Hours later, she found herself within her old chamber within the castle. Galfore was gone and the Gordanians were still a threat. She and Ryand'r were to attend the peace talks with them this afternoon, but she didn't expect much progress from them. The Gordanians were a stubborn race and proud, terribly proud, especially of their conquests in battle. She wondered then…what would be her next plan of action for Tamaran…would she declare war upon the Gordanians or would she appease them, in hopes that they would not continue to cause such destruction upon her planet? What of the Titans; was she to leave them now? And of course, underlying all her thoughts was Galfore to which she clung onto his memory in hopes that it would alleviate her sorrow.

Her thoughts were interrupted as a sentry entered within the room, announcing Cyborg's entrance into her room. He was downcast as he saw her. "So I take it that you won't be returning…at least for a while?"

"Cyborg, it would be my greatest wish to return to earth and rejoin the Titans, but Tamaran needs me now."

The half robot nodded. "I understand, and I've told the others everything…everything that's happened."

"I thank you, and since the transporter is no longer working, I have asked a Tamaranean ship to standby by to return you to earth whenever you wish to." She impulsively hugged Cyborg as he gasped for air. "I thank you for everything Cyborg, for your great help…and please, pass on my thanks to everyone."

"I-I didn't do that much Star…my transporter didn't even work too well." He gave her a lopsided smile as he handed the device to her and tapped it with his finger. "Look, it's damaged after one measly -" Suddenly, she was shrouded by nothingness once again…this time she hadn't minded as much, but when she opened her eyes again, they were within the main room of the tower, and the device within her hand looked completely damaged, beyond repair.

"Man, Star! That wasn't supposed to happen…it was supposed to be broken and-"

She interrupted him quickly. "You need not concern yourself, it was an accident."

The other Titans, upon hearing their voices had rushed into the main room, surprised to see them there within the room, as an awkward silence hung about the room. Robin's voice finally penetrated the silence as he spoke up. "I thought that you had to stay on Tamaran…" It was more of a question, a question to which he wanted to hear a hopeful answer from.

"I…there was an accident with Cyborg's transporter and-" But before she could finish, to her surprise, Robin had his arms around her and held her close…embracing her. "Star, Cyborg told us everything…I'm so sorry…" Soon, Beast Boy approached them and he quickly hugged her from the side, as Cyborg placed a hand upon her shoulder. Finally, Raven approached them and placed a hand upon her other shoulder. "If you need to talk…I'm sure that anyone of us will be more than willing to do so."


She was back within her room, preparing for bed, adhering to her regular schedule as if nothing had changed, although she knew perfectly well that everything was now different. She thought it odd how merely a few days ago; she had been in the same position within her room, staying awake…however for far different reasons. Then, she was worrying about Tamaran and how she had received no form of communication from them…and now, she was relieved that she would, at least have a few more days or weeks of peace since the peace talks had proved to be successful. Although she was certainly joyous to have several more days, at the very least, with the Titans for she wasn't yet required on Tamaran, she felt a soft emptiness hang about her. Happy, touching moments, many of which she would have loved to share with Galfore, only to be reminded that she could no longer do so. And sometimes, in the nights, when the memories became too overwhelming, too reminiscent of the fact that they would never be able to create more wonderful memories again, the tears would fall from her face.

The peace talks had gone well, mainly because, as Robin had later told her, of the "deal" he had struck with Warp earlier. The Gordanians, for the time being, would be satisfied with the solar energy producers that Red X had stolen. They were clearly satisfied, because as Ryand'r later told her, they had agreed to every term that the Tamaraneans set: that they would punish the guerilla organizations involved with the past attacks on Tamaranean cities, that they would have stricter laws for enforce the organizations, and that only trade ships from the Gordanians would be allowed in Tamaran. It was a great accomplishment, yet she couldn't help wondering how long the Gordanians would remain so acquiescent and agreeable.

She jumped slightly as she heard a soft rapt upon her door. "Please, come in."

