She sat in her cell, staring at nothing, stewing about all that had become of her, lost in her madness. Then a voice spoke in her mind, a voice of power ancient and terrible, a voice that drove back her madness and awoke wher desires.
The voice said, "I have need of thee."
Looking up, she looked for the source of the voice. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
The guards shifted nervously. This prisoner gave them the creeps.
The voice spoke in her mind again. "Don't bother...I am not there physically...but that does not mean I cannot aid you."
The girl paused in her search, her eyes cold and calculating. "I'm listening."
"I come to you with an offer and a request."
"A deal you mean?" The girl smiled. "Let's hear the terms."
"You desire power? I offer you the power of a thousand suns burning inside you. You desire vengeance? I will aid you in hunting down those who brought you low, enemies and traitors all, so you may crush them beneath your boot. You wish to rule? I offer to you the throne of TWO worlds...as my queen."
"...and what's in it for you? What do you want me to do?"
"Simply be my herald, and aid me in loosing me upon the worlds, so we may rule together!"
The girl was quiet for a time. "Who are you?" she asked at last.
"I have had many names, but none that have reached your world's mortal history. THey would be meaningless to you. ...you may call me Hellfire, if you wish."
She smirked. "Hellfire, huh? I like it." She took one last glance around her cell. "Set me free, and you have a deal."
The guards turned, ready to take action, but a rift in the air opened, and a large red hand ectended a clawed finger to touch the prisoner on her forehead, and a symbol appeared there: a twisted crimson S, with other markings.
Her chains shattered as power flooded her. Flames leaped from her body, searing the guards into the walls, leaving a glassy finish. Standing up, she shook herself off. She looked at herself in the reflection cast by the glass. She touched the mark. "Is this permanent?" she asked the voice.
"You may hide it, if you wish. But it will appear when you call on the power I have gifted you with."
She looked at herself. "I'm a mess. Prison definitely disagrees with me." Raising a hand to her hair, she suddenly froze.
Red sparks surrounded her. Her hair grew out long, straightening itself naturally, shifting until it cascaded down over one shoulder. Her prison clothes became a sparking crimson dress, complete with well shaped shoes. A tiara set with blood red gems surmounted her raven hair. The dirt, dust, and bruises of nearly a half decade of prison vanished, leaving her skin once more clean and flawless.
"Better?" Hellfire asked her. "I must admit, you do clean up lovely."
She smiled into the reflection. "Show me your face," she said suddenly.
A face appeared in the glass, next to her reflection. The face was blood red, with four glowing red eyes and two bone white antlers. "Well?" the mouth shaped as the voice asked in her head.
She examined the face carefully. "Hmm...we'll just have to see how you do in...other physical areas. But for now..." She smiled, a cold smile many had learned to hate and fear. "We have work to do."
Robin swung in with the others at the scene...where all was chaos.
Several police officers were lying on the ground, apparently unconcious. Several buildings were on fire. Most of the people had scattered.
"Titans, careful. We have no idea what caused this." Pulling out his bo staff, he began to walk carefully.
"These policemen are all paralyzed," Raven said.
"There's no trace of any poisons or chemical agents," Cyborg said, confused.
"Listen!" Starfire proclaimed.
Nearby, soft sobbing could be heard. She flew over to it. A girl cowered in the alleyway, sobbing.
"Are you alright?" Star asked her.
"Did you see who did this?" Robin asked.
"...please help me..." the girl whispered, curled in the fetal position.
"Tell us, please, how may we be of assistence?" Starfire floated forward a little.
"Please...kill me."
Starfire shot back. "But...why would you want us to do that?"
"So I can't do this." The girl suddenly stood, tears falling from her eyes, and lunged.
Robin and Starfire barely had time to react. A few rapid strikes to certain parts of their bodies and they collapsed.
Robin shouted. "Titans, careful! This girl's able to paralyze you with physical strikes! It's similar to shiatsu!"
Jinx danced forward, ready to strike, but the girl was faster. As acrobat fought acrobat, Jinx came in second, quickly paralyzed. "Whatever she's doing, it's blocking my hex bolts."
Toph suddenly put what she was hearing together with what she was seeing through her feet. "Tai Lee? What are you doing?"
"Toph?" Tai Lee glanced over in shock. "I'm in this world? Please, save me, somehow!" She lunged forward.
Toph attempted to stop her, but she was limited by not wanting to hurt her. Because of this, it wasn't long before she, Beast Boy, and Raven were on the ground, paralyzed and unable to use their powers. Only Cyborg remained.
Elsewhere, a voice spoke. "See? I told you she'd make a good puppet, Hellfire. She hasn't even shown all her tricks, and already the entire team is out of commission. It won't take much to do a clean sweep."
"Don't be so confident. One remains."
"Oh, him. He'll go down quick."
Tai Lee turned. "Please...kill me!" she begged Cyborg, as she lunged forward.
CLANG!
Her fists connected with his metal chasis without impression. Cybrorg grinned. "Most of my body's metal. Chi blocking strikes won't do any good. I run on electricity. Speaking of which..." As her next strike came, he caught her arm. When he caught the other one, she kicked him between his legs, and there was another clang. "You aren't in control of yourself just now. Don't worry, we'll find a way to fix that." Suddenly, blue light flared over Cyborg and Ty Lee, and her hair stood on end. When it faded, she struggled a little, and the light flared again. She slumped into unconciousness.
Elsewhere, a voice cursed. "You didn't mention he had no chi!"
"You didn't mention that was how she did her work. No matter. This was but a test run. Release her from your power."
"..." She grinned. "I like how you think." She waved a hand. In her veiwing pool red light drifted off of Tai Lee and back to her. "I like this power. I like it quite a bit. So...when do we plan on kiilling them. Not too soon, I hope?"
"Don't worry. Soon enough, but not so soon as to be unenjoyable. The...timing must be right."
"Oh, I know all about timing things right." She took a closer look, and grinned. "Besides...I've always enjoyed the darker side of politics: intruige, assassination..." She watched the tender look Cyborg was giving Tai Lee as he lifted her unconcious bodies and the others paralyzedbodies into their vehicle, "...betrayal."
