So...This is longer than I originally planned. I guess it's because this chapter has a lot more dialog, but I also just loved writing these characters so I got a little carried away in some parts.
She'll never get used to traveling underground. It just didn't seem right, especially for her. She was used to flying in the sky. Soring through the clouds, far ABOVE the ground. She had been taking the subway for almost a year now, and she doubted she'll ever be comfortable with the cramped space and lack of fresh air. Or at least as fresh as the air in Gotham could get.
"Hey, Kori!" Turning to her right, the tall red head saw a young girl with choppy blue hair and several piercings walking up to her. "I forgot you take this train home."
"Hello, friend Harper." She then turns back to the window she was staring out of. Watching the underground lights rush by, she couldn't help take notice of her own reflection. At first it was odd looking at herself, with her caramel colored skin and the whites in her otherwise green eyes; the only thing she recognized was her curly red hair coming down to her knees. She had gotten used to it all by now though, even the uncharacteristic frown she now wore.
"Not big on subways, huh?" Harper asks.
"I do not like being underground."
Harper chuckled softly, "I get that I guess. It's like being buried." Kori nodded. "I personally never had a problem with it. Kinda like it actually."
Kori smiled and looked at Harper, "Then you are more brave than I, Harper Rowe." The train stopped, allowing people to get off and go about their business. Taking notice of the stop, Kori knows it's only two more until her own. "Would you like to come to my home, friend Harper? We could work on our homework together. I am still having some problems remembering all the dates in World History."
Harper thought about it for a moment, "Is your sister gonna be their?"
Kori rolled her eyes, "Not this again. Harper..."
"I'm sorry Kori but your sister's a bitch."
"Carmine is not as bad as everyone thinks. She's just...A bit abrasive."
Harper raised an eyebrow, "Are you forgetting that time I did come by your place. I asked Carmine for a soda and she threw the can at my head."
Kori couldn't help but cringe at both the memory and Harper's tone, "Well...To be fair Carmine is a waitress. I'm sure she didn't appreciate being told to fetch something while at home."
Harper scoffed and rolled her, "Fine. But you can't deny that she has this...I don't know...arrogance to her I guess. Like she thinks she's better than everyone else."
"Yes," Kori said with a frown, "I guess that is true." Harper was right about that much, her sister was arrogant. But then, they were princesses. And arrogance tended to go hand-in-hand with royalty. Not that Kori could tell Harper that.
A tap on her shoulder brought Kori out of her reserves. "Lost ya for a minute there Kori."
"Yes, sorry. I was just...Thinking..."
Harper eyed her curiously. "Well, your stop's coming up."
Kori looked out the window again and saw the train pulling into the station. She hurried to the doors and waited for them to open.
"Kori, hey I'm sorry about all that stuff I said about Carmine. It's just that-"
"It is alright Harper." Kori said with a smile. "She may be my sister, but even I can admit that Carmine can be difficult to deal with."
Harper smiled disbelievingly, "Okay, seriously, how can you be so nice with a sister like that? You have to be adopted. Hey, maybe you're Bruce Wayne's long lost cousin or something."
Kori just shook her head, with an amused smile. She followed the other commuters off the train as Harper yelled out, "Hey can I visit you at Wayne Manor sometime!?"
"I assure you Harper," Kori said as the train doors close, "I am not a Wayne!" Harper just waves her off as the train leaves the station. Kori smiles at her friend as she leaves, then looks down with a soft expression. "I cannot be a Wayne. I was not even born on this planet."
As Kori leaves the crowded subway station, she can't help but look up at the sky. The commute to and from school would be so much easier if she could fly. In fact she had flown her first week or two, but then she started hearing rumors about fireballs zooming through Gotham's sky line. She realized people would figure out the three places they kept heading and she and her sister would be discovered; so she stopped. Convincing Komand'r to stop was harder, but she did eventually agree.
It had been almost a year since Koriand'r and Komand'r of Tamaran had taken the identities of Kori and Carmine Anders; two orphaned sisters living in South-East Gotham. Not that they really wanted to.
Tamaranians are powerful warriors, explorers, and traders; always seeking new planets to colonize or trade with. Koriand'r had begged her parents to allow her on one such expedition. They finally agreed but on the condition that her older sister accompany her as well. Which she will never let her forget.
