Author's Note: Immense apologies for the immense delay. I really have no excuse whatsoever...so I hope this super-extra-long chapter can make up for it. This chapter was co-written by myself and Post. Enjoy.

Thresholding by CidGregor

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.

This fic is dedicated to Post, for all that he has contributed to its existence. (Desperados!)

Chapter 25

"De X'Hal…" a frightened breath escaped the Tamaranian princess' lips as she clutched the tense hand of her husband. "It is happening…"

Robin's own hand squeezed back as he stared harshly out the window, his gaze focused upon the retreating hulls of what seemed to be a group of Gordanian scouts escorting Lord Trogaar's flagship. Trogaar had likely hoped to take them by surprise and crush the figureheads of Starfire, Tromand'r, and Galfore all in one quick blow, throwing the Tamaranian army into disarray, and Robin could only assume he'd managed to get as far as he did solely due to Blackfire's intimate knowledge of her people that she fed him. So when he failed to break down Galfore's flagship from the inside, it was all he could do to escape the fray alive, even as most of the escort scouts fell to the assault of Tamaranian laser fire from the fighters that burned hotly on their retreating tails.

"Pull those chasers back!" Galfore suddenly barked. "I want every available fighter to stay with the fleet and defend this planet!"

"Yes, sir!" Tromand'r answered, and relayed the order in his own tongue.

"Captain, we must return to the Mother Ship," Galfore rumbled. "They will need our expertise and leadership there far more than here, particularly on our flagships. Signal Lieutenant Kornan'm and inform her we shall be returning immediately."

Tromand'r nodded and hurried to relay that message as well. "At once, sir."

"What was all that?" Robin asked from his place at the window a few feet below the hulking emperor.

"A cowardly and dishonorable sneak attack designed to assassinate key figureheads in their enemies' forces, causing discord and confusion among the rest of the ranks," Galfore answered, confirming Robin's suspicions. "More than likely they wished to spare at least a portion of their fleet from the conflict. Normally such an attack would be impossible, but it seems with the traitor Komand'r backing them, they were able to slip in. Now that their mission has failed anyway, however, they will likely report back to their fleet that they must attack with everything they have. And despite my every confidence in my subjects…that does not bode well for us."

"Tell us what we can do to help!" Robin insisted immediately. "We've had experience fighting these guys before, we can--"

"No, young one," Galfore cut him off before he could continue. "You yet have other duties before you, as you are well aware."

Robin's eyes narrowed at that, and his frustrations made him quite blind to the fact that Starfire's hand had suddenly tensed in his. "Sir, I understand if the whole marriage ceremony wasn't properly completed, but the Gordanians are a far more immediate problem! You have to let us help! The rest of the ceremony can wait!"

Clearly he was mistaken in saying this, however, because both grizzled war veterans spun to stare incredulously at him, and Starfire's tense grip became tenser still.

"Have you gone quite mad, Robin?" Tromand'r blurted. "Surely you know that is impossible!"

Robin stared right back at him. "Excuse me?"

"It would be folly to risk your lives before the final ritual has been completed! If either of you were to die before it is done, the peace we have founded in your marriage will become null and void!"

"WHAT?.!" Robin demanded. "You expect me to just sit on my hands until this is all over so you can be bothered to set up the ceremony again?.!"

Tromand'r seemed annoyed now, and Robin began to get the impression that he was missing something. "That ceremony has been completed, Robin! By X'Hal, I have just told you, it is the final ritual that must still be performed!"

Yeah. He wasmissing something, alright. "What final ritual?"

At this, both warrior's eyebrows raised so far up that they disappeared into their hair, and Starfire grip on his hand became so stiff and tense that it was starting to hurt.

"Surely the princess has informed you of the ritual of s'lor?" Galfore probed, disbelief etched across his face.

Robin opened his mouth to tell him no, as a matter of fact she'd mentioned nothing of the sort, but the instant he started to do so, the grip on his hand was gone, Starfire's palm was clapped over his mouth, and her foot was firmly pressing on top of his.

"Of course I have informed him!" Starfire said very rapidly, her mouth formed into a broad, reassuring smile. "But I am m-most embarrassed to admit that I informed him of it in error, in that I did not…p-properly stress to him the importance of the ritual's completion as soon as is possible!"

Even if he hadn't been privy to the fact that this was an obvious lie, Robin would still have known it was one just by the forced calm that she was thinly layering over her mild panic. He'd heard her sound just like that on many occasions in the past, and it was always covering up a deeper truth.

Galfore and Tromand'r both seemed relieved by her words, however, their expressions relaxing. "I see. Very well, then," Galfore said, nodding to her. "Captain Tromand'r and I will be returning to the Mother Ship to lead our forces from there. Rejoin us as soon as you are able."

Robin wriggled as best he could, but it was hard to move properly in his wedding costume, and his new bride's grip was as impossibly strong as ever.

