Well this took a little long than I hoped. And to anyone whose interested, Animation Insider released the plot for TT: Trouble in Tokyo. I thought it looked okay though I don't think we'll get to see Slade or find out who Red X is or any that kind of stuff.
But anywho, thanks my friends for reviewing; Samanthe2121, Valda, Rose Re2.0, Realfanficts, John23, April4rmH-Town, TTHPFan, Itxprincessxlala.Thanks again, and ENJOY!
Chapter Nineteen
Five Friends in need
Blackfire sat in the exact same spot she had been for the past several hours. She kept looking and staring at the triangle hoping a memory from Arameth would resurface. She would get flashes of when he spoke with Anubis and taking orders, and chasing Taka down a snowy hillside. She closed her eyes feeling something drawing closer and closer. She saw through her own eyes as Arameth bowed before Anubis and received the order to retrieve the triangle.
"My lord, I beg to ask; what is the significance of something so small?"
"Yet only ancestors would be able to understand Arameth." Her vision ended and Blackfire's eyes opened. She tried to attach relevance to what she just saw and how her own people might address this probl- She stopped thinking as it finally came to her. Her eyes wide and her mouth open she slowly stood up.
"I've got it," she whispered. She sprinted out of her new room and glided down the halls. "Robin! I've got it!" Blackfire's shouts didn't go unnoticed as Beast Boy and Raven walked out of their room as she passed. They exchanged bemused looks and followed her. Blackfire finally reached Robin's room and knocked several times. She heard only a muffled response and knocked another couple of times. Blackfire waited one more second before trying again. Robin stepped out just as Blackfire applied a light knock to his forehead.
"Ow! What do you want!" Blackfire winced her face and stepped back a bit.
"Sorry, it just couldn't wait."
"What is it?" asked Starfire walking up behind Robin. She and Blackfire exchanged awkward looks. Robin looked between them and gestured to his wife's sister.
"Oh right. I've got it!"
"What?"
"Just what I said I've got it."
Beast Boy said, "Well let's hope for all our sakes that it's not contagious." Blackfire frowned at him.
"That's funny Beast Boy, eat any good books lately?" Raven rolled her eyes as her jokes were just as bad as Beast Boy's.
"What exactly have you got?" inquired Raven.
"I know what this is," declared Blackfire proudly while holding up the triangle.
"Please, enlighten us." Said Raven. Blackfire nodded and began walking away.
"Living room." She walked away and around a corner leaving the others in utter confusion. She poked her head back around the corner when she realized no one was following her. "Come with me." She left again and Beast Boy cast a gaping mouth at Robin.
"Dude, what did you do to her?"
"I just gave her a job to do," he said shrugging. They all found Blackfire in the living room tapping her foot impatiently.
"I was beginning to think you'd all forgotten about me."
"What have you discovered sister?" asked Starfire curiously. Blackfire looked as though she'd been wanting to explain this for years. She nodded eagerly.
"Okay, the question was; what is it?"
"Well we kinda know what it is; it's a mystical thing that makes you stronger and faster and such," said Beast Boy. Blackfire shook her head correctively.
"No it's giving off the slightest amount of radiation that when held in close proximity, say around your neck, it will increase a person's physical attributes by a noticeable margin."
"So there's nothing supernatural about it at all," concluded Robin. Blackfire nodded in acknowledgement. "So that's it, it's just an alien power device? Anubis has been after this thing since day one, what could he hope to gain by making himself a little stronger?" Blackfire waved her hands about as if trying to erase that thought from the conversation.
"I'm pretty sure the radiation is just a byproduct of some kind. I think it's a memory device or a hard drive of some kind. And it's storing so much information and knowledge that it produces these waves that make a person stronger."
Raven folded her arms. "Assuming that's all correct, what sort of information is it carrying?" Blackfire thought before answering then turned to Starfire.
"Star, did you ever hear of the alliance between the Psions on the Lanuen?" Starfire thought back then nodded.