Things were going well enough, they hadn't found anything, but Kori was enjoying the opportunity to see the rest of the universe. That is until their ship was attacked by pirates. They fought as well as they could, but the pirates overwhelmed them. To save the heirs to the throne, the crew forced Komand'r and Koriand'r on to an escape pod before the ship was destroyed.
The pod was small and its engines were too weak to make it back to Tamaran. So the royal sisters had to fly towards the nearest inhabitable star system. Unfortunately, even this distance was too much for the escape ship. The engines gave out and they crash landed on the first planet they could make it to: Earth.
The ship crashed in the woods on the outskirts of the city. The site seemed secluded enough to leave the ship there, and to this day no one has discovered it.
The princesses hid their alien origins by using their ability to assimilate language through touch (Koriand'r insisted on doing so by kissing a bike messenger) and a Tamaranian device worn on their wrists that disguised their appearance. Koriand'r felt the darker complexion complimented her red curly hair. One thing the disguise couldn't hide was their height, as both were over six feet tall. But overall, while the device was active, the two Tamaranian princesses could pass as human.
Kori made it to her apartment in in a couple of minutes. They we lucky to find a place so close to a station. Especially since they didn't even know it was such an important feature of the neighborhood.
Finding an apartment itself was easier than one would expect. Affording rent was simple enough, they sold a few precious stones they had acquired during their journey to have a healthy supply of Earth currency. It was enough for them to live comfortably; not to the degree they were used to, but they were far from Gotham's slums at least.
Saying hello to a few of her neighbors on the way, Kori opened the door to hers and Komand'r's apartment. The first thing she saw was Komand'r lying on the couch watching T.V., already out of her Earth disguise. Komand'r had the distinct Tamaranian golden skin and green pupiless eyes. What made the princess unique was while most Tamaranians have curly red hair, like Koriand'r, Komand'r had straight jet black hair.
"Two women are wrestling topless in an inflatable pool. I don't remember why though. I think it has something to do with a man." She said in a flat tone.
Hesitantly, Koriand'r faced the T.V., and indeed there were two shirtless women fighting on screen in a small pool. There exposed breasts were pixelated to the point it was impossible to see them. It continued to confuse Kori how repressed humans were at times. Why would they prevent the viewer from seeing the beauty of these women's breasts? Sure the women themselves weren't what Kori would consider...conventionally attractive, but if they were fighting over a man, it's clear he was able to see their beauty.
Why they actually were shirtless and fighting in a pool of water was completely beyond her though. "Uh...That is...nice, Komand'r. I see you are home early from work again. Have your hours at the restaurant been reduced?" She asked, becoming concerned.
"Don't worry, sister dear." Komand'r said, falseness in the sweet tone of her voice Kori never seemed to detect, "We still have enough coming in to pay for this glorious abode of ours." Even Koriand'r couldn't miss the mountain of sarcasm radiating off her sister's comment.
"Sister." While Koriand'r had grown to enjoy her time on Earth, Komand'r just seemed to get more and more restless. After getting their apartment, the sisters conserved a plan to sustain themselves, as the money they got from selling jewels would only pay their first few months' rent, and they had no idea how long they'd be on the planet. Komand'r would find a job, while Koriand'r would go to Earth school and learn more about the planet's civilization and culture.
After only a month on Earth, Komand'r insisted Koriand'r got the easier part of the deal.
"What, are you going to lecture me again? How you have it just as hard as I do? How we need to blend in as much as possible until we figure out how to get home? I'm starting to forget who the older sister here is."
Kori sighed as she took off her book bag and sat on the love seat next to the couch, "Fine, I won't say anything."
The sisters sat in silence as the humiliation of humanity played itself out on T.V. Kori turned off her disguise, reverting to her natural Tamaranian coloring. "Have you checked on the ship lately?" Komand'r asked, not taking her eyes off the screen.
"Yes. The emergency signal is still transmitting."
More silence followed before Komand'r spoke again, "We're so far away from Tamaran it'll take years for the signal to reach. And even if the ship we got here in wasn't completely wrecked, there's no way it would have enough fuel to get to another planet, let alone another star system."
"Would that be so bad?" Komand'r looked at Kori. "I miss Tamaran. More than anything. Every night I dream of flying over the forests near the capital. Seeing mother, father and Ryand'r. And everyone else." A far away smile gracing her face as she talked.
"What's your point Koriand'r?"
"As much as I miss Tamaran, I like it here on Earth. The people are lovely, the culture is fascinating..."
The women have since finished their wrestling match, dried off and dressed; and were now screaming profanities at one another. "Clearly." Komand'r said before turning the T.V. off.
