The Princess smothered her husband in deep, passionate kisses. Nightwing's face had yet to recover from the shock of seeing her not only in the Tower, but anywhere on Earth for that matter. His eyes darted around the room and he was able to see the happy and approving looks on his teammates' faces, until he saw Babs, who had her hands on her shapely hips and a mischievous smirk on her face, which seemed to scream "I told you so."
Cyborg stepped forward and tapped Starfire on her shoulder. "I know you're excited to see him, little lady, but can I have a quick word with your man?" He asked with a huge smile.
Starfire loosened her vise like hug on her spouse. "Very well, but only for a moment, as I wish to celebrate my reunion with him … in private."
"Once I'm done with him, Star, he's all yours. I even have a room you guys can use."
Starfire beamed happily as she released her masked man and stepped aside. Cyborg was still grinning as he approached his teammate and leaned forward, with his arms behind his back.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!? NOBODY KNEW! NOT EVEN BATS! WE WERE ALL WORRIED SICK! WOULD IT HAVE REALLY KILLED YOU TO LET US KNOW YOU WERE OK!?"
Grayson had a shell shocked look on his face and was unable to reply. Fortunately for him, Babs came to the rescue. "It was the UN's decision, not ours, to maintain radio silence until we got home."
"And why was that?" Cyborg asked in a now calmer though still edgy voice.
"Uh … the crowd outside?" She asked rhetorically.
"They told us about the Godfrey and Slade's bounty." Nightwing gestured at the Osprey in the hangar.
The jet's pilot stepped forward. "If it's all the same with you folks, we'd like to leave now."
"You might want to stay, Major. They have a BFG-9000 out there. A direct hit and you'd be toast." Bumblebee informed him.
"A BFG-9000? How the hell did they get their hands on one of those?"
"It must have been Slade." Cyborg grumbled. "Who else would have one?"
"Are you finished with the yelling?" Starfire asked.
"Sorry Star, yeah he's all yours now."
Without saying another word she grabbed Nightwing and flung him over her shoulder, so that he was hanging head down with his butt sticking up. She then took off flying with him still flopped over her shoulder.
"It's room 714!" Bumblebee shouted as the couple vanished down the hallway.
"Huh! Someone's getting laid tonight." Cyborg muttered to himself.
"Don't be jealous, Sparky. If you want some, just ask." She winked at him. "You know I never have a headache, right?"
-( scene break )-
Once inside the privacy of the bedroom she put him down and slammed him into the wall. Even though he was wearing his costume the impact hurt, though he did not betray his discomfort. Her eyes were solid green and her irises had vanished. She was breathing in that unique, rhythmic way she always did when she wanted him.
"Kory …"
She covered his mouth with her hand.
"Do not speak … just do." She growled at him in a dangerous yet sultry voice.
She removed her hand and kissed him. He felt his legs go rubbery. She could kiss, oh could she ever. Part of him just wanted to surrender. She easily exteriorized sweet innocence, but he knew better. She knew how to bring out the animal in him, even under ordinary circumstances. He had missed her so much, and until just a few minutes ago feared he would never see her again and he could feel his primal self swell within his chest.
He knew that part of the equation was her alien pheromones. She always released them for him and for that he was grateful. He wasn't an "experienced" lover, but he knew that Star was special. Every time they were intimate it was so powerful that he would scream in delicious agony and felt as if he was going to die. Babs was good, but she never made him feel that way. And he had been longing for Kory's touch, just one more time, before he died. In fact, he would have gladly given his life to experience her one last time. She really was that good.
And that's why it was so hard to do what he did next: he pushed her away.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He shouted at her.
She grabbed his Nomex costume with both her hands and lifting him like a rag doll she slammed him into the wall again.
"I came for you!"
"That wasn't the plan!"
"I changed the plan!" She snarled at him before pulling his shirt off.
"You did what? Without consulting me?"
"I do not need to consult with you, you are mine and I came for you!"
He shook his head in dismay.
"How did you even get past the blockade? Didn't the Green Lanterns stop you?"
"Raven arranged it with the Lantern named Jordan."
