Everything was quiet in Bludhaven, for once. No dealers trying to sell drugs to children, no thugs trying to rob hard working men and women of their well-earned money, and best of all, no superhuman fight clubs going on. Nightwing, the city's protector for the past year, was most thankful for that. He desired to stop street-level crime and leave things like Roulette's Meta-Brawls to the Justice League. Fearing he would only be seen as Batman's sidekick, he had declined Justice League membership up to this point and had chosen to move to Bludhaven to better establish an identity of his own. Somehow, though, he and Batman would always be connected.

"What in the world?!"

Suddenly, breaking his concentration, a Javelin sped through Bludhaven's skies and crashed into the center of Dixon Park.

"Duty calls."

Wasting no time, Nightwing hopped from the rooftop he was standing on and landed on his motorcycle on the street below. He was at the spot where the ship had crashed within two minutes. He expected to see Justice League members, hurt, but hopefully, alive. He was surprised to find no signs of life anywhere around the ship. No one was inside of it or around it. Then, he looked up.

"Hello, gorgeous."

Floating above Nightwing was Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran.

"Did you take a wrong turn somewhere around Uranus?"

Koriand'r suddenly became enraged and began firing green starbolts from her hands at Nightwing.

"Wait! I didn't mean that the way it sounded!"

Nightwing dodged her blasts, but just barely. He tried to calm her down, but there was no use. She didn't understand Earth's English language and didn't seem to care to find out. All she wanted was Nightwing dead. When he could see there was no reasoning with her he finally began to start using his fists. She responded by throwing him into a tree. This kind of occurrence is exactly why Nightwing preferred to stay out of Justice League business. If Batman wished to fight superhumanly strong aliens, that was his prerogative. Nightwing was not cut out for this, or at least that's what he believed. Just when Nightwing was deciding whether to soak in the pain or to let the beautiful alien pummel him some more, three figures teleported in. From the tree he could see that they were the Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and…Batman. Great. Nightwing hopped down from the tree to greet them.

"Thanks for holding her off. We'll take it from here."

"No way, Batman. This is my city. I'm a part of this. I have the bruises to show for it."

After a quick mental scan, J'onn was aware of everything that Nightwing had just experienced regarding the Tamaranean.

"Batman, from what I've just in your protégé's mind, no help from any source should be ruled out."

"Fine. Have you tried shutting down her mind?"

"Yes. However, something is protecting her from allowing me to do any more than scratch the surface."

"Then we'll need to take her down before she decides to leave the park and spread her attack to the rest of the city."

Any further conversation was interrupted by the loud thundering sound of the princess slamming Wonder Woman's body into the ground below. While the men had been speaking, Wonder Woman charged Koriand'r. She responded by firing starbolts at the Amazon, which Wonder Woman in turn blocked with her bracelets. After a few shoves, punches, and elbows to the face, Koriand'r squeezed Wonder Woman close to her, flew high into the air at supersonic speed, and then forcefully slammed her opponent into the Earth beneath her.

"Easier said than done, old man."

J'onn grabbed two park benches that had not yet been disintegrated and threw them at the Tamaranean. She easily blasted them away but it gave Batman and Nightwing the distraction they needed to hit her with electrified batarangs and birdarangs. Using his knowledge of Tamaranean physiology, Batman was then able to strike her in several of her body's natural weak spots. Nightwing also attacked her with his escrima sticks, taking note of where Batman hit her and doing likewise. J'onn also started hitting her, but would become intangible when she tried to punch back, causing her to become angry, but also, to tire out. In frustration, Koriand'r began firing wildly, nearly hitting some bystanders that had begun to gather around. In an effort to save a teenage boy, J'onn allowed himself to be hit by one of her blasts. J'onn was about to take another direct hit while he was on the ground, but a small tree knocked his opponent away. Wonder Woman was back in the game.

"Are you alright, Wonder Woman?"

"I'm fine, Batman. I'll be better once we finish this. All of you follow me."

The heroes obeyed the Amazon warrior. Before the Tamaranean could regain her composure, she found herself wrapped in Wonder Woman's lasso and ropes shot from Batman and Nightwing's grapple guns.

"Now, J'onn! Try getting through to her psychically again!"

The Martian Manhunter took advantage of Koriand'r's restraint and began to communicate with her telepathically. He was able to calm her, but when he tried to learn why she had chosen to attack the heroes, he was met with a psychic backlash that caused him to scream in pain.

"J'onn! Are you-"

"I'll be alright, Batman, and so should she now. I don't believe the princess is to blame for her outburst tonight. I sensed that she was being influenced by another. A very powerful mind."

"Grodd?"

"I don't believe so, Wonder Woman. Whoever this is, I don't believe it's someone we've ever encountered before."

While Batman and Wonder Woman were talking to J'onn, Nightwing decided to check on the orange-skinned beauty. He put his hand on her shoulder and Koriand'r responded by jumping to her feet and planting a passionate kiss on his lips. Nightwing was too dumbfounded to let himself enjoy it. After several seconds had gone by, she pulled away and began to speak.

"Sorry, Nightwing, if I caught you off guard. My race learns new languages through physical contact. I didn't have to kiss you, but that way seemed much more fun. I hope you found it pleasurable."

"I…ah…I-"

"Princess Koriand'r, allow us to take you back to our satellite and contact your parents. They will be relieved to have you home."

"I do wish to see my parents again, so, yes, I will go with you, J'onn J'onzz of Mars. But after I see my family again, I do believe I would like to return to Earth and become one of what your planet calls 'superheroes'. The life you lead seems so exciting, much better than my life back on Tamaran. Of course, I'll need a special name like all of you have. I believe I will go by Starfire while in battle. My grandfather always said I looked like a star's fire when he would watch me fly as a little girl."

Batman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter all looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Wonder Woman was the first to speak up.

"Princess, why don't we just focus on getting you back home right now."

"But if they do allow me to return? You will let me join your Justice League?"

After a few more seconds of silence, J'onn chose to speak.

"If they allow it, then we may consider it. But for now, let's get back to Watchtower."

"Oh, yes! You will not regret this decision, valiant warriors!"

J'onn motioned for her to stand close to him so that they could teleport back to Watchtower, but Starfire had one last thing she needed to do; giving Nightwing a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodbye, Nightwing. I do hope to see you again, soon."

"Yuh-yeah. Real soon."

Starfire stood close to J'onn and they teleported together. Batman had one thing he wanted to do before he and Wonder Woman returned to Watchtower.

"Nightwing, I've had some…changes in my life recently and I just thought you might like to know that…that Wonder Woman and myself…we're…"

"I'm his girlfriend."

"Wow, congrats. I'd be careful if I were you, Wonder Woman. Bruce here doesn't exactly have the best track record with women."

"Tell me about it."

"Hey!"

Nightwing gave Wonder Woman a hug.

"Good luck. Believe me, you'll need it."

Wonder Woman smiled, walked a few feet away, and then teleported. Batman was about to do the same, but Nightwing stopped him for just a second.

"So, you know, Bruce, I've been thinking. Maybe I could give the League a try. No major commitment, strictly a part-time thing."

Although he wished it were under different circumstances, if this is what it took to get his protégé to join the Justice League, he'd take it.

"Uh huh."

Batman smiled at the young man who was the closest thing to a son he had ever had, and teleported back to the Watchtower.