The private lounge in Mount Justice is quiet, the soft hum of the base's machinery filling the background. Superboy paces back and forth, his broad shoulders tense and his jaw tight. His normally stoic expression is replaced by visible irritation, his arms crossed tightly across his chest.

Sitting on the couch nearby, Miss Martian holds a datapad, her brow furrowed as she scrolls through pages of information. Her eyes occasionally flicker to Superboy, a mixture of concern and patience on her face.

Superboy sighed "One year. An anniversary only happens once. I've been planning this trip, and now we have to put everything on hold. Mars, space... it was supposed to be our time, M'gann. Just us. And now that Starfire shows up and now you say we have to place everything on hold." He sighs

Miss Martian looked up softly "I know, Conner. I was looking forward to it too, however Starfire showing up makes me nervous and we need all hands on deck."

Superboy sighed, stopping to face her "It's not fair. Every time we get close to something normal, something else comes up and..." As he turned to look at Miss Martain "It's as if the universe is trying to make each one of us miserable or something and keep us apart." He rubbed his eyes as he mumbled to himself "What's next? Is some time traveller going to turn you into a guy to stop our children from being born? Is the justice league going to be mind controlled by brainiac? Are we going to be teleported to some dark alternate reality or something?" He said sarcastically

Miss Martian sighed as sets the datapad down, took a sip of her tea and she rose to her feet and walked over to him. She places a gentle hand on his arm, her touch calming but firm. "I know that it is frustrating, but we'll go. Maybe not today, maybe not next week, but we'll make it happen. We always do."

Superboy sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly as a small smile flickered on his face"It just feels like we're always putting our lives on hold for something else. Sometimes I wonder if we'll ever get a break. A real proper one."

Miss Martian smiled softly "We will. We will. And when we do, it'll be even more special. Right now, though, we need to focus on what's in front of us."

"I know…I know." Superboy exhales with a small loving smile, running a hand through his hair as Miss Martian picks up the datapad again, scrolling through the information she'd been reading earlier. "Is that about her? The alien girl…Starfire?"

Miss Martian nodded "Yes. I've been trying to learn as much as I can about her planet, Tamaran. It's not much, but from what I've found..."

She pauses, her green skin paling slightly as her eyes widen.

"...What?"

"Koriand'r, also known as Starfire, is the princess of Tamaran. She's the second heir to the throne…and apparently next in line" Miss Martian read from some alien database.

Superboy stared at her "Princess? You're saying we've got a royal in the medical wing?"

Miss Martian nodded slowly "Yes, and judging by the fact that she arrived here in an escape pod, this... doesn't look good. A princess doesn't just leave her planet like that. Something must have happened…"

Superboy sinks into a nearby chair, his earlier annoyance replaced by unease. "So, what are we supposed to do? If she's royalty, that means her planet's probably looking for her. Or worse, someone forced her to run. For all I know Tameran could be under Brainiac's or Zod's or Darkseid's control…"

Miss Martian sat beside him, her face puzzled "Exactly. That's why we need to tread carefully. We can't just exactly send her back without knowing the full story. And if something did happen to her on Tamaran, we could be dealing with a much bigger problem than we realize."

Superboy sighed "Great. More complications. Just what we needed."

Miss Martian smiled teasing, lightly touching his hand "You always say you want to punch the bad guys. Well, this might be your chance to punch some more intergalactic bad guys."

Superboy snorted, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile as he bit his lips as he made a goofy expression that always made her smile. "Yeah…yeah…maybe. Still doesn't quite make up for missing our trip."

Miss Martian leaned closer, her voice soft "Nothing will ever replace that time, Conner. But we are together now. And when we finally do go, it'll be worth the wait."

Superboy leans back, letting out a deep breath as he places his hand over hers. "You're right. I'm sorry for getting so worked up. It's just... I wanted everything to be perfect for us on our special day…week…well you know."

Miss Martian smiled "It will be. But for now, let's focus on helping her. Whatever happened to her, she's going to need allies."

Superboy nodded "Yeah. And if anyone comes looking for her, they will have to get through us first."