Starfire, meanwhile, started dragging Robin slowly back toward the exit, the large and predominantly artificial grin still on her face. "We shall return upon its completion, and do our best to assist you in the coming battles! May X'Hal be with you!"

And without waiting for any further reply, Starfire rushed from the room, carrying a struggling Robin in tow.

"Starfire, what the heck—mmmphh!.!.!" he said before being cut off by her hand over his mouth again.

"Please Robin, be silent for now…I will explain everything in a moment," she said to him, and the conflicting fear and excitement and nervousness and anticipation in her voice told Robin more clearly than any of the previous signs:

He was definitely missing something.

"Captain Tromand'r!" One of many trailing Tamaranian officers ran down the long corridor and flanked his commanding officer. "Are we going to retaliate?"

Tromand'r wiped a glob of glowing blood from the fresh battle-scar on his cheek and spat: "Does X'Hal have holy ovaries?" He glared out the Mother Ship's hull windows toward his right while marching at full-pace with his fellow soldiers. "Those festering reptiles' surprise attack was bloody and underhanded—but most of all it was a diversion. It may look like they're retreating, but the brunt of the Gordanian offensive has yet to make its venomous bite into our blockade."

"Then it's a full deployment?" another officer throated. "Give the word, sir, and we'll send the Royal Squadron out in a heartbeat."

"It is not my word to give, but Lord Galfore's," Tromand'r grunted as the group of able-bodied warriors marched through the automatic doors and into the massive bridge of the Tamaranian Mother Ship. SCHWISSH! "Though if I can make a prediction, he will want to keep the Royal Squadron near to the Echo'r to protect the betrothed pair."

"Of course, sir."

"Though, we must take action!"

"My entire armada for a more poetic understatement," Tromand'r took a deep breath. "….on second thought." He marched up to the Commander's station in the middle of a flurry of busied, frantic pilots and computer console operators. "Lieutenant Kornan'm!" He shouted up towards a platform shadowing the lower gantries of the massive Mother Ship bridge. "Status report on the Echo'r's defenses!"

A Tamaranian warrioress with a cybernetic eyepatch swiveled about and shouted back down from her lofty position before a massive viewscreen. "Hull breaches on the front section have been maintained. Force fields have eliminated the vacuum, and shields are back in operation."

"What rate of stability?"

"Seventy-Two Percent, sir."

"Maintain that frequency and focus repairs on the hull breaches," Tromand'r pointed and flew up to an Engineering console. He ran his hand over a keypad and spoke while checking on the Mother Ship's systems. "As long as our flagships are okay, we'll have the strength necessary to perform an effective counter-charge against the enemy. We need the Mother Ship in one piece to maintain the blockade. Our defense of Terra Firma must NOT fall."

"Lieutenant! Captain!" a Tamaranian soldier at a communication station shouted from the rear of the Bridge. "Transmission from Lord Galfore!"

"Patch him through."

Snkkkkt! The commanding Tamaranian warrior's face appeared on multiple viewscreens, including the large screen overlooking. "Tromand'r. How fairs the Mother Ship?"

"Sir, Lieutenant Kornan'm reports that the shields are stable and the hull breaches are being repaired," Tromand'r flew up to the topmost platform of the Bridge and folded his arms behind his back. "The Gordanian surprise attack on the ceremony was merely one of their diversionary tactics--"

"I am well aware of that, Captain…"

Lord Galfore sat his massive frame within the commander's chair of a Tamaranian flagship's bridge. All around him, amber-skinned men and women were positioning themselves at their stations and setting the massive warship for departure.

"…that is why we must retaliate swiftly and without delay," he spoke towards a small viewscreen positioned on the left arm of his chair. "But we will not give in to a Gordanian trap. Hold the Royal Squadron at bay and order the Vegan Wings to join in formation with the Centauri Wings. The backup squadrons will amass their numbers while we drive the Gordanians back with the Royal Flagships." He motioned nonverbal commands to his bridge officers while punching a flurry of keys on his opposite armrest console. "As I speak, I am commandeering the Z'Daan to spearhead our counter-attack. I will require the support of the other three Flagships currently docked to the Mother Ship. The rest, I want to hold back to maintain the blockade."

"If I may be so bold, my Lord, should we not provide more support for the central movement?"

"X'Hal is on our side, Captain," Galfore half-grumbled. "We are not going to eliminate their fleet with this charge. We only need to keep them busy until the Vegan and Centauri Wing squadrons can answer the call. We will answer the Gordanians on their own terms—greater numbers."

"May I at least suggest a backup of Royal Scout ships?" Tromand'r took a deep breath through the audio-visual feed. "…and that I join your side in the glorious charge?"

"………" a smile slowly alighted Galfore's scarred face. "N'meraat de X'Hal, Captain Tromand'r. But if you are to join the charge, make it quick…"

"…Leave the Mother Ship in command of Lieutenant Kornan'm."

