Blazing streaks of green light tore through the night sky, crashing into the rooftops and streets of the dark city. Koriand’r’s chest heaved as she landed hard on cracked pavement, her fists igniting with solar fire. The humid air of this strange world stung her lungs, but the heat of battle was familiar. Behind her, the Citadel pursuers descended having followed her to this planet.

She whirled and hurled a pair of starbolts, the blasts detonating against the nearest warriors, scattering debris across the alley. The humans around them screamed and fled; their voices were strange, sharp, and incomprehensible. Another squad rounded the corner, plasma fire searing past her head. She soared upward, spinning in midair, and brought down a cascade of burning energy that sent them sprawling.

Then shadows dropped from above. A small but disciplined group moved in with precision: a man who seemed more machine than man, a lithe green-skinned boy shifting shapes mid-leap, a young man in yellow and red sprinting faster than her eyes could follow. And at their front—a dark-haired warrior in red and green, a gleaming “R” on his chest. They cut into the Citadel lines, fighting with skill and speed unlike anything she had seen in this world. Together, they drove the invaders back into retreat, the last of them vanishing through a portal as they retreated.

She landed, hair still flickering with residual light, and approached the dark-haired leader. “Gravath tamar no’lek, taz Thal koriand'r-” She stopped, his expression blank and confused. He replied in his language, short, clipped words she could not understand. Her eyes narrowed in irritation. Without warning, she stepped close, gripping the collar of his outfit, and pulled him to her. Pressing her lips to him and then she could understand it, using the tamaranean ability of tactile linguistic assimilation.

Pulling back, she met his startled gaze. What was he so shocked about? She didn't quite understand why. She looked back at his group, greeting their confused expressions with a smile. “I thank you. I am Koriand’r… Starfire, Princess of Tamaran. I am grateful for the help.”