Part 34: Recruitment

Draco and Jinx returned to the mansion later that night. His mother was waiting for them and gasped in shock at his condition.

"What happened?" Emiko asked as she stared at the black eye her son now sported, "Was it a monster?"

"You could say that…" Jinx shrugged, "I'll take him to his room, okay?"

"You do that dear, while I get Ryuki a glass of milk," Emiko looked at her son's eye, "You sure you're okay?"

"Just a little sore. No permanent damage, Okaasan. You don't have to worry. Jinxy-chan already checked for other injuries and treated them," Draco said to her.

"I'll have the doctor come and check you in the morning, okay sweetie," Emiko smiled, "Now run along. It's late and your grandfather wants you up nice and early for your training sessions."

"Okaasan…" Draco groaned.

"No buts Ryuki Leonard Hasuma. Now, go get cleaned up and get ready for bed. Jenny-chan, I expect you to make sure he does what I say," Emiko winked.

Jinx caught the wink and grinned slyly, "Okay…Mrs. Hasuma." She pulled Draco in with her, "C'mon, baby, let's get you cleaned up."

"Jinxy-chan…" Draco groaned as he followed after his girlfriend, "Not you too…" he pouted.

Emiko watched the two teens climb up the stairs, Draco stumbling in his steps. She shook her head and smiled, "They are so much in love, aren't they?" she walked over to the wall and picked up a framed photo of her late husband, "Like we were, Kyo-chan…"

Shadow had returned to the office after his date with Raven. It was very late. Though his date had been ruined by the sudden appearance of Orcs and a demon Lieutenant, not to mention Ekelo, they were able to salvage their night and have a great time. Shadow head sent Raven back to the mansion a little after midnight and kissed her goodnight.

Shadow stared at the computer monitor. It was displaying four individual faces, all of them teens. The first was boy with bright blue eyes and messy black hair. The second was another boy, Chinese, with black hair that had green highlights in it. The 3rd was a girl, also Chinese, with long black hair and a pink streak in it. Finally the 4th was a…robot? Yes, she was. She had white metal skin and blue pigtails. Shadow clicked on each, starting with the first one:

Name: Daniel "Danny" Fenton a.k.a Danny Phantom

Other aliases: Inviso-Bill, Ghost Boy, Ghost Kid, Ghost Child

Age: 15 yrs

Location: Amity Park, Chicago, USA

Occupation: High School Student

Family: Jack Fenton (Father), Maddie Fenton (Mother), Jasmine "Jazz" Fenton (Sister)

Parents' Occupation: Ghost Hunters

Powers: Basic ghost powers such as flight, invisibility and intangibility. Can also turn other things invisible and intangible as well. Can shoot ectoplasmic energy blasts and manipulate ecto-energy to create a protective shield dome. Possesses an ability called "The Ghostly Wail". Is constantly learning new powers. Powers can be used in either human or ghost form.

Additional Data: Received powers due to an accident with parents' experimental Ghost Portal. Was once feared and hated as Amity Park's public enemy number one. Intervention from Smart Brain Corp has cleared his name.

Shadow clicked Danny's picture and it shifted into an identical teen with snow white hair, neon green eyes and wearing a black and white jumpsuit with a DP emblem on his chest.

Shadow smiled. It was he, himself, that had chosen Danny as a candidate. He clicked on the next candidate.

Name: Jacob "Jake" Luke Long a.k.a The American Dragon

Age: 14 yrs

Location: New York City, USA

Occupation: High School Student

Family: Luong Lao Shi (grandfather) Haley Kay Long (little sister) Johnathan Long (Father), Susan Long (Mother), Fu Dog (Animal Gaurdian)

Power: Can transform into a red dragon, fly and breathe fire.

Additional Data: Still in training. Has known to be reckless and abuses powers constantly for personal gain. However, has learnt to take responsibility for his actions.

Shadow looked at Jake's human form and Jake's dragon form. Shadow remembered when Draco had been sent to recruit Jake as a candidate as well. Next, Shadow clicked on the Chinese girl

Name: Juniper "June" Lee a.k.a The Te Xuan Ze

Age: 13

Location: Orchid Bay City, USA

Occupation: Junior High School Student

Family: Jasmine Lee (Grandmother) Raymond "Ray-Ray" Lee (little brother), Dennis Lee (Older Brother), Michael Lee (Father) Barbara Lee (Mother), Monroe (Animal Guardian)

Powers: Juniper has enhanced reflexes, giving her cat-like agility in battle. She also has superhuman strength, enabling her to do battle with creatures far larger than she is with little trouble. She can use spells, amulets, charms, and other magic items to assist her in battle.

Additional Data: Compared to Ah-Mah, she is relatively inexperienced in the world of magic, and relies heavily on brute force to accomplish her goals

"Another Draco…" Shadow mumbled as he took a sip of tea. He remembered that Tazuka had been the one to recruit her awhile back. He then clicked on the robot

Name: Global Robot Response Unit XJ-9 a.k.a Jenny Wakeman

Age: Bodily, 15. Actual, 7

Location: Tremorton, USA

Occupation: High School Student

Family: Dr. Nora Wakeman (Her creator/mother) other XJ robots (her sisters before her)

Powers: Flight, super strength, strong impenetrable armor and transformations used to adapt during battle

Additional Data: Possesses a free will and human emotions. She may look like a robot, but she has the "soul" of a teenage girl.

"I remembered Pluto said he had a crush on her. Wonder how'd Vic react?" Shadow picked up a file folder. On it, written in bold letters, were the words Candidates for SB Recruits. He looked at the data on screen.

"We observed them over a year ago. Now, it's time to call them," Shadow took out his SB cell. Each of the 4 had been given an SB cell phone in case Shadow, or any other SB operatives, needed to communicate with them. Now, it was time.

"Let Operation: Team Mystic, be commenced," he dialed the numbers and proceeded to call.

Pluto was in the lab, alone. He was currently working on blueprints for a new car he was going to build due to his old car being reduced to a total pile of junk now.

"The Blue Hound II," Pluto mused as he looked over the blueprints. He took the hood ornament out of his pocket and said, "You'll be back, my friend, better even…" There was a snore behind him and he turned. There on the couch was Blackfire, curled up. She was sleeping soundly. Her blanket had dropped to the ground. Pluto went over, picked up the blanket, and draped it over her body. She sighed in contentment before snoring again. Pluto shook his head and smiled before returning to his work.

After half an hour, he went to get a drink. He filled up a glass beaker with some water from the dispenser and was about to take a sip when he heard a thud. Placing the glass onto the counter, he did not notice an identical glass beaker next to it.

Blackfire was on the floor, her body tangled up in the blanket. Miraculously, she was still asleep. Pluto allowed himself a small chuckle before picking her back up and placing her back on the couch. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "Night Blacky," he whispered lovingly.

"Wuv you puppy…" she said in her sleep as she smiled. Pluto sighed. He went back to the counter and picked up the beaker, throwing the entire content into his mouth and swallowing, before putting it down. He then returned to his work.

He failed to notice another beaker full of water. The empty beaker was labeled. It had the words 'Experimental Nanobots' written on it in bold black ink.

Uh oh.

To Be Continued…

ZK: Chromedragozoid: Looks like Pluto made another boo boo. Wonder what the nanobots will do to him? Notice the characters Shadow was recruiting? Sound familiar? Well, that's all for this chap. Stay tune for another chap with the Titans as they spend more time with DT.