"CYBORG! ACTIVATE THE MONITOR! MAYBE WE COULD-"
"ALREADY ON IT-"
The Titans were pacing back and forth in the Ops Room, desperate to find answers. What happened, where are they, how are they, what happened to the watchtower? Starfire, anxiety induce, snatched the samples of the tower and scanned the appearance. The burn marks were still warm… Burning? In our exosphere?
Robin paced below the massive screen, trying to distract himself from the horrors that danced tauntingly inside his mind. The sight of the tower in rui—no. The sight of Batman dea—no. The sight of his famil—no. Back and forth, he ran, his knuckles fastening and separating with each moment.
Raven, fixed in the lotus position attempting to flush her emotions out, spoke with a heavy voice, "Robin! You need to calm down!"
"Easy for you to say, Raven!" Robin lashed back in anger, "The Justice League raised me! For all I know—t-they could be-!"
"ROBIN!" Starfire interrupted, practicing the 'calming down.' She placed a hand on his shoulder, making contact with his stare. "You, out of most others on this planet, understand the capabilities of the Justice League, do you not? They are equipped with wit, ferocity, bravery, and determination. They are strong, yes?" Robin, swinging his arms over his head, collapsed on the couch.
—moments of weakness have also come and gone these past five years—
"INITIATING THE COMPUTER SEQUENCE!" Cyborg yelled, queuing the screen.
Robin shot back up: "Justice League! Come in!" 'Please! Just a face! I only need a face… or voice...' The screen fuzzed with black and white particles, overwhelming the room with fizzing sound. "Batman! Come in!" 'Please…'
"Batman is always at the computer…" Beast Boy ran beside his leader.
Robin lashed back around to the control booth, "Cyborg! How fast can you activate the T-Ship?"
"You going into space?!" Raven bellowed.
"I have to!" His eyes rose from the floor valiantly, clenching his fists. "They're my family!" Caught in the wake of determination, Starfire looked to the others; they nodded in return. On her queue, they, as a unit, they stepped toward their leader, all placing one hand on his shoulders.
"You are not going alone." Starfire assured.
"Not without us." Beast Boy grinned.
"We're a family too." Raven spoke.
"Titans go?" Cyborg smirked.
"Begin launch sequence!" Robin ordered into his headphones, his hands racing across the keyboard, activating keys and codes from his private compartment portal, "Main power: online!"
Starfire chimed in, "Oxygen tanks: at maximum!"
"Defensive systems: active!" Raven declared.
Cyborg caressed his station, "Twin turbo engines: purring like a kitten."
"Attack mechanisms: ready to rock!"
Green lights flashed and the ship positioned itself forth from the tower and to the air. "Ready team?" Five… Four…Three…Two…One… "TITANS! Launch!"
*BOOM!*
The shuttle erupted, leaving contact with the earth by the fire blasting from the engine. Suddenly, it plunged forth into the heavens! Starfire watch the city disappear from view. So little times had she left the Earth—in fact, only once, but she usually preferred to not 'relive' her week of transformation. However, in her past before her residency on earth, she had been force to and kidnapped from so many planets and, in response, she felt an attachment to the earth due to her five year stay. She remembered the day as dreadful; however, the only reason why she kept the memory of her coming was because she had met her best friends that day.
'Koriand'r, you, must stay awake…' she stressed her thoughts, 'please… stay… awake…' Weakly, she titled her head back in one last attempt to gather strength, but instead found a blue sphere emerging fast! Her body bloody, beaten, broken, and weak, she failed to fight gravity and shot across the evening sky where the stars dwelled. The emerging light kissed the exosphere in such a blue color, tears welled from heavy eyelids. "Tamaran…" she cried for… then… all was black… Suddenly, she hit the thermosphere and her last peak being a green flame, encasing her form.
With the trumpet's cry of a sonic boom, her body collided into the troposphere. The civilians stared up, children pointed, and the others fled in response to the falling star.
*BOOM!*
She struck the concrete with a mighty blow, burying herself in a self-made crater—a grave she hoped for. She hated herself for lying there as she truly knew that she was alive. The pulsing pain seething throughout her limp body, she choked down her sobbing, and bravely arose.
A young alien (looking the age of fourteen), orange-tinted skin, red haired, black-armored, and magnetically bonded, trembled from the crater's core and stood upon its edge, limp and panting heavily. The people stopped and stared; from her tears that welled, her eyes shot with green light.
"S'RLUG BOR NI BORG'TAS (Please stand back!)!" She bellowed, threatening the crowd with her bonded arms. She pushed down the pain rioting inside her limbs. They stared in confusion. "S'RLUG BOR NI T'RUO (Please, I wish not to fight!)!"
