A/N: Sorry for the wait! But i hope this chapter sets the tone for where the story is headed! Can't wait to see what you guys think in the reviews. You know what to do! Thanks for reading!

The ground shook with each passing minute as a faint boom that rattled the walls and ceilings could be heard in the distance. The entire base of the Gordanian Army was in choas. Troops and guards dashed to and from in every direction down the hallways trying to get a handle on their new situation. They didn't have time to think of anything else. They were under attack.

Red X still stood in the doorway of the cell holding Starfire, Nightwing, and Ryand'r. He hand still outstreched towards Starfire. He has now made his intentions very clear and it took Starfire by surprise. Right in front of her boyfriend too. This guy not only had some serious guts to pull something like that... but he clearly had no sense of guilt or shame as well. A trait that can be both very powerful and very dangerous. It made perfect sense why Ravanger seemed to take a liking to him.

Starfire looked back at Nightwing who still had his face buried in the palm of his dominate hand as if he felt he deserved everything that was unfolding in front of him. Over his right shoulder Ryand'r was still curled into the fetal position in the corner trying to avoid anything happening in the near by vicinity. She let out a long and oud sigh as that feeling of brokenness resurfaced for a moment before turning to the masked figure offering his hand.

"I am... greatful," she said with a heavy heart, "but I must decline. My heart has already found its rightful place."

"You do realize he cheated on you..." X respond almost dumbfounded. Even under his mask you could tell his face was holsing a crushed expression.

"Even if that is true..." Starfire clarified, "I will hear the side of his story as well."

Nightwing' jaw dropped and he looked up from his hand to see Starfire standing in the face of complete emotional destruction and taclking it head on. That kind of mental capacity was something he had never fully acquired. It honestly made him envious. Which only rubbed salt in the wound. She basically had her heart stomped on learning about what her precious Richard did behind her back and yet she wasn't jealous or envious. She held her compousre and stood tall with a sense of elegance. As if prepared to fight a war.

Nightwing couldn't believe how stupid he has been over the past year with all his decisions and behaviors. Falling for Rose with her seductive tactics. Avoiding calling the Titans and checking in with them. refusing to ask for help when he needed it. Going on a rampage to get Starfire back when it was clearly the wrong thing to do. He couldn't help but think he deserved the worst of punishments. He raised his dominate hand to the side and balled it into a tight fist as it began to shake with anger. After a moment he took in a deep breath and sent his fist flying at his face with as much force as he could possibly muster and a very loud and fierce crack echoed through the cell over the faint booms that cointuned to quake outside. The blow was so painful it forced his gaze down at the floor while he let lesson from the pain settle into his mind.

Red X and Starfire both snapped towards the sound and waited patiently for an explaination...

"I'm sorry Star," he said with earnest as he s, "I'm clearly not the version of me you fell in love with right now... but that changes. Right here. Right now," he then lifted himself up slowly while he kept his gaze averted from the others. once he got to his feet he lift his head and locked eyes with the woman of his dreams, "you're the leader of the Teen Titans. The one woman I knew would be strong enough to handle it. After everything thats just happened... youre still standing. Ready for the next fight," he stepped towards her until he was standing face to face with her. he then place a hand on her shoulder and peered deeply into her eyes, "you long since surpassed me as a leader. It would do me some good to learn from you and follow your lead," he looked away again as if remembering his shame, "and when you get us out of here... Whatever decision you make regarding us..." He looked into her eyes once more, "I won't hesitate to follow as well."

Starfire's eyes well up with tears. To hear that from her former leader whom she had looked up to so much in the past, present, and assumably the future, was extremely overwhelming to her. It was almost like she was seeing things. His face didn't look like Nightwing anymore... The old image of Robin took its place. He had that old aura of an honorable and confident man about him again. It was so refreshing to her. Especially now. In this time of need when she had been feeling broken for the first time in her life. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. After embracing him while a few more faint quakes shook around them she released him and stared into his soul almost with the wrath of X'hal behind her glowing green eyes.