Starfire ripped his mask off and tossed it aside. He looked furious. "I should have known that she was behind this. And Hal too. Wait … you did leave Mar'i with Galfore on Tamaran, right?"
"I could not; my sister was trying to corrupt her. I will deal with Blackfire when this ordeal is over."
"What!? You mean our daughter is here on Earth too!"
"I left her in Raven's care, she is perfectly safe. And Raven has given birth. Coraline is a beautiful child."
"Safe? Star, we lost control of the pandemic, it's beginning to spread around the globe. Unless Beast Boy and the other scientists can find a cure immediately, Earth is lost. You and Mar'i have returned here just to die."
"I have not lost hope in our friends."
"And what if they fail?"
Starfire tensed up and looked away from him. "Raven has an escape plan."
"You mean that we would bail and leave the world to die?"
"There is nothing you or I can do to save the Earth. If it comes to the point where Earth will be destroyed, then we must escape."
"But that's … cowardly."
"The human race must be preserved. Raven says that she can circumvent the blockade and transport hundreds of uninfected people to another dimension, where we would prepare to re-establish the human race on another world."
"Raven's Ark? Who would have thought?"
"She has always been very clever."
He sat down on the edge of the bed in the room. "I understand what you're saying … I just can't cope with the idea that we can't save the Earth. We've saved it so many times before."
"This time, there is no villain to defeat. It is just a virus. It does not think or feel, it just fulfills its genetic function. We cannot defeat it with bird-a-rangs or star bolts."
She saw the frustration in his eyes and sat down next to him.
"I hate being helpless. The idea of running away bothers me, even if it is to prevent humanity's extinction. I feel like a failure."
She cupped his face with her palm, making him face her.
"Richard John Grayson … you are not now, nor have ever been, a failure."
He gave her a weak smile. "Thanks, it's good to know that you still believe in me."
"I will never stop believing in you."
She took his hand. "Let us not worry about the problems of the world, at least not right now." Her eyes began to glow and he could smell the torrent of pheromones she was secreting into the air. He suddenly felt a primal arousal course through his body and felt his own manhood swell in size. He began to breathe very deeply and heavily.
"Star?"
"Yes?" She seemed to purr at him like a cat.
"I think we have some unfinished business."
"Then … let us finish it."
Years later, when reminiscing in his old age, he always agreed with himself that was the best roll in the hay they ever had. And they had plenty that were outright fantastic.
-( scene break )-
Galfore looked at the empty chair out of the corner of his eye. Her absence did not go unnoticed by anyone. It was true, during the last council meeting she had been shot down for her request to re-banish her sister, but that was not an excuse to shirk her duty on the council. As the handouts for the meeting, which that day would cover proposed treaties with other worlds, were being distributed by an attractive clerk who was dressed only in what on Earth would have been considered a skimpy bikini, Galfore beckoned one of the guards to approach.
"Find the princess, and tell her that I expect her to …"
Galfore's tirade was interrupted by a senior palace guard who burst into the council chambers unannounced. Galfore narrowed his eyes, as he felt the displeasure of being interrupted swell in his chest. The senior guard approached him and leaned over, whispering confidentially into his ear.
"Grand Ruler … there has been an incident with Princess Kommand'r"
"What kind of incident?" Galfore growled.
"Perhaps it would be best if you saw it in person."
Galfore gestured at General Kessa'd, who followed him out of the council chamber.
"I will return soon."
The three men filed out of the chamber.
"What happened that you wouldn't tell me in the presence of the council?"
"Forgive me, Grand Ruler, but I felt that discretion was appropriate."
"You still haven't told me what happened to Kommand'r?"
The guard shrunk back, bracing himself to deliver the bad news.
"The Princess, I am afraid she has been murdered."
Galfore froze, every muscle in his massive body tensed up. His face exploded in surprise and shock.
"You are certain of this?"
"Yes, sir, we found her body in her room."
Galfore resumed walking, this time at a brisk pace. He then stopped in his tracks.
"Has any seen Princess Koriand'r?"
The guard shook his head. "No one has seen her. We are currently searching for her."
Galfore's heart sank. "How did this happen?"
"Perhaps it is best if you see for yourself, Grand Ruler."
