32 Productions Presents…

A Teen Titan Fan Fiction The Teen Titans in…

"The Gremlin"

Chapter Two

Titan Tower: Raven's Room

Raven took a deep breath, inhaling the incense she had lit. She needed to relax and calm down. Seeing Shade in that position was…distressing. It reminded her of a nightmare. She got a lot of those, often about the deaths of those close to her. This one was, obviously, about Shade. He was in terrible shape, battered and bleeding. The most prominent wound was a nasty sized hole in his shoulder. He was saying something, but Raven could never make out the words. All she heard was the laughter of her demonic father. Then Shade's eyes closed. She shook it off. The emotions that such dreams brought were dangerous. Raven had to suffocate the emotion with logic. It was just a dream. Nothing more.

Rumbling Voice: What'cha thinking about, kiddo?

The voice was from the monster under her bed. …or maybe she was crazy. Raven wasn't sure. Either way, he was someone to talk to. She first heard him back in Azarath. When you're the daughter of a demon lord, you find that there are more terrifying things in the world then a voice under your bed. It was a delightful surprise when he seemed to follow her here…unless she WAS crazy in which case the voice never left. Raven called him Earl.

Raven: Dreams.

Earl: Ah, the one with the boys in the sauna again?

Raven's expression remained stoic but her cheeks grew red.

Raven: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Earl: I'm just tease you, squirt.

Raven: Either way, I'd rather not talk about it.

Earl sighed. It sounded more like a gurgle.

Earl: You mean you'd rather not think about it.

Raven: Exactly. Now, if you please…I need silence.

Training Room

Shade slammed his fist against the punching bag, his teeth clenched in rage. He was furious right now. He was furious with Robin for yelling at him. He was furious at his friends for not sticking up for him. He was furious at Gremlin for humiliating him. Most of all, he was furious at himself for letting it happen. With each punch, he remembered something that made him angrier. He remembered how weak Gremlin made him feel. Punch. He remembered how Gremlin mocked him, called him an idiot. Punch. He remembered how he threatened to kill him in front of his friends. Punch! He remembered how he needed to be saved. PUNCH! He remembered how Robin blamed him for the whole thing. His anger had reached a boiling point. He slashed at the bag with his claws. As the stuff it was filled with fell to the floor, he pictured Gremlin in its stead, his organs spilling out. He slashed again and again until nothing but rags hanged from the rope. Shade took a deep breath. He had to calm down.

Shade: (whisper) It's okay. It's okay, You're okay. Be calm. No one is going to care for a wild animal.

It was what he really wanted. Somebody that cared about him. With these animal-like outbursts he was scaring everyone away. His teammates would avoid him. Was it any surprise? The things they knew he was capable of…they had a right to be scared. He couldn't help it. No matter how hard he tried…no matter how much he denied it…he would always be an animal.

Beast Boy's Room

Beast Boy sat on his bed, his music blasting. Today it was doing nothing to help him. Now Beast Boy wasn't the brightest guy in the world but even he knew what Robin was really so upset about. Shade was almost killed. Not that that was uncommon. In this line of work, you have to expect that. However, this time it was done right in front of them, almost no way for them to help. If not for his metal neck or whatever he said, Shade would be no more. That made Robin feel helpless and that was one thing that Robin couldn't stand. Gremlin… So this guy was there to kill them because Deathstroke was dead. That reminded him of Terra and anything that reminded him of Terra made him depressed.

Main Room

Robin typed at the computer, looking for any sort of clue that could help them track down Gremlin. Specifically he was looking for shipments (or robberies) of materials that could be used to build those robots. Cyborg was studying the remains of them. He'd report anything interesting if he found it. Starfire entered the room.

Starfire: Ah, Tim. I was searching for you.

Robin: Hey, Kori.

Starfire stood behind him.

Starfire: Playing the games of the computer?
Robin: Nah. Trying to track down Gremlin. I've been looking into any purchases or thefts of materials that might be used to create those junk heaps we trashed.

