Part 44: The Alchemist (In training)

All the Titans had been healed. Right now, they were standing around the cot Renia was in. Robin had explained to the rest of the team what Shadow had told him, especially the part about Renia's gloved hand.

"Dude, why is she wearing only ONE glove?" Beast Boy asked.

"Maybe she lost the other one," Cybrog shrugged.

"We simply must awaken her," Starfire pleaded.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Star," Robin told her, "Remember what Shadow said…"

"He said that she needs food. She looks like she hasn't eaten in months," Terra inspected, "She's so skinny."

"Like you," DT quipped, earning a glare from the geokinetic. He raised his hands, "No offence, but judging by the way you eat, it's amazing that you're still built like a stick." Terra's left eyebrow twitched. "I should shut up now."

"Good," Terra said simply, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Dude, do not piss Terra off," Beast Boy warned DT in a whisper. "Trust me on this."

"I trust you," DT nodded.

Renia was still unconscious. She was uninjured, but very weak. She was suffering from malnutrition. Although, the Titans would help her with that when she woke up.

Beast Boy, ignoring Robin's earlier warning, went over and lightly touched Renia's glove covered hand.

Big mistake.

The girl's amber eyes shot open suddenly and she swung the hand up, curling the fingers into a fist, and slamming it hard into Beast Boy's chin with an uppercut. The changeling was sent sailing into the ceiling before dropping back on the ground, face first. Terra ran over to her boyfriend. Renia, of course, sat up with an angry scowl on her face.

"Do. Not. Touch. The. Glove!" she said the first four words slowly before yelling out the last. She then blinked and looked around. She gasped, "Oh my God! Where am I?"

Starfire was the first to place a hand on Renia's shoulder, "Relax, friend, you are safe here in Titans Tower."

"You're the Teen Titans!" Renia yelled out again. She identified each one of them, "Robin (he smiled), Starfire (she bowed), Cyborg (he pumped his fists and winked) and…who are you?" she was regarding the blue haired and masked teen in the infirmary with the others.

"Double-Trouble, but call me DT," he smiled.

"Did I just punch Beast Boy?" Renia asked, blushing, ashamed at her action.

"Yes!" Terra yelled out, carrying Beast Boy with one of her hands supporting him by the waist while his arm was slung over Terra's shoulders. "You hit him!" Beast Boy had swirlies in his eyes and mini-Terras floating around his head while his head spun around.

"Sorry," Renia pulled her knees against her chest, "Force of habit. I don't like people touching my glove." She blinked, "You must be Terra."

"The one and only," Terra bowed the best she could while supporting an unconscious BB. "And this is Beast Boy."

Renia gave them a small smile before she felt her tummy rumble, "Damn hunger pangs," she muttered.

"How long have you been on the road?" Robin asked.

"A couple of months," Renia shrugged, playing with one of her bangs.

"What of your parents?" Starfire asked. Renia's eyes widened before she shut them tight.

"They're…gone," she said, "They died a long time ago."

"My sympathies."

"And how old are you?" DT asked.

"I'm 13," Renia said. This got her some stares.

"Are you sure?" Cyborg scratched his head, "You look 10."

This caused a vein to pop up on Renia's temple, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT, HUH?" she stood on the bed so she could look Cy in the eyes, "I AM NOT SHORT! OKAY? WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LITTLE SHORT SHRIMP?" Cyborg backed away. He could almost see fire in the girl's eyes.

"Okay, okay," Cyborg waved his hands, "Sorry!"

Renia calmed down and sat back down. The other Titans looked at her with wide eyes because of her outburst. She rubbed the back of her head, shyly, "Sorry. I hate it when people call me short. Got height issues."

"You think?' Robin mumbled.

Renia sniffed under her arm and grimaced, "Ugh! That stinks!"

"When was the last time you had a bath?" Terra asked. Beast Boy woke up and his ears perked up. He was holding his nose as he jumped to full standing attention.

"WHAT STINKS DUDE?" he then noticed the pain, "OW! MY CHIN!"

Cyborg laughed, "That's one way to wake him up."

"So, you got a bath tub or anything?" Renia asked.

"I'll take you there, kid," Terra offered.

"I'm not a kid," Renia retorted. Terra didn't want to argue. Renia's stomach rumbled, "And any food? I'm starving."

"We shall prepare you a feast once you have done the washing of yourself!" Starfire beamed happily.

"Sure," Renia smiled back.

"Follow me," Terra instructed as they both walked out of the infirmary. Of course, Renia stumbled a few steps. She was still a little weak.

"How's that chin, BB?' Cyborg asked as soon as Terra and their new guest had left.

"A little sore. That kid packs a punch," Beast Boy rubbed his chin.


Both Terra and Renia stood in front of the large bathroom doors of the Tower. Each room had its own bathroom since the last renovation. They kept this old unisex bathroom just in case no one got to theirs in time…like Beast Boy.

"You need any help?' Terra asked. Renia shook her head. "I'll be out here if you need me."

"Thanks," Renia stepped in and the doors closed.


30 minutes later…The Kitchen.

"How long does it take for a girl to finish?" Beast Boy tapped his foot, "I want her to try some of my tofu dogs!"

Cyborg stuck out his tongue in disgust. "BB, get that crud out of my kitchen! She needs meat!"

"I like Beast Boy's tofu," DT defended.

"She simple must partake in my glorg!" Starfire said as she presented the dish. To this, the boys' faces turned green, greener for Beast Boy if it were possible.

"I don't think she would want to get sick after she eats, Star," Robin said to her.

