Hey ya'll! Sorry I didn't update yesterday; a last minute invite to something stopped me from posting. However I hope you all like this! BTW I was asked why I'm back at school. I'm a New Zealander, we started school like… two weeks ago.

Chapter 25

"Lesson number three; never, ever, provoke your opponent with their personal life" Nightwing glared at Drake coldly before turning his back on him and looking at me. I stared at him with a bewildered expression; I never knew about his past, it was the one thing I'd never heard about. I started crying as I thought back.

"Richard…" I started, but he turned his back on me and stalked off into the bushes.

"RICHARD!" I screamed after him, running to where he was disappearing off the trail, but he was gone. I couldn't see him. The plants were so dark; the canopy was a black sheet, creating shadows everywhere.

"Richard come back, it's not safe out there!" I tried again, and again, until I realized he wasn't coming back. He obviously didn't want to face me, or anyone for the matter, but why go into the jungle? We have no idea what life forms are out there, he could get killed!

"Kori… just… he'll come back. He can't go too far" Rachel appeared beside me, her hood over her head. I looked at her helplessly.

"Rach, I never knew, all this time I never knew about his past. I feel awful"

Rachel sighed and looked at me,

"It wasn't your fault Kori. Besides I was quite glad that to see Drake get his ass kicked. He's too up himself" Rachel grinned slightly. I didn't have the heart to laugh, just remained silent.

"I won't just leave him out there by himself. I'm going after him." I stated defiantly, ready to step into even more unknown territory before Raven grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

"If you go, that's two fighters gone, our numbers will weaken. Nightwing can take care of himself. He's proved that to us many times. Besides, you're the only one who can access this gem. Remember this,

'The Gem of light

The savior of life

Sits upon the gold throne bright

To await the day when needed most

To find the one to be its host

And when only one of royal blood

Has shown the blood of innocence

Light will come in streams of floods

To drive the darkness given'"

I stared at Raven with a bewildered expression. Just what the hell was she one about? Obviously she knew what I was thinking.

"The history of the Gem Kori! Only you can take it from its resting place and use it. And when only one of royal blood' That's you, 'has shown the blood of innocence' that's all you Kori! Without you, we can't do anything"

I stared at her for a minute, searching my brain for anything like that little poem thing she just recited. There was something… vague and misty, like it didn't want me to remember what it was. Stupid mind.

"Ok. Do you remember to when you were a little kid? Surely your parents gave you this information, as a story, as a poem, a bed time story, anything!" Rachel shook my shoulders, trying to make me remember, but the tears were streaming down my face faster now, as memories took my mind.

"We can't do anything about, we have to hand over Koriand'r and Komand'r, its them or our entire planet" Myand'rs voice rang loud and clear towards his wife, who was sobbing.

"You expect me to give up my children Myand'rs? I gave birth to those girls; I won't let them go without a fight" Luand'rs crystal voice sounded to the heart of her husband. The tall red haired lady seemed to shrink.

Myand'r was torn, how could he give up his daughters, his pride and joy Koriand'r? His talented yet naughty daughter Komand'r? Unless he gave them to the Gordonians, his planet would be destroyed.

Eight year old Kori sat behind the large doors to where her parents were talking. She knew of the war about to rage, but she didn't know until now that they wanted her. Tears ran down her cheeks as she hugged herself. Then a hulking Gordonian came into view and Kori cowered behind the pillar beside the door, hoping he hadn't seen her. Throwing the doors open he stalked in.

"I've come to take the two girls" his voice was deep and hoarse, and he spoke in disjointed Tamaranian.

"They're… out there" Luand'r gestured to the hallway vaguely.

"I WANT PROPER ANSWERS!"

Kori scooted around the corner as the soft 'thump' sound reached her ears and stared at her beautiful mother, lying on the floor, her delicate hand resting on her bleeding stomach, her ruby hair spread on the hard ground, her eyes glassy. Myand'r moved forward and in lightening speed pulled his own sword form his sheath and stuck it through his enemies gut. Then a team of ten Gordonians came down the hallway, picking up Kori by her hair on the way down, dragging her across the ground.

Myand'rs eyes widened in rage as he saw his young daughter being dragged like a slave across the palace floors,

"RELEASE HER NOW" He roared, swinging his sword in a lethal circle. The Gordonians laughed and made a line, watching Myand'r closely. The man charged forward, cutting into the stomach of one, slicing the head off another, and finally completely clearing the legs from one. But ten against one was an unfair fight, and Myand'r died; a sword through his chest.

Komand'r came around the corner, eyes wide as she saw her parents and her sister.

"LET MY SISTER GO!" She shrieked, rushing forward, fists flailing as she ran into the midst of the enemy. She was picked up by her hair also and dragged away, kicking and screaming, calling for her parents.

Moving into the corridor Kori groaned as they jerked her hair, her throat too sore from all her screaming, her eyes so red from crying. Her sister's screams still jolted through the air. Then, Kori started to rejoice slightly, as her nanny Galfore, a hulking man with a lethal battle axe blocked the way.

"Drop Her Highnesses" he said in a lethal voice, wielding his axe angrily. "No? Then deal with this" With a mad roar Galfore charged forward and decapitated one, fended off an incoming shoulder blow and made a lethal gash in the guard that was holding Kori's arm. Kori twisted free and ran to hide behind Galfore, then the large man moved quickly to where Komand'r was and cut of the arm of her holder. Koma grabbed Kori's hand and ran though the palace halls. As they reached the servants quarters Koma shoved Kori into a large bread basket and then squished into the one beside it as Gordonians thundered down the hall.