Suddenly, a metallic, sharp object whipped her across the face and she lashed back in anger and…fear. Suddenly, she caught the eyes of a boy, his colors in resemblance to those of a contraption consisting of three vertically consecutive lights, flashing above a transportation vehicle of some sort.
'Brave, brave, brave!' She frantically gagged, her breath short. Suddenly, she leapt into the air and she slammed her bonded fists forcefully next to the boy—she aimed to miss. She hoped to scare him off—Koriand'r unlike the rest her people did not wish to hurt. With each punch she threw, she attempted to miss, but only by inches. He was quick she noted.
Suddenly, the earthling drew up small bomb and hurled its bulk at her.
*Boom!*
On impact, she flew back—truly hurt... She felt the gashes under her armor shriek in pain, irritating her senses. She wanted to run but—'Tamaraneans never give up a fight, Koriand'r!' Her father's voice roared inside her mind violently. She wanted to fall then in there but she could not stand to be weak. She arose, drew up her head, and screamed in anger.
"S'RLUG GRE'K TORG'R MU'O (Leave me alone!)" She kicked up the transportation contraption and launched it in his direction in rage. He dodged it, looked back in awe, and she went in for a hit. "RAH!" She slammed against the ground in burning rage, then recoiled back with a second punch. He forcefully tumbled across the ground and dodged her flying metallic fists that struck the earth into another tremble. "R'SK G'LORG RUTHA (I am not weak!)!" She frantically roared to herself. Her knees on the concrete, she focused her eyes downward, on the verge of tears. 'I just want to go home…' She hoped he could understand…to hear her.
Suddenly, a steel bar struck her into another contraption. The impact of her collision shriveled the vehicle; she felt armor shattering upon the ground, exposing the maimed portions of her body. Oh what they reminded her of: 'your weak,' 'your worthless, ''your pride gone,' 'your innocence lost.'
Suddenly, she drew up her stance and launched at him, only to be thrown back upon ground once more by a shifting green earthling. Back on the ground, she was ready to die... 'Weak,' she whispered to herself. Second wind: She slammed her bonds to the round, snarled, and retaliated in defense by throwing a bus, exerting maximum alien strength. "RAH!" The bus launched into the air, suddenly, to be caught by another boy much larger than the first two. He threw the bus back and wide-eyed, it struck almost the last of her, launching her back into the grave-like crater. Suddenly, her bonds broke off, exposing her bare fists.
To prove her worth, she launched her fists to the air, suddenly blasting hundreds of green disks of starlight across the city. Constant explosion shot throughout the premises, she fell back to the ground… weak…ready to be killed...
Suddenly, a black glow of energy consumed the form, attacking to deliver the final blow, and its conductor, an girl very pale and dressed in a blue cloak, stepped out.
She huddled upon the ground, exposing weak points. A tear seeped in remembrance of her childhood… oh how bright it once was… 'Mother, Father, Galfor, Wildfire… Blackfire.'
Suddenly, the forms suddenly paused… the boy of colors slowly turned back to her and dawned upon a new thought, seeing her so weak…bloody… and tired…the expression in her eyes, so innocent: maybe she's scared…
With pride and coldness melting from his face, he turned towards her with a new expression—an expression she had never seen before: concern. He moved towards her cautiously and she with all her might tried to scamper back… no use…
'Your weak!' Her sister's voice sounded and suddenly she rose to her feet, launching her fists at the boy's chests.
"GOTA (Get away from me!)!"
He spoke words she could not understand, but they were indeed, riddled with a… a warm tone. He reached for something in his pocket, immediately reminding her of her former keepers. She quivered…with fear.
"GOTA (Get away from me!)!" She cried, "GOTA NI' BUOG'HA (Get away from me and leave me alone!)!
He spoke again, this time, surrendering his left arm into the air, the other pulling out… She scampered back violently, shielding herself from… She felt a warm palm wrap around her arm. In disbelief, she saw in his hand not what she thought was chloroform or a weapon, but a key-looking mechanism. He showed her it was safe by drawing the blunt blade upon arm… no wound or blood appeared… She did feel… safe to her surprise.
She… she trusted him...
She powered down, allowing him to gently advance forward to the lock of her bonds and within moments, they dropped to the ground pathetically. She cupped her bloody wrists and gawked back to him, her eyes wide, her fists fastened around her bare waist.
She yelled, "G'REHOTA SE'M CU'RO?"
He flailed his hands across his chest to ease her tone and blabbered in a language she did not understand. Suddenly, she pressed his lips to hers to learn his language with the touch of a tongue…much to his astonishment.
His knowledge seeped into her grasp with a sudden click, then she slammed him back onto the ground.
"WHY DO YOU RELEASE ME?!"
