Titans: Elemental

Chapter 6: Sisters, Part 1

We see outer space once again.

There is a distant flash of light, from which four glowing objects emerge and fly across the cosmos. As they home in on Earth, three peel off while the fourth heads straight for the planet. It is long and cylindrical, something like a missile in shape, with several trailing tentacles.

….

On Earth, we see a fireworks show is in full swing. We are at the waterfront; the craft's brilliant streak descends past the display and below the horizon. We see a nearby carnival: Ferris wheel, roller coaster, games, the usual. One of the wheel's cars holds Dick and Starfire.

The team are all in their civilian clothes.

Starfire watches the pyrotechnics with complete awe and sighs blissfully.

Starfire, "beautiful. Tell me again what they are called?"

Dick, "fireworks."

A few more go off.

Starfire, "on my home planet, such explosions would mean the Gordanians were attacking. You are certain Earth is not under attack?"

Dick, "positive. Cotton candy?"

He holds the pink stuff out to her.

Starfire, "the last time I ate a ball of cotton, it was white. And it did not taste very-"

Dick chuckles and says, "this is different."

He pulls off a wad and pops it into his mouth; cautiously, she follows suit and realizes it is indeed different from the cotton ball.

Starfire, "mmmm….", she yelped in surprise, "it vanished!"

Dick, "hehe, yeah. It'll do that."

Starfire, "sigh, when I first came to this planet, I did not think I would ever fit in. Earth was full of strange things. But now, I see that-"

A big glare from fireworks erupts!

Dick, "here comes the finale! Yes!"

In the sky, the display has turned into a fusillade of redoubled intensity.

Dick, "whoo-hoo-hoo! Amazing!"

Starfire, "Earth is full of amazing things, too."

Dick, "best planet I've ever been to. And the only planet I've ever been to."

The craft seen in space sweeps past the Ferris wheel and yanks Starfire from her seat in its tentacles; she is carried screaming into the sky.

Dick, "STARFIRE!"

The craft streaks over the bay. The carnival is now in the distant background. Starfire struggles against the hold on her.

Starfire, "wherever you are taking me, I do not wish to go!"

She fires a starbolt at the tentacles' base; the craft stops in midair, crackling all over with the energy of the shot, and she extricates herself and bugs out. The device goes after her.

….

Back at the carnival game booths, we see several bottles set up for the old ring-toss game. A ring is thrown into view, bouncing off the neck of a bottle as a near miss; the next one rattles down on target. BB laughs; he and Vic have been playing.

Vic, "boo-yah!"

BB, "sweet!"

They trade a high five. BB is handed his prize, a huge stuffed chicken. Raven leans against a post, her arms crossed and her expression showing her low opinion of the whole exercise.

BB, "told you we'd win you a prize."

He gives her the toy and it bawks.

Raven, "a giant chicken. I must be the luckiest girl in the world."

Obvious sarcasm is obvious.

Jack approaches with a stuffed ragdoll with a rope around its neck.

Jack, "I won this while playing skee-ball. I thought you might like it?"

Raven gives a small smile as she takes the ragdoll and says, "thanks."

Dick lands nearby, in a crouch.

Dick, "Titans! Trouble!

Vic, "where's Starfire?"

Dick, "that's the trouble."

He runs off; Raven tosses the chicken aside and pockets the ragdoll on her belt, and all four follow him. Reaching the end of the pier, they look over the bay and see a scintillating object plummet straight toward the waves. It resolves into Starfire as she pulls up sharply to skim the surface, leaving a broad wake behind herself. The craft is hot on her tail. She looks back over her shoulder, gasps, and side steps to avoid a lashing tentacle; turning onto her back, she throws a couple of starbolts that hit the nose without effect.

Starfire, "no more chasing now, please!"

A flip to face forward again, and she is off like a shot. She angles herself toward the pier and flies neatly through the other fivs Titans; the pursuer does likewise.

BB, "who's her new best friend?"

Dick, "I don't know….", he socks his fist against his palm, "... But I can't wait to meet him."

