Fan Fiction ❯ Demon in Disguise: On Tamaran ❯ Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The Gordanian female came to and found the snarling form of Equinox hovering beside her with the razor-sharp tip of one of the spirit's many swords against her green-skinned throat. "talk." the ghost ordered. "Or I will slit your throat and watch you bleed to death."

"About what?" the Gordanian asked.

"Who are you?! How did you get to Okaara?! And why did you rape and torture Raven?!" the enraged spirit interrogated.

"Where is Raven?"

"That is none of your concern. Now answer me." Equinox commanded.

Just then a cry of pain which clearly belonged to Metrion was heard from inside the quarters. After hearing this the Gordanian grinned in satisfaction. The door to the quarters opened with a hiss, and out stepped Koriand'r with Metrion wrapped in a blanket cradled in her arms. A look of pain was clearly written across the demon's face which made the Gordanian's grin widen considerably.

"Equinox I am taking Metrion to the-" Koriand'r began, making sure to deliberately tread on the Gordanian lying on the floor rather than simply walk around her.

"I see Terra did her job well." the green-skinned woman observed, interrupting the Tamaranean's words.

"Kory, I want to stay here." Raven said. "I want to know why you look like this. I want to know who SHE really is." she glanced at the Gordanian on the floor. "And I want to know why she raped and tortured me."

"Very well Metrion. I am curious as to her actions as well." Starfire said, leaning against a wall.

The Gordanian looked into Equinox's face and felt a sense of fear race through her. She had always slightly feared the spirit, and her fear had increased when the cold steel of the blade had pressed against her throat. She then began to speak.

"I was born on Gordania, the Gordanian homeworld, both of my parents were Gordanian. My father worked in the slave trade. He was the one who taught me how to brand slaves. When I turned sixteen, my mother convinced my father to allow me to attend the University of Okaara. But since Gordanians aren't allowed at the university, I was surgically altered to resemble a Euphoran. But the surgery would allow me to return to my true self if I was ever unconscious by injury. I was given the alias Kalista and sent here to learn the ways of war. And as for your question of how I became involved with Terra. I was drugged by her. The chemicals in the drugs made me seek out my deepest desire, as if I wouldn't already. After the drugs wore off I still yearned for Metrion, I yearned to make love to her, and no one would stand in my way. Terra would make sure of that. Starfire would be rendered unconscious by her and would be taken to a hidden location. She would be somehow genetically altered to transform into her form which she took when going through the transformation: the point in which Tamaraneans evolve. Terra was told by the Titans of this occurrence and Starfire's reaction to it, and believed that Starfire would be too ashamed of her looks to come after Raven. But apparently Terra's "foolproof" plan wasn't so foolproof after all."

"And what is in here?" Equinox asked, gesturing to the cloth sack still slung across the Gordanian's shoulder.

"Stuff." was the green-skinned female's retort.

"What kind of stuff?" Equinox demanded.

"Look for yourself." the Gordanian spat.

And Equinox did. She reached into the sack with one hand and brought out the whip which had been stolen from her. If it had been possible, the spirit's blood would have gone cold. The barbs were covered with blood and bits of muscle and tissue. "I believe this belongs to me," she reached into the sack once more "and this as well." she said pulling out the knife that was also stolen from her. The next item drawn from the sack was the package of Tamaranean cigars.

"Where did you get these?" Equinox asked.

"Terra gave me the cigars, and I stole the whip and the knife from you to use as torture devices. And I must say they worked quite well. Though Terra didn't get to take Raven's life by stabbing her to death like she'd planned." the Gordanian finished.

"And what about this?" Equinox asked, removing the bladed and bloody strap-on from the sack.

"That was mine. Bought it on Gordania before I left. Figured I'd find a woman to use it on... and I did, didn't I?" Kalista informed.

Equinox replaced the weapons and the cigars in the sack. "Get up." the spirit ordered. The Gordanian complied, and was led down the hall at swordpoint. "I am taking you to the Warlords. I will let them deal with you and your accomplice."

