Over the past few weeks Robin could see Starfire was beginning to relax again. She was enjoying herself more, her face no longer looked so tight and strained. He even began to warm up to Ryand'r himself, even though he still wished he didn't have to share her time so much. He did notice however that Starfire made more of an effort to make sure they had their alone time too.
Ryand'r definitely had his own personality compared to his sisters. Starfire and Blackfire were both more outgoing, but Blackfire was cruel and selfish where Starfire was kind and altruistic. Ryand'r was quiet. Still kind, still so much like Starfire but he was shyer and it seemed like it was harder for him to fit in. Robin was curious about why he was so different from his sisters, but Starfire explained that Ryand'r had always been a kind and quiet boy when they were children, and this may have been made even more noticeable since he spent much of his time in recent years trying not to be noticed or recognized.
Things had been getting back to normal and Ryand'r was getting more and more comfortable with his sister's home. Starfire had fun teaching Ryand'r the ways of Earth, just like Robin had done for her. Robin still smiled though when Starfire had to ask him questions every once in awhile to verify she was correct.
Currently she was teaching Ryand'r the joys of the game "Go Fish" when the crime scanner began blipping again. Robin crossed to the computer and pulled up the information.
"Something's in Jump's air space," he confirmed. "It's too small to be an aircraft… human sized."
He pulled up the cameras.
Starfire and Ryand'r leapt out of their seats.
"Nou!"
"Kyshta!" Starfire cursed.
The rest of the Titans stared eyes wide at the screen.
"That's not good," Raven stated.
The two Tamaranians were gone in a blink of an eye, playing cards fluttering to the ground in their wake before Robin could even say a word.
He sighed. "Raven?"
She nodded, swirling the three boys into her cloak.
Raven deposited her teammates into the middle of the street.
A stare down was in progress, a torrent of angry Tamaranian words flying from Starfire.
Ryand'r stood at her side.
The source of Starfire's irritation laughed.
"Sister dear, how nice to see you again. And look what else I've found on my little trip to Earth. Baby brother, we all thought you were dead," Blackfire said coolly, an evil smirk curving her lips. "But I'm so very glad to see you alive."
"Kom," Ryand'r said guardedly. Starfire stepped out in front of him, placing an arm across him.
"Why are you here, Kom?" she spat.
"Hmm, that is the question isn't it?" she said, eyeing the Titans behind Starfire and Ryand'r.
"Starfire, what's-"
"Robin!" she snapped. "Stay out of this."
Robin's mouth dropped open and the rest of the Titans expressed slight shock that she outright shut him down without even glancing behind.
"Can't big sister visit her siblings without all the accusations? I find out my dear baby brother is alive and suddenly I have an ulterior motive?"
"You always have an ulterior motive!" Starfire growled.
"You know me so well," Blackfire said wistfully.
She grinned, her eyes getting a malicious twinkle. She spoke then in Tamaranian.
"Do you remember our friend Lord Korthar?"
Starfire's entire body went rigid. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
"It's just possible the Citadel is annoyed that their most prized slave killed one of their own and escaped. Even after all these years, Korthar is still eager to settle the score. Since Glorgathor was his most trusted consultant, he was extremely displeased at the loss of both of you. He mentioned something to me about what he would have in store for you…"
"No," Starfire whimpered, and Ryand'r's face looked horror stricken.
Robin's eyes darted from Blackfire's face to Starfire's back, not understanding a word that was said other than one he definitely did not want to hear. His stomach turned to ice when he heard it out of Blackfire's string of words.
"I'm so happy to see our little meli'hee too. He'll be an added bonus; Korthar will be so pleased. He said he would see to the details personally. Let me elaborate for you," she said, almost gleefully. She went on, rambling something with a vicious grin. Ryand'r clamped a hand over his mouth and Starfire's face went white as her legs gave out and she fell backward. Robin caught her, feeling panicked and completely out of control of the situation.
Starfire had to recover fast when a purple star bolt was crackling toward her. She raised her hands to block her and Robin, the bolt stinging her arms where her gauntlets didn't cover as it threw them both backward to the ground.
"Titans!" Robin shouted as he scrambled to get up, the rest of them instantly moving to defensive stances.
Ryand'r's hands started to glow white.
Starfire's vision snapped to his hands and she forgot about Blackfire for a split second.
Her eyes went wide and sad.
"Ry," she said mournfully before she was sent flying again, a wicked star bolt singeing her shoulder.
Blackfire meant business. She was using the most powerful wattage to send her attacks, and Starfire knew that it was completely a life or death situation.
"Titans! Please, get out of here!" Starfire shouted as she leaned up on her skinned elbows.
"Starfire, no! We're not leaving!" Robin called back.
She did not have time to answer however because Blackfire was barraging her with high watt star bolts at close range. Starfire darted up from the ground. Ryand'r attempted to flank Blackfire but she cast a hand at him and he was also forced to dodge.
Raven's powers formed around Starfire, Blackfire's assaults bouncing off.
"Raven!" Starfire screeched in warning.
One second Blackfire was near Starfire, then in a blink of an eye she was in Raven's face, her hand pulled back to deliver a punch before Raven even realized Blackfire had moved. Ryand'r dove, curling his body around Raven and dropping them through the air as Blackfire's punch missed.
Cyborg activated his sonic cannon, trying to get a lock on Blackfire but it was no use. She and Starfire were fighting again, darting through the sky like deadly humming birds; star bolts whizzing through the air and mini explosions sending up dust and debris. Starfire was using all the power she had, her eyes lost in a furious green glow and her lips snarled. Blackfire landed a kick square in Starfire's chest and sent her crashing into the pavement, the concrete cracking from her impact.
Starfire sat up, rubbing away the trickle of blood that had dripped down the corner of her mouth.