"Yes, my lord," Tromand'r half bowed. "I shall embark on the Peley."

"Let us cast off all four vessels from the Mother Ship's docking stations at once. The cosmos tonight shall turn to ice with the blood of Gordanian pillagers. —SNKKKT." Galfore's image flickered off the plethora of viewscreens.

"X'Hal," Tromand'r landed a fist against his own chest. He then swiveled about and faced the far corners of the bridge. "Keep in constant communication link with Lord Galfore's Ship as he embarks on board the Z'daan. Our lord is fearless and brave in the name of X'Hal…but the soonest that his ship comes under impenetrable attack, I want the Centauri and Vegan Wings ordered to converge upon his position for immediate protection and support."

"Aye, sir," Kornan'm saluted yet again. "I have received messages from the docking stations. The Central Flagships are ready for departure. Shall I inform them of your--?"

"No," Tromand'r pointed. "Give them the order to depart and follow the Z'Daan's wake."

"But sir," an officer marched up in a posture of confusion. "Did you not just tell the emperor that you would be boarding one of the flagsh--?"

"And that I shall, but the fleet must get underway in time to give the Vegan and Centauri fleets the necessary spearhead," Tromand'r pivoted about and tightly faced his fellow men. "I will take one of the scoutships and board the Peley en route. Though…" His eyes narrowed. "… …I need not go alone…"

The Tamaranians stood tall and strong. One of them stood mightily forward and throated for the others: "We are willing to die by your side, Captain."

Suddenly, a cosmic vibration thundered through the hull of the ship. THOOM! The entire bridge rocked and rattled. A few console operatives murmured in apprehension…

Tromand'r took a deep breath and glared out the large, bulbous window looking out into space beyond the bridge's front section. "You may get your wish sooner than naught…," he pointed towards a speck of bright red energy swarming towards the blockade from a distance. The bogeys pierced through curtains of space-fighter haze and cosmic flak. "Already the Gordanians are performing the Drendar Moon maneuver."

Sneers and sour hisses of discontent cricketed forth from the veterans present.

"The Drendar Moon maneuver……" "Just like that reptilian scum." "Must they take their infernal junk to every battleground?" "Pathetic cowards…"

"We must engage the enemy, NOW," Tromand'r mightily marched out. "Kornan'm! The Princess' vessel is yours. Protect it with your life!"

"By the Goddess' blood that flows within me….," she bowed her head.

Tromand'r pounded his fist on a console and forced open a heavy metal door leading to the hangar bays. "Let us spill some Gordanian slime…"

"De X'hal!"

"DE X'HAL!"

And they were on their way……

In deep space……

Between the fragile green sphere of the Earth and the white ghost of the Moon…….

SWISSSSSSSSSSSSSSH! A dozen Tamaranian robot probes flew in formation. Their needle 'wings' rotated and danced like drunken Sputniks as they charged up huge

pulses of electromagnetic energy. The remotely guided war tools flew an arc straight towards a triad of bulbous green Gordanian fighters.

Zzzzzt---Zzzzt---Zzzzzt! Bolts of electromagnetic chaos fork-fingered their way across the cold blackness and shot into the fighters' engine coils. ZZZT!

The Gordanian fighters slowed ever so slightly. The centermost ship accelerated while the wingmen drew back. A metallic cannon of barrels rotated from the center of the ship's spherical body and let loose a barrage of shredded hot ballistics towards the incoming probes.

Wriiiiiii-CHTK!CHTK!CHTK!CHTK!CHTK!

The ballistics pelted the front layer of probes and rendered them to silver ribbons. The rest of the Tamaranian probes flickered with a unified pulse of electromagnetic energy. They then swung into a triangular formation—like a flying pyramid. Together, their electromagnetic charges zapped, joined together, and formed a cohesive wave of silver sparks that issued forth from the center of their 'pyramid' and overwhelmed the three reptile fighters.

ZZZZT-ZZZZT-ZZZZT!

The Gordanian ships sparkled and throbbed with the energy—then powered down and floated dead-cold through the recesses of space. The probe-pyramid floated past them, joined by dozens….…hundreds……over a thousand little silver spheres flitting and flying in loose formations as they swarmed in on a squadron of incoming, furious Gordanian fighters. The dark 'sky' soon turned into a soup of silver-white electrical energy and metal projectiles as the Gordanian fighters fired in every direction and the twirling, bouncing probes did their worst in collective electromagnetic numbers. There was silver shrapnel flying everywhere, accompanied by the occasional dead Gordanian ship floating helplessly into oblivion. This 'soup' flickered and throbbed and all but imploded in on itself until—suddenly and without warning—the Gordanian fighters veered and pulled away from the scene with a thunderous roar of afterburn. The helpless Tamaranian probes danced and flickered the last few seconds of their existence as—

