Chapter Four

"Sister?"

"Yes, Blackfire?"

Her sister stood before her. She was naked. The dawn had just beguin to rise. She handed Starfire a Tamaranian spear. It was a royal spear that Starfire had brought from Tamaran.

"I don't want to die like this. Give me an honorable death."

Starfire's hands trembled. "Kommand'r, no, I couldn't!"

"Better death at your hands. I want to take the glory road not the shameful road of a bed death. We shall battle. And I will give myself to your spear."

"I will not-I will not do this!" She threw the spear. Blackfire sighed and picked up the spear.

...

At the Intergalactic Hospital Dr. T'raquon Ja'farma picked up a file. He held his head. He had had a continuous hangover for a week. He had contemplated giving up drinking. He sat down at a desk with the file. His eyes widened.

"Nurse! Nurse!"

The nurse rushed in. "Yes, Doctor?" She winked at him with her fourth eye. "Is it time for my sponge bath?" She plopped in his lap.

"Does the letter "a" exist in your language?"

"No, that sound does not exist in our language."

"It does in Tamaranian. There is a huge difference between var-tol, a flu common in young Tamaranians and varA-tol-a terminal illness. This says this patient has var-tol..." He picked up a second file. "This one says she has vara-tol."

She picked up the file. "I wondered why she burst into tears..."

...

Raven walked into Starfire's room. Blackfire had put on some clothes and was speaking hurriedly with Starfire in Tamaranian. Starfire looked upset and kept shaking her head.

"You have a visitor Blackfire."

"A visitor?" Blackfire looked up. " Who?"

"He says he is a doctor. And he keeps apologizing about a mistake."

"A...mistake?"

Doctor T'raquon stepped up behind Raven.

"Um...hello Doctor. What is this about?"

"Well,l...I'm terribly sorry, but there's been a mistake."

"A mistake? A mistake? I f***ing asked my sister to kill me so I wouldn't have a shameful death,there'd better not be a f****ing mistake Doctor."

"Oooh...I am soooo glad you didn't go through with that."

"DOES THE TERM MALPRACTICE MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU YOU SON OF A KLORBAG'S SHIT?"

"Ma'am-"

"I THINK YOU MEAN THE FORMER MOTHERF***KING QUEEN OF TAMARAN! THIS IS PRACTICALLY A DECLARATION OF WAR!"

"Yes, your highness. Certainly. Though I myself am not a Tamaranian I certainly res-."

"AND I AM SICK!"

"You have var-tol."

She paused. "Oh. Oh. That's a much more common illness."

"I have some medicine here. Though really it will clear itself up in a few days."

He dodged the blackbolt and ran. Raven stifled a laugh and returned to her room.

...

The two Tamaranian sisters sat atop the tower staring up at the clouds.

"So, yeah. I'm not dying."

"I am so very glad sister!" She hugged her sister. Blackfire patted her back.

"But, what will you do now?"

Blackfire sighed. "I made a promise to the Lady X'ahl."

"What kind of promise?"

"I promised the Blessed Mother that if I lived I would dedicate myself to her for ten years. As a celibate type."

"This shall no doubt be difficult for you." Starfire commented.

"Yes. Yes it will be."

"You have alwayed loved the males."

"Yes. Yes I have. So very much."

They continued to stare up at the clouds.

"I wish you luck in your endeavors, Kommand'r."

"And may the Blessed Lady grant you her protection."

She then flew off towards Tamaran.

...

A Year Later

Blackfire fingered the holy beads between her fingers as she knelt in the darkness of her cell. It had been creepy at first, but she had become used to it. She had even come to find it peaceful.

One day, when this had ended, she was going to reclaim what was hers. She would gather an army (many were still loyal to her) and conquer all Tamaran. She smiled. She almost pitied her poor sister. She loved the girl and meant her no harm. But Tamaran was hers. And hers it would soon be again.

"Holy X'ahl, mother of Tamaran, watch over us now and at the hour of our death..."

The End...?