SLADE! Was Starfire's first thought. She jumped away from him and prepared for an attack. Upon seeing this she saw him simply raise his hands and start to talk.

Slade: "your senses are untrained. I didn't even try to conceal my presence"

Starfire: "what are you doing here? Did you plan this? How did you get those robots?"

Slade calmly said: "Brother Blood will supply distractions, at a cost. And this has cost me a lot. But it can cost your friends more." He motioned to her communicator. Robins voice was yelling out of it " I can't find a way to stop this meltdown with these robots attacking" Cyborg was yelling something about 30 seconds and Raven's voice was heard over concussion blasts on her shield. She was saying something about Beastboy and a hospital. Slade continued : "I can save your friends for a minute of your time" he paused looking at her, she heard her friend's panicked voices coming over the communicator and looked up at him and nodded. He pushed the button and she heard the Titans voices coming from her device. The relief was evident in their voices, as was their confusion.

Cyborg's voice rang out "That was close, Robin. I'm glad you got it shut down"

Robin sounding confused "I didn't do anything. It just seemed to shut off on it's own. Maybe there is a failsafe built in"

Raven's voice came out "the robots stopped attacking suddenly as if confused, I got Beastboy in an ambulance that was nearby."

Starfire glared at Slade "why did you do this? And why would you suddenly stop?"

Slade remained calm "I didn't set this up to harm the Titans. Or the city. I did this to collect what is owed me" and his eye narrowed at her "and I expect you to honor your debt"

Starfire stepped back "Me? You did this because of me? But I don't owe you anything"

Slade replied "You owe me your life. In exchange for saving the life of your only family" He held up Blackfire's shirt. Starfire was in shock.

Slade continues "so if you are done talking, we will take our leave" Starfire didn't budge.

Starfire: "This has to be some kind of trick. You couldn't have saved my sister, you don't even know her"

Slade sighed and pushed the button again. Starfire heard her friends voices panic thru the communicator and she turn to him threateningly "Turn it off"

Slade (always calm) "girl don't presume to order me. Now do what your laws and your honor demands. Take up the debt of your family" he still held out the shirt."

Starfire was confused and panicked. How did you get that? it belongs to my sister"

Slade: "Yes. the sister you left to die on a foreign world. I rescued her. Your only remaining family. I saved her life. But she has no honor it seems. She left her debt for you to pay. How much like her are you?"

Slade tossed Starfire an Ipod with one video which was already playing. Starfire watched and listened in shock at the words Blackfire uttered. ""Fine, I am in your debt. Take the shirt off my back. I think you know where to find my sister" Blackfire had flown off, but Starfire couldn't. The laws and her duty were clear. She had to repay the debt her family owed. But, should she really serve such an evil man? This was too much for her. "I can't abandon my friends" she said softly

Slade stepped toward her "like you abandoned your sister? Like you abandoned your world? I wont let you shirk this responsibility."

Starfire bowed her head. She had abandoned her sister. She had often wondered what Blackfire would do after being banished. She knew it was probably her actions that had left Blackfire in whatever situation Slade had rescued her from. This made her feel worse. She knew she had left Tamaran in the hands of a good man. But still, it was not his responsibility. It was hers.

Slade pressed on "Your laws and your honor demands you fulfill your duty."

Starfire was in chaos. She knew he was right but she did not want to serve this evil man. Pictures flashing thru her mind reminding her of Tamaranian folklore, heroes who died rather than dishonor themselves. And of the evil ones who believed that cowardice was preferred over their honor, suffering fates far worse than death. Also an emperor who had no honor came to mind. He had stained the history of Tamaran for hundreds of years. Even today his name was known. His name had been Troq.

Slade knew she was on the verge of giving in so he pressed on "when someone abandons their honor they are a coward. When royalty has no honor they reflect all of Tamaran. What is your decision? Will you fulfill your debt or are those who call your people Troq correct?" he stepped toward her with the shirt still in his hand

Starfire's head was spinning. The words he said were all true. She did have to take up the mantle her sister left her. She did have to keep her honor, both for herself and for Tamaran. An old Tamaranian saying coming to mind "The greatest heroes persevere through their trials with honor"

Starfire sighed, looked up into his eye. Without a word she then stripped off her shirt, took the one Slade offered and took upon herself the mantle of Blackfire's debt.

Slade pushed the button on the controller again turning off the threat against Starfire's friends, he no longer had a need to threaten them. The last thing Starfire heard as she placed the communicator on the floor next to her garment and flew off with Slade was the relief in the voices of her friends and one Titan asking "anyone see Starfire?"