A/N: Apologies that it has been so long since I have worked on this one. I lost the thread of it and then life decided to kick me in the face multiple times. I was able to work on some of my other fics as you asw but this one just languished.
I think it's the middle duldrums that got me. (For those of you non-writers, that's the area between the beginning and end that can be very difficult for writers to get through). I know that I dealt with it a lot in my other fic "Candy" but I did get through that.
Anyhoo, just wanted to say hi and thank you for continuing to read this one. Please note that this one has a minor scene of torture near the end. I'm back and should be working on this one a lot quicker than months between chapters. LOL
It was the sorcerers the helped them cross the distance they needed to. Doctor Strange had brought a few of them with him into the other reality and their golden portals of pure light allowed the armies of Iris through and half a mile away from the massive, alien fortress that dominated the skyline of Boulder, Colorado. When Robin leaped through, he was stunned by the change in temperature and his suit immediately adjusted its filters to protect him.
The rest of the new Titans followed through while others poured into the street.
"We're three blocks down flanking to the right," Batman's gravelly voice called over Robin's earpiece. "lead your team straight through the front door."
"Understood," Robin responded through gritted teeth.
The city was desolate, the buildings long abandoned by the inhabitants. It was strange seeing the trappings of civilization without its denizens. Dick rand passed multiple storefronts with shattered windows and the refuse of a mass panic still evident on the sidewalks and streets.
"Incoming to the left!" Starfire called from above and Robin began to fire his pulse cannons attached to his wrists as the cyber bugs that descended on their position. They did not pose much resistance.
"Almost there!" Cyborg called.
Raven stood on the ramparts of her fortress looking down at the streets below. The wind ripped at her black dress and her long violet hair whipping about in the wind. She felt wild. Her heart trilled the excitement and every fiber of her ringing with power and exuberance. The sorceress felt as if she could take on the entire world.
In the distance, she could see the moving forms of Iris' army but she knew it was already too late for them. Sovereign had come through and once he healed, he would finally bring peace to her reality and end the folly of superheroes.
For the next four hours, Raven watched as Iris threw themselves at the fortress' defense. The sorceress herself swooped down multiple times to strengthen the lines that had begun to get weak. Millennium's cybugs fought hard and without care for their lives showing no sign of retreat or self-preservation.
There would be no hope for the rest of the world. They were going to be hers. The Midnight Empress would rule them all.
Robin knew that exhaustion was starting to set in as they fought through the streets of Boulder. Each time they tried to make a push toward's the massive fortress that stood out like an aberration among the 20th-century architecture. The structure was ungodly in size and was mind-numbing to think how long it would have taken to construct in natural means.
Really, Robin only cared about what was in front of him and again it was the cybernetic insects that glowed their sickly green and fired bolt after bolt of red energy that cut down people who were not ready.
The reports that had been coming through his headpiece were not good. Many of the soldiers of SHIELD and ARGUS were falling and the last command he had made out before his helmet had been damaged was Superman ordering all non-metas to fall back. Now, only those with superpowers or who could stand up to such an onslaught were left. The lack of firepower was already showing.
Robin rolled as a bolt of red energy scorched the pavement where he was just standing. The heavily armored Titan settled behind an overturned SUV that was smoldering for multiple blasts. Cyborg landed right beside him as he ejected an energy canister from his arm. He pulled another out of his chest piece but Robin saw that the slots were all empty but one.
"Running low, Robin," Cyborg said peering over the hood slightly at the bugs. They had gotten distracted by a few caped heroes on the rooftop that were firing down on them.
"After this clip, I gotta retreat for safety's sake."
"We're not gonna win this, Cy," Robin said through gritted teeth. "We've hit them with everything we got and are still wanting."
"Any word from command?"
"Radio silent since the last offensive led by Jinx," Robin answered. He had seen the horde of bugs lead by the mistress of bad luck head towards central command. Since then only static responded. They had either wiped out everyone there or knocked out all the long-range communication equipment. Either way, coordination was only short range and that was not enough to continue pushing forward.
Everywhere he and his team went, he found that the advance teams and main body had ground to a halt. With evening coming, it was either retreat or find a place to hole up. With Cyborg's power about gone, he was of the thought to retreat.
"Hey, scud bucket!"
The two turns to see the small jet-like form of Gizmo rocketing in towards them. Immediately, they stood and began to lay down suppressive fire on the enemy that saw them coming. The dwarf landed hard on the ground and bounced a few times before sliding in beside them.
