Disclaimer: I DIS-CLAIM what I am writing. I do not claim Teen Titans. I don't even own the title; it was going to be used as an ep title.
NOTE: Whenever one of the girls is named it is referring to the body being occupied, otherwise the actual person may be specified in (these).
Chapter 10: Testing…1, 2, 3
It was nearly finished. Cyborg overlooked Mad Mod and Control Freak as they were finishing up; he knew the closer they were to finishing, the harder it would be to keep them in line.
They slacked off more, demanded food and 'loo' privileges and went as far as asking for fresh air.
Cyborg had pulled a chair over near the wall and was leaning back in it idly. The two were just now attaching the last of the parts. If the test runs ran through smoothly they would be able to get Raven and Starfire switched back before the party.
But they were cutting it close, for the mayor had planned it for tomorrow night at seven. Cyborg calculated the hours left.
He still hadn't figured out how to get the test runs down. Robin had suggested animals but then how could you tell if their souls were switched?
And bringing Raven into it before it was completed could be a disaster, since she'd probably destroy the room in her vengeance to get at Control Freak.
That lead him back to animal testing,. Boy would Beast Boy be irked if he found out-
Cyborg abruptly sat forward, bringing his chair clattering back to it's four legs. The two criminals looked over curiously a second before resuming their work. Beast Boy, he could communicate with animals, right?
Grinning at his own genius, Cyborg pulled himself up. "I'll be right back."
"Take your time laddie." Mod called without looking up.
"Yeah, just never come back." Control Freak added.
Cyborg rolled his eyes, sliding the door shut behind him before opening the COM link on his arm.
Raven was cooking. She hummed contently, flipping some bubbling purple contraption over in her pan.
Robin watched on worriedly, his bet was on it being a Tameranian special. Only food from Tameran could have that shade of purple, that lifelike movement…
The communicator on his waist blinked noiselessly. Snatching it, he flicked the top open to see Cyborg. "I've got the solution to the problem."
Robin quickly glanced around to see if anyone was within hearing distance, but only Raven was in the vicinity, completely oblivious.
"Report up to the room." Cyborg added before the link went dead.
"Star?" Robin called, slipping the communicator back onto his waist.
The girl shifted the pan before turning to look up at him. They were violet eyes with remains of emerald coloring that were looking back at him. She had gotten her shot only a half an hour earlier. "Yes dearest Robin?"
The title caught him a little off. Had he really forgotten about them? Sure there had been a lot going on but soon she would be Starfire again, in body and soul. It almost felt like it had been a vacation for the two of them, time away from being a couple.
Was it wrong to have enjoyed the small vacation time? Was it wrong to consider vacationing longer…?
"Uh, I'm going to work out, I'll be down in a little."
Raven tilted her head slightly, her violet hair fell in curtains around her face. "I shall save you some."
"Thanks…" Robin turned so he wouldn't have to look at Raven before ascending the stairs.
Beast Boy groaned, having been roughly pulled out of bed by Cyborg and led up a labyrinth of stairs. "Man you know I was gaming late last night, what's the meaning of this?" He stumbled and tried to push Cyborg's guiding hand from his shoulder.
"I need your help with something."
"It couldn't wait until.. say.. a decent hour?"
"Nope."
Beast Boy ruffled his messy hair, glancing up ahead. Robin was waiting in front of a door, his arms crossed firmly. He changeling immediately straightened up; if Robin was involved it was slightly more important. "What's going on?"
They stopped in front of Robin. "This is your plan?" Robin asked Cyborg dubiously.
"Yup," Cyborg nodded and grinned.
"You can't tell anyone Beast Boy." Robin gave him a sharp look behind the mask.
Now alarmed, Beast Boy looked between the two taller boys. "Okay?"
Robin turned his back for a second, hitting the access code into the small panel. Before the last number, he glanced up at Cyborg. "Where's Raven?"
"I think she's still in her room."
Robin hit the last number and the door slid open. "Let's hope so."
Beast Boy looked past the two into the white room, this was where they were holding Mad Mod wasn't it?
His eyes followed the mess across the floor to the table but instead of just Mad Mod sitting there, he was joined by Control Freak. Beast Boy coughed loudly, "Raven's going to kill you."
"And that's why you're not going to tell her." Cyborg answered firmly, pushing the boy into the room so he could close the door.
"How long has he been here?" The green skinned boy asked, watching the two work.
"Uh," Cyborg scratched the back of his neck. "A week or two?"
Beast Boy shook his head, "I guess that would explain all her outings." He gave a small snort of laughter. "She's so going to kill you both."
"Might I remind you, you're in on it too now." Robin took the seat Cyborg had occupied earlier.
This paused Beast Boy, his face instantly grew grave. "You don't think she could really kill… do you?"
"Remember 'anger'?" Cyborg nudged him meaningly.
"Heh.." Beast Boy gave a nervous laugh.
"Anyway, Cyborg, what was this solution?"
