Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans, do own Gene, wish I owned a gundam.
I hope the last chapter was long enough for you all. I kind of got on a roll with it, and couldn't stop. Like the song 'The more I drink' said, 'Once I get on a roll, ain't no tellin' where I'll stop.' I don't drink, but when I get on a roll, nothing short of severe hunger, war breaking out in my back yard, or the promise of a working Wing Gundam Zero will stop me. I also hope I didn't bother anyone with showing Genes thoughts about Slades offer. I don't know why I wrote that part. I guess my mind was working too hard without caffiene. Lack of caffiene lack of proper sleep less sense in the story. I still plan to post the original, but I figure I'll get some help with it so you can enjoy it to the fullest and without errors. I see that, by the stats, this is the second most popular story I've posted, while Mechanical shifter and Experimental warrior have gone relatively unnoticed. I'll just stop posting for Mechanical shifter unless the numbers go up by a signifigant margin, with reviews. I'll try and update Experimental, if just for Nicole-Purple. I apologize for their format, but I was a novice then. I may still be a novice, but with the help of Ronin Drake, I have improved. I notice that you all have taken a shine to the Mobile suit spec test, and I certainly enjoy writing it for you, but I've decided that this story has room to grow, so I'll wait until tomorrow or Sunday to post another chapter. Enjoy. )
Cyborg and Robin had finished their contest with Cyborg winning by two pancakes. Gene had finished his breakfast and had washed his own dishes. Jinx had finished hers and washed hers as well. At present Gene was now spinning a small silver coin on the end of his index finger.
After finishing the rest of the tests on the Sladebot and Genes ironmade katana, Robin handed Gene his sword.
"Thanks Robin. This may not be a real katana, but it deserves to be in prime condition nonetheless." Gene held the sword out in front of himself and ran his left hand over the breaks. The blade was fixed, but slightly shorter since Robin had not been able to find the tip of the blade.
"So Gene, how would you like to start explaining about how you healed so fast?." Robin stood at the top of the stairs that led to the hall.
"Sure. We can talk on the way to the training room." Gene walked toward Robin with the sword held over his shoulders, Jinx walking behind him.
Elsewhere in the tower, Raven was trying to regain her focus, with little success.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos. Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos." She was sitting in a medatative position on the floor. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos." In her head, all of her personalities were doing the same in their respective areas, including Rage. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos." After a few minutes she decided to go to the training room to use the whirlpool bath to try and relax.
Starfire was already in the training room practicing fine tuning her starbolts. She had seen a television show her friends referred to as "Yu-yu Hakusho". The main character had been able to fire a pinpoint shot of energy from his finger tips. She was now trying to do the same with her starbolts.
"Focus. I can do this." She held out her hand like a pistol. "Concentrate. If this is succesful, I shall be able to defend my friends better." She was close to getting a focused starbolt, which she planned on calling her 'Star pistol'.
She fired the blast, which came out as it always did. It destroyed the target completely. Starfire muttered a few Tameranian words under her breath when she heard the door open.
"So basically, you can only use so many spells per day? Seems like a big drawback if you ask me." Robin walked in followed by Gene, Jinx, and Cyborg.
"Yeah, but most of those spells require material components. I don't need to use them, but without them I have to use more Mani particles. I have no way of getting most of the materials now, since I don't know where a store that sells them is. If I did, I'd be able to use at least three times as many spells." Gene was walking sooner than Cyborg had said, which left Starfire confused.
"Friend Gene? Why are you doing the walking about? Friend Cyborg said that it would be another day until you would awaken."
Gene looked over at Starfire. "Hello Starfire. I just needed some sleep. I used too much energy yesterday. Robin can fill you in on the details, but now he has some details for Jinx and I." He looked at Robin who was now putting his belt on a stand.
"I was planning to test Jinx today, and you tomorrow, if you wanted to join the Titans. Jinx will be tested, but Gene, you can take the test if you want to join." Robin removed his cape and put it on the same stand as his belt.