Galfore nodded and he resumed walking. General Kessa'd was next to him. As though he could the former Knorfka's mind, he asked him the question.
"Galfore, you do not believe that this was Koriand'r's doing?"
The Grand Ruler grimaced.
"I have failed her, Kessa'd. I should never have allowed her to return to Earth with those human juveniles. Earth is a wild and violent world, my friend. Humans might be feeble, but they are vicious. She has been corrupted by them and it is all my fault."
"But Galfore … would she murder her sister?"
"You saw how she reacted at the meeting. She wanted Kommand'r banished without a reason."
"I still think that is a big leap, from banishment to murder."
"It is the human way, General. Do you have any idea of how many murders are committed on Earth?"
"I suppose they are as numerous as the stars in the sky … but Koriand'r isn't human."
Before Galfore could reply they reached the room. The door was guarded by two armed sentinels, who parted and allowed the visitors to enter. Blackfire was still where she collapsed, crumpled like an old rag doll on the floor. The Grand Ruler slowly approached her corpse and knelt down next to her.
Her eyes were still open and with his massive fingers he gently closed them. It was then that he noticed the hole in her chest. It was about four inches in diameter and the tissue around the wound was seared.
"This was blaster shot. A star bolt could not have done this."
"Yes sir, we know that it was not the Princess who murdered her." The senior guard replied.
"That is a relief. We must find the criminal who committed this vile crime. This evildoer must not escape from Tamaran!"
"We have already found him, Grand Ruler."
"Excellent! Bring him to me, I wish to speak with him, and then I kill him with my own hands!"
"I am afraid that won't be possible, sir."
"I said I wish to see him now!"
The senior guard nodded at another man, who took a few steps and stopped next to what looked like a crumpled blanket on the floor and pickedt it up. Galfore frowned when he saw the second corpse, which was missing most of its head.
"We have already identified him, my lord. He is Frassa'd."
"The Princess's lover?"
"Yes sir. We believe that this was a murder suicide, we estimate thar it happened about 8 hours ago … her chambermaid discovered the bodie . The size of their wounds fit in perfectly with the distance between them. The princess was shot in the back and he shot himself in the head after killing her."
Galfore winced upon hearing the explanation. "This is a dark day for Tamaran. Did he leave a note?"
"No sir, he did not."
"Then we will never know why he did it. The only good news is that this exonerates Koriand'r from any wrongdoing … we need to locate her and share this grisly news. She was not close to her sister, but she will mourn her death nonetheless."
The room fell quiet as Galfore returned to Blackfire's side and caressed her face with his index finger.
"You may take her now. We will have to prepare a Royal funeral for her." The Grand Ruler commanded in a somber voice.
"And Frassa'd?" The general asked.
"Throw his body into the vermin pit. And inform his family of his treason before it is made public knowledge."
Kessa'd bowed to the Grand Ruler as another man entered Blackfire's room. It was Galfore's personal aid, an old friend, a commoner named Chysyk. He rushed to Galfore's side.
"What is it, my friend?" Galfore asked him.
"Has anyone seen Koriand'r or her daughter?"
"No one has … how did you know she was missing?"
Chysyk sighed. "There has been activity on the secret base. A maintenance crew just arrived at the base … Galfore … the ship … it's gone, it left about 8 hours ago."
"Who took it?"
"The princess's codes were used. It was Koriand'r."
Galfore heaved a frustrated sigh.
"Where she go?"
"She did not record that in the base's log, but based on the warp trail, which is now weak, we believe she might have gone to the Sol star system, though there is only a 30% probability of that."
Galfore bowed his head frowned. "There is no doubt that she has returned to Earth, to be with her mate."
"But Earth is …"
"Under quarantine, guarded by the Green Lantern Corps and will soon be destroyed. We are now back to our original problem, my friend."
"We must extract her from Earth, before it is too late. But Galfore, that means war with the Lanterns."
"I know, it is a war we cannot win. But Tamaran cannot lose its last two princesses. We have to try."
"It will be difficult."
"That it will, but we will show the Lanterns what Tamaran and Tamaranians are made of."
Kessa'd overheard the conversation and snapped to attention. "What are your orders, Grand Ruler?"
