Okay, I'm finally getting back to this season. Those of you who are still interested in it please stay along. It's just going to get better as it goes. Linzheart92, Guardian of Azarath, Sklyer-A-Teloiv, Realfanficts. Thanks for the reviews guys. And! This Episode, that is both acts are a present to Sklyer-A-Teloiv, her birthday having been celebrated. Celebrated a lonnnnnngggggggg time ago mind you but I'm doing my best. Enjoy!

Starfire stepped into the training room stretching out her shoulders as she went. She adjusted the metal band on her upper arm. After seeing that her uniform was of course more than in order Starfire began to slowly stretch her legs and arms. Each movement was perfectly fluid as well as painstakingly prolonged. From the observation deck near the ceiling Robin gazed down at her with a glassy eyed look. Cyborg glanced at him and snickered.

"Everything okay over there?" He shook his head which he supported off the control console with his hand.

"I could watch that for forever…"

"You know I never get around to lay'n down the rules for you two dating and all." Robin forced him to tear his gaze away from his girlfriend. He instead looked at Cyborg quite oddly.

"I wasn't aware she was your younger sister," said Robin sarcastically. Cyborg waved it off.

"We'll get to it later. Hey Star!" He spoke in the microphone sticking up from the controls. The red head looked up at them and waved. Cyborg chuckled and moved closer to the mic. "Can-you-hear-me?" Starfire lowered her eyes with a giggle and nodded.

"I can indeed Cyborg." Her voice passed through the speakers. Robin looked over some notes then spoke to her also.

"Okay Star, today you are going to test drive the tower's new and improved holographic training room." She looked rather honored to be the one chosen for such an occasion. "Since we're kinda newbies to this software we're starting off small so we've molded off of our outdoor course. Just navigate it and get through the obstacles as fast as you can."

"Understood," she replied with a nod.

"I should also add that at the end you will spar with one of us. I won't tell you which….its a surprise. Think of it as a 'think-on-your-feet' exercise." She smiled and nodded once more.

"Duly noted." Robin reached for a stopwatch off to the side and held it ready.

"The current record is two minuets and twenty-three seconds. Ready?"

"Yes I-" She paused. She reached up and held her forehead and her breathing became irregular. Both Robin and Cyborg leaned closer in anticipation.

"Star ya okay?" Cyborg's voice pounded her head somewhat. She shook it off as nothing more than fatigue or stress and nodded confidently.

"I am fine, and I am ready to begin." Robin and Cyborg looked at one another. Starfire sure sounded okay, it was probably nothing. The boys dismissed it just as quickly as she did. Cyborg initialized the scenario and a moment later the training room disappeared around Starfire and was replaced by their outdoor field.

"Okay, on your mark….get set…" She hovered into the air. "GO!" Robin clicked the stopwatch into action the same moment Starfire took off into the course. At first she was met by a series of rapidly closing doors. What barriers that closed before she reached them she simply blasted her way through. As she progressed more and more cubed objects floated into the air trying to block her path. The alien girl bobbed and weaved around them effortlessly. Her eyes caught the last door and she sped up. Without warning another cube hovered just in front of her.

"EEK!" She screeched but after somersaulting in mid-flight she passed beyond the sphere and door just as it closed. Robin stole a glance at the stopwatch; a minuet and half had already gone by. The next phase attacked Starfire with dozens of spherical drones. The air was filled with rapid fire and green energy blasts. The drones were so unrelenting that at least twice Starfire was forced to perform a back flip to get the drop on them. Every now and then they would zoom by her head like flies to try and break her concentration. This quickly irritated Starfire thus the next time one fly close enough she caught the drone and with battle cry threw into the last drone.

"Nice," muttered Cyborg. Robin nodded in agreement, looking at the stopwatch yet again.

Starfire came to a sleek landing when she saw the exit, protected by a force field, was in sight. However as soon as she took just one more step toward it the ceiling above her suddenly came crashing down. Reflexively, the Tamaranian reached up and held the heavy weight above her. She barred her teeth and growled at the strain. Yet slowly but surely Starfire began to move it back up. When she finally moved it back to its original height the weight on her arms left immediately and the force field covering the exit was gone. Starfire quickly flew through it and Robin clicked the stopwatch. He smiled at the reading and proudly spoke over the intercom;

"Two minuets and ten seconds!" She breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded onward. When Starfire emerged on the other side she found Raven waiting for her.

"Raven?"

"Surprise," she replied toneless. "Alright, let's get this over with."

