Chapter 5: Losing Control
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Human beings were unique, yet corruptible without difficulty. Once someone challenged their power or angered them by burning their home or slaughtering their loved ones in front of them, their bodies warm and cannot distinguish between right and wrong. The outside would change and morph into something terrible with dripping fangs or steam shooting from their ears and their bodies refused to stop fighting until either they or the attacker died. Their emotions drive the lust for vengeance and turn the most peaceful warrior into a freak.
Tamaraneans were the same.
And Slade knew this.
He leaned back in his chair and gazed at the multitude of monitors. More damage done to the city than expected, but his three subordinates made their point in bringing disorder to the city. The screen on the upper leftmost screen expanded and took the place of every screen like a matinee showing. "Robin has not yet assimilated himself to his new world." He tented his fingers and watched this…'Koriand'r'- the codename Blackfire chose to give- exhaust an overflow of green energy from her body and almost snap Gizmo in half. "Such late decision making could cost him his life.
"Anger drives her to harm him, yet her true self refuses to allow her to take his life." He turned to Robin's side of the monitor. "Robin, however, is driven by the desire to abandon everything worked up in the cave in order to become stronger. Even if this means forsaking the Knight, the Titans, the world, power can change one in a million in an instant."
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"I can't stand this! I'm not gonna stand by and let her fight him alone! I'm going in!" Beast Boy charged towards Robin, preparing to transform. A flash and Beast Boy stopped in his tracks when Blackfire appeared before him.
"Not so fast. This is a fight between the two of them." She looked to the others and announced her decision. "I'm willing to stay on the side as long as Robin fights alone. But if any one of you decides to intervene," Blackfire looked towards Raven and Cyborg, "well, I'll be forced to step in."
"I told you I don't need help, so just keep them occupied."
The aura around Starfire refused to waver. "Are you final in your decision, Robin?"
He smirked. "Always unsure of everything, aren't you? If you can't decide whether to fight, I'll give myself the win and walk away-"
Robin didn't see the flash coming. The prickling sting in his armor caught his attention as he threw his left hand towards the steaming hole on his shoulder. He looked up and snarled under his breath as Starfire lowered her hand.
"You were in the middle of announcing your decision to leave the fight, correct, Robin?"
She charged without waiting for a response. Starfire clenched her right hand and threw the first punch, but stopped inches from Robin's face. Friend Robin…no, Robin, that traitor stood there unmoving. She had the power to break his face, make him scream and suffer, but no, part of her would not let her harm him.
"Figured. You always were soft, Koriand'r." Blackfire shook her head.
Robin leapt backwards three times, charting his distance with each jump. He searched his pockets and held an explosive disc between each finger. He pulled his arm back and flung one disc.
Whoosh! Starfire leaned her head to the left as the disc whizzed past. Her gaze remained the same as tendrils of smoke drifted past her nose after the explosion. She dug her foot into the concrete and flew into the air. After five seconds, she clenched her fist and fired a starbolt as Robin fingered through his pockets. The starbolt exploded halfway towards Robin when it detonated.
"This is stupid." Robin unsheathed his bo-staff to full length and ran as fast as he could and stopped right under Starfire. He leapt, brought the staff behind him and swung it down with full force. The staff clanged against Starfire's arm braces, both her and Robin's wrists began to shudder from impact. The force brought Starfire lower to the ground. She forced Robin back one step…two steps…three steps until she could bring back her right knee.
Not quick enough to dodge, Robin felt his head snap backwards as the knee connected. The staff flew from his hands and the blow sent his body crashing through a car window. Anticipating the worst, Robin leapt from the rear window just as Starfire fired a starbolt. Seconds later, the engine exploded, flames shot towards the sky in a mix of orange and black.
Starfire didn't have time to watch the fire as Robin rushed towards her. He threw one punch that hit the air. Another missed, and then two. The fifth stopped dead in Starfire's hand. "I am wishing for you just to return to your home, Robin. I do not wish to harm you."
"I can tell. Lucky for me, you pull your punches."
She forced her energy through her fists and began crushing his knuckles. He fell to one knee, still glaring at her. "Robin, I do not understand the motives for your decision, but I know you are not of the criminal type." She squeezed. His gaze fell for a moment. "You have allowed Slade to corrupt you."
"Star…" Damn it, it hurt and he hated proving Blackfire right with that nickname. "there's no point in trying to convince me I'm wrong."
No, but she could by force. Starfire leaned back and threw Robin behind her like a javelin. As he flew towards a pole, Robin removed his grappling hook and shot it at the post. The line swerved around and around the post until the hook snapped in place. Robin flung around the pole, pressed his feet against a wall and sprung towards Starfire. He extended his feet. All right.. No turning back. His feet would make contact.
Starfire's hand froze, refusing to budge. Is he going to strike me? Robin, if you are still in there, please "come back home-"
Robin's feet connected, the boots whipping Starfire's head backwards upon impact. The blow knocked her off of her feet. Robin released the rope as Starfire's body landed with a dull thud. He frowned for a second. She didn't try to dodge or counter. Does she even want to fight me or not?
He took out an electric disc and moved towards her body.
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"My new apprentice still does not wish to fight to his limit." Slade rewound several monitors and watched as Robin pulled back a second before his punch connected. Two discs landed inches from Starfire's feet and right before Robin could slam his staff over Starfire's head, he pulled back and smashed a window. "This fight is just a test for him. His true bout with the alien shall come later, when he has abandoned every thought of the Titans as…teammates."
"Sir, let me help him." Blackfire's voice came over one of the intercoms.
"You have sworn to keep to the side and let Robin fight for himself. Your feelings and connection to your sister are irrelevant until the end of the fight where one is dead or incapacitated."
