Onboard the Lead Dreadnought
"Status report!" Captain Vex'tor commanded, leaning forward in his chair, eyes locked on the tactical display showing the battlefield below.
"Main cannons at 90% charge and climbing, sir," replied the weapons officer.
Captain Vex'tor nodded, then turned to his second in command. "Lieutenant Korv, targeting assessment?"
The lieutenant hesitated, his jaw tightening before he spoke. "Sir, we have approximate target lock on the designated coordinates, but..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "The targeting zone includes our own ground forces."
A tense silence fell over the bridge. Without turning their heads, the crew continued their duties, but their stiffer movements betrayed their unease. Many had comrades on the surface.
"You question the Empress's orders, Lieutenant?" Captain Vex'tor asked, his cold eyes studying his first officer's face.
"No, sir," Korv responded firmly. "I simply want to confirm that this action supports our strategic goals. The bombardment will inflict heavy losses on our own troops."
"Let me be clear," Vex'tor stated, his voice quiet but carrying to every corner of the bridge. "The Empress's orders are absolute. She's the one who united our warring factions when her predecessors couldn't—when our generals were too busy fighting each other to see what needed to be done. Under Empress Komand'r, we've brought half the sector under Citadel control. And now, after months of preparation, we're finally strong enough to take down the Psions when the war comes."
He continued, his expression hardening. "The warriors below understand the risks. As do we all. We are Citadel soldiers—we follow orders without question or sentiment. When the Empress commands, we obey. Is that understood?"
Lieutenant Korv snapped to attention. "Yes, Captain."
"Good." The captain turned to face the main viewscreen. "Status report?"
"Main cannons at 98%... 99%... Sir, we're fully charged and ready!" the weapons officer announced, his finger hovering over the firing control.
"Target locked, sir," the first officer confirmed.
Vex'tor nodded and activated his communicator. "Commander K'Tharr. Preparations complete—"
The Empress's voice cut through the channel instead. "Fire!"
Vex'tor hesitated only momentarily before regaining his composure. "Prepare to fire on my mark..." He inhaled deeply and gave the order. "Mark!"
The weapons officer pressed the firing command. Both ships' plasma annihilator cannons hummed briefly, then fired in perfect synchronization, unleashing massive bolts of supercharged energy that tore through the sky.
Minutes before
On the ground, the masked guard battling Wonder Girl and Blue Beetle suddenly froze mid-strike. Receiving new commands from its Psion masters, it blocked an incoming attack, delivered a devastating blow to Beetle, then rocketed skyward.
Wonder Girl had launched herself into the air, winding up for an overhead strike, when her target suddenly rocketed skyward. Her momentum carried her fist into the ground where he'd stood a split second before, the impact carving out a crater. Both heroes jerked their heads up, tracking their opponent's rapid ascent.
"He's going after Supergirl!" Beetle shouted, yanking himself free from the debris as his scarab traced the enemy's flight path.
"I almost had him!" Wonder Girl snarled into her comm. "Supergirl, heads up—more incoming!"
High above the battlefield, Kara had just delivered a powerful kick to her opponent when her enhanced senses detected new movement. Three more masked figures—identical to the one she was fighting—were approaching rapidly from different directions. Donna's warning confirmed what she already sensed.
"Oh great, more company," she muttered, eyes narrowing as she assessed the threat. Her current opponent, though severely damaged, still struggled to regain control mid-air.
"Kara, I'm picking up massive energy signatures in the upper atmosphere," Barbara's urgent voice crackled through the comms. "What are you seeing up there?"
Kara's gaze shifted upward, piercing through the cloud layer. Two enormous Citadel warships broke through the haze, their hulls bristling with weapon arrays—all trained on the battlefield below. The forward cannons began to glow with building energy, charging for what could only be a devastating aerial strike.
"They're about to fire," Kara reported, her voice steady.
"Time to get out of there, Supergirl," Rachel's calm voice suddenly came through the comms.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Kara replied, feeling space ripple behind her. She glanced back and grinned. "Perfect timing, Raven."
As she turned toward the ripple, the three incoming guards closed in fast. Sensing them, Kara couldn't resist—she turned, flashed them a grin, and raised her middle finger. "Enjoy the light show, boys!" she called out before stepping backward through the ripple.
The ripple closed behind her just as the dreadnoughts fired.
Present Time
Twin beams of devastating energy tore through the clouds toward where she'd been. The three guards had only a fraction of a second to react—their enhanced reflexes kicked in as they banked hard, trying to evade the aerial strike. But the edge of the plasma stream still caught them, vaporizing sections of their armor plating and scorching exposed flesh. They tumbled out of control, trailing smoke as they plummeted toward the battlefield below, the twin beams continuing their relentless descent.
On the ground, every warrior—rebel and Citadel soldier alike—froze mid-strike as blinding light pierced the clouds above. The air grew suffocating as waves of heat washed over them, and all eyes turned skyward to witness their approaching doom.
From her vantage point, Komand'r watched the descending energy beams with cold satisfaction. A thin smile crossed her lips.
'Soon, these irritating rebels will be nothing but ash.'
But then, a soft, melodious voice echoed through the sky, "Forever's echo."
In that instant, time itself froze. The deadly beams hung mid-descent, suspended impossibly in the air. A vast shadow swallowed the capital, blotting out the sky and plunging everything into darkness. Then an eerie, cold presence settled over the area, as if the entire city had been torn from reality itself and pulled into another dimension.