"As you wish," said Starfire. So saying both girls lifted into the air and charged forward. Beast Boy joined Robin and Cyborg with a soda and a tofu hotdog in hand.

"Wht I misf?" he asked through a mouthful of food.

"Star just got to Raven," said Cyborg. Beast Boy found a seat and after sitting in it propped his feet on the table.

Starfire aimed a few well placed kicks at Raven which the pale Titans defended against with a personal shield. Starfire found her kicks to be a futile gesture and gained more altitude instead. Raven recognized this gesture immediately and moved to intercept her before Starfire could take aim. She got a few shots off regardless forcing Raven on the defensive once again. One starbolt nicked Raven off the shoulder but it only slowed her down. She hovered in close enough for Starfire to aim a punch, which the Tamaranian did. Raven quickly darted to one side allowing Starfire to not only miss but send herself off balance. Raven then took advantage of it and with her powers grabbed Starfire around the waist and sent her to the padded floor. The fight was over. Starfire supported herself off the floor with her arms and groaned. Raven landed not far from her dusting herself off.

"Sorry Starfire, better luck next time." She bent down and held a hand out to her. But long after Starfire would have taken notice of it she still didn't accept it. "Are you alright?" Starfire reached up and knocked Raven away with all the force she could muster. All three boys jumped up from their seats.

"Whoa!" Exclaimed Cyborg. Raven brushed hair as well as hood out of her face to find Starfire with enraged green eyes standing over her. The alien princess dug her fingers into the floor and ripped a support beam out from underneath. A growl that meant she was summoning her strength for a mighty heave grew from her throat. Cyborg pulled Robin and Beast Boy down with him immediately after Starfire hurled the heavy beam directly at them. Cyborg held them flat against the floor as the control room was torn apart and destroyed. Starfire then turned her eyes back to Raven. She staggered to her feet.

"Was it something I said?"

"You will pay for this!"

"Wha-" She grabbed Raven by the shoulder and against threw her across the training room. No sooner did she plop to the floor than she had to crawl away from a barrage of starbolts.

"STARFIRE WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!"

"AARRRRGHHHHHHHHH!!" Starfire completely ignored Raven's cries and continued to attack like she would die if she stopped. Raven prepared to surprise her but the second she stepped out of her cover a blast from Starfire's eyes hit her square in the chest.

"AH!" Raven bounced off the wall and rolled along the floor until Starfire stopped her with her foot. Shaking all over, Raven looked up at the alien girl. "Starfire…please…" As though she didn't even hear her Starfire reared back her hand with a fully charged starbolt. Then a green hummingbird flew in carrying a needle. Beast Boy flew up beside Starfire and stuck it in her arm. She whacked a hand at the changeling but missed. A second later Starfire's eyes drooped and she fell flat on her back. Beast Boy resumed human form and knelt down beside Raven.

"You hurt badly?"

"I'll live." The two moved their eyes up to observation deck. Still flat on their stomachs Robin and Cyborg slowly looked at each other with a shock that had not dwindled since the incident first occurred.

Taking deep breaths Robin asked, "What just happened?"

----------

When there's trouble you know who to call
Teen Titans!
From their tower, they can see it all
Teen Titans!

When there's evil on the attack
You can rest knowing they got your back
Cuz when the world needs heroes on patrol
Teen Titans GO!

With their superpowers they unite
Teen Titans!
Never met a villain that they liked
Teen Titans!

They've got the bad guys on the run
They never stop 'till the job gets done
Cuz when the world is losin' all control
Teen Titans GO!

1,2,3,4 GO!

Teen Titans

----------

Quid Pro Quo

Act.1

Sickbay was a mess of blur and distortion, why was this? Starfire then realized that she'd finally awoken and that her vision was still adjusting to the light. When she could see clearly once more she looked to her right and saw the doctor taking notes on her.

"Ah, welcome back." Starfire began to speak. "You'll be pleased to know Raven suffered no lasting injuries, apart from a now radical aversion to sparing with you." He added with a chuckle. She let sighed and let her head rest back against the pillow. After making sure she was indeed stable he walked over to the wall comm. "Sickbay to Robin, Starfire has regained consciousness."

-----

Shortly after the doctor's announcement Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy arrived in sickbay. They walked in just as the doctor made some adjustments to Starfire's I.V.

"Starfire…" Her eyes were drawn to Robin.

"Friends," she replied meekly. Nobody really knew what to say. "Raven I am so sorry-"

"Don't…say it Starfire. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Now if you could be so kind as to give it."