"Even Tamaran has aspects of its civilization we are not proud of."
"Yes, but at least we have the sense not to put such aspects on display like this." Kori had no defense for that. That show was deplorable. "This whole planet needs to be disinfected."
"It is not so bad."
"Please." Komand'r finally got up from the couch, "These hairless apes are so far below us on the evolutionary ladder I think I've actually gotten dumber since learning their language. If we had come to this planet for any other reason it would be as conquers!"
"Do not be ridiculous Komand'r. You know we only attack planets that have shown hostility towards us or refuse trade. This planet has no minerals or goods that would be valuable to us. We would have no reason to attack it."
Komand'r scoffs and walks towards the kitchen, "Then this planet is well and truly useless, is it not?"
"That is not what I meant and you know it." Koriand'r got up and followed her.
"Why do you care so much?"
"I told you, I like here! I have made friends, people I care about."
"What, that blue haired little nothing?" Komand'r scoffed as she took a beer bottle out of the fridge.
"Harper is not a NOTHING!"
"THEY ARE ALL NOTHING KORIAND'R!" Komand'r slammed the bottle on the counter, smashing it and leaving a dent in the surface.
Neither spoke, just glaring at each other for almost a minute. Until Komand'r looked at her dripping wet hand. The glass, of course, hadn't pierced her skin; but beer was spreading all over the counter top. "One of us should clean that up." Koriand'r said.
Komand'r just grabbed another beer and said, "Knock yourself out." as she left the kitchen. Koriand'r glared at her sister before cleaning up her mess.
The kitchen now clean, Koriand'r sat on the couch next to her dark haired sibling as she flipped through different channels. "We should not be fighting like this." The younger princess finally said.
Komand'r stopped on a cartoon with a yellow sea creature. She liked the absurd humor of the show. "We are sisters, Koriand'r. Fighting is what we do."
"Yes, but now we are all the other has. I have made friends here...But you are my only sister. My blood. The only family I have on this planet." Kori grabbed her sister's hand and held it. "I do not want to have these petty fights."
Komand'r looked at her sister for a moment, and then pulled her into a hug. "Very well, dear sister. I apologize."
"As do I, sister." They separate and relax into the cushions of the couch. Kori smiled her thousand watt smile as she clapped her hands together, "Now that we have reconciled, we should do something fun together. Oh, we could visit the movie theater!" She turned to Komand'r, an excited twinkle in her green eyes.
Komand'r shook her head, but never the less said, "Fine, Koriand'r. But first allow me to wash the stench of fried food off me." She got off the couch with a grimace and made her way to the bathroom.
After a combined hour of preparation from both sisters, Kori and Carmine left their apartment. Carmine's disguise has a complexion a shade or two darker than Kori's, but the same green eyes. She wore a dark blue mid-drift tee with "Bad Girl" printed on the front (Yea, I know, really blatant foreshadowing. Don't shot me.) and low-riding skinny jeans to show off her hips in all the right ways. Kori had on a violet long sleeved shirt and black mini skirt, as well as a couple of bracelets.
At the main entrance of the building, they ran into the landlord, "Oh, if it isn't the beautiful Anders girls from 5C." the elderly man said as he got his mail.
"Hello Mr. Levy. How are you this evening?" Kori asked cheerfully. Carmine just huffed and crossed her arms.
"Can't complain, can't complain. I see you two are hittin' the town tonight."
"Yes, we are having a sister's night at the movies." Kori said as she pulled Carmine closer to her by the arm. The older Anders attempted a weak smile for about half a second before falling back into a scowl.
Mr. Levy walked around the sisters and made his way back upstairs, "Well don't let me keep you. And don't do anything I wouldn't. Heh-heh." The old man gave a hearty chuckle as Kori waved goodbye to him.
Kori left the building, her sister following lethargically behind. "Must you talk with everyone you meet?"
"Mr. Levy is a nice man. You'd know that if you bothered to talk with him." Kori answered walking down the street.
"I'd rather have Mundagian leeches burrow into my head."
The next day, Kori was studying in the library with Harper and two other girls. She had barely touched her school books after going to the movies with Komand'r, and had some catching up to do. Kori was reading about the Spanish Inquisition when the conversation of the other girls caught her attention, "It was just like those weird fireballs people were seeing a while ago, remember?" The blonde, Violet, said in a hushed tone. The libertarian had already warned the gossiping girls about talking to loud twice now.
