Milky Way

November 5, 01:09 UTC

A prisoner ship was flying somewhere in space. The captain was on the bridge on some kind of throne. Around him were three officers each of them were wearing blue uniforms facing a computer.

He was wearing a green war general uniform with a green cape over his shoulders. He had a black beard and red eyes.

He was at the moment talking to Darkseid on a holo-screen talking in his native language.

"Don't worry my lord we are bringing the prisoner in as we speak," He said.

"You better not fail me Steppenwolf," Darkseid warned. "You know what happens to those who fail me."

The screen went black.

Then Steppenwolf heard a screaming from behind him. He looked around in time to see a guard entering with a worried look on his face.

"She's awake, sir," The guard gulped.

"Then activate the shock collar," Steppenwolf ordered in annoyed tone.

"We did sir, but it just made her angrier," The guard said.

Then there was a huge bang and red warning light came on.

"What happened?!" Steppenwolf demanded.

One of the offices pulled up picture of a cell door with its doors smashed and barley hanging on. The horror on Steppenwolf face made it clear that this was bad.

"Find her!" He ordered.

The officer pulled up another picture. This time it showed several guard laying on the floor out cold. The horror on Steppenwolf face got worse and worse.

Then the alarms went off. "Attention unauthorised use of escape pod," The computer said.

Then there was another bang and Steppenwolf saw an escape pod flying away from them.

"Get it back!" He ordered.

"We can't sir, our tracker beam is offline," One of the offices said.

Then there was another big bang and the escape pod vanished.

"You better have some good news for me!" Steppenwolf growled pulling on of the nearby offices towards him.

"We've got the coordinates of the escape pod sir," The officer said in a very scared tone.

"Where is it heading?" He asked.

"To Earth, sir," The office said pointing at a screen that had the picture of the planet.


The Watchtower

November 6, 18:36 EDT

Both Aqualad and Oracle were talking to Nightwing on a holo-screen.

"Dick when are you returning to the time?" Oracle asked.

"I don't know, Barb. I just don't know," Nightwing said in an unsure tone. "Have you guys found anything new?"

"We know that Savage has allied himself with another alien race before the Reach and has started something call phase three," Aqualad said.

"We've been asking for old member of the team to come back, but so far they said they'll come and help when we need it," Oracle explained. "But by then I could be too late."

"Listen guys, I will come back. I just need to sort some things out," Nightwing said.

"My friend I know you feel bad about what happened to Wally, we all do, Artemis more than anyone," Aqualad said. He took a big sigh. "But it wasn't your fault. If it is anyone's it is Savage and his Light."

"I know, Kaldur," Nightwing said now getting tired of this conversation. "But I don't think I can do anything in my state of mind."

"Are you saying you're crazy?" Oracle asked with a cunning smile.

"What? No, no of course not," Nightwing said hastily. "I just don't want to put anyone in danger."

Before anyone could say anything something shot past the Watchtower and headed straight for Earth.

"What happened guys?" Nightwing asked.

"Something just zoomed past us," Oracle answered as she pulled out some data of the object that went past. "It's some kind of escape pod and I'm getting a life form from inside it."

"Where is it heading?" Aqualad asked.

Oracle pressed down on some more keys and an image of the escape pods heading. "It seems to be heading straight towards the outskirts of Gotham," Oracle said.

"I'll head there and check it out," Nightwing said.

"I thought couldn't do any missions with your state of mind?" Oracle asked giving off another cunning smile.

"There's no right answer for that isn't there?" Nightwing asked and both Aqualad and Oracle shook their heads. "Then I'll see ya."

His holo-screen vanished.

Aqualad then looked at Oracle. "Who do we have that is free?" He asked.

"Wonder Girl, Static and Arrowette," Oracle answered. "Oh and Sphere for transport."

"Then get them here so I can take them to investigate the escape pod," Aqualad said.

"Where do you think it came from?" Oracle asked as Aqualad walked away.

"I just hoping that whatever is in it isn't hostile," Aqualad said without looking back.