"Yes, father told me. The last time I saw them that is."
"The who?" asked Cyborg. He had just no joined them though avoided looking at their Titan leader at all costs. Robin tried to get his attention but only hung his head when he failed.
"The Lanuen were the ancestral forefathers of Tamaran," clarified Starfire. "They formed a tenuous alliance with the Psions thousands of years ago to combat a powerful enemy."
"That must've been quite a risk," said Robin.
"And I'm sure the question that's weighing most on your minds is 'why would the Lanuen trust the Psions," said Blackfire. They all replied in the affirmative. "They didn't, at least not enough to risk the future of their civilization. So what they must've done was come up with a backup plan of some sort. A way to destroy Anubis, should he ever reach a point where he would cease to have a corporeal form."
"Hold on a second," said Raven. "How did the Lanuen know Anubis would achieve something like that."
"Well given hat fact that he was a Tamaranian/Psion hybrid he'd be getting the massive intelligence of the Psions as well as the power of a Tamaranian. It was probably seen as possible, however remote, that Anubis could shed his physical body if the process was started somehow."
"Such as surviving a huge nuclear explosion," prompted Beast Boy.
"Exactly, but the Lanuen found a way around that." Robin stood up from sitting next to his wife.
"Are you saying that somewhere out there in the near infinite reaches of the universe is a hidden weapon that can defeat Anubis?"
"Yes, there is." Said Blackfire making sure she'd mentioned everything.
"Where is this weapon?" asked Starfire. Blackfire scratched her head.
"I have no idea." Their spirits sagged somewhat. "I'm sorry, and mind you all of this is basically one giant guess."
"Perhaps I could find out more," suggested Starfire holding out her hand. Blackfire rolled her eyes.
"Star I just mouthed off everything I know what makes you think you could find out anything more?"
"You never know until you try," said Robin in Star's defense. Starfire however took the initiative and reached for the triangle. Blackfire pulled her hand away just as she was about to grab it.
"Excuse me sister, find your own assignment."
"Since when you are so Titan gung ho?" asked Beast Boy in an ill-humored voice. Blackfire didn't answer though she knew perfectly well why. 'You'd never understand.' With Blackfire momentarily distracted Starfire quickly reached forward and took the triangle out of her hands.
"Hey!" Starfire scooted back and looked the small ornament over a few times. She was about to hand it back along with an apology befitting her character when she felt it vibrate.
"Umm, friends…" They gathered around her just as the triangle flew out of her hands and hovered just eye level with her. She stared at it for a moment. "What did I do?" Before anyone could make a guess it began to spin until reached its maximum speed and a beam shot from it and into her eyes.
"Look out!" said Cyborg jumping back. Unable to move or look away Starfire could only stare at the beam and saw numerous images flying at her at tremendous speeds. Robin cautiously approached her.
"Starfire?"
"Y-Yes Robin?"
"Star move away."
"I-I would like to, but I cannot." Robin watched her for a second more than found he couldn't take it.
"Alright that's it, pull her away."
"NO!" Shouted Starfire. "D-Do not interrupt it." They did what she said and allowed whatever was happening to finish. The beam finally stopped and the triangle fell back into Starfire's open hand. She stared straight ahead then began to fall back. Already behind her Robin caught her in his arms and supported her head.
"Star! Starfire say something, anything!" She finally blinked and looked up at him with a childlike smile.
"Hello Robin, you look fuzzy." He looked up at everyone with raised eyebrows and they set her down on the couch. She remained in a stupor for a few more minuets then slowly regained her normal senses. "I said what?"
"You said I looked fuzzy," said Robin with a small smile. Starfire looked a little confused.
"I see, that is all?"
"Yeah basically, but more importantly can you tell us what exactly it zapped into your brain?" persisted Blackfire. Starfire shrugged her shoulders. "You don't know?"
"I am sorry; I have only a vague assumption."
"Can you tell us what that is," inquired Raven. Starfire rubbed the sides of her head as though trying produced a migraine.
