Disclaimer: I do not own them. That Sam-I-Am! I do not like them, Sam-I-Am! I do not like Green Eggs and Ham. Nor do I like eating mass quantities of tofu and soymilk. So blame Beast Boy for the mass outbreak of diarrhea.

Chapter Five: Our Latest Recruit

"It started when I first got my powers at the beginning of summer vacation. My family had been staying for a few weeks at a cottage in Virginia, not far from a naval base. Turns out, they were doing some illegal, government-unapproved and unsupervised nuclear testing on a remote island not far from where we were.

"On the last day of break, I decided to go for a quick swim. A storm was whipping up, and I could see a thunderhead in the distance. Being pretty far off from shore, I tried to swim back, but the rip tide picked me up and carried me towards an area littered with rocks jutting out from the water's surface. I must've been knocked out and drifted the whole way to my 'doom'.

"I remember waking up with my face towards the sky, floating on my back.

I was dead center in the middle of the perimeter the officers had set up for the bomb testing.

"Being a novice at swimming, I panicked and attempted to dog-paddle away from the premises. But that got me nowhere, and by the time the bomb was dropped, I dove to the sandbanks and foolishly tried to conceal myself from harm.

The atoms in my DNA must've had some kind of positive charge, and the next thing I knew I was burning up all over. I was a human oven, a sitting duck. So I swam away before the next bomb was deployed and, miraculously, touched the shores in sheer minutes. My parents were mad at me for being out so long in the storm. But they had no idea what I'd gotten myself into.

"Things got worse when I went back to school. My new powers would get out of control in the middle of class. One minute, I'd be paying attention to the lesson, next, I'd be surrounded by a mound of sand or in ankle-deep water. Of course, my parents were called in, and everyone thought it was a prank.

"I got suspended for vandalism to school grounds, and I was grounded for two whole months. Next thing I know, I'm going down in the basement to get the laundry and end up unconscious, floating on my back again in a flooded basement. My parents took me to the doctor's where they ran a few tests and treated blood samples. That's how they found out that I had powers. My family started being more hostile towards me. When I went back to school, everyone though I was a freak.

"So I ran away a few weeks before today's big incident. I was thinking of heading out west. Joining the Titans never occurred to me. I was right on the overpass, and then the bridge started going haywire. I dove off the side and got a clear view of what was going on. Everyone was in shock. No one was moving. So that's when I went in to——!" Here she stopped short and slapped a hand over her mouth.

Robin looked at her and suddenly comprehended. "You were the one who saved us, weren't you!?"

Slowly, timidly, she nodded her head. "But I didn't cause those tremors or break the bridge! That was someone else. I can only manipulate the movement of sand and water. It's not that hard if I put my mind to it. But I was wet and sopping and I could barely walk, so when I touched solid ground, I went to the only place that I thought might possibly accept me. And that was your Tower. I'm sorry if I touched anything, but I only picked the lock, took a shower, and unpacked my stupid suitcase. It floated inshore after me. I'm not a villain, and I definitely DO NOT work for Slade, if that's what you're assuming."

Everyone was considering this girl. She was keen, could think on her toes, had a logical mind, and, most of all, was in favor of justice.

"Wanna join the Titans?" Beast Boy asked casually.

"EXCUSE ME?!?!" Marie and the other 4 Titans stared blankly at Beast Boy in awe.

How can he just ask her something like that without everyone else's consent? Robin thought to himself.

But it was the question that had been lingering in everyone's mind for quite some time. There was no doubt that she would make a suitable member.

Beast Boy looked around, and calmly started up again, "Well, you know, she DID kinda rescue us when we were about to drown and bust open our heads on all that falling metal. I mean, why not let her try? She can be our latest recruit or something."

"I do not think that recruits make forced entries into their employers' habitations, Beast Boy." Starfire said, hands on her hips. "However, I would much enjoy another girl's company!" She looked at Robin, pleading with her eyes. He tried to turn away, but just couldn't resist that gentle face. And so he gave in.

"Alright, alright, she can stay. But there better not be any trouble. And I want all there is to know about you: Documents, Medications, Education, Licenses to Fight Crime, etc. There's also other things to handle, like filling out forms, passing the admittance test, a uniform, pseudonym, training routines, learning how to operate the Titans' main console equipment, and—" here he looked at his circle of friends, "—getting to know everyone."

Marie gave a docile grin and looked each one over, memorizing their features. Starfire seemed a little over enthusiastic about it. Marie was still dubious, "So it's official? I'm a real member of the team?!"

