Our Time in Reverse- What it Takes-

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Chapter 21: Clashing Characters

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(SISTERS IS UP. NEXT IS FORCES OF NATURE!! OUT OF ORDER FOR THE PLOT. NONETHELESS!)

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The days weren't all law enforcement by air, paperwork and delegations between city officials. Cy had proven he was formidable. He had stopped a mechanized hermit from ripping his head and heart away from his current encasing. Robin looked at the male from the back seat of the T car abd wondered; after training in the gym, getting out in the field to stop a robbery, and getting to know the city a bit better on a jog around it with a competitive green cheetah –

Why were they going down to the boardwalk?

"We still are not contained to the formalities of the life if a typical "hero." Starfire explained cheerfully beside the boy wonder. Raven was by his other arm as Robin kept his psychic guard up as he'd been ordered. Bb was in the front seat, feeling like a kid being separated from a sibling they'd been fighting with.

"Your pop was a carnie, right? The real one?"

"That was rude." Raven glared at Bb for the derogatory use of a name. "He worked there to support himself."

Starfire leaped in to chat her feelings as well. "Friend Robin, you had said that your parents met on the road. Your mother stopped her mission for that man, correct?"

"Yes…she settled down and I think they split up when I was too young to remember. Then, we left the countryside and went some places. Never were ones to settle because of her work, so she taught me martial arts. Just a few moves every time. I got better thanks to –

"That dude was no dad to you, but why do you like him so much if he punished your mom –

"BB." Cy stopped at a red light with a jersey of his front tires. "I will turn this car around if you can't be more observant. We don't ask why you turned green, do we?"

"I already know that. But, he has like a weird view of the abuser and we just wanna help."

"It's going to take time. Abused teenagers, like us aren't sometimes willing to let go. It's a defense mechanism." Raven said with a grumble in her voice on the last part. "Robin is similar. He is still trying to heal and recover. His whole life was –

" Ahem! We are officially here, Y'all."

Cy brought the car into the lot as they all let the doors open at once. "The sea air is not the freshest? Is it not?" Kori took a big whiff as Robin could tell her that many places were far more serene than this city. "Dunno. Finland had a lot of nice bodies of water."

"See? She was a secret agent, right? Did you see Machu Pictures? I saw the Congo!"

"Sure thing, monkey boy but, we ain't got all night to see whose is better. Come on." Cy grinned as Robin took to their leader's honesty.

The pier was complete with a ferris wheel, an old-fashioned dunk tank and a goldfish game – a roller coaster and a fun house stood out. The one thing Raven spied before Bb caught her gaze was a stuffed chicken by a prize wall.

"Want me to win you that, mama?"

"I never said anything."

"C'mon! Don't be such a killjoy!" Bb dragged her along as the shouting empath was in good hands. Sort of…

Starfire jumped up and down as she pointed repeatedly at the ferris wheel and a cotton candy stand. "Oh, the candy that is cotton! On my planet, there is no such greater joy… please Cyborg! I must show our new friend how the taste is very, 'the intergalactic!"

"Robin wants to go, right?"

"I'm ok with desert." Robin shrugged and answered their leader. "As long as I get a real meal afterwards."

"Dude, you have a whole off. Enjoy it we aren't military men and women here." Cy tutted. "Go have some fun, I'll meet y'all by the food court when we get ready to head on home. Star still has some left over glorg in the fridge –

"I…think can manage., for one night…" Robin pointed to a hot dog stand nervously as Kori eagerly dragged the teen for them to eat, and ride a big, tall round death trap called a ferris wheel.

This was it. Being alone. His heart thumped out of anxiety.

Alone, with her…

Robin wondered if Slade might give him a lecture on planning ahead by the next morning. Hey, why didn't he call today? Robin brought out the thought, going into a half - sweat. Not again. Slade was, busy! Just…busy with Tara's brainwashing or something dumb…

His fingers un – clamped themselves from Star's own as she called back out. Robin ran to the side of the pier where there was sand and went under to find a trash bin. He upchucked. His stress was too high. He knew the anxiety of being away from his master was bad, but…

"Playing that card, little protégé?"