The chase loops around the Ferris wheel and back to the pier, where Starfire stops just behind the rest of the team. BB is first to attack, leaping high and turning into an alligator to bite at the tentacles' bases, just barely missing. Raven levitates a nearby hot dog cart and heaves it at the oncoming vehicle, which crashes right through it.

Jack tries shooting some water tendrils from the water beneath the docks at the thing, but it narrowly misses it!

As the thing races past Vic, he grabs the tentacles and hauls on them with all his strength. Ever so slowly, he is dragged forward a few feet before bringing the craft to a stop.

Vic, "don't know what you did to make this thing mad, Star, but it couldn't hurt to apologize!"

Starfire, "I am…. Sorry?"

Jack, "don't apologize to it, it might not even be sentient!"

The tentacles yank themselves out of his grip. Dick whips out his staff, extends it, and goes on the offensive; a mighty swing reverberates against the nose and drives the craft back. It tumbles over the guardrails as he lands and puts the weapon away. BB, back in human form, looks down after it; a loud splash is heard.

BB, "so, did we just win?"

The thing crashes up through the planks at the Titans' feet!

Jack, "that's a big fat no for your answer!"

Dick vaults onto the nose.

Dick, "don't see an OFF switch. Guess I'll have to make one."

His fist flies down and smashes through its panel, and he pulls out a handful of wiring underneath. Sparks fly from the broken connections as Dick jumps free. The craft veers hopelessly out of control, rising higher and higher toward the stratosphere, and finally explodes in a mighty conflagration among the fireworks that are still going off. Dick lands next to Starfire.

Dick, "whatever that thing was, it can't hurt you now."

Starfire, "but…. Why did it wish to hurt me at all?"

Jack, "let's just hope it's the last we see of those things, but I don't wanna jinx it."

….

Later at Titans Tower...

Starfire, positively ecstatic, enters first while her teammates stand at the doorway.

Starfire, "come, friends. I shall thank you for my rescue by reciting the Poem of Gratitude, all six thousand verses."

All five of her friends are wide-eyed.

This segue, to them, is as subtle as a car wreck.

That's when we hear a new voice.

"I see you haven't changed a bit."

We see teenage girl similar in appearance to Starfire, but whose clothing is black rather than violet. Her hair is this same color, her eyes narrow and blue, and she wears metallic full-body armor beneath her clothes. In addition, her wrist guards and neck piece are metal-colored.

This is Blackfire.

She leans against the back of the couch, but pushes off from it as she says, "when we were little, I was always rescuing Starfire."

Laughing, she opens her arms wide as Starfire squeals with delight and runs over to hug her.

Starfire, "Sister!"

Blackfire smiles and hugs her sister warmly.

She then holds up a necklace with a large green gem and said, "brought you a present."

Starfire gasps deeply and her eyes pop at the sight of this bauble.

Starfire, "a Centauri moon diamond?! Where did you get-?"

Blackfire, "on the Centauri moons, of course", she fastens it around Starfire's neck, "oh, look, it matches your eyes."

The recipient beams for a moment, then opens her eyes wide.

Starfire, "you must meet my friends!"

Blackfire is yanked across the room before she can say a word.

Starfire, "I wish to introduce my big sister."

Blackfire steps forward.

Blackfire, "Kom'andr. Aka; Blackfire."

Starfire is caught out at her boldness.

Blackfire, "and since Star told me all about the Titans in her transmissions, let me guess", she points to, "Cyborg? Aka; Victor?"

Vic holds out his hand to shake, "pleased to meet you, little lady."

There is a loud grinding of metal as she takes the hand; after letting go, he finds his fingers to have been squeezed temporarily out of alignment.

Vic, "little lady, big handshake. Well, alright."

Blackfire, "Raven. I like that gemstone on your Ajna chakra."

Raven is impressed, "you…. Know about chakras?"

Blackfire, "I got way into meditation on Altara Prime."

Blackfire looks to Jack, "Jack, or should I say Zivel? Those powers of yours are quite impressive."

Jack shrugs and says, "a lot of practice goes a long way."

Blackfire, "Beast Boy! What's up?"

BB, "nothing but the ceiling, baby."

Blackfire laughs and says, "good one!"

