Danny Phantom © Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon Studios
Teen Titans © Glen Murakami, WB Studios
System
A Teen Titans / Danny Phantom Crossover
Chapter Two
"Awww man, this bites!"
"Tough luck, man!" snorted Cyborg, smirking. "Can't use that arm till it's healed."
Glaring at him, Beast Boy let out an over-dramatic sigh and flopped onto the couch next to Robin, who was currently beating Cyborg at the video game they were playing.
"There's no way you're beating me Cy!" laughed Robin, twisting his hands along with the controller as he dodged an attack from his friend's character.
"Oh you just wait Bird-boy! By the end tonight, there's going to be a new champ!"
"Bring it!"
"Again, this sucks!"
Her left eyebrow twitching ever so slightly, Raven pushed herself to concentrate on the novel in her hands. It had taken a lot of her concentration to push the thoughts from the events earlier away so she could regain control of her emotions. But the picture of the man, Plasmius, was bothering her. Just from his picture alone, she was uneasy…cautious…something about him just did not feel right.
But now it was dusk. The last lights of the day were fading, the night sky draping Jump City under its star-studded blanket. There was no point in fretting about it…her mind was already jumbled enough…
Something though about this picture bothered her as well…
"Hey guys…where's Star?" Beast Boy voiced her concern, noticing the absence of their alien friend.
"I haven't seen her for a couple of hours," replied Cyborg, not taking his eyes off the screen. "She seemed quiet today, ya know?"
"Ya, something was bothering her. And with Star, you know that's rare."
There was a soft clink as Robin set his controller down onto the table and getting to his feet. "I'm gonna go and get something to eat," he said calmly. Ignoring the raised eyebrow expression from Raven the knowing grins on both Beast Boy and Cyborg, he walked up the steps and towards the kitchen area. From there, he walked clear past it and towards the door.
- - -
The wind was gentle. Resting her head in her folded arms, Starfire leaned against her knees she was hugging close and simply stared off at the sky. The cooling air did not bother her. In fact, she felt awake as she adjusted to the cooling temperature.
"Thought you'd be up here." Lifting and turning her head, the young Tamaranian looked to see Robin walking towards her and sitting beside her. Leaning back against his palms, he smiled a bit. "I thought you only came out here for the sunrise and sunset?"
"I wanted to watch the stars come forth," she replied, smiling a little. "It is equally peaceful as the sun. Each one is so different…"
"Do you…want to talk about it?"
"What do you mean?" She glanced at him nervously.
"Something's bothering you…the others noticed as well," Robin explained gently.
"Please Robin, I have already told you tha-"
"I know what you told me, Star. But you know that you can talk to me about anything," he said, his tone hinting a plea.
When he looked at her eyes, he felt his heart sink. They held confusion and sadness them. She replied, saying, "I know that, Robin, I really do. But this…I do not think this is something I can talk with you about. Not just yet…"
"What?" He was surprised. "But, Starfire, I-"
Whatever it was that Robin was going to say, it was forgotten instantly as soon as the two heard the alarm go off in Titan Tower.
- - -
With the cycle coming to a screeching halt, his hands tightened around the handle bar as Robin stared at the scene before him with widened eyes. He heard the T-Car stop behind him as both Raven and Starfire remained in the air. Cyborg had stuck his head out of the window, shocked and voicing Robin's exact thoughts.
"What the hell…?"
It was Slade's robots.
But…they looked as though they were...dancing? They're arms were slashing at the air, shots being shot at no one. They jumped all around as if dodging an attack.
"I am confused," said Starfire, blinking. "Why is it that Slade's machines are acting in such a way?"
"I…really don't know," replied a dumbfounded Robin. "It doesn't make any sense."
"Those guys seriously need some dancing lessons," chuckled Beast Boy as he was climbing out of the car. "I mean, c'mon! They look like they're playing DeeDeeAre without the pads!"
"…since when do you play that?" Cyborg questioned, eyeing the changeling with a raised eyebrow.
