The Wicked One
Chapter 19: Strife
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The trio walked slowly through the darkened corridors. It was a slower trek than any of them wanted to make but they had little choice.
"No ones following us still…right?" Red-X had to ask again. He glanced back to see See-More nod, the master thief shivered at how his comrade still appeared to be missing an eye, he was still trying to get used to it being stuck at the back of his head.
"I still can't see very well through my lens, but yeah, we're good."
Making sure that See-More still had a hand on his shoulder he turned his attention back in front of him, where Fixit was leading the way.
He carried the now not so talkative Tamaranian on his back, the alien bound by some sort of weird mechanical wiring that just grew out from Fixit's body. Despite still having no arms the mechanic showed no signs that the added weight bothered him. Red-X flinched when a sudden pain flared up in his side. The Zinothium that seeped into his body after attacking the guard was working as he had hoped, but it was a temporary pain killer at best, made even weaker as the adrenaline began to leave his body.
"Hey tin man, how close are we to reaching the palace?" Red-X called. Fixit did not respond, nor did he even turn around and acknowledge him. Red-X quickly grew annoyed.
"Hey, bolt for brains, are you listening!"
"Oh man I completely forgot!" See-More suddenly exclaimed, causing Red-X to look back to him again, "I kinda blew out his hearin' or somethin' like that, he's completely deaf!"
"Wha-." Red-X began before turning back to Fixit, sure enough there were two sizeable holes on either side of his head. "How did I miss that…wait, if he can't hear than how was he talking to us in that cell room just a few minutes ago?"
"I taught myself to read lips over the course of our stay in the cell. It is not as difficult as one might imagine." Fixit suddenly announced, still not looking back at the two thieves.
"So you got eyes in the back of your head now to?" Red-X questioned. In response Fixit's head suddenly swiveled 180 degrees, emotionless red eyes gazing at the frightened skull faced teen, See-More chose the wrong moment to peer through the front of his head.
"Oh man! I wish I didn't see that!" See-More instantly exclaimed before switching off his x-ray vision.
"No. I do not." Fixit replied before turning his head back in the proper direction, "I simply read your mind."
"Okay then…" Red-X spoke, slowly trying to recover from what he just witnessed, "…wait, so you did hear my question then!"
"Yes."
"So…?"
"The answer is not important for you to know. Focus on the mission ahead."
"Why you little-."
"We will rest in a few minutes and I shall do my best to repair you and See-More. Until then I suggest you conserve your energy…and your breath."
Red-X went silent with a humph, only to flinch as the pain flared in his body again. The walk continued for several more minutes before another thought dawned on the master thief.
"Hey, do you even know where we're going? All these halls seem the same…"
Once again Fixit didn't answer right away and Red-X was about to ask again, much louder, when he finally responded:
"I am navigating using the blueprint of the palace that Blackfire downloaded into my brain. Tamaranian architecture is very different from human's; many layers, no discernable patterns."
"Even in their dungeons?" See-more spoke up.
"Especially their dungeons." Fixit responded, "I surmise it is to keep prisoners like us from escaping easily."
"Well isn't that a mood lifter." Red-X muttered sarcastically, he then glanced at the still unconscious Tamaranian strapped to the mechanic's back.
"I do not think that would be wise." Fixit suddenly answered.
"I didn't even say anything!" Red-X quickly retorted.
"You were thinking it."
"Well…you don't think it's a good idea?"
"No."
"Why not? I'm sure pretty boy here knows all the ins and outs of this palace. All it would take is some…motivation."
"You misunderstand how Tamaranian loyalty works. Blackfire is a princess; all those that follow are severely loyal to her. They would fight to the death for her, receive any order without question, and withhold any information from those that would do their princess harm. Awakening this one and interrogating him would be a waste of time, I assure you."
"Well aren't we suddenly the master historian of the Tamaranian people…"
"Blackfire made sure I had intimate knowledge of her planet and people before we arrived."
"Why would Blackfire do that if she was just goin' to throw you in prison?" See-More questioned.
"I admit that I am curious as well as to why she prepared me so intimately while having the sole intention of imprisoning me."
"It's called playing the part." Red-X answered as if the answer was obvious, "Our little princess just wanted to make sure that we weren't even the least bit suspicious of her double crossing us."
"And you weren't suspicious of her?" Fixit questioned.
"Of course I was. That little bitch always had a plan, you could hear it in that mocking, uppity, spiteful little voice of hers."
"Then how come you went through all that trouble of bustin' out Fixit and stealing the Titan's ship?" See-More asked him.
"Please, do explain."
"What can I say? It was the most fun I've had since my Zinothium was stolen from me, up until the part where we crashed and got locked away anyways. I knew it was a matter of time, just didn't think it would be this soon."