"Animal testing, and Beast Boy-"
"He'll be our confirmation." Robin shot a glance at the boy, he still looked freaked.
"Hold the phone, I refuse to be used in animal testing!" Beast Boy pulled a small 'Animal Rights!' flag from seemingly no where and started waving it.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Not testing on you, you just have to communicate with the animals and see if their souls have switched."
Beast Boy gave a small sound of understanding and stashed his flag away. "And it won't hurt the animals?"
Cyborg looked over at the two working on the table. "It better not," He growled.
"Where are they?" Beast Boy glances around the room.
"I've still got to get them." Cyborg watched the cane's progress. "I'd better get going too. Rob, you coming?"
Robin nodded, getting up. "Beast Boy, make sure Raven doesn't come anywhere near this room."
"Aye aye!" Beast Boy saluted while the other two exchanged worried looks.
Starfire finally pulled herself from the reverie of her room when she smelled something burning. Raking a hand through her shortening hair, she made her way into the kitchen.
"Uh, what are you cooking?" She eyed the goop Raven was now dishing onto separate plates.
"It is the Glocalf of Kamphlorpan, a famous dish in my homeland!" Raven grinned, scooping the rest of it onto a fifth plate. "I think you will be most pleased with it's taste!"
"Yeah…look's wonderful." Starfire conceded. "Where's everyone?"
"Robin is training." "Robin and Cyborg went to get some supplies."
The two answers came at almost the same time. Starfire tilted her head to see Beast Boy enter the kitchen.
"Robin said he was training…?" Raven had looked up confused.
"Uhh, yeah and then he decided to go get some groceries we were missing." Beast Boy filled in, deciding it had been the wrong time to intervene in the conversation.
"I went grocery shopping last week. Remember you were there?" Starfire stepped towards the boy.
"Well.. we needed um… more?"
"Really now?" Starfire stepped forward again, her eyes narrowing.
Beast Boy nodded his head, stepping slightly backwards. "Silkie ate it all?" He tried.
"Well, I guess I'll go take Mad Mod his food." Starfire turned back to Raven, who was finishing with the five plates.
"I'm not really hungry Star, but I bet Mod would enjoy some foreign cuisine." Starfire picked up one of the gurgling plates.
"Okay." Raven smiled delicately.
"Robin already brought some food up." Beast Boy quickly interjected.
"Oh?" Starfire turned back to face him, plate in hand. "Robin sure was busy this morning." She started forward, nearing the boy.
Beast Boy wasn't holding up well, he bit his tongue to keep the secret there.
"I'm sure Mod would enjoy some more…" She sidestepped around the boy and through the living room.
"No!" Beast Boy cried scrambling after her to block her path. "Raven, you should join us for breakfast instead of all this work." He slapped on a goofy grin, moving into her way to slow her.
"I will, I'll be right back down." She brushed past him again, starting up the stairs.
"Um, but-" Beast Boy fumbled over excuses. "We don't want you to see the work, it's a surprise!"
"No worries, I won't look." She continued her steady walk.
"Raven!" He called exasperatedly. They had now left a confused Raven in their wake.
"Yes Beast Boy?" Her voice had retained the bored, agitated tone. She turned a corner to more stairs.
"You can't!"
"Why not?" She sighed, she could hear his footsteps hurrying to keep up with her brisk walk.
Beast Boy groaned. "Raven, just stop!" He morphed into a cheetah and ran past her before sitting down in her path. She moved around him, becoming more agile in the platform shoes.
She was getting close to the room…Beast Boy needed something desperate. He moved after her, still the green cheetah, but when he neared her, he transfigured into a snake, quickly wrapping around her feet…
He prayed for his life to be spared.
Starfire gave a small yelp, her feet tripping under her. The plate still in her hands, she crashed forward. There was a loud thump followed by a squelching of splattering goop, then silence.
"Beast Boy?" Her voice was smooth, calm, deceiving.
He unwound from around her feet, and slithered a few feet around before changing back into himself. "S-sorry."
Starfire pushed herself up; the purple had splattered all across her halter top, and it stuck to her fingers and her face. She used a hand to clear it away from her eyes as she shakily got to her feet and turned back around to glare at Beast Boy.
At her appearance, Beast Boy laughed. It wasn't a very sensible thing to do, but then Beast Boy wasn't the sensible kind. Her entire front was covered in purple, it dripped down her cheeks, fell in clomps from her finger tips.
Her fingers had started glowing, her eyes radiating a brilliant green.
Beast Boy cursed under his breath and ran. Starfire raised a hand, a star bolt aimed for the boy…
"Raven?"
Robin had made their trip quick; they had gotten one smaller bird, and a spotted mouse. They reentered the tower from a higher window so they wouldn't be seen and had proceeded to creep back toward the room.
There was a loud thump, and Cyborg had advised they leave the animals in a room nearby incase they be spotted. It had been a well made decision. They came down the hall toward the room when they spotted two figures.
Beast Boy was laughing further down the hallway, and an enraged Starfire (Raven) had her back to them. There was a plate on the floor, the purple goop that resembled Raven's breakfast splattered everywhere.