Robin gasped and lifted his head, wiping his lip as a tall dark-haired beauty in his moonlight – crusade crossed her arms to look down on him. Smirking, as if this was not a big enough problem. "A…sorry. I just –

He stopped. "Did, did you just call me –

"You're the same one I came to find, right? My client specified you. Personally." Her hand moved to her hip as the other pulled out a hidden device. A Slade based comm. A lower tech replica for burning. "I had a deal to get what I wanted, so I could see what he wanted done. First, I had to leave you this message. That Tamaranean." The woman leaned up to his face a little, her dark eyes spoke if atrocities he'd rather never guess. "Slade said I could go along with the rest of my plan to see her perish, as long as you didn't get hurt. The girl, Starfire. She's going to be a wanted criminal by the time this night is over."

"What? Why wasn't I told any of this? Where is –

"Mr. Slade said you were this happy, never guessed you had an actual crush on the guy."

"Wh– I d –

"I don't care really." Sighed the dark-haired woman, her bored tone implying that she wasn'tto remain here for machineries than her mission would last. "You'll be calling me, Blackfire, by the way. My job for your boss, is to make my dear family look like a fool …won't it be fun to make her cry herself into a prison cell, complete with my prints instead of hers?"

/

Slade had done some extra research while Terra's reprogramming went underway. The girl was no easy find, especially as an exile princess with a mouth like this one. After the debate on how to shut down Fixit for good, Slade did some scouting of his next villain to set the Titans on their path to self-destruction. It was his fun than the boy's. Terra was in confinement to a machine that would see to her awakening in a brand-new light.

Across the sky, rocketing missile light structures in the shape of what looked to be purple and metal coned squid zipped overhead as the population still had been tucked away in their beds. The nighttime here in Jump was peaceful, not much in the way of cat burglars and arsonist activities. He wondered what the jet like beings were since they didn't seem to have a pilot.

Slade moved in on one jet that also was dark violet and looked to be almost human shaped in its silhouette. The beings dodged into the streets as they seemed to be looking. Searching. Still, that was when he saw her .

Black hair and eyes in a suit so very different than any since

….

Slade's eye opened at the similarities between a red Hamed and this one. The last of a few royal parties to a planet called Tamaran.

"Get off!"

Slade moved in with some explosive discs and found the underside if the robotic squid to gave a soft spot. His mask cane in handy to radar in and the creatures were disabled. The girl however, was hurt as he stopped when she held up a glowing wrist. "Kez- rutha!" The woman shouted. Slade moved in and stared a translation program fired up on his arm's integrated vambrace, as a piece of the man's suit. "I come peacefully. You are injured. What was that creature. Are you, from another planet?"

The woman snorted and tried to take off, yet Slade blocked her way, hand up as he threw a force field wall up and it became a dome to lock her in place. "Don't bother digging. Only a strong electrical pipe is underground. You'd get shocked by the charge." He lied, seeing her scrunched her lit eyes at him angrily. "KEZ… RUTHA GURBIDDAN LA. HEZBROKE – NEERA ZEPLUN."

"I'm sure you just want to talk and get help. Why don't you tell me your name."

She cocked her head, then smiled and crooked a finger. "Hur bidder den zee. Lilnit baraple- Vilgas. Kom…"

~ Come closer. And I will tell you. ~ She was saying.

He did so and for a minute her hands stayed down. "Glen Morgok- marro?"

~ Why do you wear a mask? ~

"Heeva- lars grilgax…"

~ Let me see your face, rescuer? ~

Oh, a temptress type. Slade had no choice.

(This part is why we are going to be very much M from herein out!)