"Not..at the moment." Robin nodded and rubbed her hand gingerly.
"Well, whatever this thing did to you we should try to find out as soon as possible." Beast Boy then walked up trying to solve a rubix cube.
"Can't be any harder than trying to get this stupid thing right. You know I've been at it for two hours and I can't even get one side done."
"Give me that," said Robin pulling it away from him. "Here Star fiddle with that for a second." He pitched the colorful puzzle down to Starfire and she caught it. "Beast Boy now isn't really the time to be playing around toys. Starfire just got who knows what downloaded into her brain and Anubis is after it."
"I know," said Beast Boy shifting around. "And its not like I don't care about Star. Star you know it's not like that," he said looking over at her.
"Of course Beast Boy," she said setting the cube down on the table beside the couch. She stood up rather quickly and almost fell back to the couch. Robin and Raven both caught her by the arms and she steadied herself.
"Maybe you shouldn't move around right now," suggested her pale friend. Starfire shook her head.
"No, I do not wish to be a burden."
"You're not a burden Star but you're also not fooling anyone," said Robin. Starfire sighed and gently pulled out of Raven's grasp.
"I am not trying to fool anyone. Believe me husband I am perfectly finulum." Robin frowned.
"You're what?"
"I am fine Robin, we should be concentrating our efforts elsewhere." With that Starfire walked out of the common room. Robin watched after her curiously then glanced down at the table. His curious look only grew more curious when saw the rubix cube that she had set aside. He picked it up and looked it over just to be sure he hadn't been seeing things. All six sides of the cube were completely solved. He looked away from it to the door Starfire and left the room through. Unable to put any of the pieces together at the moment Robin put it down and began to follow her. As he made his way out Cyborg looked up at him.
"Robin." Robin stopped but didn't look back. Cyborg crossed his arms and let out a long sigh. "You did the right thing." Robin relaxed himself and walked on through the sliding door. Cyborg stood in place for a while longer than took a seat at the diner table.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER……………
Beast Boy finally managed to convince both Robin and Starfire that in the midst of everyone's hard work there should also be a little time to 'chill out'. It actually took some coaxing from Starfire to sway Robin from his troubled thoughts but in the end Beast Boy's job was done. It was anyone's guess how Cyborg had found a way out of the hole he was in, as he had suggested they all play a few hands of poker. Blackfire, who caught on quickly, not only found that she loved the game but that she also a small gambling problem.
"All in," said the dark haired girl. She pushed her remaining chips into the pile with a smug look.
"Ohhh girl's gettin' ambitious," said Cyborg with a sly look. She moved about girlishly. Robin and Starfire exchanged amused looks.
"I have to say Blackfire; I never thought I'd see you here playing poker." She shrugged.
"Perhaps it's because you failed to see how the rules would appeal to me. Deceiving the other players into believing you have power when in fact you have nothing, its fun." Raven however had been contemplating Blackfire's movements.
"You know speaking of bluffing; I think you're doing it right now." Blackfire arched a brow.
"Really? Are you just saying that for the sake of saying it or do you plan to call me on that?" Beast Boy leaned over and whispered some advice to his wife. Raven had him repeat it one more time than nodded.
"Yes I am, call." The others all folded leaving only Raven and Blackfire in the game. Raven turned over her two cards and using the flop cards made a full house. Blackfire nodded at her hand.
"Very good, but not quite good enough." Blackfire turned over her cards and formed a straight flush out of diamonds. Raven cast a look at Beast Boy who shrugged apologetically. Blackfire pulled the pile of chips to her with a look of victory. "One more hand?"
"Yeah I've got enough for one more," said Robin.
"Me too," said Starfire with a smile.
"I'm out," said Raven getting up. Beast Boy glanced at her pile of chips and tugged on her cape.
"You're not out, look at that pile there."
"Out of interest," said the empath. She walked over to the couch and picked up a book.