"So…you came along just to…"
Out of the corner of his eye Red-X could see See-More try to turn the back of his head towards him, without making much progress.
"Listen kid, obviously you don't know what it's like to be a thief, a successful one anyways." Red-X shot, See-More didn't respond.
"I see." Fixit noted as they continued to walk, "So with your petty purpose gone you sought a way to escape. What a sad, human reaction."
"How bout you shut that mechanical trap of yours, tin man." Red-X hissed dangerously.
"Oh? Did I strike a nerve? Forgive me; I sometimes forget how touchy humans can be about the truth."
"Hey, I said shut it alright!" Red-X shouted, taking a sudden step towards the mechanic and causing See-More to lose his grip on Red-X's shoulder.
"Hey guys-."
"I heard you the first time." Fixit responded as he stopped moving and turned slowly to face the thief.
"Really? Could have fooled me, what with those two massive holes sticking out of that arrogant head of yours." Red-X returned, "Speaking of which, how did you get those? Someone finally had enough of your shit and tried to blow your brains out?"
"Guys-."
"Clever. I take it you received that mouth from whatever anserine, perfunctory, and genetically defected mother that gave birth to you?"
"Guys really-."
"Now I don't know half the crap you just said to me, but do not mention my mother you robotic bastard child."
"Ah. Another touchy subject on the truth I take?"
"Why you-."
"Red-X, Fixit, c'mon-."
"You tell us you came here with the intention of failing. Of knowing that we were to be deceived. It is clear that you are nothing but a hindrance to our plans of escaping now so I will make one simple suggestion. Leave on your own, or I will be forced to make you leave."
Fixit's threat echoed through the hallway and the small group fell silent for a long time. See-More turned himself so that he could see the two, but of course all he could see was two blurs, unmoving and silent as death.
"So that's how it's going to be huh?" Red-X finally muttered darkly and with that he turned on the spot and began walking back down the way they were coming from, pushing past See-More as he did.
"Red-X, c'mon man, don't do this!"
"Just keep away from me; I don't need some backwards, hack of a thief slowing me down." Red-X called back before his blur disappeared entirely in the darkness."
See-More stared into the dark for a few seconds more before turning on the blur of Fixit in a flash.
"Fixit, man, why'd you have to jump on him like that? That was way out of line!"
"It could not be helped." Fixit simply answered as he walked over to See-More and lifted a part of his robe towards him. "Now grab the hem of my robe and we will proceed. We need to make more progress before I can attempt to repair you."
See-More stared at the silver blur of Fixit's extended hand and back to the endless blackness that Red-X disappeared into. With a defeated sigh he gripped the robe.
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"It's time to get up now, Number 36." A soft voice called.
My eyes slowly opened, everything was a blur at first. I tried to move my hands but soon realized I couldn't. Binds, of course I was in binds. I tried to move my feet, but they seemed to be in binds to.
"Mmm…I like what you did with your hand very…demonic."
I quickly clenched my clawed hand, trying to ignore how easily the pointed tips could dig into my palm. Blackfire…Number 26 chuckled in return.
"So is that special little cape of yours from our dearest master? Was that your little prize for being the best of us Number 36?"
I wanted to shout at her. I wanted to tell her to shut her mouth. But all I could do was fight against my restraints. Blackfire's now clear face smirked, how I was quickly growing to hate the face behind the voice.
"In fact…it seems a lot about you has changed lately. Of course I could never not see the scared little boy that I met all those years ago but… your eyes…your skin…oh my even your teeth! You must have been quite the naughty boy…"
I silently growled at her. Blackfire chuckled again as she walked around her bedroom. I turned my attention to the strange purple colored vine looking things that seemed to just grow from the walls to wrap around my wrists and ankles. I tried to shake my arms-they didn't even budge.
"Things have taken such a strange turn indeed…" Blackfire mused as she paced, always keeping an eye on me. "It seems your other comrades have managed to escape my clutches, but at the same time you drop into them…and I really must have them back before our dear King returns…"
Blackfire then turned to me, a brow raised in interest. I knew this could lead to no good.
"Of course I could always just round them up myself. But these bothersome guards in the castle simply hate it when their princess tries to act herself, yet they themselves have proven so incompetent….tell me Number 36...why have you not taken off that collar around your neck? You must have thought that you were free from my control after that horrible accident with the ship?"
I only stared into her devilish purple eyes. Hoping that she could at least feel the hate that I had for her in my glare. We both knew why I never removed the caller. Her eyes widened.
"Oh how you continue to surprise me my little tricky demon. Even after all we had been through you couldn't completely trust me…" Blackfire then pressed a finger to one of her gauntlets around her wrist; a bright red button appeared in response.