"uhhh…" His eyes were wide, still shocked... the other three snickered in the background.
"WHY DO YOU RELEASE ME?" She demanded, her glare: unbreakable. His eyes shot immediately to the gashes revealed by the tearing of her suit. Bloody cuts were severed across her arms, collarbone, and plunged down her stomach. She had a black eye as well as a scar etched across her forehead in the shape of a crown. Guilt bonded the boy in shame, his eyes wide.
"Did I do that?"
"No…" she powered down and turned solemnly. "...You did not…"
The girl dressed in a blue cloak, hovered towards her as she bled profusely and gestured surrendering hand into the air, "Those look bad, I can help you, I have healing powers!"
"…why do you wish to help me…?"
The larger metallic boy walked up, surrendering his hands as well. "Maybe because we all can be friends… We're sorry for giving you trouble back there. Hi, I'm Cyborg." He extended his metallic arm. Dumbfounded, she scampered back.
"No," The colorful boy assured. "That's how earthlings say hello. You shake hands." And so she did.
She studied the blue span of color wrapped around the sky, the tall buildings dividing the territory, and expression of… concern was it?...amongst the gawking crowed. 'So, this is Earth?'
Beast Boy jumped in , "Hi, alien! Call me Beast Boy!"
"Raven…"
"Robin…" He stepped in and shook her hand softly, "I still don't know your name."
She trembled in her stance to a small degree, soaking in this new feeling… She liked it… She really liked it…. It was most…' glorious.'
"In your language, it would be Star…Fire."
He blushed, "Welcome to Earth… Starfire."
She had been freed that day. She was given a new life… A life of laughter… hope… and what her dear friend's called 'love.' What a strange word, she remembered thinking to herself once. The word also doubled as a verb. A claim and action. An claim proved by an action. An action proved by a claim.
Raven had healed her wounds that the Gordanians had inflicted onto her for amusement, Beast Boy and Cyborg, taught her earthly lingo, and Robin had even stepped in to let her stay with him until Titans Tower had been built-the two were very close: nothing has changed.
"Cyborg! How much longer 'til touchdown?"
"About two minutes. Prepare yourselves, Titans."
With less than a minute, earth disappeared back into the galaxy's collection of sparkling stars and glowing planets as the shuttle cruised forward. They let the silence blanket the moment. Robin was grateful for that as he retreated to his mind, pulsing with worry for his adoptive father, uncles, and aunt. The team looked left to right, frantically in search for their heroes' tower. Robin was in the process of building up his walls, preparing for the worst. He hated to show… well…gushing emotion: the kind that fear brought on. He was a leader—he had to be brave for his teammates.
The changeling's eagle eyes spotted something, still in orbit and shuttered, "Duddee…"
"Beast Boy? Do you see-" Robin froze… his heart shattering. "…no…"
There in the south, a ruin hovered, her remaining pieces scattered within the hundred feet the tower use to claim. Engravings marked the ruin so. The Titans gawked in horror.
"…the watchtower…" Starfire bellowed.
Robin clutched his headphones violently! "Titans! We going in!"
"Affirmed!"
The ship maneuvered into a landing upon the… tower? The team, in exception to Starfire, shoved on their breathing masks and with an exhaust-like snap, the windows of their compartments opened. Team jumped out, making contact with the battered metal. Robin sunk to the floor, his hands grazing the cracks. The crow's nest of the tower was missing and now resting in Jump's Bay. "Who could've done this?" Beast Boy sunk to the ground, clutching his hands to his head in mourning of the heroes his action figures that he used to keep on his windowsill portrayed.
"The tower was supposed to be made out of Titanium… I remember them constructing the finishing touches with metallic chromium…"
Starfire's walked to the distant edge, leapt into a flight, and touched bases with the loose chunk of metal.
More burn marks… Her eyes watched the black scars once more. She turned back to her friends to find them casted into darkness, their walls up, solemnly investigating the ruins. What happened to the Justice League? Oh, friends… She sunk to the floor. What has happened here? Suddenly, she felt metallic chromium-her allergy-teased up her nose and she released half of her energy in an explosive sneeze!
*ACHOO!*
There was a blast of light and the Titans ducked for cover. When the smoke peered away, Starfire was caught in a horrorstruck expression, her hand cupped around her mouth, gawking down at the burn marks she made. Suddenly, the epiphany… oh how strong it hit the girl… as if it smashed right into her, she flinched and threw herself to the ground. She huddled upon the floor, her hands hiding her face, "X'HAL!"