"They aren't dancing," spoke up Raven, her cloak closed in the traditional manner and her hood up over her eyes. Eyes narrowed, she was watching their every move. "Something is there…fighting them."
"What? Ghosts?" laughed Beast Boy. "C'mon, Slade's 'bots must've been infected with a virus or somethin'!"
"It's not a virus," agreed Cyborg, as he was running a scan on them. "They're systems are normal, not that that's a good thing. Raven's right though; they're locked on some sorta target."
Quite suddenly, one of the robots had jumped into the air, shooting rapidly. It landed on the hood of a passing bus, rattling it. Pulling out a Bird-A-Rang, Robin ran forward and threw it at the robot. "Well, whatever it is, it's fighting a Slade's robots! Titans, GO!" As the bus was screeching and tilting dangerously, Robin chased after it, jumping onto the roof. The robot had dodge the Bird-A-Rang and lunged at him.
"The enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine," agreed Starfire as she rose into the air and started launching starbolts at them. One knocked a robot out of the air while the other blew two up two on the ground. Activating his sonic cannon, Cyborg aimed it at a group of distracted robots and fired, cheering as he reduced them to smoke. Tackling down one, Beast Boy in the form of a lion roared in triumph while Raven flew by and taking down three her usual spell.
Slamming his bo staff into stomach of a robot, Robin watched it fall over the edge and onto the pavement below. The bus had stopped and he could hear the voices of startled civilians under his feet. Jumping down, he landed smoothly, bo staff still in his hand. Then, he felt a sudden rush of wind go by him. Startled, he looked over and saw two robots stop what they were doing, staring up at the sky. Taking this opportunity, Cyborg shot them with his cannon.
"Man, somethin' wrong?" he asked Robin, noticed his surprised look.
"Something just-" But before he could finish, his jaw dropped. For a split second, he saw someone flicker into view. It vanished though, as soon as it appeared. All he caught was a bit of white and glowing green. Turning to Cyborg, he opened his mouth and demanded, "Did you just see that?"
"See what?" Cyborg questioned. He was looking over at the others, who were still fighting and had clearly missed what Robin had seen.
"LOOK OUT!"
Feeling something collide into him, Robin fell to the ground face first. Around him, he heard Cyborg yell and Starfire gasp. Pulling himself up, he turned to see who slammed into him. It was a boy no older him with snow-white hair and bright green eyes. He looked at Robin, asking. "Sorry about that, but I had to get outta the way."
"Who are you?" the Boy Wonder demanded instantly.
The boy, however, was looking past Robin and over his head. "Let me get back to you on that," he answered, before shooting into the air, yelling, "All right, you guys are going back and then I'm gonna beat the crap outta Vlad!" In his left hand, a green, plasma ball formed and he shot it at the space next to a robot on the ground. The robot jumped to the side as the ball hit. Flickering into view, even Beast Boy shouted in surprise. It looked like a green, red-eyed octopus before it evaporated in the blast.
"Tell me I didn't see that," Beast boy pleaded, shuddering a bit.
"Oh, you saw that," Cyborg snorted. "We all did."
"What was that thing?" asked the Tamaranian.
"A ghost," answered Raven softly.
"There's one on your right!" shouted the boy to Beast Boy.
"Where?!" Beast Boy jumped, waving his arms frantically. "I can't see it!" He then turned into a chicken, squawking and flapping his wings.
"Azarath Mentrion Zinthos!" As soon as Raven's magic reached to air next to Beast Boy, there was shriek as it swallowed up and revealed another octopus creature, struggling to break free. The stranger unleashed another plasma ball and the ghost vanished.
"Can you see them, friend Raven?" asked Starfire.
Shaking her head, Raven answered, "No, but I can sense them…"
Noticing a change, Robin looked around. The robots had lost interest in the invisible ghost targets and were setting their eyes on the Titans. He had a funny feeling Slade changed their settings. "Here they come!" he stated to the other Titans, preparing two Bird-A-Rangs.
I apologize for taking so long in updating. I had hit a rather tough block, but I think I got through it. The next chapter will have more, I promise. :3
Reviews welcomed and appreciated!
Mae Crawford