Terra and Renia walked into the kitchen. Renia was now wearing a pair of denim shorts and a grey shirt that looked a little too big for her. She still had the glove on her right hand. Her dirty blonde hair was no longer tied back but flowed freely instead. You could've sworn that she was Terra's little sister or something. She then eyes all the food and began drooling.

Nearly as quick as The Flash, she attacked the food, nearly inhaling it. The Titans took a step back as the mountain of food was quickly devoured by this little girl. She took a swig of soda and let out a large belch (BURRRRRLLLLLLLAAAAAAPPPPPPPPP!). Starfire floated over and presented Renia with the glorg.

"Will you partake in my glorg?" Starfire batted her eyes. Renia eyed the strange dish and grimaced.

"No thanks. Pass," Renia raised up her hands, refusing the dish as politely as she could. Terra licked her lips.

"I'll have it, Star, may I?" Terra asked. Starfire beamed.

"Very well, friend Terra!" Starfire gave her the dish and Terra licked the dish clean. The boys blanched.

"How can she eat that?" DT asked.

"That, my friend, is a mystery all on its own," Cyborg answered.

"Now friend Renia," Starfire took Renia's hand in hers, "Where do you come from? How did you get here? What is your favorite color? And do you wish to be my friend?" (Starfire's trademark meet-a-new friend questions)

Renia replied the best she could, "Er…Um… Gotham City, hitch hiked, red and okay." She was then swept into a bone crushing hug from the ecstatic alien. "Need to breathe, NOW!" Starfire let her go.

Robin eyed Renia up and down (Not like that you pervs!) and began thinking. She seemed too young to be out on her own. Didn't she have any guardians? Shadow had asked him not to ask too many questions about her past, and glove, but Robin's detective instincts told him otherwise. He was suspicious of her and he wanted to know more about her. She could be one of Slade's cronies. She looked young but looks were deceiving.

Regardless, he had to honor Shadow's request. Of course, he had to ask a question, "So Renia…?" Robin asked.

"Hm?" Renia looked at him.

"How did you do that to the Sladebot?" he asked.

Renia froze. Of course. There was no way she could escape from that question. What she had done was both amazing and frightening. She wished she was never cursed with such power. With a sad sigh, she answered, "That's my power. I can transmute anything I touch into crystal."

The others stared at her. Beast Boy scratched his head. "Transmute…?' he asked.

"It means to change one thing into another," DT explained.

"But that's not all," Renia stared as her gloved hand, "I'm also…an alchemist."

Everyone raised their eyebrows.

"Alchemist? As in alchemy?" Robin asked. For all he knew, alchemy wasn't real science. So how could this girl, at this age, be an alchemist?

"In training," Renia added hastily, "I'm an alchemist in training."

"But isn't alchemy a fake science?" Robin asked, "Where people tried to change lead into gold?"

At this, Renia glared angrily at him, "It is not FAKE science! It is real! The only problem is that no one can change lead into gold, not even alchemists, since both lead and gold are two different elements."

"What does elements have to do with anything?" Cyborg asked.

Renia decided to give them a demonstration, "Okay. I'll show you guys what I mean since you all gave me a good meal." She turned to Cyborg, "How is that car of yours?"

"It's still busted up. Took a long time to pick up the pieces," Cyborg admitted.

"It's also severely damaged still," DT continued.

"Can I see it?" Renia asked. "I want to demonstrate what I mean about alchemy."

"You're not gonna change it into crystal, are you?" Cyborg asked worriedly, "Coz my baby is…"

"Relax. Now, can I see it?"

Cyborg nodded. Robin said, "Looks like we're going to the garage."

"This demonstration of alchemy must be quite astounding as Renia puts high regard to it," Starfire floated after.

"I wanna see what she can do," Terra nodded.

"I hope she doesn't punch me again," Beast Boy winced.

"This would be most…informative," DT admitted.


(In the Garage)

The Titans were standing in front of the T-Car. Parts of it were still dented and damaged. Renia walked over to it and turned to the Titans. "Watch," she told them. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of chalk.

"What's with the chalk?" Beast Boy asked. Terra lightly elbowed him.

Renia began walking around the T-Car, drawing a circle around the vehicle with several strange patterns in it. When she was done, she grinned to the Titans. "Get ready to feast your eyes!" she clapped her hands and slammed her hands onto the circle. Sparks of energy flowed from her hands, through the circle and onto the T-Car. The Titans gasped and watched with wide eyes. In a puff of smoke, the T-Car stood before them, good as new.

"Woah," Beast Boy eyes widened.

"Amazing," Terra said.

"Stupendous!" Starfire exclaimed.

"Wow," Robin admitted.

Both Cyborg and DT inspected it and gasped. There were no longer any damages and any signs of damage were completely gone. Renia stood proudly.

"That's alchemy," she bowed.

The Titans applauded. Starfire said, "What magic!"

Renia then sighed, "It's not magic, Starfire. It's science. Alchemy has its own set of calculations and rules," she explained.

"So…what else can you do?" Beast Boy asked.

"All I can do is turning stuff to crystal and alchemy, I guess," Renia shrugged. She rubbed her gloved hand with her left one nervously.

"Who taught you?" Robin asked, "Who taught you alchemy?"

Renia shook her head, "No one did. I read a few books and decided to try it out. Who knew I could be so good at it," she smiled.

Robin accepted her answer, for now. All he cared about was getting to the bottom of this.

Meanwhile, the Titans did not notice a small black and orange robot that looked like a fly and had a small camera attached to its back. The camera was focusing on Renia…

To Be Continued…

ZK Chromedragozoid: Looks like there's more to Renia than meets the eye. An alchemist (in training). Wonder whose spybot is that? Give you 3 guesses. Begins with an S.