Just a brief message before I get things rolling again. Although it may not seem like it but this story is quickly winding down, despite how long I've taken with getting these chapters out. On that note I shall try my best to get these final chapters done as quickly as I can. On one final note thanks for the millionth time all those who have read and reviewed this little story and I truly hope you continue to enjoy is as things play out. Much love, and without further delay…
The Wicked One
Chapter 23: Window of Opportunity
XXXXXXX
"Raven…hey Raven…can you hear me?"
Raven only mumbled in reply, her head hanging loosely so that, even though her cape and hood had been torn previously from her body, her hair still hid her face from Beastboy. The two Titans were chained up, hands and feet bound by chains of light, the same color as the light prisons they had been in previously. Only now it was just the chains. There were no walls of light that separated the Titans from the thousands of Tameranians that stood in the chamber with them.
"Silence yourself wretch!" Blackfire hissed before walking towards the edge of the large pedestal that the four of them were on. The Tameranian princess was dressed in a very dark looking cloak, the same cloak the rest of her people were wearing. Though, while the rest of the Tameranians kept their hoods up and faces covered Blackfire's hood remained down, her visible purple eyes shifting from the mass of people to the single large silver coffin that rested between the two Titans.
"We gather here today to honor the life of not just a great king, or an honorable Tameran. We are here to honor a kind and caring k'norfka, a man who always put the hopes and desires of his adoptive daughters and of his people, before his own!"
Silence filled the great chamber as Blackfire paced from one end of the pedestal to the other. The Tameran then looked from one Titan to the other before looking back to her people and pointing at the two.
"But we are also gathered here to punish those responsible for the deaths of our king and our princess, the Teen Titans!"
A loud uproar burst from the Tameranians then. Filling the entire chamber with death threats and angry cries directed entirely at the two Titans who stood bound and defenseless.
"But we didn't kill Starfire!" Beastboy shouted, "And the big guy…it was-!"
"I said silence!" Blackfire shouted before pressing a button on the device on her wrist. Immediately the angry outbursts were drowned by the agonized screams of the green Titan as the metallic collar around his neck pulsed with electricity. "You will not deceive us. I witnessed with my own eyes how the Titans used a dragon to slay my sister and I was there when your little sorceress tore my father apart-!"
"It was an accident!" Beastboy cut in desperately, the pain still clear in his voice, "She didn't mean-!"
"Beastboy." Raven muttered, causing the green Titan to immediately fall silent due to the deathly coldness in her voice. Beastboy turned his head to see Raven looking directly at him through the bangs of her hair. "It wasn't an accident. I killed him."
"But…Raven-."
"I killed him Beastboy!" Raven shouted, sparks of black energy flying from her body, "He was going to kill me, I did what I had to do!"
"I think we have heard enough from you two." Blackfire announced before pressing another button on her wrist, though this time she held it there for several more seconds as both the Titan's screams echoed throughout the chamber. When she finally released the button the Titans immediately collapsed as much as they could with the restraints, breathing heavy, ragged breaths.
"My people!" Blackfire announced after the following silence stretched for a few more seconds. She made her way to the front of the pedestal again so they all could see her. "I know my past actions have not marked me an honorable Tameranian. And while I will never be as great as our great king and my dear k'norfka was, I stand before you now a changed woman. I have personally witnessed the deaths of my only loved ones, I have seen the great evils and corruption that lie out there in the galaxy, and I ask all of you, my dear Tameranians, stand with me! Fight with me! Help me punish those that would wish our kingdom to crumble and our people to suffer! Help me not only regain my own honor, but the honor of Tamaran itself! Let us take the fight to them, show them how it feels to lose the ones they love and cherish! Stand with me brothers and sisters, fight with me my kin! Together we shall take the fight to the Titans and their allies; together we will bring Earth to its knees!"
What followed was the greatest uproar that Beastboy had ever heard. The cries of bloodlust and vengeance rang loudly in his hyper sensitive ears. But despite the overwhelming loudness of it all he could still hear the faint breathing of his fellow Titan. Could still hear his name as she called out softly to him.
"Raven…?" Beastboy whispered, turning his head, despite the pain, so he could look to her.
"We tried to fight it Beastboy...but it was inevitable…" Raven whispered as she held her friend's gaze, hopelessness and weariness filling up the entirety of her words, "I have brought upon the destruction of Earth."
XXXXXX
"Robin, you know I can track my ship from anywhere…are you aware of how fast you are going?"
"I've wasted enough time, Starfire can't afford for me to waste anymore."
"I let you borrow my ship not just because one of your Titans is in danger, you gave me your word you would only use it when you knew you would have back up."
"Cyborg and Titans East won't be done with their ship for at least another week. I don't have time for that; Starfire doesn't have time for that."
"You are being irrational and reckless. If you go in alone and out of your head you are not only risking your life but hers as well and you know that. I taught you that."
