Titans Go!

Scene 13: Terra

Jennifer looked around the boxing stadium. The place felt really empty without Starfire around. Normally, she would have been here training for the next season in the year to come. But events outside their control had intervened both times.

The first time had been when Starfire had gone to save her people. That had really been an adventure. But it had also woken Jennifer up to some new and terrifying possibilities. She hadn't talked about it with Starfire, but they had both come to understand that the possibility of one of them getting killed was very real.

She had meant to talk to Starfire about it shortly after the championship, but she had lost her opportunity. First, there had been that emotional conversation they had had during their last dinner together. Then Starfire had been called by Nightwing about an important mission.

As a result, Jennifer was afraid she was starting to drift away from Starfire, and she really hoped it would never come to that.

Before she could think about the matter any further, she saw her dad walking over to her. "Well, I think that should be it for today. Ready to head home, honey?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," replied Jennifer, staring down at the floor.

She knew her dad could tell what was on her mind. "Jenny, don't worry too much about Starfire. She can take care of herself. You know that."

"I know, Dad. It's just..." Jennifer struggled to find the right words. "I keep thinking about how Nightwing seems to need her a lot, and I understand why, but don't you ever think a time might come when she might not need us anymore?"

Jennifer had no idea where this conversation was going to lead, and she never got that chance. Before her dad could reply, a door opened behind them. About six dozen guys in identical uniforms were making their way toward them.

"Alexander Hawkins?" one of them asked, sounding very business-like.

"Yes," said Jennifer's dad answered, his voice cautious. "Can I help you people?"

"Yes, you can." That was when each man brought out a gun and pointed them at Jennifer and her dad. "I'm afraid we don't have much time. Cutting to the chase, we know where your little alien girl went, and we need to remind her what happens when she gets in our way. People die."

Jennifer closed her eyes, her mind racing back to Starfire and how heartbroken she was going to be when she finally found out what happened to her.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang. Yet it didn't sound like gunfire, though it did sound familiar. Daring to open her eyes, she saw Starfire had blasted through part of the roof. Somehow, she had known they were in trouble. And now she had come to save her and her dad.

"Crud," said one of the strangers. "Shoot her."

Taking their attention off Jennifer, all of them pointed their weapons at Starfire. As shots rained throughout the training room, Jennifer felt her dad slam into her and shove her safely behind some punching bags. Now they were out of the line of fire, but they could still what was happening. And what Jennifer saw was frightening.

Starfire was fighting like she had never fought before. Jennifer had never seen fire so many starbolts at once. Within seconds, all six attackers had had their weapons vaporized. But then Starfire chose to get up close and personal, too.

Jennifer watched as she grabbed one man and threw him bodily into one of his partners. Then she turned and lashed out at the next three, punching and kicking so violently. Now only man remained, trembling at the sight of Starfire. In all honesty, Jennifer couldn't blame.

Starfire was a scary sight to behold. Her hair was a mess and sticking up in multiple directions. The sport bra and skirt she was wearing were tattered and dirty. Her hands were covered in blood from the men she had nearly killed.