Batting her eyes, he let down the faceplate- no. He pulled out the mask grates ONLY and smiled down until her arms with fire pulled him down. To kiss, through those grates with much animosity. She dropped him, her spitting face soon taking on new meaning as she spoke in the language of earth. She spat out the taste as if it had been something rancid before cleaning her throat.

"I didn't realize you wanted me to stay. I'm so, sorry. You do not know who you are talking to, earth – raiser... I am Princess Komand'r of Tamaran – of the Vegas star system, first in line of my planet's one rule. First In line, unlike that which you assume from my age, maybe?" She accused, rather snarky for a teenager as he gasped at what this little beast had done.

He'd… she'd used him to pick up their language??

"My desire is to return to my home planet, yet you…I sense ill intent in your actions. You will release me now, or do you not care if the ground should fry you into –

"I will, but one question. Just one. Do you know a girl by the name of Koriand'r?"

/

That was how it began. How Slade had to no longer ignore the fact that a teen brat had taken him on by sheer wit and force. It wasn't until under terms so great, he gave her water and shelter, chipping her with his "inferior" technology to be sure if she disobeyed, he could punish the brat for speaking out of turn. She was wild, charismatic and liked to roam unattended. The typical rebellious teen with a bit of a promiscuous side. A princess, the latter.

"My sister you call Starfire, is a hero of this earth – ridden world?" Scoffed the child. "How? The Gordanians had orders to take she and I away. I escaped once the deal was broken and my parents annihilated by the army that almost destroyed Tamaran on the spot. In years since, I have with my sister, been enslaved. We were the only to be experimented on that can shoot a sun harnessing energy from our hands and eyes." Kom pointed to her still batting lashes as Slade just sipped his tea and wanted to be as far away from his new client as possible.

"My name is translated to your people as "Blackfire" in your language. Here though….What do they call you?"

"Slade, or in other places. Deathstroke. I have many aliases I go by. It keeps my enemies at a distance."

"Mysterious type?..." She purred, impressed. "You must be some genius to know how to build a working translator that can determine correctly my native tongue. I admire it, to a fault. You brought me in away from the fighting, so?" She looked up at the gears and screens. He was no ordinary genius, she sensed. Maybe just as powerful as Kal - el and a few others who had arrived years before to this dirt clod of a planet.

"I heard that this is the famous hiding place of the being called 'super – man." She recited. "Have you been in contact before with the man I so strongly speak highly of?"

"I have. He is very strong, stronger than what your sister pretends to be. He also saves lives here on earth. Countless times now." Slade answered, exaggerating a little to gather more on his client's disposition. And to toy with her before he sent her packing.

"Typical last son of Krypton." Snorted the princess as she leaned back and groaned at how bored she was being; a guest without reason. There had to be one. She had no reason to stay, but maybe…

"I wish to locate my baby sister. Dear Starfire needs to know that I am still alive –

"I can't let you do that. I'm in the middle of an important project and meeting her would incite confusion."

"What sort of project are we talking about, earthling?" She leaned in and accused a bit, squinting up at the man. "Sir, from this almost…" Gorbian" cave you've placed in the heart. No, below this city, you don't strike me as the type of person TO save lives at all. Not generally, from the fact …. that my sister and her new home are posted up onto your wall of many screens!" She pointed and shouted out, not as coy as her sibling at all to say so otherwise to Slade's face. "Tell me what your real purpose is and I promise…I have enough power that would RIVAL Kal – el's broken strength of a traitor to the federation….you will concede or this planet's collapse shall be imminent!"

/

So, he opened up about his occupation, his seedy business for being in Jump City, and his new alias as well as the young boy he had weaned on a slight lie. That if he defeated the heroes he had infiltrated for his master, he'd become family instead of just a prototype of the original.