"You don't understand…Starfire…she's…"
"Robin, I'm sorry but I can't allow you to potentially throw your life away like this. I am putting the ship on auto-pilot and bringing you back home."
"You won't be able to do that."
"What?"
"…I overrode the auto-pilot…it was really easy actually considering you haven't changed the programming since…since we used to be partners…"
"Robin. Don't do this."
"Good-bye Bruce."
Robin then pressed the closest button to the panel and the Dark Knight's face was replaced with static. The Titan's leader closed his eyes for the briefest of moments before opening them again, the familiar red and white planet growing closer by the second.
"Hold on Star. I'm coming."
XXXXXX
Damn you Fixit.
Leave it to him to be able to upgrade See-More's ball prison so effectively. No matter what sort of foul deeds or locations I conjured up in my head before trying to teleport I would always reappear right back inside the red, electrified ball…had anything new changed about me?
I sat back on my backside and examined my body. Same white hair, same sparsely placed sharp teeth, same lack of speech, same grey skin, same pointed ear (I took care to avoid touching the nub) and same purple and black claw. I looked at my claw in more detail. The blood had vanished from it, did it absorb blood? The purple colors stretched down my forearm sort of like veins while the black skin color took up the better portion of my hand. Was I becoming some specific kind of demon…or was it all just random? More importantly…
"Has the corruption finally seeped into your brain, Kyd Wykkyd?"
Would I still be me if this transformation ever finished? I shuddered at even the possibility of more of my body changing; I would do anything to avoid that happening again.
See-More's face burned into my head. The fear he had when my claw reached out for him. I had never seen him look at me like that before, many of our other classmates sure, but never him. I moved the claw so it was behind me, I didn't want to look at it, I never wanted to see it again.
Was Fixit really planning on trying to take on Blackfire on his own? Would he just try to escape? For See-More's sake I hope that was his plan…
I looked up to see the Titan still lying in the pool of blood. Her back was facing me, the deep cuts still oozing crimson, I could not tell if she was still breathing, but she certainly wasn't moving.
"You have become too dangerous…too much of a risk."
Why couldn't I control myself! Was the corruption already inside me now? Am I already losing myself? This would probably be the only time I would wish to be inside Raven's head again, maybe Pink Raven would be able to answer some of these questions…or maybe the Titan herself could if properly…motivated.
The claw twitched behind my back.
Stop it! Stop thinking like that! Stop thinking period! There is no way out of this cage so I might as well just-.
"My friends…"
The voice caused me to jump to my feet due to how surprising it was. I immediately looked down to the slumped body of the Titan, after a very careful inspection I could tell that she was indeed breathing, but only very faintly.
"I came here…to rescue my friends…"
Very slowly one of the Titan's arms began to slide forwards through her pool of blood. She then began to rise on her elbows, though it was an even slower motion and her whole body appeared to shake from the effort.
"You…my sister…you all…stole them…from us…"
Her back was still to me and I could still see the blood dripping from her wounds. I knew if she was human she would have been dead by now. In her more upright position she turned her head just enough that her one good eye could see me.
"Give them…give them back….Beastboy…Raven…give them back…"
I could only watch her as she struggled just to keep her head upright enough to look at me, and while my claw only seemed to twitch more in excitement I began to feel something twist very tightly in my chest. I kneeled down so the Titan could get a better look at me and placed my normal hand against the red prison ball. Immediately I had to retract it as electricity suddenly attacked my hand, I reflexively tried to grip the pained appendage with my clawed one but stopped as soon as I saw purple. I stopped to look at the claw; it almost seemed to twitch even more under my gaze.
Control. I have to have control.
"Has the corruption finally seeped into your brain?"
No. But even if it has I won't let it change who I am. I won't lose my control to it.
I flexed the clawed fingers and they reacted and obeyed. I tried to clench them and they resisted at first, I continued to force them to clench until I had made a fist out of the claw, I could feel the pointed tips dig into skin, black blood dripped from the fist. I looked back to the Titan, back to Starfire; I caught her gaze and held it as I commanded the claw to flex open again. It resisted, knowing what I was trying to do, but I continued to persist until the fist was open again. Keeping my gaze fixed with Starfire I forced my claw against my chest, the tips digging into flesh. The claw continued to resist but I only continued to persist in return. Very slowly I forced the claw to go down diagonally across my chest. The pain was instant and scaling hot, I was immediately taken aback by how hot it felt and the claw almost gained control but I quickly got over my surprise and pain and doubled my efforts to force the claw all the way down.
The marks burned just as hot even after the claw was off my body. I broke the Titan's gaze to look down at the fresh wound, then at the tips of the claw. There was still human blood inside me.
I looked back at the Titan then and she was still looking back in me. But now her eye was leaking tears again.
