"Frassa'd?"
"Yes, milady?"
Blackfire sat up in her bed, exposing her naked torso to the nighttime air in her royal chambers. Small goose bumps formed on her arms and on her breasts as her bare skin was exposed to the Tamaranian chill that permeated the huge room through the open balcony.
"You are boring me."
Frassa'd also sat up in the bed, cautiously looking down at his now flaccid manhood.
"But milady … we have already mated three times tonight … I … I am spent."
Blackfire's eyes glowed with mischief.
"So, you are saying that I should replace you … with someone who has more … stamina?"
The young lieutenant's eyes widened with alarm.
"Milady …"
"Do you not find me to be stimulating, Frassa'd?"
"Milady … you ask for so much …"
"I ask for so much? My dear Frassa'd … I am a Princess of Tamaran. It is my birthright to demand so much."
"But my Princess … you ask for the impossible."
"You should be honored that I ask you for the impossible."
"Milady … it is not a lack of desire."
Blackfire reached over to what might have passed for a nightstand on the alien planet and retrieved a small translucent plastic bottle with a white cap on it. Frassa'd did not recognize it nor could he read the alien writing on it, which displayed the words "Walgreen's Pharmacy" in the English language. She shook the small plastic vial, which made a rattling sound.
"Frassa'd, tell me about the humans from Earth."
He shrugged. "What is there to say? They are flightless and weak."
"That is true, but did you know that they are unequaled as lovers across the galaxy?"
"I was unaware … but how is that possible? They are weak and puny."
"They are, except where it matters. Did you know that humans are obsessed with sex? Well, they are, even more than Tamaranians, and that says a lot. They have made an art form out of augmenting their sexual abilities … artificially when needed." She shook the vial again. "Do you know what I have here in this vial?"
"Is it an aphrodisiac?"
"No … not quite, it's the product of Earth pharmaceutical science." She opened the vial and shook it. A blue, diamond shaped pill landed in her palm. "Have you ever heard of Viagra, my dear Frassa'd?"
He stared at the pill in her hand. "No, milady, I have not."
"Take them … now." She slapped the vial into his hand.
"Take them? But these pills are for humans."
"They work on Tamaranians … I know from experience."
"How many should I take?" He stammered.
"As many as needed." She replied.
Still sitting on the bed, he looked cautiously at the alien pills. "Milady, please do not ask me to take these. I will go see the palace herbalist tomorrow, I promise."
"I'm not asking you, I'm ordering you. And don't waste your time with the herbalist, these pills work much, much better than anything she can give you. Like I said, I know this from experience."
Frassa'd gulped, dreading the prospect of consuming the strange pills. "Will they be harmful, milady?"
Before Blackfire could reply the huge wooden door to her room was kicked open. Frassa'd gasped when he saw Princess Starfire barge into the room. Her eyes were glowing a bright green and the expression on her face made his knees shake. She walked straight to him, and grasping his neck with her right hand she lifted him from the bed and shook him like a rag doll. He dropped the vial, which fell to the floor and spilled its contents.
"You … get out." She growled before throwing his naked form at the destroyed door. Oblivious to his nudity he got up from the floor, bolted and ran away. Starfire bent over and picked up the empty vial, reading the label on it.
"Viagra? I see that it is not only food that you have brought from Earth, am I right, sister?"
"Can you blame me, sis?" Blackfire replied as she rose from her bed and scooped up the spilled pills. "You have to give the humans credit, they make wonderful sex aids. Does your husband take Viagra? Or does he take something else … what is the name of those other pills, the ones they advertise with couples sitting in matching bathtubs?"
"My husband does not need such pills" Starfire's voice dripped with venom. "And my daughter does not need your Earth food!"
Blackfire, who remained oblivious to her own complete state of nudity, walked around the room.
"Oh, I was just being nice to her. You know that she hates our food. I guess it comes from having a half human palate."
"You are never nice."
"Now that is not true. I am nice … I'm also devious and conniving, but I can be nice at the same time."
"You will stay away from my daughter."
"But sis, I'm just trying to bond with our future Grand Ruler."
"What are you saying?" Starfire screeched. "And would you please put on a robe?"
Blackfire grinned as she complied with her sister's request. After tying the robe's velvet belt around her narrow waist she resumed speaking.
"I can never be the Grand Ruler again, because you deposed me."
"After you betrayed Tamaran to those disgusting sklurches."