She smiled pleasantly as Robin entered her room, glad to be in the presence of her best friend. "Hey Star…so how are you-how are you…holding up?" He seemed, for once, unsure of how to phrase his words as he leant against her wall, one foot propped against the wall.

"I-I am well."

A momentary pause ensued as neither of them was quite sure what exactly to say to one another. Starfire, not quite comfortable yet, with expressing in words how she felt of Galfore's passing and how it affected her, while Robin wanted to speak to her about something that had been weighing upon his mind for quite some time. What he wished to express…what he had finally come to realize wasn't yet formulated into words, but rather it had surfaced and he had finally acknowledged it the other day during the fateful encounter with Warp and Red X that seemed to have begun everything. He began, slightly unsure of what he wanted to truly express. "I think that I've come to realize something the other time when we had that battle with Red X and Warp." He paused, and although he wished greatly to properly express what laid abstractly within his mind, the words would not become concrete as he hoped that they would be. "Star…be careful; be more careful…please."

But she seemed to understand as a warm grin formed upon her face. "I will, only if you promise to as well; we certainly do not want an injured titan leader."

"We wouldn't want a hurt Tamaranean leader either…I'm glad-really glad that you're back with us. So I guess our next task would be Warp and see if he was truthful that all he would get out of his deal would be artifacts in the future."

"Robin, I do not mean to override your position as leader of the Titans, but Robin…I believe that we need not worry about Warp at present. We-no one but him knows the truth of the future and how greatly valued the artifacts from my planet except for him, and that is out of our responsibility at the moment. In all honesty, I am more concerned about the Gordanians."

"The Gordanians?" Robin raised his brows in slight surprise. "But Star, I thought that the peace talks had gone well."

"Yes, they had gone well and that is why I am able to remain a titan. The Gordanians, though, are a proud race; necessity for energy, currently, drove them to meet our terms. I am nearly sure that this course of action will cause some dissent among the Gordanians for it is humiliating for them to, in essence, acquiesce completely to our demands."

Robin sighed, realizing that he situation was not as simple as he had assumed, that a simple peace talk could end a conflict between two planets. "So we basically just appeased them?"

"Yes…Robin, I believe that despite the current circumstances, war on Tamaran is inevitable."


She stood alone atop the tower. With the transporter still broken and in need of several weeks time of repairs, it had been impossible for her to arrive in Tameran for Galfore's funeral. Instead, they watched in respectful silence as it was broadcast to the Titan's tower. It had been an elaborate funeral, worthy of the contributions of Galfore's life filled with Tamaranean warriors, weapons saluted high in the air as Galfore's casket was slowly carried through the dusty, cavernous roads towards the pyre, awaiting the appointed Grand Ruler. Ryand'r's words, his eulogy, was touching...she couldn't have depicted Galfore's life in a better manner. Her little Ryand'r was becoming quite a capable speaker and ruler. Although the official funeral proceedings were long ended, no one moved to leave; everyone stood in reverential silence and awaited as they watched the warm flames enshroud his body and transform it in grey ashes scattered upon a fading pyre.

She uttered a Tamaranean prayer softly to the skies and then slowly began the task she set out to complete...her own formal farewell to Galfore. She plucked petals from pale pink and lavender roses and gently opened her palms to the wind as she let the breeze catch the petals within its wispy grasp. One by one, the petals fluttered into the air, shakily wavering as they flew from her palm. In silence she remembered...tickles like feathers against her skin, his scent and how it reminded her of strength, hugs that made her feel as if she was more precious to him than anything he had ever encountered, warming words-brilliant and beautiful as the stars across the celestials, love...the love of a father that she would perhaps never experience again. Yet as she watched the petals glide across the skies, the clouds, she felt her sorrow subside and become thankfulness, then joy that she was blessed enough to experience the presence, the friendship, and the love of such a wondrous being as Galfore.

"I shall miss you greatly indeed, my knorf'ka."


Fin