Miss Martian gives him a warm smile, squeezing his hand as they embrace.

The dense forest surrounding Starfire's crash site is quiet, except for the occasional birds chirping and rustling of leaves in the wind. The charred remains of the escape pod sit half-buried in the ground, its once-sleek exterior scorched and dented from its turbulent descent. Nearby, a group of alien bounty hunters approach cautiously, clad in mismatched armor and wielding advanced weaponry.

Their leader, a hulking alien with pale green skin and four glowing eyes named Draknar, steps forward. His heavy boots crunch against the underbrush as he gestures for the others to fan out and secure the area.

Draknar looked around him as if trying to hide his awe of the beautiful taiga forest"Keep your eyes sharp. This is the pod we tracked from the ship... If what our interceptors had said is true, we might have ourselves a royal catch."

A smaller alien with wiry limbs and sharp claws, Pikra, steps forward, running her scanner over the pod. The device hums before beeping loudly. "The pod's intact. Looks like it recorded its descent. I'll extract the data now."

She crouches beside the pod, opening a hidden compartment near its base. A faint glow emanates from within as she pulls out a small black box, a small recording device. She plugs it into her wrist-mounted computer, her eyes narrowing as the footage begins to play.

The recording shows Starfire in the pod, her face a mixture of determination and desperation as she navigates the controls. The footage then shifts to the crash, the chaotic impact shaking the camera before it cuts to static. When the image returns, it shows Nightwing and the Young Justice team cautiously approaching the pod in the forest.

Draknar grinned "Well, well. Looks like the princess has some new friends. Those uniforms…they're Terrans I believe. And organized ones at that."

Pikra scowled "Not just Terrans. Did you see the insignia on their craft? Justice League affiliates. This won't be easy."

Draknar sneered at this "Since when do we care about 'easy'? We have enough gear to take care of most of them. The contract…the instructions were clear. Koriand'r is worth more credits than all our last jobs combined. Enough for all of us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Find her, and anyone who gets in the way won't live to regret it."

A third bounty hunter, a tech-savvy alien named Zokar, steps forward, tapping away at a holographic console projected from his gauntlet. The console displays a map of Earth, focusing on the coordinates where the pod landed.

"Looks like they didn't take her far. I've traced their departure trajectory. Based on their speed and direction, they're holed up in a base about 200 kilometers from here."

Draknar's grin widens, his sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. "Then we're wasting time. Load up. We are moving now."

Pikra hesitated "You sure about this? Justice League connections mean heavy backup. This isn't just some backwater job."

Draknar scowled "Backup or not, Koriand'r is ours to take. Besides, they won't even know we're coming until it's too late."

The bounty hunters and the rest of their crew retreat to their ship, a heavily armed and battle-worn craft concealed nearby. Inside, Draknar gathers his team, laying out the plan.

"We breach their defenses fast and hit them hard. Split into two teams: one creates a distraction, the other grabs the princess. We're in and out before they know what hit them."

Pikra sharpens her claws, her grin feral. "And if they resist?"

Draknar scowled coldly "Neutralize them. The contract doesn't care who we leave breathing."

The hospital room was bathed in a cold, fluorescent glow. The hum of the heart monitor provided a steady rhythm against the backdrop of faint sounds from the hallway. Thomas Stirling lay reclined in his hospital bed, half-watching the TV mounted on the wall. A flashy tacky entertainment program played, its hosts laughing as they interviewed a glamorous looking woman who had too much make up, too much plastic surgery and wore flashy golden clothes that each cost over 7 figures. Her name was Seraphina Lux, the famous supermodel and actress.

Seraphina, with her perfectly styled golden hair and dazzling smile, sat poised on a luxurious sofa, radiating effortless confidence. The caption below her read "Seraphina Lux: The Star Who Has It All."

Thomas's eyes narrowed as he watched her speak, her voice smooth and honeyed as she recounted tales of her latest successes.

Seraphina Lux beamed while laughing "I believe life is all about hard work and dedication. Sure, some people have it harder than others, but I think anyone can achieve greatness if they really try."

