Disclaimer: I make no claim to having any sanity whatsoever and all of the things you are about to read are derived from other TV-shows that I don't own. I also don't own Teen Titans or the idea of Chaos mages, that actually existed at some point.
Also note that I'll be focusing on what happens after the fights from chap one are over, rather than detailing the fights first. The alternative would have left little room for part 3.
Chapter 10:Reality checks and TV-bills (part 2)
They were lost.
Robin had been pounded into the ground, Starfire had been shot out of the sky under the watchful eye of her sister, and both were now being held down by these super-powered foot soldiers. Blackfire decided to taunt them both, seeing as they were clearly overpowered.
"Oh sister, how the mighty has fallen. Does it hurt to know that I beat you? Do you feel the same pain and humiliation you gave me when you handed me over to that blob?"
Star was struggling to stay conscious. She'd taken several blows to the head, as well a laser blast to the shoulder, and she was certain that if she fainted, she would not wake up again. Better to try and reason with her sister than anger her more.
"I did it to preserve our home. You would have brought ruin to our planet in your misguided anger. I did it for Tamaran."
"Don't tell me it was in the best interest of our planet for me to be condemned to life on a swamp world! You know full well that our kind cannot thrive in hot humid environments! You sent me along with that thing in the hopes that I would die from one of the mould infections that you can get there, and don't you deny it! You wanted me out of the way, dead by some vulgar disease so you wouldn't have to live with killing your sister yourself," one could tell this was years of emotional repression coming out. Lord Frigo didn't mind the long delay in execution. The show they were in was known for long dialogues preceding character death.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Even as the black-haired former Grand Ruler went on, Beast Boy and Cyborg were knocked out cold by another black-haired girl.
"Sabrina to HQ, Sabrina to HQ, do you read me, HQ?" she communicated with the headquarters in Saffron. This was, by the way, one of few shows where cell-phones were used so diligently.
"Loud and clear, Sabrina. Are the two subjects out?" came the reply.
"They are out cold, but no permanent damage has been done. I think they may prove useful when preserved," she dared. In truth, she just wanted the green-skinned one to live. It would be handy to have a pet like him around. And he did have cute pointy ears, though she'd never admit thinking that.
"Very well, bring them here and get the shield up. It's not because our strongest enemies are incapacitated that we should let our guard down. I trust you did not stress your Mr. Mime too much?"
"No sir, he'll be fit enough to raise the shield," she replied. That's one of the things she liked about Team Rocket; nobody cared what you did or how you did it, as long as you got results. She took both of the unconscious teens to Saffron in her usual teleportation fashion.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Juro found himself in a forest of sorts, surrounded by what looked like giant bowling balls and a handful of robed men. The one right in front of him held a red-haired girl. His elbow was wrapped around her neck and his hand showed he was wearing a gauntlet that ended in claws. He threatened a bit, burying the claws in her flesh for a few inches.
"The girl is our hostage," spoke the leader of the disguised troop," you will duel us now."
"Then choose your weapon, villain," replied Juro.
When he did, Juro sighed inwardly. He knew who these guys were, he knew where he was, and he had to restrain himself from laughing aloud.
Of all villains, Control Freak just had to send these guys.
What an idiot.
Raven, meanwhile, got a good look at what was pounding at the door. It looked like a four-legged crab, only with a laser gun instead of claws. She got ready to defend herself when suddenly the silly thing fell down.
The nerdy kid with her looked at his screens.
"Huh? Aelita? You made it!"
The red-head showed on screen now.
"I had help from a stranger. Who's that with you?"
Only now did he seem to notice Raven.
"Long story," she interrupted, "the one who helped you is a friend of mine. Can you get him out?"
What followed was long explanation about materialisation programs, having to re-write the whole code, not being able to find his friends…
"Simple answer: yes or no?" she snapped.
"Don't bother, I'm here already," came Juro's voice behind them," used a little present from my foes. The bigger problem is what to do now."
They were both struck by a wave of nausea after he said that.
"What was that?" Juro asked.
"I think somebody's dying. Somebody close to us…one of the Titans is dying, Juro. How do we get out of this?"
