Chapter 15: The Reconciliation.

After the Battle

After taking care of the mysterious assassin, the Titans went to free the captive doctors and nurses. They found the medical professionals, being locked up in the basement. They all said that the attacker came out of no way and that the security system went off-line when they were being captured. So cyborg went to the security room to find it out what went wrong. When he got to the place, he saw two dead security guards on the floor. As he investigated the two bodies, he discovered that the fallen security guards had a deep cut on their torso. The assassin might have done this, he theorized, before he locked the doctors and nurses in a confinement.

After knowing that the guards were killed during the invasion, he went to look at the control panels to see how badly the attacker damaged the monitoring system. The circuits were being fried out of their system as he could see small sparks dancing around the broken machine. The monitors even got the same treatment as it has a huge hole in the middle. The size of a bowling ball that could fit the black hole. He must have wanted this attack to be a success. Cutting down any access to call the police for help. But how did the attacker infiltrate the building without setting off the alarm? He couldn't find any traces of the intrusion path that leads to this room. Or any blind hole that is not being detected by the security guards. He needs to find out how he got here. But first, he should go back to his groups to report what he had discovered.

Later on, the police force came to the scene and told the Titans they were also being attacked by a band of attackers too. The attackers just suddenly appeared from a street manhole and began a gunfight in front of the building. Some of the officers were wounded and a few were killed in action, they said. The only thing they can tell about the attackers is that some of them had different looks. Most of the attackers were humans, but there were a number of humanoids that had lizard scales, fish like whiskers, and a pig face that has goatee below the chin. Each humanoid was Big and small in height, thin and fat in width. Of course, the Titans never heard of these humanoids before, except the Gordanians who had invaded Jump City on a very particular day when Teen Titans were formed. However, since then the Gordanians haven't come back to earth to get Starfire. So it could be the other humanoids that were not being discovered by the authorities. Nor encountered by the townspeople.

"When the attackers came out from the manhole, they suddenly attacked you all without giving you a warning. Am I correct?" Robin asked. He gave a suspicion look when he raised his eye mask.

"Yeah." the inspector replied, "It almost felt as if they had planned to do it from the beginning."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, when we were so focused on attacking back at them, we later know that one of the criminals got out of the detention cell."

"So it was a diversion," Cyborg added as he crossed his arms. "Making you all preoccupied which gives the heard force the perfect timing to break someone out."

"Yes." He sighed after hearing from Cyborg's comments. It was such a shame that the inspector didn't have any 2nd thoughts of the attack being a feint operation. Even though it looked strange to think that the attackers ambushed the police department without giving any attack warning, it was natural to counter-attack them as gunfight often happens in America. There are numerous causes of an ambush on the police by criminals so it was no strange to him.

"Do you know who the criminal was?" Robin asked again.

The inspector nodded and answered to them which the two Titans kinda knew the escaped criminal's identity within the assumption. "Well, it was the Mandalorian." He sighed. "When the attacker retreated, we went back to the buidling to fix the damages and heal the wounded. Along the way, we discovered he went missing too." He looked down on the floor and shook his head to his disappointment. Letting some low life scum to escape was the greatest humiliation he ever experienced. Not tightening up the defense around the detention cell was the one thing he should have considered it sooner during the attack. He wanted to find him, drag him down to its knees and put him back behind bars to interrogate further without consulting the police chief's permission. But he can't. Cause the Madanlorian is gone. Without leaving any tracks behind, there is no way he could be found in Jump City.

Robin and Cyborg looked at each other as they nodded their head from listening to the inspector's testimony. It has confirmed their theory that the attack on the police department and the infiltration in the hospital was not a mere coincidence.

I knew it, Robin thought, There is something to do with the assassination of Starfire. It intrigued his detective skill in solving the case as he rubbed his chin like Batman. The reason why he presumed this way because the assassins' amour does not have any characteristics that belong on planet earth. Nor the weapon he wielded during the confrontation. After knowing the fact that some of the attackers who attacked the police department are aliens from another planet, it could mean that someone who is behind the string could be those foul invaders again: The Gordanians. The remnant of the Gordanian invasion must have resided on earth since then and which they slowly rebuilt their strength under the nose of the authority's governance.