The hosts clapped enthusiastically, nodding as if she had just delivered some profound wisdom.

The main host, a woman who had a Wikipedia page that was a mile long, especially under the 'controversy', 'mistreatment of employees' and 'alleged crimes against humanity' that was expanding every 5 minutes flashed her a smile "Wise words from the queen of the industry! Seraphina, tell us—what's next for you?"

Seraphina Lux laughed as she placed a hand on her chest "Oh, you know me. Bigger, better, brighter things. I'm just getting started!"

Thomas's grip tightened on the remote in his hand, his knuckles turning white. His jaw clenched as his envy bubbled to the surface, unspoken but palpable.

"She's just getting started?" he thought bitterly. "She already has everything, more money than God, people worshiping her like a Goddess, been in countless award-winning movies, deals with every fashion brand in the world and she's just getting started!? Meanwhile, I'm stuck here, going nowhere doing nothing good for the world!"

The sound of the door opening pulled Thomas out of his thoughts. He turned his head slightly to see his parents, Paul and Agnus Stirling, walking in with John Stewart close behind.

Paul was a tall, wiry man with a weathered face and kind eyes. Agnus, shorter and softer in appearance, carried a bouquet of bright flowers and a small pile of books that seemed out of place in the sterile room. John, towering and calm, brought an air of steady reassurance as he followed them in.

Paul smiled gently "Hey, kiddo. Thought we'd drop by and see how you're holding up."

Agnus set the flowers on the table as she kissed her son "I brought you these. They're cheerful, don't you think?" She said

Thomas managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. Thanks, Mom."

John pulled up a chair next to Thomas's bed, his expression calm but concerned as his parents did the same. "How are you feeling, Thomas?" Paul asked

Thomas shrugged "Same as always. You know, living the dream."

Paul and Agnus exchanged worried glances but didn't press him. Instead, Paul around the room while Agnus busied herself rearranging the flowers. "We just wanted to check in, son. Make sure you're okay." Agnus said.

Thomas glanced at the TV again, where Seraphina Lux was now flaunting her latest movie smiling as the hosts heaped praise upon her. He couldn't stop the bitter words from slipping out. "Yeah, I'm great. Just like her."

He gestured vaguely at the TV, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Miss 'Queen of the universe' over there for instance. Everyone loves her. Everything's perfect. Must be nice, huh?"

John followed Thomas's gaze to the TV, his brow furrowing slightly. He reached out, placing a firm hand on Thomas's shoulder. "It's easy to think people like that have it all, but you don't know what's going on behind the camera. Life's not a highlight reel, Thomas. Everyone's fighting something, even if they don't show it."

Agus looked at her son softly, "John's right, sweetheart. You've been through so much already. It's okay to feel frustrated, but don't let it eat away at you."

Paul nodded, his voice steady and calm. "You've got us, Thomas. You got Sean. And Kenrick. And Charlotte. And the rest. We're here for you, no matter what. You're not alone in this. And well…"

Thomas looked away, his hand idly spinning his silver pen on the blanket. He didn't respond immediately, the weight of their words settling over him. His envy still simmered, but their presence provided a small comfort, a reminder that he wasn't entirely alone.

Thomas spoke quietly "Thanks. I just... I hate feeling stuck…Like no matter what I do, it's never enough…I am 15 years old I am supposed to be at school stressing over school work and other stuff not…not…"

John leaned closer, his tone firm but kind. "You're not stuck. You're still here, and that means you've got a shot at turning things around. One step at a time, Thomas. That's how we fight."

Thomas tried to smile as he stared at the TV, the image of Seraphina Lux fading into a commercial. His parents and John sit nearby, their presence a quiet but steady support.

"I don't know," Thomas mumbled. "I just don't know…"

It's a quiet afternoon at Mount Justice. The team is scattered throughout the base, each member attending to their own tasks or downtime. Starfire remains in the medical wing, still recovering, though her strength is steadily returning.

Unbeknownst to them, a heavily armed bounty hunter ship has landed in the nearby forest, cloaked from view. The hunters are already moving, their advanced weapons primed for their mission.