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Starfire couldn't last much longer. The blows she'd suffered must have caused some serious internal bleeding. She hadn't lost that much blood from the shoulder wound, though. Robin stood powerless, literally. He was barely aware of the fact that some blond guy showed up to challenge Frigo. It didn't matter; both parties ignored him. How could it have come to this? They were going to die, and Robin had never said he loved Star. It was for her own good, he kept telling himself; she could not have a future with him. Not the one she deserved. He struggled in the grasp of an anonymous foot soldier, which only drew Blackfire's attention to him.
"Oh yes, Robin the Boy Wonder. You could still make it out of here alive, you know, just say what I want to hear and I'll let you go. Tell me you don't love my sister, that's all I ask."
Robin's whole world caved in before him as Star was bleeding inside.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Sabrina was talking to the big boss again, again on the phone.
"Yes, the mechanical one could help solve the Mewtwo problem. The technology involved would be a big help."
"And I take it you want to keep the green one?" the boss queried.
"Venomoth is sedating him even as we speak. It shouldn't be too much trouble to keep him in check."
"But do you lay claim to him as your own?" Giovanni persisted.
"Yes, I do. If I keep him close enough at all times, I'll be able to keep his thoughts in check. And he'd be of more use to us if we have more control," she referred, again, to the disastrous Mewtwo project, the consequences of which were still running rampant somewhere in Kanto.
"Very well, then, you can keep him," Giovanni finally conceded.
After that, the Venomoth hovering over the elf-like shapeshifter stopped showering him in toxic powders. He was drugged enough for Sabrina to enter his mind without any resistance. She probed for things she could use, and finally decided on what she'd do.
Beast Boy woke up feeling heavy, his eyes blurred. He could barely make out who was with him in the room. He tried to speak, but he couldn't raise his voice above a whisper.
"Terra…?"
"Shh, you took a heavy blow. I almost thought I'd lost you there, BB."
For a moment, he struggled to think. What had happened? He'd been in a fight, he knew that much. He'd fought alongside Terra, that he knew for sure. Who had he been fighting? Oh yeah, that big black dragon thingy...Malchi-something or other. Good thing Terra was so powerful. Between the two of them, there was nothing they couldn't do.
It's not like they needed any team-mates, right?
Beast Boy felt a bit queasy, and it felt like that didn't come from a blow to the head. Something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. Terra told him to lay still, she'd get him something to eat to get his strength back. She gave him a little kiss on the forehead and he dozed right off.
Somewhere in the bowels of the Sylph Tower in Saffron City, the headquarters of Team Rocket, Cyborg lay, deactivated, capable only of dreaming as his circuitry was being torn apart one piece at a time.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
"Okay, Jerry, hit the code now and we'll get your friends back," Juro commanded.
"Would you mind explaining just what we're going to do again?" the Azarathian girl asked.
"Okay, Jerry here is going to hit the code that allows time travel. This IS Code Tokyo, after all, and he can create a warp to throw us through time. With a bit of luck, we'll be able to stop Control Freak from nabbing Jerry's friends and save ours. And to hop from one channel to the next, I nabbed these little gadgets from the troops he sent into the VR world. Any questions?"
Raven did think of one funny retort, but it would've been out of place and too cruel, even by her standards. She just took the remote Juro offered her.
"Okay, return to the past," Jerry's catchphrase sounded.
A large white wave came from the computer in the centre of the room, it enveloped everything and the next thing the two of them knew, they were standing in a hall with a few floating screens and several containers made up of static. There was a note on one of them.
"Dear Titans,
I sure hope you didn't think I couldn't see what you were doing. Especially the new kid. I dare you to pull that dirty trick again!"
"What trick is he referring to?" Raven asked.
Just then the same robed men Juro had faced in the VR world came back. They appeared out of a shadowy wall and spoke with the same menacing voices.
"You duel with us now," their leader stated.
"I'll deal with these guys, could you please get the TV heroes out of their cells, Raven?"
She complied as Juro demonstrated the little trick he'd used before.
"Ah," she said," that explains it."
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Robin and Starfire had just landed in the desert. It took about five seconds for them to realise they were outnumbered and outclassed, and they both knew that they'd be going down in a very short time.
That's when Future Pants showed up.
In a blur, the blue-haired hero sliced to pieces all of the foot soldiers that would have mortally wounded Starfire, and then proceeded to tear up Lord Frigo and Queen Freeze.
Once again, Drake's Cube X was completely in line with the script.
Except of course for the Titans and Blackfire, but that little argument was settled quickly with a black ball of energy. Raven had entered the picture.
