Chapter Ten

A guards boots were muted to the thick carpet of the castle as he did his nightly rounds. He held his pike closely, his green eyes staring straight ahead. It was quiet beside the nocturnal creatures seeping through the wall length windows. The guard knew Adviser Yalfore was on high alert. But there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. As he rounded the corner, he failed to notice the odd green fly perched against the casting of the wall. His beady eyes blinked rapidly as he watched the guard disappear and hurriedly, he zipped down the hallway, keeping close to the high vaulted ceilings. He didn't know what he was looking for as he darted down the massive and never ending hallways. All Beast Boy could recount were Raven's words. Windows that overlooked the barren terrain of Tamaran. Beast Boy didn't know if Tamaran had flies and hoped he could remain undetected. Below him, maids carried baskets of linens as they prepared the chambers for bed. It made the young man think of Starfire, who gripped the end of her bed with a nauseating weakness. Surely Starfire was beginning to understand that something was gravely wrong. And yet, something still captured her feelings on the matter. There was still a hesitation inside of her. A numbness, an unwillingness to accept the changes in her life and believe the deception in front of her was actually happening. Starfire had only wanted to believe the best in everyone. Beast Boy didn't want to say she was naive or foolish, but at the moment, he only wanted to shake her and make her understand she was in terrible danger.

Finally up ahead, Beast Boy noticed a wall of windows looking out to the dark, barren world beyond the castle walls. His beady little eyes darted back and forth before he descended and reverted into his human form. Beast Boy stealthily pressed against the walls. There were three parallel hallways and one of them had a concealed door behind a small curtain. That's what Raven had told him. Beast Boy searched the hallway but found nothing that matched. Behind him, he heard footsteps and quickly morphed into a gecko, scurrying beneath a shelf holding an odd statue. A pair of heavy guard boots stomped past him. The castle was littered with guards. Yalfore was a devious trickster, that much Beast Boy could relent. On earth, the Titans always relished in the idea of being a continual step ahead of the villains of Jump City. But now, on this foreign planet, the Tamaraneans proved they were not playing games with the Teen Titans. For as much crime and danger they had faced, Beast Boy never worried for his friend's lives so greatly. The anxiety stewed greatly inside of him. What if Yalfore went a step too far with Robin, unaware of the fragility of the human heart? What if Starfire succumb to his plan and gave her life for a planet that had turned its back on her long ago. Beast Boy could only hope that Cyborg and Raven were having luck. Never before had the young man wanted to cram himself into the T-Ship and book it away from that place. Quickly, he morphed back into a fly, taking a sharp right at the end of the hallway. The sky was full of gleaming stars that shed light down onto to absolutely nothing.

When Beast Boy came around the corner for the next hallway, he already knew he'd found it. Yalfore emerged from behind a bright red curtain and straighted his white garbs. Beast Boy noticed his knuckles were quite bloody. After a moment, Yalfore went the opposite direction of the perched green fly and turned right. That would lead towards Starfire's chambers. Beast Boy came back to his human form and ducked behind the curtain to find a thick wooden door. His heart was hammering in his chest as, with a bit of effort, he flipped the rusty iron lock over and pushed his way in. It felt damp, cool, and sticky just on the other side of the door as Beast Boy shut out the castle behind him. The spiraling staircases, filled with only the noises of dripping water, reminded the Titan of countless horror video games he had played. Beast Boy's boots crunched against each cracked stone step as he made his rounds down, expecting anybody at any moment to appear on the blinding corners. His green hair was starting to stand up on the back of his neck the further he went. An anxiety was welling up in the pit of his stomach. This is where they had kept Robin for the past three days, it was almost unimaginable. Yalfore couldn't kill Robin. At least, just not yet. The moment that crown fell upon Starfire's head at midnight, the Teen Titans would have ticking clocks above each of their heads. But for now, as Beast Boy followed the never ending stairs, he felt certain he'd find Robin, and hopefully some answers as to what they could do.