Litchfield County

November 6, 19:03 EDT

Aqualad was on Sphere in her Super-Cycle form with Wonder Girl, Static and Arrowette they were flying over fields trying to locate the escape pod.

"So how come Godfrey and his camera crew isn't here?" Static asked.

"Oracle managed to block any satellite from tracing it," Aqualad explained.

"How come we haven't met up with Nightwing?" Arrowette asked.

"We weren't sure of the pods exact location, so he's checking another arena," Aqualad explained.

"Well, tell him that we've found it," Static said pointing.

They all looked at where he was pointing and saw a huge crater in the ground below them. In the middle of it there was something smoking in it.

"Nightwing, this is Aqualad we've found the pod," Aqualad said placing a hand over his ear.

"Understood I'll be there as soon as I can," Nightwing voice said.

They landed near the crater and the four heroes got off of Sphere, who returned to sphere form.

"Okay, let's approach it quietly and see if anyone is in it injured," Aqualad said.

It was at that moment that door on the escape pod flown open, literally. The door nearly slammed into Static if he hadn't used his powers to stop it.

Then something jumped out of the smoke and landed in front of them with a bang. They all stared they had never seen anything like it.

"She's beautiful," Static said.

In front of them was a beautiful alien girl that had to be between eighteen and nineteen. She had bright orange skin, which made it look like she spent most of her time in the sun getting a tan. She had fiery-red hair that reached all the way down to her waist. Her eyes were bright green eyes, but with no whites or visible pupils.

She was wearing a purple strapless bustier showing her midriff held up by a brace of silver with a bright green jewel in the middle of it. She also had a large sliver belt and purple briefs. She had on thigh-high purple boots. Around her arms were silver armbands, but her hands were cuffed together completely covering them. Also around her neck was some kind of necklace that didn't match her outfit at all.

"Okay, so who wants to make first contact?" Static asked.

Then the alien girl jumped at them and slammed her cuffs at them. They all moved out of the way just in time as the cuff hit the ground there was huge bang that shook the entire ground."

"Whoa," Arrowette said staring at the crater she just made.

The alien girl looked at them with anger in her eyes. She then began yelled in an unknown language.

"We don't understand you," Wonder Girl said.

Apparently she thought that was an insult. She yelled again and charged at her slamming her cuffs at her. This time Wonder Girl caught them and discovered that this girl was strong.

"She's strong then she looks," Wonder Girl groaning in pain as she fell to one knee.

Arrowette pulled out a bow and fired an explosive arrow at the alien girl. The explosion knocked her back a bit, but she looked unharmed.

Aqualad walked up trying to stop the fight. "Stop! We're not your enemy," Aqualad said.

But the alien obviously wouldn't understand them as well, because she started yelling at them. Then her eyes glowed and next minute she shot of green energy from them that slammed Aqualad in the chest and sent him flying.

"Bad move lady," Static said and fired a blast of electricity at her.

The alien girl surprised them again. She had flown up into the sky to avoid getting hit by the blast. She then slammed her cuff down on the ground in front of Static. Static move fast out of the way just in time, but was flown back by the shock wave.

Then part of the cuff broke part, her arms were still stuck together, but now her hands were free.

She then turned and looked at Wonder Girl and Arrowette, both of whom were starting to get nervous. She pointing her arms at them and her hands began to glow bright green.

Then suddenly out of nowhere a Batarang came out flying past. It hit the alien's cuffs and knocked them back a few inches. Good thing too, because a second later a huge burst of energy came flying out and melted some rock about a foot away from the two girls.

They all looked up and saw above the crater was Nightwing. "That was whelming," He said as if nothing just happened.

The alien looked at his curiously not sure what to make about this knew arrival.

"Who's your dancing partner?" Nightwing asked as he jumped into the crater.

"Don't know we can't understand her and she can't understand us," Arrowette said.

"Yeah, but we know she has super strength, she can fly and can shot beams from her hands and eyes," Wonder Girl said.

"Well, obviously attacking her isn't getting us anywhere," Nightwing noted.

