As we return to our heroes, we find Robin and Beastboy hurrying towards Azerath.

Eighteen: Behind Enemy Lines

The small, Azerathian ship sipped through space towards its home planet. Robin could not hold still even for a second. Finally, the ship reached its destination and landed right out side the Temple. Robin jumped out of the ship as soon as he was able.

"Yo, Robin, wait up!" yelled Beastboy, but Robin did not. He marched right up to the doors of the Temple and burst through them, making as much noise as possible (which he probably didn't need to do on account of him walking into a group of Gordanians).

"KOMAND'R!" he shouted. Every single Gordanian in there jumped out of their skin. Then, they quickly regained their composure and pointed their weapons at him, blocking him from Beastboy. But Robin had no patients to deal with them, so he whipped out his axe and turned a full 360, slicing at least five of them in the chest. One of them attempted to grab the axe, but he tripped it with his left leg and stabbed a Gordanian he saw in his peripheral. He was about to strike more down, but two of them grabbed each of his arms. Behind him, he saw Beastboy being reprimanded as well. Then, he heard ominous clapping. He looked up to see Komand'r walking out to him with Trogar at her heals.

"Well, well," she taunted, stopping her applause, "you're either very brave or very stupid."

"What did you do to Koriand'r!" he demanded.

"Ah," she said slowly. "So the after effects of the experiments are finally kicking in are they? I was afraid it would never work."

"Give me the antidote, now!"

She laughed. "What antidote?"

Robin struggled against the Gordanians, but it only made them hold on tighter.

"Don't screw with me!" he spat. "What are you doing to Koriand'r?"

"I'm not doing anything," she said smoothly. "She's the one choosing to die."

Robin's muscles strained as he struggled even harder. "What?"

"I gave her a choice. She can either join me and learn how to control her new power, and live, or she can stay with you, and die like the dog she is."

"You BITCH!" Robin screamed. Komand'r stopped as her eyes became aglow. Then, she zoomed over to him and placed a hand on his stomach. This action caught Robin off guard when all of the sudden, her hand emanated with purple light, and Robin was blasted backwards by the full force her violet energy.

The blast knocked him out of the Gordanians' grip and onto the floor. It felt like an ox had barreled into him going a hundred miles an hour. He curled up and groaned in pain. Beastboy was able to get past the Gordanians who blocked him from Robin and attempted to help him up. Robin groaned as he wobbled to his feet, clutching his stomach.

"Now," said Komand'r, "what did you call me?"

Robin took a few deep breaths before he was able to talk. "What – was that?" She smiled.

"That?" she asked, playfully. "That was what I like to call a 'star bolt'. It's cool, isn't it? You see, Koriand'r can have it too, she would just rather take death over power."

Suddenly, Robin had an idea. He looked over at Trogar.

"Power, huh?" he said, standing a little straighter. "That's what this has all been about, hasn't it?"

"What was you're first clue?" she said sarcastically.

"So, who has what power when this is done?"

She sniffed. "I will have rule over the governments and Lord Trogar will have rule over the army."

"Really," he said. He leaned on Beastboy, but stood even straighter. "How interesting. Doesn't the army obey the government?"

"So?"

This time, it was Robin's turn to laugh.

"Oh, man," he said to Trogar, "you got the short end of that stick. I mean, do you really want to live the rest of your life taking orders from her?"

Some of the Gordanians looked at each other. Komand'r began to look slightly panicked.

"Don't listen to him, My Lord," she said quickly.

"I mean," Robin continued, "not only will you have to listen to a teenaged child, but a Tamaranian, no less."

"He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Don't I?" Komand'r glared at him. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Gordanian culture, anyone can challenge the current Lord and take their place, right?"

The Gordanians around him began to lower their weapons.

"Well, what makes you so sure that Komand'r won't turn around and take over?"

"One more word out of you…" Komand'r threatened.

"As a matter of fact, what makes you think she's not going to kill you?"

"I'm warning you…"

"She's willing to do it to her own sister, so I think she'll have no problem –"

"That's IT!" she yelled, charging up a star bolt. But before she could attack, the Gordanians around her put her weapons to her throat.

"You know," said Torgar, speaking for the first time, "he has a decent point."

Komand'r's eyes became wide and wild.

"You – you don't believe him, do you?"

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't."

"Beastboy," Robin whispered.

"Yeah?" BB whispered back.

"When I say, turn into an octopus."

"Why?"

"Just trust me."

The Gordanians had circled around Komand'r, weapons up and ready. Then, Robin saw his opening.

"Now!" he shouted.

On cue, Beastboy turned into an octopus and Robin slammed his heal down onto him. This made BB shoot out a shower of ink on all who were looking their way.

In the shock and confusion, Robin grabbed Komand'r and his axe and began to run (Beastboy followed in his human state).

"You're saving me now?" Komand'r asked, wiping ink from her face.

"I'm not doing this for you!" Robin answered.

They got outside the Temple and jumped into the ship.

"Get us out of here!" said Robin.

Beastboy grabbed the controls and slammed on the gas, flooring the ship out of Azerath's atmosphere.

Will they be able to escape the Gordanian fleet? Will they get to Koriand'r in time? And what is the secret of the gunther knife?

T.