It is a possible theory because the Gordanians are the ones that wanted Starfire badly. But there is one thing he can't solve. Why do they want to kill her? Don't they want to get her back as a living trophy? The mystery of this case is deeper than the other case which Robin had handled. It made him more curious about this...mastermind. So, to solve this case, he told the inspector to let the Titans takes care of this matter. Without telling the "truth"

"Leave it to us officer. We will help you to find him."

Cyborg also nodded after Robin's reply. "Yeah. If we find him, we will contact you soon." He balled up his fist to assure him that they will found the Mandalorian.

"Okay. I'm holding my hopes on to you two. I wish he is not killing any random criminals again. I'll make him pay for escaping from our grasp." He then left thew two behind to ask the doctors and the nurses some questions about the intrusion.

While they were on the way to Starfire's room, Cyborg opened his mouth.

"You sure about this?" He asked, "Taking the Mandalorian into our...watching?"

Robin replied, "Yes, I am." He looked into his mechanic's friend with a sense of responsibility. "If we give him to the police, we won't be able to know the culprit who tried to kill Starfire."

"But don't you think it could be the Mandalorian'a fault?"

"Maybe. But I'm not sure. He saved Starfire's life so he might not be aware of it. And besides...he also gave us the adrenaline pack to regain our strength." This is a surprising matter to everyone who still considers Mandalorians are a group of crude warriors that favor violence due to the past invasion which happened in a millennium years ago. However, not all Mandalorians are barbarians. Some of them still pose the honor of Mandalore which is like the code of Bushido: The way of the Samurai. The Bushido held restrictions on the Samurai, prohibiting them to do many things and to live a very honest life. Such as "To show everyone kindness and show compassion for all regardless." This includes not only the civilians but also the enemies whose positions are inferior to themselves.

What really happened when Kaiyu came to the hospital, he saw the four fallen Titans on the floor. He goes to them and knelt on his one knee to give something to them from his utility belt. Robin saw what was going on and feared that the Mandalorian was going to give them the final blow. But instead, Kayu brought the adrenaline pack to inject the four; giving them the strength to get on their feet. Robin was surprised to see what just had happened as he couldn't believe that the enemy...was helping them. He was speechless to see the Mdanlorain's compassion right in front of his own eyes.

After being healed up by the adrenaline pack, Robin was the first one to get up from the floor as he rushed towards the room to assist the fight. And that's how he saved Mandalorian's life by throwing his two Batarang into the enemy's eyes.

Also, that is the reason why he is hiding the truth from the police. He wants to know first hand before something might interfere with his investigation. By doing so, he decided to hide the Mandalorian from the police. Cyborg is worried about this whether if they can keep up this covert as long as possible. He didn't want the public to know that the Titans are looking after the criminal on their own observation.

Still, it's Robin's choice so he knows that Robin will take care of this matter with ease. If it's possible.

"Well, I believe you into this Robin. I strongly hope you are making the right choice."

"I know," Robin replied as he faced his attentions toward the hall.

Upon reaching to Starfire's room, they saw Beast Boy and Raven were standing in front of the door. The two were keeping a sharp eye on the Mandalorian who is inside with Starfire. Beast Boy was the first who noticed the two teammates coming near to them

"So, did you convince the officer to leave?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"...are you sure this is the right choice? Keeping an eye on him...?"

"What other choices we have? He saved her life."

"True Robin. But...still, I'm not sure..." He worried, "He doesn't show much about his true colors...it almost feels...he is like a robot who obeys orders."

Raven agreed with the green mutant's concern. "Beast boy is right. He might backstab when we fully trust him. I can't even read his minds. "

"I understand your concerns you two. But it doesn't change the fact that he saved her." He reassured them as he crossed his arms. "I saw what happened during the battle so I know...that he isn't part of the assassination."

"Well, you the boss Robin." Beast Boy replied with a sigh. "So...shall we go talk to him?"

Robin nodded to Beast Boy's question. "Yes."