"Starfire!" Raven rushed to attend to her friend. "What's—?" She examined the effects of Starfire's sneeze upon the metal and flicked her eyes dramatically to examine the burn marks upon the tower… They matched. "My God-"
"Starfire!" Robin ran over, reaching out to grasp his friend from the floor. The others followed immediately. Suddenly, she quivered back, holding one hand out to stop him, her other hand hiding her face… her shame.
"Robin! Please! Leave now! I do not deserve to be in your presence!"
"Starfire…" He sunk to her side, "What's gotten into-"
*BOOM!*
Nine shooting stars encased in blinding white flames, combusted the heavens and descended down towards the Titans. The light evaporated away to reveal orange-tinted warriors in purple and black armor, marked furious speed—their strength: no less. They shot through the open space and swept the Titans from their stances and onto the ground. With a quick dance, they bonded the heroes, two men to a Titan. Two shoved Raven against a remaining metallic wall, cupping her mouth. Beast Boy was pressed against the floor and strapped down to prevent him from shifting. Cyborg was bonded in the farthest corner by two bulky aliens. Robin's arms were captivated behind his back in such a position held by great strength; he felt his arms about to violently break. He was slammed down to his knees to entertain the remaining alien who sneered with malice. All struggled amongst their ferocious grip except one who remained untouched: Princess Koriand'r.
"E'ota! Glorf-embr' (Release them!)!" Starfire spat, clenching her fists dramatically. The remaining beckoned back, furrowed his brows, and advanced towards her.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Robin erupted with constant struggling. The warrior lashed back, violently clenched the boy's neck, and slowly lifted him into the air with a stern scowl built by resentment.
"Is she yours to call, earth scum?"
Her eyes witnessed his harm and struck the innocent child inside her: the anger rioted, consumed her and blasted out two white blistering star disks.
She barked back, "General Kro'ka! RELEASE HIM NOW!"
Robin clenched onto the alien's furious grip, choking to find a breath, then suddenly felt a release. He hit the ground with a great force, writhing in relief.
The light faded from her fingertips. Her eyes watered. Her mouth clenched by her grip in pain.
"Star, your starbolts?" Cyborg gasped…
"Starfire, do you know thi-?" Beast Boy sounded
"Please, friends." She hushed, tear rolling down her cheek. "It is best if you stay quiet." Her eyes locked onto the General's. "Why?!" She wailed, "Why have you done such a deed?! These-there were our frie-"
"How dare you question the way of your people!"
The Titans suddenly turned to another in gasps. "Starfire, these are Tamaraneans?" Cyborg trembled.
"Let this be a warning to you, Scum! However, I simply come as a messenger. Tamaran has declared war on Earth! Our people being the first victims and yours," he gestured to the ruins with fury, "being the second."
Next, he turned to Starfire, biting back all the anger and hatred aimed towards the humans for the sake of his princess.
His voice was declarative… but soft. "Ro'ka siem embur'ha, Pri'sera Koriand'r (Come home, Princess Starfire). He paused, stepped back in respect for her, and bowed. "C'tremka rola o'g bru's. He turned back to the Titans to translate. "Due to the mercy of Grand Ruler's Myand'r, I will leave you three days from tomorrow to do so, Princess." He turned to his infantry. "Glorf-emb'r Rum'r ju'lr Pri'sera (Release the earthlings of the princess)," the General commanded.
The freed Titans, drew up their powers and weapons in rage, but were called down by their Starfire.
"No, friends…" Her voice was solemn and hopeless. "Please let them leave…" She gestured a protective arm, permitting the Tamaraneans to depart. She watched them fly into the inky blackness of space… their hands tainted by what they've done…
Her face hidden from her friends, her knees trembled and sunk to the floor. She clutched her head in shame… "I… friends… friends I am so sorry."
"Starfire?" Robin paced over to her with the hope of comfort.
"Please, Robin." She huddled her head to the ground, eyes shut tight, her arms masking her shame. "Friends," she wept profusely, "I do not deserve to be in your presence!"
"Starfire," he spoke still words into solemnness, sank to her, and grasp her shoulders, pulling her close. With fear and shame, she wept, refusing to look at him… how disgraceful to him… her own people… harmed his family.
The rest of the Titans inched forward and knelt around her, their eyes glossy and drowning in concern.
"Starfire. Starfire look at me!" He touched her chin and prompted her face to look into his. For a single moment, she dared to meet his gaze… 'Oh how beautiful'
"Star, I never answered you back at the tower. The Justice League is strong. They can handle themselves…" he paused. "Starfire, we're your friends Tamaranean or not."
"We're your family," Cyborg hand grasped her other shoulder.
"Nothing can change that." Beast Boy assured with warmth, his grasp grazed next to Robin's.
Raven stepped in, her palm made contact with the others', "We have gone through Hell before together… together we can go again."
- Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran… Starfire of Earth-