A bright light was beginning to inch up the stairwell now and Beast Boy crouched, running his back against the slimy wall. When he tilted his head, he was confronted with a huge spacious room, filled with bright pooling light that acted as a cage. Beast Boy remembered it all from the last time they had been on Tamaran. But he couldn't recall the descent into the jail as so scary. Surprisingly, not a single guard stood at ease in the room. Beast Boy was still very cautious as he stepped down the stairs, glancing back and forth. A few locked up criminals, mostly Tamaranean noticed him, but did not speak or dare make a move. They seem greatly dispirited, some bruised and roughed up. Beast Boy picked up the pace as he ran down the aisles of pooling light. He came to a near screeching halt as he saw Robin, laying on the ground of his cell. His complexion seemed clear and healthy. No busted lips or swollen cheekbones. Beast Boy fell to his knees, pressing his palms to the cold stone floor.

"Robin!" Beast Boy whispered. He brought his hand up to touch him, but the light easily deflected him. "Robin! Dude, can you hear me!?" Still, the leader of the Teen Titans did not squirm.

"There's a way... to shut it down," Came a whispered from behind Beast Boy. Quickly, he perked up to see a Tamaranean girl born with the same rare genetics. Bright purple eyes and jet black inky hair. She was dressed in a black slip that was wrinkled and faded. She was barefoot.

"How?" Beast Boy asked in his low voice, coming closer to her cell. "I have to get my friend out of here. And the rest of you, for that matter."

"He must go first," Her voice was raspy and parched. "Those who are not Tamaranean rarely survive in a Tamaranean Prison."

"What did they do to him?" Beast Boy grimaced as he looked towards Robin. It was even more eerie seeing him in relatively good health.

"What they do to the rest of us," The girl hugged her knees. "They beat him. They electrocuted him. I'm surprised his human heart didn't give out."

"They can't kill him," He replied, shaking his head. "At least... not until after the new moon."

"This is... Princess Koriand'r's forbidden lover?"

"Well, I don't know about forbidden lover," Beast Boy sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Good friend, though. I am, too. Starfire's one of my best friends." Her bright purple eyes stared at him. Beast Boy couldn't tell if she was afraid or just struggling to absorb his words. "What's your name?"

She paused for a moment, pursing her lips. "In your language, it would be pronounced Nelda."

"My name's Beast Boy," He grinned, but only fleetingly. "Nelda, how do I lower the defenses of the prison?"

"Electricity," Nelda told him slowly. "Your friend, they confiscated a belt off of him. It is kept in that room over there, along with all our valuables. He had weapons, I saw."

"Oh, yeah!" Beast Boy perked up, looking towards the door Nelda had pointed out. "Robin has tons of gadgets."

"Robin..." Nelda's lips barely moved as she looked to the motionless boy on the floor. "The new moon, it is tomorrow?" Beast Boy nodded grimly.

"How long have you been here?" Beast Boy asked, pressing his knees to the damp floor.

"A few months, I believe," Nelda told him. "Time is elusive in accommodations such as these. I do not even know whether it's daytime or nighttime. I used to be a maid of the castle. I tended to Galfore during the end of his life. And I... saw things I was not supposed to see."

"What? What did you see?"

Nelda drew her shoulders back, her eyes darting all over Beast Boy's face, as if to size up whether he was trustworthy or not. It wasn't every day someone risked their lives to sneak into the royal prison. Especially on a foreign planet. "Yalfore always insisted on giving Galfore the drink of digestion himself. Typically, it is drank at the table with guests. But Yalfore managed to persuade the throne they should drink it alone, for modesty reasons. And then... I found the vile that Yalfore accidentally left behind in the royal chambers. Poison. A very powerful, potent poison that can only be made on Tamaran and can only affect Tamaraneans."

"What does it do?" Beast Boy asked, goosebumps puckering across his skin.

"At first," Nelda tucked a lock of black hair behind her ear. "It only causes an upset stomach and some anxiety. Soon, it progresses into stomach cramps and paranoia. It drives a Tamaranean to not know what to believe. A fear that keeps them in a fabricated little bubble of safety. They're fearful to act or protect themselves. It simply drives them crazy until, eventually, it kills them..."