"Don't…do that…again…"
I looked back down at the claw, the redness was already gone. It still tried to resist as I clenched it back into a fist, but I forced it to clench all the same. I looked back at Starfire one final time before throwing the clenched claw back. Then with all the strength I could muster I flashed the Titan the biggest smile I ever had smiled in my entire life.
The electricity hit me immediately and ferociously as I slammed the claw into the shield. The pain was almost enough to stop, had Fixit really prepared to break through whatever defenses my demon hand had? I kept the fist against the shield however, despite the pain and despite the claw trying to break away and I tried to force it to press even harder. The electricity danced around my entire body, it felt like little explosions where going off all around me. I screamed silent yet incredibly painful screams. There was no room for looking; no room for thinking, all I had time to do was to scream and to keep pressing the clawed fist against the shield. The pain only grew worse as the electricity intensified, I thought I was going to black out, I knew I was going to black out. Already I could see the blackness begin to close around the eyes as the pain became too much.
But, just as I was about to let my claw gain control a sudden green light began to pierce through the darkness in my eyes and the noise of a screaming Tamaranian quickly filled up the crushing silence of my own screams.
And suddenly the pain stopped, the need for applying pressure finally stopped. I saw the red prison for only half a second as my arm fell through the fist shaped hole before the entire ball shattered and disappeared entirely, allowing me to fall completely on the cold, hard ground.
I lay there for a few seconds, trying to catch my breath and recover from the pain. The claw lay open on the ground next to my face, the fingers pointed outward and making it look like a dead spider. A sudden purple boot appeared behind the dead spider hand, catching my attention as I followed the boot up the battle-worn body of its Titan owner. Starfire stood above me, hands on her knees, clearly struggling to stay upright but staying all the same. Our eyes met and she immediately gave me a single, small smile before reaching a shaking hand towards me.
"What say we…try this…again…?"
I reached out with my good hand and gripped hers. I opened my mouth, as if I was going to say something, but as soon as she gripped my hand in return the Titan finally collapsed. She landed heavily right beside me. I kept my hand gripped around hers as I quickly looked over her fallen form before letting out a silent sigh of relief.
Unconscious, not dead.
I then sat up to where I was on my knees, facing the Titan. While the pain from the electricity had all but vanished I knew I was nowhere near the strength I was at just a few seconds ago. I looked back down at the unmoving body before me.
I really hope she's as light as she looks.
XXXXXX
Even though the room was dark Jinx had spent enough time walking around the Titan's East tower for her eyes to adjust. It was easily the biggest room she had seen in the Tower. Though it had to be big if it was supposed to house an entire space ship.
With careful, quiet steps she made her way over to the console that was placed near the ship. The entire set-up was very much a Cyborg design. She could still clearly remember the scene inside the Teen Titan's own tower, although of course their ship was missing at the time. The Titan's East ship was massive, though it was mainly the things that Jinx suspected to be the ship's thrusters that made up most of its size. There was only enough room in the cockpit for two people, maybe three.
Jinx only needed one.
The trickster pulled out a sheet of paper that she managed to nick off Speedy while he was busy secretly gawking at Bumblebee's body earlier that day. Honestly you'd think the heroes would have a little more self control then her former male classmates had.
Mammoth never really got over me, even after years of knowing each other I would always catch him staring at me when he thought I wasn't looking.
Looking at the paper Jinx did her best to follow the instructions in order to power on the console and, in turn, the ship. I don't think Cyborg every really understood why I acted to interested in learning about his designs and inventions.
Gizmo always tried to brag whenever he built something new. He would always walk up to me and hold whatever the new thing was in his hands like a child, that mocking little smirk always on his face.
After a few strokes of the console's keys blue lights suddenly kicked on. The noise of the machinery turning on was a little louder than she suspected, she knew she would have to act quickly. The lights in the rest of the expansive room then began to power on, showing the ship in even greater detail. It was amazing how much the small team managed to accomplish in such a short amount of time.
Earlier that day Jinx had watched them from the shadows as they worked on it. They basically built the engines in a span of a day. Mas and Menos were the powerhouses behind it all, their speed accomplished things that would take hundreds of men to do normally.
Billy always had the potential to be something great. But he always used his powers to steal and do whatever he wanted. He was the happiest person I ever met at the Academy.
After everything had powered on Jinx pressed one final button on the console. Near the top of the massive ship the window that concealed the cockpit began to open. As it did Jinx made her way from the console and in the direction of the elevator that would bring her to the top of the ship.
It was easy to find, almost right next to the Titan's East spaceship, rising up parallel to the large structure almost perfectly. Aqualad stood right by it almost that entire day, his face stern and unmoving as he watched his other teammates. For hours Jinx didn't move a muscle in fear that he would catch even the slightest of foreign movements.
Kyd always was the lookout for us when we needed him. He would remain as still and silent as a statue, sometimes I wouldn't even know he was there when we came back out until we told him it was time to run.