"What... what is this?" Komand'r whispered, stumbling back a step. A chill ran down her spine. That voice... a woman's voice?
"By the gods..." her general breathed beside her, trembling. "What's happening?"
Panic and confusion swept through the capital. Dignitaries and even the most hardened Citadel warriors stared upward, their faces pale with disbelief.
"What is this phenomenon?" Gorius demanded, his reptilian features tightening with alarm. Unlike the others, he found himself stepping forward instinctively. What is this feeling? Fear?
"I don't know," Raxus admitted, his eyes unable to look away from the sudden change. Both Psions stood transfixed, their fury over the dreadnought strike that had nearly killed their guards forgotten.
Just then, the ground trembled, and the air itself vibrated with gathering power, as if heralding what was about to come.
In the next instant, before anyone could process what was happening, a pillar of dark magic shot up from the city's center, spiraling into the sky. A massive shape formed within it—eyes blazing with dark blue fire. With each heartbeat, the figure became more solid, more vivid, more undeniably real as it carved a circle through the air before returning to its starting point.
Then it spread its wings with a roar that shook the earth and rattled every soul below. A colossal raven hung above them, wreathed in three rings of dark flame. Raw power radiated from its form, an invisible pressure crashing down on everyone below. Across the battlefield, warriors, dignitaries, and soldiers alike dropped to their knees, overwhelmed by primal terror at the sight of what had manifested before them.
Komand'r fought against the crushing force, her body trembling. The humiliation of being forced down only fueled her rage, driving her to resist with everything she had.
"NO! I refuse! I will not kneel to anyone! I am the Empress of the Citadel! The conqueror of VEGA! How DARE they—they will ALL pay for this!"
Just then, a familiar voice—melodious and calm—cut through her raging thoughts, "Hello, sister. I'm back."
Komand'r's eyes widened, her expression twisting with rage as she fought against the invisible force holding her down. She craned her neck upward, searching for the source of that voice. "Koriand'r," she hissed through clenched teeth.
Above, the massive raven folded its wings inward. Dark magical energy swirled and condensed around it, shrinking the immense form into a humanoid figure that hovered in midair. Her cloak rippled and billowed in an unseen wind, violet flames flickering beneath her hood as arcs of dark energy crackled across her form.
The crushing magical pressure eased slightly, allowing those below to finally lift their heads and see what was unfolding above them.
Kori emerged through a ripple in space, descending slowly between the hooded figure above and the battlefield below. She turned to face the crowd—and her sister. Behind her, the hooded figure loomed, silently watching. Their sudden arrival drew gasps. One figure radiated fear and dread, the source of the oppressive darkness now swallowing the capital. The other sparked hope, burning bright against the shadow. Kori's fiery hair crackled with streaks of energy, her emerald eyes blazing as they locked onto her sister's hate-filled stare. Below, the rebels and Prince Ryand'r stared upward, hearts pounding. They were witnessing something they'd almost stopped believing could happen—Tamaran's true heir had returned, and with her, hope reignited.
"Surprised to see me, sister?" Kori's voice carried across the battlefield. "Did you really think I'd just sit back while you spread tyranny across the system?"
Komand'r trembled with fury. Every muscle strained against the invisible force pinning her down. Through sheer force of will, she pushed herself up to one knee, energy pulsing around her clenched fists. "How did you get back here?" she demanded. Her eyes narrowed as she sensed it—a faint but unmistakable power radiating from Kori. "And where did this power come from?"
"I made friends," Koriand'r said simply.
For a moment, Komand'r froze. Then her head snapped toward the unknown warriors scattered across the battlefield—first Barbara, then Donna, Jaime, Gar, Virgil, and Kara, all positioned at the front line below the platform, and finally upward to the hooded figure watching over them all.
"You brought them?" Komand'r sneered, disgust dripping from every word. "Outsiders? You've grown even more pathetic in exile."
Kori's expression remained calm. "These outsiders are my friends—friends who have faced down gods and monsters. Besides, you're hardly one to talk. Didn't you invite the Citadel to conquer our homeworld?"
The rebel fighters and Omega Men—Primus, Tigorr, Broot, and Nimbus—watched intently alongside the other rebels, weapons at the ready but holding position.
"So what now?" Komand'r snarled. "You've come to take my throne?"
Kori shook her head slowly, meeting her sister's glare without flinching. "That's where you've always been wrong. I never wanted the throne."
"LIAR!" Komand'r roared, energy crackling violently around her fists. "You've always wanted what was mine by right! Everything I should have had—the throne, the crown, our parents' love, our people's devotion—it all went to you! MY birthright became yours!"
"Is that what you truly believe, sister? That I stole our parents' love? Our people's devotion?" Kori's eyes widened in shock, then her expression hardened as anger—suppressed for so long—finally broke free. "Our parents loved you! Ryand'r loved you! I loved you! Yet what did you do? You murdered our parents. You invited our enemies to our doorstep and helped them conquer our world. You sold our people into slavery. You claim I took their devotion?" Her voice rose. "No, sister. Open your eyes. Our people can't look up to you because all they see is a tyrant, a monster!"