As Equinox and her attacker went out of sight, Metrion stared at Koriand'r. She had seen Kory like this once before - the redhead had grown tusks on her neck, scales on her skin, and hideous clawed fingernails. Her ears had become pointed and her feet had grown large and hairy. "Do you hurt?"

"No Metrion, I am not in pain. My transformation was not painful in the least. But you are in pain. I can see it in your eyes." Star began walking towards the medical ward. "When I awoke from my unconscious state, Terra informed me that I shall transform into this form every night until the end of my existence."

"How did Terra find you?" Raven asked, her voice weak.

"I was coming to meet you after your training session with Equinox had ended. I was flying as fast as is possible for a Tamaranean, when I felt a piece of cloth being pressed against my nose and mouth. The next thing I knew I was like this."

"Where did you meet up with Equinox?"

"She found me. Apparently Terra had taken me to Equinox's forgery to alter my physiology. Equinox was not at all pleased to find an unknown individual invading her privacy. She rendered Terra unconscious, freed me from my restraints, and took Terra off to be dealt with by the Warlords. Equinox then met up with me in front of our quarters where we encountered Kalista. I quickly incapacitated her and left Equinox to stand guard over her while I went to find you."

The doors to the medical ward were now in sight, and opened with a hiss at their approach and Starfire entered with Raven held in her arms.

"Xyannis we require your assistance!" Star called.

The doctor gestured for Starfire to walk forward and lay Raven down on a bed already prepared. "I know, Equinox came and told me to prepare for your arrival."

"Please don't." was Metrion's simple plea as Xyannis began to remove the blanket hiding her injured and naked body from view.

"Raven, I'm not going to hurt you." Xyannis assured her.

Soon the blanket was removed and the doctor began to examine the wounds caused by the whip. "These wounds will need to be stitched." the doctor reached for a syringe and needle and thread. The Tamaranean doctor placed a hand under the demon's neck before injecting the pain killers into a vein. Raven visibly tensed, then relaxed as the drugs took effect.

Xyannis cleaned the wounds before beginning to stitch them closed. Starfire sat at Raven's bedside, holding the demon's hand in hers, and occasionally murmuring soothing words, though they weren't necessarily needed.

Soon the stitching was complete and bandaged, and the doctor turned to some of the demon's other injuries.

As soon as she felt her legs being gently spread apart, three words escaped Raven's lips, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" and a crackling shield of black energy formed around herself. She then curled into the fetal position and began to shiver in terror.

"Metrion is frightened of your examination of her." Koriand'r pointed out to the doctor.

"I'm fully aware of that." said doctor replied.

"Can you blame her?" Equinox asked, floating through the doors.

"Metrion, please lower your shield." Koriand'r pleaded. Raven looked into the Tamaranean's pleading face and reluctantly complied.

"You two," Xyannis began, gesturing to Starfire and Equinox, "distract her."

"Equinox, is Kalista with the Warlords?" Raven asked.

Equinox answered. "Yes, she is now with the Warlords... and is being dealt with accordingly. Along with Terra."

"And how are they being dealt with exactly?" the demon inquired, as Xyannis began to examine and treat her wounds.

"I was not told of their punishments, simply thanked and sent on my way."

Raven winced as the burn on her clitoris, which had blistered, was dabbed with some salve and the blister popped. The salve soothed the burn, and Raven asked a question of Starfire. "Should the Titans know?"

"Of course they should." Star replied.

"Do you think they'll care?"

"Certainly they will care. You and I are still Titans after all."

"Starfire, you and I left the Titans to go explore the Vegan Star System... remember?"

"We did not abandon the Titans, we merely took a temporary leave of absence."

"That lasted for a year and a half? Sounds like we left the Titans permanently." Raven replied in a deadpaned tone.

The wounds between Raven's legs and on her inner thighs were soon cleaned. Xyannis was now cleaning the bite wounds on Raven's breasts, and had soon stitched them closed.

"Equinox, were these tattoos really drawn with Gordanian ink?" the doctor inquired of the spirit.