"You should ask Star to give you some flying lessons," Cyborg quipped.
"Shaddup or I won't give you these," Gizmo said sitting up and pulling a few green glowing canisters out of his armored backpack. Cyborg's eyes widened.
"What are those?"
"HIVE power cells. We use them on a lot of our mech. Since brother blood stole your blueprints years ago, we used the power system design in our own things." Gizmo explained as the skeletal spider legs extended from his backpack and picked him up off the ground slightly.
"There was HIVE base here. I raided it thinking you might be able to tweak them for your own system. Advancing is gonna be difficult if we're dragging your sorry ass around."
Robin grinned at their strange ally. Cyborg gave him a pat on the shoulder as he quickly put the canisters safely into his chest cavity that slid shut to protect them. It was the sound of energy bolts of a higher sound that caught their attention. Looking up, they saw the armored Starfire zip in and descending mowing down the cybugs that were not smart enough to get out of the way. With the battlefield cleared, Robin stood and came out.
"You all are still well?" she asked breathing heavily. Her eyes still glowed green and her hands hummed ready to strike.
"All accounted for. Kid Wykyyd has overwatch at the moment." Cyborg said. "You?"
"We must begin the leaving now," Starfire said with no uncertainty turns. Though Robin's face was covered by the mask designed for him by Tony Stark, she had a knack to look right through it.
"What is it?"
"Three hordes are converging on this location. I saw them from high above. They...they are led by my sister."
One of the Archon Knights in the field. There was no way they would be able to withstand her let alone in their condition.
"Gather the rest and inform as many teams you can find, then get back here," Robin ordered. He tapped his arm bracer to switch frequencies and provided the same information to anyone in the area who still had a working system.
Kid Wykyyd appeared beside them and he pointed to the sky silently. Robin looked up and could make out the cloud of enemy soldiers moving in. The glowing purple pinpointed the exact location of Blackfire.
"Go!"
Everyone broke into a run as they began to make their way back the way they came. Robin's heart thrilled in fear as he heard the humming getting closer. He was not one to give up but how were they supposed to take on some many by themselves? Where was Supergirl or Batman?
Robin noted a subway entrance ahead and pointed to it. "There! We can bottleneck them at least and not be out in the open."
They threw themselves down the concrete steps but as Robin did his count, he realized that someone was missing.
"Where's Starfire?"
Nobody had an answer. It was at that moment, Robin realized where she was.
"No!"
Rushing back up the stairs, he found her standing, feet apart facing down the black-haired glowing monster. Blackfire's eyes had been consumed by a swirl of purple and gold as she grinned gleefully at her sister.
"Starfire! Let's go!"
Starfire turned, her own eyes burning hot with green flame. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Robin. I cannot. My sister may be a horrible monster now enslaved to a demon queen but she is still Tamaranian. She will face me in honored combat."
Robin grabbed her arm trying to will the redhead to come with him.
"Star….you….you can't beat her."
A soft smile broke the hard expression on Koriand'r's face.
"I know."
"But why?"
"So, you have the time you need to escape. You are the most clever man I have ever met, Richard Grayson, but you need time for your cleverness. Let me buy it for you so that you may defeat Raven and save the rest of the world."
A sob tried to rip its way out of Robin's mouth but he clamped it shut, tears streaming down his face. His hand dropped and he stepped back as Blackfire advanced.
"Run along, Robin," Blackfire chortled. "I'll be seeing you shortly."
Starfire did not hesitate but shot forward slamming into her sister and both went tumbling and bouncing across the pavement and through a building. The cybugs did not move but watched their mistress fight. Robin tore himself away and ran down the steps.
There was another one of his comrades lost.
Nighttime had fallen and a cool breeze mingled with the smell of discharged energy, smoke, and burning rubber. The Midnight Empress floated cross-legged above a parapet that gave her a clear view of the battlefield below. Of course, she was not actually watching it but letting the sounds and feelings of the battle course through her. She could feel her master below, healing slowly but his powers quiet as he slumbered in a light sleep.
Iris was broken. She had felt the emotion roil off of them as their forward base was smashed by Jinx and their offensive engaged premature. It was a collective gasp and wail that descended on her that filled her with glee. Iris had tried their hardest and failed.