"Of course, my actions suggest that I am suffering from what my people call The Rage." They glanced at one another curiously. "It is an illness that my people have long believed to have been eradicated."

"Obviously that's not the case," said Cyborg. Robin sent him a look.

"What exactly is it Star?" asked Robin.

"It is a virus that causes cellular degeneration while also acting on the nervous system and provoking spontaneous bouts of completely irrational fury. The longer the virus is allowed to fester the more frequent the anger will arise."

"But you haven't been to Tamaran in ages," said Beast Boy. "For that matter you haven't even been in the same neighborhood." Robin's eyes narrowed and his mouth slacked open.

"Yes she has." All eyes, even Starfire's, turned to him. "We all were."

-----

The Teen Titans rematerialized alongside each other in a dimly light circular room. As soon as they were in their physical form again quiet whispers and chattering broke out among hundreds of unseen onlookers. Robin glanced to his left to see a lone Psion finishing his use of a device, presumably the device that transported them. The five heroes looked everywhere but their hosts appeared to be shrouded in a completely opaque dark balcony. Robin felt Starfire ease behind him.

"Who's in charge here?!" His voice echoed in the large room. Raven's eyes, hidden behind her hood, shifted about in search of someone they could see. "You're in violation of the treaty between your race and the people of Tamaran. What do you want?"

"Robin…" All heads turned to a voice that had called his name. The Psion stepped into the dim light, his facial features hidden behind a hood similar to Raven's. They noticed several sharp blades attached to his fingers. "…And the Teen Titans, known far and wide."

-----

"The small amount of time we spent in that part of the galaxy might've been just long enough for Starfire to pick it up," said Robin.

"But why Starfire and not us?" asked Raven.

"The virus is only harmful to my species," said Starfire. Robin frowned as Starfire said this. It seemed a bit too strange, but it wasn't the first time they ran into something beyond weird.

"How bad will it get?" posed Cyborg. Starfire fought back tears.

"My symptoms will progress quickly, within a day my organs will begin to shut down, this will be easily recognized by my anger spells…which will become more and more frequent. Eventually the rage will either consume me completely or it will cause my heart to stop."

"No!" exclaimed Robin. All eyes turned to him. "I mean, your people are still around so obviously they found a cure for it." But Starfire shook her head despondently.

"There are two remedies; the one that was sanctioned by our scientists for mass production will have lost its effectiveness for me by the time we obtain it. The other treatment is said to have the ability to cure the rage at any stage."

Robin scratched the back of his neck; there was no way that second choice was that perfect. "So what's the catch?"

"More than half of the number of patients who acquired it suffered devastating side effects. Some would say they would rather have remained untreated by it." This hardly seemed like good news. "It is however my only hope."

"Then we'll go after it," declared Robin resolutely. "Tell us where and how and we'll be back before you know it."

"Robin it is unlawful to possess the radical vaccine, if you are caught no allowances will be made."

Beast Boy shrugged his shoulders and waved his hand. "Galfore's a stand up guy, I'm sure once we tell him what's going on he'll understand."

"I am sure he will, but that will not stop him from upholding the law."

"Well then we won't get caught," said Cyborg with a smirk.

"Tell us where to start looking and we'll go from there," said Raven toneless. The last thing Starfire wanted was to send her friends off on a mad crusade for something that may not even help her, something which could get them into serious trouble. On the other hand if they didn't try her life would end.

"Very well."

"Okay, any planets come to mind Star? Anywhere where we can start?" The Tamaranian princess gave it some thought. Finally she snapped her fingers as one name came to her.

"The Xinzi Bazaar; it is not a planet but actually a marketplace built on an asteroid belt. Many merchants and traders congregate there for both business and pleasure. It is also rumored that several merchants deal in rare contraband."

"Do you know any of em'?" asked Cyborg.

"I know of only one by name; Talus Brin. Galfore once told me about a merchant who had been accused of smuggling unstable weapons. If he is not in prison I believe he is the one you should seek."

"You got it Star," said Robin.

"Wait!" She said capturing their attention. She looked about timidly. "A-Are you all leaving?...I do not wish to be alone." Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy didn't reply ut instead grouped together in a huddle.

"We can't leave her by herself," said Robin in a low whisper.

"We'll just leave the doc on," said Beast Boy simply.

"Don't be stupid," said Raven. "We can't leave Starfire with only a hologram for company. And besides if she has another anger spell and damages his matrix there won't be anyone to care for her."