Beast Boy's heart was hammering his chest as he looked again towards Robin. "I'd say... Starfire's already half way there. But why would Yalfore do this? Galfore was his childhood best friend. Yalfore has known Starfire's family since before she was born. What's his stake in this?"

"I do not know," Nelda shook her head. "All I know is that Yalfore brought me here because I had found the vile but also... I had seen digital transcripts from conversations with Komand'r."

"Komand'r? Whose that?"

Nelda held her lips tightly together for a moment. "In your language... Blackfire."

Beast Boy's eyes were wide now as he reviewed everything that he, Cyborg, and Raven had discussed. He recalled everything up until that moment and it was suddenly all making sense. Blackfire would naturally still be jaded that Starfire removed her from the throne. And as Starfire had said, Yalfore was closer and more of a role model to Blackfire in her youth. A jealousy was probably broached when Starfire crowned Galfore as a means to stay on earth with the Teen Titans. And the only thing left to take care of was Wildfire. Beast Boy realized in that moment that Cyborg and Raven could very much so be in grave danger, perhaps even falling into a trap, trying to go after Wildfire.

Quickly, Beast Boy went to the dark closet and fumbled to find a string to turn a light on. It was a deep closet, filled with fine clothing, plenty of jewelery, family photos, and more. But Beast Boy paid them no mind as he sifted through the clothes, parting them all, until he found Robin's yellow belt dangling behind a fur coat. Luckily the communicator was still there, so Yalfore hadn't been listening to any of their broadcasts. He snagged it down and hurried back into the prison where Nelda watched him earnestly. "Robin," Beast Boy came to his cell again. There were so many little gadgets on Robin's belt, the young green boy didn't know where to start. "Come on, Robin, you have to get up."

After a few beats, Robin's head began to move and he pressed his hand to his forehead and lifted his eyes, which spun in their sockets. Beast Boy couldn't help but smile. "Beast... Boy...?" Robin croaked, coming to his knees, his shoulders rising and falling. "But how...? You shouldn't be putting yourself in danger like this."

"You didn't honestly think we'd just leave you down here, did you?" Beast Boy furrowed his brow and knelt down, holding the belt into Robin's vision. "We're busting you out of here. Our friend here Nelda says electricity will do the trick. Which little doo-hickey will conduct electricity?"

Robin hugged his sore torso. He was certain it was bruised ribs. He had felt them dozens of times before. "We need a plan. We can't just set off an explosion in the prison and expect it to work out. Raven and Cyborg, where are they?"

"They downloaded coordinates from a Gordanian ship and are probably in space right now," Beast Boy told him.

Robin let out a huff to settle the pain ratcheting through his body. "And Starfire? How is she?" The extended silence made Robin lift his head, his eyebrows arched. "Beast Boy, how is-"

"Not good, dude," Beast Boy replied, with a shake of his head.

Robin stewed in his mind for a moment as he eased himself back, propping himself up against the magnificent light surrounding him. "You've gotta leave me here."

"What?!" Beast Boy gripped the utility belt tightly, grounding his teeth together. "No way, Robin. You told Raven we have to act now. We can't wait for the crowning and we have less than twenty-four hours left."

"You have to get Raven and Cyborg back here," Robin told him, lifting his head. "We need the T-Ship if we're going to make an exit. If you break me out of here, we have to have a way out, Beast Boy. There is no where for us to hide and I'm... I'm in no condition to be on the run constantly right now."

Robin was right and Beast Boy was pissed. "We both have to agree on one thing, then, Robin." Beast Boy said, looping Robin's belt around his own waist. "If we are going to make a quick exit, we have to take Starfire with us. No matter what. Alien tradition or disorder, what have you... we can't leave without Starfire."