"Ookayyyy, we'll just sit here and have oodles and oodles of fun without Raven." Said Beast Boy making sure Raven could hear him.
From behind her book Raven droned. "Just don't make a mess." Beast Boy waved after her playfully and turned back to the table.
"Alright, who's turn to deal?"
"Star's," said Cyborg. He handed her the deck and she began shuffling. A few minuets went by and Starfire was still mixing the cards. Blackfire rested her head on her arm.
"Sometime tonight Star."
"I must be sure the cards are sufficiently randomized."
"It's good enough Star," whispered Robin patting her on the shoulder. Starfire nodded with a - (a/n; couldn't figure out how to describe that). She dealt them all two cards then after they placed their bets set three more cards down on the table. Blackfire looked from her two cards to the flop with the tiniest amount of disappointment. This, however, did not go unnoticed by Beast Boy who got a most wicked yet grin meriting idea. The right things needed to happen first. Robin shook his head at his poor hand and threw his cards down on the table.
"Fold, crappy hand." Starfire however did not admit defeat so readily. She along with her sister, Beast Boy, and Cyborg awaited the next card to be drawn. Unfortunately she too found her hand to be insufficient for victory and folded as well. After all the betting and raising was done it was left between Blackfire and Beast Boy.
'Perfect'. "Say Blackfire, while its just a last battle why not make this really interesting?"
"How?"
"If you loose this hand…..give Cyborg a smooch." Their mouths dropped and they all looked from the last two players to Cyborg. He began to inch away from the table uneasily. Blackfire's face turned bright red.
"That's got to be the dumbest thing I've…I've ever hear-"
"Well if you can't win and you don't even want to then I guess we understand."
"Just! Make your bet," said Blackfire shaking. Beast Boy decided that on the last hand there really was nothing to loose. Besides all your money.
"I'm alllll in, you?" Blackfire gulped and stole a quick glance at Cyborg. Robin and Starfire watched them anxiously. Even Raven had begun to carefully peer over the edge of her book.
"Me too." She merged the rest of her chips with Beast Boy's and waited for him to reveal his hand. He did and her mouth dropped when she saw him form a three of a kind. Their eyes all moved from Beast Boy's cards to Blackfire's. She set them down only to reveal she had two pairs of eights. Cyborg chuckeld lightly.
"It's alright B, you don't have to." Blackfire felt herself unusually flattered by the new nickname.
"A deal's a deal," she said looking down at the table. Starfire ducked behind Robin to hide her short giggle. Beast Boy leant back in his chair and awaited his bout of amusement.
"Well, we're all waiting." She sent a self-conscious look at him. "Hey you play with me you better be willing to accept the consequences." Blackfire stood up and faced Cyborg. He sat waiting to see if she'd actually do it or not. After what seemed like hours Blackfire bent forward and laid a small kiss on his cheek. Starfire had to move away again behind Robin and Raven's eyes grew wide. Beast Boy nearly fell back out of his chair and Blackfire wasted no time in gliding out of the common room. Cyborg sat frozen and touched the spot on his face.
"She actually did it."
"How'd it feel?" asked Robin. Cyborg thought about it then nodded.
"Pretty good." Starfire giggled happily and jumped up.
"Oh friends this is wonderful, Blackfire is changing!" She looked at each boy and Raven and was met with skeptical looks.
"That's a bit of a jump don't you think," said Raven. "Blackfire's always done what she needs for Blackfire; this could be just another ploy." Starfire's face fell at her words. "Mind you that's just one big guess though," mimicked Raven. Starfire sent a pleading look at her love.
"Robin…" Robin stood up.
"I don't know guys, I mean anything is possible. I told her to do something and she did it, to the very best of her abilities. I'm really hoping Star's right, and Blackfire really has started to turn over a new leaf."
"Agreed my husband, this news is most effereous!" For the second time that night they all did a double take at Starfire's strange use of words.
"What did you say Star?" asked Robin. She blinked a few times.