Blackfire landed in front of her, smirking cruelly. She flickered away for a second as Cyborg's cannon shot through the air where she had just been. Then she was instantly back.
"Damn… hell," Cyborg commented, eyes wide.
"Why," Starfire hissed. "Why are you doing this?"
Blackfire's smirk widened. "I think you already know why, sister dear."
A low feral growl vocalized from the back of Starfire's throat and she bared her teeth.
"You could make this easier on all of us, and just come with me willingly," Blackfire offered condescendingly.
Starfire snapped something in Tamaranian.
The smirk drained off Blackfire's face. "Well then," she said. "Let's get to it." She hurled a star bolt at Starfire, who was already gone from where she had been sitting.
While Blackfire was occupied with Starfire, Ryand'r had used the opportunity to sneak up on her and kick her in the back, sending her soaring into a building. She crashed through the glass and slid across the floor of an office, desks and papers flying everywhere. The people inside were already hunkered down; a few panicked screeches pierced the air.
Blackfire was instantly up and zooming back to engage her little brother, who was now floating in the air next to Starfire.
Blackfire punched for Starfire, dropping and rolling as Ryand'r came in for a kick. She swung back up, grabbed Ryand'r's shirt and spun him in a circle, tossing him into Starfire when she came in for an attack. The two spiraled together before separating and zipping back side-to-side.
Starfire and Ryand'r pulled together and engaged Blackfire in a tag team effort, less than a second between each attack. Blackfire now had trouble warding off both of them and soon was finding herself backed into a corner. She tried to break away, realizing that she was not going to be able to apprehend her sister and brother alone.
Starfire landed a vicious punch, Blackfire falling hard into the road and breaking up chunks of concrete.
Starfire and Ryand'r alighted on the ground, their hands still glowing.
Blackfire got up from the mess her fall had created, brushing herself off.
"You may not come with me today sister, but that doesn't stop me from telling them where you are," she grinned cruelly. "And they so would love a two for one deal, little brother."
Starfire's face paled. "You would not," she insisted.
"I would, and I will," Blackfire said wickedly, shooting up into space.
Starfire rocketed up after her, Ryand'r a split second behind.
Robin ran toward where Starfire was standing last, shouting as he searched the air frantically.
"STARFIRE!!"
He snatched his communicator out of his pocket, pressing the button to connect with her and growled in frustration when noisy static was all he received. He threw his communicator down on the ground in a fit.
"Cyborg," he snapped. "Find her location!"
Cyborg tapped at his arm. "Can't dude, she's too far away."
"What do you mean 'too far away'?!"
"She's already outside of the Titans' signal range. That's why her comm isn't working."
"Can't you do something?!"
"Dude, we don't have the equipment." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The Watch Tower does though."
Beast Boy picked up Robin's communicator and meekly handed it to him. Robin shoved it into his pocket.
"Raven," he said shortly. "Take us back to the tower, now."
Raven complied with a stoic face, but she was worried on the inside. She had also heard a certain word out of Blackfire's torrent of Tamaranian and had an inkling as to why Blackfire wanted to kidnap Starfire. It made her stomach turn and her skin crawl.
Raven deposited everyone back in the tower, and Robin immediately headed for the T-Ship.
"Rob, dude wait! You can't just go waltzing into the Watch Tower!" Cyborg exclaimed.
"Watch me," he snapped. "I'm Batman's fucking sidekick, isn't that what you two said? They can fucking accommodate me."
Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy exchanged glances.
They followed, everyone getting into the T-Ship.
Robin glanced at Starfire's empty wing out of the corner of his eye.
"Cyborg, prepare to launch."
"Preparing to launch," Cyborg echoed, checking all manner of gears and dials.
The garage's hangar opened and the T-Ship zipped out, heading for the Justice League's headquarters.
--
Starfire and Ryand'r flew after Blackfire, all three of them rocketing at the speed of light. They darted and tried to catch her, but she was quickly losing them. It was not long before she had lost them, and Starfire and Ryand'r were left looking at each other with worry and strain etched into their faces. Starfire motioned to the nearest planet where they could hopefully find an atmosphere to catch their breath and speak.
As they entered the planet's outer layer Starfire grabbed his hands.
"Ry… how?" she said sadly, her eyes wide and distressed.
"After I left Tamaran, the Psions captured me too. I accidentally strayed too close to their territory. They had rebuilt their labs, but I managed to escape before they could change me too much. I cannot shoot the energy like you can; all I can do is make my hands glow. It still stings my enemies," he smiled ruefully.
"It pains my heart to know you were subjected to that facility," Starfire said heavily, hugging him tightly.
"Do not worry, I am fine. I did not go through anything near the amount you did."
"We have been apart too long."
"I agree. I missed you."
"I missed you too," Starfire sighed. "But, we should go. Kom cannot be trusted and she is probably heading to the Citadel as we speak. We must stop her."
"Kori… you cannot possibly think of going near there. I will not let you," Ryand'r said fiercely.
Starfire shook her head. "No. I have a different place in mind. Come," she beckoned with her hand and together they flew off.
--
As the Watch Tower came into view, Beast Boy's eyes gleamed with fan boy delirium. He couldn't help but be completely ecstatic that he actually had a chance to go inside the Watch Tower. He wondered who would be in there. Superman? Green Arrow? The Flash? One of the Green Lanterns?
He tried to restrain himself from clapping his hands and squealing. Raven glanced at him, an eyebrow quirked as she could plainly feel his excitement seeping from his pod.
An alert beeped on Robin's dash, indicating there was a transmission coming through.
Robin accepted and a face popped up on screen.
"Identify yourself."
"Robin, of the Titans."
"Robin… what are you doing out here?" the figure mused.