When the dust had settled and Juro came back from his little romp with those pathetic robed villains, Robin tried to get the facts straight.
"Okay, so we're stuck inside this show, but you've managed to steal the remotes from Control Freaks' reinforcements, so we can move to other channels, right?"
"Right," the mortal God of Luck replied.
"And where are Beast Boy and Cyborg?"
"We couldn't trace Control Freak's signal," Raven now interjected," we're guessing we jumped him before he could kidnap the heroes of whatever show they're dropped in. And we're almost at the time before the warp, so wherever they are, they're in the same situation as before, only the heroes are now there."
"But then why hasn't Control Freak sent anything else after us?" the Boy Wonder pondered aloud.
"He's using the Balmarkian gambit," Starfire suggested," he's using a diversion tactic while he builds up his strength. Then, as the enemy is forced to engage, the trap springs. It's one of the most common strategies on our planet."
"That explains a lot. Control Freak's not smart enough to come up with a strategy like that, but your sister must have given him a few pointers," Robin replied. Said sister was still unconscious after having the magical equivalent of an anvil dropped on her head. In the background there were a few discussions arising between the Super Blonde Mega Warriors, something about being of royal blood and a heart disease, but that's beside the point.
"Which still leaves us with the question: where are our friends?" Star asked.
"Well, Juro, any thoughts? You know TV almost as well as BB does," Robin asked, though it should be noted he still had a hint of distrust in his voice. The whole telepathy thing had shaken himup more than he let on.
"Okay, let me think, Raven and I were dropped in Code: Tokyo at the beginning of the last episode of season 1, and you were dropped in Drake's Cube X at the beginning of the first battle with Future Pants. Control Freak dropped all of us in a show and episode where the heroes were in mortal danger, and he did it after he removed the residential heroes, except for the show that has BB and Cy in it. But the only show that would have an episode like that is..."
At that point, his face turned white, which didn't inspire too much hope in the hearts of his fellow Titans.
"We've got to go, quick. I know where they are and they're in serious trouble right about now."
"Well, where are they?" Robin now demanded.
"They're in Pocket Monsters, and today's the episode where Team Rocket completes its ultimate project."
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Sabrina had considered the possibility that the fat guy wouldn't be able to detain the three Pallet Town Trainers. It didn't matter, though; she had the green teen drugged and brainwashed, his memories blocked, and the entire city was covered in an impenetrable shield, courtesy of Mr. Mime. And the part robot teen was stashed away somewhere in the basement, completely dismantled, naturally. Then, of course, there was the project Team Rocket had been working on. It actually depended, in part, on the Trainers of Pallet Town. They'd stolen Ash Ketchum's Eevee, whose genetic code was being turned inside out even at that very moment. And after they were through with that, they'd get the technology from that cyborg thing and hopefully be able to make some strong, new weapons capable of controlling Mewtwo. As if their current project didn't give them enough firepower already. She took out one of her Pokéballs and thought about the power there was inside. It was almost as enormous as the power it took to control it, but there it was, right in the palm of her hand. She'd be one of the most powerful Trainers of all time, maybe even a worthy successor to Giovanni.
And all the while, she'd be having some fun with her new pet/boyfriend.
It's not easy to get a guy when you're a feared general in a criminal organisation and have the power to lift a car with your mind.
Men get intimidated by that sort of thing.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
The other Titans landed in a grassy field just outside of Saffron. Their path was blocked by large, transparent shield.
"Don't bother trying to break it, guys, if memory serves, it'll go down in just a few seconds," the supposed expert at the matter stated.
And indeed, it did. Robin let Juro be their guide through this televised action-fest. He was out of his element and he knew it. They dodged Rocket members, ducking through the city's alleys until they came to the Sylph Tower.
"Okay, Ash, Gary and Olga should be inside right about now," at that, they entered as well, but they stopped before the end of the staircase when they reached the fifth floor. They saw one kid fall through a trapdoor, as another squared off with what looked like a ninja with a bat on right arm and a snake coiled around his right.
"Okay, now Koga and Gary are going to go at it, while Ash takes down Surge. We'd better wait until it's over," Juro whispered.
"Is this show really that dangerous? I thought this was a kid's show?"
Even as Raven said it, Gary sent out his Scyther, which was basically a huge mantis with blades for arms. It drove one of the blades through Koga's shoulder.
"Never mind," the goth said.