"Have every available warrior report for duty and prepare the fleet. We are going to war, General."
Kessa'd bowed again. "Yes, Grand Ruler, it shall be as you command."
Galfore, followed by Chysyk, stepped out onto the balcony and he stared into the perpetually dark Tamaranian sky. He quickly found Sol in the firmament. In the past he would frequently gaze at it, always thinking of her.
"Koriand'r, my child … what have you done?"
-( scene break )-
Just minutes after Starfire vanished into Raven's portal; Coraline woke up and began to cry. Nightstar ran to the bassinet, and stared, enraptured at the infant.
"Why is she crying?"
"Well, she's hungry."
"Are you going to feed her?"
"Yes, but I need to check her diaper first."
Raven spread a towel on the bed, then unwrapped the infant from her receiving blanket and placed her on the bed. The gray baby kicked and jerked with her arms and legs while her mother undid her disposable diaper.
"Eww … she pooped. And it stinks." Nightstar scrunched her nose.
Raven calmly cleaned her daughter's bottom, applying all of the expected ointments to prevent a diaper rash before wrapping her up in a fresh nappy.
"It's what babies do. Now it's time to feed her."
Raven sat down on a rocking chair and after exposing one of her breasts she began to nurse her daughter. Mar'i watched in wonder.
"You have big boobies, Aunt Raven."
Raven smiled. "When you have a baby, they get bigger."
"To make the milk for the baby?"
"Exactly. Once Coraline gets older and stops nursing, my breasts will return to their normal size, though Gar won't be happy about that."
"Why would Uncle Gar be not be happy?"
"Uh … never mind, you'll understand when you're older."
Nightstar gave her a puzzled look, which quickly disappeared. The girl gently caressed the infant's face.
"She's so soft … she feels like a peach."
Raven chuckled. "Isn't it amazing Mar'i? We were all once this small."
"Was Mark this small?"
Raven shrugged. "He had to be."
"Did he like to nurse, just like Coraline?"
"Mar'i … this is going to be a bit complicated. Mark is Uncle Gar's son … but he isn't my son. He's Coraline's half brother … he has a different mommy than Coraline does."
The girl looked confused. "Why does he have a different mommy? Why aren't you his mommy?"
"Has your mother explained to you how babies are made?"
The child nodded. "Yes, I know about the man's seed and the mommy's egg coming together."
"Do you know how that happens?"
"Yes, mommy showed me in some books. She says it feels nice to do it."
"It does … Mar'i … long before Gar and I were married, he had a … girlfriend … and … they did what you saw in the book. Mark is their son. They didn't plan on having a baby, and … there are things you can do so you won't have a baby. They did those things … but for some reason it didn't work."
"That was in the book too … it was called contra-something."
"Contraception. People do that now so they can control the number of babies they have, but the thing about contraception is that sometimes it doesn't work. Mark's mommy wasn't planning on having a baby."
"Aunt Raven, why did Uncle Gar share his seed with Mark's mommy?"
Raven sighed. It was true; kids did ask the darnedest questions.
"I'm afraid that you wouldn't understand, and when you're older you'll understand without anyone telling you why. All I can say is that he wishes he hadn't done that."
"Why? Does he hate Mark?"
Raven shook her head. "No, he doesn't hate him, he loves him. It's just that having children with more than one woman can be … tricky. He's my husband, and that makes things … awkward with Mark's mommy."
Nightstar had a sad look on her face. "What's going to happen with Mark?"
"Well … when we're done here at the lab I suppose that he'll go home with his mommy. Gar will see him occasionally, but not very often. Mark and his mommy live in Metropolis, we live in Jump City."
"Mark needs his daddy." The child blurted out. All children need their daddy."
Raven nodded sadly.
"I know he does, but unfortunately, it doesn't always work out the way it should."
The door to the bedroom opened and a sleepy faced Mark emerged. As soon as he saw Nightstar he smiled and ran straight to her.
"Hi!"
"Hi!" She replied.
"Who are you? Are you also my sister?"
"Think of her as a cousin." Raven interjected.
"What's a cousin?"
Raven gave him one of her small smiles. "It's almost like a sister, but not quite."
The boy glanced at the princess. "My name's Mark, what's yours?"