How did he escape? Why did he steal the Titan's ship? Why was he…in a team with someone else?
"Jinx…what are you doing?"
Jinx did not flinch and was not surprised when she heard Kid Flash call her name. Even though she was a step away from entering the elevator she knew he would come, knew that he would try and stop her.
"How'd you find me?" She asked instead of answering him. She didn't turn around when she answered, she couldn't bear seeing him.
"I went to check on you when I was done getting the Titan's from Europe. When the police told me you had left…I just had a feeling you'd be here."
"You didn't trust me."
"It's not that! It's just…I knew something was bothering you Jinx, remember? I knew it had to do with your old friends, I knew-."
"Well you just know everything don't you!" Jinx shot as she turned to face him.
And then she saw it. In Kid Flash's hurt and surprised face. She saw their faces when she cut off their retreat. She saw the fear, the betrayal, and the pain.
But most of all she saw See-More's face. That face of innocence, the only one who didn't know of what she did. The face he had when they stood against one another outside of the Titan's Tower, it was a face she would never forget.
"If you knew I would do this then why didn't you just throw me in prison!" Pink energy crackled out of her glowing eyes and from around her hands. "Why did you take me in! Why did you make me like you!"
"Because I like you!" Kid Flash declared, taking a step towards her, "I liked you since the first moment I saw you!"
Mammoth.
"Why…what could you possibly have liked about me?"
"Are you serious! You are like the most awesome chick I have ever met! Even when you were trying to beat the crap out of me and turn me in to the Brotherhood I saw it…you were so intelligent…
Gizmo.
"…you could do so many things at once, there was so much potential in you, it was almost like you were a speedster like me!..."
Billy.
"...and at the same time you were so cool and in control, I pretty much froze up in my cell when you looked at me…not literally but you know…"
Kyd.
"…that's why I didn't give up on you Jinx, that's why I'd stick with you even if no one else does, I like you but your also my friend, the best one I've ever had!"
…See-More…
"Please…" Kid Flash begged, taking another step towards, "Don't get on that ship… stay here…stay with me…"
Jinx stared at the cold steel floor. So many things filling her head at once. So many choices. Why did there have to be so many?
But…there wasn't that many…only two….
But…not even that…there was only one…
Jinx needed only one.
"I'm so sorry Wally." Jinx breathed, tears rolling down from her glowing pink eyes. She then threw out her hands, pink energy erupting from them in a wide arc.
Kid Flash tried to run, and he was even fast enough to start moving before her blast hit him. But that was what Jinx was counting on. The energy disappeared when it made contact with the teen, making it seem like it had no effect, but when Kid Flash started to pick up speed his feet suddenly caught together, tripping him mid-stride and sending him flailing into the wall. The speedster crumbled to the ground upon impact and while Jinx's heart pulled at her to check on him she knew she had wasted enough time as it was.
Without looking back Jinx stepped into the elevator, just as the doors across the room burst open.
"What's going on here!" Bumblebee shouted, her eyes immediately falling on Jinx. "Jinx? What are you doing here?"
Jinx stepped off the elevator again without answering, pink electricity sparking off her palms.
She had to make this quick.
XXXXXX
See-More was not a fan of the scaly looking stairs. It was bad enough that it was taking him forever to walk down the never ending spiral staircase but just the sinister feeling that they seemed to give off only made him want it to be over with quicker.
"Hey Fixit, can't I just run down the stairs?" See-More asked out loud, in response his vision was suddenly pulled downwards, the eyes shifting until it was at the lens that allowed for his eyesight to see vast distances. "Whoa man hang on!" See-More called out as he tried to steady himself, the suddenness of the action almost made him fall.
"We will continue our descent at the pace we are going." Fixit's voice rang out. See-More stopped moving so he could focus on what Fixit wanted him to see. The spiral staircase reached down for what looked like miles. "If you go any faster you will not have the energy to continue once we've reached the bottom."
"Daaaaang. How many steps do you think that is?"
"It is exactly-."
"Wait, wait, no man, actually, I don't want to know." See-More interrupted before making his way back down the stairs. Fixit fell silent then and the thief continued his solo journey, the only sound being the contact of his feet on each step. "So do you know what exactly I need to have energy before when I- er…we get to that dungeon?"
Immediately his lenses began to shift again until it was at the x-ray vision. His eye was then pulled so it was looking directly at a large room near the center of the numerous hallways that made up the expansive dungeon. Inside that room See- More could see thousands of bodies, they were too far away to make out any details but he could all tell they were focused on what looked like some sort of alter at the far end of the room, and while he could tell there was something on top of it, but he could not tell what.
"Man…that's a lot of people! Do you know what's going on in there Fixit?"
"Unfortunately I am limited to only seeing what you can see."
"Oh…well sorry about that…so those are all Tameranians in there?"
"That is most probable."
"So…are we supposed to fight them all?"