Komand'r let out a bitter laugh, then met Kori's blazing gaze with cold resolve. "You're right about one thing—I am a monster. But you know what? I've been called that since the day I was born. A freak. An aberration. It didn't matter what I accomplished—that label followed me everywhere. I overcame the defect I was born with. I became stronger than anyone else. I mastered politics and strategy better than Father ever did. But none of it mattered. He still saw me as the family's shame."
Her voice dropped, hatred seeping into every word. "Mother was no better. She fed me empty words about rising above it all, about being strong as the heir. As a child, I couldn't read their true emotions, so I trusted them over my instincts. But then you and Ryand'r were born."
She paused. For just a moment, something vulnerable flickered across her face before vanishing. "You want to know something? When I first held you both as babies, I wanted to protect you. I wanted to be the sister you could look up to—to love you, to keep you safe. But then Father walked in." Her voice tightened. "He was always so controlled, impossible to read. But that day, when he saw you both, I felt his relief wash over me. It shook me to my core."
"I tried to ignore it. I told myself I was imagining things—that my own father couldn't despise me. But slowly, I couldn't deny what I was seeing. Not a single Tamaranian truly accepted me. But you?" Her lip curled bitterly. "Our servants adored you. Our teachers praised you. The people celebrated you and Ryand'r without question. Still, I held onto Mother's words. I believed her when she said I could rise above it all—that I was meant to be Queen."
"But then came the day everything shattered—the day you were announced as heir. I stood there, waiting for someone—anyone—to speak up for me. But no one did. Not the council. Not the people. Not even Mother, the one person I thought I could trust." Her voice raw and bitter rang across the battlefield. "And what was my crime? Being born with a defect I never asked for."
She leaned forward, her voice cold and unwavering. "So don't mistake the truth, sister. If I'm a monster, I'm the monster you all created."
Kori's expression softened. She closed her eyes as memories flashed through her mind. When she opened them again, her voice dropped to a pained whisper. "I know what you went through, Komand'r. I saw how they treated you. I saw the looks, heard the whispers. And it broke my heart every time."
She took a steadying breath. "But you're wrong about one thing—I never wanted to replace you. When Father named me heir, I begged him to reconsider. I told him you were the eldest, that you deserved the throne. Do you know what he said?" Her voice cracked. "He told me it was decided. That Tamaran needed someone the people could unite behind."
"I tried to reach you after that. I wanted to tell you we could share the burden—that you didn't have to face it alone. But you'd already left… gone to the Citadel." Kori's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You've spent all these years letting pain turn into rage, and rage into cruelty. Yes, our people failed you. Our parents failed you. But that doesn't make what you've become right. Ryand'r looked up to you. I loved you. Together, we could have changed things. Together, we could have shown them you were more than what they believed. Instead, you chose revenge."
Komand'r's lips twisted into a bitter sneer. "Spare me your pity, sister. You had everything handed to you—you know nothing about what I endured. You stand there preaching about justice and compassion, but where was yours when I needed it? When I was cast aside?" Her voice sharpened. "You say you wanted to share the burden? That you tried to reach me? Then why didn't you come after me? Why didn't anyone in our family come looking?" She paused, letting the silence cut deeper. "I'll tell you why—because I didn't matter. Not to them. Not to you."
"Sister, that's not—"
Purple energy exploded around Komand'r as rage fueled her power, finally breaking through the magical pressure that had held her down. The shockwave from her release sent nearby dignitaries and generals sprawling across the platform.
She rose to her feet, starbolts crackling around her clenched fists. "Talk is cheap, little sister. Pain taught me the only lesson that matters—trust no one, take what you want by force. I was born to be queen, so I made myself one. You're fooling yourself if you think our tradition-bound world would ever accept me, even with your blessing. The only way forward was to burn it all down and build something new from the ashes."
"…You're right," Kori said softly. "I don't know what it's like to be rejected the way you were. But I know what it's like to lose everything." Her voice hardened. "You made sure of that when you betrayed our family."
The two sisters stared at each other, their energies flaring and clashing—one purple, radiating fury and bitter resentment; the other greenish-orange, holding onto hope despite the pain. The rebels, the Citadel forces, and the Titans watched in tense silence, knowing that whatever happened next would decide Tamaran's fate.
Finally, Komand'r spoke, her voice cold and final. "Then there's nothing left to say. If you want this throne, sister, you'll have to pry it from my dead hands."
Kori's eyes hardened with resolve. "I told you—I don't want your throne. But I will free our people from your tyranny. One way or another, Komand'r, this ends today."
The air crackled with tension as both sisters prepared for the confrontation that had been building for years. Above them, Raven watched silently, dark energy swirling around her hooded form, ready to intervene if necessary.
Komand'r launched herself forward with explosive speed, starbolts blazing from her hands. Kori met her charge head-on, their powers colliding in a brilliant flash of green and purple light that illuminated the darkened sky.
The battle for Tamaran's future had begun.
On the Titans' comms channel
"Raven! What did Starfire mean by 'this ends today'? Please don't tell me she's doing what I think she's doing," Barbara said, her frustration clear as she watched the sisters clash above.
"I'm afraid so, Batgirl," Rachel replied, hovering high above while maintaining her spell. "She's changing the plan."
"Dammit! This was supposed to be a rescue mission, not an all-out assault on the Empress! Even if you handle those dreadnoughts, there are still more in orbit," Barbara said, already working through backup plans in her head.