The alarm system roared to life as the bounty hunters stormed the base, blasting their way through the outer defenses. Nightwing, stationed in the command center, immediately activates the security protocols.

Nightwing hollered into his comms his eyes bulging "We've got hostiles. Multiple targets. They're armed, organized, and they know what they're doing. Everyone, get into position!"

The team scrambles, the sound of footsteps and weapons fire echoing through the halls as the hunters push deeper into the base.

The sounds of battle echoed through the halls of Mount Justice, but in a secluded corridor near the central hub, Superboy stood face-to-face with a towering alien bounty hunter wielding an odd looking rifle. The weapon glowed with an all too familiar ominous green light of kryptonite, its energy already weakening Superboy as he clenched his fists, struggling to stay on his feet.

The hunter sneered, taking a step closer, confident in his advantage as he made a mocking smile "Not so tough now, are you, Kryptonian? This little toy evens the playing field. You're nothing without your powers."

Superboy scowled as he gritted his teeth "Funny... I was just about to say the same thing about you."

The rifle hummed as the bounty hunter raised it, firing a concentrated beam of green energy. Superboy ducked and rolled down on the floor, the beam narrowly missing him but leaving scorch marks on the wall. He stumbled slightly, the kryptonite's proximity draining his strength further.

His vision blurred, and his legs felt like lead, but he forced himself to focus. He remembered Nightwing's words from training that felt like a lifetime ago when it was only a few weeks ago.

"When you're outmatched, use their confidence against them. No one's invincible—not even you."

Superboy's lips curled into a smirk, despite the odds.

The hunter scowled as he aimed again, but Superboy lunged forward, ducking under the barrel of the rifle. With a swift motion, he grabbed the hunter's arm, twisting it sharply. The hunter growled in pain, momentarily loosening his grip on the weapon.

"Lesson number one" Superboy grunted, as he did a left hook, stunning the hunter "never rely on just one weapon."

He drove his elbow into the hunter's gut, forcing him back. The hunter retaliated with a wild swing, but Superboy ducked, remembering the martial arts moves Nightwing had drilled into him. He pivoted, landing a solid kick to the back of the hunter's knee, sending him stumbling.

The hunter roared in frustration, regaining his footing and swinging the rifle like a club. Superboy sidestepped, grabbing the barrel and wrenching it from the alien's grip. The weapon's green glow flared as it pulsed in his hands, sapping the last of his strength. His knees buckled, but he held firm, gripping the rifle tightly.

Hunter pulled a face mocking his prey "Face it, Kryptonian. You're done. Just give up."

Superboy smirked weakly, his voice steady despite the pain "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"

Just as the hunter lunged toward him to do another strike, Superboy felt a surge of strength return. The kryptonite's effects began to wane as the rifle flickered, its energy source faltering. His powers were coming back little by little.

With a sudden burst of energy, Superboy straightened, his grip tightening on the rifle. He spun and hurled it through a nearby open window with all his might. The weapon sailed into the light, its green glow disappearing into the distance down an abyss.

Superboy smirked, "Let's see how tough you are without your toy."

The hunter roared, lunging at Superboy with a raised fist, but Superboy sidestepped, using his opponent's momentum against him. With a swift motion, he delivered a perfectly executed roundhouse kick one Nightwing would've been proud of sending the hunter crashing into the wall

As the alien tried to rise, Superboy stepped forward, his fist connecting with the hunter's jaw in a precise, calculated strike. The alien slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Superboy stood over the fallen hunter, breathing heavily but victorious. He cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, testing his regained strength, and glanced out the window where the rifle had disappeared.

"Maybe I should thank Nightwing for all those training sessions." Superboy said to nobody in particular as he then shook his whole body "Nah, I'll never hear the end of it."

'Oh I will make sure he does.' Miss Martian's voice rang in his head

'Really.' Superboy grumbled in his mind

'Yes really. I am right now making some of them do the can-can and I would like it if you can help out a little.'