Equinox then examined the tattoos herself and found the ink was genuine Gordanian ink. "Indeed."

"Is it true that they can never be removed?" This question, asked by Raven held more than a note of dread.

For answer, Equinox rolled up her left sleeve and displayed the swirling circular brand. "Yes Metrion, it is true. Those unwanted tattoos of yours can never be removed, not even after death."

"Raven, can you stand?" Xyannis inquired, after cleaning and bandaging the hideous yet skillfully drawn tattoos... hiding them from sight.

"I don't know." the demon responded, sitting up with a groan. Then she rose shakily to her feet.

"Put this on." Xyannis instructed, handing Raven a hooded, dark blue, long sleeved, floor-length robe. Raven began to put the garment of clothing on. When she'd finished she lay back down on the bed and soon fell asleep.

"Xyannis do you have a communications terminal that I would perhaps be allowed to use?" Starfire asked.

"Yes, come with me." the doctor replied.

"Equinox, will you please watch over Metrion while I contact the Titans?" Koriand'r asked.

Equinox answered with a nod of her head. "I will watch over Metrion until you return."

"Thank you." the redhead said, before following Xyannis into her office.

"Here you are." the doctor pointed to the communications terminal attached to one wall. "I will be right through that door if you require my help." Xyannis walked towards a door across from the communication terminal and entered the room that lay behind it.

Starfire stood in front of the terminal, pushed some buttons, and soon the face of Robin appeared on the large screen. "Starfire?" the Boy Wonder asked.

"Yes Robin, it is I." she answered.

"You look... well you look..."

"You look really, really ug-" Beast Boy began, before Cyborg trod heavily on his foot to stop him from finishing his true if unintentional insult.

"I am quite aware of my hideous appearance, but that is not my problem. My problem is Raven?..." Starfire felt a tap on her shoulder, turned, and saw a clearly unsteady Raven standing behind her. "Raven, you should be in bed."

"No. I couldn't sleep. Nightmares." was the demon's explanation.

"Hey Raven. You look like your in a lot of pain." Robin noticed.

"I am." Raven said.

"From transforming?" Cyborg guessed.

"Yes. And from being beaten, raped, and tattooed. All in the last two hours." Raven said.

"The transforming I can understand... but beaten, raped, and tattooed? By who?" Robin asked.

"By someone I thought was a friend." Raven glared angrily.

"Has this person been apprehended?" Robin inquired always ready to make sure justice was upheld, even on a distant planet.

"Yes, Kalista was taken to the Warlords along with Terra by Equinox." Star said.

"Who's Equinox?" Robin asked.

"I am Equinox." a stern voice said from the doorway, and Equinox floated in and over to Raven's side.

"Are you dead?" BB asked.

"Yes I am. I accidentally committed suicide six years ago." Equinox replied.

"What does Terra have to do with this? She's dead right?" Robin inquired.

"She returned from death as a Tamaranean. Terra and Kalista were working together. Terra's goal was to end Raven's life, and Kalista's goal was to make love to Raven by force. Terra genetically altered my physiology believing that I would be too ashamed of my appearance to come after Metrion." Starfire explained.

"Terra was an idiot to transform you in my forgery, Koriand'r." Equinox growled.

"Star, Raven, would you like us to come to whatever planet you're on for emotional support?" the leader of the Titans inquired of his two friends.

"I don't need emotional support." Raven insisted. "But physical support would be helpful." Raven's legs had begun to give way beneath her.

Starfire immediately reached out, and helped the demon to a chair.

"We would gladly appreciate your emotional support. I am sending you the coordinates of the University of Okaara this instant." Starfire said while pressing buttons on the terminal.

"We got 'em." Cyborg said.

"But how will you get here?" Star asked. "Raven and I have your only spacecraft."

"Built another one." Cy said proudly. "It comes equipped with a proton cannon as well as other weapons. A state of the art medical facility. An ultra-powered plasma engine, flies faster than the speed of light. And kickass quarters, complete with 96 inch flat screen plasma TVS, DVD players, and-"

"All the tofu you can eat." Beast Boy cut in. "In the kitchen."