"No. We would lose and be killed."
"Oh…" See-More continued down the stairs waiting for anything further as his vision was allowed to go back to normal, "So…"
"It is in our best interest if Blackfire is with them; there is a high probable chance that she will be with her people."
"I see…so if Blackfire is with them…then we don't have to fight all of the other aliens?"
"Correct."
"And…er…how does that work out?"
"You are going to challenge Blackfire for the crown."
"A crown? Whose crown, Blackfire's?"
"Yes."
"Is it like…really expensive or something?"
"You are missing the point See-More. You are going to challenge Blackfire for rule over Tamaran."
"Wait, I'm going to what!" See-More exclaimed, stopping abruptly, though not knowing where to look at he stared angrily at the ground. "Wait man, I can't rule a planet! I need to rescue my friends, I can't be-"
"Calm yourself See-More, I do not expect you to rule anything."
"Then why-?"
"Continue your descent and I shall explain."
"…fine…" See-More hmphed as he made his way down the spiral stairs again, "So what's the deal man?"
"Challenging Blackfire for her crown will force her to fight you one on one and no one can interfere until a victor has been determined. And should you succeed we shall be able to escape this planet with no interference."
"…do you think I have a chance against her?"
"No. Not without my help."
"But…I thought no one else was allowed to get in the way?"
"Blackfire believes me to be dead, to her and everyone else you will appear to be fighting alone, we shall use that to our advantage."
"So…we're gonna cheat?"
"If you so desire to deem it that way, yes, we are going to cheat."
See-More grinned. "You know Fixit; I think spending so long inside my head is starting to mess with your functionality or whatever."
There was silence for a brief moment before Fixit responded. "My functionality is running at normal capacities and is in no way affected by foreign influence."
"You had to check first didn't ya?"
"The time for questions is over now See-More. I am proceeding to focus on the task ahead, I suggest you clear your mind then do the same."
"Yeah, yeah."
The rest of the journey down the stairs was a very long one, and not just because the distance was so great. As much as See-More tried to clear his mind like Fixit had asked he couldn't get them out of his head. How had things gone so wrong?
One day they were all partners in crime. Doing what they wanted, stealing what they wanted. And while they had first gotten together as a better defense against the Titan's or the police he would like to think they were starting to be more than that. That even against the Headmistress's wishes they were starting to be…friends.
Kyd Wykkyd was your friend.
His footsteps seemed to echo louder the further he went down the stairs.
He was your only friend and you abandoned him.
Cold air suddenly pelted his bare chest, sending chills down his body. See-More reached up with his hand to feel his body, the skin was still warm from where Starfire struck him with that bolt.
He was just trying to protect you from her.
See-More still remembered that look on Kyd Wykkyd's face. That large smile he had when that claw tore into her face and back. It was the exact same smile Raven had when she almost killed him.
He was turning into something…something I can't…I can't…
And you couldn't be there for him? You couldn't help him?
No! I mean…what could I do? I'm just…I'm just a criminal…
You were also his friend. His only friend. And you left him.
"See-More." Fixit called out suddenly, making the teen jump.
"Wha-?"
"Something troubling you?"
"No…it's just…"
"Kyd Wykkyd."
"I…how…yeah…"
"Continue walking See-More."
"Okay…"
"You are having doubts about leaving Kyd Wykkyd behind."
"Sort of…I mean…I don't think we should have just left him like that!"
"Kyd Wykkyd has begun to succumb to the demon within himself. There is nothing more we can do for him other than keep him from interfering."
"But he's still one of us! We should stick together…no matter what!"
"You speak as if we are all attached in some way. I cannot say what your relationship is with Kyd Wykkyd but neither I nor Red-X hold any such bonds. Blackfire brought us all together to serve her own means, just as I joined to serve my own."
"Why'd you join anyways Fixit?"
"I wished to be human."
"Whoa…really?"
"Yes."
"And Blackfire could make you human?"
"That is what she told me."
"Then we gotta make her explain how to do it!"
"See-More that is not our objective, our objective is to eliminate Blackfire and escape this planet. There is no room for error or for additional objectives."
"Screw objectives man! Blackfire made a promise that she'd make you a human and that's what she's gonna do!"
"Do not be foolish See-More. While there might have been hope earlier I am nothing but a program now, I left any remaining human functions in my previous body, there is no possibility of me becoming human."
"Not if you keep talking like that there isn't! Maybe you forgot but one of the first things about being human, besides getting to do whatever you want, is having lots of hope when there really doesn't look like there should be any! When I got trapped in that Titan's alternate dimension thing I didn't think I'd ever get out, but sure enough I did!"
"You escaped through random circumstance and chance. By no means did 'hope' apply to any of those probabilities."
"Maybe not. But it sure did help in giving me the motivation to keep going, even when it all seemed pretty pointless!"
"That is incredibly foolish and irrational."