Superboy smiled as he turned and jogged down the corridor, heading to rejoin the fight, his determination renewed.

The sound of plasma blasts echoed through the hall as Bart Allen sprinted through the hallway, zigzagging to avoid the deadly energy beams fired by an alien bounty hunter. The hunter, a tall, armored figure with a plasma rifle mounted on its shoulder, growls in frustration as it struggles to keep up with the speedster.

Bart grinned as he ran "Man, you guys never learn, do you? Can't hit what you can't catch!"

The plasma rifle fires again, a streak of searing energy hurtling down the corridor toward Bart. The heat from the blast causes a nearby wall panel to explode, showering the hallway with sparks. Bart darts left, the plasma shot missing him by inches.

The Hunter growled "Stay still, you little pest!"

Bart glances over his shoulder, noticing how the plasma blast lingers, tracking his movements like a guided missile. His eyes widened for a moment, then his grin returned as a little plan came to mind, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Tracking me, huh? Let's see how smart you really are."

Bart accelerates, running faster but deliberately erratic, leading the plasma blast on a wild chase through the corridor. He zips and zaps around corners, slides under pipes, and leaps over debris, all while keeping the plasma shot close but not too close. The hunter growls in frustration, his rifle continuing to fire sporadically to try to corner Bart.

Bart made a mocking smile "You might want to upgrade your tech! This thing's slower than Conner after a pizza binge!"

He spots his opportunity, the hunter, momentarily distracted by his chase, is standing directly in front of a reflective wall panel. Bart makes a sharp turn, running in a loop that brings him back toward the hunter, the plasma blast still tailing him.

He timed his movements perfectly, dodging out of the way at the last fraction of a second as the plasma bolt hit the reflective panel.

The energy beam ricochets directly into the plasma rifle held in the hunter's hands. The rifle sparks violently before exploding in a flash of light, temporarily stunning the alien and knocking him to the ground.

Bart skids to a stop, dusting himself off as the bounty hunter groans, trying to recover from the blast. With a blur of motion, Bart zips around the alien, using duct tape he found nearby to tie up the hunter's limbs. Within seconds, the alien is immobilized, his arms and legs bound tightly. "And that's how you beat alien tech with good old-fashioned Earth ingenuity…and a little duct tape. You're welcome."

The hunter growled venomously struggling against the restraints, but Bart leans down, wagging a finger at him.

"Uh-uh, no wriggling. I worked hard on that."

Bart's comm crackles to life, Nightwing's voice cutting through the static. "Bart, status update?"

Bart grinned tapping his earpiece "One alien bounty hunter, gift-wrapped and ready for pickup by Santa. Who's next?"

Nightwing chuckled "Good work. Head to the central hub. We've got more incoming.""On it!"

With one last glance at the bound alien, Bart takes off, a streak of yellow and red disappearing down the corridor as the fight continues elsewhere in the base.

The main hall of Mount Justice is a chaotic battlefield. Aqualad, Artemis, and Beast Boy are engaged in a fierce fight against a group of alien bounty hunters. The aliens, clad in heavy armor and wielding advanced plasma weapons, fire relentlessly, their blasts leaving scorch marks across the once-pristine walls.

Aqualad stood at the forefront, his twin water-bearer swords glowing as he deflected incoming plasma bolts with precise, fluid movements. Beside him, Artemis moves with practiced grace, firing a barrage of arrows from her quiver explosive, electrified, and smoke which all knocked out the bounty hunters.

Beast Boy, in the form of a hulking polar bear, charges through the fray, swiping at the aliens and sending one of them flying into a wall with a powerful paw strike.

Aqualad stared at the ongoing bounty hunters, his voice calm but firm "Artemis, keep their fire on you! Beast Boy, flank them from the left!"

Artemis grinned as she drew another arrow "Already on it! Try not to let them fry your fishy self!"

She fires a net arrow that wraps around one of the aliens, incapacitating them temporarily. Another alien moves to target her, but Aqualad intercepts, slicing their blaster in half with a swift, precise strike.

"I will try my best."

