Now as we once again join our hero's, we find them hurrying towards the Gordanian hide away.

Eleven: A Rescue

Four figures sprinted across the empty city, the pale sky getting gradually lighter as they went.

Robin and Raven were riding on Beastboy, who had changed himself into a green mustang. Cyborg was running along side them (apparently his metal body gave him super human speed). Roy had given them the coordinates and Cyborg was able to display a map with a GPS system built into his arm.

"We're almost there!" he told the other two.

They soon came to the pier and found themselves in front of an old warehouse. Cyborg looked at his arm.

"This is the place."

"It wreaks of Gordanians," said Beastboy, turning back as the others got off of him.

"And Koriand'r's in there," concluded Raven.

Robin took tight hold of his axe. "Then what are we waiting for?"

They pushed open the rusty door and looked inside. It was completely empty.

"What?" Robin outburst.

"It – it doesn't make any sense," said Raven, dumbfounded. "I know they're here!"

Beastboy turned into a dog and sniffed the air.

"Hm… They are defiantly here."

"Then where are they?" spat Robin, as beginning to grow angry.

Then, out of nowhere, ten Gordanians came into view. The four came into fighting stances.

"Bring them down!" said Robin.

They began to fight.

Robin faced off with three large Gordanians. Before, he would have held back, not wanting to take another life. But now, with Koriand'r in danger, Robin came onto them with full force. He kicked one to the ground and swung his axe right into its chest. Another came for him and he jumped over it just as it came dangerously close to choking him to death. Then, now behind the Gordanian, one swing of his axe, and the Gordanian's head fell to the floor. The last of the trio grabbed his axe and threw it to the side. Robin sent his fist soaring, but the alien grabbed it. Then, he sent his other one, but the Gordanian grabbed that one, too. So, rolling on his back to the ground, Robin kicked the Gordanian over him as hard as he could. It landed with a large THUD. Robin quickly got his axe and sent it straight into its heart.

Raven and Beastboy were cornered off with about four of their own. Raven spread out her arms and covered her self and Beastboy with a sheet of dark energy, and then they disappeared from sight. The Gordanians looked around in confusion, then a giant, green T-Rex landed on them from out of nowhere. Above them, Raven floated about. Beastboy charged into the four Gordanians, knocking them into the wall. Beastboy then turned into a sparrow and flew off, giving Raven full range to crush them underneath a piece of wall, enveloped in black.

On the other side of the room, Cyborg had his own fight. Three Gordanians cornered him and backed him into the wall. Then, with his amazing strength, he landed his right hook into the first, launching it all the way to the other side. Then, the remanding two took hold of his arms and they struggled trying to keep he restrained; but all in vain. He slammed the two aliens together and they fell, unconscious, to the ground.

"Dude!" said Beastboy, overjoyed. "We totally kicked their butts!"

"Will you shut up?" snapped Robin. "We still have a lot of work to do." He looked around. "Let's go this way."

He began to walk towards a hall, but Cyborg stepped in his path.

"Hold up," he said, stopping him. "Since when you the boss?"

"Since I went on this mission."

"Well, this is my mission, too. This is my planet, and this is my fight."

"This is my planet too, you know!"

"It was until you left it for Tamaran!"

"So, what, I'm a traitor?"

"Maybe!"

"I'm risking my neck helping you and I'm a traitor?"

"You're not helping me! You just want you're little alien princess!"

"Enough."

The two young men looked over at Raven.

"Arguing solves nothing. How are we ever going to fight the Gordanians if you are too busy fighting each other?"

They looked at one another and then looked away.

"I'm sorry," said Robin. "I'm just worried."

"I understand," Cyborg said sincerely. "We'll follow your lead... for now…"

He nodded and they went down the dark hall way. They walked a small while when suddenly, Raven spoke.

"I can feel them," she said abruptly. "They're – right here."

Robin looked around. They were the only ones in the hall.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. Beastboy sniffed the air.

"Here!" he said, pointing to a vent in the floor.

Cyborg pried it up with ease. The four of them lightly descended into a dank sewer. In the distance, Robin could see a faint light going on and off, and a small hint of a girl's voice.

"This way!"

The ran until they came to a large corridor. Robin looked in.

There were machines everywhere and two Gordanians manned them by a control panel. And there in front of them, tightly chained by her hands and feet, was Koriand'r. Her dress was torn to shreds and her hair was wild and knotted. Dirt and dried tears streaked her face. She seemed to have no energy at the moment, so her eyes were closed and her head was limp on her chest.

Robin's first impulse was to run to her. To take her in his arms. But just as he was about to move, a hand grabbed his arm.

"Let me go!" he whispered harshly to Raven.

"Wait, Robin," she whispered back.

"For what?"

"We could be walking into a trap."

"I don't care!"

"We have to wait for the opportune moment."

Grudgingly, Robin turned his head to the trapped princess. One of the Gordanians said something to the other; it sounded like gurgling in the back of a throat. Then, the other turned a knob. Robin saw Koriand'r's back go rigid and she let out a scream of pain. Her face was throttled with pain and rebellious tears made their way down her face. It nearly killed Robin to watch.

The torture seemed to go on for ever. But finally it stopped. She once again went slack. The Gordanians took some notes, then left. Robin felt Raven's hand relinquish from his numb arm. He ran too her and tried with all his might to pry open the clasps that were around her feet. Her eyes opened slightly.

"R-Robin?" she moaned.

"Don't talk, Koriand'r," he said. "Save your strength."

She closed her eyes once more.

"Dammit!" he swore under his breath. "I can't open these!"

"Hang on," said Cyborg, taking out a cord from his arm. He plugged into the control panel and began to type things into his arm's keyboard. Then, the clasps opened and Koriand'r fell limply into Robin's arms.

"Let's get out of here."

They headed back for the Head Quarters; Robin, Raven and Koriand'r (supported by Robin) rode on Beastboy and Cyborg ran. As they left, Beastboy had a feeling something was wrong with Raven. So, he thought to himself.

Yo, Raven, what's wrong?

A few seconds later, he heard Raven's voice in his head.

It just… felt too easy…

Yeah, I know what you mean. You'd think they would have put up a better fight to keep her…

I know… it's almost like they wanted us to rescue her. But why?

No idea…

Well… one thing's for sure… this is far from over.

Was it the Gordanian's intention for Koriand'r to be rescued? What do they have up their sleeve? And will the secret of the gunther knife finally be reviled? Tune in next chappie to find out!

T.