"If you wanna be human sometimes you gotta be a little foolish and irrational."
The silence continued again between the two as See-More continued down the stairs. It persisted long enough that See-More could finally make out the very large wooden door that would led them out of the spiral staircase.
"Finally made it!" See-More cheered, this time going down the remaining steps at a much faster pace. "Took long enough, eh Fixit?"
"…do you really believe there is still a chance for me to be human again?"
See-More slowed down in his descent at the question, but a wide smile quickly spread on his face.
"I think there is always a chance that we should at least try!"
"…Very well. Let us meet our destiny See-More."
See-More stopped right before the door, he didn't need his x-ray vision to know that the large room was just behind it. That Blackfire was just behind it.
"Hey…Fixit?"
"Yes?"
"Even though you might not think it, that Red-X is long gone, or that Kyd might be lost forever, I still think we all made a pretty good team. And even though you don't want to admit it I still think you're a pretty good friend, same with Red and Kyd. We're all friends in this and I don't think we should leave without them."
Fixit did not answer right away, but See-More refused to open the door until he got an answer. Finally, after several moments, the program in his head answered:
"Let us focus on one task at a time. We eliminate Blackfire then we locate Red and Kyd."
The grin on See-More's face stretched from ear to ear. "Sounds like a plan to me! And don't forget we gotta find a way to make you human again and how to unfreeze everyone that got caught by the Titans!"
"Of course. Now, after you See-More."
"Right!"
And with that the two friends pushed with one arm, swinging the door open to their destiny.
XXXXXX
"Well, well, well who do we have here?" Blackfire announced as the door at the back of the massive room swung open. Thousands of Tamaranian heads turned to see the single figure standing in the light given off from the spiral staircase room. Although his form was cloaked in shadow it was still one that was clearly recognizable.
"Robin!" Beastboy called out from his bound position at the altar. Raven looked up weakly from her own spot but quickly let her gaze fall back to the ground.
"No…" She whispered under her breath.
"Let them go Blackfire!" Robin ordered, shutting the large wooden door behind him and pulling out his bo-staff.
"My, big words coming from a cold hearted killer." Blackfire sneered, slowing walking down the stairs from the altar to the floor where the rest of her people stood. The large crowd of glaring Tameranians parted so that a wide line of space was formed between the two.
"What are you talking about? How are you even here, Starfire banished you!"
"Robin! Blackfire is making them think we killed Starfire!" Beastboy called out "She-!"
"I said enough from you!" Blackfire shouted, pressing a button on the device on her wrist, electricity shooting through both Beastboy and Raven, the two Titans screaming in agony.
"Beastboy! Raven!" Robin cried out in horror, his masked eyes quickly returning to Blackfire, "Let them go Blackfire! I'm not going to warn you again!"
"And just what are you going to do? Kill me like you Titan's did to our beloved princess and king! To my sister and father!" There was real fury in Blackfire's voice, Robin could tell. This wasn't her acting or trying to play the part. There was true malice in her eyes.
"Starfire came here to try and find out what happened to our friends. I see them but where is Starfire? What did you do to her Blackfire?"
"Do not try to place my sister's death on me! I loved her, despite everything she put me through I still loved her with all my heart. And my people loved their princess, just as they did our king. How I would love to end your life myself I believe they have a score to settle with the leader of the group that tore their princess and king away from them, guards!"
At her final word four large Tameranians, dressed in elaborate purple armor. Suddenly rose to the air from the crowd, large spears in their hands and glowing green eyes all focused on the Boy Wonder.
"Detain the murderer! But keep him alive…I'm sure my people would love to watch him suffer with the rest."
The thunderous cheers of the Tameranians rang out just as the guards descended upon Robin. The Titan's leader acted quickly, focusing on the closest guard as he swung down with his spear, pointed end coming dangerously close to Robin's face as he dived out of the way. He landed just in time to bring his staff up to block another blow from the second guard. The guard however kept the pressure on and the Titan was quickly getting overwhelmed by the sheer strength of his opponent.
Looking to either side Robin quickly took note of the remaining two guards quickly moving to attack him at his exposed flanks. He forced himself to hold out against the guard he was blocking against for just several seconds. Then, just as it looked like the other guards were about to pierce him through either side the Boy Wonder shifted all his weight to his right leg and side stepped away from the pressing force.
Though he managed to escape, Robin looked on in dismay as the guard he was entangled with only stumbled a single step while the other two guards managed to stop within inches of colliding. They quickly turned their spears to face him, though they did not attack right away, and Robin instantly realized why.
With less than a second to spare Robin moved with his hips, dodging away from the very sharp tip of the spear as it tore through his cape. But as he watched the rest of the spear slice through he noticed that its bearer was holding it with only one hand. He barely noticed the detail when the force of a freight train collided with the side of his head as the guard sent a fist into him, sending Robin careening into the crowd. The Tameranians quickly ran and flew out of his way, allowing Robin to fly through empty air and skid across solid ground.