"Yes, that was a calculated risk, and I almost pulled it off. And you … you voluntarily abdicated, so you're out of the running as well. That means that my dear niece is next in line for the throne and we both know that Galfore isn't getting any younger. And of course there is that little humanoid growing inside of you, that one is second in line for the throne."
"You have an ulterior motive and I will not allow you to act upon it … I banished you once, I order you to leave Tamaran again."
"Well, you see, you aren't the Grand Ruler anymore. And Galfore has pardoned me, because I helped out with a little skirmish Tamaran had with the Gordanians, back when you were playing superhero on Earth. So I'm not going anywhere, little sister."
"I forbid you from seeing my daughter."
"No can do, sis. You see, since the three of us are Princesses, by our laws I always have access to her. You should just chill, that's what they say on Earth, right? What harm can come to your sweet Mar'i eating Earth food that she is so homesick for, especially since we both know that the Earth is certain to be destroyed."
"I see that it is you who is planting these fears in her head. I should have expected such treachery from one as despicable as you."
"I'm just telling her the plain truth, what is wrong with that?"
"It is not the truth. A cure will be found for the plague and Earth will be saved."
Blackfire grinned. "Have I ever told you how endearing you are when you believe in fantasies? Suck it up sister … we both know that the Earth doesn't stand a chance. It's finished and if I was you I would extract your hubby from that impending holocaust before it's too late."
"You know not of what you speak."
Blackfire smirked.
"If you won't do it for him or even for yourself, do it for your offspring."
Starfire balled her fists. "I will speak with Galfore about this."
She turned and walked towards the destroyed door, where she stopped. "Enjoy your man whore tonight, sister, for tomorrow you will be banished from Tamaran."
-( scene break )-
"Oh, Sparky, you know how to make a girl feel good."
Karen purred as she curled up next to her boyfriend. His "soft" prosthetics felt real. Fortunately, the part of his body that had just given her so much pleasure was indeed real; he didn't lose it in the accident years before.
"It's what I do, baby."
"Well, you just keep on doing it, ok?"
Cyborg wrapped an arm around his petite lover and pulled her close to him. She responded by kissing him repeatedly on the neck, moaning happily between each kiss. He grinned and was about to return her kisses when his alarm clock began to chirp. He reached over and silenced it. There was a TV remote control on his nightstand, which he picked up.
"Oh baby, you aren't gonna watch TV now?"
"It's time for you know whose show." He replied as he turned on the set.
"Oh, him … I hate his guts."
"Me too, but I wouldn't miss it."
The flat screen hanging on the wall came to life, already tuned to the Gotham News Network. A man wearing what looked like a Bowler hat made of crinkled aluminum foil filled the screen.
"Hello dear viewers, welcome to the G. Gordon Godfrey show. Tonight my special guest is Major Slade Wilson, US Army, retired. Good evening, Slade."
"Good evening, G. Gordon."
Bumblebee sat up in the bed with a frown on her face. "I can't believe that Slade has the gall to appear on his show, how does he get away with it?"
"Technically, he hasn't broken any laws, though he and Godfrey are walking a fine line. They could be accused of inciting public unrest."
"Oh, Sparky, I so wanna bust Slade and throw his sorry butt into jail!"
"Get in line, babe, you got company, lots of company."
Godfrey continued speaking on the TV.
"As you all know, during the past few weeks I have been accused of being a conspiracy nut, simply because I have been reporting the truth. My reputation as a journalist has been attacked by several world governments, including the United States. The United Nations and the Justice League have also attempted to slander me, calling me a sensationalist and even a liar."
He removed the makeshift hat from his head and tossed it aside.
"But let me tell you something, friends. I don't wear a tin foil hat, regardless of what my detractors might say. All I do is report the facts and let you decide. You do remember that it was I who uncovered the story about the Earth being blockaded by the Green Lantern Corps. At first the powers that be, namely your elected officials, denied the blockade. Have you noticed that they no longer deny the blockade and instead have switched to denying the imminent invasion that is about to happen?"
The screen switched to a series of sound bites, where various leaders from around the globe vehemently denied that an alien invasion was imminent and questioned Godfrey's integrity, veracity and even his sanity.
"Well, that sounded convincing, didn't it? If they say there won't be an alien invasion then we have nothing to worry about, right? I mean … they wouldn't lie to us, would they?"
The next picture on the screen was that of an alien cruiser.
"This picture was sent to us by amateur astronomer Kevin Higgins, of Payson, Arizona. He has reported that this alien ship is in geosynchronous orbit above our fair world. Now some of you might already recognize this ship, but in case you don't, my colleague, Major Wilson, will give you the details … Slade?"