"Did I not say this news is most wonderful?"
"Uhhh I…guess, are you sure you didn't say something else?"
"I am quite certain," replied Starfire.
DOWN THE HALLS……….
Blackfire walked down the hall toward her room, her reddening face still hadn't gone down. She rubbed her arms and gulped down her embarrassment.
"I'm going to kill you Beast Boy, and I'm going to do it while you're sleeping." She reached her room and was about to punch in the access code when she heard a strange sound followed by a soft glow. 'I know that sound.' She spun around and saw Mas and Menos beam directly behind her. She jumped into the air just as they zipped straight for her. She flew as fast as she could down the hall and slammed her fist down on the alarm. No sooner had the alarm gone off then she felt to pairs of hands grab her around her waist. The speedy twins pulled her backward and threw her to the ground. Blackfire picked her head up with a quite growl.
"I think you two should know, I still new to this 'good guy' thing." Her eye beams truck them at their feet sending flying against the wall. "And I'm not bound to play all that fair," she said with a smirk.
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In the common room the Titans all stood up at the sound of the alarm and looked around at each other. Beast Boy scratched his head.
"What's going on?" His question was soon answered as Speedy and Aqualad both materialized in the middle of the room. The two boys looked about until they spotted their targets. "YOW!" Beast Boy ducked out of the way just as Speed released and arrow intended for his head. Cyborg ran forward and engaged Aqualad while Robin escorted Starfire away from the battle.
"Stay here," he said ducking her behind the counter.
"But I can help," she protested.
"You're still human, besides it's you they're after. Stay down!" Robin gave her hand a squeeze then sped off and leapt onto an energy platform proved by Raven. She circled him up and around the room allowing him to bombard Speedy with stun grenades.
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Blackfire meanwhile tossed several starbolts down the hall but was unable to keep up with the lighting quick twins. They zipped all around her then kicked her from behind. She stumbled about and in her blatant frustration formed a thick wall of energy. She blasted it forward and both Titans were powerless to avoid it. The purple field engulfed them and sent a powerful jolt through each of them. They fell to the floor unconscious and Blackfire marveled at her victory.
"Dodge that."
--------
Raven shielded herself and Cyborg from a strong column of water that Aqualad was using to pound on them. She finally encased them both her shroud and sank beneath the floor. She reappeared behind the Atlantian and allowed Cyborg to charge out and tackle Aqualad to the floor. While Raven and Cyborg dealt with yet another friend Robin did his best to dodge Speedy's seemingly endless volley of arrows. Twice he was forced to do a series of back flips to avoid the heat seekers. Starfire watched behind her cover, cringing every now and then when her husband received a blow. Bumble Bee soon made her appearance and beamed into the tower behind Starfire. Starfire's eyes widened as she detected her presence and turned just in time for Bumble Bee to grab her by the shoulders and force her out of her barricade.
"Robin!" Robin turned at Starfire's cry and ran to help her but was deterred by Speedy. Starfire turned onto her back and began crawling away as Bumble Bee advanced on her. "Please friend do not do this."
"By order of Lord Anubis you must die," responded Bumble Bee in an emotionless voice. Bumble reached down and hoisted her up. Starfire cast her a frightfully pleading look.
"Please do not! I am with CHILD!" But Bumble Bee didn't seem to hear her. She threw her backward and Starfire crashed through the large window. Robin punched Speedy and away and scrambled over to the shattered hole.
"STARFIREEEE!" Out side Starfire quickly fell and scrunched her eyes shut wanting to stop before she hit the ground. She flipped through the air and came to a halt just above the ground. She remained perfectly still with her eyes shut tight then squinted one eye open. She then opened the other in surprise to find herself hovering a few inches of the grassy lawn around the base of the tower. However impossible it may have seemed at the moment it was apparent none the less, her powers were beginning to return. She glanced toward the sky with a single happy tear.