"I get it. But I also get why she's doing this," Kara said.
"Same here. These are her people, her home. Despite everything that just came out between them, she's still their princess—she has a duty. Can't blame her for getting caught up in the moment and changing plans," Donna added.
"I think we can all appreciate that, Wonder Girl. But it doesn't change the fact our plans were built for a rescue mission," Dick interjected. "This is turning into a mess. Raven, can you intervene and teleport everyone out?"
"I could, but I won't," Rachel answered flatly.
"What? Why—"
"She needs this, Nightwing," Rachel cut in before Dick could finish. "And besides," she glanced at the two dreadnoughts and the frozen beams, "I have an idea to carve a path out of here. If done right, it might even make the Citadel withdraw while uniting this world behind Starfire."
"Now you have me curious, Raven. What do you have in mind?" Kara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Same here. Spill it, Raven," Donna pressed.
"What's the plan, Raven?" Barbara asked.
"Just wait and see. Let this fight between them reach its conclusion first," Rachel said as the plan solidified in her mind.
"But can we afford to wait? Last I checked, you said 'Forever's Echo' isn't a spell you can maintain for more than fifteen minutes," Barbara pointed out.
"True. Manipulating the primordial laws of space and time is incredibly difficult. But with the training my father designed for her and how diligently she's been working at it, do you really think she won't have the upper hand and take down her sister within fifteen minutes?" Rachel remarked.
"…You have a point," Barbara admitted, watching Starfire unleash volleys of green and orange starbolts. "Starfire's blasts are evolving thanks to that training."
"No kidding. Star's regular blasts hurt, but these new orange ones? They raise the temperature and sear right through. She needs to be careful with those," Jaime remarked.
"Shows how seriously she's taking this fight with her sister," Virgil added.
"Fine, we let them settle this. But we still have a mission, Titans. Starfire's brother is still behind enemy lines. With Rachel and Starfire occupied, Donna, Static, Beetle, and I will hit the platform as a distraction. Kara, you grab Ryand'r—fast. Everyone clear?" Barbara commanded.
"On it!" came the unified response.
Meanwhile, in the air
The clash between Komand'r and Kori intensified, their powers lighting up the sky like a violent storm. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
Komand'r twisted mid-air, firing a barrage of purple starbolts. "You've grown stronger, little sister."
"I've been training for this day for a long time," Kori replied, evading the incoming blasts and returning fire.
"Oh? So exile has served you well." Komand'r's eyes narrowed. "Tell me, sister—is this newfound power the reason you think you can actually beat me now? Me, who's defeated you every single time we've fought?" She paused, studying Kori's movements. "This fighting style... who taught you?"
"I didn't come here out of arrogance, sister. I come with friends—people who are as kind as they are powerful. They gave me a home when I had none, companionship when I felt all alone. They welcomed me, a stranger to their world and ways, without prejudice or hesitation. They saved me from despair, and now they stand with me by choice, in my time of need."
She deflected another barrage, flying in erratic patterns upward before looking down and launching a wave of starbolts that matched her sister's intensity. As Komand'r tore through the explosion clouds where their attacks met, Kori dove to meet her head-on.
As they locked hands, their energies clashing as they struggled to overpower each other, she continued, "They owe our world nothing, yet they fight for me anyway. Together, we've faced gods and monsters you can't even imagine. And my power? My fighting techniques? They come from an entity that exists far beyond anything you or I would call divine. With his blessing and the bonds I share with my friends, we stand against you today. Together, I am confident we will end your tyranny."
"Big words, sister," Komand'r sneered. Instead of resisting, she suddenly pulled her startled sister closer and delivered a vicious headbutt.
"Ah!"
But Komand'r didn't stop there. She twisted her body mid-air, wrapping her legs around Kori's torso in a grappling lock while her hands clamped around her sister's throat. Leaning close to Kori's ear, she hissed, "Even with your powerful allies, I still have an armada at my beck and call. Whatever that hooded friend of yours is doing—manipulating time like this—shouldn't be possible for a mortal. At least not for long. The moment your friend's magic wears off, I'll have every ship in the perimeter defense fleet target this planet, this very spot." She paused, her sneer widening. "I wonder, sister, what kind of face you'll make when you see their battered bodies after the aerial bombardment. Or perhaps you won't, since there's a good chance nothing will be left behind. Hahaha!"
Kori's hands gripped Komand'r's wrists, struggling against the chokehold, yet her expression remained eerily calm. "How did you become so twisted, sister?" As she spoke, orange-tinged energy began crackling around her hands, the heat intensifying where they clutched her sister's armored wrists. The armor started to glow red, then sear. "I still remember when we were little—you would take care of us. I refuse to believe my kind big sister is truly dead. Somewhere beneath that hatred, there has to be a trace left!"
Komand'r's eyes flickered—just for a moment—with something that might have been pain. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold fury. "That sister died a long time ago," she hissed through gritted teeth.
"Aarrgh!"
The searing heat from Kori's hands burned through her armor, forcing Komand'r to release her grip.
She kicked off Kori's body, propelling herself backward and creating distance between them. Smoke rose from the scorched sections of her wrists where the armor had melted. She glanced down at the damage, then back at her sister, her expression hardening. "You've learned some new tricks, I see. But tricks won't save you."