BB looks to Raven, "see? She thinks I'm funny."

Raven, "statistically, I suppose someone has to."

This deflates him a bit as Jack gives him a pat on the back.

Finally, Blackfire makes her way to the leader.

Blackfire, "and you must be Nightwing", she zips behind him looks at his armored plating, "oh, I am loving this armor. Very sturdy."

Dick, "thanks. It's a high-density titanium tri-weave, ten times stronger than steel and light as a feather."

Blackfire, "fascinating."

He directs an appreciative glance over his shoulder as Starfire slides into view and gasps, completely shocked by this exchange.

Blackfire leans in closer, "and this mask makes you look very mysterious."

Starfire inserts herself between them.

Starfire, "so, beloved sister, what brings you to Earth?"

Blackfire crosses to the couch.

Blackfire, "I was in the quadrant. Thought I'd see if Earthlings like to party", she hops over the back and sits, "besides, I needed a rest. Nearly got sucked into a black hole on the way here."

Dick, BB and Vic are at the couch in an eyeblink, leaving Raven and Jack at the kitchen counter.

Dick, "black hole?"

Vic, "no way!"

BB, "cool!"

Blackfire, "okay. I'm cruising through the Draconis Nebula, and-"

Starfire, "sister! That nebula is full of black holes! You know travel there is forbidden."

This remark is met with dead silence, except for a cricket chirping outside, and very funny looks from the four at the couch.

Blackfire, "most fun things in life are. Now be a sweetie and please bring me one of those sodas I've heard so much about? So anyway, I'm zooming over an event horizon, approaching light speed, when all of a sudden.…"

Starfire walks toward the kitchen on the end of this. She looks in. It is an under-the-counter model, the sort that might be found in a college dorm room. A can of soda is on the top shelf.

Starfire, "I see you have not changed either."

She gets the soda and closes the door.

….

One by one, three bright streaks flash across the area, ans we tilt up slightly to show them approaching a large hovering vessel. Inside is a bank of four docking tubes. The three objects: duplicates of the craft Dick destroyed at the pier, the ones that peeled off from Earth, slide into place within them and stop. A light on each occupied tube goes green, but that on the empty fourth one flashes red.

….

We see an alien man in a shadowy nook.

Alien 1, "our target was not located. The drones have failed."

A second crewman is next to him.

Alien 2, "have they?"

He looks down at a control panel that shows outlines of the four craft, or drones. Three glow green, while the last one is red, matching the status lights on the docking tubes. One clawed hand reaches into view and presses the red outline, and the four give way to a view of Earth.

Alien 2, "the one that probed Earth did not return. Pull back", both look at Earth on the main viewer, "that is where we will find the girl who stole what we seek."

….

It is now the next day at the tower.

Starfire, "Sister?"

We see her, walking down the hall. She is still wearing the necklace her sister gave her.

Starfire, "Sister", she looks around a bit, "Sister, I seek your companionship."

Vic and Beast Boy are on the couch; they are playing GameStation. Two vehicles, one green and one white, speed along a twisting elevated track, and the green one gets out in front and blocks attempts by the white to pass. Their expressions tell right away who is winning.

Vic, "you want to pass me, but you can't pass me. You can't pa- you passed me!"

BB, "tighten the turn... Jets... And nitro!"

He jumps up and does a laughing victory dance as Cyborg slumps over; a moment later, he is back on the couch. Starfire walks up behind them.

Starfire, "tell me, have either of you seen Blackfire?"

BB, "Blazin' B? She was here just a second ago."

His face goes slack as Cyborg grins; back to the screen. The white vehicle hugs the guardrail, then knocks the green one aside and zooms on.

Vic, "aw, yeah! Back in the lead! Ha ha!"

Starfire, "what fun! May I join your game?"

Vic, "winner plays Blackfire."

BB, "yeah. She rules at this game."

Starfire, "... I see."

She walks away.

...

We see her at a door; she knocks. It slides open a small amount and reveals Raven peering out.

Starfire, "is…. My sister in there?"

Raven, "no."

Starfire, "oh…. Might you wish to hang out with me? We could visit your favorite depressing café."

