man.
Robin had forgotten about Raven still on his communicator.
"Robin STOP! This is by all means immature, and can ruin our "Hero" reputation! Do you want to go to jail! Robin answer me! Calm down!" Raven was trying everything anyone was able to do on the other side of the city with only a communicator in hand.
In one quick move, without letting the man go, he pushed a button on his communicator and disconnected himself from the tower.
Raven had no way of communicating with him.
On the other side of town Raven was trying everything in her power with the help of Cyborg to get back online with Robin.
They needed to see what was going on and make sure he didn't do anything drastic. Also the only tracker they have on him is on the communicator so if he turned it off, then they just plainly couldn't find him.
"I can't believe this! He is so immature! Can't he calm down!" Raven hissed while her and Cyborg tried there best to reconnect the wires on a machine that will try to reach the last signal made by their leader. So basically it'll find out where Robin is, or was.
"Why can't I help!" Beastboy whined.
"Because, you're an idiot." Raven replied casually, still enraged thought.
"Are you sure he really did that!" Cyborg asked, still shocked of what Raven had heard, while putting together the last of the wires.
"Cyborg, Robin was mad, the guy shouted at a mad Robin, I heard breaking glass, and a driver shouting still directing it at Robin, then sounds of Robin steeping of his bike and walking, then the sounds of the man's pleas getting closer. What do you think is about to happen?" Raven asked him slowly with a very annoyed look.
Cyborg was convinced and shook his head.
"That guy is gonna find himself in a whole heap of trouble." He commented.
Raven grunted.
"No, WE, are going to find ourselves in a whole heap of trouble. We're a team remember. And as a team, we, apparently, all have to fall with him." Raven corrected.
Cyborg finished patching up the last wire to get the connection through, and stared at Raven.
Beastboy had heard the conversation and spit out the bits of Tofu he had in his mouth.
"WHAT!" They both yelled, " It's not, like it's our job to baby-sit Robin to make sure he doesn't bust a guy's face in!" Beastboy again whined.
Raven was brushing off bits and pieces of the white substance that sprouted out of the green boy's mouth.
She glared daggers at the boy, but he was too preoccupied in his own thoughts to notice.
"Yeah, I never thought I'd say this but tofu boy's right. We shouldn't have to keep an eye on Robin. That's his job." Cyborg added pushing a couple of buttons on the gadget and waiting for it to power up.
Then they all came to one realization, Beastboy was the one to speak it though.
"No…that's Star's job."
There was once again silence…but then the light beeping of the machine caught all of them's full attention.
Cyborg pushed a few buttons and a sheet of paper begin printing out from the slit in machine.
He looked it over and turned back to Raven.
"Found him."
(A/N: Just to clear everything up, this is all happening at the same time, okay? Like The event above from "Robin's Breakout" is before it. And the one after it is the one after. And now this scene was going on during the "Robin Breakout" okay? Yeah that's a bit confusing I must admit but just ignore this then and go on with the story. Sorry)
Silence.
Comfortable silence was all that was spoken while the two fondly new associates of Slade were walked to the training rooms.
Well one new associate.
Their steps spoke enough words to justify the nervousness of the girl.
He felt like he had a need to say something comforting.
But what was there to say?
She was about to train to help control her power so that it would be put to use under the hands of a ruthless villain.
Again, what was there to say?
So the silence was all that there was. All that filled the room, as if it could not be filled with nothing more or something, would burst.
As they reached the room, Kori felt herself become more energized somehow.
She felt an awesome amount of power began to surge through her veins and her vocal cords began to pulse wildly as if forcing her to yell, talk or sing.
'In song is when it is released'Her father's voice rolled through her head.
She knew what that meant. But whenever she sung, the only thing that really happened was that a symphony played along.
No, real power.
Just silly tunes. But somehow she knew it was dangerous.
Deep down she knew that what she given wasn't just a gift as her father had said was bestowed upon her.
She never pushed the topic, because, of course she was young and even the more naive. But what she got wasn't like a music box. It was more of a destiny. And she wasn't so sure anymore she wanted it.
So far it has caused nothing but bad things to happen. And Kori had a feeling it was going to get worse.
But then why was she doing this again?
Kevin.
Robin.
That's why she was doing it.
Kevin was there.
Robin was not.