Although the pain was intense, it was nothing the Titan leader hadn't felt before. He quickly returned to his feet, and though his vision was slightly blurred he could still see the bright purple armor of the guards as they quickly approached him. His hands feeling strangely empty Robin searched for his staff, but it had become lost somewhere between being hit and hitting the ground.
"Perfect." Robin hissed under his breath.
He then made a run at the guards as they flew towards him. The two sides where mere feet from colliding when Robin reached into his belt and pulled out a small, metallic orb. Throwing it to the ground the small ball immediately broke into a massive cloud of smoke upon impact, easily encompassing the guards and the Titan.
The guards quickly flew up and out of the smoke. They stood hovering above the smoke cloud for several moments before looking at each other and, coming to a general understanding, shifted their spears to one hand. With the other they pointed with open palms at the smoke cloud and without another seconds notice began shooting large bullets of green energy into the smoke.
The sound of the energy blasts quickly filled the chamber, drowning out previous Tameranian jeering and cheering. When the guards finished with their blasts the smoke had finally cleared, revealing nothing but holes where the energy had make contact with the ground.
"Where did he go!" Blackfire called from her position on the altar. Just as she spoke a shadowed figure approached from behind her.
"Right here." Robin spoke, and just as Blackfire whirled on him he spun his body, foot out, the heel of his boot connecting with the side of Blackfire's head, sending the Tameranian off the altar and onto the ground with her people. Her simple, silver crown flying from her hand and landing beside her.
"How dare you!" Blackfire breathed, but before she had a chance to get up Robin was in the air again and landed directly on top of Blackfire, on hand on her chest, the other holding the sharp end of a bird-a-rang to her throat.
"Call off your guards!" Robin ordered, seeing the four in question quickly making their way towards them.
"Do you really think you can hold a Tameranian captive?" Blackfire hissed at him, the hatred in her eyes never leaving as she looked from Robin to someone behind him, "Raven tried and see where it got her? She had to kill her captive just as you killed yours. You humans are too weak to hold us prisoner your only option is to kill us! And being the mindless animals you are you take that choice, you take it with joy!"
"Blackfire what's happened to you! Why are you doing all this!" Robin demanded. Blackfire looked deep into Robin's masked eyes then.
"I am doing only what is expected of someone who has lost everyone they have loved! I am doing only what a Tameranian would do when their entire livelihood is threatened! The Titans will never overcome us; the Earth will pay for what has been done here today!"
"But Starfire is still alive! She should be here somewhe-!"
"Enough!" Blackfire shouted, her eyes moving to somewhere above them, "Forget torture, this Titan dies tonight!"
Not taking any chances Robin leapt away from Blackfire just in time to see three spear tips dig into the air space where he was just at. Blackfire looked unfazed at how close they had gotten to her and she even smiled at Robin as the fourth guard helped her to her feet.
"Do you see how fruitless your attempts are? Even if you do manage to best my guards there are still thousands of my people itching to tear you to shreds."
Blackfire then waved her hand dismissively in Robin's direction and the four guards immediately began to approach the Titan, spears gripped in both hands. Robin immediately fell into a defensive stance, brain rapidly going over each gadget and how best to use it. Though before the fight could kick up again the door at the end of the room suddenly flew open with a loud bang. Robin, Blackfire, the guards, and every Tamaranian turned until they were facing the once again opened doorway where another solitary figure stood in the shadows.
"Who else dares interrupt our ceremony!" Blackfire hollered, flying back to the stop of the altar.
"Er…are we in the right place?" The figure asked out loud, rubbing the back of his head nervously. Robin recognized the voice, but only just barely. Blackfire on the other hand looked very surprised at first, but the surprise quickly melted into a cool, calculated smile.
"See-More. How kind of you to join us."
"What? Oh hey Blackfire! We were hoping you'd be here!"
"We? Who else is with you?"
"Enough of this See-More. Do it now." Another voice, void of emotion and strangely faintly familiar to Robin as well suddenly ordered.
"Huh? Oh yeah! Blackfire, I challenge you for the crown!"
A hush fell over the entire chamber then. Very slowly everyone, including Robin and the guards, turned from the figure in the shadows to Blackfire who stood on her altar, looking stunned and absolutely horrified.
"You…what!"
"I…er…challenge you as….uh…ruler of…Tamaran?"
"You dare attempt to challenge me! No mere human can challenge the rightful heir for her throne!"
Everyone's gaze then turned back to the shadowed figure, who was looking a lot more uncomfortable.
"Oh…really? That uh…sucks…"
"This is true, sister, but you are not the rightful heir!" A voice suddenly called as two new figures suddenly appeared from thin air beside the figure. Robin recognized this voice instantly.
"Starfire!" Robin called out.
