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Origin of the Species
(Assuming two females can constitute a new species)
Koriand'r didn't exactly have a secret origin. She just had a lot in her past she didn't want to talk about and not without cause. Starfire had first appeared in a Robin dream sequence story in DC Comics Presents 26 (Oct 1980) which was done as an appetiser for the debut of The New Teen Titans #1 the following month (Nov. 1980) but it was nearly two years later (or a couple of months DC Universe time) that she felt comfortable enough with the group to open up during a camping trip. Tales of the New Teen Titans was a 1982 four issue mini-series by New Teen Titans co-creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez filling in the backgrounds of the three new Titans they had introduced along with the revised origin of the relatively obscure Changeling (formerly Beast Boy of the Doom Patrol). Having done Raven and Cyborg in the first two issues they saved the best for last (IMHO anyway) and told Starfire's origin in the fourth and final issue (Sept. 1982). Born on Tamaran, the 8th world of the Vegan solar system, she was named Crown Princess almost at birth. A fact that never failed to rankle her older sister Komand'r. Komand'r had been born sickly and never developed the innate flight abilities that almost all Tamarans possessed so she was unfit to be heir to the throne though she remained a princess. That wasn't good enough and she grew increasingly bitter and hostile. The optimistic Koriand'r continually underestimated the depths of her sister's jealousy and hatred until they were both sent to Okaara to study at the Warlords' military academy. Both excelled but it was during their graduation tournament that Koriand'r finally saw what her sister had become. The contest was supposed to be decided by dislodging your opponent from her mount but Komand'r decided to try the innovative (and prohibited) tactic of slicing the leg off her sister's animal. After that events escalated rapidly.
Komand'r left Okaara without any more hints about her plans and Koriand'r assumed she had gone home in disgrace. However she never arrived and was believed lost in space which didn't grieve anyone too much. Unfortunately the Tamarans weren't that lucky. Most of the Vegan worlds were dominated by the tyrannical Citadel and Komand'r had just sold them the key to the Tamarans' defenses. Millions die and Koriand'r swore vengeance (as no doubt millions of others who had lost loved ones in the attacks). However Tamaran was a tough nut to crack so the Citadel made a truce in exchange for being paid tribute. The first item of which was to be Koriand'r as both a hostage against the Royal Family and as a token of good faith by King Myand'r. So Koriand'r said a tearful farewell to her family and began her descent into a nightmarish six years of hell. Which began with a very unwelcome surprise.
Unfortunately this was not a case where "The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend" applied. The Psions were worse than the Citadel and they had plans for both Koriand'r and Komand'r!
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