Beast Boy morphs into a cheetah, sprinting behind a group of aliens to flank them. He leaps into the air, shifting mid-jump into a gorilla, landing with a thunderous impact that knocks several aliens off their feet.

Beast Boy made a mocking laugh "You guys really thought you could just waltz in here? Bad idea, dudes!"

An alien swings a baton crackling with energy at him, but Beast Boy shifts into a mongoose, dodging the strike before lunging and biting the alien's leg. The alien let out an inhuman howl of pain, collapsing to the ground.

While Beast Boy distracts the aliens, Artemis uses the opportunity to fire a grappling arrow. The cable wraps around an alien's weapon and yanks it out of their hands.

Artemis made a face as she slammed the weapon to the floor smashing what looked to be something important and expensive "You guys should really learn to hold onto your toys."

She spins and fires an explosive arrow that detonates near another group of aliens, sending them scattering. One alien manages to fire back, and Artemis narrowly avoids the blast, rolling behind cover. The chaos intensifies as an energy blast hits a nearby workbench, shattering a delicate piece of equipment. At that exact second a doorway bursts open, and Cyborg, looking visibly exhausted and holding a half-finished gadget in his hands, steps into the hall. His expression is a mix of disbelief, fatigue, confusion and fury.

"Are you kidding me!?" He screamed at the top of his lungs "I have been here for five minutes! EXACTLY FIVE MINUTES AND FIFTY FIVE SECONDS! And now we are being attacked AND you already trashed my station!?"

He tosses the broken gadget aside and rolls his shoulders, his arm morphing into a sonic cannon as he angrily aimed it at the crowd. "Alright, who's first?"

Cyborg fired a powerful blast from his cannon, hitting two aliens square in the chest and sending them flying into the opposite wall as if they were some goofy carnival game. The recoil pushes him back slightly, but he adjusts, stepping forward with purpose.

"That gadget took me FIVE MONTHS to build! And it took my dad 8 years to plan and design!" He screamed as he continued to rapid fire "Do you know how many late nights I spent on that thing? HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY I SPENT ON IT!? Oh, you're gonna pay for that!"

An alien charges at him with a plasma blade, but Cyborg grabs their wrist, his mechanical strength overpowering them. With a twist and a shove, he sends them flying into another group of aliens.

Aqualad smiled at this as he yelled "Cyborg, cover our left flank!"

Cyborg made a face "No need to tell me twice."

He fires a charged shot from his cannon, creating a shockwave that knocks several aliens off their feet. Aqualad leaps into the fray, using his water swords to disarm and incapacitate another pair of bounty hunters. Artemis fired another explosive arrow, creating a smokescreen to obscure the team's movements. "Beast Boy, now!" She screamed

Beast Boy shifted into his grizzly bear form, charging through the smoke, his massive frame scattering the disoriented aliens like bowling pins. He lets out a deafening roar, further disorienting them.

As the remaining aliens regroup, Aqualad channels a powerful water construct, a massive wave that surges down the hall, sweeping them off their feet. Cyborg follows up with a targeted blast from his cannon, pinning the last few aliens to the ground.

Cyborg yelled at them in a mocking tone "Next time, knock first. Or better yet, don't come back."

Artemis walks over, checking the unconscious aliens with a smirk.

Artemis smiled "Well, that was fun. Everyone still breathing?"

Beast Boy morphed back into human form "Breathing? Yeah. Hungry? Definitely. I could do with some noodles! And Pizza. And fries."

As the team regroups, Cyborg looks at the shattered remains of his workstation and groans, rubbing his temples.

Cyborg grumbled "Seriously, five months of work gone, thousands down the drain…not to mention the plans and blueprints took 8 years to perfect...You all owe me for this."

Beast Boy grinned "Hey, look at the bright side! At least you got to vent some of that rage."

Cyborg laughed, "Yeah, I feel so much better."

Aqualad pats Cyborg on the shoulder, his calm demeanor returning.

"Your work is important, Cyborg, but so is the team. And right now, we need you. Thank you for stepping in."

