Chap. 3
New Skin
Blackness. No sound, no light. He didn't remember any of those things, or how he got here. He just knew he had to wake up…
"Hey, I thinks he's awake!" Ralph cried, as Robin moaned and opened his eyes. "Brilliant, Sherlock." replied Cyborg sarcastically. Brett cut in, saying "Not now guys. Robin, how do you feel?" "OK I think." said Robin, as he gingerly sat up. Looking around, he saw that he was in Starfire's room. "What happened? Where's Starfire?" he asked urgently. But the others only looked at each with apprehension. "I-I'm not sure how to say this," began Brett. "but Star.." "What happened? Is she hurt?" "Oh no, no, she's in perfect health. But Robin she's…. different now." "What do you mean?" The bat pointed over to her bed. Robin looked, and gaped in horror. She was draped out over it, like a princess in a fairy tale. But like Brett said, she was different. "How did.." "The ray. When the two of you were hit, it copied you." "Then this is.. my fault?" "Absolutely not." said Cyborg. "You were just trying to help her." "Yeah, now that's what we have to do." said Nelson.
Suddenly, there was a rustle from the bed. The heroes turned just in time to see Starfire pull herself into a sitting position. Cradling her head in her hands, she looked up and asked, "How did I get here?" "We brought you here after the ray…" began Cyborg. But the young alien cut in, "The ray! Is that why I feel so strange?" Looking down, she suddenly noticed her hands. Staring in horror, she cried, "My skin! What has happened to me?!" "Star, please calm down." begged Brett. "Just let me explain." But it was then the bat noticed her attention go to her full-length mirror. "NO! Don't look in the mirror!" He cried. But it was too late. Starfire looked and saw that her golden Tammarian skin had been replaced by human flesh.
"Is there anything you can do?" asked Raven, as Brett looked through the microscope. On the slide was a blood sample he had taken from Star. The young alien, now human, sat on the table, her face completely dark. Since discovering her condition, she had been in a silent depression. Robin stood by her side, offering what comfort he could. Beast Boy stood off to the side, too ashamed to even look at Star. Everyone waited with baited breath. "Well?" asked Raven. Sighing, Brett looked up and said, "Every piece of Tammarian DNA in her body's been taken apart and rebuilt as human DNA. Her powers are completely gone. I don't even know how to start to change her back." "Can't you just use the ray in reverse?" asked Milhouse. "No." replied Martin. "It's in a million pieces, and besides it doesn't have a reverse setting." "You didn't build a reverse setting?" asked Cyborg in angry disbelief. "I never intended to use it on living beings!" the bat snapped, equally angrily. Then, taking a deep breath, he calmly said, "Besides, it was the only way I could get the thing to work." "What about magic?" asked Ralph. "Mixing science and sorcery is dangerous; we could end up making it worse." said Brett. "We could rebuild the ray, but that won't work either. We'd need a Tammerian to work the transfer." "So? There's a whole planet of 'em." said Beast Boy. "Yes, but only one has been through the experiments that gave Star her powers. Only one that can turn her back all the way." "Blackfire." Star said suddenly. Brett gave a grim nod. "And there's no way the Centaris will let her go, even for this." "So there's nothing we can do?" asked Raven sadly. "I don't know." Brett replied, shaking his head. "For now, all we can do wait and hope. Martin and I will rebuild the ray, maybe we can figure something out." Robin sighed, then turning to Star said, "C'mon, let's go." One by one, each hero got up and left, except for Beast Boy, who sat alone. And one by one, each gave him a look that burned him to the depths of his being.