Electron Transfer occurs when an electron moves from one atom or molecule to a different atom or molecule.

Ashley felt atomized metal bonding to her exposed vertebrae. An odd whirring accompanied this process, tubes of bluish liquid serving as the channel through which the alloy was electrically grafted to the bones of her neck and upper spine. Ashley laid on a hard surgical table, goosebumps forming where her skin met the cold slate. Her eyes stared blankly at the white florescent strips hanging from the ceiling above. She was awake. She was aware of the deep incisions separating the skin and flesh from the base of her skull. She had felt the neural implant secured to her nerve center just moments before.

Two other young people laid on similar tables elsewhere in this makeshift laboratory. They had been the first and second "project" to be subjected to this treatment, Ashley being the third. Also in the room with her was the mastermind behind this utter depravity. Doctor Element stalked through the dim light of his surgery dungeon, a gritty, abandoned storage room in the basement of a college in Jump City. He clicked on the console attached to Ashley, checking the progress of electroplating her spine. The reading displayed eighty percent.

"I appreciate your volunteering," Doctor Element said, looking to his three test subjects "All of you." He folded hands behind his back and paced the basement. "Science is furthered by brave young souls such as yourself."

Soon after, footfalls sounded outside the room, drawing near. There were several sets, approaching with urgency. Doctor Element turned to the door just as an oddly green ram charged through the entrance. Beast Boy was joined by Cyborg as he reverted to his normal form.

"Now that's using your noggin!" Cyborg joked.

Beast Boy rubbed his forehead. "Dude, what is that door made of?"

"No, no, no..." Doctor Element took a step backwards from the pair before turning toward the other doorway, hoping to escape via an alternative route. A well-placed kick swung that door open as well and Robin dove through the doorway, followed by Raven and Starfire. "How did you find me?" the villainous doctor asked.

Robin stood from a crouched position, his masked eyes glaring into the evil doer. "People know who to call."

Starfire hovered over Robin's left shoulder. "We should now begin the taking of him down, yes?" she asked.

"Preferably before he gets away," Raven droned.

"We have him this time," Robin assured the team. He pointed at the doctor. "There's no way out!"

Doctor Element raised the sleeve of his lab coat and began tapping on a device attached to his wrist. "Don't be so sure, Titans. The elements are on my side," he began. "Allow me to demonstrate." With a final click, a flash of light overtook the doctor. When the light dissipated, he appeared entirely made of metal. His clothes, skin, everything, now had a steely, metallic glow.

"Titans, go!" Robin shouted, his command echoing in the basement as Starfire and Cyborg attacked from range, a volley of energy blasts firing from in front and behind the doctor. Robin and Beast Boy closed distance in the next second, striking with a staff and the horns of a rhinoceros respectively.

The doctor hardly flinched, the transformation rendering him nigh-invulnerable. His metal form twisted in counter attack, knocking Robin and Beast Boy back with heavy, crushing strikes. Raven waved her hands and a dozen black tendrils crawled out of the floor to grab the doctor, trapping him. Doctor Element smirked and reached for his device again, switching his form from metallic to gaseous. He dissolved into a fine atomic mist and floated upwards, out of Raven's grasp and towards the ceiling where he vanished via the ventilation system.

With Doctor Element having escaped, Beast Boy shifted back to human form. "Dude, what is he made of?"

Robin walked over to Beast Boy and Cyborg. "Some sort of metal? And then after that a gas." He turned his attention as Raven and Starfire joined them. "Cyborg, any specifics?"

"Sorry, I was busy, y'know, shooting him," Cyborg said. "I'll get some scans next time."

"What of these individuals?" Starfire wondered, looking at the three teens laying on the tables. "They appear to be similar to us in age."

"Split up," Robin instructed. "Check them out."

Raven and Starfire walked to the table in the middle of the room while Beast Boy and Cyborg went to investigate the furthest one on the other end of the room. Robin stayed by the girl, collapsing his staff then taking a few steps over to where she laid. "Hey, can you hear me?" he called to her.

Ashley stared plainly at the ceiling. "Mercury..."

"Mercury? Is that your name?" Robin asked.

"Mercury..." Ashley repeated.

Robin folded his arms. "Hmm," he muttered, a quizzical look on his face.

Shortly after, the other Titans returned with more information. "The other two are labeled Project Platinum and Project Lithium," Cyborg informed Robin. "They were implanted with a neuron amplifier device."

Robin nodded. "Is that what happened to her as well?" he asked, piecing the scene together.

"Yes, but her process isn't complete," Cyborg noticed upon scanning the nearby console. "It's at ninety percent."