"You should stay Rob," said Cyborg.

"What? No way, if there's a cure out there I'm gonna go look for it," retorted Robin.

"You don't think we can handle it?"

"That's not the point!" He shot back a bit too loud. He cast a worried glance over his shoulder at Starfire. She was eyeballing them with a mixture of curiosity and anxiousness. "It's just….for something like this I can't stand sitting here not knowing what's going on."

"You know we can keep you prized as we go," said Cyborg.

"Yeah and from where you'd be in the galaxy it would take at least five hours for us to have a back and forth conversation, least until you put the finishing touches on the new T-Ship. Speaking of which is she seaworthy?" asked Robin in keeping with the vernacular.

"Like you said, long range communications are still in the works and weapons need tweak'n. But other than that we're good to go." Their leader nodded then moved back to Starfire's side. He took her hand in his and rubbing it gingerly gave her the best reassuring smile he could muster.

"Don't worry Star; we're going to save you." She managed to match his face, though admittedly it was nothing more than just a mimic.

"Thank you." Robin was still dissatisfied by the stress he detected from her, thus the boy wonder leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.

"Fight it, that's an order." With that short-but-sweet pep talk Robin stood up and departed sickbay.

----------

Robin plopped down in the middle chair before the large screen and summoned up the Titans North. After a moment of waiting the face of Red Star appeared.

"Robin, it is good to speak with you again comrade."

"Same here," replied Robin. "I just wish I could call just to say 'hey'." Sensing something was amiss Red Star moved to the screen.

"V'at do you mean?" He hesitated, not wanting to force his colleagues into an awkward situation.

"Starfire's very sick…..and I need a favor."

THE XINZI BAZAAR……………………

Hours after departing Titans Tower and traveling through the rippling and whirling environment of hyperspace, the Titans found themselves drawing close to the Xinzi Bazaar. The full length of the small line of asteroids stretched for about twenty miles from end to end. Their replacement starcraft was designed primarily like its predecessor with bits of Cyborg's own blue and white tech. imbedded along the fuselage.

"So this is it?" asked Robin.

"These are the coordinates Starfire gave us," said Raven looking about. "It sure looks like a market."

"No kidding, this place is more crowded than the video store on new release day," commented Beast Boy. His statement was not without merit though, the area around the market was filled with small transports and shuttles going to and fro. In fact the crowds were so large and busy that they necessitated numerous hovering traffic signals akin to the red, yellow, and green lights of Earth. Cyborg scanned what appeared to be a light pink shield around parts of the market.

"It looks like there's some sort of bi-permeable force field surrounding the docking bays." Beast Boy rolled his eyes as he didn't even bother to give two and half seconds of thought as to what Cyborg meant. "It's basically an energy bubble, so you should be able to just ease the T-Ship on through it."

"What and there's air on the other side?" asked Beast Boy. Raven scanned for just that and answered the Changeling's question.

"I'm reading a stable oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere…..so I guess so," she added with a little tongue and cheek. Robin all the while had already been moving the T-Ship through the force field. The process slightly caused their impulse engines to become a bit sluggish. They landed amongst the countless lines of other ships and each Titans hopped down from his/her pod.

"Okay, let's see if we can find this Talus guy," said Robin. So saying they split into four different directions in search of their quarry.

MEANWHILE, BACK ON EARTH…………..

Starfire watched the nighttime sky through the window in her room. She sighed from the lack of having her significant other standing beside her. The door chime rang out through the silence.

"Enter." Argent did so carrying with her a thermos and a few books.

"Oy Starfire, I have something for you." The red head turned away from her view and she smiled at Argent's offering.

"I am most grateful friend, but what is it that you have brought for me?"

"Well I know the doctor gave specific instructions on how you're only to receive certain foods right now, and Red Star is a bit of a stickler to the rules but…." She produced the thermos and poured Starfire a steaming cup of brown liquid. She took it with a droopy eyed smile.

"The chocolate that is hot…"

"I thought you could use some." Starfire took a few sips of the heavenly drink. "And I also brought along a few books from your Tower's library. I'm not sure if your taste in literature is the same as mine. Although I've been told Raven and I tend to have a bit of a morbid fascination." Starfire giggled.

"You also enjoy the depressing cafes?" The New Zealander shrugged.

"Sometimes." She leaned closer as though someone might be listening. "But sometimes it's just so bloody boring." The two girls laughed aloud and carefully tapped their glasses together. "To your recovery."

"And to your continued health," added Starfire.