"Of course I remember," The darker skinned girl, Tiana, answered also in a quiet voice. "One of 'em kept heading towards the school. I'm surprised it didn't blow us up or something. Did anyone ever figure out what those things were?"
"I don't think so. But this one turned out to be some flying chick in this skimpy looking outfit."
"Jesus Christ. Like we didn't have enough to worry about in this city with homicidal clowns, and nine foot tall alligators; now we got flying stripper jewel thieves?"
"Crocodile." Harper said, curtly.
"What?" Violet and Tiana asked in unison.
"Well, his name's Killer Croc. It only stands to reason he's a crocodile."
"Oh, that is so not the point!" Tiana said, her voice going up an octave and Harper and Violet shushing her. Lowering her voice again, Tiana continued, "The point is we have enough freaks in this city without having to worry about super strong flying bitches."
"'Super Strong Flying Bitches' would be an awesome name for an all-girl band." Harper said smiling to herself.
"Make that super strong flying...Bs that shoots lasers out of their hands." Violet corrected.
"Nah, that's too long."
Kori had absent-mindedly read the same page three times as the other girls continued their conversation, becoming more and more worried as it went on.
Harper shrugged, "Eh, I ain't too worried. Ol' Bats take care of her eventually."
"I don't know. You think even a vampire could stand up to something like this?" Violet asked.
"Batman isn't a vampire." Harper said with a scoff, "I mean he's been around for...What, six/seven years? I can't believe stupid rumors like that are still around."
"You'd better believe her, Vi." Tiana said smirking, "Harper's the biggest Batman fan girl in Gotham."
"Oh, shut up." The blue haired punk threw a paper ball at her friend. The girls burst into a short giggle fit; until the librarian shushed them again.
The girls quieted down, except Kori who remained silent throughout the whole thing. When the girls started talking again, the topic had changed to gossip about a school athlete being suspended.
Kori tried to focus on her studies, but couldn't shake the feeling of dread about the flying robber they were discussing before. "Friend Violet." Softly getting the blonde's attention, "The thief you were talking about..."
Harper got an amused smile on her face, "Y'mean the Super Strong Flying-"
"Yes, her." She interrupted her, not wanting the insult to be addressed to the thief, not if it was who she thought it was. "I was wondering, do you know what this woman looked like?"
The other girls looked confused by her question. "Uh, you mean besides the flaming hair?" Kori nodded. Flaming hair, that wasn't a good sign. "I think I heard that her skin was kind of orange-ish gold, and her eyes were like, totally green. No pupils or nothing."
"Dude, she sounds like an alien." Harper said chuckling.
"Maybe we should call Superman or the Manhunter to deal with her." Tiana said.
"No way. I'm telling ya, Bats can handle it." Harper immediately shot back.
As the others engaged in a debate as to which superhero is the most capable, Kori sank into her seat, a crushed look plastered on her face. 'From Violet's description, the thief is obviously Tamaranian.' Kori thought to herself, 'Which means that either there is another of our people on Earth...Or Komand'r...is...'
Kori shook the idea from her head, 'No. Komand'r would not stoop to thievery. She would not. I know she...'
"Kori?" The distressed red head looked to see Harper with concern in her eyes. "You okay?"
Kori looked to her other friends, either looking either confused or worried. "Uh, yes. I am fine. I..." She started gathering her things, "I think I am done studying. I will see you in class, friends." She offered the other girls a weak smile before getting up and walking away from the table.
"Hey, wait up." Harper grabbed the red head's arm. "Hey, Kori what's wrong?" She was about to answer, but Harper interrupted, "And don't say nothing. I know something's up."
Kori sighed, "It is complicated. I do not think I can explain it."
Harper glared at her, but relented all the same, "Fine. But if you're not gonna tell me what's buggin' you; I can at least help you forget it for the night."
"What do you mean?" Kori cocked an eyebrow in confusion.
"I mean the four of us having fun tonight!" Harper slung her arm as best she could around Kori's shoulder. "You, me, Vi, and Tiana; we're gonna make this town regret we ever lived here." She bumped her hip into Kori in her excitement.
Kori couldn't help but giggle at Harper's enthusiasm. Thinking about it, this was probably the best thing she could do. Komand'r already told her she wouldn't be home until late that night. So it was either go out with her friends, or sit at home and worry.
Honestly, it wasn't even a choice. "Very well, Harper. I'll go. Where do we meet?"
