Chapter 9

While Kim'r and Starfire were talking, so were Robin and Nie'l.

"I am pleased to see you with mother," the youngster said after he gave Robin a hug. "I hope this means that you and she. . ."

Robin chuckled softly at Nie'l's directness. "Let's just say that I hope we've managed to work through things," he said, then sighed softly as he glanced at Starfire. "I just wish we could do it without a crisis forcing things on us." Shaking himself from that line of thought, he looked back at Nie'l. "So how have your studies been going?"

"Well enough, I believe," he replied. "With my being within a year and a half of my Acceptance Day, I no longer am told how I am placing in my cadre."

Nie'l's averting his gaze from Robin as he spoke, caused the youngster to miss the fact that Robin had raised an eyebrow at the casual tone of voice Nie'l spoke in. Usually Nie'l was very enthusiastic in telling himself and Starfire how well he was doing. His look of concern deepened into a frown as he realized that Nie'l had just outright lied to him. With the competitive structure of the training cadres Robin knew full well that they all knew how each other as well as themselves were doing. "Well then, let's see how your hand to hand skills have improved."

Robin was glad that his mask hid his eyes as they widened in surprise when he saw the reluctance flicker in Nie'l's eyes as they stood. He also noticed that they had caught the attention of Starfire and Kim'r. "When you're ready, Nie'l."

"Then we begin," Nie'l said, then threw a series of punches and kicks at Robin which were blocked almost easily.

"Yes we do," Robin muttered as he circled slowly, making his own attack. "Nie'l, focus," he said out loud after he quickly scored three touches. One to Nie'l's chest, and two to his head. "You did better than this a year ago." He saw Nie'l square his shoulders and attack again. Although the blows were thrown with more force, they were also easily blocked. "You're telegraphing, Nie'l, showing me where you're going to strike next," Robin said. "Even Sher'l knew better."

"Rrrrrraah!" Nie'l shouted as he threw a kick that connected solidly with Robin's side. "My sister died protecting Koriand'r while you watched!" he ranted as he threw a punch that slammed into Robin's shoulder. "Now my new sister may die, and you do nothing to cure her!"

Nie'l swept Robin's legs from under him, then, while Robin was still in process of falling, he reversed his spin and went airborne, his other foot impacting in the middle of Robin's chest, slamming him to the ground hard enough that he literally bounced a few inches.

"Robin!" Starfire called out in alarm.

"Highness!" Kim'r also cried out as she and Starfire went over to where he lay.

"Father," Nie'l said, stunned at what he had done. "Kim'r he is not breathing!"

"Get away from him!" Starfire shouted, as Nie'l started to kneel beside Robin. "Have you not done enough?!"

"Koriand'r, enough. He will be alright," Kim'r said as she also knelt beside Robin. "He has only had the breath knocked out of him." She then turned and looked at Nie'l. "Nie'l, you will go with Chr's and Shel'b and return the the BRIND'R. We will discuss this later."

Nie'l nodded numbly and turned to walk away with the two others. He stopped and turned back toward Starfire. "Mother, I am sorry. I do not know what came over me." If she heard, Starfire gave no acknowledgment and Nie'l bowed his head as he walked away.

Starfire and Kim'r jumped when Robin suddenly coughed. "No," he rasped out. "Don't punish him. It wasn't his fault."

"Robin!" Starfire gasped as he sat up. "You are alright?"

Robin nodded as he took a few deep breaths. "Nie'l, come here."

Nie'l gave Shel'b and Chr's a quick glance then walked over to Robin. "Father, I. . ." he began, but was silenced by Robin placing a finger against his lips.

"You have nothing to apologize for, son. I should have realized that you would be dealing with not only your being upset about Liand'r, but Starfire's feelings as well. I should have been helping with that not pushing."

"Actually you were doing both," Raven said as she came over. "I thought the feeling of nervous tension was from either you or Starfire," she said, then looked over at Nie'l. "It was actually from him, although he's a little better now."

"It is still not right," Nie'l said, kneeling beside Robin. "Father, I do have to apologize for what I said to you at the least. I know there was nothing you could do for Sher'l, and if there was anything you could do for Liand'r you would be doing it."

"Kim'r, Shel'b, Chr's, leave us. Now." Starfire ordered, and they quickly left, as did Raven. "Nie'l, it is alright. We are alone now." She could feel Robin's concern as she knelt beside Nie'l then turned him so he was facing her, her hands on his shoulders. "Yes, you are the Emperor of Tamaran, but you are also a thirteen year old boy."

Robin saw Nie'l nod, then look over at him. "Father, was your answer to me the truth, about you and Mother?"

Robin saw the questioning look Starfire was giving him. "He asked me if we were now back together, and I told him that I hoped we were," he told her. "Yes, Nie'l, it was the truth. The reason I went to see her today was to tell her that if she didn't allow me to see Liand'r that I would take it up with the Ca'ri," he explained.