"Wow, you are... bad, and that is no one, true compliment. You want to defeat that team of heroes, to –

She shook her head. "Starfire is still my blood –

"Then why did you sell off your entire planet, Blackfire?" Slade got up, her fists moving like magma. "You tell me you have a purpose, but that's all been gone for some time since before your arrival. You wouldn't get within ten feet of that group of teenagers without being ripped apart for answers. You need to be smarter, and clearly you are cunning and know your politics on the matter. I do as well. That YOU sold yourself for the throne. It backfired, didn't it. Exiled Princess, Blackfire …"

"Y…you do know me…but…how?" She was cornered now as her glowing eyes wavered a slight.

"Through work, personal research. I didn't know you'd be falling down here tonight. I thought that you had all if what remained of warring Tamaran to yourself, but clearly. They didn't want anything to do with a traitor, now did they?" He hissed.

She roared out and he pressed a button to his wrist. Her entire body felt as if a spark bang had gone off inside it. She writhed and yelled, falling onto her side. Ribs still intact as he stood over her curled up form. "I'll only let you go back once some competition is out of the way. You say Starfire isn't aware of your true face? Then, we are in unison on one thing; if you can inherently return to the tower and gather as much data before I make the call to have her tossed back on a ship across the galaxy without you, I'll spare your miserable liife. Starfire is a problem I find bothersome, but you can do better. To tear that team of heroes in two perfect directions, my dear. I want you….to –

/

Starfire searched for Robin as she overheard something below her feet. She put her ear to the floor, making passerby look at her strangely. Some took pictures as Bb and Raven with Cy were too busy to notice. The chicken blocked Raven's view as Bb had her displaying it proudly. "See? I'm the muscle arm champ more than Cy is! I got eight throwing arms instead of –

"You cheated. I was helped by a no-good thief."

" RAAE! COME ON!" Bb wined at the empath. People were already starting to whisper as she sighed, finding it fatal to bring more attention to them. He was a green troll. She, was a Gothic beauty with a hellish secret. "My…hero. You are the strongest eight-armed hero out there. Whoopee." She deadpanned dryly as he took it in light of the people, who were finally backing off.

"You can so use a new element to your room. It's always –

Bb stopped.

"What?" Raven saw his nose going wild.

"Star…I smell… danger!"

Blackfire moved swiftly as Robin got into position. Slade watched from his seat as he moved quickly to meet the boy at the food court, incognito in civilian wear. "How did it go?"

"You set them up. I saw her face. Something is about to happen, isn't it."

"Just keep a calm head. No one is going to get hurt. That isn't the plan."

"It's Star!" Robin gasped. "She's going afte –

"That, is top secret for now. Just watch them closely. I won't be far off." Slade put a new tracer chip in the boy's hand. "Put this in her drink. That will give me better control of the situation at best. You want this to work out, don't you Dick? -

"Not here, sir. I can't be spotted."

"You won't. Any signal is scrambled. Your unit is offline to your fake team."

Fake…Robin let the word wash over him. "Go, save the day. Make her trust your methods more than mine."

"Yes, sir." Robin held to the chip as he moved away from the counter and ran. He ran to find Star before the revenge plan could leave them all one member short.

/

Black fire commed her boss as he let her know what was about to happen. He'd taken the liberty of reprogramming the robots that had come after the dark alien princess. Now, they were just stage props to get the two siblings back together.

Blackfire was going to fake a rescue, and then tear out the other princess's heart before selling the whole thing to an alien empire for keeps.

After that, he'd grant her partial freedom and even agree to help her have back her massive empire. She also told him about a third sibling, Wildfire who could usurp her and take her down in a duel for that empire. Thankfully, he was going to need more than his regency to gain the favor of the people. She already had an inside man. One that maybe would do as she wanted since technically the people did not believe she was totally guilty at all. But coerced. As she had left it; the Gordian armies were formidable. Her parents had died and been assassinated by the head general if the fleet. The last reagent and staff they could trust, Gilford, was holding up for as long as he could. She needed to go back and set things right without any unneeded irregularities.