"We need help. One of our members is out of our satellite range and we need to contact her. Please Superman, we need to use your facility."
"All right. Use the south hangar. I'll clear you for landing."
The transmission disconnected.
Beast Boy looked like he was about to burst from excitement. Finally he couldn't take it.
"OH MY GOD THAT WAS SUPERMAN."
"It was," Robin said flatly, gritting his teeth.
"DUDE. SUPERMAN. We get to meet SUPERMAN."
"There are other things on my mind right now than Superman, Beast Boy," Robin snapped.
"Chill man," Cyborg said. "She's gonna be fine."
Robin shook his head with an angry growl and flew into the hangar that was opening for his aircraft.
The T-Ship had barely been turned off before Robin was jumping down and stalking toward the elevator.
The other three followed, wisely saying nothing. When Robin was in one of these moods there was nothing anyone could do or say to change his mind or calm him down, although Starfire always seemed to know how to cool him off. But of course, she was not present to help.
The four of them reached the main level and Beast Boy's eyes widened the size of saucers and his mouth dropped open when they entered the main hub. Even Cyborg had a gleam in his eye at all the shiny technology at the Justice League's disposal. He suppressed a whimper and the urge to go drool over all the panels to their crime scanners and GPS units.
The Watch Tower was actually rather empty. Superman was the only one to be found in the massive room.
Robin strode forward purposely.
He inclined his head and shook Superman's hand.
"Superman," he greeted him.
"Robin," Superman said pleasantly. "I'd say I've heard a lot about you but Batman never talks to anyone about anything," he chuckled.
Robin snorted. "Not surprised."
"So, you said you needed to contact someone?" Superman said.
"Yes. Starfire has flown out of our satellite range. We know you have satellites set up all over the star systems. We have to reach her."
Superman walked over to the panel board and beckoned the Titans to follow.
"Do you have her communicator number?"
"Right here," Robin said.
"Can you link her through me?" Cyborg spoke up.
"You just need to connect to our network," Superman said.
A green form surged up from the floor before it materialized into a man.
"Dude…" Beast Boy breathed, his eyes even more starry.
Superman looked behind him before turning back to the computer.
"It might take awhile for the signal to locate her. Do you have any idea where she could possibly be?"
"Start with the Vegan star system," Robin said.
"Dude," Beast Boy whimpered. "You're… you're…"
The being in front of him looked at him with a stoic gaze before addressing Superman.
"Who are our visitors?"
Robin glanced at him, before walking forward to shake the newcomer's hand. Robin's hand hung in the air for a moment as the figure stared at it before giving it one pump and dropping his hand back.
"J'onn, isn't it?" Robin said.
"Yes. Robin?"
He nodded.
"The rest of them are part of the Titans. That's Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy."
J'onn's red eyes shifted over to Beast Boy with slight interest.
"Formerly of the Doom Patrol?"
Raven reached out a hand and supported Beast Boy before he fell to the floor.
He nodded his head dumbly, awed that a famous superhero such as J'onn had actually heard of him.
"You know me?" he squeaked.
"You were an integral part in crippling the Brotherhood of Evil. I heard that several years ago the Teen Titans had defeated the Brotherhood of Evil for good."
"Beast Boy was leading that mission," Cyborg said proudly.
"Congratulations," J'onn said, though his voice was monotone the entire conversation.
Raven had to catch Beast Boy before he fainted.
"Found her," Superman said.
Robin was next to him in an instant.
"Connect to our network and then you'll be able to contact her."
Robin instantly took out his comm and attempted to connect to the Watch Tower Network. Superman accepted the request.
Cyborg poked at his arm and also connected.
Robin was about to call Starfire when Cyborg stopped him.
"Rob, wait…"
"What?" Robin snapped.
"Let me call her, man."
"Why?"
"Cause when you're like this, you're gonna say somethin' to her that you'll regret," Cyborg said firmly. "It ain't helping anyone."
"What are you talking about?" Robin growled.
"That. Are you listenin' to yourself right now? You gonna yell at her man, and she don't need that."
Robin seethed for a moment, before snapping, "Fine. You fucking call her."
Cyborg shook his head before sending a transmission through to Starfire.
It blipped for a moment before Starfire's face appeared on screen.
"Cyborg," she said, sounding and looking surprised. "How is it you have contacted me?" Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the background around him. "You look like you are in a strange place."
"We're at the Watch Tower Star."
"The Watch Tower?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"Yeah… it was the only way we could call ya, little lady."
"Oh."
"So, where are you?"
Starfire looked shifty, breaking eye contact. The frown twisted on Robin's face, his arms crossed over his chest. When he didn't hear her answer right away he paced for a second.
"I am not sure it is wise for any of you to come see me," she said sadly.
"Why?"
She winced and looked upset when she heard Robin's angry voice from off screen. Cyborg turned his head away and glared at him, before looking back at Starfire.
"What's goin' on, Star?"
"There are… a few things happening right now. I am…" she sighed.
"Unblock your coordinates, Star," Cyborg said gently.
"I do not want any of you to be harmed," she said.
"We don't want you to be harmed. Coordinates," Cyborg answered.
Starfire frowned and then Cyborg smiled to himself when he saw her unlock her position.
"She's at the IGP Hub," Superman informed them, when he saw her location.
Robin frowned.
"You're at IGP?" Cyborg said, astonished.
"Yes. But please, you cannot… come. I am in the middle of-"
She stopped talking and looked beyond her communicator. Cyborg heard a low gruff voice that sounded familiar.
"I must go. I will contact you all later."
Her image disappeared when she flicked her comm shut.
"All it took was a little finessing," Cyborg said with a grin. "Now we know where she is."