"Cheers." After a moment's silence Starfire set her glass aside.

"Argent, I do hope I am not being a burden upon you and your team."

"A burden, rubbish!" retorted Argent vehemently. "Robin either did his homework or just called us at the right time. Our neck of the woods has been quiet for some time now. To be honest you've actually alleviated a large amount of boredom." Starfire grinned warmly.

"I am most glad that I was able to help." Argent chortled and swirled her hot chocolate in her cup.

"You know what this is missing? Some marshmallows."

"You are correct, I shall fetch them." But Starfire hadn't taken more than a few steps when she suddenly grew dizzy. Her path began weave and move about in a disorderly fashion. Argent slowly lowered her cup from her mouth.

"Starfire?..."

"oh…." Muttered the Tamaranian. Her sight split into double vision; soon all she could see was a foggy blur. "Oh no…"
"What is it?" Argent jumped to Starfire's side and helped hold her steady. "Are you okay?"

"You should restrain…or sedate me….quickly."

"I don't understand." Starfire gasped sharply, her cup fell from her grasp and spilled her drink on the floor. Argent sprinted over to the wall communicator. "Medical emergency! Starfire's Quarters! She's-" A strong hand clamped over Argent's shoulder and pulled her away from the communicator. Argent froze stiff at the sight of two glowing green eyes staring straight into her own. "Sta-Sta-Star…"

Red Star entered the room. "V'hat is going on here?" The infuriated alien tossed her Titan colleague into Red Star sending them both reeling out into the hall. They were still trying to right themselves when Starfire hovered out into the hall, her fists charged and ready.

"ZENGTHA RU MAKA! KEK ZENGTHA ROR!!!!" Following her loud shout she hurled a supercharged starbolt at the pair, they leaped aside thus the ball of energy only made a hole in the vertex where the floor and wall met. Argent stood up, ready to use her own powers.

"Starfire! You-You are being….very unruly." Her statement, which was somewhat in jest, basically flew in one ear and out the other. In her angered state Starfire could make heads or tails of anything other than that everything and anything made her furious. Starfire lunged at Red Star and Argent but a rippling portal suddenly appeared between them and Starfire disappeared from the hallway.

"Herald?" called Argent. He walked around the corner looking smug.

"Who else?"

"V'here is she?" asked Red Star.

"Pretty sure I sent her to the common room," replied Herald. Yet just after he spoke they felt a short rumble followed by the lights flickering. "Or the basement." Argent rolled her eyes and flipped open her comm. link.

"Kole, Starfire's loose and she's raving mad."

----------

Kole and Gnarrk hid behind an upturned generator from the shower of starbolts being hurled at them.

"Really! I was wondering what suddenly ATTACKING US!" She stuffed her communicator away and bent over in a right angle. Gnarrk saw her assume her crystalline form and after taking a tight hold of her threw her like a boomerang. Kole spun about in the air, hitting Starfire around the waist, and causing her to fall. Immediately Gnarrk leapt on top of her and pinned her to the floor.

"Heska Vo!" The alien princess propelled Gnarrk off her with a blast from her eyes but no sooner did she begin to rise than she was held back down by a bright red energy staple. Argent floated down among Red Star and Herald. Her hands glowed as she did her best to hold the struggling Starfire at bay. Red Star quickly activated the holo-emitters and a moment later the doctor appeared.

"Well this seems problematic," he stated sarcastically. Argent was now sweating.

"Less chit-chat please!" He quickly sedated her ultimately relieving Argent of her tiring task.

"I'm having to use a larger and larger dosage," said the doctor. "I'm afraid soon it won't have any effect whatsoever." Kole resumed her flesh form and knelt down beside Starfire.

"Let's hope we won't find out."

REJOIING THE OTHERS…………….

The four Titans met out in front of a rather small shop, thought it appeared to get more business than the other curio stands spread about the market. They had all come at Cyborg's signal that he'd tracked down the merchant Starfire mentioned.

"That's his place," said Cyborg.

"Any idea of what to expect?"

"Sure let me just whip out my alien black market brochure," quipped Beast Boy. Robin ignored him and only stared harder at the entrance.

"Come on," urged Robin. One after the other they followed him inside. As soon as the boy wonder passed through the shop's threshold a chime rang throughout the air, signifying that someone was now present. The moment they entered the main area they had to step aside to allow someone to be hurried away.

"You'll get your contract order or you'll get it cancelled, don't you be trying to stiff me out of extra money!" He popped his eyes to the Titans.