Raven, "already been. It was open mic and Blackfire wanted to share. Your sister's poetry is surprisingly dark."

She closes the door; Starfire heads off down the hall and sighs heavily.

Starfire knocks on Jack's door.

He opens it and says, "oh, hey Star. What's up?"

Starfire, "have you seen my sister anywhere?"

Jack, "oh, yeah. I was trying to think of gifts for everyone on Christmas, and I asked her about what you might like."

Starfire actually smiled, "oh, that is very thoughtful. Do you know where she is now?"

Jack, "I think she's at the training room. You could check there. I'll talk to you later Star. I've gotta do some light dusting."

Starfire, "okay then. I shall speak with you later."

Jack smiled and closed his door.

Starfire once again heads down the hall. Through the open door to the gym, the shadows of Blackfire and Dick can be seen on the wall. They are close enough to touch.

Blackfire, "that's perfect, Nightwing."

Starfire gasps sharply as her eyes bug out.

Blackfire, "hold me just like that, and…."

...

Inside the gym, she throws him the full width of the room; he spins in the air a bit before coming down on top of a rack of dumbbells. Starfire is positively aghast at the sight. Dick peels himself up from the floor, he is seen to be badly dazed from the impact.

Blackfire, "learned that move from a Ven-Zo master on Tyrus Three."

Starfire, "hello, Richard…. And…. My sister. Am I interrupting?"

Dick, "not at all. Blackfire was just showing me some alien martial arts. How come you never taught me these cool moves?"

Starfire has no good answer.

Blackfire, "probably because she doesn't know them. I always was more of a fighter when we were kids. Come on. I'll show you the technique I once used to stop a raging orthax."

Starfire stares bug-eyed after them for a moment and then hangs her head sadly.

….

Later, unside, all the Titans except Starfire are lounging on the couch. Raven is reading a book, and Jack is sketching on a pad.

Starfire, "friends!"

She comes in, balancing buckets of popcorn and candy along with stacks of DVDs.

Starfire, "I invite you to join me in the togetherness of a stay-home movie night. I bring you popcorn and non-cotton candies. Tell me, what sort of movie shall we view?"

Dick, "Action."

BB, "Comedy."

Vic, "Sci-fi."

Raven, "Horror."

Jack, "Fantasy."

Caught off guard, Starfire drops her load of goodies.

Starfire, "perhaps a double feature?"

Blackfire, "forget the flicks, kids."

Starfure turns to see Blackfire standing there, dressed in one of Starfire's spare outfits, and has dispensed with the armor.

Blackfire, "we're going out!"

Starfire, "we are? Where did you-? Are those my-?"

Blackfire, "heard about a party downtown. Cool crowd, hot music."

BB, "yeah!"

Vic, "I'm in."

Dick, "why not?"

Jack, "we don't have much to do."

Blackfire, "and it's in a creepy run-down warehouse."

This gets Raven's attention. One by one, Starfire's comrades file out.

Vic, "whoo!"

BB, "I am a party animal!"

BB turns into a gorilla.

Jack, "I've been meaning to test out some new dance moves."

Dick and Raven pass Starfire without saying anything; Blackfire is the last one out.

Blackfire, "hey Star. I'm sorry I raided your closet. My clothes were dirty. Hope you don't mind me borrowing your look?"

Starfire sadly, looks after Blackfire, "why not? You have already borrowed my friends…."

Blackfire departs, leaving Starfire standing among the snacks and movies she dropped: the scattered remains of her plan to spend time with the gang.

….

Reviews:

DaV1nc136: I'm glad you like the chapter. Jack and Raven will slowly grow closer, and will get together in a certain episode. As for Terra, I'll be following a plotline in the comics where we learn how Terra came back, and she'll eventually rejoin the team and work to regain the trust of her friends.

raven 2012: I'm really glad you enjoyed that chapter.

….

Expect a big change to the ending of this episode.

Also, a fun fact; in yoga, chakras are points in the body at which spiritual energy is concentrated. There are seven, ranging from the top of the head to the base of the tailbone, and the Ajna chakra, centered on the forehead, is the second one down.