"Good," Robin said, shoving at a chair in front of him. "I'm going after her. I need you three to remain here. Is that all right, Superman, J'onn?"
"What?!" Cyborg exclaimed.
Superman and J'onn exchanged glances, but both nodded yes.
"Now wait just a minute," Cyborg boomed, looming over Robin with his arms crossed, his face stern.
Robin gazed back, unruffled.
"Y'all are not going off all half cocked by yo'self. You angry as hell and I know you gonna take it out on her, man. We are not gonna let you go alone."
"This is my deal, and I need to do this alone. You are staying here," Robin commanded.
"You need back up man, you can't do this-"
"Don't tell me what to do, Cyborg!" Robin shouted angrily. "I'm going alone whether you fucking like it or not!"
"I think you're making a huge mistake."
"I'm doing this alone," he insisted as he turned away sharply and headed for the hangar.
"Hmm, where have I heard that before," Superman muttered to J'onn before calling, "Robin, wait."
He turned around, still looking steamed and like he didn't want to wait and listen.
"If you want to skip customs and inspections there's a special key I can give you. IGP is like a fortress; it takes at least two hours, usually longer to be inspected before they let you inside. They have set up a system with us that allow us to bypass all this. If you need to get to her quickly, you'll need this."
"What is it?"
Superman headed to a little cabinet and pulled out a strange small device that had a keypad.
"At the gates, which are located in a ring around the main station, there will be an attendant to accept it from you. It unlocks a special gateway that will take you past inspections and to the main central hub. You should be able to find your way around; they've accommodated English into their language databases because of our work with them, but the key also has a translation feature. At the main desk you can probably ask where your friend is. They'll direct you on how to find her."
"Thanks," Robin said, grabbing the key and stashing it in his belt.
"Good luck, man," Cyborg said, arms crossed and looking away. Robin could hear the slight sarcasm behind his words. He entered the elevator without replying.
Raven and Beast Boy had stayed silent and exchanged worried glances.
"I really hope he doesn't make things worse for her," Cyborg said, annoyed.
"He's scared," Raven said. J'onn looked at her.
"You have telepathic abilities?"
Raven shook her head. "Empathic."
J'onn nodded very slightly before saying, "His friend is also frightened."
"From that distance, you can tell?" Raven's eyes widened.
He simply nodded, swishing away.
Superman and the three Titans watched through the Watch Tower's huge windows as they saw Robin's section of the T-Ship shoot off into space toward the Intergalactic Police station.
--
The flight to the IGP Hub seemed to drag on forever as Robin flew through the empty heavens. He was sullen and silent as he reflected on everything that could possibly go wrong.
His radar began to blip as the IGP station came into range. He could see it in the distance and as the hours passed it seemed like it just wouldn't get any bigger no matter how long he traveled closer. He did notice however that the more miles he traversed the more he had company. Crafts of all shapes and sizes seemed to be headed in the same direction.
Finally it began to loom before him and he openly gaped at the sheer size of the Intergalatic Police Force Hub. It was at least the size of a small planet, making the Watch Tower look like a dinky little satellite. A large tunnel ran around the equator's circumference, floating several miles from the Hub itself, looking more or less like a planetary ring. From what Superman said Robin realized this was the first step of security check-in. Scrolling signs flickered in all sorts of languages directing where each kind of ship should go to be admitted. As he waited for spacecrafts to sort themselves out in front of him he watched for a language he could read. English scrolled by and he took note that he was supposed to go left and use a hangar suited for a ship of his size.
The amount of traffic was unbelievable.
"Figures, even in space you have to wait in a traffic jam," he muttered to himself, the first he had spoken aloud since he left the Watch Tower as he leaned his chin in his hand and drummed his fingers impatiently on the dash.
Finally he was cleared to find his hangar. He dug the key Superman had given him out of his pocket and drove his ship into the ring.
He watched the open hangar behind him, wondering when they would seal it shut.
His panel blipped as a transmission tried to come through.
He accepted.
"The programming of your ship indicates your language is English. Is this correct?"
"That is correct."
"Name."
"Robin, friend of the Justice League. I have a key from Superman that was entrusted to me to bypass the rest of check in."
There was a crackle and static on the line before the bland voice said, "Do not disembark from your ship until the hangar is sealed."
"Noted."
With a deafening hiss the doors behind him began to close, cutting off the view of space behind him.
After a moment a ding sounded and the voice spoke to him again. "You may now open your ship's seal. Please present the key."
Robin popped the top off the T-Ship and stood.
A strange short blob like creature came through a door, a bluish uniform sagging on its form. Robin noted a ring with all sorts of gadgets was secured on what he assumed was its belt.
It sidled up to his ship as it searched through its gadgets.
"Here it is," it muttered. It held out its hand and Robin gave it the key.
The little being slid the key into a small padlock looking device on his belt. It hummed and then clicked.
Robin noticed there were two large hangar doors, and a light blinked on over the left one.
"You may pass inspection. Down that tunnel," he pointed, "is a large garage where you can secure your ship. There will be signs to direct you to the main desk. You can use the hyper walks to get there."
"Thanks," Robin said briskly, jumping back into his seat from the wing. The security guard went back through his door and Robin fired up the T-Ship.
He guided the ship through his marked door and shot though a clear tunnel with a blue tint. He could see inky black sky whip past as it propelled the T-Ship toward the main center of the Hub.
More hisses and groans as his ship slowed and a hexagonal door opened up before him, moving the T-Ship at a moderate pace into a huge expansive hangar. Robin stared at the sheer size of the place, the ceiling well over two skyscrapers high and was more than five football fields across. Like rivers of metal and glass ships coursed through the massive space, slots jutting out for places to park.