THROOOOOO-OOOOOOM!.!.!.!.! A massive wave of giant, rusted-red space rocks slammed mercilessly through the swarms of 'space flies' and thundered their haphazard way towards the ruby specks of the Tamaranian blockade beyond. The asteroids were all being propelled in a single thrust of militaristic direction that was too exact to be 'natural'. Behind them—like giant shepherds guiding crimson crystal sheep—a wave of bloated Gordanian flagships trailed the rotating rocks. They were huge, green, cancerous-looking ships with random spikes and spherical 'tumors' growing out from their slimy-polished exoskeletons. While the rocks sped and sped forward with an acceleration that put the Gordanian offense to shame, there was no denying the ferocity of the reptilian race's impervious advance upon the awaiting blockade. Ten Flagships. Twenty. A hundred and counting in menacing might…

The red rocks grew larger and larger in the magnified space image being broadcasted across the Z'daan's viewscreen. There was an undeniable, breathless gasp shared amongst most witnessing members of the somber crew.

"Mmm……the Drendar Moon maneuver……," Galfore stroked his beard as he studied the scene. "….…" He stood his massive frame up, folded his meaty arms, and stared at the crew as he ordered: "Order the Peley, the Matraaz, and the B'kuum to spread formation. The scoutships will then fill in the gaps with a Gaamblorn Escort Design. Send the command out on all Tamaranian channels."

"Membraat siul, my lord."

"By my one good eye…" the Tamaranian ruler pointed at the incoming specks being highlighted on the map. "...Those asteroids are unlike any sort the Gordanians have launched at us before. I suspect they are indigenous to this solar system and consist of a composite that only the Terrans are capable of knowing."

A nearby officer nodded. "We must be ready for any surprises."

"Absolutely," Galfore paced before his chair and motioned a hand towards the tactical station on the bridge. "Officer, charge the forward cannon banks and patch a command through to Lieutenant Kornan'm aboard the Mother Ship to standby with a full spread of long range Concussion Torpedoes."

"Right away, my lord……"

Galfore took a breath and sneered invisibly at the Gordanian barrage: "By X'Hal, we can launch 'rocks' of our own too……"

From thousands upon thousands of kilometers away, the red rocks led the green Gordanian charge. Meeting their advance from a fair distance was the ruby-sleek fleet of the Tamaranian reply. The four massive main Flagships floated a fiery path as they detached themselves from the Mother Ship and spread apart from each other in a solid line of impregnability.

The Z'daan. The Peley. The Matraaz. The B'kuum.

Wisping, whining scoutships speedily slid their way in the open space between the glistening vessels. Full armaments were loaded. Glowing cannons flickered and pulsed at the ready. The Tamaranian defense was crisp. Clean. Undaunted……and yet perceivably dwarfed by the incoming monsters of floating rock anxiously twirling from afar. But then a squadron of royal fighters joined in loose formation, followed by more scoutships……and the glowing aura of the distant Mother Ship's awaiting cannon support. The entire slice of galactica throbbed and shook from the strength of the cosmic convoy.

"Snkkt—Valasar meniul Tam'ran," came Galfore's voice universally to every last ship, scout, and fighter. "My people, as your Lord and Commander I ask for your courage and fearless vigor. The Gordanians must not be allowed to set foot on Terra Firma. By the glory of X'Hal, let this be our most glorious night of battle yet. Sannar'm m'beraat de X'hal!"

"Snkkt—DE X'HAL!"

THOOOOO-OOOOOM!.!.!.! The flagships accelerated all on one accord. At the same time, one last scoutship rocketed forward and entered the hangar bay of the Peley. One second later, and all four Flagships activated their energy shields.

FLASH! FLASH! FL-FLASH! VROMMMMmmmmm……

Inside the main hangar bay of the Flagship Peley, the scoutship lowered on a cushion of powerful thruster engines. HISSSSSSSssssssssssssssssssssss. Steam and frost flew every which way and wafted up against the force field of the open hangar bay door. Half a minute later, and the top hatch of the red-hulled scoutship swirled open. A dozen brawn Tamaranian warlords flew out of the opening, the foremost of which was Tromand'r.

"Captain, we're awaiting your command on the bridge," an officer at the side entrance of the hangar bay said with a salute. "We are following Lord Galfore's route and are prepared to engage the Gordanian projectiles."

"Nnnngh…another year, another Drendar gauntlet….," Tromand'r rotated the cricks in his necks and forearms before half-sighing, half-grunting and shuffling with both fists aggravatedly clenched. "Decades of warfare—my fellow Tamaranians—and I am almost sickeningly bereft of surprises---"

BOOOOO-OOOO-OOOOM!

A huge explosion racked the entire ship. Everyone but Tromand'r fell down with an outrageous cry of shock and surprise. The Captain leaned awkwardly against the hull of the scoutship and gritted his teeth. He looked out the nearest window into chaotic space with helpless beads of sweat….

