We once again join our heroes as they glide through space toward Earth.
Nine: The Remainders
Robin drummed his fingers impatiently as the ship zoomed through space. In the distance he saw the decimated remains of his home world. His heart ached at the vary thought of Earth and he wondered how any one could still brave the shattered planet.
The ship dove through the smoggy, tainted ozone that once stood proudly amongst the many stars. When their visions cleared, what they saw, Robin would never be prepared to see.
The ground was throttled and wrecked. Plants were torn and dead all around. The sky was grey and the water black. When they got out, the stench of something great now dead bombarded Robin nearly to tears. Oh, what has happened to his home?
"It looks like we're in California," said Beastboy, looking at some of the thrashed palm trees. "Or, what's left of it, anyway."
In the corner of his eye, something stood out and drew his attention.
"What's that?" he said pointing to it. He squinted. It was a building.
"There are people here," said Raven.
"Do you think that's where the Gordanians are?"
"Only one way to find out!" said Beastboy, cracking his knuckles.
They walked to the building. From the looks of it, it looked like a T shaped tower that had fallen in the wake of the planet's demise.
Robin looked into the old building. It looked abandoned.
The three of them walked in. It was a dank old building. The damp walls smelled heavily of moss and stale water. It was almost like it was an old ruin.
Raven froze in her tracks.
"I sense life"
Suddenly, the old door they had snapped shut and there was no light. Then, before Robin had time to think, he felt himself being beaten and bound. He fell and hit his head hard.
When he came to, he was in a room full of people. His vision was still blurry and his head ached like mad. And from the pressure on his chest he guessed he was on his stomach. He tried to move, but found that his arms were restrained by scratchy rope. He closed his eyes and moaned in spite of himself.
"So your awake, are you?"
He opened his eyes as his vision restored somewhat. The speaker was a young black woman. She wore ripped clothing of yellow and black and had strange weapons on her belt. They faintly resembled a pair of yellow B's.
"Now, who, or what, exactly are you?"
The second speaker kneeled down next to him and looked Robin over.
He was a red-headed boy about Robin's age and with clear blue eyes. Over his shoulder was slung a bow and sheath of arrows. His orange-red clothing was ripped like the girl's, but it appeared he had tried to make some kind of armor that covered his chest.
"You look human, but you're dressed like a Tameranian. Are you some kind of cross-breed?"
"And why do you travel with Azerathians?"
The third speaker knelt down just as the second. He had long, black hair that went to his shoulders and deep, dark eyes. His blue and black clothes were also torn, but to the extent of having no shirt. He had no weapons, unlike the others.
"Look, I'll answer you guys if you untie me," Robin was able to force out.
The three looked at each other.
"We should take him to Cyborg," said the girl.
"You think?" said the red-head.
"He's a trespasser," she replied. "He should know about him."
The other two agreed and they roughly picked up Robin by the shoulders. The rope was so tight that it was hard for him to breathe, so Robin focused on inhaling and exhaling as they dragged him. When they got to the next room, Robin saw the outline of a man. He had his back turned to them and he was out of the light.
"Victor," said the girl a bit nervously.
"Yes Karen?" said the man. His voice seemed to once harbor joy and a carefree life, but now played host to deep and tragic tones.
"We found this trespasser," she replied.
The man turned into the light and Robin froze in shock.
Half of the young man's body was metal and his left eye was a piercing red. He seemed like a strong soul and was very statuesque. It was all Robin could do to suppress a gasp.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
When Robin had found his voice again, he said "Untie me and I'll tell you."
The man nodded to the three who had tied him in the first place. Robin felt relief across his torso as the rope dropped to his feet.
"Now tell me your business here."
"I'm looking for the Princess of Tamaran."
"And so you look on the planet her people betrayed?"
Anger surfaced inside him.
"Koriand'r didn't betray anyone! If you want to point the blame, be angry at the Gordanians!" He was taken aback by his own boldness.
The Cyborg showed almost no emotion.
"You seem very protective of your princess," he said calmly.
Robin blinked; he wasn't quite sure what to say to that.
"Hmm…" said Victor thoughtfully, "you look for her… but you are no Tameranian."
"Yeah; I'm from Earth. I was taken by the Tameranians and they commissioned me to protect Koriand'r. Now the Gordanians have her, and my friends and I are looking for her."
"You're helping the Tameranians?" asked the long-haired boy.
"Then that makes you a traitor!" shouted the girl as she and the red-headed boy took out their weapons.
"Put down your weapons," said Cyborg calmly.
"But –!" protested Karen.
"Put – them – down."
So, reluctantly, they lowered their equipment.
"If you're looking for help," Cyborg continued, "you won't find it here."
"Good, cause I don't need any."
"Then why did you come here?"
"We think that the Gordanians have taken her here."
He actually laughed a little.
"No Gordanian would dare set foot here. And even if they did, I would know about it."
What?... Was Raven wrong?
No… no, she couldn't have been!
"I'm telling you there are Gordanians on this planet! But you don't have to take my word for it. Go and look for yourself."
He thought for a moment.
"Roy, Garth!"
The two boys looked up at him.
"Scout the area. Come back immediately if you find any Gordanians."
"What!" the red boy outraged. "You actually believe this nut job?"
"If there are Gordanians, I need to know about it."
The two looked at each other, nodded, and then left.
"Thanks," said Robin.
He smiled. "Don't thank me just yet."
Could Raven's prediction have been wrong? Are the Gordanians really holding Koriand'r on Earth? And does anyone have any idea what a stinken gunther knife is? Tune in next chappie to find out!
T.