"So Galfore and Kim'r have agreed to sponsor you for that?"

"As would Chr's, Shel'b, and several others that I can think of," Starfire said before Robin could reply.

"She hasn't complained about the fact that I followed her into the house, or that I picked Liand'r up and held her, even when we got out of the T-car at the hospital."

"That is because you were not simply holding her, but saving her life," Starfire said.

"So does that convince you that I want and love both Liand'r and you? Am I free to see her and you?"

Starfire brushed her finger tips over Robin's cheek. "Your love for me was never in question, and I saw through our bond that I should not have doubted your love for our daughter."

Both Robin and Starfire were surprised when a loud sniffle from Nie'l got their attention. When they looked over at him they saw that his face was bathed in tears. "Mother, that does not answer his question," he said and walked over to Starfire. "I have lost both my parents and my sister, I do not wish to lose you and Robin as my parents."

"And I promise you that you will not," Starfire said kneeling down and wrapping Nie'l in a hug. "I am sorry, Nie'l, I have some idea on how my recent actions affected you through the crystal we share."

Nie'l lifted his head from her shoulder. "I know what it was that caused that, mother, but it did not help me to understand how you could think that way of father."

The conversation was cut short by Robin's communicator going off. "Yes, Doctor Beckthold."

"I would like for you and Starfire to return here as soon as you can," Lyta's voice said. "There's been no change in Liand'r's condition or status, but there are things we must discuss with you."

Robin looked up and saw that Raven and the others were heading their way. "We'll be there shortly, Doctor, and I'm afraid there's going to be more people there than before."

"What ever you decide, Robin," Lyta said, and closed the connection.

"What is it, Highness?" Kim'r asked as she and Raven landed, followed by Chr's, Shel'b, and Beast Boy, who morphed from hawk form. Cyborg followed shortly in the T-car.

"Evidently Vern'a was able to come up with what's wrong with Leann," Robin replied, using Liand'r's Earth name, and he and Starfire took seats in the T-car. Beast Boy and Raven followed suit and Nie'l also crowded into the back seat. "We'll meet you over there," Robin said out his window to the three remaining Tamaraneans. "Let's go, Cy."

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Robin and Starfire led the group that entered the conference room that they had been directed to. Robin saw that everyone was there, so he looked over at where Lyta, Galfore and Vern'a stood, along with a human male in a dark suit. "What is it you need to discuss with us?"

"Galfore has come up with what's wrong with Liand'r," Lyta said.

"Actually that is a mis-statement," Vern'a pipped up. "In all honesty, there is nothing wrong with the princess."

"Then she is well, and breathing on her own?" Starfire asked.

Vern'a opened her mouth to reply, but paused as the door opened, and Blackfire came in. "No, my Lady, she is not, but it from no medical reason as Earth medicine recognizes."

"Then what's wrong with her?" Beast Boy asked.

"As I said, Titan Beast Boy, nothing is wrong with the princess," Vern'a said. "She is simply going through Omshe."

Robin didn't know what Omshe was, but he didn't think it was good as Starfire slumped against him with a gasp.

"Omshe? But Liand'r is not truly Tamaranean," Blackfire said. "She's half human."

"You are correct, Jemara. That is why we did not consider it until everything else had been ruled out. My Lady, remember that both yourself and your sister have gone through this and survived, as do all Tamaranean children. Rarely is it fatal."

Robin felt Starfire straighten up then turn toward him. "But we have the natural resiliency of being Tamaranean, while Liand'r does not," she said.

The only part of Starfire's next actions that surprised him was that her hitting him in the chest with both fists didn't hurt. "Doctor Beckthold has said that Liand'r will not survive the time that Omshe runs!" she shouted at him, tearfully. "It is your fault that she will die! It will be because of your human weakness! It is your fault! Your fault!"

Robin held up a hand, stilling the unspoken protests of the others in the room, then held Starfire to him as her yelling at him dissolved into sobs. "She's gonna be okay, Kori. She's stronger than we think." He looked over at Lyta. "When can we see her?"

"She's been taken to one of our neonatal critical care rooms," she replied. "Normally, only the child's parents are allowed in to visit, however, there's nothing normal about this whole situation. That being said, providing you don't turn it into a circus, I'll allow two other visitors at a time."

"Speaking of a circus," Robin said. "What's being done about the press?"