BOOOO-OOOOOOM!

"Nnnghh!" Galfore fought not to fall out of his chair as his entire bridge shook and swayed. Tamaranian officers grunted and groaned as they collapsed hard against their console panels. Everywhere, computer warning systems were bleeping, blinking, and blipping in emergency. "Report!" Galfore hissed. "What was that explosion?"

"It came from the Gordanian fleet, sir!" a bridge officer shouted. "A massive energy burst from the thick of their fleet!"

"Was it a flagship?"

"Not enough data t-to confirm, sir—"

"Lord Galfore!" a tactical officer exclaimed, her eyes wide. "One of the asteroid projectiles of the Gordanians' is missing!"

Galfore's humongous brow furrowed. "What do you mean, 'missing'?"

The large viewscreen brought up the celestial map. The region belonging to the missing hunk of rock was highlighted.

"It is no longer there! It is as if it vanished!"

Galfore gritted his teeth. "Not……vanished--"

Right at that heart-splitting moment, a full spread of wasp-like blips flashed into existence across the map and swarmed all over the Tamaranian fleet. Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!

"Multiple targets! Front and center!'

"Clatta siul thrii!"

"They're upon us!"

"All hands!" Galfore shouted. "Brace for imp—"

RUMMMMMBLE!.!.!.!

The entire ship shook and shuddered from innumerable, merciless projectiles pounding all over its shielding. Galfore fought not to be flung from his seat….

THUD! TH-THUD! THUD THUD THUD!

Exploding Gordanian missiles sailing forth from within the exploded asteroid ricocheted all over the front flagship. The Z'daan took the heavy punishment. Its silverish shield splashed and fluctuated from the rain of chaos.

ZZZ-ZZZTT! The barrage of flaming projectiles splashed the shields into full intensity, and it was right at that moment that larger, slower missiles rocketed their ways in and nestled themselves conspicuously between the huge flagships. A few drifted towards the Mother Ship while the others spread throughout the entire Tamaranian fleet, seeking the largest juggernauts possible.

As soon as the missiles found their levitating spots between two flagships, they cut their engines and started to vibrate with red-hot Gordanian energy.

VROMMMMMMM!.!.!.!

Tromand'r could see this from where he stood inside the Hangar Bay. And his eyes rounded. He flung a hot-blue star-bolt at a control panel, smashing it and forcing the metal bay doors of the Hangar to close over the force field.

"Run! RUN TO THE INTERIOR OF THE SHIP!"

"But sir—"

"THEY'RE GRAVITON CHARGES! These vessels are about to be crushed like Centauri Nanocrabs! MOVE!"

The Tamaranian soldiers and warriors ran—full of exclamations—towards the nearest entrance doors…

Galfore was already jamming his mighty hand over a communication device and shouting to all forces. "Graviton charges! Fighters and scouts, fall back! Flagships, full power to shields and disengage formation---"

But just as he spoke, the large black missiles in question exploded in full ferocity. There was no sound to be equivocated with such charges. Just an eerie 'drowning' sensation as everyone felt like their spines were about to exit through their feet and skulls at the same time. After a bit of static cleared away from the viewscreens of the front flagships, the effect of the charges became clear. Tiny black specks—blacker than space itself—erupted where the bombs were and fluctured with the blue aura of 'crushed' light.

The graviton charges had formed microscopic black holes.

The result could only be one thing…..

GROAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!

The metal skeletons of the Tamaranian flagships crackled and rattled as the ships wobbled in their trajectory. They veered towards the left and the right—towards each other with the miniature black holes sandwiched in between. They were being pulled into an inevitable crunch. The shields flicker brighter and brighter. The fighters scurried all around in dismay, a few of them being sucked in to the energy maelstrom and being incinerated to dust between the colliding ships' shields.

P-P-P-POWWWWW!.!.! FLAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAASSSSSH!

The Z'daan plummeted sideways into the Matraaz.

The B'kuum into the Peley.

The result was four bulbous energy shields bottling four ships in rattling mayhem. The blue energy of the Tamaranian barriers fluxed and flickered together, reaching a fever pitch as they fought the intensity of the miniature black holes summoned between them by the Gordanian Graviton charges.

"All power to shields!" one of the warriors on board the Z'daan shouted to the officers on board the bridge. "We MUST maintain our shields!"

"No! NO!" Galfore grumbled. "Don't you see, that's what they want us to do!"

"M-My lord?"

"If we intensify our shields anymore, they'll cause a chain reaction with the Maltraaz and both flagships will—"

WRIII! WRIII! WRIII!

"Engine overload!"

"Nm'haat siul threnna! My Lord, the forward energy banks! They're about to—"

Zzzzzt---POWWW!.!.!.!