"Thank you, oh goodness thank you." She then took in a determined breath and zoomed back up the length of the tower. Inside Bumble Bee drew her stingers and faced Robin. Raven held Speedy and Aqualad at bay up on the ceiling and she and Cyborg watched Robin.
"Why did you that?" asked Robin in a shaking voice. "I know you didn't want to so why did YOU!" Bumble Bee barley blinked.
"Desire is irrelevant; Anubis has commanded me to do so." Robin prepared for his first and only attack when Starfire flew in through she'd made just seconds ago and knocked Bumble Bee clear off her feet. The winged Titan skipped along the floor and banged her head against the refrigerator. Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy all looked from Bumble Bee to Starfire with wide open mouths. Robin walked up to her as Starfire gracefully descended down to the floor with a smile. Robin mouthed wordlessly as the initial shock of her falling out of the window still hadn't passed. She read his mind and shrugged.
"I cannot explain it, it has simply happened."
"Well I say 'who cares!'," said Beast Boy with toothy smile. Robin chuckled for lack of a better way to respond. Starfire smiled wider as if waiting for him to say something.
"Well I'll say this Star; you have always had the best timing." She started slow then burst out laughing and threw her arms around him. He twirled her around in a circle and she proclaimed joyfully.
"I am back!"
"You are back!" The other three Titans looked just as pleased as the couple as Blackfire entered the common room. All eyes turned to her and she dragged in Mas and Menos.
"Well, I'm pretty sure that makes five."
THE BRIG…………..
They all watched the imprisoned friends from a computer screen outside the detention center. All five of them had been placed in separate cells, Mas and Menos especially. They saw Bumble Bee pound against the invisible field that kept her in with animal-like ferocity. The other four behaved in a similar fashion making Robin frown despondently.
"They're going to stop at some point aren't they?"
"They seem pretty determined to me," said Cyborg eyeing Speedy as eh tried to punch a hole through the force field.
"Can anything be done for them?" asked Robin to Raven. She glanced at them then thought for a moment.
"Possibly."
"Possibly? All I did was zap you with a stunner and you snapped out of it." Raven nodded semi-agreeably.
"Which, though miraculous, probably only happened because of one of many things going on at that moment. For instance, it could have been my powers reacting to Anubis' suggestions, or the presence of Arameth, it could have even been because I was being forced to use the hand device at that moment." Robin and shook his head incomprehensibly.
"What she's trying to tell you Robin," said Blackfire. "Is the fact that you were able to free her was all but a one in a million fluke."
"There must be some way to separate their minds from Anubis' hold," thought Starfire out loud. Raven went back to observing them with her index finger below her lower lip thoughtfully.
"Anubis' techniques for manipulating a person's mind are very precise and effective; I remember I could hardly stand it. One moment I was myself and the next I ardently believed that I had always served him."
"Raven you sound like you're beginning to find a way," said Robin. Raven looked over at him. "I'm just saying you've got that 'good idea voice' going there." Raven simply gave him that narrowed eyed 'are you trying to be funny' look. "Just see what you can do and let me know if anything happens." Raven nodded and Robin took Starfire's hand. "And you come with me, I'm a little curious as to how you're powers are back." Starfire followed Robin back to the common room and Raven bravely entered the brig. She stopped midway through the door and looked back at her spouse.
"Uhhh Beast Boy, could you…" Beast Boy seemed clueless for a moment then nodded with a grin.
"Sure no problem." He accompanied her inside making Raven feel a lot more comfortable about her task. Cyborg was about to go offer his help to Robin and Starfire when he noticed one of Blackfire's hands was shaking.
"You okay?"
"What? Oh this," she said as she saw him looking at her hand. "It started a few months ago, comes and goes." He arched a brow at her as she tried to steady her hand. "It's nothing," she said sharply and walked away. Cyborg watched her leave and sighed.
"Whatever."
Now by my standards this update was pretty late in my opinion. But I finally go it out and Kiss of the Dragon will be along shortly. Hope everyone still liking it. Laters!