"You will tell me of EVERYTHING you have done after we return home. We will survive and we will get home," she said with an extreme amount of confidence. She then turned to Red X with that same look of wrath, "and you!" She exclaimed, "if what you say is the honest... you shall prove yourself by ensuring my brother is safely returned home!" She finished pointing to her brother in the corner. She then put her foot down and spoke to both of them directly, "have I made myself the clear?!" She yelled as if she were a commander barking orders to her subordinates.

Both Nightwing and Red X had a look a stricken fear under their masks as they both yelped a response in unison, "Yes ma'am!"

"Good!" Starfire confirmed. She then walked past Nightwing and headed straight for her brother to get him ready to move out. As she did Red X walked into the cell as stood next to Nightwing who still had beads of sweat rolling down his brow from fear.

"I'm so glad I'm not you..." X said in a grim and comedic tone, "I can't imagine what shes gonna do to you after you come clean about Rose..."

Nightwing didn't take the bait this time. He knew he deserved whatever punishment Starfire saw fit. He wasn't going to run from it. He will face it head on as she is now. Thats what he would have done as Robin. That's the man he knew Starfire would want him to be.

"I don't care," Nightwing respond softly, "all i want is whats best for her. If that happens to be you..." He hesitated and clenched his fists tightly as if forcing himself to accept the possibility, "then don't do make the same mistakes I did."

Red X suppressed his shock from that response. He could see the right cheek Nightwing had struck started to bruse already. It made more sense to him when he thought maybe Nightwing had knocked a few screws back into place with that punch. The old nemesis he had was back. Which meant his job trying to win Starfire's heart was going to be more difficult now. As he glanced back at Starfire who was trying comfort her brother he then relaized that doing his best to save her brother was probably his best bet and showing her how serious he was... but would it be enough?

"Brother," Starfire cooed with a soft and gentle tone, "Ryand'r... we must go."

"Where?" Ryand'r asked while he trembled.

"Home," Starfire whispered back.

"Home?" He said softly. He sounded like that word was a foreign to him now, "there is no home..."

Starfire couldnt seem to grasp the fact her brother was so incredibly broken. She could believe this was really her brother at this point.

Red X grew impatient. Their time was limited as it is and he had been tasked with getting Starfire's brother to safety. He marched past Nightwing, to where Starfire crouched. He reached into his belt and pulled out a small device that looked like a tiny syringe with a small plunger like a thumb-tack.

"Sorry, Star," X said with remorse. Then reached for the shoulder of Ryand'r with the small syringe and with a quick hiss the small botton of a plunger Ryand'r flinched with a quick prick of pain before going completely limp, unconscious, "we don't have time for this comversation right now. Something big is going on outside and this might be our only chance to get out of here."

Starfire looked above her to the ceiling where the faint booms continued to crash above them. He was right and she couldnt even argue. if they were going to escape... this was the time to do it. When Starfire looked down from the ceiling, she saw Red X had wasted no time and picked up her brother and threw him over his shoulder like a fireman resucing injured citizens from a burning fire.

Nightwing knew he was right. As much as Starfire might hate him for knocking out her brother in order to move him easier... she had to understand this was the only way they would be able to move around. Having a broken mind... no... a shattered mind on their team would prove to be a critical liability. Nightwing realized Red X eas keeping his promise and was making himself look like a desired masculine man who can make crucial desicions in a dire situtation. This snapped him out of his thoughts and he lept into action.

Starfire noticed Nightwing's response to Red X taking initiative. When she lookedcto hlwherechecwas standing earlier he was no longer in the cell. So she hovered over to the cell door to find him at the end of the hallway standing over Rose as if standing guard at a watchpost. He had moved to this location to ensure that no one could lock them in, or trap them. His eyes were intense and focused darting left and right down the hallway anticpating enemies and prepared to deal with them while occasionally glancing down at Rose. He almost looked like a hawk... Perhaps the symbol of a hawk would have suited him better than an eagle.

X followed closly behind Starfire as if following her lead and Nightwing signaled to them that the coast was clear... for the moment. She now had a team and her confidence was soaring. She a reason to fight again. A reason to escape and get back home. Back to her friends. Her family. Her face grew ripe with determination and conviction. Her eyes began to glow green with her adrenaline surging through her as she once again resumed her role to lead the team despite the uncreatinty of the explosions shaking the very ground she walked on. With a powerful aura behind her voice, she spoke...

"Titans... Go!"