Computer consoles everywhere sparked and exploded. Crying officers were thrown back over ten feet. Galfore himself nearly wobbled as the whole ship shook, and outside the hellish interior the Z'daan was twirling about. Its shield had totally, utterly vanished from the collision with the Matraaz's energy banks. The two ships were slingshotted away from each other and the fading black holes, totally naked and unguarded.

As fate would have it, the front 'nose' of the Z'daan—like a harpoon—swam its way in a downward arc and sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiced a thick sliver through the hull of the helpless Matraaz.

SLLLKKKKKK-KRKKKKKK-KKKKTTT!.!.!

Debris and metal bits flew everywhere, and as the cut went deeper and deeper into the hull, crystallized puffs of moisture and oxygen exploded outward and three dozen flailing Tamaranian bodies were ejected mercilessly out into space.

The engines of the ships ruptured, sputtered, and shorted out all together---

---except for two on board the Z'daan that exploded completely—P-POWWWWW!.!.!.!

A wave of plasma shot out from the crippled Z'daan's body, evaporating a few voiceless Tamaranian souls as they plunged through zero-G. Debris flew everywhere in as shrapnel crowd and covered that splotch of space with hellish dust.

On board the Peley, a shaken group of Tamaranians along with Tromand'r stared out a stretch of glass windows into the naked event. They could spot the flaming Z'daan and shredded Matraaz in the far distance of the disaster.

"X'hal…"

"Lord Galfore's ship is being consumed by fire!"

"Miel chlorvaak Gord'n! They fight with no honor! They have stripped us of our proper defenses!"

"Silence!" Tromand'r growled and braced the others as he glared out the window. "We have troubles of our own…"

Everyone watched as the B'kuum suddenly flung into view, its huge hull glistening with ash and debris—

"GET DOWN!" Tromand'r shouted as the men fell back—

CRRRRRRRKKKK!.!.!.!.!.!

The B'kuum slammed sideways into the Peley.

A concussion blast rippled through the hulls of both ships, causing windows to shatter, buckles to break, and gashes to open in the might, purple metal-shells.

But from the angle of the catastrophe, the B'kuum suffered the most. The mighty ship split in half, bearing towards the cosmos its skeletal subsections of decks, floors, and interior war rooms. Bodies and instruments flew out into the cold of space with condensing atmospheres of oxygen—only to propel the two halves further apart till they were caught up in the nearly-faded miniature black hole and started spiraling, spiraling, spiraling around themselves like two confused asteroids.

But the 'orbit' delineated. The two halves of the once-might flagship crunched into each other and with the magnitude of their ruptured shield batteries colliding from within, a mighty explosion was produced.

KA-POWWWWWW!.!.!.!.!.!.!

The ship splashed every which way in a gigantic ball of plasma. A wave of energy dispersed, slamming into the Peley and sending it flying off towards the Gordanian Drendar barrage with no guidance whatsoever.

SHOOOO-OOOO-OOOOOM!

From on board the near-derelict Z'daan, Galfore stared at the viewscreen with a look of horror.

It wasn't so much a fear for the safety of his fellow warrior on board the far-flung Peley.

Neither was it the bare horror at the hundreds of lives lost in those last few seconds.

But it was because he realized that dozens, hundreds of graviton charges just like those mere two were exploding all over the front of the Tamaranian fleet.

And sooner than an Emerald eye could blink, half of the blockade around Earth would be defenseless and naked to the Gordanian onslaught.

And in a fiendish charge of dozens upon dozens of merciless, red asteroids---that Gordanian onslaught came. The Drendar maneuver went underway, and giant rocks came hurtling towards the unguarded field of Tamaranian vessels strung between miniature black holes.

FWOOOSH! FW-FW-FWOOOOSH! FWOOOOOOOOSH!

While Graviton charges thundered off in the fire-specked void between giant Tamaranian warships, a throng of asteroids sailed low and rocketed red-hot towards the Mother Ship. As the shielding of the huge vessel began to fade, the huge meteors shook, vibrated, and literally fell apart into exploding chunks of space dust. POW! P-POW!

Forth from the exploded asteroids flew giant, bulbous spheres being piloted from deep inside. A hissing Gordanian in each sphere pulled a switch and—SCHHHTTK!—spiraling ring-blades slid out in fans along the circumference of the spheres. The blades proceeded to spin and turn the spheres into sailing saucers of merciless serration. SVVVV-VVVV-VVVV-VVVV!.!.!.! The saucers dipped down, hissed their blades even faster, and sliced the fans deep into the purple hull of the Mothership.

Unguarded, the metal surfaces of the Tamaranian vessel were sliced to ribbons. Bulkheads snapped, windows shattered, and the great vacuum of space sucked bodies—soldiers and citizens alike—out into the blackness. The amber-skinned bodies flailed, and voiceless screams wailed at the last second before the Gordanian saucers swayed to the side and purposefully ripped the flailing souls to shreds, filling space with frozen blood. Snnnrkkk-Snrkkkkt!