Blackfire worked fast as Slade set up the homing beacon. Robin found Kori and asked if she was thirsty. She was delighted to know he was alright and while she was dancing and giddiness trying to decide on a flavor of soda to try, he dropped in the chip for her to consume. Just as Blackfire, both sisters would have no one else to turn to for the sake of a promised freedom.

/

Slade activated the bots as they warned up and were released into the city. The blurs of purple light spun through and rammed the side of the walkway while people heard the messy rumble and looked around in shock.

"A pulse?? What's hap –

Cy gasped as he put up his fists and ran. There was an attacker. Here! He started to connect to his team. All but Robin and Star were able to hear. Raven and Bb were in close as the bots had too much blocking out cell signals. A wage powerful enough to make electronic s spark.

"DUDE!"

"A problem. We can't wait for Cyborg." Raven raised her arms and dropped the fat chicken in her grasp. ~ AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!!~

The pier was kept from breaking as Bb morphed into a jellyfish to flop into the creepy cone heads. He went floating with them as he remained unharmed – screaming through the air until they dumped him in the water. "Way not ok!! Rave!"

He called to her as she flew in for the next strike. The magic bounded off and the people were screaming down below. Wildlyl now, tents were closing up and rides were going dark or not at all. The next octo – freak ship dove and decimated a part of the ferris wheel. Starfire had still not been able to ride it as she drove in after with a battle cry. Robin was tapped on the shoulder before being knocked over by that other mysterious blur.

The princess gasped at the blur was fast like a shot of a star bolt from her palm. The radiating energy a might darker, as the left hook to the thing's underside sent it crashing into the water.

"One down." The girl said with a hand to her hip in mid flight.

Robin was facing the second as it blocked his way out. His took out his staff and hit it, the thing going back before coming right over his head. Robin grabbed the thing with his rangs and like Bb, rode it in loop de – loops and a few twists until his lungs passed through his chest unfazed. No hernia here, but it was certainly one donkey willing to send him into the ocean in warning.

"ROBIN –

"I've got this one."

The blur rushed off as her eyes off for the torso, grabbing the boy wonder as she shot at the underside where the bot had little protection. It made a few creaks until it was far enough off that she let it explode like a fourth of July rocket in the air. People cheered and Blackfire felt, kind of great about getting the applause for once. Starfire looked so dumb standing around. Being so weak, as Slade had told her.

This was going to be easier than taking over Tamaran a second time….

/

She held him bridal before letting go. She was, very beautiful up close as she smiled a bit reluctant longer into.his masked orbs.

"Drop him." Raven moved in, not aware of what had really happened. Starfire was trying to find the courage to say something as the other princess did as she was told. "I heard Earthlings weren't as wary of strangers from other planets or dimensions. Must have been a –

"She, is no stranger. Friends…. this." Starfire floated over to the girl as the others all watched Starfire put her hands to Kom's own. "Is my eldest sister, Blackfire. She will be staying with us. I gave assured that no harm will come to her during her short stay here on earth.

"Nice to see you too, sister dear…"

Starfire pulled the whelp in with a tug to whisper in her ear the language of her people.

~ My friends do not know about our true history. The courts on all accounts called you as responsible for their death on that day… I intend to know, or you shall be called to order and shipped off to the highest security sector in the galaxy to be detained. And sentenced for your crimes against Tamaranean life as I see it. ~

~ I'm not like before, and I am innocent! I have only to return and…I was taken too by the enemy. They did such horrible things to my body and my powers. The deal backfired and…I want to make it up to you and our people. Show me how, dear sister?... ~

Blackfire then near fainted on the spot, playing the damsel to a T.

"Show me what it's like to be adored by so many for real, this time…"

/

Oh, ok. So I have a full plot, backstop and twist in mind but? The rated has to go up so unless I leave it and see what them bots say? You be the judge. No sex though! And no slash, she just sensed the separation anxiety off of Dick because she is one smart cookie. Find out! Blackfire is one live wire you don't want to mess with!