"My name is Mar'i."
"Will you play with me?"
"Uh … sure … what do you want to play?" She asked.
"Playtime will have to wait." Raven interrupted, "It's dinnertime and the dining hall doesn't stay open all night."
"Aunt Raven, what's a dining hall?"
"It's like a restaurant; we don't have kitchens in our apartments, so we all eat in the dining hall, but we have to go at certain times."
Coraline had already fallen asleep and ceased to suckle. Raven carefully detached her. Nightstar covered Mark's eyes with her hands. "You're a boy! You can't peek at Aunt Raven's boobies."
"It's OK, Mar'i." She replied as she covered herself. "There's nothing wrong with seeing a woman's breasts." She then wrapped Coraline up and placed her in a baby sling that she slipped over her shoulders, and then she took Mark's hand.
"Mar'i, you need to stay in the room. You aren't supposed to be here and we need to keep it a secret, at least for now. I will bring some dinner for you back to the room. I'll also bring you some books to read, so wait here until we come back, OK?"
The child nodded. "Yes, Aunt Raven. I'll wait for you."
"You can watch TV while you wait for us."
Raven, Mark and Coraline left and Mari looked around the apartment's tiny living room. It was very Spartan and utilitarian. There was a flatscreen TV on top of a small bookcase, with a small fridge underneath. She opened the fridge and saw that it had a few cans of soda pop. She grabbed one and popped it open. As she took a swig from the can the TV began to chime. The words "Incoming call" flashed on the screen and two buttons appeared: a green one labeled "Accept" and red one labeled "decline". She hesitated for a bit, while the TV continued to chime. She then reached out and touched the green button.
"Uncle Cyborg?"
"Hey kiddo, how are you? Where's your Aunt Raven?"
"She went to the dining hall."
"OK, well guess what?" He grinned. "We found your dad; he's here safe and sound with us and your mom."
"Where is he? I want to see him!"
"Uh, your mom and dad, they were … uh … really tired, so they went to bed. But tomorrow you can come here! Your Aunt Raven can open a portal and you can see them tomorrow."
"Can't I just come now?"
"I need to talk with Raven first, have her call me when she gets back; I got the Tower's phone lines working again, so she can call us now. OK?"
"Yes, Uncle Cyborg."
"Now you'll remember to tell her to call me right away? You won't forget, will you?"
"I'll tell her, I'll tell her!" She squealed in joy.
"OK then, little Princess, we'll be seeing you tomorrow. Bye bye!" He waved at her before the call ended.
Mar'i flitted around the room, spinning like an airborne ballerina.
"Aunt Blackfire was wrong! Mommy does love daddy!"
She paused mid air, as Cyborg's words echoes in her head: "Tell her to call me right away."
She zoomed towards the apartment's door. She carefully peeked out into the corridor and once she saw she was alone she left the apartment. All she saw was more doors to more apartments. She knew what a restaurant looked like and was convinced that none of the doors in the circular hallway led to the infamous "dining hall".
As she continued to search she did see something she recognized: an elevator. Just as she saw it the elevator chimed and its doors opened. A young couple egressed and turning in the direction opposite from her they walked away without seeing her. She levitated and silently glided into the lift. There were several buttons, and their labels gave no clue as to where the dining hall was. She randomly chose a button and pressed it. The doors slid shut.
-( scene break )-
A pair of robotic hands, inside a sealed room with large glass windows, carefully opened a vial containing the most recent strain of the virus, exposing it to the air. A small rabbit sat nearby in a wire cage, happily munching on some lettuce. One of the robotic hands carefully placed the vial in a stand, after which they retracted back to the "parked" position by the main observation window.
Barbara McCall groaned as she rubbed her temples. Raven's spell clearly worked as she had not slept in days. But she was feeling fatigued nonetheless.
"I need some coffee, with extra caffeine." She muttered to herself.
She got up and headed to the coffee station, where she poured herself a fresh cup. A brand new box of donuts had been delivered and she grabbed a cruller, taking a large bite out of it and washing it down with the coffee. She had a few minutes to kill before she could take a blood sample from the rabbit to see if the serum that had been injected into it earlier would develop some antibodies.