As more and more ribbons were sliced into the Tamaranian ships, a second wave of asteroids sailed in and exploded—P-POW!—exposing trooper vessels that unloaded dozens upon dozens of Gordanian soldiers on winged thruster packs. The reptilian ravagers swept low. Their resilient scales glistened in the sunlight of naked space as they hissed to each other in masked communicators, flew in formation, and swung low over the gashes in the Mother Ship's side. They tossed grenades in, one after another. The grenades floated in, nestled against the vacuum-ravaged interiors of the ship, and exploded in fiery clouds of shrapnel. Whatever Tamaranian body was struggling inside to clamor back into the atmospheric sections of the vessel was skewered to bloody death. Those still alive and flailing were zapped or speared to death as the Gordanians roared over and through.

The Tamaranian fighters were too surprised to perform a proper counterattack, and the support divisions were still far from assembling. Thus, the Gordanians had free license to flock in and clutch onto the fighter ships from all sides. They jammed, smashed, and bludgeoned their way into the cockpits and stabbed the helpless, screaming pilots to death before laying explosive charges onto the outer shells and thrusting away from the inevitable fireball.

It was a mangled mess on board the Peley. Bulkheads bulged and exhaust ports hissed with crackling strain. Lights flickered and electrical systems dangled about like open bowels. Metal debris covered the hallways, forming mountains of chaotic obstacles.

After a few silent seconds—the ambient background intermittently interrupted by the reverberations of explosions and laser fire—the debris started to stir from underneath. Chunks of metal fell every which way as a group of amber-skinned soldiers climbed out, led by…

"Nnnghh…," Tromand'r frowned. Scraped and cut in a dozen places all over. He stumbled to his feet and thrust a mighty hand down to lift a few of his comrades. He stood tall on a pile of junk and looked all around the lopsided hallway.

"We've been hit!" One Tamaranian scampered toward an open, cracked window. "We're a derelict! We're spiraling out of control!"

"Peley Bridge, come in," an older warrior called into a communicator. Waited. Called again: "Peley Bridge, do you read me?" Silence. He glanced the Captain's way. "They're not responding."

"We'll be lucky if they're even breathing," Tromand'r muttered and scaled the far reaches of the collapsed hallway. "Can anyone find the door to the Hangar Bay?"

"Negative, Captain! The passageway between us is breached!"

"We're blocked from entering the main lifts on the other side!" A panicky recruit motioned with an amber hand. "Sir, we have no exit!"

"….……" Tromand'r turned around. He pointed. "We have those windows." He glanced towards an exposed doorway. "And…if I'm right…"

He marched over towards the door and punched a console.

Schwisssh!

An armory was exposed, complete with space helmets and large laser rifles.

"……" Tromand'r turned around. "Ensign. Is our ship facing the blockade?"

"Right now it is, sir. We're spinning."

"What's the status—from what you can tell?"

"The Drendar Barrage has reached the Mother Ship. …Great Centauri! Th-the vessel is being torn asunder! All forward shields must have been eliminated by the graviton charges!"

The Tamaranian men murmured and sneered amongst themselves. Many a vindictive star-bolt charged in fury.

Tromand'r took one look at the windows…at the armory…and at the windows again.

"Ensign, tell me when we've spun again to face the Gordanian fleet."

The Captain marched into the armory, picked up a laser rifle the size of his body, and cocked it.

Chk-CHTKKK!

He smirked. "Those vile lizards paid us a visit. It is only fitting we return the favor…."

In the relative safety of the Echo'r, meanwhile, a certain Tamaranian princess bolted through its halls at high speeds.

Schwisssh- Schwisssh- Schwisssh!

Doors slid open one by one in rapid succession and Starfire flew through corridor after corridor, turning down several side paths and through several floor hatches leading a handful of levels downward. And still being dragged along with her…

"Nnnghh…Starfire? …Starfire, where are we going?.! Starfire!"

Robin had given up his futile struggling against her superior strength, but he certainly wasn't going to give up on trying to figure out just what in the world was going on. Starfire, however, seemed hell-bent on ignoring him until they got to wherever it was she was taking him.

Schwisssh!

One last door slid open, and Starfire pulled him into a cozy-yet-elegant room, one that looked strangely similar to Starfire's own bedroom back at Titans Tower, circular bed and all. Robin could only assume that these were her royal quarters onboard the ship. She at last put him down on the center of the bed atop lavender sheets and settled down beside him, legs folded underneath her wedding gown.

"Starfire, will you please explain to me what the heck is going on around here?" Robin insisted one last time. "You know we should be out there helping them, you know it! They're out there fighting and dying to stop this invasion! So what are we doing just sitting here? Why are we being sent away from the fight?"

