When we last joined our heroes and heroines, they were waiting anxiously to see if Komand'r could be trusted with her own sister's life.

Twenty: A Family Affair

"So, run this by me again," said Roy as Robin paced around the room. "Why is it important that she lives?"

Robin glared at him as a sweat drop made its way down his head.

"Well, it's important to you, of course!" he said, hastily. "But why does the entire fate of the universe depend on it?"

"Because," said Robin, getting close to him, "if she dies, then Galfor won't believe a word I say. And if he doesn't believe a word I say, then he won't help. And if he doesn't help, then we don't have an army! And if we don't have an army, then we can kiss Earth goodbye!"

He laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah… right…"

Behind them, the door opened and Komand'r came out.

"You can come in and see her now if you want," she said, brushing off her hands.

Robin told Bee to watch her, and then power walked into the room where he saw Koriand'r sitting up in bed. She smiled at him and Robin felt like a thousand pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His tense muscles relaxed and he sat down on the bed next to her.

"Are you ok?" he asked, solemnly. She nodded.

"Komand'r has greatly helped," she said. Then she laced her fingers around his. "It was so brave of you to risk going back to get her."

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. They sat there for a little bit, not saying much. Then, Robin decided (though against his will) to break the silence.

"Now then," he said, "as soon as you're well enough to travel, I'll take you back to Tamaran. There, we'll get Galfor to gather an army."

"But will I be able to revive before the Gordanians strike again?" she asked.

Robin's heart sank. He hadn't thought about that. He could try to go to Tamaran alone, but Galfor would merely single him out to be a lying traitor and use his head as a door stop. If only there was some way to reach him soon without leaving Koriand'r or risking her health! Suddenly, something clicked.

"Hey, Karen!" he called. Bee came into the room. "Do you have a working transmitter?"

She thought. "Well, maybe… hang on I'll see if we still have it." And then she left.

"You are going to call Galfor?" Koriand'r asked.

"Yeah. This is the safest way to get an army here fast."

Not long afterwards, Bee returned with a basketball-shaped, metal ball with a small keyboard and screen on one side. (A/N think of the thing Mento sent BB when he called him in Homecoming) She handed it to him then left.

"What's Tamaran's frequency?" he asked holding up the device.

Koriand'r leaned in and typed a series of numbers into the keyboard. Then, the screen hummed with a blue light and the transmitter began to hover in mid air. A few seconds later, a Tamaranian man came on screen.

"Gotcha?" he said, looking at Robin quizzically. Robin was suddenly stuck; he had forgotten that he didn't speak Tamaranian. He looked at Koriand'r with a helpless expression on his face. She smiled and leaned into view of the man.

"Gotta bu augna dockta Galfor. Seth kegna un Robin es Koriand'r."

The man's eyes went wide and he sped off screen. Only a moment later and Galfor's large profile was on air.

"Koriand'r!" he said, smiling. "I was beginning to think I would never see you again!"

"Well," she said, "that would be so if it was not for Robin."

His eyes drifted to the Earth boy and he smiled.

"So," he said, "she's safe. I thank you, Robin."

He swelled with pride in light of his praise. It felt like he had just impressed his father-in-law.

So, Robin told him about everything that happened and asked him to send an army as soon as possible. He said he would as long as Robin would send Koriand'r home just as fast. He promised and they broke their connection. Robin smiled and set the transmitter to the side. He turned to Koriand'r, but saw her with worry on her brow.

"Kori?" he asked in concern. "What's wrong? Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes," she said "I'm fine…"

"But?" he said, knowing there was more to it.

"Well… do you think – we made a mistake?"

"A mistake?" he repeated. Then, suddenly, he remembered what had happened the previous night. "Oh, that. Well, of course not! Why?" Suddenly, a thought came to his mind. "I wasn't – bad or anything, was I?"

"Oh, no!" she said quickly. "It's not that at all! It is just that I am afraid Galfor will find out. And if you got into as much trouble for merely kissing me –"

"Then what would happen if he found out we had sex?" he finished. She nodded. He smiled and relaxed. "Don't worry. He won't find out, I promise."

"But how do you know that?" she said. "What if I become pregnant or contract a disease or –"

"Hey," he said, stroking her cheek, "don't fret. I swear, he won't find out. And if he does, I'll take the blame."

"But –"

He kissed her cheek that he was currently stroking, cutting her worry cold.

"Get some rest," he told her. "We've got a long week ahead of us."

Will Galfor send his army in time? Does Komand'r have something up her sleeve? And will we ever know of the gunther knife? Tune in next chappie to find out!

T.