They were not done, not by a long shot. Her army still had to be ready as they would be more cunning and full of surprises as their end got closer. The weapon that hurt Jason was still a threat. No one had reported it destroyed nor did they see it again after it had been used. The goal now was to make sure Sovereign was never an easy target again.
It was the light landing of feet followed by the sickening thud of a body that caused Rachel to open her eyes. She turned her head slightly to see Blackfire had landed and discarded a pile of bruised flesh and blood.
A pang of horror and regret ripped through Rachel as the form rolled and she could make out the battered face of her old friend Starfire. Komand'r had given her a severe beating.
"Enjoy yourself?" The midnight Empress asked emotionless though she was torn between running to her friend's aid or smashing Blackfire to an equally messed up pulp.
"Oh, it was quite fun," Blackfire said. "Haven't had this much fun in months."
Blackfire reached down grabbed her sister's arm and in one quick twist, snapped the bone. The sound of the bone-breaking almost made Rachel vomit but no emotion reached her face. Starfire gave a pitiful wail before being silent.
"Where is Jinx?"
"Finishing off the stragglers. Most of have huddled down for the night or fully retreated. They're mostly the low-level metas and soldiers. The big wigs gave it up a while ago."
"And her?" The midnight Empress asked with a nod and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, you know. Gonna have to patch her up in the dungeon. I've got quite a few years of….frustration...to beat into her. I'm not through with her yet."
Rachel's feet touched down, walked over, and knelt beside the battered girl.
"Then you better learn restraint. You're on the verge of losing your toy."
Rachel laid a hand on her mud and blood caked red hair and called upon a power she had not used in so long. The healing wave of energy rushed in from her soul self, long silent from the archon ring. She tuned it and funneled it gently into the Tamaranian.
The Midnight Empress felt the bone shift back into place and a lot of the internal bleeding and bruising heal away. She purposefully put her in a small coma to allow her to heal. Rachel doubted Blackfire would want to have any fun while she was asleep.
"Neat trick, I'll remember to not be her so badly next time," Blackfire said with a yawn. "Though the next time, we're gonna have a long time so I can stretch it out a bit."
"Take her and go rest," Rachel ordered. "I do not want you or Jinx tired in case Iris tries something again. You can play with your toy later."
"But..."
Rachel motioned with her hand and the black portal tinged with gold swallowed Starfire and deposited her deep in one of the cells.
"Hey!" Blackfire growled. "You going soft or something?"
Rachel spun on the woman that was so close to make her scream. The gold energy poured from the midnight Empress' eyes as the power forced Blackfire to her knees.
"Do not forget who you are talking to, Blackfire," Rachel growled, her face only inches from the Tamaranians. "I was gentle with you in the throne room. Do not test my patience with you. Do not make me give you an order you'll regret. I know a few of the men in our army that would like some...attention...from you."
Blackfire's eyes went from threatening to fearful. Rachel knew the girl had been humiliated in front of Jinx and a few of the others earlier. The young woman had learned how great and terrible Rachel's power had become.
"I...I beg your forgiveness," Blackfire said lowering her head meekly.
A torrent of emotion rolled through Raven, a feeling that she had never felt. A power that she had never experienced before. She leaned down until her mouth was only inches away from Blackfire's ear.
"I like the sound of you begging. Jinx has been such a good girl lately and I think you would make a good reward for her."
There it was, the twist of anger and revulsion. It tasted so sweet on Rachel's mind to watch Blackfire squirm, powerless to do anything about it.
"I think a few nights as her bitch could teach you a few things about obedience. She's learned it quite well."
"Rachel."
The voice was not out loud but it reverberated through the girl's entire body. She jerked away from Blackfire who had a mixture of surprise and relief, then took the opening to take off.
"Sovereign." she thought back.
"Control yourself," his voice came back. It was not anger or mean, but she could sense the stern warning in it.
"I...I…."
"You were slipping. I warned you that the power you were wielding is intoxicating." his voice thrummed through her mind.
"Blackfire was just….I…."
"Peace, Rachel," his voice soothed. "You have done nothing wrong. I just want to make sure you do not go too far without proper training. When I regain enough of my strength, I shall teach you how to sense and curb that power so that you do not get drunk on it."
"Thank you, master."
Jason's presence slipped away and Rachel found herself sitting on the parapet shaking in the cold wind. What had happened? What had consumed her in those moments? For a second, a flash of doubt surged through her and all she felt like was a scared little girl alone in the cold.
That was all she was, wasn't she? Cold and scared.