Kori steadied herself in the air, breathing heavily but refusing to waver. "I won't lose to you today, sister. Not this time. I'm going to stop you, no matter what it takes."
"You wish!" Komand'r snarled, purple energy exploding around her in a violent surge. She crossed her arms, gathering power, then thrust them forward. Twin beams of concentrated purple energy lanced toward Kori.
Kori threw up her hands, conjuring a barrier of green and orange energy. The twin beams slammed into it, and she gritted her teeth as the impact drove her backward through the air. "Sister, I won't give up on you!"
"Then you're a fool!" Komand'r stopped her attack and flew at her sister with great speed, closing the distance in seconds. She feinted with her right fist, then drove her left knee into Kori's stomach when she moved to block.
"Ugh!" Kori doubled over from the impact, the air driven from her lungs.
Komand'r followed up with a spinning kick aimed at Kori's head, but Kori caught her ankle at the last second. Orange energy flared around her grip, and Komand'r screamed as the heat seared through her leg armor.
"Aaargh! Let go!" Komand'r screamed, firing a point-blank starbolt directly into Kori's face. The blast forced her sister to release her grip and shield her eyes.
Using the opening, Komand'r grabbed Kori by the hair and drove her knee into her sister's face once, twice, three times in rapid succession. Blood trickled from Kori's nose as she reeled from the blows.
"You were always weak, little sister!" Komand'r snarled, her grip tightening in Kori's hair. "Always crying, always letting your feelings rule you! That's why you'll never defeat me!"
Kori's eyes snapped open, blazing with green fire despite the blood streaming down her face. "You're wrong," she said quietly. Then a sphere of orange energy erupted from her entire body in an explosive wave, blasting Komand'r away.
Komand'r tumbled through the air before catching herself, armor smoking in multiple places. She looked up to see Kori floating there, greenish-orange energy crackling around her entire form.
"My feelings aren't my weakness," Kori said, meeting her sister's gaze. "They're my strength. They're what connect me to others, what give me purpose, what make me fight for something greater than myself."
She raised both hands in a fighting stance, orange energy swirling and condensing into blazing spheres at her palms. The heat radiating from them distorted the air around her. "Sister, for everything we once were to each other, please... just surrender."
"Never!" Komand'r snarled, purple energy flaring violently around her clenched fists. "You stole everything from me once! I clawed my way back from nothing to reclaim what should have always been mine. I will not surrender it!" She rocketed forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. "If anyone falls today, little sister, it will be you!"
Kori held her ground as Komand'r's energized fist came right toward her face. At the last possible moment, she pivoted sideways, her hand snapping up to catch her sister's wrist and redirect the strike past her shoulder. The sudden shift in momentum sent Komand'r stumbling forward, her guard wide open. Kori didn't hesitate—she drove her palm into her sister's exposed side, releasing a burst of orange energy that shattered through the armor plating.
"AAARRRRGGGGHHH!"
"You keep calling me 'sister,'" Kori said, her voice steady despite her sister's scream of pain. "If I truly mean nothing to you—if you want me dead—why not call me 'traitor' or 'enemy'? Why do you still call me 'sister,' Empress Komand'r?"
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Komand'r screamed, her voice cracking as her composure completely shattered. She launched herself forward in a reckless charge, her movements wild and unfocused, abandoning the precise strikes she'd used moments before.
The two sisters collided mid-air in an explosion of purple and orange light that illuminated the dark sky. They traded blows at blinding speed—Kori's punch met with Komand'r's counter, a sweeping kick blocked and answered with a spinning strike. Each impact once more sent shockwaves rippling outward through the air.
Komand'r landed a solid hit to Kori's ribs, and Kori despite the defense her uniform provided, gasped as pain lanced through her side. Even so, she gritted her teeth and twisted into the blow, using the momentum to spin her body and deliver a rising uppercut. Her fist connected squarely with Komand'r's jaw, snapping her head back with an audible crack.
Before Komand'r could recover, Kori closed the distance and they collided in a grapple, their hands locking together as their opposing energies—orange and purple—crackled violently where they met. They spun through the air in a tight spiral, each sister straining to overpower the other, their momentum carrying them higher.
"You can't win!" Komand'r snarled, yanking Kori closer and driving her forehead toward her sister's face.
But this time, Kori was ready. She jerked her head to the side at the last instant, and Komand'r's strike met only air. In the same motion, Kori snapped her own forehead forward, slamming it into the bridge of Komand'r's nose with a sickening crunch.
"I already have," Kori said, her voice heavy with sorrow.
She released one hand from their grapple and pressed her palm flat against Komand'r's chest.
Orange energy, hotter and more concentrated than anything she'd used before, erupted from her hand in a blinding blast. Komand'r's eyes went wide. The beam punched clean through her armor. "AAAHHH!" she screamed as the searing heat burned through to her chest, and the force sent her hurtling downward. She slammed into the ground with devastating impact, cratering the stone beneath her.
Kori descended slowly, her feet touching down near the edge of the smoking crater. Komand'r lay crumpled at its center, one arm clutching her chest where the armor had been burned through, the other shaking as it tried to support her weight.
"Stay down," Kori whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Please, sister. Just stay down." Her voice broke. "I never wanted this. But I can't let you hurt anyone else."
Komand'r lifted her head, purple energy flickering weakly around her trembling form. "I... won't... surrender..." she rasped. With visible effort, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pellet.
