Sorry, work was busy last few weeks.

I dont own anyting or anyone, dont sue me. Teen Titans is on Cartoon network and in DC Comics.

The Titans had been very busy, Raven and Robin spent the hours pouring thru every single book Starfire had brought from her homeworld. By the third day Robin had to take a break to patrol the city. The long hours of reading had finally gotten to him. Cyborg and Beastboy went with him to stop a minor villain who was holding a bank hostage.

When they came back Raven had some news for them. "Keeping in mind that Tamarian people think differently than humans" she began "They let their emotions govern their actions a lot more than logic. Most human laws are reflected on Tamaran but worded differently. Also, I found a lot of their laws derive from customs that date back thousands of years. I believe I found what Slade is using to control Starfire." She now had their complete attention, so she continued "There is an ancient custom called Allekk Kzzahash or Life Debt. A basic translation would mean if your life is spared by another than you owe it to them. This seems to be based on primitive tribal laws which evolved from generation to generation. The person cannot be affiliated to you, family, friends, neighbors, relatives all are expected to come to your aid if needed are exempt, but this law was a basis for different villages and cultures to come to the aid of those they do not even know, even if they have no reason. It helped bring the warring tribes together and the repayment of these debts were usually ceremonial. But it could be anything from planting crops to watching your children while you hunt or go to war. But, if someone owes a life debt and cannot or will not repay this debt then they are shunned as a coward and a member of your family must step forward in your stead and repay it. If the family refuses to repay this debt they are shunned and the family name is discrased. The shirt Starfire wears symbolizes that she is serving such a debt not as herself, but as her sister Blackfire."

Beastboy spoke up "So, to even out this debt, all Starfire has to do is save Slade's life?"

Raven replied " No, it's not that simple. She has to do Slade's will, even if it involves saving his life once or a hundred times. Her debt is not repaid by returning the favor because she is only doing what is expected of her."

Cyborg was confused "So, all Slade had to do is set up an ambush for a tamaranian, then save them from the danger to have a servant for life?"

Raven shook her head "It isn't that simple. Like I said Tamarians are a lot more emotional, they wouldn't think like that. The savior can't be connected in any way to the person who is saved. Comrades in battle, family, neighbors, friends don't count. With all of Tamaran united under the throne, everyone is supposed to aid their countrymen and women, so they would all be exempt, which explains why this law is almost never used or referred to. Also, whatever Slade saved Blackfire from, he can't have set it up in any way or it is also nullified and Starfire is freed."

Robin spoke up "Good work Raven. Have you read anything about how to get Starfire to out from under this debt?"

Raven's look turned darker "I remember Starfire telling me a few stories about this sort of thing. She seemed to like this kind of history. Also, I read about some of the heroes and heroins from their folklore who were put in a similar situation, owing their lives to villains. In almost every case the hero dies."

Robin said almost silently remembering his time with Slade. "Slade would never harm his apprentice"

Raven continued with a slight nervousness in her voice "They died by their own hand, Robin, in almost every case. It was always for some glorious reason or another, but basically they would die killing the villain or they would kill the villain and then kill themselves to appease the debt they owed. And the reason that was most prevalent was that it was for the good of Tamaran" the last part reflecting what Starfire had said on the day she fought her sister.

The Titans looked concerned. They often heard Starfire talking about her homeworld, but it seemed so alien to them that they never paid much attention. They now regretted their lack of attention to their friend. Cyborg spoke up "You said almost every case?"

Raven shook her head "Think of it like American folklore, the cowboy always ended up rescuing the damsel in distress, and the villain always wound up dead. Not all Westerns have that ending, but the stories that end differently nobody remembers. Tamaranians are more connected to the emotional sacrifices. Had the hero lived, he did not pay a price for his victory. There are a few examples of Tamaranians surviving their ordeals, but that is mostly through cowardice. There are facts that link many of the stories to historic reference. One of them is a story about an Emperor whose life was saved by an alien who invoked a life debt on him for a simple, ceremonial task. The emperor refused to be controlled and led a great army to attack and kill the one to whom he owed his life. The resulting conflict nearly resulted in a galactic war against Tamaran. The emperor brought Tamaran great shame. His name was Troq."

Cyborg remembered the time he had used that name. He spoke up "So, basically, Star believes if she doesn't do as Slade says she will disgrace herself and all of Tamaran for hundreds of years?"

Raven shrugged "It's happened before."