Robin lowered his head again, his shoulders rising and falling. In that moment, it was almost heartbreaking to see the leader of the Titans so beaten down. In Robin's mind, all he could see were memories of Starfire flashing by. The way she would swirl into the air, shouting in bouts of joy, the sun glistening over her crimson hair. There he saw her sitting on the couch, hugging her knees, with her eyes glued to the large TV, soaking in every detail of human movies. Robin had always admired that despite her being so strong, Starfire was capable of being vulnerable with her friends. He remembered the brief times their hands had brushed together and the way her slender fingers gripped his arms as she took flight with him. In a matter of days, Robin couldn't grasp how things had gone so wrong. Never before had he so strongly felt fear for Starfire's life. His heart panged pitifully in his chest. If they lost Starfire, he'd never be able to forgive himself. And he knew his anger and grief would lead him to be sure of becoming Yalfore's greatest enemy and toughest opponent. At the moment, however, Robin felt lost. He was failing and nothing irritated him more than that fact. Without control, Robin felt powerless.

Finally, he lifted his head and nodded. "Of course..." Robin's voice cracked somewhat. "Nobody gets left behind, Beast Boy. I don't care what happens to Tamaran if it means we're all safe."

"I should get outta here," Beast Boy told him, glancing over his shoulder. "I'll be back, I promise. I just need to contact Raven and Cyborg."

"Please... might you pass a message along to my sister?" Nelda asked from her illuminated cell. She had been earnestly watching their exchange with great interest. "Her name is Forneah. I am certain she is looking for me."

"Forneah," Beast Boy perked up, arching his eyebrows. "She's been helping us with the underground resistance."

"Please tell her I'm alright," Nelda told her. "And please, do not let her do anything idiotic."

"If you're going to take anyone, Beast Boy, take her," Robin nodded his head in her direction as his body tightened with pain. His skin felt as if it was pulling itself back together and his nose stung from the fragrant medicine they had painted on him which gave him great nausea. "Nelda can speak the truth to her people. She can make them listen." Robin sat forward, pointing towards the belt dangling on Beast Boy's wiry figure. "On your left, the little tube. It's a conductor that when thrown to the ground, creates a ring of electricity. That's how I broke us out the last time."

Carefully, Beast Boy took it into his hands. He then pensively looked to Robin. He was hesitant to leave him there. Despite his healthy outward appearance, Beast Boy knew it went much deeper. He knew Robin only thought of others before he did of his own well being, but Beast Boy would never forgive himself if something fatal happened to him. Part of the young man almost worried it would be the last time he ever saw Robin. But he tried to shake that feeling, telling himself they'd manage to squeak by in worse circumstances. But had they? Eventually he stood and turned towards Nelda's cell.

"Brace yourself," He said before he reared his arm back, twirling the little capsule between his fingers.

...

It was quiet in space, which was almost welcoming to Cyborg and Raven as they navigated the T-Ship down three pilots. Neither one could settle into the apparent calmness. Both were clawed at by their thoughts. They worried for Beast Boy and his near suicide-mission. They wondered about Starfire and where she currently was. And most of all, they both fretted over Robin's state, wondering how many more blows the charismatic leader could take. They didn't speak much, choosing to keep their eyes trained towards the navigation system in front of them, leading them towards the Centauri Moons and, hopefully, answers as to what colluded state captured Tamaran. In the years since the Titans creation, the dynamic team had been able to solve and untangle just about any mystery. But each Teen Titan, in their own way, was beginning to doubt themselves, their abilities, and possibly each other. A purple lock of hair fell to frame Raven's face as she glanced across the T-Ship at the very occupied Cyborg. He touched through many screens, taking on all the tasks the entire team should have been doing together. Despite saying nothing, Cyborg and Raven thought the same things. The fragility of life was becoming very real for them. As well of thoughts of how lucky they were to be apart of the Teen Titans. They harbored regrets, and unfortunately were realizing what a great thing they had after it had been fractured and torn apart meticulously. Raven sighed, lowering her onyx eyes to watch the stolen navigation unfold before her. In the next moment, however, it minimized, and Beast Boy's face filled her screen. He was back in their accommodations, sitting on the floor against the closet door.

