Chapter One
As the scene opens, Beast Boy is lying miserably on the couch, covered with angry red spots. He tries to covertly scratch the back of his neck.
"Ow!" he shouts, as Cyborg slaps his hand.
"What have I told you about scratching?" Cyborg warns.
"But they itch!" Beast Boy whines, "What's the point of something itching if you can't scratch it?"
"BB, don't make me go back to the potholders ..."
"Okay, okay, no more scratching," says Beast Boy sullenly.
Starfire floats in holding a large steaming bowl. "I have prepared something which shall cure your pox of chickens!" she glows.
Beast Boy blanches. "Uh, I'm not sure Tamaranian food is gonna help ... the sliminess and bugs and all, you know..."
"This is not Tamaranian," says Starfire triumphantly, "This is an Earth dish called a 'chicken soup'!"
Beast Boy looks skeptical. "It doesn't have chicken in it, does it?"
"Robin told me to remove the chicken," she replies, and looks puzzled, "Though I do not understand removing chicken from a chicken soup ..."
Beast Boy breathes a sigh of relief. "Okay, long as it doesn't jiggle or have meat in it." Beaming, Starfire hands to bowl to Beast Boy, who begins to slurp it up hungrily.
Robin walks in and looks around. "Anybody seen Raven?"
"Not since this morning," says Cyborg, "She came in, made some tea, and disappeared again ... Come to think of it, she didn't look so good."
Starfire gasps. "Has she contracted the pox of chickens?" she exclaims in distress.
Robin shrugs. "I don't know. She wasn't around Beast Boy much, but I suppose it's possible. I've already had it, Cyborg's systems can filter it out, Starfire's immune to it ... I'm not sure about Raven."
"I shall fix another bowl of 'chicken soup' for Raven!" Starfire declares, and shoots toward the kitchen.
"Wait! Star — " Robin begins, following her into the kitchen.
Starfire is busy boiling water and banging dishes around, humming. "Hold on, Star," Robin says, "Maybe Raven just wants to be alone. You know how she is."
Starfire briskly measures chicken broth powder into the boiling water. "But I must be sure she has not become sick! If she has, I must cure her."
"But ..." Robin begins, then trails off. "Hm, maybe she is sick. Alright, just be warned. You know what she's like when people disturb her when she's meditating."
"I will endeavor not to disturb her," says Starfire, ripping open a bag of noodles and dumping them into the water.
Starfire walks up to the door marked "Raven", bowl of steaming soup in hand. She puts her ear to the door and, hearing nothing, knocks gently.
"Raven, it is Starfire. Have you gotten the pox of chicken?"
No answer. Starfire waits for a moment, then knocks again.
"Raven?"
She jumps, as she hears a shattering noise from inside.
"Raven?!" she exclaims in concern, and puts her hand on the door handle.
The door slides open and Raven is standing directly behind it. Starfire gasps before she realizes that her friend's eyes are covered with a dark cloth and a hot water bottle is sitting on her head.
"I have a headache," she declares, rasping more than usual, "Sound aggravates it."
"I am sorry, friend Raven," Starfire whispers, "Do you wish to consume a chicken soup?"
"Maybe later. Tell the others not to disturb me for a few days."
"Alright," whispers Starfire, and the door shuts abruptly.