Starfire didn't quite meet his gaze. She looked really nervous, he realized; her cheeks were flushed like she was overheated or embarrassed, and he could hear her breathing a little faster than she normally did. She appeared somewhat excited too, he observed; her eyes, always such an obvious indicator of her emotions, were startlingly alive and fiery, and she was fidgeting the way a child would when told to sit quietly for a few minutes before she could go out and play. 'Nervous,' however, seemed to be the more dominant of the two at that moment.

"You must understand, Robin," she began slowly, "that my people are rather tradition-bound. They may not be the most…l-logical or practical traditions in some situations, as you have so aptly pointed out; but they are…n-nevertheless vital to our ways…they cannot be ignored or set aside for the sake of convenience…"

Robin sighed impatiently, wishing she would get to the point.

"As Captain Tromand'r and Lord Galfore mentioned, there is…another portion to the betrothal process…that takes place after the initial ceremony is completed. I…admit that I have not been forthcoming with you concerning it, out of my own fears, and for that I apologize. I should have discussed it with you well before now, but…sadly I did not…I cannot deny my cowardice…and now there is no more delaying it…"

"Right, Galfore said something about a ritual of…something or other--"

"S'lor," Starfire said, and at the very utterance of the word her cheeks glowed all over again.

"Yeah, that," Robin amended distractedly. "They said if it wasn't completed, this whole peace arrangement is ruined?"

"Y-yes, that is correct…"

"Why?"

Starfire paused for an excruciatingly long moment. "…T-the ritual of…s-s'lor is…the process through which the ties of marriage are…finalized. If it is not completed within approximately one Terran week of the marriage ceremony's completion, for any reason…including the death of either of the betrothed pair…then the marriage becomes null and void, as does any other treaty or agreement reached via the marriage in question."

"So, if we die without this ritual being finished, the peace between Earth and Tamaran dies, so we have to go through this s'lor thing to make the marriage final and secure the peace," Robin summarized rapidly, looking annoyed. "Fine. Then let's take care of it now so we can get back out there. What do we have to do?"

"I-I…it is…not entirely as simple as that, Robin, you--"

"Just tell me, Star, so we can get it done and move on!"

"Ohh…" she moaned pitiably, her expression torn as she tried to form the right words. She looked like she half-wanted to run from the room as fast as possible, and half-wanted…well…he couldn't tell what the other half was wanting, but there was certainly no time to waste on figuring it out.

"Starfire, please, we don't have time for this, just tell me!"

"I am t-trying, Robin, but…"

"Try harder!"

"Robin, I…I-I…it is difficult t-to--"

"The only thing making this difficult right now is you, Starfire!" Robin snapped, losing his patience. "Now look, this war is going on without us, and the longer we sit here, the more people are going to die out there without us to help them! So whatever it is, just spit it out already, because we've wasted enough time as it is!"

Starfire was shaking, she was so nervous now. She stared holes into the bedsheets, her face burning. "Robin, it…it is such a c-complex matter among Terrans, I-I…c-cannot--"

"Then simplify it!" Robin shouted. "Starfire, look at me! Look at me!"

Starfire's eyes moved to meet his with staggering reluctance, and her own emerald pools that were drowning in a mix of nerves and that empassioned fire from before were met by the stony stare of a black and white mask.

"We. Are. Out. Of . Time," he said very deliberately. "I don't care how embarrassing you think this thing will be, it cannot be as bad as all this. So whatever it is, just spit it out in the simplest terms you can!"

She tore her eyes away from him, hugging herself. "…I-I--"

"Come on, Starfire, say something! One word!" he demanded, his patience evaporating entirely and his anger and frustration spilling over. "Just cut it down to one word, bite the bullet and for the love of X'Hal or whoever the hell you pray to, just say it!"

She clenched her eyes shut tight, and shivered.

"Are you even listening to me?.! I said--"

"S-SEX!" she abruptly blurted out.

Robin froze up completely in mid-yell, his harsh stare vanishing in the blink of an eye to be replaced by one of shock and disbelief. Starfire too seemed to ease down from her nerve trip; her shaking ceased, and her breathing came more under control, though her face still glowed a brilliant shade of pink. Both were silent for a long moment before Robin finally managed to make his mouth move again.

"………What………what did you say…?"

Starfire drew a long, steadying breath, unable to bear looking at him. "Y-you asked for…one word. T-that…is it. T-the more…direct translation of s'lor is 'the consummation,' but…but 'sex,' I believe, is the more…c-commonly used term in your language…"

She at last looked up to him, her eyes shining and her voice trembling. "That is the nature of the ritual of s'lor, Robin. For the marriage to be made truly official, and…t-to cement our peoples' peace…y-you and I…must……we are expected t-to…to…"

Her words failed her; she couldn't finish the thought. But she didn't need to. Robin knew. He remained frozen as he was, however, not moving, not speaking, not reacting; and as Starfire's words died away, Robin could do nothing but sit there and stare as the room was filled with a long, awkward silence.