Chap. 7

Resolution

She tried to steel herself, to ready her body for death as she had been taught to. Though she would not die as a Tammerian, she would at least die like one. But she could feel the fear rise up in her body, in her soul. She tired to fight it back, but there was not time. The energy shot forth from Blackfire's hand, and ran across her face. Her skin blistered and burned, the pain was an endless screech. As the life ebbed form her, Starfire only wished that it would be over quickly….

Or rather, she would have, if this had played out in the real world, and not in her panicked imagination. What did happen was as Blackfire was about to end her sister's life, her hand had suddenly been frozen into a block of ice. Then before she could react, a thousand decibels of sound had blasted her across the room, breaking her grip on Star. The next then she knew, Robin was holding her. "Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded, too surprised to speak. "Don't worry we'll take care of it. Where's Raven?" "Over by the wall." Star answered. "Whimpernel, Cyborg, go check on her!" Robin yelled, as always acting the leader.

Meanwhile, the others were attempting to use the ray on Blackfire, which was easier said then done. The young girl was more agile then Starfire was, and far faster. The ray's bema hit wallspace after wall space, as they tried to force her to stand still. Oh for God's sake, just use that kill mode again." snapped Heatstrike. "No, if she gets changed, we'll have no chance of changing Star back." Replied Nightstalker, as he grimly focused back on the ray. But suddenly, Blackfire extended her arms and a huge wave of purple energy shot forth from her. It knocked everyone back and threw the ray up into the air. But Blackfire swiftly caught it. Landing near Robin and Starfire, she began to walk towards the, Robin leapt up to defend Star, but a bolt from Blackfire knocked him out. Kneeling down, Blackfire pulled her sister up by the hair, then put her into a headlock. "So, who might know how to work this thing?" She asked. "Pity, the seem to be out of it right now. Oh wait,…" Suddenly, she whirled around and blasted a green mouse that had been scurrying across the floor. It quickly reverted back into Beast Boy.

"But I-I don't know how to work it." Beast Boy stammered. "Well you'd better learn fast, or else I'll show you how a Tammerian fares under 300 K of heat." Blackfire snarled, a glowing hand ready to fry him. "Beast Boy,.. no." Starfire murmured. But Blackfire's fist was her only response. "Show me how this thing works. First I'll turn all of you into plastic, then the rest of the planet will feel my power! No one will be able to stop me!" Blackfire cackled, completely caught up in her obsession. Beast Boy looked on, a sad and tortured look on his face. "I-I'm sorry Star, I can't let her kill you." "Good choice." replied Blackfire, as tears began to run down her sister's cheek. Slowly, Beast walked over to the ray. Un-flipping the control panel, he looked at the panel, then pointed to a single button. "That's the trigger." he said dejectedly. Blackfire hovered over, keeping her sister in her grasp. "This blue one?" she asked. The shapeshifter nodded. "You wouldn't be trying to trick me, would you?" she asked. He shook his head. "Good." Quickly, she turned the ray onto the unconscious form of Robin. "I think you'd like to see him go first, right sister?" she asked. Extending her finger, she pressed the button.

The ray's cannon glowed yellow. Slowly the energy inside it gathered, preparing to fire. "I wonder if he'll become linoleum or if I'll get to pick something out." Blackfire said, almost joyfully. As the ray reached its zenith, Starfire closed her eyes, not wanting to see what was about to happen. Blackfire however did, and reached to force her sister's eyes open. But as she stretched her arm out, Beast Boy suddenly snaked out and clamped a metal band onto her wrist. "What is this?"! Blackfire snarled. "Proof you shouldn't trust me." Beast Boy answered, as he activated the DNA tracker. Almost instantly, the ray swiveled around on its stand. Before Blackfire could move, the ray bathed both sisters in its light. Beast could hear Blackfire scream in pain and anger. Then there was a blast of green light and she went flying out of the beam. Finally, the ray deactivated, leaving in plain view, the once again golden-skinned Starfire. Turing to look at Beast Boy, she said, "That was brilliant, how did you.." "Oh just sudden genius." He answered with a trace of smugness. "Thank you." Starfire replied, as she looked down at herself happily. "Now then,.." she said turning back to Blackfire, "I believe you and I had unfinished business sister."

The two aliens charged each other hard, as their struggle rose into the air. All the years of sibling rivalry had boiled over in this final fight. Starfire blasted Blackfire. Blackfire rammed Star into the wall. Star grabbed her sister's hair and threw her through the wall. Blackfire wrapped her legs around Star and drove her into the wall with her. Star pulled herself out, then grabbed Blackfire's leg and swung her into the floor. Of course, while all this was going on, Beast Boy was doing the only thing a man should do during a cat-fight; get the hell out of the way and let them go at it. He however, was also going to check on his unconscious comrades. Nightstalker and Neuron were closest, so he quickly began to try to wake them up. "Guys, come on, wake up." He pleaded as he shook them frantically. Finally, he was rewarded with a groan and Nightstalker slowly sitting up. "What happened?" he muttered, rubbing his head. Then he noticed the wave of destruction that was happening over his head. "Did you.." he began to ask. "Yep." Replied Beast Boy. The Elemental stared for a minute, then just shook his head. "I don't know how, but good job."

Suddenly jerking his head to the side to avoid a piece of rubble that was flying across the room, Nightstalker said, "Perhaps we should do something about those two." "Like what?" asked Beast Boy. "I don't know, but the mall's gonna send us one hell of a clean-up bill if we don't stop 'em soon." "I think they'll be doing that already." Replied Beast Boy. As a billboard flew over their heads, 'Stalker replied, "Oh, I don't want to think about what that's gonna cost." "Hey look!" said Beast Boy. The two heroes turned to see Star and Blackfire, finally pausing in their attack. Both stood there, exhausted, but completely unwilling to fall to the other. "I'm going… to end… this sister." Blackfire panted. "Before.. you do…" replied Star. "I was.. the one… who poured….. grinta juice….into your hairspray…. when you were at the….. Aleta ball." Apparently, this was enough to end the exhaustion, as Blackfire roared and charged her sister with the look of an enraged tiger. But before she reached her, a green tentacle shot out and wrapped itself around her. Looking up, Starfire saw a red-and-gray-armored figure. "You will not escape again, Prisoner Blackfire." The Centari guard stated. "I was wondering when you guys would show up." said Nightstalker, walking up to them. "We will take her back to prison, and put her under the most strict security detail. Perhaps some time in the mess hall will straighten her out." "Wait." Said Star. "Aren't the Centari mess halls full of the Encon root and Zper plant, which cause an incredible amount of stench and filth?" The guard nodded. "Have fun sister." Though the guard's tendril was firmly wrapped around her mouth, Blackfire let loose with a torrent of obscenities, which though not enunciated, came across easily enough. Ignoring her, the guard pressed a button on his gauntlet, and the two of them disappeared. "Well, that went well." said Stalker. "Now, let's get the others up and take the ray back to the Tower." "So you're gonna lock it up?" asked Beast Boy. "Are you kidding? After all this, I'm gonna make sure no ever gets it again. And I I'm gonna do with a sledgehammer. Hell you caused all this by accident, imagine what some one could do on purpose." With that, he knelt down and began to wake up Bartman. Turning back to Starfire, Beast Boy asked, "Can I apologize now?" "It's all right Beast Boy. To be honest, once I got used to it, I actually enjoyed being human." Starfire replied. "It was nice not to be stared at for once." "I guess, but still,…" "Beast Boy, you made a mistake but you fixed it. That's what matters now. I have to admit, that was a fairly smart trick." "Really? Could you say that again when Raven wakes up?"

THE END