"Kyd!" The shadowed figure exclaimed, jumping back in surprise from the two people who suddenly appeared beside him.
"Starfire! My sister is alive?" Blackfire spoke, a large murmuring broke out in the crowd, at which the Tamaranian quickly took notice, "What have you done with my sister! Do you Titans hold her captive in order to taunt us!"
"I am not being held captive!" Starfire declared, attempting to stand on her own only to almost fall, forcing Kyd Wykkyd to grab her around the waist to keep her steady, "You will release my friends at once!"
"Starfire! Blackfire is trying to-!" Robin tried to get out only to have a sudden purple armored arm swing around his field of vision and grip fiercely around his neck, cutting off any chance of further speech as the guard held him in the air.
"Robin!" Starfire cried out trying to move but being held back by Kyd and her own frailty.
"Your 'friends' the Titans have committed a great crime today." Blackfire announced looking gravely at her sister, "I'm afraid I can't allow them to go free."
"What do you mean, what is going on here?" Starfire questioned as she looked around at all of the sullen, glaring faces of her people, "What has happened sister?"
"Galfore is dead."
"…what?"
"See for yourself, sister!" Blackfire then declared, stepping aside to reveal a coffin, big and black, situated at the center of the altar she stood on, "See what your Titans have done to our King and your k'norfka!"
"No…your lying…this is just another lie…" Starfire breathed.
"It is no lie." Blackfire spoke with certainty, "I watched with my own eyes as she tore him apart, piece by piece!" She said this as she pointed to Raven. Raven in turn kept her head downcast, her hair shielding her face from the world. Starfire looked directly at her.
"Raven…is what my sister says…."
"I'm sorry Starfire…" Raven breathed, and it was clear in her voice that she was crying, black energy sparked sporadically around her, "I'm so sorry…"
"No…this can't be…this can't be true…"
"She didn't mean to Starfire! He thought you were-!" Beastboy tried to call out only to have electricity suddenly shoot through his body again, this time it was with enough force to knock him out cold.
"I warned you to keep your little green mouth shut!" Blackfire hissed.
"Damn you…Blackfire…" Robin whispered as he struggled to breathe against the guard's grip.
"Let me go now, Kyd Wykkyd." Starfire spoke; the thief that was holding her looked at her for a moment before slowly releasing his arms, his gaze going back to Blackfire as he stepped away into the shadows. Starfire managed to remain standing, though it was on very shaky legs.
"You sent guards to attack me." Starfire breathed; her head downcast.
"My guards must have mistaken you for someone else sister, we all believed you to be dead! But now you are here and you can fight with us, please Starfire, stand with me, stand with your people."
"Raven…" Starfire spoke, looking up now at her fellow Titan across the room, "Please look at me."
Raven did not move at first, but slowly she brought her head up until her wet eyes were locked with Starfire's clear, green ones.
"Tell me, is it true what my sister says? Did you kill my k'norfka?"
Raven bit her lip, the tears flowed ever harder, but she kept her gaze with Starfire.
"Yes." She managed to choke out before she was forced to look away again, "Yes, Starfire I killed him." The Titan then broke down into silent sobs, unable to get anything else out.
Robin looked frantically between the unconscious Beastboy, the shattered Raven, and finally Starfire, not as still and quiet as stone. Very slowly he felt his heart sink down into his stomach.
"I am with you sister." Starfire breathed, her gaze focused on the ground.
"Starfire, no!" Robin cried, fighting frantically against his captor's grip, only to have the arm wrap tighter around his throat.
"Oh sister you have no idea how happy you have made me!" Blackfire cried, arms open wide, "Together we shall lead our people to victory!"
"But first you must accept the challenge." Starfire spoke, still not looking up.
"What!"
"After I banished you you were no longer entitled to the throne. You may have found your way back into power but anyone now has the right to challenge that power." Starfire then looked sideways at See-More. "You must accept any challenge, and defeat it."
"But, sister-."
"If you do not accept it I shall reclaim my right to rule and make sure your next banishment is much more permanent." Starfire said with an air of finality as she locked gazes with her sister. And while Blackfire glared back she quickly broke the gaze.
"Very well, sister I shall do as my princess commands." Blackfire spoke flying down from the altar as her gaze then shifted to See-More. "Well then murderer, are you ready to die?"
Blackfire's eyes and fists then began to glow purple as she looked on at See-More with a fierce intensity. See-More's whole body grew cold, even the parts that were burned.
"You know Fixit…I'm not so sure about this…" See-More whispered.
"It is the only way." Fixit replied, "Either we fight, or we die."
"Hey! What about that whole hope thing I was talking about earlier, didn't any of that get through to you?
"My apologies. Either we fight, or, I hope, we don't die."
See-More grinned as he placed his hand on the dial, eye focused directly on the glowing Tamaranian.
"Better, now, let's show Blackfire what a couple of humans can do!"
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To Be Continued…
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