"You were right of course. I could still track you, still monitor you, still kill you if I wanted. But I knew once you were in my palace you would eventually run into one of my guards…or myself, how fortunate for both of us that it was the latter."
Blackfire then stepped up to me, so close that we were only inches apart, her purple eyes boring into my clear red ones.
Number 72…my friend…is dead.
"I know how you must feel about me, Number 36."
He's dead because of you!
"I know you hate me, that you wish me dead."
I don't wish it, I know it. You will die. I will kill you. Not quickly, not painlessly. You will die how my friend died.
"But allow me to offer you one last proposition; you remember what those are correct? You bring me your former comrades: Fixit and Red-X and I will release you and See-More, and even keep up my end of our previous agreement and free your other teammates. How does that sound?"
Blackfire. Number 26. My life is not yours. My choices are not yours. Not any longer. You are the prey and I am the predator. I am your darkness. I am your fear. I am your murderer. You know nothing of what I learned from our master. You broke Number 72's heart and left him to die. And he died. And I killed our master. And now, I will kill you. I swear it.
With a smile, I nodded.
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Beastboy woke back up with a groan. He had been grateful when his body finally let him sleep, but quickly was starting to regret it when he tried to move his arms and legs, only to find that they had went numb in his awkward, imprisoned position.
He tried not to think as he rolled his shoulders and moved his toes to try and get some feeling back. Normally he was very good at that, the not thinking. Just hand him a controller or a remote and he was all but gone from the world.
But he had no controller. No remote. Not even friends.
He gritted his teeth.
No don't think. Don't think. Don't think.
You sold them out. You told him everything. They are going to be captured-or worse, all because of you.
Don'.
Do you think she'd be happy you did this for her?
Beastboy looked up to see Raven still imprisoned in that glass cylinder across the room. Impossibly she still had the energy to beat her body against the walls. But he knew it wasn't her. He had seen those red eyes of hers before. Something must have driven her over the edge.
And what do you think she will do to you when she finds out what you did?
"Don't think…" Beastboy moaned. His throat was still sore after spending hours crying before finally falling asleep. "Don't…"
"Aw man…I think we took a wrong turn somewhere…"
"I think you might be correct."
Beastboy jumped at the sudden, but slightly familiar voices. He looked around the room but all he could see was darkness. He didn't have to wonder long however because the figures of Fixit and See-More suddenly stepped into the light that surrounded his cell.
"Well what do we have here…" Fixit mused as he looked down on Beastboy. See-More meanwhile was moving his head back and forth.
"Where?" He asked out loud, Beastboy noticed with a grimace that See-More's large eye seemed to be missing from his face.
"Turn around." Fixit assisted. See-More did so and Beastboy physically flinched when See-More's eyes suddenly became visible again…only it was on the back of his head now.
"Oh man! Both of the Titan's we captured are here!"
"So it seems…" Fixit spoke before kneeling down so that he and Beastboy were eye level. "Tell me…Beastboy…have any of the Tameranians spoken to you…specifically this one?" He then indicated the unconscious body that he had strapped on his back. Beastboy instantly recognized the flowing red hair and immediately had to force the image of the alien kissing him out of his head.
"No." Beastboy muttered, turning his head away from Fixit, "And even if I did I wouldn't tell you guys."
"Beastboy, there really is no need for the chivalry. We both know I can get the truth out of you one way or another."
Beastboy let out another groan, this time of frustration.
"Well if you're going to mess with my head than just do it already! I don't have all day." Beastboy shouted, staring straight into Fixit's blank eyes. Fixit stared back at him without speaking. Seconds seemed to stretch on like eternities.
"I do not believe I need to." Fixit finally spoke, standing back up to his full height. "It would be in our best interest that we work together-"
"Work together!" Beastboy repeated venomously, "It's all because of you guys that me and Raven are trapped here! Because of you guys I…"
DON'T THINK.
"Ah. So it seems they wanted information out of you after all." Fixit mused as Beastboy's head fell. "Beastboy. Tell me what you told them. The damage has been done but perhaps-."
"The damage has been done…" Beastboy muttered, head still down.
"Just as I said. But if you would let me continue…"
Fixit stopped however when See-More placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey man…" See-More whispered, nodding the back of his head towards the Titan. Fixit looked from See-More back to Beastboy, just in time to see his green head rise back up, tears streaming down his face.
"I killed them." Beastboy whispered, fighting for control over his voice, his wet, green eyes fixed on the figure across the room, "I couldn't save Rae and I killed them…"
"What are you saying?" Fixit questioned red eyes never leaving the figure. "What did you tell them?"