"To think I'd end up using that wretch's invention," she muttered.
She pressed the pellet against the burned section of her chest where the armor had been destroyed, then crushed it. Gas hissed out, seeping into her injuries. The healing agent worked fast—within seconds, it entered her bloodstream and triggered a surge of adrenaline that jolted her entire system. Her critical injuries began to close. Soon she pushed herself to her knees, teeth gritted against the pain, then forced herself to stand.
Purple energy flared weakly around her as she channeled what little strength remained. She took one shaky step forward, then another, closing the distance until she stood directly in front of Kori.
"You've surprised me, Koriand'r—I'll give you that," Komand'r snarled, her voice ragged and strained. "But your newfound power changes nothing. You're still a traitor, and you'll die like one." She took a shaky breath, forcing the words through gritted teeth. "You and your friends will fall today. No one takes my throne from—"
"You should really give up, Empress Komand'r," Rachel's calm voice cut through the tension from above, drawing both sisters' attention.
Both sisters looked up. Rachel hovered there with a calm expression. "You've lost. There are no more moves left for you to make." She raised her hand and pointed toward another section of the battlefield.
Komand'r followed the gesture, her head turning slowly. When she saw what Rachel was pointing toward, her eyes went wide. "Ryand'r..."
Moments earlier, as the sisters clashed in the air
On the platform, no one could look away from the spectacle unfolding before them.
Citadel dignitaries, hardened generals, rebel prisoners, and the two Psions present—all were transfixed by the clash of power between the two sisters.
"Raxus, are you recording the readings from this exchange?"
"Yes. This data is going to be crucial in improving our weapons," Raxus nodded, his data pad measuring the energy levels being displayed.
"Good." Gorius narrowed his eyes, his attention shifting to the darkness surrounding them and then to the hooded figure looming above. "What is she?" he muttered.
Just then a loud crash drew their attention back to the platform.
"Ha!" Donna launched herself toward a section of the platform, Static covering her from behind. Her lasso glowed as she deflected incoming fire from Citadel soldiers and generals who had been freed from Rachel's pressure when Komand'r's power surge disrupted the spell.
Batgirl, catching a lift from Beetle, landed on another section of the platform. She immediately deployed smoke pellets, using the cover of smoke and the surrounding darkness to strike at Citadel guards. Beetle supported her, his armor's hand cannon emitting sonic blasts calibrated to incapacitate guards, dignitaries, and even generals.
While the others created a distraction, Kara shot toward the platform, channeling her Ki. She vanished, leaving faint golden sparks in her wake, and reappeared behind the guards stationed around the captured and gagged Ryand'r. She struck pressure points on two guards' necks, dropping them instantly. Before they hit the ground, she pivoted mid-air and delivered simultaneous kicks to the guards on either side, then landed on one knee in front of the shocked Tamaranian prince.
Ryand'r stared, mesmerized by her speed, grace and beauty.
Kara's eyes however, didn't catch that. Instead, they flared blue as twin beams of heat vision sliced through the reinforced restraints binding Ryand'r's limbs. The metal glowed red-hot before splitting apart with a sharp hiss. She reached forward, yanked the gag from his mouth, then rose to her feet. "You good?"
"Pah... ha... thank you?" Ryand'r gasped between breaths. Then his eyes went wide as he noticed movement behind her. "Watch out—"
But, Kara had already sensed the guard closing in from behind. Without looking, she drove her elbow back into the guard's chest, stopping him cold. In the same fluid motion, she pivoted and slammed her fist into his face, dropping him.
Ryand'r blinked, stunned once more.
"Alright, Prince. I'm your sister's friend. Time to get moving." Before he could protest, she scooped him up in a princess carry. "I've got you. Let's go."
Just as her muscles tensed, preparing to launch forward she froze. A prickling sensation ran down her spine, her Ki sense alerting her to danger. In a split second, she twisted her body hard to the left. A crimson energy beam lanced through the space where her head had been a heartbeat before, the heat from it singing the air.
Her eyes tracked the trajectory back through the chaos and smoke. There—Gorius, one of the Psions, stood with a pistol-like weapon raised and aimed directly at her. The barrel glowed as it charged for another shot, and then he fired.
Kara's eyes flared blue once more and twin beams of heat vision shot forth, meeting the incoming crimson blast mid-air. The two energies collided with a brilliant flash, canceling each other out in a burst of dispersing light and heat.
Without missing a beat, she launched forward—Ryand'r still cradled securely in her arms—zigzagging through the chaos. Gorius fired again, but her erratic flight pattern made her impossible to hit. The beam missed, burning through a section of the platform's railing instead.
"Hold tight!" Kara called out as her Ki surged through the suit, making the S emblem glow. Ryand'r nodded helplessly, watching in amazement as her bio-field expanded around them both in a shimmering, protective faint golden aura.
Kara shot downward toward the battlefield, weaving between scattered fires and debris as the fight on the platform intensified. Behind her, just moments after she disappeared, she heard the sharp explosion of another energy discharge.
"Persistent, little buggers, aren't they?" she muttered.
"I don't understand. Why are the Psions targeting you specifically?" Ryand'r asked, confusion evident in his voice.
