| Washington D.C. - August 19
Koriand'r, dressed in her Starfire outfit, used the Zeta-tube from Mount Justice to the Hall of Justice in D.C., then flew across the skyline toward the ho of a woman injured during a battle between Ares and Wonder Woman. A building had collapsed during the fight, and the woman had been caught in the debris.
Wonder Woman made it a point to support innocent victims of collateral damage—especially those hurt through no fault of their own. As her protégé, Kori felt it was her responsibility to follow that example. She'd co early today, leaving the Team—who were on an unofficial mission from Red Tornado to find Kent Nelson—in Kaldur's capable hands.
Still, a pang of guilt lingered. She was their leader, after all. But nothing should go wrong since Joseph was with them.
Arriving at the apartnt, Kori warmly greeted the woman, who sat in a wheelchair, her legs paralyzed from the incident. The woman's face lit up at the sight of her. Wonder Woman was covering her dical expenses, and Kori was here to offer more than money—kindness, conversation, hope. She loved helping people. Their happiness made her feel whole.
But then she heard it—a rapid whump-whump-whump of wings outside the apartnt window.
A second later, the wall exploded inward, concrete and steel ripped apart by a high-pitched sonic scream. Starfire instantly shielded the woman with her body, but the force of the scream blasted them both through the room and into the hallway.
Ears ringing, arms shaking, she looked down. The woman was unconscious but still breathing.
Kori rose unsteadily, green starbolts flaring in her palms. "Who are you?"
Hovering outside the ruined wall was a red-haired woman in a gleaming silver suit. tallic wings shimred behind her. Black nanite-like claws extended from her fingers.
"My na is Silver Swan," the woman hissed before launching forward, claws outstretched.
Kori fired multiple starbolts in defense, but Silver Swan flew through them, the burns quickly healing, before crashing into her and sending her across the hallway into the neighboring apartnt. Kori landed hard on a table—splinters flying—and heard the frightened gasps of people inside.
'I have to get her out of here,' she thought.
But before she could do so, she flew out just in ti to see Silver Swan retract her claws from the injured woman's chest—and drop her lifeless body.
"No!" Kori's scream was one of anguish and fury. Green energy flared violently around her fists as she shot forward and punched Silver Swan out of the building.
Their fight carried into the air. Starfire's battle experience gave her an edge in tactics, but Silver Swan was faster, stronger, and more durable. Her wings folded in like a shield to deflect Kori's attacks, then snapped out like blades to counter. The razor-sharp ends slashed across Starfire's body, leaving deep gashes.
Kori managed a solid hit to Silver Swan's face, the green starbolt covered fist burning the woman's cheek.
Enraged, Silver Swan unleashed another point-blank sonic scream. Kori's vision blurred. Her body spun, disoriented and nauseated, before she crashed hard into the street below, carving a crater in the asphalt. Screams of civilians echoed around her.
Silver Swan descended and began pumling her face.
"It's all your fault!" she scread. "I should've been by Diana's side—not you! Since I can't have her… no one will!"
She raised her black claws and plunged them into Starfire's chest, relishing in the feeling of her claws sinking deeper into her heart, her fingers going through Starfire's back—until a red and blue blur intercepted her.
Wonder Woman smashed Silver Swan away from Kori's broken form.
The two won flew into the air, and Diana's face contorted as she got a clearer look. "Vanessa...? Is that you?"
"Vanessa's dead, Amazon!" Silver Swan shrieked. "Only I remain!"
She dived for Starfire again, but Diana intercepted her mid-air, their combat fierce and personal.
"What happened to you?" Diana asked. "How did you beco this…? The only reason I recognized you was from your drawings…"
"…Drawings of a stupid girl with stupid dreams," Silver Swan spat. "She loved you, Diana! You were her sister, her hero, her world. But like Echo to Narcissus, you either didn't see it—or didn't care!"
A sonic scream detonated from her throat, hamring Wonder Woman through the sky.
"I cared, Vanessa," Diana said through gritted teeth, forcing herself forward. "I've been holding back because I care—but I can't anymore. I have to stop you. This... this has to be the nanites' doing."
Silver Swan didn't respond. She twisted toward Starfire again, mouth opening to unleash another scream—but Diana's punch diverted it skyward.
"I tried to help you. I held back. And this is how you repay ?" Diana growled. "Then feel the strength of an Amazon!"
She drew her sword from her waist and slashed—cleanly severing one of Silver Swan's wings.
The chanical limb fell. Silver Swan dove after it mid-air, caught it, and the nanites reattached in seconds.
Then she fled.
Wonder Woman landed beside Starfire, who lay motionless in the crater.
Her voice trembled. "Oh no… Kori. What has Vanessa done to you?"
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