Cyborg sighs but nods, his cannon retracting as he surveys the now-silent battlefield. "Fine. But someone else is cleaning this up."

The team laughs as they prepare to secure the defeated bounty hunters, the battle over but the tension was still lingering.

The sterile white walls of the medical wing were bathed in dim red emergency lighting, the alarms blaring in the air.

Starfire sat on the edge of the medical bed, still recovering but visibly agitated by the distant sounds of battle. Nightwing stands at the door, his escrima sticks in hand, tense and alert.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps grows louder. The door bursts open, revealing a group of alien bounty hunters, their weapons drawn and glowing ominously.

Nightwing spun his escrima sticks as he spoke calmly, stepping in front of Starfire "Guess you guys didn't get the memo. No unauthorized visitors."

The first hunter lunges forward with a plasma blade, but Nightwing dodges with ease, spinning to strike them with his electrified escrima stick. The hunter convulses from the shock before collapsing to the floor.

Another hunter rushes past Nightwing, aiming for Starfire. Weak but determined, she raises her hands, summoning a small but fiery starbolt that she hurls at the attacker. The bolt hits the hunter square in the chest, sending them stumbling backward.

Starfire looked down at the hunter angrily "I shall not be taken again!"

Nightwing ducks under a plasma bolt, sliding across the floor to disarm another hunter. With a quick strike, he disables their weapon and flips them over his shoulder, slamming them into the floor. "Stay behind me! You're not at full strength yet!"

Starfire shot an indignant look "I am stronger than I appear!"

Despite her condition, Starfire leaps off the bed with a burst of energy. Her hands glow as she fires a series of small starbolts, forcing the bounty hunters to retreat momentarily. One hunter fires an electrified net, but Starfire dodges with a spin, grabbing a metal tray and using it to deflect the attack. "You shall not be chaining me again!"

She grabs a second hunter by their arm and throws them into a giant mirror, the crash echoing through the wing.

Nightwing uses the chaos to his advantage, vaulting over one of the fallen hunters to engage another. He feints a strike with one escrima stick, then uses the other to knock the weapon out of the hunter's hands. Before the alien can recover, Nightwing delivers a swift kick to their chest, sending them sprawling.

Meanwhile, Starfire grabs a long metal IV fluid staand and using it as an improvised staff to block and strike at another attacker. Her movements, though slightly unsteady, are fueled by sheer determination. Together, she and Nightwing move in sync, covering each other's vulnerabilities.

As more hunters pour into the room, Nightwing tosses a smoke pellet, filling the area with a dense, choking cloud. The bounty hunters cough and stumble, their advanced optics struggling to penetrate the haze. Using the cover, Nightwing and Starfire take them down one by one.

Nightwing dashed up and disarmed and incapacitates a hunter with a series of quick, precise strikes, while Starfire, her strength slowly returning, lands a devastating punch that sends another hunter crashing into a wall.

Nightwing grinned "Not bad for someone who was supposed to be resting."

Starfire smirked, "And not bad for someone without powers."

Realizing they're outmatched and outclassed, the remaining hunters retreat, dragging their injured comrades with them. One of them snarls as they back away."This isn't over. We'll be back."

Nightwing smirked, "We will be ready."

As the bounty hunters flee, Starfire lowers her hands, her starbolts dimming. She leans against the bed, breathing heavily but triumphant. Nightwing places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You did great. But next time, maybe let me handle it until you're fully recovered?"

Starfire grinned weakly "If I waited, you might have all the fun."

Nightwing scanned the room, ensuring the threat was gone before turning back to Starfire.

"Come on, let's get you checked out. Something tells me this won't be the last time they come looking for you."

Starfire nods, her resolve clear as she meets his gaze. "Let them come. I shall be ready."

Smoked drifted through the hallways like some unwelcome ghost, and scorch marks scared the walls and floors. The remaining bounty hunters, Draknar, Pikra, Zokar, and a handful of others are all dragging their incapacitated comrades, who are bound and barely conscious. The sound of groaning and shuffling fills the air as they limp toward their escape.