Starfire studied the screen. On the screen there was a list of materials, the company they came from, and the name of the buyer. There was another list for the thefts next to it.

Starfire: …indeed. Have you found anything?

Robin: Nada.

Starfire raised an eyebrow (man, those things are small. Look me in the eyes and tell me she doesn't have tiny eyebrows. I dare you.).

Starfire: Am I to assume that this…"nada" you speak of is not helpful?

Robin: It means nothing.

Starfire: Oh…that is not helpful at all.

Robin hit the arm of the chair he was sitting in.

Robin: Argh! I just don't understand? How can he build all those robots without buying and stealing stuff!

Starfire thought for a moment then snapped her fingers. She smiled broadly.

Starfire: I believe I have it!

Robin was doubtful but went along with it.

Robin: Really? What?

Starfire: He acquires them through the rummaging of the yards of junk!

Robin stared at her blankly. Her smile faded. Maybe it was a dumb idea…or maybe she had just mispronounced something. Suddenly Robin grinned.

Robin: That's brilliant, Star! He uses the robots we scrapped along with other parts to create his robots!

Starfire blushed and rubbed the back of her head.

Starfire: I am happy to have aided you.

Cyborg: I don't think that's all he does.

Cyborg placed a cylinder shaped objects in front of them.

Starfire: …when did you arrive?

Robin: Is that a power cell?

Cyborg: Yeah. From STAR labs. I get them delivered here now and then in case something happens. You got anything stolen or bought from there?

Robin: Not really.

Cyborg: Well, pull up the list, man.

Robin did just that. Cyborg scanned over it and frowned.

Cyborg: Here.

Starfire: Cyborg, that is your shipment.

Cyborg: Yeah…with twice as much in it as there should be and twice as much that arrived.

Robin: He robbed in on route?

Cyborg: Looks that way.

Robin rubbed his chin in thought.

Robin: When's your next shipment, Cy?

Cyborg: Tomorrow night.

Robin: …if Gremlin tries to steal this shipment…he's going to get a little surprise.

Back of Truck: Next Night

Cyborg rubbed his nose and scowled at Robin.

Cyborg: If by surprise you meant finding us beaten and battered, I'd say you were right.

The ride was bumpy and the turns were throwing the Titans against the walls (no seatbelts back there don't you know). Raven put a shield up around herself, but now she was dizzy from being slammed all over the place.

Raven: (dazed) Okay. Now I know how a pinball feels.

Robin: Okay, maybe this wasn't one of my better ideas.

Beast Boy: Damn straight, dude! How do we know this guy is even going to try and rob this shipment? Maybe he's got enough stu…

The truck came to a sharp and unexpected stop. The Titans were flung into the wall.

Shade: Gah! My nose!

Starfire: My apologies, Shade.

The back of the truck opened and the driver stepped in. He grabbed a crate and started to take it out of the truck, ignoring the stowaways. He placed it down a ways from the truck and went back for another.

Beast Boy: Uh…hello! Hey, Mr. Driver-guy!

Starfire: Perhaps he is death?

Robin: Deaf.

Starfire: Yes, that.

Raven's eyes narrowed and she shook her head.

Raven: No…something is very wrong. I'm not sensing anything from him. No emotions, no thoughts…nothing.

Beast Boy let out a shriek.

Beast Boy: Zombies! Oh man, it's gonna eat my brain!

Shade: (muttering) Only if he's on a diet.

Cyborg: Don't care what he is. He ain't stealing my stuff. Yo, put the friggin' box down!

The driver stopped outside the truck and began to twitch. The Titans leapt out of the back and stared at the guy. He looked like he was having a seizure.

Cyborg: …uh…was it something I said?

Gremlin: Indubitably. He took it as a threat to stop him.

The Titans turned and found him sitting on top of the truck in a meditation style. He gave them a quick salute in greeting.

Robin: What's wrong with the driver?