'It's like… a parking garage for space ships,' Robin noted, amused. He heard a shrill whistle and realized that another creature was flagging him with red lights. It directed him right. Another traffic guide pointed him down a row and to the left. Finally after several directions he was given a spot. He parked and secured the T-Ship and hopped out.
The guide directed him to a moving sidewalk type thing, and told him how to get to the main desk.
The sidewalk looked innocuous enough. There was an immobile platform to step on, and two belts moved opposite ways to go in either direction. It looked just like Earth's moving sidewalks in airports. Robin shrugged and moved onto the platform before casually stepping onto the belt.
He quickly discovered why it was described as "hyper" walk. He was jolted backwards and fell right onto his behind. He flailed around and grabbed for the moving railing, working to get onto his feet again as it transported him across the parking area so fast that everything was a blur.
He glanced around completely and totally embarrassed, hoping the other passengers hadn't seen that.
His surroundings went dark as it took him through a tunnel. Light hit but he couldn't tell what he was passing. The walk slowed at several stations but he waited until he arrived at the Information terminal.
The walk slowed and he held his stomach as he stepped off woozily.
The main station was a mammoth center, creatures and beings threading their way across the huge area. Robin gazed around and spotted the main desk, a tall expansive counter. Sitting behind it was a large… well… she looked almost like an octopus and like the crowned queen of multi-tasking. Her tentacles roped around several phone like devices at once, another tentacle flipped through papers, and one adjusted pinch-nez glasses on her beak-like nose. She had silly looking bright red hair piled on top of her head. A nametag on her desk read "Debbral."
Robin swiftly approached the desk with purpose and waited in line, which to his surprise was short.
When it was his turn he stepped up and tried to get the attention of Debbral, who could only see black spiked hair over the top of her desk.
She squawked one funny sounding language into a phone and clicked and chirped into another.
"Excuse me?" Robin demanded.
"What is it honey, I ain't got all day," she answered him blandly. "It is English, right?"
"Yes, English. I need to find Star-… Princess Koriand'r," he said, trying to be polite despite his seething anger.
"Princess Koriand'r?! You?!" she said, barely giving him a glance. "What does a scrawny little human want with the Princess?"
Robin's brows furrowed and he frowned. He placed his fingers on the top of the desk and stood on his tiptoes to glare over the counter. "I am not scrawny," he growled.
Debbral's beak grinned and she waved one tentacle in a gesture. "Suppose for a human you've got a few muscles. More than my husband, he's all blubber, I'll give you that!"
Robin resisted punching the desk in frustration. "Look, I just need to see Sta- Princess Koriand'r." That certainly didn't roll off his tongue easily. It sounded strange to say.
Debbral kept flipping through her papers and said casually, "I'm not sure I can give you clearance. Princess Koriand'r suddenly comes back from the dead and everyone's her second cousin twice removed. You're the fifth to ask in the last twenty minutes. So now are you sure you know her?"
Robin gritted his teeth. "Look, I've gotten clearance from the Justice League and we're so close I call the princess by her real name, Starfire. I'm her… knotha," he tripped on the word. "How is that for 'do you know her'," he finished sarcastically.
At the word knotha Debbral straightened and dropped all ringing and blaring apparatus in her tentacles and stared intently at him down her pinch-nez with droopy purple eyes.
"What did you say?" she asked slowly.
"Um… what part?" Robin asked, annoyed.
"You said you're her knotha?" she asked meaningfully, letting her phones ring as she leaned over the desk to get a good look at him.
"Yes… why?"
She ignored him and shuffled through papers and notes posted all over the place. "Ah," she exclaimed, plucking one from a bulletin board. "Well I'll be," she muttered, "the Princess herself left a note."
"Told ya," he snapped. "Now where is she?"
"You are Robin?" Debbral asked.
"Yes," he said, exasperated.
"Well I'll be! Turn me upside down slap me and call me a squiddlemor! First the Princess rises from the dead and now she's got a…oh what's the word you humans use… fiancé! Yes, that's it. Wait till Myrtil hears this!"
Robin stood stock still, shock washing through him. "F-… fiance?!" he stuttered, his mouth dropping open.
Debbral straightened her pinch-nez and her shoulders. "You sound surprised. You're not an imposter are you? Some puny little human who knows one Tamaranian word and thinks he can get a crack at the Princess?!" she asked severely, shaking an imposing tentacle at him.
"No! I am Robin, and she did call me her knotha," he insisted. "Just wondering why," he finished under his breath.
"Hmm…" she hummed, looking at the note and then back at him. "You fit her description."
"Duh," Robin muttered.
Debbral turned away from him and buzzed another department. She spoke with a secretary in a series of gurgles and whistles.
"It seems that Princess Koriand'r will be available in a moment. You can be escorted there to wait." She reached under her desk and brought out a flat little screen. She clicked it on and it hummed as it began to hover in the air. Robin stared at it.
"I will direct you there through this hovering transmitter. Just follow where I tell you, m'kay?"
"Kay," Robin said, eager to get away.
"Take that hyper walk there," she pointed. "And from then on I'll let you know."
"Got it," Robin said shortly, taking off for the moving sidewalk almost at a run. The video transmitter followed.
Debbral's pallid face flickered on the screen.
Robin knew to get on cautiously and grip the railing tightly this time as the walk took off, so he didn't flail all over the place and look like an idiot.
Several stops and turns later, he was directed down a long corridor.
"All right now honey, this is where the schedule notes she is. You can sit in one of those chairs and wait over there until she's done."
But Robin had stopped listening to Debbral's spiel. The large doors were closed but there were two small long vertical windows on each side. He felt anger flair in his chest when he saw her at the end of the room, looking down before she paced away. Robin shook his head and growled before he burst through the doors, a snarl on his face.