"Jinx. The first test is how well you can handle yourself in a fight. I know you can, but it is a required test." He readied himself in a Judo stance.
Jinx dropped into a stance that Gene knew well. Her arms held loosely at her side, slightly hunched over, staring at Robin. She was using a stance commonly used by followers of Gardensia, the Council Goddess of peace, flora, and water. Her style was mostly defensive, dodging and blocking opposing attacks until the attacker was tired, followed by specialized pins to incapacitate them. Gene smiled. He had studied all of the Council fighting styles, something most followers of Folgoreste did.
Robin made the first move, going in for a heavy downward strike which Jinx simply sidestepped.
'Leftside stamen.' Gene was keeping track of her movements.
Robin swung his left leg at her, but missed as she jumped over his leg, moving in close, and raised her left hand into his jaw.
'Budding left pod, succeeded by floating pollen.'
Robin was now in trouble, with Jinx so close he would have to get away from her to plan, but she was now jumping above him.
'Floating pollen flip. Expected to be followed by ivy leg creepers or ivy grip.'
Jinx landed behind Robin, and before he could move, she wrapped her left arm around his neck, her right pulled his right arm behind him, and she kicked the back of his left knee, forcing him down.
"Did I pass? I'd say I did, but that's just me." Jinx had a big smile on her face. Robin was about to answer when someone started clapping. Both Robin and Jinx looked over to see that it was Gene.
"Excellent form Jinx. I haven't seen that combat form used that effectively in years." Gene continued clapping while Robin admitted defeat.
Jinx let him go and walked over to Gene. "Thanks Gene. I just picked it up from a book. I have to admit, I couldn't read it, but the pictures really helped."
Gene smiled. "That was the Water Lily Petal form, created by the Goddess, Gardensia. She is the Council Goddess of peace, flora, and water. Did the book detail any other forms?"
Jinx shook her head. "No. There was only pictures of flowers and water. Other than that, I could only make out the images of a woman fighting. I simply copied what I saw."
Gene began chuckling. "I had planned to look for signs of The Council, and it looks like you have the first Jinx. Might I be able to borrow the book? I should be able to translate it for you by the end of the week. All of the books have different languages, but I have studied them all."
Gene now looked over to Robin. "Robin, I would like to join the Titans. If you would allow me, I would like to heal any of your injuries so I may start soon. If Jinx still has to undergo other tests, is there another way for me?"
Robin stood up. "Well, I have to administer a few more tests, but Cyborg should be able to test you. I'd normally suggest Raven but..."
At that moment Raven walked through the door, wearing a bathing suit, and carrying a towel. She hadn't noticed the others, because she had her eyes closed. She walked right up to Gene before she opened them.
Her first reaction was trying to punch Gene. After that failed, she lay on the floor looking up at Gene.
"Normally, I'd make a joke. But it seems your still suffering from whatever caused your lack of powers." Gene extended his right hand to Raven. "My offer to help still stands."
Raven stood up on her own. "No thanks." She picked up her towel and walked over to a small pool.
Robin walked up to her and started talking to her quietly so the others wouldn't hear.
"Raven, if your powers aren't working, you should let Gene try."
"No. Until he gets more control over his powers, I'm not going to let him mess with mine."
"Raven, at least promise that you'll start being nicer to him. He's trying to be your friend. If you don't at least trust him that much, we're going to have problems."
"Okay. I'll try to be nicer to him, but I still don't want him messing with my head. If he were to do something wrong, he might end up killing himself."
"Fair enough. But if your powers aren't working properly by tomorrow morning, let Gene at least try to help you. Even if it isn't by magic, he could at least try to give you something to fight with, like another sword or something."
Gene smiled to himself. 'Thanks Robin. I need all the trust I can get.'
Raven stepped into the small pool and pressed a button. Robin walked over to Jinx, then looked over at Cyborg.