"Whatever this procedure is, it affects the mind negatively," Raven uttered, psychically searching the subjects laying before them. "The others are void of personality. With her, something remains."

Robin knelt down to look underneath the table. There he saw the implant Cyborg mentioned and the tubes attached to Ashley's neck through which the metallic alloy was grafted to her bones. Robin reached for the tubes, taking them in a tight grasp.

Beast Boy peeked under the table as well, curious. "You sure that's a good-" The shifter began upon seeing Robin with the tubes in his hand, already ripping them out. "...idea?"

Fluid spilled from the tubes and the nearby console flashed red with errors. "The least we can do is stop this 'project' from going any further," Robin said, speaking on instinct.

With the machine removed, Ashley seemed to wake up. "What- where am I?" She spoke, turning her head to see Starfire floating above her. "Who are you?"

"I am Koriand'r from Tamaran," Starfire responded, oblivious. "We are currently on the planet Earth where-"

Cyborg looked up from the console. "That's probably not what she means, Star."

At this time the other two subjects, both young males, began to stir. "Uh guys, check this out," Beast Boy called to the team.

Robin turned to see what Beast Boy saw. "Cyborg, stitch her up, Raven keep her stable." With that the leader walked over to the two other teens cautiously, not knowing what to expect from them. "You have been altered by a villain scientist, Doctor Element," Robin stated calm and clearly as he approached. "We're not sure exactly what he has done to you but-"

The subject that had been labeled as 'Lithium' dropped from his surgical table and struck with a wild, untrained punch. Robin dodged the attack and expertly blocked a second strike. However, upon contact with Lithium, a flare of red-hot energy sparked from the projects skin. Robin took a swift step backward. His cool, reasoned speech had fallen on deaf ears; the altered project before him knew only rage. In contrast, the subject labeled 'Platinum' stood strangely still in the back of the room, not moving beyond the action it took to stand from the table where he previously laid.

Cyborg mended the flayed flesh of Ashley's neck while Raven induced a relaxed state to her mind. Beast Boy joined Robin as Lithium attacked again, raw frustration and confusion on the altered teens face. Every time Lithium made physical contact with Beast Boy or Robin, fire leaped from the impact. This made battling the subject hand-to-hand quite dangerous. However when Starfire threw a starbolt, the chemical reaction was even more extreme, an eruption of flame that burned the air and set fire throughout the basement.

Through the fire Robin saw Platinum and Lithium exit the laboratory through the back door. The leader chased after them as the room burned, driven by his unwavering determination.

"Robin!" Starfire called after him.

"Come on!" Cyborg said to the rest of the team, shouting over the roaring fire. He took the girl known as Project Mercury in both arms and ran out of the burning room, followed by Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire. Once outside, Cyborg set Ashley on the floor, transformed his arm cannon into a fire extinguisher, then walked back into the lab to put out the fire.

Starfire hovered over Project Mercury, concern in her eyes. "She will be okay, yes?"

Beast Boy knelt down next to the girl. "Looks fine to me," he said, poking her curiously. "Except for the whole, metal-neck-thing."

"Do not touch her," Raven said. "She needs rest."

Beast Boy stood from the girl just as Robin returned. He stumbled through the door leading to the stairway, clutching a burn on his shoulder.

"Rob, you good?" Beast Boy asked him.

"I lost them," Robin growled, focused only on the mission. He walked over to the other Titans. "Where's Cyborg?"

Cyborg exited the burned lab. "Just putting out the fire," he said, transforming his arm back to its base form. "I also recovered some files that should tell us what Doctor Element was up to."

"We still don't know who those kids are," Beast Boy pointed out. He looked down at Ashley. "Were they working with the doctor?"

Raven frowned. "I highly doubt that."

"Here's a start," Robin said, holding up a I.D. card he had gained from chasing after the two projects. "Murakami Academy. They're students."

"Oh, a seeker of knowledge?" Starfire lit with intrigue. "How very interesting."

"Guess we're not leaving her behind," Beast Boy figured. He turned to Robin. "Is she coming with us?"

The Titans looked to their leader and he looked down at Project Mercury. She laid on the floor of the hall in her Murakami uniform, unconscious. Would she be as volatile as the other project had been? Cyborg had said the process had not finished and Raven found that 'something remained' of this subjects personality. However, this was no guarantee that she would be compatible with the team or even willing to help them.

"She could be useful in finding and defeating Doctor Element," Robin said, considering the option. "Yes," he decided. "She's coming with us." Cyborg nodded and picked up Mercury in both arms as Robin began walking, followed by the rest of the Titans.