It was as simple as that. But then…why was it so hard?
Kori sighed deeply. She wrung her hand around her wrist in a repeated motion as if wanting to feel something that was not there.
She looked down to her wrist and once again sighed.
What she was feeling for was a bracelet. A bracelet that her mother had given her, but when she was taken away it had somehow been separated from her and traded for cheap money.
No one really knowing what the bracelet was for.
Not even her. In fact she still did not know what it was for, but she just felt more comfortable and more relaxed wherever she was, when she had it on.
The platinum piece of silver metal plastered her mind with memories.
Flashback
A young Kori pulled lightly on the hem of her mother's dress.
The lovely looking women turned gracefully around to look down at her youngest daughter.
"Mommy, Galfore tells me you have sent for me? What is it that I may assist you in?" The little girl asked politely to her mother.
The older woman shook her head and smiled a wise all to known smile to the young girl.
"There is nothing for you to assist me in youngest daughter, but I did call for you." Her mother spoke with tenderness striking her voice as it usually does.
The young girl waited patiently for her mother to tell her what she was brought here for.
"I want to give you something daughter." The mother said in a quaky voice.
The child cocked her head. If it weren't for the circumstances she would have been jumping for joy. But something in her mother's voice made her just…cock her head in confusion.
"Mother, what is wrong?" Kori asked in a concerned voice. Her mother shook her head and waved her head, as if to brush the topic away.
"Nothing is wrong. Can't a queen give something to her lovely little princess?" Her mother asked in a teasing, nice tone.
Her daughter giggled and nodded her head up and down to indicate a yes.
"Of course you can!"
The empress of Tamaran laughed lightly and as if she had been taught expertly. That's what Kori loved about her mother. She did everything with grace. Everything with such expertise. Just as a person of high royalty should.
She only wished that she would be just as great as her mother. And just as brave as her father.
But what young Kori was un aware of was that she already was. And more.
The great queen turned around to open a weird shaped box that lay in her palm at the moment and lifted something wrapped in gold silk, and this was already fascinating the young girl already.
The woman gently gave the box to a servant that was always there in case she was in need of service.
Now all she was holding was a something quite small no bigger than the woman's dainty hands, covered by some gold silk cover.
She carefully and slowly pulled the gold blanket off of the item and when she did. Kori's eye's glittered.
It was beautiful.
Kori had always favored gold or something pink. But this gave a whole meaning to the word color. And it automatically changed into her favorite.
She was speechless for words.
Kori thought surely this beautiful piece of craftsmanship was not meant for her.
Perhaps her sister. But when her mother lifted her small hand. Somehow, Kori knew that it was meant for her.
It was a beautiful silver bracelet. Platinum. With a long tameranean symbol that was translated into her name. With an edge of a sharp cut jewel that was highly rare to ever be seen of. Even royalty of other planets including hers, it was rare for the crystal clear gem to even be seen.
Yet here it was.
And her mother.
The empress of Tamaran.
Who should have this much more than anyone else.
Was giving it to Kori as a present. A gift. And it had 'her' name on it.
"Mother!" The girl finally gasped.
The woman only smiled kindly and warmly as she clipped the bracelet onto her small daughter's wrist.
She kissed her child's wrist carefully before letting her daughter examine it with curious eyes.
Koriand'r's eyes wandered over it repeatedly as if she stopped it would vanish.
But it didn't.
And when she was done she gazed at her mother who was still smiling at her.'
"Mother what have I done to deserve this?" Kori whispered in question.
Her mother only chuckled lightly and answered,
"It has always been yours my daughter. I was just yet to give it to you. You were much to young when it was first presented to you. But…I decided that the time has come where you, must have it. Although you are still much to young to know what it is for. I believe that it doesn't matter what age you are. You should always wear it."
Kori was a bit confused but decided against questioning the matter of topic.
"But what if I lose it somehow?" She asked worried that the same thing that happened with her old toy would happen to this one. She winced at the memory of her precious glizardo being swallowed by the trenched monster. And once it goes in. Trust her when she says, "You do not want it back."
Her mother didn't falter her smile a twitch.
"If you will. You will find it once again. You can never lose this. It will always be following you somehow. Trust me."
Kori looked at her beautiful amulet once more before grinning at her mother again.