"Cyborg. You test Gene. And remember, no sonic cannon."
Cyborg raised his hands. "Wouldn't even think of it." Jinx giggled at his response.
Cyborg put a hand on Genes back and led him away from the others as Beast Boy walked in.
"Gene, the rules are simple. You fight me, and try to beat me. Regardless of wether you win or lose, I'll be grading your performance. So no pressure. Oh, and before I forget. Absolutely no offensive powers, and no defensive powers. Flying is okay, as is turning invisible and stuff like that. Just don't overdo it. I don't want you to faint trying to dodge my punches." Gene smiled.
"No powers, defensive or offensive. Flight is allowed, and my objective is to fight you. Victory is optional. That about it?"
Now Cyborg was smiling. "Yep. That about covers it. We start whenever your ready."
Gene jumped ten feet back from Cyborg and dropped into a stance, similar to the one Jinx used. Cyborg was thinking that since he knew what Jinx could do, he could beat Gene easily. Cyborg made a fist with his right hand.
"Ready when you are Cyborg." Cyborg was waiting for him to say that.
CYborg ran forward, trying to tackle Gene like he had a football. Gene merely sidestepped and held out his left foot, tripping Cyborg. Gene then jumped away as Cyborg reached out with his left hand, trying to grab Genes foot.
Meanwhile, Robin was talking with Jinx, asking personal questions about her past. (I won't go into this.)
Jinx looked over and saw Gene dodging Cyborg like a matador dodging a bull.
"Hold still shiny! This'll all be over in a second!" Cyborg was getting frustrated.
He finally was getting close to Gene when he simply fell forward. Gene was right in front of him, then he was gone.
"Sorry Cy. I thought you'd remember that one." Gene had taken a step back, into a dimension door he had set up. Cyborg never said that Gene couldn't use it, and since it was a transportation spell, he could legally, by the rules Cyborg laid down, use it.
Cyborg stood up, brushing himself off. Before he could look over at Gene, he felt a hand close around his throat. Gene had closed the thirty foot distance in less than a second and had wrapped his, now longer, fingers around Cyborgs neck.
"I believe Victory is mine Cyborg. One move from you and I could incapacitate you easily." Cyborg couldn't see any violation to the rules. Changing the length of his fingers and arm didn't count as offensive or defensive magic.
Starfire was confused, as was Beast Boy who, up until then, was still half asleep.
"Dude! That was amazing. How'd you do that? And for that matter, how are you awake?" The young changeling was also lead to believe Gene would be out until tomorrow.
Gene let go of Cyborgs throat. "I just needed to rest. Robin, Cyborg, or Jinx can tell you more. Right now I have to start the second test."
Cyborg tried to tell Gene what the next test was when the alarm went off.
"Looks like that'll have to wait." Gene looked over at Robin, who was finishing putting on his cape and belt. "What now boss?"
Robin looked at Gene, then Jinx. "You two stay here with Raven. It looks like it's doctor Light again. The police must have not seen him, or he might have ran away when we weren't looking. We should be able to handle him and be back in an hour or two."
With that, Robin and the rest of the Titans, except Raven, ran out of the training room to deal with Light.
That should do it for this chapter. I'd do more, but I plan to skip the battle this time, seeing as Doctor Light is the least dangerous villain if he doesn't catch a lucky break. I hope more people start reading this story. I mean, a lot of people check the first chapter, but after that, hardly anyone looks further. I wonder why so few people do this. Humans are, by nature, curious to see how events unfold. Why so few people read my work, I can only speculate. Also, I'd like to announce that I will post my original work soon, but since I'm patiently waiting to help a friend with his story, I can't. I'd like to, but it ain't gonna happen today. If Ronin Drake reads this, let me know how I can help. I plan on ending this story by either the next chapter or I might do one more. After that, I'll make a second version of this story, set some time after the end.