"Downtown Gotham. Whatever's bothering you, you'll forget all about it, and probably even you own name by the end of the night." She walked back to the table they once sat to inform the other girls of her plans.
Kori continued out of the library. Whatever the truth is, it's all moot until she can talk with her sister face to face. She just hoped, against all logic, that Komand'r isn't the thief.
They were at least an hour into their night out, and the girls were whooping like drunk collage girls. Mostly because they were drunk. Harper somehow got her hand on a case of beer and they'd snuck 'em into the first club they hit. Unfortunately, they were thrown out for disorderly conduct.
Now they were stumbling drunkenly down the street. Well, all of them except Kori. Just one of the benefits of her Tamaranian physiology. She could drink any human under the table if she wanted.
"Okay, seriously, how the hell are you still walking straight?" Harper asked, nearly tripping over herself. "I'm pretty sure you had more than any of us. So what gives?"
"I, uh...Have a very strong constitution." Technically not a lie.
"Huh, ya mind sharing some of it with Vi?" Harper points over to Violet who, after only two bottles, is hanging onto Tiana for dear life while singing loudly and off-key, "Cause I've got a brand new Combine Harvester and I'll give you the key! Dun-da-dun-da-da! Come on let's get together in perfect harmony!"
"That's it, baby. Sing for the camera." Tiana goaded her friend on while getting the entire performance on film with her phone.
"Tiana is way too mean sometimes." Harper said while laughing her head off. Kori smiled her usual bright smile. This truly had helped her. She was still worried about her sister, obviously, but it didn't seem as bleak as before. Kori'd figure out what to say to Komand'r when the time came to confront her at home. For now, she could relax and enjoy the night with her friends.
Or that's what she planned on when a squad of police cars raced by them, and were promptly blown to bits by energy beams similar to Koriand'r's own Starbolts. "No..."
A black fireball flew over the street before stopping in midair and proving Koriand'r's worst fears correct. Komand'r floated above the streets in her Tamaranian armor, a dark blue chest plate that covered her chest and neck, but exposed her mid-section, bracers on her wrists, shorts and thigh high boots. Black flames fanning off her long dark hair, she had a duffle bag slung over her shoulder. A few of the police opened fire on the rouge alien. The bullets either missing or bouncing off her armor before she blasts them back.
The girls back away from the battle looking in horror of the scene, "Holy crap! It's the Super Strong Flying Bitch!" Tiana shouted.
"Komand'r." While her friends try to get away from the chaos, with tears in her eyes, Koriand'r walks towards her sister in the middle of it all.
Harper notices and yells out to her friend, "Kori, what are you doing!? Get your ass out of there!"
A stray starbolt from Komand'r blasts a cop car in to the air and on a path to crush the three girls. Kori, acting on pure instinct, flies up and catches the car in mid-air, orange flames trailing behind her long curls. Her friends stare in wide eyed awe as Kori gently places the car down.
The cop still in the car gets out and says to her, "Uh thanks?" before running off.
"You are welcome." She calls back, before turning to her friends.
The three girls stare dumbfounded at the flaming haired girl before them. "I must be really drunk." Violet slurs, "Because I could have sworn I just saw Kori flying and holding a car."
"That's because you did." Tiana said, still in shock.
Harper walked up to Kori, "Kori...I...What?"
Before the alien princess could say anything, another series of explosions catches her attention first. She turns back to her blue haired friend, "Harper, take Violet and Tiana and get somewhere safe." She turns away and walks towards the destruction again.
'Wait, where are you going?"
Kori turns off her disguise as she says, "I am going to have a word with my sister." She flies away leaving her friends to get to safety.
Komand'r threw another car at the cops before blowing it up, successfully suppressing their resistance. But just as she was about to fly away with her loot, someone shouting her name stopped her.
Koriand'r flew in front of her sister and stared her down. Below them, one of the few cops still conscious muttered out loud, "Oh god not another one."
"Dear sister! What a surprise to see you here. Well, like I said we won't have to worry about money for a while." She said, holding up the bag.
Kori looks at the bag with disappointment in her eyes, "Who did you steal from?"
Komand'r laughed lightly at the question, "Why ask? It's not like it matters."
"TELL ME WHO STOLE FROM, KOMAND'R!"
Komand'r looked genuinely surprised by her sister's outburst. Koriand'r is usually so calm; it usually takes a lot for her to lose her temper. "I don't know."
"Komand'r..." The younger princess growled.