"Yes, G. Gordon, most people should recognize this vessel, as a very similar one nearly destroyed Jump City on the west coast, just over 14 years ago. It's a Gordanian cruiser, very similar to the one that was once commanded by Lord Trogaar."
"Could you tell us why Trogaar's ship was visiting Earth at the time?"
"Certainly … it was pursuing a fugitive, one they were entitled to retain under galactic law. This dangerous fugitive took refuge on our fair world, placing it in grave danger."
"Tell us, Slade, who was this fugitive?"
Old video footage of Starfire fighting with Robin, Cyborg and Beast Boy, was shown as Slade continued to narrate.
"It was none other than Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran, better known to most as the former Teen Titan called Starfire."
"So you are saying, Slade, that the Titans illegally interfered with the capture of the fugitive, who they later made her a member of their little band of underage vigilantes?"
"They most certainly did, and by aiding and abetting the fugitive they placed Jump City in great peril. The Gordanians became righteously infuriated at this interference. So what was the Titans' response? They attacked the Gordanians and destroyed their ship."
"So, Slade, what is your assessment of this new Gordanian ship?"
"Well, it's safe to assume that this isn't a goodwill visit."
"Meaning?"
"This means that my prediction of an invasion is about to come true. The truth, Gordon, is that we are helpless against a Gordanian fleet. Their technology is centuries ahead of ours, if not more. We are about to undergo a planetary wide invasion, all because of four meddlesome teenagers who just wouldn't mind their own business fourteen years ago."
"Slade, I'm certainly not a strategist … so what can we do about the Gordanians? How can we possibly defend ourselves? Will the Green Lantern Corps protect us?"
"We can't, we're outmatched and outgunned. As for the Lanterns, the Gordanians have the law on their side, so we can assume they will be assisting the Gordanians. But I do have a suggestion … we can give them a peace offering."
"What do you have in mind, Slade?"
"It's very simple, actually. We capture as many Titans as we can and turn them over to the Gordanians. Unfortunately this won't be easy. For instance, it has been reported that Starfire has already fled the Earth; most cowardly I might add, to her home world of Tamaran. The other four original Titans are still on our world. We should track them down and capture them, along with any other members of their extended Titans family, and deliver them to the Gordanians as a good will gesture. If we are lucky, they might take their prisoners and leave us unharmed."
"Screw that!" Cyborg shouted at the TV. "Does he really think the people will do that to us?"
Karen had an ashen look on her face. "Sparky … we might be in trouble."
"What? You think angry mobs are gonna storm the Tower with torches and pitchforks and capture us? There ain't gonna be no invasion, the government knows that, it's about the virus."
"And they want to keep that a secret … Sparky … I think we need to go into hiding."
"Say what? You gotta be kidding me. I ain't running away."
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud knocking on their door. It was Kole.
"Cyborg, Bumblebee, I don't mean to interrupt … there's a man from the local TV station on the phone. He wants to know if we're going to surrender voluntarily."
-( scene break )-
"I guess that will have to do." Nurse Washam replied. "Are you ready, doctor?"
"I suppose … how hard can it be?"
An alarmed looked swept over Raven's face. "Gar … you're going to deliver our baby? Do you even know what you're doing? You're an animal doctor!"
"It's close enough, Rave. And yes, I know what I'm doing."
Gar pulled a privacy curtain around them and help Raven change into a hospital gown. Once changed he led her back into the infirmary, where the nurse had already set up a med station for her. She took Raven from Gar, who vanished into a small room. The nurse helped Raven onto the med station, doing her best to make her comfortable as soon as she had settled in that another contraction had started. Raven remembered her breathing exercises and performed them, while she looked around the room.
Where the hell is he?
As if on cue a door opened and Garfield, dressed in surgical scrubs, returned to the infirmary. The nurse gently place Raven's feet in stirrups. It was then that Raven noticed that Alexa was nearby. She turned her head to face the buxom blond.
"Get the Trigon out. I don't want you here." Raven snarled at her.
"But what about Mark?" She replied. "Shouldn't he witness his sister's birth?"
"No, he shouldn't. Now get out before I send you to another dimension, and believe me, even in my current state I can still do it."
Raven glared at the women. "What are you waiting for? Get. Out."
Alexa picked up the boy and with a light harrumph she left the infirmary. Gar pulled another set of privacy curtains around the med station before sitting down at her feet. The nurse handed him a small ruler, which he used to measure her.
