Chapter 6: Dear, Dear.

Starfire looked round at the customers sitting at the other tables in the burger bar. They were what you might expect on a Thursday afternoon. Mostly kids from the local high school. A group of football players clustered round a pretty girl, some boys who looked like they had spent too much time watching The Fonz, some slightly older Preppy types.

"Raven," she said, "I do not think that the general public offer much prospect."

"Ugh." Was her dark companion's only reply.

"I see that you are right." Starfire looked glum. "Romance is not easy for us. Perhaps a glittering career or an arranged marriage to a Tamaranian prince is not so inferior a choice."

"Perhaps not." Raven replied, glancing at the bill and leaving some coins on the saucer. "But we must leave immediately, I detect an emergency in the making."

And taking her friend's hand, she led her out into the street.