"What do you suggest we do?" Arrowette said annoyed.

"We try and help her," Nightwing suggested. The two girls just stared at him like he was crazy. "Just stay here and don't move."

Nightwing slowly pulled a cutting tool out of his belt and slowly walked towards the alien girl. The alien girl eyes and hands began to glow and yelled something at him while pointing her hands at him.

"It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you," Nightwing said. He was now only a couple of feet away from her. She kept on yelling something at him. "I'm here to help."

The alien girl looked into his eyes and then calmed down. Her eyes and hands stopped glowing and she was a bit calmer, but still gave Nightwing a skeptical look.

Nightwing then began using the cutting tool to free her from her cuffs. About a minute later she was free from her cuffs and she began rubbing her arms.

Nightwing smiled and placed the cutting tool back into his belt. "Good, now maybe we can—" He never finished that sentence, because the alien girl grabbed his shirt and kissed him on the lips.

She then pushed him away. "Unless you want to get beaten, you'll leave me alone!" She said in perfect English.

She then flew up into the air and disappeared into the distance.

Once she was gone everyone just stared at Nightwing.

"I can just hear Wally say 'you dog'," Wonder Girl said.

"What was that about?" Static asked eyes widen.

"Don't know, but I'm officially whelmed." Nightwing said getting up.

"She took us down while her hands were cuffed and kissed you, gee, I wonder why," Arrowette said as she helped Aqualad up.

"Did anyone else notice that she just spook perfect English just now," Wonder Girl said.

"Never mind that, we have to find her before she starts coursing trouble," Nightwing demanded.

"Why? So she can give you another kiss?" Arrowette asked with a cunning smile.

"No! Nightwing is right we have to find her," Aqualad said.

Then suddenly there was a huge boom like thunder. They looked around and saw a boom tube opening up behind them.

Then exiting out of it was Steppenwolf riding on some kind of hover-cycle and a squad of huge monster like creatures wearing armour. Each one looked like it was ready to bit their heads off.

Steppenwolf pulled out a Father Box and the lights on it flickered. He then put it back and looked at the five heroes as if they were insects.

"I am General Steppenwolf and here searching for a dangerous prisoner," Steppenwolf said in a commanding tone.

"Yeah, we've seen her," Wonder Girl said not liking the strangers tone.

"Then your luck to be alive. She's murderous and not to be trusted," Steppenwolf said.

"Can we help you locate your prisoner," Aqualad asked.

"No! I doubt you can help," Steppenwolf said. "My Parademons can find her quite easily. Just don't get in my way."

He and the Parademons flew off into the sky.


The Watchtower

November 6, 19:46 EDT

Oracle was listening to the report that Aqualad and Nightwing just made.

"She kissed you!" Oracle yelled as if that was the only part of the conversation she heard.

"Barb, did you miss the part when she kicked our butts and another unknown alien appeared calming she was murderous and not to be trusted." Nightwing said.

"Okay, okay, but she kissed up!" Oracle yelled.

"It's not the first time a girl kissed me. Besides last time I checked we weren't a couple," Nightwing reminded.

"Can you two talk about this later after we deal with these two aliens?" Wonder Girl asked with her arms crossed.

"Agreed," Aqualad said walking up. "We need have to find this girl and talk to her."

"Last time I check she tried to kill us," Static said.

"Actually, it was more like she was defending herself," Arrowette said.

"She right, if she wanted to finish us off she would have done it already," Nightwing agreed.

"Okay, but that still leaves the problem of finding her," Static said.

"If you found yourself on a unknown alien world and on the hunt, what would you do?" Arrowette asked.

"I would find a safe place to hide with safe cover away from any city," Wonder Girl said.

"She about a mile away hiding in a cave," Nightwing said.

Everyone stared at him.

"How do you know that?" Oracle asked amazed.

"Did you use your detective skills to track her down?" Static asked.

"No, I placed a tracer on her while she was kissing me," Nightwing said pulling out a holo-map.

Static looked a bit crest fallen. "Oh, that works to," He said a bit down hearted.