"Wow, you're already dilated 10 centimeters. It's time."
Raven raised her head and looked between her spread eagle legs. In between her legs she could see him in his scrubs. Years ago, when he was the team prankster, if anyone had told her that not only would he deliver her first baby, but he would be her husband and father of her child … well … she actually would have laughed, and she never laughed back then.
"Gar … I'm scared."
He gave her one of his signature smiles, with his little fang poking out of his mouth.
"I know, just remember, your body can handle this."
Raven nodded as he took her hand and squeezed it. "I know I'm supposed to be at your side, but I need to be down at the other end, I'm sorry Rave."
"I can get give you a sedative." The nurse interrupted.
"No! No drugs! I want to be fully lucid when my daughter is born."
The nurse stifled a smirk. She had heard that before. The only thing she wondered now was how loud Raven would scream as she gave birth. Then again, the gray woman was supposed to be a superhero, maybe she was made of steel or something.
Raven grimaced, another contraction was coming.
"How long is this going to take?" She asked through clenched teeth.
"She's crowning!" Gar cheered.
"You're almost there, sweetie." The matronly nurse reassured her. "On the next contraction, push. It will hurt like you won't believe, but it will be over soon."
Raven closed her eyes and began to whisper her mantra.
"Azarath, Mentrion, Zinthos …"
The contraction eased off and Raven exhaled as she relaxed. Gar abandoned his post and came to her side and kissed her. "You're doing great, hon."
"I hope you're right … Azar, a veterinarian is delivering our daughter."
Raven suddenly grimaced. "Oh Azar, the next one is starting!"
The Changeling ran back to his post, doing the best to hide the fact that he was terrified. He hoped that Raven was too busy dealing with her contraction to sense his fear.
"This is it, dear, push! Push as hard as you can." The nurse instructed her.
"It'll be OK, Raven!" He added.
Grabbing the special handles at the side of her bed with all her might, her face scrunched in agony, Raven pushed. And then she cried in pain. Without being told she continued pushing. Her eyes were screwed shut, so she couldn't see her husband, but she could hear him.
"You're almost there, keep pushing!" He shouted.
Suddenly, the pain lessened and was almost gone. Then she heard another sound, perhaps the sweetest sound she ever heard: Coraline began to cry.
"Where is she? I want to see her!" She shouted.
"Just a second, babe, I'm clearing her nasal passages."
Using a suction device he removed the goop that remained inside Coraline's nose. The child continued to cry while he wiped the layer of grease off her skin. With the umbilical cord still attached, he handed the child to her mother's open arms. Tears of joy streamed down Raven's face.
"Oh, Coraline, my daughter, you are so beautiful."
The nurse, with a happy smile on her face, watched the doctor tenderly kiss his wife. "You did great, Rae, just great." He proudly praised her.
The child had her mother's gray complexion and the nurse noticed that she had green hair, like her father. No one would question who her paternity. Washam was familiar with the hookup and swinging scene in the facility, and knew that other couples in the lab might need a DNA test to confirm paternity of a newborn. And speaking of hookups, she had a date that night with that sexy facilities engineer, a Hispanic man named Frank Marquez. Well, at least she thought he was sexy, even if he was 53 years old. She wasn't exactly a spring chicken herself, but she was still a woman. And she had already decided that unless he turned out to be a jerk that Frank might just be getting lucky later that night.
"Doctor, will you still need my assistance? I … uh … had plans for the evening."
"I have everything under control, Miss Washam, and so does Raven. Thanks for your assistance." He replied as he cut the umbilical cord and placed the afterbirth in a bucket.
Washam stepped into a changing room and after donning her civvies she stepped out. She gasped at the sight before her: Raven, still dressed in her hospital gown, was levitating in the air with her eyes closed. Gar, who was tending to Coraline, weighing her and giving the child her first bath, noticed the awe struck nurse.
"Doctor … what is she doing?"
He smiled at the nurse. "She's in a healing trance, once she's done, you won't be able to tell that she was pregnant."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I expect that her uterus will return to its normal size, and that any traumas, tears and stretching she might have endured during the birth will be gone."
"I don't believe it, that's amazing!"
He nodded his agreement. "It is, but she is an amazing woman, and I'm damn lucky that she's mine."
The nurse looked at the child, who was tightly wrapped in receiving blankets and was already asleep in her father's arms.
"Will she have any super powers?"
He shrugged. "Who knows? But I would be surprised if she didn't. Personally I'm hoping that she inherits powers from both of us."