"Tofu?" Equinox asked. "What is that?"

"This is tofu." BB opened his sandwich to expose the artificial meat made from bean curd.

"It looks like the brain of a Gordanian. And you have the skin tone of one as well." Equinox declared, a disgusted look on her semitransparent face. "And I absolutely detest Gordanians. Gordanians are pieces of filth whose only objective is to cause physical and emotional pain. They attack their neighboring planets and kill without mercy, and mount their dead victims heads on their walls as trophies. Those they do not kill they take for slaves. I witnessed this occurrence many times when I myself was a slave. I was raped and tortured until I lost consciousness. And even while unconscious their mistreatment of my body did not end. Metrion, you and I are alike in many ways - we were both raped and tortured by men, and were forced to carry their children. We are alike in another aspect as well, we rarely show our emotions. We are both strong-willed and are distrusted by most of the population. You and I appear to be coldhearted and uncaring to those we love and cherish and yet we would be willing to give our lives to save them if the need ever arose. The Titans do love you Metrion, as do I. They would give their lives to protect you if they had to. I would be willing to give my life to save yours if I still possessed that ability as well. Metrion, what troubles you?" The spirit looked into the demon's face, noticing the tears which streamed nonstop from her four yellow orbs.

"You brought up bad memories. Memories which I try to keep buried. You brought back the memories of my children."

"You have given birth before? You have never told me this." Kory said, sounding and looking hurt.

"I've miscarried over one hundred times. When Slade would discover that I was pregnant, he would wait until the fetus had a determinable shape and sex, then beat me until I miscarried. Most of the time the fetuses would be stillborn, and when they weren't he'd kill them himself... he'd snap their necks, right in front of me even though I begged him not to. He force fed me all of my children. They would be my only meal for that day. I d-d-didn't w-want to, but he made me." Raven had begun to lose her composure. Starfire embraced the demon, holding her close while Raven sobbed into the Tamaranean's chest. "I d-don't k-know what S-Slade did with their skeletons, he never told me. But I-I'm certain he didn't b-bury or cremate them."

A table was suddenly surrounded by black energy and shattered into hundreds of splintery pieces. The demon struggled out of the red-haired Tamaranean's grasp. Her body hit the stone floor, and she cried out softly before crawling on hands and knees over to the shattered table. Grabbing sharp splinters of wood, Raven crushed the splinters in her palms, embedding themselves in her skin.

Starfire walked to Raven's side, trying to stop the demon's destructive behavior, but it was Equinox who finally ended Raven's grief caused tantrum.

"Metrion... that... is... enough. You will cease your destructive and self-harming activities this instant." Seeing the purple-haired demon's refusal to comply, Equinox drew her sword from its sheathe. CHIIIING!!

Raven raised her head at the sword's removal from its sheathe and looked into Equinox's face. The spirit's expression was one of genuine concern. Raven then spoke two words, "I'm sorry." and hurried out of the office as fast as her still weakened and injured body would allow.

Equinox started to follow the demon, when she overheard Robin inquire of Starfire, "Did you know that Raven had been impregnated with Slade's kids?"

"No, I did not." Starfire answered sadly. "Why did Metrion not tell me of this before?" the red-haired extraterrestrial wondered aloud.

"Because," Equinox began, "she knew that you would not understand her grief. She told me, because she knew I had experienced similar losses... although mine were far fewer in number, and nowhere as gruesome." Equinox left the office, following Raven's now barely audible sobs.

"We can be on Okaara in about six hours." Robin said, changing the subject.

"But it took Raven and I weeks to reach Okaara after entering the Vegan Star System. How can you?-"

"I built a really fast spaceship." Cyborg answered.

"Oh. I am gladly awaiting your arrival. But I must go and console Metrion before she inflicts anymore damage upon herself." Star said.

"See you in six hours." Robin said.

Starfire nodded, and ended the transmission. Converting /tmp/phpXs7iQg to /dev/stdout