"You guys better get going before Steppenwolf does," Oracle said.

"Got it, over and out," Nightwing said and the holo-screen went blank.

"So, Nightwing's got another girl on his heels," A voice said behind Oracle.

Oracle looked around and saw Zatanna walking towards her. "Tell me about it," She said amused. "Nightwing she's to be some kind of babe magnet."

"You know in the end it'll be his choice," Zatanna said raising an eyebrow.

"I know, but doesn't mean I have to like it," Oracle muttered. "The annoying thing is after the incident I broke us about, which was a bummer for him since we weren't together."

"Then he has the right to choice who he wants to be with, doesn't he," Zatanna said.

"I guess so,"

"Besides she might not be her type anyway,"

"I have a feeling I won't be that lucky," Oracle muttered.

Zatanna chuckled at her statement.


Litchfield County

November 6, 20:18 EDT

The alien girl was in a cave hiding. This world she landed on was strange, but beautiful. She was curious about those warriors she met.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a noise outside the cave. Without thinking her eyes and the palms of her hands glowed.

She slowly exited out of the cave and saw the warriors she had fought earlier. She didn't lower her guard and looked at them angrily.

"I warned you not to follow me," She growled.

"We're not her to fight we want to help," Aqualad said calmly.

"Why? Why did you free me from my shackles?" She asked this time looking at Nightwing.

"We just wanted to help that's all," Nightwing said. "What's your name?"

"My name is Koriand'r, but in your language it would be Starfire," Starfire said still not lowering her guard.

"That's beautiful name," Nightwing said.

Starfire looked like she was blushing. "You really think so?" She asked.

"Tell us Starfire why did Steppenwolf took you prisoner?" Wonder Girl asked changing the subject.

Starfire then calmed down and looked at her feet. "I'm not a prisoner, I'm a slave of the Apokolipings," She answered.

All the heroes looked at her in silence.

"No wonder you wanted to escape," Arrowette said.

"We see my planet Tamaran was at war with Apokolips, but the battle was bloody and we were losing," Starfire said on the edge of tears. "So make sure there was no more bloodshed the king and queen signed a treaty made me enter enslavement."

"But why you?" Static asked.

"Because I'm their daughter and heir to the throne or at least I was," Starfire said.

"Wait, you're a princess!" Aqualad said stunned.

"Yes and after they signed the treaty they were killed," Starfire said crying and feel to her knees.

"I'm so sorry," Wonder girl said placing an arm around her.

"We can talk to the Green Lantern corps and get you home," Nightwing said.

"I can't go home," Starfire said brushing the tears out of her eyes. "The moment I step foot on Tamaran the war begins again."

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Static asked hopefully.

"You can hand the girl over to us," A voice said behind them. They looked around and saw Steppenwolf and his Parademons standing near the cave entrance. "Hand the girl over if you value your lives."

"You're not getting her," Nightwing said as he and the others surrounded Starfire in a defensive circle.

"This doesn't concern, human," Steppenwolf growled.

"Where heroes it's our job to protect people from people like you," Wonder Girl said glaring.

"You're making a big mistake," Steppenwolf warned.

"No! You are!" Arrowette said pointing an arrow at him.

"Very well, if that's your choice," He said. He looked at the Parademons. "Kill them."

The Parademons charged at them.

Arrowette fired her arrow at one of them and it coursed a small explosion. However the Parademon just charged out of the smoke and continued heading towards her. Static then fired a blast of electricity at it. The blast was strong enough to send it flying, but it drained Static of a lot of energy.

"Those things are tough," Static panted.

Wonder Girl flew towards another Parademon and began punching it in the face and it fell very easily.

"Not as tough as you think," She said looking at the fallen Parademon.

"It probably their armour that tough," Nightwing said as he dodged a Parademon slashing its claws at him. He then kneed it on the jaw, somersaulted and threw two Batarang into the gaps in the elbows at the same time. "Aim at the joints!"