"Amazing." She muttered to herself before leaving the infirmary.
-( scene break )-
Twilight was approaching the mountainside. Babs was suiting up, loading her utility belt with bolo ropes, batarangs and grappling guns. Nightwing was already outside the cave, checking the mountainside sensors on his portable scanner. So far there were no runners. As Babs emerged from the cave he noticed a UN helicopter approaching in the distance. He pointed at it and Babs nodded.
"I hope they have supplies this time. We're out of everything." She complained.
"I wouldn't hold my breath." He replied. "Something's going on, and I'm sick of being kept in the dark."
The chopper landed in a nearby clearing. A man, wearing a light blue UN beret and insignia that identified his rank as a Colonel hopped out of the helicopter and approached them. Nightwing was the first to speak.
"You'd better have supplies in there for us."
The Colonel was American; he was tall, muscular with a chiseled face.
"I'm sorry son." He replied with a Southern accent. "I didn't being any."
"How the hell are we supposed to do our job without them?" Babs snapped at him. He handed her a sheet of paper, which she quickly read. When she was done her arms dropped to her side and the paper fell from her hand.
"Batgirl … what is it?"
"It's your orders, son." The colonel answered for Babs.
"Our orders?"
The colonel nodded. "Your mission's over. The quarantine failed. There's nothing left for you to do here."
"What are we supposed to do?"
"Nothing. You're going home."
-( scene break )-
Multiple cliff hangers! Don't tell me you don't love it!
And once again, thanks for all the reviews! There were 37 for the previous chapter. That's about as many as I received for all the chapters of my first Teen Titans fan fic story, the since removed "A Square Peg in a Round Hole."
And now, mailbag time.
EP – I hope you enjoyed your vacation.
JOHNXgambit – Alexa has no idea of how lucky she is.
Felerial - Raven also has a willpower of steel
ToraHimeSama – Amazingly, Blackfire is under Galfore's protection … for now.
Guest – Nope, Mark is not a clone.
Kidstandout - You will find out eventually why Mark doesn't like Alexa.
Guest - I have been thinking about a part 2 for A House Divided. I just haven't been able to think of a good plot for it, and until I do, I won't write a second part.
MeowSaysKat – Three very different women.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast – I'll have to look into that.
DeeThom – There does seem to be some Babs/Grayson potential in the New 52. Babs did seem miffed when she found Dick with that childhood friend of his (Geez Grayson, a one night stand with a childhood friend?)
Katt In The Boxx – Because we still need Alexa in the story. She has a very pivotal role to play later.
SuperNolon – Alexa likes to play with fire.
Sweetums14 – The Chromatically Challenged Couple™ will always be true to each other.
Bri - I will do my best!
chica13 - Yeah!
Randamwriter – I'm sure Rage would love to see Alexa's head on a pike. Lucky for Alexa Rage isn't in charge.
Pb03 – Poor Eddie (Kid Devil). I thought it sucked that Rose didn't mourn his death.
gabylokita41 – Alexa really does deserve a terrible fate.
BartWLewis – Will Alexa be on the receiving end of a well deserved end? Or will she slip away like Blackfire always does?
Bluedog197 – Alexa seems pretty forward. Makes you wonder what she's really up to.
Me – Thanks!
Anoymous136 – Raven thanks you for your kind words.
TJSC25 – Poor Babs, she's really had a tough life.
bigC94 - And even more activity in this one!
The Cretin – There is a saying: "You can have as many wives as you want, just one at a time." And good thing too, I can't even begin to imagine the complex dynamics in a polyamorous relationship. And yes, that was a really long and thoughtful review. Thanks!
Shadico – BB will find out soon enough.
Its me again - I suppose that being in their controlled environment they feel safe enough to indulge.
KroovyRed – Thanks, knowing that you hate her means I did a good job with her.
spartan585 – Unlike in say "Carved in Stone" they will remain faithful to each other.
js12601 – BB is going to be ticked off!
Wolf of IndigoRiver – I haven't decided if he will cheat or not. If he doesn't, he will come dangerously close.
titanfan45 – That was pretty ballsy of Alexa, to refer to herself as the "senior wife", with full rights to BB's body.
mlbv-grimm – She's now officially a mom.
JasonVUK – We found out that Mark is NOT a clone.
Maddielove95 – The full truth about Mark won't be revealed until the very end … so be patient
Chayse-man - For the breaking water?
Dragonkyng – That would be sinister!