"Starfire!" he shouted. "Don't you ever fucking do that to me again-"
Before he could finish there was an uproar of voices and very sharp weapons were pointed in his face.
"Solto!"
The Tamaranian guards relaxed their weapons and Robin breathed out. Then his eyes narrowed when he saw Starfire leaning over the head of the table, her palms flattened on its surface. His hand raised and the snarl returned, oblivious to everything else in the room and ready to start up his tirade again.
Debbral's frantic face appeared on the video transmitter as it floated into the room. "I'm sorry, I lost him before he-"
"Robin!" Starfire snapped, her eyes glowing green and flashing dangerously. The look on her face made the words on his tongue die instantly. He swallowed.
"You disrespect me and the company present by barging in here and yelling without cause. We are in the progress of an extremely important meeting and I will not tolerate your temper and foul language. I understand on Earth you are leader of the Titans, and I always respect your authority. Here, you must respect my authority. Be seated next to Zhal Ryand'r and do the shutting up." She pointed to the seat next to her brother.
His mouth hung dumbly open, his body moving on its own accord as he numbly sat down next to Ryand'r and his mouth clicked shut. He realized the entire room was watching him, some of them glaring. His cheeks went red, feeling extremely embarrassed for getting scolded at by Starfire. He felt like he was six and had gotten caught stealing cookies before dinner.
Debbral looked on, interested. "You're letting him stay? So he is your knotha?"
"Get out," Starfire growled, to which Debbral looked sheepish and the video feed scooted out the door hastily.
--
A long line was forming in front of Debbral, several rather extremely annoyed creatures were pacing and drumming their fingers. Phones were ringing off the hook. Debbral however had her back turned to her desk and was winding a cord around a tentacle as she gossiped on her personal line.
"Myrtil! Oh Myrtil you won't believe this! I saw Princess Koriand'r with my own eyes! … Of course I saw her in person, she's just gorgeous… and get this Myrtil, she's engaged! Her knotha came looking for her just now! Can you imagine? The Princess getting married, oh isn't that sweet. Who is her knotha? Oh it's this strapping young man… yes, Myrtil, man. He's human… well why not? He's a handsome young thing, full of muscles. Yes yes, I'll get pictures from the security cameras to show you. Oh dear, I've got a line building up here, I've got to go Myrtil! I'll talk to you later hon, oh you too sweetie. Buh-bye now, I'll tell you all the juicy details, we'll do lunch!"
--
"Who is this, Zhala Koriand'r?" a large being asked mildly, gesturing at Robin. His thick skin was reptilian like with dark blue and gold armor adorning his body. A large badge was on the right side of his chest.
Starfire sighed and shot Robin a look. Robin noticed that her eyes had been lost in their green glow the entire time. He looked back at her guiltily. He had really irritated her.
"This is Robin of Earth, leader of the Titans. He is the son of Batman, of the Justice League," she clarified.
The being nodded its great head then, and gestured for her to continue.
Starfire began speaking in another language, one that Robin did not recognize. It did not sound like Tamaranian.
His eyebrows rose when he noticed Galfore was sitting on the other side of Ryand'r. He realized that had been the source of the familiar gruff voice he heard over Starfire's comm. Another shot of guilt and worry went through him when he realized whatever Starfire was dealing with, it was important enough to get Galfore here in such short notice.
He tried not to fidget as the meeting continued on for another forty five minutes, Starfire speaking and arguing with the creatures around the table, Galfore and Ryand'r also speaking up every once in awhile.
Starfire spoke a few words in parting, and so did the great creature that seemed to have authority over the other beings in the room. Then the meeting was adjourned.
Starfire turned her back to Robin and spoke quietly with Galfore and Ryand'r. Robin got up, still angered at how she had just flown away without saying a word and now she was calmly ignoring him.
"Starfire," he said behind her, hoping to get her attention. His face was serious, his mouth pressed in a tight line and his arms crossed over his chest.
She stopped talking and turned around.
"Yes, Robin?"
He frowned bitterly at her blasé tone.
"Don't 'yes Robin' me. What the hell was that all about?"
Starfire's eyes went hard. "Kosovar."
Galfore's Tamaranian guards snapped to attention. "Take him to my temporary quarters. I will join him shortly," Starfire commanded them.
"What?!" Robin sputtered. "I am not going anywhere-"
"I think it would be best. I will be along in a moment, Robin. Please do as I ask."
Galfore and Ryand'r were watching him, as well as the other figures in the room that had not left yet. Starfire stood coolly in front of him, waiting to see if he would refuse. Robin felt the pressure and shook his head, the irate frown still twisting his lips as he stomped away with a guard on each side.
Robin waited in Starfire's room with his arms crossed, sitting on what he assumed was the bed. His foot tapped in irritation and though he tried to calm himself down, everything he had half a mind to yell and scream at her was swirling around in his head.
It was fifteen minutes later when Starfire slid through the door and shut it softly. She didn't move into the room and faced the door, her head bowed and her body stiff, one hand still pressed on the door's surface.
Robin waited a moment to see what she would do, before snapping, "Well?"
She stayed still, her head down, and did not react to his words.
"Not gonna bark some order at me? Tell me what to do now? God Starfire!" he got up and began pacing, his arms flailing around in dramatic gestures.
"You fucking just flew away without even thinking! What if Blackfire had captured you? You were too far away for me to contact you with the Titans' signal, what if she had just taken you and I would have never known?! I wouldn't have been able to come rescue you, you would've been just, gone and there would have been nothing I could do! And then, then! I finally find you after dealing with this huge ass place that's just ridiculous, I fell flat on my ass on that stupid hyper walk thingy, I dealt with this goofy secretary, and when I come in you bark orders at me and make me look stupid in front of a room full of people! Thanks for that," he said scathingly.