It didn't do a lot of damage, as it turned out Koga had a living mass of purple slime on his shoulder blades. It was a Muk, that stopped the bug's attack and then proceeded to restrain it. A second Muk sprang out from behind Gary to restrain him, more specifically to stop him from using his Pokéballs. The Titans were a bit surprised at how fighting was done in this show, and suddenly realised why Control Freak hadn't bothered kidnapping the three heroes from here. And while they were on the subject...
"Friend Juro, you said there were three heroes here. Where is the third, then?" the princess of Tamaran asked.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Sabrina had just finished feeding her newest asset. It was so easy to make him think she was this Terra. She'd erase his memories completely when she had the time for it. Right now, though, she had to deal with an intruder. Somehow, they'd managed to strike down her Mr. Mime from a ridiculously large distance. It wasn't that important, though: she still had all the aces. Team Rocket was not easily defeated in its own HQ. All she had to now was open a door with a little telekinesis, and this wench Olga would fall to her.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
The Titans laid low as Koga used his Golbat's razor-sharp wings to give Gary a paralysing blow. He went for the kill just when the other kid, Ash, came running in. He sent out some blue mass of muscle with a hypnotic disk on its chest, but it was no good. Koga gave the Poliwrath a slap with the wing and it bounced straight into its master. The tide of battle shifted as he tried to kill Gary again, only to meet with one very large bird that buried its beak in his stomach. If he hadn't been wearing his armour, the Pidgeot would have killed him. As it was, he had the wind knocked out of him. He'd ignored the little reflector Gary been wearing, that had softened the first blow.
"How much longer are they going to be bouncing around each other like that?" Raven asked.
Just then, Koga unleashed his trump: Articuno, a giant blue bird with the power over ice. The Trainers shouted a few things as they dodged balls of ice and icy winds, but eventually they got caught and frozen like statues.
"Okay, in a few seconds, the fighting will stop. My guess is, our friends are either on the basement level with the Pallet Town residents, which is where Gary'll be headed, or they're a few stories up where they're keeping the energy amplifier. That's where Ash will be going."
"And I thought Beast Boy watched too much TV," Raven couldn't help letting out that little jibe. Juro chuckled a bit at that.
"Okay, I'll follow Gary with Juro, Raven, you and Star head up, and make sure nobody sees you. It looks like these Pocket Monsters might be too much for us in numbers," the leader stated.
As if to prove the point, the fire dragon Gary had let out a few seconds earlier now set the whole room alight, defrosting both Pallet Trainers. They took out the evil Gym Leader with a rather painful-looking combined attack.
And, just as the God of Longevity had said, Ash headed up and Gary headed to the basement, hoping to find his grandfather. The Titans followed suit.
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Sabrina was fuming. That little brat of an Olga had tricked her and escaped. She'd dared her to attack and Sabrina had fallen right for it. Her Alakazam had given Olga a fell spoonblow to the chest and fallen right for the trap.
It's not like it was something she could have seen coming. A lot of people used Monsters that could attack with sound, and the fact that she'd been deafened for a few minutes didn't upset her nearly as much as the fact that she'd been outwitted.
How was she supposed to know Olga hid her Pokéballs in her bra? Of all places?
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
Beast Boy was still sound asleep. He dreamed of his girl, as he had done for as long as he cared to remember. Two voices woke him up from his slumber.
"Anyone in sight, Star?" a slightly monotonous voice asked.
"The black-haired boy just entered the main room, and the girl just sent away some guards. She's going in. There doesn't seem to be anyone heading here," the other voice replied.
"Good," came the monotonous one again, this time closer," Beast Boy, can you hear me? It's Raven. Come on, you green elf, wake up."
Beast Boy mumbled a bit, something Raven couldn't make out, and she smelled something on him with a decidedly intoxicating odour.
"Oh, great, he's been drugged, Star, help me for sec, will you?"
They lifted him up and checked outside to see if the coast was clear. They only saw the same black-haired girl that had entered already enter again, this time a lot angrier and accompanied by a creature with two spoons in hand. They didn't bother trying to make sense of it and instead hovered their friend towards the nearest sprinkler system to wash the powder off.
"Hold him still, Star, I'm going to see if his mind's been tampered with."
The princess held him still as they hovered in mid-air, and the green teen struggled for a short time, his mouth open but no sound coming out. When it was over, it was like nothing had ever happened.