In the main hall, Nightwing stands with his escrima sticks at the ready, flanked by Superboy, Miss Martian, Artemis, and Aqualad, all battle-worn but standing strong.

Nightwing stared daggers at the bounty hunters, a calm but commanding tone in his voice "That's far enough. We accept your surrender. If you don't want things to get worse, I suggest you pack up your mess and leave. Now."

Draknar, clutching a bleeding arm, fired nuclear bombs with his eyes at Nightwing but saw no point to argue. He motioned to Pikra and Zokar to keep moving, dragging their tied-up comrades toward the exit.

"This isn't over, Terran. You can't protect her forever."

Superboy stepped forward his eyes glowing "Keep talking, and you'll find out how over it really is."

"Let's let them leave." Miss Martian said telepathically to the team "We've made our point."

Nightwing nodded slightly "Get out of here. And tell whoever sent you that Starfire's under our protection now."

Draknar sneers but doesn't reply. The hunters, battered and humiliated, limp their way out of the base as the team watches them go.

The bounty hunters staggered through the forest to their hidden ship, a large, battle-worn craft cloaked in a shimmer of reflective energy. The group struggles to load their unconscious comrades aboard, their frustration and exhaustion palpable.

Pikra let out a deadly growl "This was a disaster. How did we lose to them? They are practically children! Young! We are like twice their age in Earth years!"

Zokar roared "Maybe because someone thought rushing in was a good idea!" as they fired daggers at Draknar with their eyes.

Draknar let out an inhuman scream "Enough! We'll regroup and come back with a better plan. Those Terrans got lucky. Next time, we'll—"

Draknar is interrupted by a sharp beeping noise. He glances at his communicator, his face paling slightly as he sees the incoming call. Reluctantly, he presses the button, and the screen lights up with static. A deep, gravelly voice booms from the device, dripping with sarcasm and menace.

"Draknar. Draknar, Draknar, Draknar. What the fraggin' hell was that supposed to be?!" A voice oozing with sarcasm spoke from the other end.

Draknar stiffens, his bravado fading instantly. Pikra and Zokar exchange uneasy glances, stepping back slightly as the voice continues.

"I mean, really…You call that a bounty hunt!?" The voice said as it seemed to restrain a laugh "I have seen toddlers put up a better fight! If I were to ask a half brain dead earthworm what to do and then ask you what to do, the earthworm would have a better plan! I suggest that you quit being a bounty hunter and entering comedy as your body cam footage would make you enough to live like a king! As for that fight…I coulda taken those punks with one hand tied behind my back!"

Draknar stuttered "L…I…we didn't expect—"

"Didn't expect!?" The voice roared "HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK FOR LIKE…TEN YEARS!? What, you didn't expect to get your asses handed to you by a buncha kids? You do know who those 'bunch of kids' are right!? Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. I am in the middle of another bounty thing in another galaxy and I am thankful for the free comedy as my target is a miserable woman." He let out a scoff as his voice suddenly became menacing "Here's what's gonna happen, Draknar. You're gonna sit your sorry hide down, stay the frag outta my way, and let ME handle this. Got it?"

Draknar clenches his fists, his pride clearly wounded, but he doesn't dare argue.

"I understand."

"Good. And just so we're clear…if I hear you so much as sneeze on Earth when I get there, I'll turn your precious little ship into scrap metal, rip your arms off and beat you to death with it. Now, be a good boy and run along. I'll be there in a few days. And when I get there I expect you to be far away. And oh, the person who would be paying you, she says she only wants me to do it, so you won't get a penny out of her."

The communicator cuts off, leaving the ship in tense silence. Draknar slams a fist into the wall, his frustration boiling over.

Pikra shuddered nervously "L…L…HE is coming here? You know he doesn't share bounties, right? If he's involved, we're out of the job."

Draknar growled "We don't have a choice. Let him deal with the Terrans and the Tamaranean. Once he's done, we'll pick up the scraps."

Zokar moaned "If there's anything left to pick up."

Draknar glared but said nothing. The ship's engines roar to life, and it cloaks itself again, disappearing into the night sky as the bounty hunters retreated.