Arrowette nodded and aimed another arrow at a Parademon that was wrestling with Aqualad, who had his Water-Bearers in the forms of maces which the Parademon had grabbed hold of. She fired the arrow and it landed on the gap in one of its knees. Seconds later it roared in pain as electricity ran through its body and it collapsed.

Aqualad nodded his thanks. "Well done," He said. He looked around and noticed that Starfire was missing. "Where's Starfire?"

They then heard an explosion from outside the cave.

"I'm guessing outside," Static said, who had recovered from his attack on the Parademon.

They all rushed outside and saw Starfire battling with Steppenwolf.

Steppenwolf had an energy axe in his hand and swung it towards Starfire. Starfire bent over backward and the axe just went below her face missing her by inches. She then jumped and hovered in mid-air firing busts of energy at him.

Steppenwolf spun his axe around blocking the busts of energy. "If you wish to defeat me you're going to have us more than those pathetic starbolts of yours," He sneered.

Starfire looked at his angry and fired eye beams at him, but simply dodged out of the way.

Nightwing was about to help him, but someone grabbed his shoulder. He looked around and saw it was Wonder Girl.

"It's her fight Nightwing," She said. "We can't interfere."

Nightwing looked like he wanted to argue, but he continued to watch.

Starfire then flew down towards Steppenwolf and threw a punch at him, but he simply sided stepped. He then did a leg sweep and knocked her off her feet. He then raised his axe up high and was ready to strike.

Before the others could stop him, Starfire rolled out of the way avoiding the axe. She then kicked him in the knee making him topple a bit. She then took this opening and fired her eye beams into his chest.

Steppenwolf was flown back and landed on the ground hard with his chest smoking. He then pulled out some kind of controller and pressed a button on it.

The moment he did Starfire yelled in pain and held he hands around her neck trying to pull the collar off of her. The heroes noticed that it was the cause of her pain.

"What's happening?" Arrowette asked.

"It's the inhibitor collars it's like the ones from Belle Reve Penitentiary only worse," Nightwing said.

"Static—" Aqualad said looking at him.

"Say no more," He said and fired small electrical blast at the collar.

Once his hit the collar it shorted out and fell off of Starfire.

Starfire got up and looked at him with her eyes glowing. "Leave! Now! And tell you master I will not be his slave!" She yelled.

Steppenwolf got to his feet and held his chest in pain. "You'll pay for this," He said.

He then pulled out a Father Box and opened a boom tube. He took one look back at the heroes and snorted. He then entered it and it closed behind him.

Once it was closed they all ran towards Starfire, who just stared at her the boom tube opened. She then fell to her knees and cried.

"Now I have no home to go back to," Starfire sniffed.

"Don't worry," Wonder Girl said hugging her.

"You are happy to stay here you know," Nightwing said.

Starfire looked up at him. "Really?" She asked.

"Of course it's not like you're the only alien that's lived here," He said. He then noticed the look on Aqualad's face. "Of course we'll have to disuse this to the League first."

"Thank you," She said brushing away her tears.

"So, does that main your returning to the Team?" Aqualad asked.

"You bet," Nightwing said smiling.


Apokolips

November 6, 21:34 UTC

Steppenwolf had just explained to Darkseid about what happened to his prisoner.

Once he was finished Darkseid grabbed him tightly around the throat and lifted him off his feet. His eyes then began to glow like they were on fire.

"You failed me General Steppenwolf," Darkseid said.

"Yes my lord," Steppenwolf said closing his eyes waiting for the end to come.

"I could do that, Darkseid," A voice said behind Darkseid.

"Why would you say that, Savage?" Darkseid asked not looking around.

Savage stood behind him with a calm look on his face. "It's just that good generals are so hard to find these days and it would be a shame to lose one," He said.

Darkseid thought for a moment and realised Steppenwolf. "You are lucky that Savage was here," He said. "Now get out of my sight."

Steppenwolf didn't need to be told twice and ran off.

Darkseid turned around and looked Savage. "It could seem as if you are right," He said. "Those young heroes are a nuisance and have to be taken care of."

"All in good time my dear Darkseid," Savage said. "All in good time."