She spun mid-air, twisting to shield Ryand'r as another crimson beam shot past them—close enough that she felt the heat crackle against her aura. Her eyes narrowed. That familiar sensation prickled at her senses again. Three things had been gnawing at her since the mission started: why were the Psions fixating on her specifically? What were those guards? And what kind of weapon could produce that eerily familiar feeling? At the back of her mind, she recalled feeling something faintly similar in her childhood, yet the feeling from these blasts wasn't quite the same—for one, these made her Ki senses ring alarm bells. She needed answers, but she couldn't get them while carrying him. She'd have to confront the Psion directly.
"That's a good question," Kara said, her eyes already scanning the chaos below. "One I intend to find out. But, first…"
She spotted Static hovering in a relatively clear area, having just dropped a cluster of guards with a concentrated lightning barrage.
"Perfect," Kara murmured. She banked hard toward him. "Static, incoming package!" she called through the comms.
"Wait, what—" Static barely had time to process before Kara hurled Ryand'r through the air toward him.
The prince's eyes went wide as he tumbled through the air. Static spun, arms outstretched, and caught him at the last second with an electromagnetic field. "Supergirl, are you serious right now?!"
"Keep him safe! This won't take long." Kara shot back. She flipped mid-air, her golden aura flaring brighter as she pivoted and launched herself directly toward the platform where the Psions stood.
"Supergirl, what are you doing?" Batgirl shouted, even as she downed a guard with a series of precise strikes to pressure points. "Follow the plan!"
"Sorry, Batgirl. I need to check something out. You can chew me out later—I promise I won't resist," Kara responded as she rushed toward the Psions.
"Why does everyone keep changing the plan?" Batgirl muttered under her breath. Just then, another guard lunged at her from behind. Though annoyed, she sensed him coming, ducked low, and swept his legs out from under him. As he stumbled, she locked her arms, clenched her fists, and drove both into his midsection. The vibration modules in her suit's knuckles activated on impact, sending destructive pulses through his chest plate. The armor shattered with a sharp crack, and he dropped like a stone. "Fine," she said coldly. "I'll make them all regret it later."
Meanwhile, Gorius tracked Kara's approach, his weapon's barrel glowing as it charged for a target lock. "Raxus, keep recording. I want every detail of this specimen's capabilities."
"Already on it," Raxus replied, his data pad recording Kara's movements and energy output.
Gorius fired the instant he had a clear shot. The crimson beam streaked toward Kara, but he didn't realize she'd deliberately slowed just enough to bait him—she needed to study the weapon's attack pattern. She twisted mid-flight, the shot passing harmlessly beneath her, then accelerated in a burst of faint golden light and vanished.
"What—" Gorius's eyes went wide as his target disappeared. Before he could finish, Kara materialized directly in front of him, her expression cold and focused. Her fist connected with his face in a devastating blow that sent him crashing through the platform wall, where he collapsed unconscious.
"Gorius!" Raxus shouted, spinning toward the impact site. But Kara was already on the move. She pivoted smoothly, her leg sweeping up in a ruthless kick that caught him square in the stomach. The force doubled him over, driving the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, she vanished again—reappearing behind him in an instant. Her hand clamped onto the back of his head, and she drove him down into the platform floor with brutal efficiency. The metal buckled beneath him, forming a crater as he crumpled unconscious.
"Now then," Kara said, breathing steadily as she picked up the data pad that had flown from Raxus's grip during the impact. She flipped it in her hand, then tapped her terminal. "Mother Empress, I need some assistance."
"On it." Small tendrils extended from her battle suit and attached to the pad's interface ports. Within seconds, Mother Empress accessed the device's contents—battle data, weapons development schematics, strategic plans—and uploaded everything to the Javelin's core computer.
"Thanks." Trusting Mother Empress to handle the data extraction, Kara walked toward the pistol-like weapon lying on the floor. She tucked the pad under one arm and picked up the device, turning it over in her hand as she examined it. "Mother Empress, can you analyze this? Those shots it fired—they made me feel faintly weakened. The sensation disappeared once I reinforced my bio-field with Ki, but I need to understand what we're dealing with. Is it using concentrated red solar energy by chance? That's the only thing I can think of that would affect me like this."
A soft blue light pulsed from her terminal, sweeping over the weapon in her hand. "Initial scans show a hybrid energy matrix," Mother Empress reported. "It's using highly refined red solar radiation as the base, but there's something else—an exotic particle emission layered on top. I'll need more time for a full analysis. For now, you should rejoin the others. I've already contacted the Princess—she's opening a dimensional pocket for you right… now."
Space rippled beside Kara and Mother Empress continued, "Throw the Psions and equipment inside. We'll examine them later on the Javelin after the mission."
"Roger that." Kara picked up Raxus, waited for the tendrils to disengage and retract into her suit, then tossed him and the data pad through the ripple. She quickly made her way to Gorius's unconscious form, collected him as well, and threw him into the same opening before it sealed shut.
"Now all that's left is wrapping up this mission and collecting those guards—wherever they are." Kara scanned the dying chaos on the platform. The Titans had managed to subdue three of the five Citadel generals and a decent number of guards. She spotted Static frantically launching lightning barrages while Ryand'r covered his back, fighting the remaining guards. "Time to get back to work." With that, she shot forward toward them.
"I better get extra credit for this," Virgil muttered, bringing his hands together. A crackling lightning whip materialized between his palms, and he lashed it forward into the cluster of incoming guards.