"Thank you, mommy. I promise I won't lose it." She promised, and with that she kissed her mother on the cheek and flew off to play once again Kevinand'r.
Kori shook her head in disappointment with herself as she saw the metal door come to view.
'Another promise. Broken' She thought to herself.
And it was mostly true.
Although she might've been young, she did promise not lose it. And it had somehow gotten lost in the havoc of the enslavement camps.
She quickly droned the thoughts of her past out quickly as the training room came into view.
She glanced over at Kevin as to gain permission, and he as if reading her mind, nodded.
He opened the door and Kori saw that everything inside was dark. She was confused for the moment and again looked at Kevin with a questioning look.
He gestured with his head to come in and she did so, while he held the door open for her.
She stepped into the cold dark room and had to squint her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
She couldn't see anything, and when she heard creek slowly and then rapidly slam shut. She yelped in fright as of on reflex.
When she turned around there was nothing there.
No one there.
But she kept quiet.
Probably one of Slade's trick. So she waited and soon enough, she was correct.
Flickers of light, fire burning on torches, came to life in the darkness on the room. They turned on one by one. And when it was finished a shadow stood.
A broad shadow. And it's orange side of the mask shined by it.
Kori wanted to scream. She wanted to call for help. But she couldn't. She would not allow.
Because that's something that Starfire would do. Something a Titan would do. And she was though being one. But most of all. She had told herself. That she had changed. And she had.
"Hello, my dear. Hope your accommodations were to your liking." He said with a smooth casual tone.
But that didn't make it all the more easier. Or comfortable at the very least.
But she kept a straight face.
She glanced around by the corners of her eyes for Kevin. But he was no where to be seen.
She wanted him there.
She had almost forgotten what Slade had stated to her, and she still had her polite nature.
So naturally she just had to answer.
"Yes…Master" She said in a voice that was unlike her.
He grinned under his mask. She was catching on quickly.
Perfect.
This was going to be simple.
"Starfire your training will begin momentarily. Do you know what you have to do?"
Kori grimaced a little.
"Starfire is not my name, Master." She stated.
He seemed amused.
"Oh? Then what is?"
"Kori, Master. Just Kori." She plainly let out.
Slade nodded and stood directly in front of her.
"Perfect."
End of ChapterA lot of grammar error's I'm sure but I didn't have to time to look over it because I've gotta go…but point them out if you see any….
That was a hated chapter by probably everyone I'm sure. But don't worry.
This is not ending badly and they're not staying on Earth forever either.
So that might mean something.
So now what has happened?
Starfire is Kori and is "Perfect" in Slade's eyes so far.
I know I left the Robin and driver part out but I'm doing that in the next chapter.
Will Robin bash the driver's head in?
I know! But 'm not going to tell you. But it's pretty obvious isn't it? Is Robin really willing enough to hurt an innocent man? Maybe….lol…sorry if you consider this a cliffhanger and don't like it but this chapter is longer than the other one. So for me it's not good enough to end it there but I don't want to add too much that it will end in a cliffhanger.
OH! And the bracelet part is VERY VERY important. So keep in mind that little amulet of Starfire's because it MIGHT (Hint, Hint) come back in the story. Remember her mother's words about it? That it'll somehow come back to her?
Well anyways…..
Thanl you all my reviewers! I love you all! Thanks for helping me! And if it weren't for you I'd probably wouldn't have gotten this far. Well until next chapter!
OH wait I forgot…a lot of you are asking me who it is that dies.
I can't really tell you who but I'll minimize that people who don't die.
Don't Die:
Slade
Robin
Raven
So whom does that leave? Who will die? You'll just have to find out now won't you?
Well thanks again and remember to review! I can't believe I made it 100! And although to some of you GREAT writers who I admire and get over like 200 reviews or something, to me being my first fic and all, it's a lot so I must once again thank you.
Love your,
One-N-Only,
Princess Lali of both Spain and England.
P.S. I'm going to start the next chapter of Princess of Thieves now so don't worry that's coming soon. Not today maybe not tomorrow but soon I've been doing school shopping. Anyways…another note please read my profile and tell me which story you wish for me to right after this one is done. Okay? That is if it's there because something's up and for some reason it won't show up…but if it does. Please oh please tell me! My e-mails on it if any of you would like to contact me…ba-bye!