As they entered the room, they see the Mandalorian fixated his eyes on the sleeping Starfire. They can tell that he is very worried about Starfire's condition. They may not know his expression behind the helmet, they can read their body language as he is sitting near to the bed.

The Mandalorian noticed the door open, as he looked over to the Titans. He stood up from the chair and walked in front of Robin. His height is taller than the four; a few inches taller than Cyborg who is the tallest of the group. It kinda makes him menacing when he looked down. But somehow it doesn't at all as if it almost felt that he is a big bear with a kind heart.

Robin looked up to him as he opened his mouth. "So Mandalorian...I wanna thank you for saving Starfire's life. Without you, she would have died."

Kaiyu kept silent after receiving Robin's gratitude. He didn't reply to him because he thinks that these vigilantes will send him to jail again: accusing him of plotting the attack on the police department and the hospital to orchestrate a scheme. A scheme that makes them believe that he is a hero who has changed a leaf. It might be an overdo for a plan to explode the assassin into pieces. Still, it was the only way to gain their trust to know that he is on their side. However, he didn't plan it at all cause he was not aware of his employer's assassination plan. He can convince them that he is innocent. But how can he prove to the teenagers as he was the one who poisoned Starfire to make her fall unconscious.

They are gonna send me to the local enforcement, He assumed, I can tell that their appreciation is not genuine.

"I know you are concerned about us telling the cops that you are here, but do not worry. We have no intention to hand you to them. Instead, we want to keep an eye on you...in our custody."

The Mandalorian tilted his head to his confusion as he removed his helmet in front of them. This is the first time to see his face as they didn't expect him to show his doubting expression.

"You want to keep an eye on me...?"

"Yes. Not only you defeated the assassin but you also helped us to stand on our feet. We suspected that you are not part of the assassination plan, judging from the battle with the assassin. I can sense your anxiety over Starfire when you are being lifted up by the enemies' invisible power. Even after the battle, you showed some dearie feelings for her so it made me understood that...you have some connection with her in the past. And those past memories...made you remembered instantly hasn't it?"

Kaiyu was surprised to hear from the boy's theory. His hypothesis really nailed on the head about his intention. Was it obvious that his feelings are visible to them? He tried his best to hide it from the Titans but he guesses that his emotions for Starfire have grown stronger and stronger which can be seen by other people. He sighed as he shook his head up and down.

"Yes...I do. But it was just recently that I remembered it. I don't know why I have forgotten it but...there is something to do with my employer."

"Your employer?"

"Yes. He wanted her to die for one reason: that I met her again. Because of that, he hired the assassin to take care of the problem. It was weird for him to do that as he has never done it before on his employees."

"If your boss human or humanoid?" Cyborg asked. To know whether if its the Gordanians.

"Human. Not humanoid."

"I see. Then this case is something bigger than we thought Robin." Cyborg said.

"I know. And that is why we need to solve it on our own Cyborg." He replied as he gave a serious look. This grew Robin's suspension as it added another layer of this attack's mystery. So it was not the Gordanians' doing but the Mandalorian's boss's doing. And a human...Hmmm.

While Robin was thinking hard on why the Mandalorian's boss wanted Starfire to die so badly, Kaiyu was observing his face to confirm whether the offer was true or not. If he could sense any lies behind his eye mask, he was thinking of decline it. But giving him a few seconds of carefully look at his seriousness, he suggested a proposition to Robin that includes accepting the offer. "If you all truly gonna put me under your guidance, then I accept it. On one condition..."

They all listened to what he is gonna say. "And that is...?" Robin asked.

"The things that matter with me the most, let me handle it. Especially with my boss. Cause the Mandalorians are not someone's possession. We do not bind ourselves as a pet."

"Might if I inquire that we can assist in some ways?"

"You might...only if you don't interfere with it."

Hearing such strong words from him, Robin agreed to his terms: if it helps to solve the case quickly. "Very well, consider it done. You will be part of our group temporarily until we solve the case together. For now, we are allies."

"Deal."

Robin then brought his hand as Kaiyu hold it firmly to close the deal.