"It was some bank, I don't remember the name." She said with a shrug like it wasn't a big deal. "I don't see why you care."
"Why I-Komand'r, look at what you have done!" She yelled, gesturing to the destruction around them.
"We are warriors, Koriand'r. This is what we do."
"This is not an act of a warrior. You attacked an enemy that could never hope to match you. That is not what we were taught!"
"We were taught to survive and win." Komand'r said with her usual arrogance. "And that's clearly what I've done. This is what we need to survive in this world," She held up the bag again, "And this is how we are going to get it. Not working at that pathetic restaurant. It's beneath me; beneath us."
"And theft isn't?"
"It's not my first choice, but its fun, and I am good at it."
Kori closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Then, with a determined scowl she grabbed one of the bag's straps and tried to pull it towards her; but Komand'r held on to it, "You will return what you have stolen. And you will not steal again!"
Komand'r's face grew dark and furious at her little sister's demands, "I think, dear BABY sister, we are again forgetting who is older here."
"You are not acting like it. Now will return the money you have taken?"
"And if I don't?" The black haired princess asked with a smirk, "Who will make me."
The alien sisters glare daggers at each other for a minute before Koriand'r said, "I will!" And she blasts her sister with her own Starbolt. Flying backwards, Komand'r let go of the bag. Koriand'r threw the bag to the police and flew after her sister.
When she came closer to where her sister landed, Komand'r rocketed towards her and punched her right in the stomach. She followed up with an uppercut, grabbing a fistful of her hair and threw her into a building. Kori flew out of the way before Komand'r could blast her. She dodged a few more blasts until she was close enough to Komand'r to punch her right in the face and kick her in the chest, sending her flying back.
Koriand'r followed ready to strike again, but Komand'r blocked. The older princess tried to hit her back, but Koriand'r caught the punch. Before Komand'r could make another move, Koriand'r grabbed both of her sister's wrists, reared back, head-butted Komand'r, and followed it up with another starbolt sending Komand'r to the ground in a crater.
Koriand'r flew towards her prone sister. Komand'r fired another bolt which Koriand'r dodged easily. Unfortunately, that exactly what Komand'r wanted. Taking immediate advantage of her sister's momentary distraction, Komand'r flew up and grabbed Koriand'r by the neck. She slammed her down into the street. She flew forward, pushing Koriand'r through the pavement as she did, then threw her into a car.
As Kori struggled to get up, Komand'r said to her, "Since mother and father aren't here to discipline you, baby sister," The red head looked up to see her sister holding another car over her head. "I guess I'll have to!" She brought the car down on her, and then blew both up with a starbolt.
Koriand'r was blown across the streets and landed in a heap, her sun dress either singed or torn. Komand'r hovers over her with a smug smile. "You should have known this would happen, Koriand'r. I have always been stronger than you." Koriand'r slowly got her knees. "I want you to know that I don't wish to hurt you dear sister. But I will if you insist on trying to stop me."
Koriand'r stood uneasy and glared at her sister. Komand'r just sighed, "I know that look. Fine if that's how you want this to go." The dark haired princess's hands glow with energy. Before Komand'r could continue to attack her sister, an explosive projectile knocks her back.
Koriand'r doesn't even have enough time to question what just happened before a black figure grabs her and flies her to a nearby building. It dumped her carelessly on the roof. She looked over her shoulder to see a man dressed in a dark Kevlar suit, a black cape and cowl covering his face except for his mouth and chin. A young girl, around her age and dressed in a similar dark suit except for a cowl covering her mouth and a mask over her eyes, stood next to him. Both bore bat symbols on their chests.
"You...you are the Batman." Koriand'r said in awe.
"You and your friend are tearing up the city." He said curtly and with a tone in his voice that brokered no room for argument. "I want to know why."
Koriand'r would have answered, if Komand'r hadn't begun screaming in the streets below, "KORIAND'R! WHERE ARE YOU!? DON'T YOU HIDE FROM ME!"
Koriand'r stood up and walked towards the edge of the building to look down to see her sister flying around trying to find her. "She is not my friend, she is my sister."
"That doesn't explain why you were fighting." Batman said simply.
"We had a disagreement." Koriand'r said in a low sad voice, "I wished she would return money that she had stolen. She refused."
Batman paused for a moment before saying to her, "I can't have your sister wrecking Gotham like this. I will have to stop her."
"Then allow me to help. She is my sister. That means she is my responsibility."