"You really are something," Ryand'r said, channeling his energy outward. It expanded into a shield, deflecting an incoming beam attack.
"Just part of the job," Virgil replied with a grin, keeping a watchful eye on the incoming threats. The whip crackled and snapped, catching two more guards mid-charge and sending them sprawling.
Just then, Kara dropped in beside them, her fist slamming into a heavily armored guard mid-lunge—stopping him cold before he could reach Ryand'r. "Miss me?"
"Nice timing," Virgil shot back with a grin, his lightning whip crackling as he lashed it toward another incoming guard. "Though next time, maybe a little warning before you throw royalty at me?"
"Oh come on. Where's the fun in a simple mission?" Kara smirked as she scooped Ryand'r into her arms before he could protest. "Team, I've got the target. Let's move out." She blew a cold breath freezing large portion of the platform floor before shooting off with Ryand'r in princess carry.
"Hey—wait up!" Ryand'r called out.
"Titans, withdraw!" Batgirl commanded.
"Copy that," Beetle responded.
"Roger!" Static added.
"Finally!" Donna called out.
Batgirl hitched a ride with Beetle, Virgil took off on his disc, and Donna launched herself into the air—all heading toward the battlefield below.
Present time
As Kori and Komand'r turned to look where Rachel was pointing, Komand'r's eyes widened. There, standing with the Titans on the battlefield below, was Ryand'r—held securely in Kara's arms.
Komand'r's expression darkened. Her gaze swept toward the platform, taking in the half-frozen scene—guards, generals, and dignitaries scattered across the ice like broken chess pieces.
"Like I said, Empress Komand'r—you have no more play left. Just surrender," Rachel's voice echoed once more.
Komand'r turned toward the hooded figure hovering above. For one fleeting moment, she felt the walls closing in, feeling her options dwindling. Then, at the edge of her vision, she caught it, the frozen beams from the dreadnoughts shifting ever so slightly.
"The spell is breaking."
Her expression calmed, and her lips curled into a vicious smile. "Well done, strangers. You rescued the traitor prince. You took down my generals and guards. You've even bloodied my forces. But do you really think you've won? That I have nothing left to play?" She gestured toward the frozen sky. "Out there, I have an entire armada. Millions more soldiers ready to die at my command. What you've accomplished here is nothing more than an inconvenience." Her eyes blazed. "So even if I lose today, you all still die."
Rachel's eyes narrowed as they met that defiant gaze. Beneath her hood, a slow, dangerous smile spread across her face. She'd already felt it—the tremor in her spell, its inevitable unraveling. She knew exactly where Komand'r's sudden confidence stemmed from.
"You know," Rachel said softly, though her voice carried clearly through the air, "people like you never learn until they're broken." She raised her left hand toward the frozen beams. Her inner realm flared to life, and a swirling vortex of dark magic tore open in the air above—drawing the immense energy from those beams into herself, her soul serving as a living conduit. With her right hand, she willed space to ripple. In an instant, Starfire was pulled from the battlefield below and appeared beside her. Rachel placed her palm against the shocked Kori's back, and raw power began flooding into Starfire's body. "So watch closely as we shatter that confidence of yours."
Minutes before Kori and Komand'r's battle came to an end
Rachel gazed up at the frozen beams from the dreadnoughts. "Mother Empress, can you assess the energy in those beams?"
"Assessing now..." The AI's voice came through her terminal. An instant later, "Assessment complete. What are you planning, Princess?"
"I'm going to convert that energy and supercharge Starfire," Rachel said calmly, her eyes glowing. "If this works, I can turn Kori into a legend—a beacon of hope strong enough to carve through the Citadel orbital perimeter."
"That's extremely risky, Princess. The energy output is immense. I know you're at the High Integration Realm and you've done energy conversion before—but never at this scale. One miscalculation could seriously damage both your system and Koriand'r's. And the energy isn't pure. It's contaminated. The moment you start converting it, you'll need to filter out the impurities while channeling the rest. You'll be doing both at the same time. Please reconsider."
"I know the risks. But the plan's changed." Rachel's eyes remained fixed on the frozen beams. "Taking out those two dreadnoughts in the sky won't be enough anymore. If we can hit the orbital fleet hard—wipe out a significant portion in one surprise strike—the Citadel will have no choice but to pull back. They can't afford losses like that in a single engagement. No commander with any sense would stay after that."
"You could handle this yourself if you went all out," Mother Empress observed. "But you're choosing to funnel this raw energy through Koriand'r instead—letting her be the one to strike. You want to send a message, don't you?"
"Exactly. This is her world, her home. We can help, but at the end of the day, it's not our fight to finish. Someone from the Vega system needs to be the one who saves it. And as Princess of Tamaran, Starfire is the perfect choice."
In her cyberspace, Mother Empress sat upon her throne, a knowing smile crossing her face. "More and more, she resembles you, young master," she murmured to herself before responding to Rachel.
"Understood. I'll monitor the energy flow and alert you if anything goes wrong." Mother Empress paused. "Be careful, Princess. The moment I sense you're in danger, I'm contacting your mother on the Javelin. That's final."
"Wouldn't expect anything less," Rachel murmured. Her inner world churned as she prepared for the next phase, one eye on the sisters' battle as it reached its end. "Time to finish this."