"I told them where our Tower was!" Beastboy shouted suddenly, looking from Fixit to the alien strapped to his back, a sudden fierceness broke through the sadness. "He gave me a choice. Either he killed Rae or I told them where the Tower was. And I told him…I told him! And he said…he said they would…"
"What did he say?" Fixit pressed.
See-More stood still and silent behind him, his hand slowly falling from Fixit's shoulder. He could see. Even using his broken x-ray vision to peer through his head he could see the Titan, see his eyes, thick with tears.
He could see the anger, the hatred, but underneath he could see more.
The sadness, the hopelessness, but, most of all, he could see the complete consumption of loss.
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"I cannot begin to thank you for allowing me an audience, my king." Blackfire greeted, bending on her knee before the very large Tamaranian man sitting on the throne.
"Blackfire, I only grant you this audience because you proclaim that our planet is in grave danger. Do not waste my, nor my people's time any longer."
Blackfire stared at the heavy braces that bound her hands, doing her best to ignore the thousands of hated eyes that glared at her in that throne room. She remembered the day her sister was dragged from this very room in these very cuffs oh so long ago. She was arrested for such a horrid crime but still managed to escape, and how easy did her care taker forgive her, how easy the people of Tamaran forgave her. Granted it wasn't really her fault, but still.
"As you wish, great king." Blackfire replied, looking up so that she and the king's eyes were locked. She could feel the presence of the two guards on either side, her guards; she had to fight back a smile. So much was already under her control, right under the great fool's nose. He was not fit to lead their people, not if he would be this easy to over throw.
"Citizens of Tamaran." Blackfire announced, looking around the room without looking at any of their faces, "I come before all of you, kneeled and humbled, I know I do not deserve your attention, let alone your forgiveness, but it has come to my attention that we are being attacked."
A disturbed rumble went through the crowd of Tamaranians. The king remained silent, his small eyes never leaving Blackfire. How she always hated that demeaning look of his, ever since she was a child…
"Who is attacking us!" A few cried from the crowd.
"Should we prepare defenses!" Cried another.
"It is already too late for any of that!" Blackfire declared, rising from her kneeled position, purple eyes glaring straight up to the throne. "For our great king has delayed in hearing me out-!"
"Blackfire…" the great Tamaranian warned, the guards place a hand on either shoulder. She had to hold back another smile; it was all just for appearances.
"Do you all wish to know who is attacking us? What damage they have already done?" She questioned in a loud voice, though it was apparent in her eyes who she was really talking to.
"Yes, tell us!" Cried many of the Tameranians.
"Why tell…" Blackfire spoke, nodding to a guard who stood near the large throne room doors, "…when I can show you."
Immediately a large image suddenly appeared in the middle of a room. It was a virtual screen with a building, shouldering and crumbled on a small island. Blackfire remembered the stories her dear sister shared with their care giver about Earth. About the wonderful home she had. She watched as the great king's mouth fell open in horror.
"To many of you, this will not look familiar." Blackfire continued, looking around the room, every Tamaranian eye was on the screen, "This, my fellow Tamarans, was the home of the illustrious Teen Titans or, more importantly, the home of our dear princess, and my beloved sister, Starfire!"
A louder, more hectic disturbance rang through the crowd. But the king's voice drowned out all others.
"What is the meaning of this, Blackfire!" He shouted, standing up from his throne, looking ever larger, "What has happened to my…to Starfire?"
Blackfire looked back at him. Her face unfazed by his outburst. She could finally see the look in his eyes, the demeaning gaze replaced by one of fear.
"She is dead, my king." Blackfire answered solemnly. The great king fell to his massive knees and the Tameranians went into an immediate uproar. Shouting, crying, wailing. They cried out for justice, they cried out for those that did this. Blackfire did not, could not answer for the sound of their sadness and anger consumed the palace room.
It was not until the king raised one giant hand that the Tamarans fell silent.
"Blackfire." The king spoke, his once loud and commanding voice now soft, weak. Blackfire saw tears in his eyes, though the look in them was fierce. "Tell us. Who did this to Starfire."
This time Blackfire smiled.
"My king. If you would only allow me to lead you, I have already taken the liberty in capturing but a few of the murderers."
The king's eyes widened as he stood up.
"Who?" He demanded, already making his way down the steps of the throne room, "Who did this to her?"
"You might remember a few of them, my king." Blackfire answered as he watched his approach, "You allowed a few of them, even their leader, to accompany Starfire in her marriage that had so unjustly been ruined.
The king suddenly stopped in his approach. His anger suddenly overclouded by a stronger emotion.
"You don't mean…"
"But I do." Blackfire hissed, hiding a final smile behind a mask of anger, "The very same people who killed our beloved princess are the ones you let her leave Tamaran with…the Teen Titans!"
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To Be Continued…
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