As if in answer, the Tamaranian flew over and started bombarding the newcomer with statements and salutations, "I am Starfire, and these are my friends, Robin, Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Raven! We are very excited to meet you!" She started pumping Marie's hand like they had never seen each other before.

The girl laughed and stood up, while Starfire rambled on, "We are very grateful for your assistance at the bridge! I would have preferred to give you a tour of our habitation beforehand, but it appears that you have already seen most of it. I apologize for giving you a posterior-flogging earlier, I did not anticipate that you would become our friend. I hope that later on I may see what you have done to embellish your room! As Cyborg says, it must be explosioning!"

"Uh, Star, that's bombin', not explosionin'…"

"Is there anything that you request from us?"

"Well, other than a word in edgewise, I'm kind of hungry. I haven't eaten since the bridge episode."

"Whatever you do, don't touch Beast Boy's tofu crap, it'll give you indigestion, and then you'll have to take the expired Pepsin."

"Um, yeah, thanks for the advice."

"Advice!? He-is-a-CAR-NI-VORE. He eats animals! Wouldn't you rather eat something that benefits animals and the environment?!"

"He means that all the waste products that are emptied from his system are dumped into our environmentally friendly fertilizer pile outside." Raven said, returning Beast Boy's enraged stare.

Marie' tried to keep from cracking up. "Yeah, maybe it would be easier if I just get something without the help. I haven't acquainted myself with your fridge just yet."

"No! Wait! You must try some of my exquisite Pudding of Happiness! It is appropriate for this joyous occasion!" (A.N.: Yeah, I'll just bet it's exquisite…XP)

"Why, Starfire? No one's having a baby, or getting married or anything."

"Just between you and me, the last time it was Star's turn to cook, we all ended up in bed for a week over some dish she called her 'Pudding of Peace'" Cyborg muttered in Marie's ear.

Knowledgeable of culinary disasters, Marie gave her sly reply to Starfire's generous offer, "I'm sure the pudding is wonderful, Starfire, but I wouldn't want you to waste all your precious time cooking for me! No, I think that I shouldn't be that much of a burden on my first day as a Titan, so it might be best if I got something myself. Just rest your nerves. I'm sure you're exhausted from fighting all day…"

And with that, Marie hopped up and sped to the fridge. Wrenching open the door, she started searching. Beast Boy had rigged up a trap of slingshots and mouse-traps to his tofu casserole dish to punish any unwary predatorial androids. There was an assortment of comestibles covered in blue mold, and an oddly shaped container bearing what she guessed to be Starfire's swampy pudding. It looked like a baby's regurgitated supper…

Finally, she found a bag of nachos in the far back. Nachos? In the fridge? Oh well, it's not exactly ambrosia, but at least it's not blue, fuzzy, or a concoction whipped up by Starfire. She sat down at the counter, across from Raven.

Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire were gathered around the PS2, Starfire eagerly clapping her hands and yelling cheers in Tamaranian. Robin leaned on the counter and watched them.

As Marie opened the bag, Raven kept a vigil on her.

She sniffed the bag, daintily plucking a nacho and looking at it intently.

She ran her finger along the rim of the bag, then rubbed the residue on the inside of her elbow, then wiped it off on her jeans.

She took a very tiny bite of the dangerously cheesy chips and waited.

Raven slammed her fists on the table, causing everyone to start and stare at her.

"We need to talk." He voice was deadly reposed and her eyes narrowed.

Ever so slowly, Marie raised her head and met eyes with Raven. Then she got up and followed her out.

"What was all that about?" Cyborg wondered aloud.

"Dunno, but I'm going to investigate. Pause the game for a minute, Cy. And no, I'm not going to try to pull something, so don't give me that look." Beast Boy morphed into a green sparrow and flew off.

*******

A.N.: Okay, this is REALLY the last straw! --_-- I am sitting in front of my computer right now and nothing is happening. I do not see any new reviews. I am an author who is unappreciated. I hate my life as an unappreciated author.

BUT WHO CARES? My point exactly. Which is why I have constructed a DIABOLICAL plot that will drive readers to my doorstep, begging for mercy—and more updates, chocolate, and more updates. Never fear! 'Tis not a bomb or even worse, a virus, if that's what you're thinking. You will see all in good time, my friends! All in good time…

And no, I have no knowledge of atomic fusion or anything, the above description of how she got her powers was entirely made-up.

And why is Raven so uptight about the newcomer? And why does Marie eat like her food is about to explode? And blah blah blah blah blah blah blah? Blah Blah? BLAH!!!

Yeah, the story sounds like your average, "New Titans Member Person," but TRUST me, I SWEAR that you will be interested sooner or later.

Peace out ppl.