He stopped his ranting and pacing for a moment, and realized that Starfire was sniffling.
"Star?"
She suddenly flung herself around and latched onto him, her arms around his neck and her face buried into his shoulder. Her body shuddered as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Robin was shocked for a moment before he wrapped his arms around her and patted her back once.
"Star," he breathed, completely bewildered. "What the hell is going on? Why are you crying?"
She sniffled and rubbed her eyes furiously, but didn't reply.
"Starfire, answer me. What is going on?"
She pulled away then, turning her back and continuing to weep.
Robin sighed. He was so angry and all he wanted was answers but she was completely distraught.
"Babe, calm down," he said, gentler, pulling her back to his chest, trying to get a hold of his own out of control feelings.
She shook her head, cupped her face in her hands like she just didn't know what to do. She tried to speak but only ended up taking in big gulps of air.
Robin turned her around and gave her a more sincere hug and stroked a hand through her hair.
"I'm sorry I yelled," he soothed. "Please don't cry."
She started to calm down, tried to control her breathing better.
"I- I am, the sorry," she hiccupped, finally able to speak. "But I had to go after her, she could ruin ev-everything. I am sor-ry-"
"No, don't be sorry," he said. "I'm the one that's sorry. I should've realized you had to go, I just wish you could've warned me before you just took off. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
She sniffled. "I should not have done the snapping at you. But the people in that room would not have understood if I had let you continue to yell at me. I am a princess, and they expect me to exercise my authority."
"Can you tell me what that meeting was about?" he asked.
"I have enlisted the help of the Intergalactic Police to help apprehend my sister," she said in a nasal tone, her nose completely stuffed up.
"And are they going to help you?"
"Well… it is the adhesive situation," she said uncertainly.
Robin had a hint of a smile. "You mean sticky situation?"
"Yes, it is the situation of sticky. The IGP want to help, but they cannot apprehend her until she has broken an intergalactic law."
"Oh…"
"When she broke out of prison and took over Tamaran she had escaped from the Centauri system. They apprehended her on Earth because Earth is inside Centauri's jurisdiction. She is still a fugitive of Centauri, but she is now outside Centauri's limits and they cannot bring her in. The IGP cannot touch her. I banished her from Tamaran, but I did not send her back to prison. Possibly I should have done," she sighed sadly. "I was giving her a chance. I never seem to learn my lesson."
"Star," Robin said sympathetically.
"If I locate her, I will have to go after her alone, until I can find something to convict her with that will hold in a trial."
"You can't go after her alone. She's dangerous."
"I have no other choice, Robin."
"I will come with you."
"No."
"Starfire-"
"I will not discuss this further. You will not come with me."
"Star… she said something about the Citadel back on Earth," Robin said, becoming serious. "She wants to take you back there, doesn't she? She's going to hand you over to them."
Starfire looked distressed. "Yes," she whispered.
Robin felt like he had just been doused with ice water, his heart clenched painfully and his stomach felt sick. He didn't want to believe it was true, but hearing her confirmation… it sent shivers down his spine.
"I won't let that happen," he said firmly, once he got his throat working.
"Robin," Starfire said sadly. "Partially why I did the yelling at you was because I was angry to see you here. On Earth you were home, and… safe. If something should happen to you now I would never forgive myself."
He hugged her tightly. "And I would never forgive myself if you were taken to the Citadel and I wasn't there to stop it. I'm glad I'm here to protect you."
A small smile formed on her lips, but she didn't voice the truth she knew. He was clueless as to how treaties and agreements between the planets worked, how the Gordanian Bounty Hunters operated, and how ruthless and cunning the Citadel and her sister could be. In addition to being worried about herself, she now was worried for the safety of him too.
"This… this place is just crazy," Robin commented, rubbing a hand over his forehead.
Starfire looked at him curiously. "How so?"
"It's just, I've never seen something like this before. And sitting through that meeting, I had no clue what anyone was saying or doing…" Robin's face softened. "Must be what you feel like on Earth, huh?"
"In the beginning, yes," Starfire replied softly.
"So many things I don't understand. I guess… I appreciate it now. How hard it was for you to fit in."
Starfire smiled weakly at him. Her eyes got a sad sort of twinkle. "You fell on the hyper walk?"
Robin rolled his eyes with a snort. "You should've seen it. Fell flat on my ass."
A small giggle escaped from Starfire. "It is not often you look ungraceful."
"Thank goodness. I looked like a total moron."
Starfire covered a grin with her hand.
"Hey Star? Why were your eyes glowing the entire time you were in that meeting? You don't even glow like that during battle all the time," Robin asked, curious.
"Oh," Starfire breathed, now sounding exhausted. "It is a Tamaranian… custom. I have gotten so relaxed on earth. We hide our eyes during meetings of important or political nature, and during war and battle. The eyes convey emotion so we suppress our emotions during times when it is considered weak."
"Oh. I thought you were super angry at me," he said sheepishly. "You were glowing the whole meeting, I really thought I had done it that time."
"I was the super angry at you," she said flatly. "You interrupted an extremely important meeting with the Chief of Police, the Commissioner, and several inspectors."
"Oh, fantastic. I'm sure I made a great impression," he said bitterly.
A grin appeared on her face. "I am sure they are questioning my taste in men," she giggled.
"Ha ha," Robin said sarcastically. Then he remembered something rather important.
"Speaking of relationships, Star we need to talk," he said seriously.
"What about?"
"When I was trying to prove who I was to that silly receptionist, I mentioned that you said I was your knotha."
Starfire's eyes went wide. "Oh," she breathed. "That is why she asked," she said hesitantly.
"Yeeeah. About that," Robin said, sounding stern and crossing his arms.
Starfire tapped her index fingers together sheepishly.