Batman eyed Kori for a moment, "I don't think-" The girl grabbed his arm and gave him a look. Batman sighed and turned back to Kori. "Fine, here's what we're going to do."
Tonight was a complete bust. The police finally got a good look at her, she lost the money, and Koriand'r got away somehow. Komand'r scanned the streets one last time with a sneer. If she couldn't find Koriand'r, she might as well head home, and wait to see if her sister has changed her mind. She was just grateful that she could still hide as Carmine Anders.
Turning to fly back to her apartment, a bola ensnares Komand'r in midair. Batman drops down on a car near her, "Oh, the Batman. Didn't I already defeat you? I'm surprised you are on your feet already."
"I heal fast. Plus I have some back up now."
Komand'r looked confused for a second before Koriand'r blasted her from behind. Batman threw two explosive bataranges at the tied princess and her sister knocked her back towards the street.
Komand'r finally frees herself and is about to blast Koriand'r when Batman's grapple line wraps around her waist and pulls her down. Batman dive kicks Komand'r to the ground and jumps away from her while throwing a smoke bomb.
Komand'r stumbled around in the smoke until Batman's electrified fist smashed into her face. More blows connected to her chest, stomach, back and face as Komand'r failed to strike Batman back or hit him with a starbolt. When the smoke started to dissipate, Batman pressed a shock glove against Komand'r's neck to stun her, then threw her towards a waiting Koriand'r and received a starbolt powered uppercut.
As Batman and Koriand'r continued to battle the rogue princess, Batgirl snuck into an office building with a bow and arrow. She made her way up to the ninth floor and found a window facing the battle. She opened the window, activated a signal on her belt, and knotted an arrow.
Batman received his young partners signal and called out, "Koriand'r, now!"
The red head grabs her sister and puts her into a full nelson to hold her in place, "What are you doing Koriand'r?"
"Making sure you will not hurt anyone else!"
Batgirl takes the opportunity Koriand'r gave and shoots the arrow at Komand'r. The arrowhead bounces off the alien princess's skin, but the impact releases a gas right in her face. Koriand'r releases Komand'r and flies back, letting Komand'r get the full dose.
Komand'r coughs a few times, "Really, is that the best you can do? That was more pathetic than I-" She's silenced by her muscles seizing up. Komand'r's whole body begins convulsing uncontrollably and she falls out of the sky.
Koriand'r floats down next to where Komand'r landed. The black haired princess's body spasms one more time then stopped moving. She looked up to her sister, "What...What did you do to me?"
"It's a nerve gas I developed to incapacitate super-humans." Batman answered as Koriand'r just looked at her defeated sister with pity. "It induces a temporary state of paralysis. You won't be moving for the next few hours." He sat Komand'r up to place her in handcuffs and pressed a button on one of his gauntlets. A few seconds later a large tank-like vehicle drove up to them as Batgirl glided gracefully onto the scene.
Batman picked Komand'r up bridal style as a compartment in the back of the vehicle opened with two seats designed to hold prisoners inside. He placed Komand'r in one of the seats. Koriand'r and Komand'r's eyes meet before the compartment closed. Koriand'r with a look of sadness, and Komand'r with pure hatred.
The vehicle drove off after securing Komand'r. "What will happen to her now?" Koriand'r asked looking in the direction her sister was carried off in.
"I programmed the Batmobile to take your sister to the GCPD central station. From there she will more than likely be sent to Bel Reeve. Neither Black Gate nor Arkham have the facilities to hold an alien with her kind of power." The dark knight answered clinically.
When Koriand'r just kept staring off into the distance, Batgirl put her hand on Batman's shoulder and said, "Comfort." Gesturing to Koriand'r.
Batman glanced at his partner, then walk towards the distraught red head. "Koriand'r, I'm sorry about your sister. I'm assuming you have no other relatives, at least not on Earth." Batgirl shook her head; she was starting to realize Batman wasn't the best at this whole "Comforting people" thing.
Koriand'r looked towards the ground, "No. Komand'r was the only family I had. And it is too far to contact the rest of my people." She hugs herself, "I am alone." Batman puts a gloved hand on Kori's shoulder in a rare show of compassion.
"Kori!" Harper ran up to her friend and the two dark heroes. She stopped for a second to catch her breath; then immediately lost it the second she saw the imposing figure standing next to Kori. "Holy crap. You're Batman." The Dark Knight silently nods. "Wow, you're built like a tank..." She shook her head and turned her attention back to Kori. "Kori, are you okay? Ya look like hell."
