Season 2, Episode 7

Absolute

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It shouldn't have felt so cold.

Starfire had been here before- floating in the dark depths of space, surrounded by nothing but stars and galaxies. She'd flown through the universe, feeling complete nothingness pass over her skin. She knew what it was like to see only unfamiliar stars in every direction, and to lose all sense of place completely, unsure if forward or back or even straight up would take her home.

This was different.

Earth spread out below her, brilliant blue and quiet green, and she knew it was beautiful. She knew it was an awesome sight, an amazing privilege to see the world like this. If she drifted around to where night had fallen, she could see millions of lights, shining up from the surface in a hypnotizing display, and that, too, would be beautiful.

Still, she could only feel cold.

From here, she couldn't see anything familiar- not Jump City, or the Tower, or any of her friends. But they were still there. For a moment, she wondered if she should simply return. Could she really leave it all behind, simply because of her appearance?

Then she remembered. They'd been fighting Plasmus, and someone had made a joke. Perhaps Cyborg or Beast Boy, regarding the villain's disgusting nature.

Robin had spoken, without a trace of humor in his words. She'd seen on his face nothing but quiet determination.

"He's still a monster. And like all monsters, he has to go."

The thought made her shiver. What else could she call herself? Surely these strange mutations would be considered monstrous- but the Titans would never hurt her...

Would they?

Cold. Numb. Frozen.

Starfire blinked quickly, turning her eyes from the world below. The thoughts raced in her mind, blurring together- her friends would not do anything drastic. They knew her. But she was different now- was it right to confront them with this change?

She couldn't bear to hurt them. But the act of leaving itself might do just that.

And what if they rejected her?

It was too much to consider. She rubbed her arms, trying to keep warm, and turned slightly to face one of the countless directions full of innumerable stars.

It had to be like this.

Slowly drifting forward, she focused on a light in the distance. She didn't know where she was going, but she continued anyway. Any world, any planet that would accept her would do. A place where she wouldn't have to worry about this change.

Starfire began to fly faster. She still felt cold.

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Zero

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I don't know.

The sky was moonless and clear, with the slightest tinge of purple from the city lights. Robin stood on the roof of the Tower, staring up into the darkness, thinking. Thinking. Thinking.

Why?

The day's events played out in his head, over and over. Starfire's odd behavior. The fight with Plasmus. Then, when one of the monster's attacks had knocked away her bizarre disguise-

She'd just... vanished. Up, up and away.

"Why." He hadn't meant to say it out loud, and the sound startled him. But that single word encapsulated everything he was feeling- the despair, the confusion, the wondering.

Across the bay, late as it was, the world was still turning. He could see the lights on the buildings and streets blurring together, and the occasional car screamed down the highway by the beach. People were simply going through their lives, as if nothing was wrong.

But he kept turning back to the stars.

Why. His time with Batman, his role as team leader, his skills in analysis and tactical strategy- it was all predicated on logic. Deduction. Finding reasons for events, and controlling those reasons to achieve an outcome. But this time, there was nothing. She'd simply left, and they had no clues, no reasons, no warnings. So why had she done it?

I don't know.

He bowed his head, willing himself not to give in to self-pity. It was never easy to admit that he couldn't solve a problem, but this truly stung. He almost wished he could have a reason, even if she didn't come back- at least he would know why.

The thought disgusted him, and he growled, looking back up to the sky. A breeze was coming in off the ocean, and he shivered with the cold.

Maybe... it doesn't matter.

He paused. What if he didn't need to find the answer? After all, the important thing wasn't to know a reason.

The important thing- well, it was Starfire.

Almost unbidden, thoughts and plans began to grow in his mind. Some form of travel. Schematics for a vehicle to move through deep space. A general knowledge of star systems, focusing mainly on the areas Starfire had mentioned in the past.

Robin started towards the stairs. Ignoring the fact that his teammates were probably asleep, he raised his communicator.

"Robin to Cyborg. I have an idea."

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Mm. This episode's kind of an oddball.

For starters, it's... narrated. A few different times throughout the show, a narrator starts explaining what's happening. (Fun fact- I thought the guy's voice was pretty cool, and it turns out he's Judge Frollo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame.) That's a fun idea, but on the other hand, the first two scenes are Starfire trying to get rid of a zit and Beast Boy trying not to pee in the middle of a hallway.

...Classic?...

But on the other other hand, some parts really worked. Raven's sarcasm is spot-on, as usual, and it fits especially well because Starfire- at first- is kinda acting like a dramatic teenager.

But then it takes another turn, and the transformation stuff is actually kinda funny and interesting, and the plot gets more expansive, and more confusing, and...

I'm just not sure what to think of it.

Take Starfire's main plot. She's changing, right, and these odd things start happening that eventually cause her to leave and seek out a new planet. It's already kinda weak, since we know her friends will just be like 'We don't care what you look like' and stuff, and that makes the emotion not quite as strong as it could be. In my opinion, anyway.

But then the Titans convert the submarine into a spaceship. That's awesome.

While that's happening, Starfire seems to find a planet that welcomes her and her odd neck-blades. This is actually a trap, because she's- get this- slowly turning into a chrysalis pod that this type of alien happens to eat.

Yup.

I was really surprised when that happened. One, because it was weird, and two, because... it raises a lot of questions. Starfire is fine when she comes out of the pod, so was that really just a normal Tamaran thing? And the alien had to eat her in a certain time limit or she'd just break out on her own, looking normal again? Also, if she is herself again, what's the point of having Robin say 'We don't care what you look like'?

I'm probably overthinking this.

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Funny Stuff: So, this Plasmus guy. He eats sewage... and that's it, right? He doesn't seem to attack anybody- not until the Titans fight him, anyway. So can't we use this guy? That seems like a very cost-efficient and city-friendly snacking habit.

Beast Boy flies into some barrels of Gatorade. "Orange flavored bad guy? Gross... yet strangely refreshing!" If the joke is that he assumes he's just tasting more sewage, I guess it's pretty funny.

Starfire, searching for a new home: "Hello, fellow ugly monsters!" I might have to announce that next time I see my friends.

"Cyborg, how long until we can launch!" "Eh, about five minutes after YOU QUIT ASKIN' ME THAT!"

There's a bit where a giant Zelda-esque flower monster eats Starfire, then spits her out because she's too ugly. I dunno, I laughed.

Starfire can shoot lasers from her eyes now. This is great. The villain gets straight-up murdered by a demon flower, then eaten off-screen, so you have to just imagine it. This is not so great.

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So... I'm not sure. Watch it, I suppose? If you're a fan of the episodes that are a little more obvious with the point they're trying to make, as well as a more laid-back and kind of depressing tone. Not my favorite.

Sorry these were so short.

Next up: 'Titan Rising'. Man, 'rising' has gotta be one of the most useful words in all pop culture. It shows up everywhere, and it instantly sounds epic.