"But-"
"Dead or incapacitated."
Slade ignored whatever Blackfire muttered under her breath and took back when the communication died.
"Children. They never know when to make up their minds."
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Robin approached Starfire, each step his eyes scanning her body for any movement. The electric disc shook in his hand, his arms moving from left to right and aiming for her hair instead of the face. Damn it, stop shaking! He pulled his arm back, shut his eyes and flung the disc.
A green burst surged from Starfire's hand. Pain raced across Robin's face as he flew into the air and smacked against the concrete, his shoulders and backbone ringing out in agony. Starfire dove for Robin's body and pinned him down with her knees. She pulled back her fist. No turning back here.
"Robin, what must I do to awaken you from your disease?"
He choked between a laugh and the blood surging in his mouth from the pressure on his abdomen. "My eyes are wide open, Star. Everyone: Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven, they're smart enough to see that. How come you can't figure it out?" Robin's coughed and choked on his words as Starfire pressed her knees into his ribs.
"I cannot and refuse to 'figure it out,' as you say, Robin. You do not belong with my sister or criminals. You told me that our group fought for justice and protecting the innocent. I believe I am doing my part by protecting you from yourself and what you have become." She lifted his face and locked gazes with him. "You belong with us, friend Robin."
"Star, I don't!" He pressed to escape, but she had him pinned.
"Your anger seems to say otherwise, friend Robin. I trust you. We still trust you." She reached over, began squeezing his left hand and ignored the crunching. "Without you to lead us, the city shall fall into disarray and lawlessness with yourself to blame. I will not allow you to lead a life of crime. You have changed my life…forever."
"Then…" His ribs and fingers cried out in pain from more pressure. "why are you trying to kill me?"
Starfire released his hand and went for the collar. "I am not trying to kill you, friend Robin. I am trying whatever I can within my power to save you. I cannot be without you at my side as we fight crime. You are my best friend and I refuse to accept you leaving me."
"You're just a hopeless girl in love." Robin leaned forward long enough before Starfire slammed his back against the concrete.
"Do not speak like my sister! Do not speak as if you are one of them!" she motioned towards Jinx, Mammoth and Gizmo. "You are not, no matter how much you would like to believe you are!" She stood up, aura dropping, and lifted Robin to her level. "I believe you are confused…like me, friend Robin. You do not know what to do because doing wrong and committing evil is not who you are.
"Now you may believe you have found happiness, but if you do not stop yourself and return to us, Slade will destroy you. He is using you for his own evil works, but you are stronger than him. Do not sacrifice yourself to him to fulfill his deeds. Become a greater person with us…with me, friend Robin! How are you still unable to understand how I feel? Has Slade corrupted your heart as well as your mind? Answer me, Robin!"
"All right, I've had enough." Blackfire grabbed Starfire's waist. The bind trapped Starfire and her ribs began to break. Blackfire leaned forward for momentum and bent over backwards, dropping her sister's head in the concrete. She reached out for Robin's hand, but he refused. "You're welcome, then."
"I told you not to get in the way."
"And I told you my sister could go crazy and kill you, but you didn't listen. Now shut up and let me end this."
The moment Blackfire turned; she raised her hand and caught Starfire's punch. Her eyes widened from the impact as the punch sent her backwards a few feet. The bones in her arm warbled as she closed her eyes and reached within for that thing…that power she refused to show her sister again. Purple bled into her eyes and purplish sparks came through her fingers. "Koriand'r, Robin isn't yours. Just leave. You still don't realize there are things in the world you can't stop."
"This is within my grasp of stopping, sister!" Starfire failed to push Blackfire back further. She knew her sister couldn't be stronger than her. Starfire leaned back for a headbutt, but slammed it against Blackfire's other hand.
Again, Blackfire felt her body shake from the impact, but nothing impossible. "Koriand'r, not now. Your day will come. You're just…too weak. You can't even throw a single punch."
Something clicked in Starfire's mind. She zipped backwards and clutched her head as if it had been skewered with a spear. Green faded into red, then green and back to red again. No. Don't lose control. She fought to control it, but it wanted out. It wanted to be free. It wanted to taste flesh again. Kill her. "But she is my sister." She attacked your strength. Prove her wrong. "I will do so…without your assistance!" The urges subsided and rushed back into the depths of Starfire's mind for now.
Starfire lurched from side to side, raising her head when appropriate. Crimson and emerald clouded her vision as she raised her fist. "So, sister, you are curious as to whether I can throw a decent punch?" She lifted two feet into the air and dashed.
"I told you to stay out of it!"
"Just let me end it. I'm getting bored." Blackfire cracked her knuckles.
"Dude, she's cheating!"
"Calm down, man." Cyborg patted Beast Boy's shoulder. "You know Star can handle herself."
"SISTER! RETURN ROBIN TO US AT ONCE!"
What happened next, Starfire couldn't tell. Two inches from her sister's face, Starfire last saw her sister bring down her fist. How? I was in front of her and…now I am on the earth?
Her vision faded, this time not flickering on and off like before. The impact stopped her like racing straight into a concrete wall. The almost unstoppable force met the immovable force as Starfire's face crashed against the concrete. Jagged glass penetrated the skin, but nowhere near as deep as the knuckle imprints.
She stopped blinking. She stopped moving.
Blackfire ignored the crimson leaking from her knuckles. She wanted to celebrate, should have celebrated, no reason not to celebrate.
She had silenced little Koriand'r with a single punch.
Nonetheless, celebration would come later. Still unwilling to show your true strength. That's what makes you weak. She turned around and walked past Robin. Halfway towards Jinx, she stopped as she saw the sick green Titan run towards Starfire.
"Don't bother. She's not getting up."