"Raven, Cyborg, are you getting my transmission?"

"Loud and clear, BB," Cyborg replied, activating his headset. "What's up?"

"I managed to find Robin," Beast Boy told them, jostling the communicator as he folded his knees against his chest. "It's not good, guys. Robin was... almost defeated. He's barely hanging in."

"Did you get him out of there?" Raven asked as she pulled her own headset on, staring intensely at her teammate.

"No," Beast Boy sighed, shaking his head. "Even when beaten down and tormented, he still spoke a lot of sense. Breaking him out would only raise the alarms. Robin's in no condition to fight or even run. We need the T-Ship if we're gonna get him out of there. And even if we were going to escape... we'd have to take Starfire with us, kicking and screaming."

"So what are you saying?" Cyborg asked, looking ahead at the vast, empty space in front of him. "Do we need to come back? Is it time to really cause some trouble?"

"Not just that," Beast Boy replied. "I think you guys are heading for a trap. There was someone down in that prison who we needed to meet. Her name is Nelda and Forneah is her older sister. Nelda was a maid and the caretaker for Galfore during the end of his life. She was imprisoned after finding a very rare Tamaranean poison used by Yalfore against Galfore. The symptoms she's described, it's the very same thing that's happening to Starfire. And she also found communication between Yalfore and Blackfire."

"Our inclinations were right," Raven's voice had no rhythm to it, her hands tightening on her throttles. "Yalfore and Blackfire are doing away with anyone who may stand in her way of rightful succession."

"If we let Starfire become the Queen, we're signing her death certificate, is that it?" Cyborg furrowed his brow.

"We'd be letting them win," Raven glanced out her pod, making eye contact with Cyborg. "We have to disrupt the tradition. We have to make the Tamaraneans see they're letting fear control them. They have to take back the planet and reorganize it in a way that fits their modern means. Even if that means no more Grand Rulers."

"I set Nelda free," Beast Boy said through the screen, drawing their attention back to him. "She will be a key component in giving the underground resistance their upper hand. Like Robin said, if it comes from one of their own people, maybe they'd be more willing to tear the wool from their eyes and realize what's happening to them and their culture."

"Does anyone know you were in the royal prison?" Raven asked.

"No one saw me if that's what you're asking," Beast Boy glanced fleetingly off screen. "But when they see Nelda's gone, they may have an idea of who was there."

"Yalfore's not stupid, though," Cyborg cut in, shaking his head. "He can't do away with any of us before Starfire's coronation. It would raise suspicion."

"And that's why we have to disrupt the tradition at the new moon tomorrow night," Beast Boy said, his face stone hard. "It's our only moment. It's our last chance, guys."

Raven pulled her navigation up, realigning with Tamaran. "We have to turn around, Cyborg. There's no point in us going to the Centauri Moons."

On Cyborg's screen, however, a beep began to sound. Raven looked across to him with a tense face. "Well, BB, we're gonna have to call you back," The robotic man said plainly. "Looks like we're gettin' pulled over." He tapped on the screen to initialize the rear cameras, zooming in on the two spacecrafts behind him. "The Centauri police know we're here."

"You guys gotta get back here," Beast Boy sat forward now, gripping his communicator desperately. "I can't do it alone, even with the help of the underground resistance. And we need the T-Ship if we're gonna get Starfire and Robin out of this dumpster fire."

"No worries," Cyborg grinned despite the grim circumstances. "We're legal." And with that, he killed the communication. Raven watched as Beast Boy's face zapped from her screen and she heard the engines disengage. Abruptly, they stopped moving forward, though the stars continued to swirl around them. The ships came to either side of them and they were confronted with the same red armor-clad aliens that had once tried to imprison Starfire many years ago. Coolly, Cyborg connected to their communications and raised his hands where they could see them. "Hi, we're lost. Maybe you can help us find Tamaran? We were invited to the Grand Ruler's coronation during the new moon tomorrow."