"Princess…we know you're here"

At that moment Koma jumped from her hiding place and grabbed the large carving knife from a bench and hurled it with a grunt at one Gordonians chest. It met its target with a sickening crunch and he fell to the ground, two were left standing; and Koma was out of ideas.

The Gordonians grinned and reached for Koma, who kicked and screamed as they grabbed her hair once more, and pulled Kori from her basket.

As she was dragged down the hall, Kori saw Galfore lying in a pool off his own blood, his axe strewn across the other side of the hall. Her last hope was gone; and she fainted into darkness.

I sunk to my knees on the soft ground and wept; my head in my hands. I knew exactly how Richard felt. I'd done the exact same thing; something I hated to think of. I'd seen my parents murdered, I'd been though slavery for right years, I was used as a test animal; the Gordonians showed no sympathy. Myself and Koma were experiments; tortured and used as slaves for years.

"Kori, are you ok, Kori?" I could here Rachel's voice drifting above my head; but I didn't want to listen…I just wanted to sleep.

"Test this on the older one; we'll get a better result" The Gordonians testing on Koma over and over again; trying to get the results correct.

--

"Use the young girl; she's near dead. No loss to us if she dies" Using the twelve year old Kori as she struggled to keep her eyes open; injecting serums into her veins.

--

"Take blood samples from them both; they've lived too long, for normal Tamaranian life length anyway" a fourteen year old Kori wandering what they were talking about.

--

"The dark haired one has escaped; make sure the other one can't get out of her bonds"

"She's gone as well; we have to find them"

"Wherever they are… they won't get far"

Sixteen year old Kori running with Koma out of the cells; her lungs burning as her underfed body trembled from exhaustion.

--

"Take my sister; she's the one you want. She's too much of a goody good to do anything. Me, I can give you power, money, I'm the heir to the throne; imagine the riches you could have" Koma bargaining Kori for her own freedom; and winning.

--

"She has a strong mental will she does; and her spirit can not be broken. I want you to break her down and make her beg" A seventeen year old Kori staring defiantly ahead of her; eyes narrowed and fists clenched; the anger and sadness towards her sister burning through her mind. They weren't going to kill her now.

--

"It's the slave; she's escaping! Get her!"

An eighteen year old Kori escaping the cells and making a run for her life; her willpower strong and her goal centered.

--

"GALFORE!" An ecstatic Kori jumping into the arms of her nanny back on Tamaran; the large man crying through one eye; the other held a large scar and a pearl eye.

"Oh my little bumgorf, you are alive" The large man holding her to him; his sobs soaking her hair.

"I thought Komand'r had taken over? We escaped but were caught, and then she bargained me for her own freedom. She promised she'd give them riches; ass he was the heir to the throne" Kori looking worried as she waited for an answer.

"I have not seen her since you were both taken" Galfore looking positively furious at Kori's explanation.

"Then all is fine; I am home, Galfore"

--

I woke up with a shiver and looked around me worriedly. I was not sure where I was; I was in a bed, with blankets, and someone was by my side.

"Its all right Kori, you fainted and we brought you back to the ship"

Rachel's voice sounded beside me as her features came into focus. She looked worn out, and bags were forming under her eyes.

"Are you ok, you do not look all right?" I asked her slowly, blinking as she flicked on a light.

"I've had to heal Bumblebee and yourself. Not to mention Gar; it seems he had a slight concussion. That took a lot trying to heal that. Then I tried zoning in on Nightwing; but I can't sense him. Either he's covered a lot of ground in the past day, or hiding himself somehow or, I'm just too tired to go far enough." Rachel explained, grimacing slightly as she crossed her legs at the ankle.

"Rach you shouldn't do that, you need to rest" I scolded her, pointing to the other bed beside mine. "Wait; you mean Richard isn't here; he's still out there, by himself?" I leaped from the bed, grabbing my sword and leaving the bow and arrow.

"Kori you can't go out there now; it nighttime, we have no idea whats hiding out there. There could be an ambush of Harpies or something waiting for you to come out. Nightwing could be long gone by now; there's a one in a million chance that you'll find him around here. Kori's its too dangerous" Her voice was deadly cold as she stared at me.

"I'm going; and you can't stop me" I stated defiantly as I strode out the door.

"I can Kori and I will. Stop being so god damn stubborn and sit your ass down on this bed!" Rachel stood up, eyes glowing dangerously as she glared at me.

"You can't stop me from making my own decisions Rachel" I said slowly as I turned to face her.

"No, but you're being irrational"

"I love him Rachel! I am not going to sit around and wait for him to come back; he could be injured or lost! He doesn't know this place; none of us do! I won't forgive myself if he's hurt Rachel; I just won't" I begged at her with my eyes, pleading for her not to do anything.

"The others aren't going to let you go."

"Please Rachel; just tell them you dozed off and when you woke I was gone. Please let me find him!"

Rachel sighed and looked away.

"Kori, you're like my sister, I won't forgive myself if you're hurt. I can't let you leave this room" I stared at her in defeat. "However, I have to go to the bathroom right now. I know I can trust you NOT to sneak out of the room and go find Richard and be back by morning" Rachel glanced at me. "I'll be back in five minutes"

Well I hope ya'll liked, now don't forget to review! Thankees!

Ell