"Service with a smile eh?" asked Cyborg sarcastically.

"Ha! You cater a whole kilo of marinated Tarkanian crickets to the house of an old hag for a good chunk of your life and we'll see how chipper you are." He ended his rant and concentrated on just who it was now in his midst. "Who are you?" Robin parted his mouth. "No wait…." He zipped behind the counter and a moment later emerged with a holographic model of none other than themselves. "The Teen Titans right?"

"Oh how could you tell?" deadpanned Raven. He clicked the little projector off and narrowed his eyes at them suspiciously.

"Aren't there five of you?"

"That's why we're here," said Robin. "Our friend is suffering from the Tamaranian Rage." Talus lifted his head somewhat as minute details were now starting to make sense. "We need the cure."

"How long has she been ill?"

"Can't say for sure," said Cyborg. "A little more than a day." The alien merchant shook his head and began shuffling through a cabinet full of spices.

"The Rage is a fast moving bacterium, if she's allowed it to fester for more than one solar cycle then there's nothing the conventional cure can do, I'm afraid she's bought it." He then became aware of Robin closing the cabinet door on him. He pulled his hands away before the door was snapped shut.

"We don't want that one," said Robin slowly. "We want the other one." Talus shot his eyes from Robin to the others. "And we need it now, we were told you might have some stored away."

"You, crime fighters, are asking me to deal with you in contraband?" He said with a chuckle.

Beast Boy nodded admittedly. "Yeah, screwed up isn't it?"

"Look we're not exactly within our jurisdiction out here," said Robin. "Just give us what we need and we'll be on our way." Talus however only narrowed his eyes and stared upward dreamily.

"But what, I wonder, would you be willing to part with for such a……dangerous commodity." Robin rolled his eyes subtly with a look back at his teammates. "And it would seem you that you have little time to negotiate."

"How much do you want?" asked Raven.

"How much do you have?" He replied with a smirk. Satisfied with the amount of annoyance he'd cooked up Talus named a price. "Five thousand Zitarians." Beast Boy looked flabbergasted.

"WHAT! Five thousand Zitarians is crazy!!" Raven arched a brow at his outburst. With his hands held at his hips pompously Beast Boy retreated back towards Raven and whispered in her ear. "What's a Zitarian?" She lightly slapped up side the head.

"What do you want?" asked Robin.

"I'm sure you're acquainted with the Ninth Circuit."

"Yeah," said Cyborg somewhat turning the word into a laugh. "We won it," said the half machine proudly. At this Robin had to smirk. Talus nodded and strode over to a computer where he displayed the familiar looking route of the race.

"This year the coordinators are adding a new challenge to course, thus far they managed the very difficult task of keeping it and its location along the course a complete secret. If I were to somehow gain insight as to the details of this hidden challenge I would have the favor of a most lucrative wager."

"So let me get this straight," began Robin. "You want us to go out there and get you insider information on the Circuit so you can rig a bet?"

"If you want to call it that." It was clear Robin was absolutely abhorred by the idea. "You get me the information I seek and I'll give you your cure."

"And in the mean time Starfire just keeps suffering until the end," said Raven with a low undertone.

"What if she's gone by the time we get done doing your dirty work? What if we loose her?" asked Robin desperately. Talus procured a pipe and stuffed it with what looked like some form of seaweed. With a shrug he lit it.

"Find another one." Robin could have been watching himself from the other side of the room and be just as helpless to stop himself. In an instant his rage had carried him across the ten feet separating him and Talus and his balled fist had knocked the alien clear off his feet. Robin growled a few times while being held at bay by all Cyborg and Beast Boy. Talus remained seated on the floor and examined the broken remains of his pipe. "You can get me another one of these too." Robin pulled his arms free of his friends, his will power being put to the test.

"Fine." At the risk of kicking the merchant repeatedly Robin marched out of the shop. Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy shot Talus some hard looks then followed their leader outside. Talus rose to his feet, straightening his garments with an irritable look as he went. He peeked out through the window to make sure his visitors were gone. Talus sat down before a communicator where upon the disgruntled face of a Citadel guard.

"State your business merchant worm."

"Tell your Lord Trogaar to summon his finest bounty hunter." He glanced down at a 'WANTED' poster bearing each of the Titan's photos. "I have something that may interest him."

To be continued………

Again sorry for the wait. I have no excuse other than that I'm either busy or that I'm incredibly lazy. Those who know me well enough have probably guessed it's the latter. Next act will be along soon. Laters!