"That's my department," the man in the suit said as he made his presence known. It was then that Robin noticed that he had a badge clipped to the right of his belt buckle. "I'm Gordon Winston, head of the Special Services Division of the Jump City PD," he said, introducing himself. "I've told all the media not to bother sending anyone, unless you call a press conference, Robin. They've all given me assurances that they would abide by that." He paused a moment, knowing his next statement might not be well received. "I'm also in charge of security for your daughter while she's here, Robin. No offense to you, Starfire, the Titans, or the Tamaraneans, but none of you have either the resources or the authority to do the job," he explained. "You Titans have a city to protect, and could get called away, and there would be problems with letting any number of alien people do what they would have to to defend her."

Gordon sighed mentally when he saw agreeing nods from both Robin and the large Tamaranean called Galfore. "Besides, it's more than just a matter of protecting Liand'r," he went on. "Before I got to the press, a tourist gave the TV stations a video, and the papers a series of photographs of when you brought her here. That means that everyone knows she's here and who her doctors are. I'll be providing protection for them and their nurses as well."

"No offense, but would you show us what manner of protection you will be giving the princess?" Nie'l asked.

Robin was surprised when Gordon gave the youngster a small bow. "Of course, Emperor Nie'l. I'll gladly go over my plans with whoever you assign."

"Kim'r," Nie'l snapped.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"You will review what measures he is planning on using and ensure that they are adequate."

"As you command, my Lord."

"Shel'b, Chr's," Robin said. "Work with them. You're both more familiar with our enemies her on Earth than Kim'r is."

"As you wish, Highness."

"Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to go see Liand'r," Robin said as he and Starfire headed for the door.

"I trust Koriand'r will explain to Rob'n what Omshe is," Vern'a said as she watched the couple follow Lyta and a nurse out of the room.

"Okay, I've got a question or two," Gordon said. "Just who has what title? I mean I know that Nie'l, despite his youth, is the Grand Ruler, or Emperor of Tamaran."

Galfore cleared his throat. "Koriand'r, or Starfire in your language, was the Crown Princess until about a year and a half ago when she took the throne," he explained. "While she was Empress, she bonded with Rob'n, which made him a Prince. Koriand'r did not wish to abandon her obligations to this planet so she adopted Nie'l and turned the throne over to him with myself and Captain Kim'r as Regents."

"Because Starfire is of the Royal Family," Kim'r picked up, "Her and Rob'n's daughter is the heir to the throne."

Gordon nodded. "So what's this Omshe?"

"Yeah," Cyborg said. "All I can find in the database is Penevo du Omshenara, or Trial of Worthiness."

"As Vern's stated before, all Tamaranean children go through this during the fourth week of their lives," Galfore replied. "It has been so since the beginning of our recorded history."

"It is believed, by our scientific community, that it is a holdover from older times, to weed out those children who would not be strong enough to survive." the healer was thoughtful for a moment. "However, Komand'r has brought up a valid point. This is the first recorded instance where the child is not of pure Tamaranean blood."

"I only hope that Liand'r will be strong enough to survive, for both her, and Rob'n's sake. Koriand'r will not take her daughter's death lightly," Galfore said.

"Neither will Robin," Cyborg said. "Star's keeping him away from Liand'r has really been tearing him up.

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Robin and Starfire were both pleased to see that Lyta and the nurse stopped in the hall and allowed them to enter Liand'r's room alone. Acting on some instinct, the couple kept their voices to a soft whisper as they spoke, as if not to disturb the small form in the isolette. Robin hated that the device gave the impression that his daughter was caged, but he realized that the clear plastic box was a necessary precaution as it protected Liand'r from any other infection that might threaten her. He gave a sad smile when Starfire voiced his thoughts.

"Must they keep her in a box? It is enough that she is going through this, must they cage her?"

"It's for her own protection, Kori. It keeps her safe from any other infections she might catch."

Just then the monitor beside the isolette beeped loudly for a few moments then went silent. As the alarm sounded, both Lyta and the nurse entered the room, and Lyta studied the readings as she made notes in Liand'r's chart.

"That was the ventilator switching on," Lyta told them. "It should switch off in about half an hour, then she'll breathe on her own for about an hour. That's the pattern she's been keeping to so far. Unfortunately, there's been no change in the rate her life signs have been dropping."

"Is there nothing you can do?" Starfire asked. "You mentioned some treatments you could use to help her."

"And I also mentioned that her unique blood chemistry made using those risky," Lyta replied. "I've talked with Vern'a, and she's had the medical and scientific staff of the BRIND'R run some tests, as I have had STAR Labs do. Both show that either there would be no change, or the treatment would kill her outright. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get your hopes up."

"Thank you, doctor," Robin said. "Do you think she'll make it through the week?"

"I wish you hadn't asked me that, Robin," Lyta replied. "Like Doctor Benson, I won't pull any punches or paint you a pretty picture. Providing the rate of deterioration doesn't change, it's going to be very close."

Robin watched as Starfire walked over to the isolette and placed hr hand on the top of it. "I. . .thank you for your honesty, Doctor. May we have some time alone with our daughter?"