"Harper, what are you doing here? I told you to get somewhere safe with Violet and Tiana." Koriand'r said.
"I made sure Vi and Tiana got out of the warzone, but if you think I'm leaving my girl behind you really are from another planet."
"Harper." Kori smiled gently at her friend.
"So I guess the Super Strong Flying...Uh...I guess that was Carmine, huh?" She pointed in the direction of the Batmobile. Kori's expression became downcast as she nodded. "Kori look, if there is anything you need or something I can help with, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask, alright?"
Teary eyed, Koriand'r pulls Harper into a hug. "Family." The two girls turn to see Batman now standing next to Batgirl. They had actually forgotten the heroes were even here. "Kor..i...and...r, You still have family. Harper is family." She talked slowly and with a slight accent, like English wasn't her first language.
"Family doesn't end, with blood." Batman added, "You should think about that. Good luck, and keep out of trouble. Let's go, Batgirl." The two heroes pull out grapple guns and zip away.
"Damn, I just met Batman and Batgirl." Harper said in awe. "Too bad Robin wasn't here. And I could have sworn Batgirl was a red head." She then looked at Koriand'r. "So this is what you really look like. Not bad."
Koriand'r giggled softly at her friend. The sound of sirens caught the girls' attention, "We should leave." Kori pulled the blue haired girl closer to her and flew way from the approaching police cars. "Where are Violet and Tiana?"
"Oh man! I can't believe we're flying!" Harper cheered.
"Harper!"
"What? Oh, right I left 'em on 5th and Jefferson. Hopefully Tee managed to get Vi back home in one piece." Kori landed in a nearby park and let Harper down. "By the way, the flaming hair is sick."
"Thank you, friend Harper. And I too hope our friends are safe." Kori walked over to a bench and sat down.
Harper sat next to her, "So what are ya gonna do now?" She glanced at Kori who look very unsure, "I meant what I said. You need anything, I'm here for you."
"I know. We are family, after all." She said with a small smile. "I am not sure what I will do. My sister has been arrested, and it could be years before someone from my home will come to find me."
"So you really are an alien then."
Kori nodded her head, "You are taking this very well."
Harper scoffed, "Kori, this is a city with a guy dressed in a bat costume, a dude made of clay, and a green chick that controls plants. My best friend being an alien is exactly the weirdest thing in the world anymore."
Kori smiled and looked up at the sky. After a moment of comfortable silence, Harper said, "Y'know, you should probably leave." The alien princess turned to her friend, "Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if you'd stay. But you land on Earth and the first place you end up is Gotham? That sucks. I mean, you can fly. You should be out seeing the world. And with Carmine in jail there's really nothing keeping you here."
"Only you."
"Yea, cause I'm a good not to be awesome. Come on, if you got out of this cesspool you could make a name for yourself. Be big, a star." Something popped into Harper's mind at that moment, "Starfire. Has a nice ring to it, huh?"
"Do you really think I should go?"
"As much as I don't want you to...Yea. I do."
Harper and Kori smile at each other, then Kori and kisses Harper on the temple. "Then this is good bye, friend Harper."
The alien girl stood up to walk from under the tree line followed by her friend. "You had better come visit. Often. And call whenever possible." Kori smiled and waved good bye. She shot into the sky like a rocket, climbing higher and higher until all that was visible of her was a glowing fireball. Along with Harper, a cloaked figure watched as the light of the flaming girl disappeared.
Starfire was one of the first Titans I thought should be on the team. Both the comics and the cartoon tend to have Kori's story focus on her being an alien and being weird and stuff. So I thought it'd be interesting to see her already living on Earth for a while had gotten used to some of our culture. I always had the idea that Blackfire would be with Kori and eventually have the two turn against each other.
Adding Harper was a last minute thing. I needed a friend for Kori to interact with and I wanted it to be a pre-existing Gotham citizen. At first it was going to be Stephanie Brown, but then I remembered Harper and how much I liked her so in she went. I'm curious how people are going to react to Harper and Kori's relationship. I accidentally wrote their dialog a bit more romantic than I originally planned to.
And for anyone curious, Cass has been Batgirl for a few of weeks by the time of this story, that's why she can talk a little and Batman is so accepting of her. Unfortunately, I'm not planning on Cass appearing in any of the other Titans' origin stories. You probably won't see her again until the big team up at chapter nine.
Up next is The Machine.