"Rae? Star? What am I doing here?" he started. They set him back down on the ground. They didn't notice Olga running away with the huge tablet that was Team Rocket's energy amplifier. What they did hear was the appearance of three legendary bird Pokémon, namely the Zapdos Lt. Surge had abused, the Articuno that Koga had commanded, and Sabrina's own Moltres.
"Tell me that's not what I think it is," Beast Boy asked, frightened of something.
"What is it, friend Beast Boy?" Starfire dared.
A big white ball of light appeared from behind a corner on the other end of the corridor they were in, and flew into the room that held Ash, Sabrina and the three big birds.
"We've got to go, coz' things are about to get ugly. Real ugly."
TTTTTTTTTTTTT
"I really am sorry for punching you, you know," Robin said as they ran down the stairs. Gary had already found professor Oak, but the two Titans went deeper, even under the floor where Pallet Town's citizens were being kept.
"That's okay, I'd have done the same thing in your shoes, probably," came the reply.
They stopped behind a corner; Juro sensed something.
"Two guards. We can take them if we're quick enough. Their Pokémon aren't out yet, so if we disable them before they can reach for their Pokéballs…"
Robin finally decided how to handle this kid. He knew too much about too many things to ignore his advice, but he wouldn't let him take the role of leader. Robin would still call the shots, but at least Juro would provide more options. He finally felt he could trust his new team mate and more importantly, himself around him.
They rushed the guards and took them down with a synchronised punch in the face. Cyborg lay beyond the door, deactivated and in pieces. There was no equipment the Rockets might have examined him with, and no scientists around, not even a decent table to put him on. He just lay there, on the ground.
They obviously hadn't prepared for him, which was a good thing. Robin switched his mechanical friend back on. He got a good look at himself and groaned.
"Oh man, all of my circuitry is scattered. It's gonna take weeks before I get in one piece again. Damn girl…"
No arguments there. His chest and head looked fine enough, but all the rest had been taken apart.
"I think I can help, Cy," Juro tried," just open your mind, focus on your build, and I'll reassemble you."
Cyborg looked at Robin for one second, remembering the tensions that had been building, then saw trust in his eyes. They both nodded. Cyborg closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was as good as new.
Right on time, too, because from the sound of it, the villagers from Pallet Town were being freed, and Juro knew that was their cue to get out fast.
"Okay, the three legendary birds have now fused into one mean beast. I suggest we let the Pallet Trainers do their thing and get out sharpish."
After a rather uneventful trip to the exit, the Titans all snuck out the Sylph Tower, which was now burning and almost collapsing in on itself. Then there was the small matter of the network of vines that was suspended about twenty stories up, but none of that was important. What was important was that everybody was safe, and ready to kick Control Freak's undoubtedly powerful butt right out of the television world.
Speaking of which…
Control Freak stood in Baron Ryang's quarters, whom he had given the proverbial boot a few hours before. Things had gone according to schedule, mostly. He hadn't counted on that blue-dressed kid's skills, but his victory couldn't last. If not for him, the others would have gone down against the cunning strategy he had employed. He went over his list again.
"Cool kung fu moves? Check."
"Space samurai super powers? Check."
"Super-cool double lightsaber? Check."
"Drake's Cube X Crane Finger Blast tech? Check and double check."
"Well, I guess now all I have to do is send the invitation and wait for the fireworks to start," the fat guy chuckled.
The Titans were not at all surprised when Cyborg announced that Control Freak had altered the TV-waves to brainwash people.
They also weren't surprised when a little note came flying by with the message:
"I'm in Baron Ryang's space fortress. Come and get me if you dare."
The Titans, needless to say, were more than obliged to do just that.
Before they left, though, Beast Boy took one look at the Sylph building, and saw a girl standing there.
Their eyes met.
They both wondered about a lot of things.
Then he decided to go.
No previews this time, you'll just have to wait and see. Some people may wonder why I gave Sabrina that much attention here, but trust me, it makes the next chapter better. Same with the battle scenes.
And I do apologise for the long delay; exams take a lot more time in college than one may suspect at first. Anyway, part three should take less time to write, Love and Darkness will also continue shortly but Destiny Defied will be deleted. My loathing of YGO, not to mention the effort it would take to get the fights in order, it just wouldn't be worth it. So consider it gone.
As always, your reviews are welcome.