Beast Boy suddenly shot off running as Starfire had raised her arm to take aim.
"Raven?" Robin called.
Raven stopped, slowly turning around. Robin had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing.
She was covered in purple, and it matched her eyes that had begun to bleed purple, since she hadn't gotten her shot yet today. It reminded Robin of who was really inside.
"Are you okay?" Cyborg asked, there was a tint of amusement in his voice.
"What does it look like?" She bit back, she ran a few fingers down her cheek to smear away the purple catastrophe.
Robin cleared his throat, thinking over the situation. She must have been trying to get to the room. "Ah, let's go get you cleaned up." Robin started forward, laying a careful hand on her back to lead her away.
Starfire had no choice but to allow herself to be led away.
"So where's those groceries anyway?" She called loudly as she was ushered down a set of stairs.
Robin just laughed.
After getting Starfire cleaned up (and a shot to reverse her present changes), Robin had convinced Raven to have Starfire help prepare a magnificent dinner ("Since breakfast was so wasted." Robin had added with a smile.)
That gave him the time to find Beast Boy (who had been cowering under his bed) and gather the animal cages for testing.
When they had entered the room, it had been strangely quiet. Both Mad Mod and Control Freak were sitting back, their creation resting proudly in the center of the table.
"Allo." Mod greeted, pushing his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.
"Finished?" Robin asked, closing the door behind them.
"There may need to be a few adjustments to the frequency, a few more wires, or some recalibrations, but we wont know until it's been tested." Control Freak grinned.
Cyborg stepped forward and placed the two cages on the table, "Here are your test subjects."
"And here's your translator." Robin nudged Beast Boy forward.
The two villains exchanged looks.
"Smashing." Mad Mod got up and grabbed one of the cages. He moved it a little distance from the first, before picking up the cane. "You lot might want to step back and cover your bloody eyes."
The titans and Control Freak moved back. Mod moved the cane closer to the two caged animals. He pressed the red button on top.
There was a huge flash of light that blinded the room for a few seconds. When it faded, everyone looked on in anticipation.
"Did it work?" Beast Boy asked, he watched the bird look around with black beady eyes.
The rest of the occupants looked at him.
"Oh, right." He grinned, before morphing into a green cockatoo. He ambled over to the cage. There was the exchange of a few squawks and the ruffling of feathers before the boy changed into a small mouse.
Again, he went to the other cage, small nose twitches and squeaks this time.
Finally, he changed back into his former self, a small smile twitching his lips. "They've gone schizo."
"Hmm." Control Freak and Mad Mod sat back down at the table, unscrewing pieces of the cane, reattaching a wire here and there…
The test runs were endless. Every time there were small hitches that had to be readjusted and tested. There were times when neither animal could remember what they were, or they developed physic connections, or two were moved into one body leaving an empty shell.
Or, Robin's personal favorite, when the two had switched only halfway.
It was a mess, and as the hours droned on Robin was loosing hope that it would be ready by the next day.
Cyborg looked at the clock on his arm. It was already six. "Rob, we should stop for now, dinner should be ready."
"Yes! Please stop." Beast Boy moaned, having just changed back from being a mouse again. "That stupid bird keeps trying to tell me about a cat who almost ate her."
"Yeah, I guess." Robin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. They probably wouldn't have much time tomorrow because of the preparations for the mayor's shindig.
He would just go with Starfire (Raven), the thought didn't bother him too much.
"You guys can go, I'll just relocate Control Freak and I'll be right down." Cyborg dictated while Robin slid the door open.
Starfire had placed the plates down when she heard the thudding of footsteps. Robin and Beast Boy appeared, both slumping into a seat.
"So?" Starfire prodded, placing a salad onto the table.
"Progress is good. We're on test runs now." Robin started grabbing dishes and piling food onto his plate.
"We will be fixed soon?" Raven placed the last dish on the table and took a seat beside her boy.
"Soon, yeah. But probably not by tomorrow night."
Starfire kept her eyes on her plate. She'd have to play Starfire at one of the largest events of the year. She'd have to stay glued to Robin the entire night.
Her eyes lingered up to masked ones that were looking right at her.
Her conscious was buzzing, this was a bad idea. Why hadn't she made more of an effort against this decision?
Starfire moved her eyes away as Raven attempted to engage him in conversation.
Starfire shifted to look at Beast Boy instead. He kept in conversation with Cyborg who had just joined them at the table. At first Raven had thought whatever was being hidden was known only by Robin and Cyborg.
But now Beast Boy?
She moved her thoughts away from the impending dance to what they could be hiding.
How could one stupid button make her life so complicated?
Goodness, so many reviews thank you! You all make me blush.
And of course, praise to Sarah Cabbage Patch for doing such wonderful beta-ing.
Oh, and I just saw some wonderful images from The End part 3...I cannot wait, anyone else excited? I must get TV access before they come out.
Review!
Dragonslayer527