Garfield approached the station and repeated the process, except that he grabbed a maple bar.
"The donuts are good, nice and fresh." She remarked.
"Any luck with the latest serum batch?"
"We'll know in a few minutes." She replied as she reached for a second donut.
"You know how fattening those are, don't you?"
She hesitated for a moment, but grabbed a second one anyway.
"What do you care? … You have an incredible wife, who recovers instantly after childbirth."
"For once, you're right … Raven is the perfect wife."
"There's no such thing as a perfect wife." She grumbled. "I'll bet she's frigid, isn't she?"
"That's a bet you'd lose … c'mon, let's check on the experiment."
McCall sat back down in front of the controls for the robotic arms, which she reactivated. Gar was refilling his coffee mug when he heard McCall shriek.
"There's a child in the containment chamber!"
-( scene break )-
And we have another cliff hanger!
And now, it's mailbag time! I know, I stiffed you guys last time. But not today! Also, I'm surprised that only one reader got the reference to the BFG-9000, so I used it again.
Also, I will focus more on this story, updating Carved in Stone less frequently. It's a lot harder to switch back and forth between stories than you might think.
And in other news: Next week is the Terra episode in the new show. I'm not a big fan of the new show, however it is rumored that Raven will get jealous and will finally tell BB how she really feels about him. That said, given this show's track record, that won't happen and the episode will be a dud.
Notabotipromise – Wow! I went to the head of the line? I'm touched!
Katt In The Boxx – And Alexa was again absent, though Raven did refer to her.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast - I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but I actually work with a guy who's a swinger. His wife is cute, not sure if she also swings, I didn't ask.
Adventuresstime - He was a little upset at first, but she brought him around to his way of thinking.
Bluedog197 – Nightwing stared into the abyss and it stared back at him. He did come close to blowing it. Should he ever tell Starfire? Or should he bury it, since nothing happened?
EP - It certainly was tempting to have her send him away, maybe to a dimension where everything itches?
TW – I've met a few swingers along the way. Most are very confident in their prowess.
Bri – Thanks!
Me – Thanks to you too!
Soulsurfer2112 – I hope you liked it
Death Stroke The Kid – You were being paranoid
Randamwriter - Definitely a close shave!
JasonVUK – Yeah, she could go hydra on him
Ubiytsa – I'll bet my first story wasn't better. And you can't see it, because I deleted it a long time ago.
Shadico – I know … I'm evil! Bwhahaha!
gabylokita41 – I think that a cheat would be a terrible burden to carry. He's going to feel bad enough about being tempted.
BartWLewis – Except that Matt isn't a supervillain, so she would restrain herself … sort of.
Angelic Demon - Raven will get a last laugh at Matt's expense.
JOHNXgambit – I'm thinking that Matt has given up on Raven is looking for his next conquest.
Chayse-man - And it's only getting worse!
Wolf of IndigoRiver – I've always found Grayson to be smug and arrogant, unlike Robin #3, Tim Drake. As for Matt, he came dangerously close to provoking Raven.
The Cretin – Thanks, I wanted the NW/BG moment to be believable. They both wanted to give in, but Babs did remind him of how much he was giving up if they did.
titanfan45 – You played Doom also? By today's standards it was primitive, but it was fun to play! What would you do if you could get your hands on a BFG-9000? Would you shoot it at something? I still have the floppies somewhere in the basement. Maybe I can sell them someday as a collector's item.
DeeThom – She has far too much self discipline. As far as I remember, Terra was the only one on the show who ever made Raven lose her cool, in the mud pit.
mlbv-grimm – Thanks!
Lover of A Good Story - That would have hurt!
Ice Cream Queen Zshi – We seem to have a consensus on this
TheDarkChangeling – Apparently Mar'i's job is to get into BIG trouble!
krostovikraven1 – He did change his mind before he knew Starfire was there, but just barely in time.
Anoymous136 - If there is anyone I like in the comics, it's Babs, both as Oracle and as Batgirl. She's smart, sexy and kicks butt!
Dragonkyng – Or maybe Cyborg could show up and kick his sorry ass. If you want to see what Godfrey is like, look him up on youtube.