Gremlin: Besides wearing nothing but his underwear and being in a ditch about a few miles back? Nothing really. That's not the driver. He's another one of my ever so ingenious machines.

Raven: …that explains a lot.

The robot's twitching was becoming more violent. Somehow he appeared to be…larger then before. Gremlin stood up and put his hands behind his back. Somehow…that disturbed Robin. Déjà vu…

Gremlin: I do so adore machines you know. Loyal…obedient…and above petty squabbles. They do whatever pleases me…and right now it would please me immensely to see you six dead.

Beast Boy rolled his eyes.

Beast Boy: Dude, in case you forgot, we trashed an army of your tin cans the first time. What makes you think this one…can…eep.

Gremlin: (snickering) I don't know. Just a feeling.

The crate had opened up on it own accord and the stuff inside was attaching to the "driver". Soon he went from a five foot eight man with a beer belly to a giant tank that towered above the Titans.

Gremlin: Remind me to apologize to the driver about his clothes…

The tank began to move forward on its treads.

Robin: Titans, GO!

The Titans charged toward the tank. Robin was getting ready to follow suit when a cable wrapped around his arm. He turned back to see that the other end of the cable was attached to a part of Gremlin's armor. He had a tight grasp around the other end. With a sharp tug, Robin was pulled back. He just barely managed to stay on his feet.

Gremlin: Ah, ah, ah. Not you.

Gremlin jumped, flipping in the air and landing in front of Robin, blocking his path to the tank. He stood up slowly, sending the same chills and feelings of déjà vu through Robin as before. He had seen this behavior before…

Gremlin: You're mine, boy.

Tank Fight

The tank was obviously designed to combat the Titans. Actually only its lower half was like a tank. The upper part was a giant human torso, complete with head and arms. It was a very BIG upper torso, but still a human like torso. The tank was obviously designed to combat the Titans. A pack on its back emitted a pulse that disrupted Raven's powers each time she tried to use them. She couldn't even stay in the air. Since Raven's powers were telekinetic in nature, she assumed it was sort of an EMP disrupting the external "brainwaves" for lack of a better term. Starfire's starbolts had no effect. It just made it glow green a little more each time she tried them. Cyborg's sonic cannon blasts were redirected at them. For Shade, it had intense bright lights that destroyed his creations…not to mention blinded anyone it shined on. Beast Boy grinned and puffed up his chest.

Beast Boy: Oh yeah? Well none of that stuff can stop the mighty Beast Boy! Looks like I get to be the hero this ti…

A hose emerged from the stomach area of the upper body and coated Beast Boy in a sticky green fluid. He stood there, his eyes wide with disgust.

Beast Boy: This…is…NASTY!

Cyborg: That's it. It may be immune to my cannon, but ain't nothing immune to my fists!

With a yell, Cyborg leapt at the tank and slammed his fist down. It barely put a dent in it. The chest section opened and a gun pointed down at him. The green glow that came from Starfire's attacks flowed through until it fired a green blast from the gun. It struck the ground in front of him and Cyborg was thrown back. One of its arms stretched out and grabbed Shade in its pincers. It lifted him up, squeezing tightly. Shade let out a shout of agony as his bones strained against the pressure.

Raven: Beast Boy, now would be a good time to DO something.

Beast Boy: Right. I'm all over it, babe.

Raven: (mutter) Don't call me "babe".

After what could only be described as a look of extreme constipation, Beast Boy stared at his goop covered body in shock.

Raven: What? What's wrong?

Beast Boy: I…I can't change. Something is stopping me…!

Just when Shade thought it couldn't get much worse, it began to pump electricity through the arm. Having seen enough, Starfire came from behind and wrapped her arms around its head. She began to squeeze, the metal shrieking in protest as it ever so slowly began to cave in to her alien strength. It threw Shade down and its arms swung for Starfire, but she swooped out of the way. Cyborg caught Shade before he could crash into the pavement.

END PART TWO