Chapter Ten
The two Tamaranian girls were battered and tired. The battle between them had taken them over most of the surface of Io. They had exchanged punches, kicks, scratches, hair pulling, rock throwing, starbolts, and insults. Now, they rested on their hands and knees.
Blackfire's costume was torn in many places, with hints of dried blood on her right shoulder and left leg.
Starfire's clothes were not as badly damaged (considering they covered less area), but her skin showed more abuse. Her wrist guards were gone, leaving only bands of cloth behind. Her boots were ripped, and her skirt was torn half its length on her left side. Her legs had trails of dried blood, as well as bruises of many sizes. Her belly was bruised, as was her face. Signs of blood were present on the corner of her mouth, as well as both nostrils.
Despite their conditions, both girls were driven by a determination to defeat the other. While Blackfire sought to kill her sister, Starfire merely wanted to knock her rival unconscious, in hopes of having her taken to a prison colony, where she would be out of anyone's way.
"Ready for more, sister?" Blackfire said, feeling stronger.
"Bring it on!" Starfire challenged, defiantly.
"Let's take this to a new level!"
With that, Blackfire flew off. Starfire gave chase.
They headed for Jupiter itself, toward the polar region. Starfire gave no notice until she felt a strange tingling sensation. It was more intense than when she felt it the first time.
"Feeling the heat, sister?" Blackfire yelled.
Growling, Starfire quickened her pace. Just then, a shock jolted through her body.
'How is she doing this?' she thought. Just then, another shock went through her.
"It's the flux tube." Blackfire said. "Five million amps of electricity flowing from here to that place we just left. With any luck, it'll fry you, sister!"
"But it will burn you too!" Starfire said, concerned.
"Not if I avoid it!"
Laughing, Blackfire flew onward. Starfire tried to close the gap between them, matching her course to Blackfire's. But whatever course she took, a jolt would stun her. And they seemed to be growing in intensity.
In a flash, Starfire realized what else was going it. It seemed that Blackfire herself was providing a disturbance for the charges to take place.
'That is how she is not effected!' she thought.
She paused in her flight, unsure what to do next. Then, something occurred to her.
'If I am to beat her, I must think like her.'
She flew towards Jupiter again.
Blackfire looked over her shoulder to see if Starfire was closer. She was stunned to see her sister descending toward the giant planet.
"What is she doing?" she said aloud, flying toward her.
Blackfire took only seconds to catch up with Starfire, would was still heading for the cloud tops.
"Where do you think you're going, sister?" she asked.
"I give up." Starfire answered. "I quit this. I do not wish to fight anymore."
"Good!" Blackfire exclaimed. "Now, just let me kill you painlessly, and I'll be done."
"I never said I would let you kill me."
"Well then, I'll have to do this the hard way, won't I?"
"Yes, you certainly will."
With that, Starfire grabbed at Blackfire's leg and began a steep descent. They were now in the clouds.
"What are you doing, you fool?" she yelled.
"Surrender, sister!" Starfire told her, still diving.
"Never!" Blackfire yelled back.
Starfire flew faster. Now there were miles into the Jovian atmosphere, with multicolored clouds as far as the eye could see, and thunderstorms the size of Alaska dotting the 'cloudscape'.
Blackfire kicked at her sister's hand, but Starfire never relented her grip.
"If you don't let me go, we'll both die!" she yelled.
"Whatever is takes, my sister!" Starfire countered.
Blackfire was appalled at this behavior. Never had she imagined her sister being this ruthless!
"So, sister." she said. "You've finally learned to do what's necessary."
Starfire paused in her flight, now 25 miles into the atmosphere. She kept her grip firmly on Blackfire's thigh. With her other hand, she gripped her waist band.
"Do you wish to surrender?" she asked her.
Blackfire scoffed. "I think you know the answer to that."
With that, she kicked hard at Starfire. She lost her grip on her sister's leg, but held fast to the waist band. Blackfire then tried to fly away, but felt her progress was impeded. She put more effort into her escape.
Starfire tried to counter her sister's force, but was being dragged along. She once again grabbed Blackfire's leg, but it was no use. Her sister was just too strong.
Another idea then came to her mind. She altered her technique so that she forced Blackfire to point downwards.
"You crazy ka'holm!" she cursed. "What are you doing? Get off!"
Blackfire kicked hard at Starfire's face. She lost her grip on Blackfire's leg, but held fast to the waist band. Because of the change in direction of her force, Starfire wound up pulling off Blackfire's pants. She flew several hundred yards downward before stopping herself.
Starfire looked at her prize, then at Blackfire. To her amusement, she saw her sister wore pink underwear.
"How the tables have turned, my sister." she said, smugly.
Blackfire noticed her state of undress.
"Give me those!" she screamed.
Starfire smiled at her and flew off at high speed. Blackfire was in hot pursuit.
A few seconds into the chase, forces were at work and building in intensity. This time, Starfire had initiated them.
She flew near a thunderstorm before changing course. Blackfire was close behind, when a powerful super bolt of lightning struck her in the chest. She screamed and fell into the clouds.
Starfire saw this, and rushed to her sister's aid, catching her. She appeared asleep. Starfire was unsure she was even alive.
"Oh Blackfire, I am so sorry!"
She left the atmosphere, making way once more for Io.