"Apparently knotha doesn't mean 'boyfriend' like I thought it did."
She coughed. "It does not?"
"Oh for God sakes Starfire! That receptionist went on about how you had 'rose from the dead' and that now you had a fiancé! A fiancé Starfire!"
"I apologize."
"Well…" he sputtered. "Why did you tell Ryand'r that I was your fiancé?!"
"It is difficult to explain. We do not have the 'boyfriends' and 'girlfriends' on Tamaran. Our relationships are not defined in that manner. The easiest for him to understand was to tell him you were my knotha," she said meekly. "I did not think it would come up."
"How could it not come up?! It implies we're engaged!"
Starfire's face contorted into a sad frown. "And is this idea that hard for you to accept?"
"Well, well…" he sputtered again, seeing her green eyes tear up. "No, it's just… it's a big step in a relationship and I didn't realize you could just toss that out there so blasé."
"It is a big step in relationships on Earth," Starfire said softly. "On Tamaran, I would have already been married away."
Robin quieted. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"You do not wish to be engaged to me, ever?" she asked, her voice high and tearful.
"Star, Star, stop it," he said, gentler. "Of course, at some point. Later. Much later. This isn't what we were talking about! This is about lying and running away!" he said frantically, his voice high pitched.
"We already discussed the lying and the running away," Starfire reminded him.
"Well! Well!"
"You do not wish to be engaged ever, do you? I can tell by the way you are acting!" Starfire said, bursting into tears.
Robin looked around hopelessly, pulling at his collar.
"It was completely innocent in the way I mentioned it, but if you do not feel that we could be something more later, I do not understand this relationship," she cried.
"God Star! I already said we could get engaged!"
"Really?" she squealed excitedly, the water works ceasing immediately.
Robin gaped like a fish. Did that really just come out of his mouth?
"Later," he gasped. "Later! Key word later!"
"I shall have to start looking at rings!" she said gleefully, dancing away and clapping her hands.
Robin slapped his hand over his face.
"It's not official until I formally propose and ask you," he called after her, pointing with his finger. "Later. Much much later..."
He snorted with humor as he watched her prance around excitedly, before she jumped up on the bed and gave him a look that instantly sent blood rushing from his head to other places.
He tried to resist, still a little miffed at being tricked. "If you think acting a little sexy is going to-"
"Should we not celebrate, knotha?" she giggled sensually, rubbing the bed before her and beckoning with her index finger. She undid the buckle on her belt. "Please come join me, yes?"
Well all right then. Robin was jumping toward her faster than he could say "hot damn."
"Maybe this knotha thing isn't so bad," he said as he clumsily flung off his shirt.
--
Okay. Wow. That was a long time coming. This is a huuuuge chapter for you!
Oh! Oh I soooo got some of you! It was Blackfire, haha. Not Ryand'r. Some of you caught it though, if you noticed the person's speech pattern, she used contractions. You all get a chocolate Easter bunny. Make sure you eat his ears =)
One thing I do want to address… there have been a lot of people asking why Cyborg doesn't have a larger role in this story, and I just want to set the record straight.
This story is listed under Robin and Starfire. Those two are the main characters of this story. The plot line revolves around them. I never said this was a Teen Titans story that features all five as main characters. Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg are secondary characters. Raven and Beast Boy's relationship gets a little bit of development because that couple does interest me. But they still are secondary characters. I think everyone wants Cyborg paired up too and his relationship to be developed as well, but it's extremely difficult to develop three relationships in one story. You just can't have that many main characters and that many plot lines running around in a single story.
I hate to say this but I am not planning a sequel and I just can't include a Cyborg line too. If I were writing a trilogy, then yes. It would be completely expected that Cyborg would have his dues, and Raven and Beast Boy too. But I'm not. So in this story, he's a supporting role and that's it. There's a reason this story is listed under Robin and Starfire.
It's so easy in the cartoon to feature all five Titans at once, because it's visual. Two characters can be having an important conversation in the foreground while Cyborg is scarfing down meat in the background. He's visually present. But in writing, I can only show you what is important and what I want you to know. Often Cyborg is mentioned as present but he doesn't get lines because Starfire and Robin were the focus, so people forget he's there. In writing adding in the dumb meat scarfing fluff ruins the atmosphere and tempo I'm setting for the scene.
I'm really not leaving him out, that's not the case at all. I've stuck him in anywhere I really need him. I use him when he's important to the story, and that's honestly better than him just being fluff. He does have a hint of his own relationship, and that's just how it goes. Robin and Starfire are the main couple, Raven and Beast Boy are on the side, and Cyborg's relationship is developing in the background. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is also extremely hard to develop Cyborg's relationship when his partner doesn't live in the tower.
I really hope everyone understands why I've used Cyborg the way I have. Honestly I think I've worked in more Cyborg parts than some authors on here have. Some people ignore him completely. I believe he is mentioned in every single chapter except one, chapter 24, which is the one where Robin and Starfire make up after their huge fight. So yeah, hope everyone understands.
Also, I hope everyone reads this too, because this is very important. I don't think I will be able to concentrate on this story or post on it until after my wedding. I'm really sorry but getting ready for this wedding is a tad more important than a story I do in my limited free time! It's about three months from now and I am freaking out and I have a ton of stuff to do. So I wouldn't expect any more posts until about the end of July (which will be after the honeymoon, wink!). I know, I know that's sooo far away, it really is but I just don't have the time. I might surprise you guys but realistically speaking I probably won't have time until then. At least I'm giving you a time line!
I really do appreciate all of you who are patient and deal with my sporadic posts and always come back for more. You guys are awesome and I really will try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can. There will be a next chapter, I absolutely promise that.
Next up: The best laid plans…
And Robin realizes just how out of place he feels.