Hello all! As you may have noticed, my updates have begun a predictable pattern. I intend to update on Wednesdays and Saturdays henceforth, and since I've written through chapter 14, I'll be able to do it regularly.

And now, for today's segment, an awkward moment for the family Stone:

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Teen Titans or Magic: the Gathering. All intellectual properties referenced herein are used without permission of the owners, but in a way that does not plagiarize the sources. To the owner of the green Mazda, your lights are on. Owner of a green Mazda, your lights are on.

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In the center of the bunker there was a device that gleamed with newness. It appeared to be a muscular torso made of silver, with dull blue lines rising over the shoulders, across the midsection, and down the center of the chest, all converging a central point. (A/N: Basically, a five-pointed asterisk design.) Atop the torso was something resembling a giant soup can with a column of slits in the front.

"What is this thing?" asked Beast Boy, awed by the technological wonder before him. It was shiny.

"That is the future." replied an unseen voice. Its owner stepped out of the shadows. It was a tall, well-built man with glasses and a lab coat. "Hello. My name is Dr. Stone, and I designed this. It-" He paused suddenly, noticing Cyborg as if for the first time. "Hello, son."

The teen nodded. "Hi, Dad."

Raven and Beast Boy both pulled a double take. "DAD?" Raven's shock made the ceiling creak ominously, but thankfully, it held.

Dr. Stone nodded. "Yes, I am Cyborg's father." The two did share a resemblance, mechanical attachments aside. "My wife...his mother and I designed his cybernetic replacements after the accident."

Beast Boy opened his mouth, but Raven silenced him with a hand on his shoulder. "Don't," she whispered, "the last thing these two need is reopening old wounds." The changeling fell silent, understanding. Both he and the telepath had shadowy pasts of their own, and knew to respect the privacy of their friend's.

An awkward silence lay over the four, and was only breached by Cyborg saying "So, what have you been working on since 'Project: Save Your Kid'?"

The elder Stone winced. "Let's not go down that path again, son." Cyborg relented, and Dr. Stone continued. "We've been researching how to best harness the most efficient energy source we've ever discovered. It just seems to generate power out of nowhere, like-"

"Magic?" Raven interrupted. She had a hunch about this "energy source".

"Exactly," the scientist concurred, unaware of her suspicions. "But, of course, there's no such thing."

"Of course," deadpanned the third most powerful source of magic in the bunker. (A/N: Raven)

"Anyway," Dr. Stone continued, still oblivious to the half-demoness' dry wit, "its power seems most conducive in metal, especially silver, steel and alloys. We've designed this special focusing chamber for the source to best exploit its effects." He gestured towards the metallic device that loomed above them. It was about eight feet tall, and the parts that didn't have a dull blue glow did seem rather silvery upon closer inspection.

Cyborg approached it, and began to examine the contraption. He gave out a low whistle. "Titanium-silver alloy, quad output generators, ferrocopper insulated storage compartment, overload bleeder vents, you really went all out with this one, Dad."

His father smirked. "Glad you approve, Vic."

Beast Boy broke out off his technobabble-induced daze. " 'Vic?' Your name's Vic? You never told us your name was Vic."

"And you never told him your name was Garfield." Raven smirked.

The changeling was shocked. "Dude! How'd you know that?" (A/N: Remember, this takes place before "Homecoming.")

"You can't waltz into my mind as many times as you have without leaving something behind," she replied.

"How many times do I have to tell you? The mirror dragged me in! You can't blame me if your crazy portal thingy has a mind of it's own!"

"But I can blame you for sneaking into my room uninvited!"

"Then maybe you should lock your door!"

"It was locked! You squeezed under it like the roach you are!"

"If I'm a roach, what does that make you, a hermit crab?"

"You little grass stain!"

"You brooding creep!"

Father and son watched the exchange with great amusement. "Ain't they cute?" Cyborg asked his father.

He grinned in reply. "They remind me of your mother and me before we started dating. I think I hear wedding bells in their future." Both bowed their heads in Mrs. Stone's memory, but looked back up in time to see changeling and telepath glaring as one at them.

They shouted in unison, "FOR THE LAST TIME, WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!"

The Stones recoiled in fear from the two heroes' united anger. Dr. Stone nervously cleared his throat. "Well, moving on, what say we fire this baby up?"

Raven held up a hand. "Hold on a moment. I think I know what this power source is." Ignoring the scientists' protests, she hovered to the cavity where a lump of something could just be made out in the largely opaque glass. Closing her eyes, Raven attempted to penetrate the chamber telepathically. I know you're in there, she prodded, what are you planning?

Well, well. A telepath. About time those walking pocket protectors found a working way to analyze me. The voice resounded with overtones of oceans, of omniscience, of unquestionable superiority.

Raven would've narrowed her eyes if they weren't already closed. What are you planning, Mox Sapphire?

Oh, not much. I just want to add afterburners to the human race. The encased jewel gushed innocence.

As an expert secret-keeper herself, Raven wasn't fooled. By depleting your own power? Please. You're plotting something.

And if I am? These ever-so-helpful researchers would never let you get even a millimeter closer to me. The gem gave the telepathic equivalent of a smirk, and fell silent.

Raven returned to the ground. "Well?" Beast Boy asked.

She nodded. "It's what we're looking for." She turned to Dr. Stone, and told it straight, "Listen, we need that power source. Now."

He frowned. "Alright, but only if you let us do one test run. Once we understand how to reproduce the energy in this thing, we'll relinquish the original."

All three Titans nodded, but Raven did so hesitantly. I just hope I don't end up regretting this...

Dr. Stone rushed to some sort of console, pressed a few buttons, and called on a PA system: "All researchers for Project: Thaum, prepare for generator test run. This is not a drill." The entire bunker began to hum with restrained power. The hum soon turned into a low vibration, and the obligatory coffee mug (This one emblazoned with "World's Best Clichéd Plot Device") used to demonstrate such phenomena began to shake and slosh its contents.

The chamber storing the Mox Sapphire began to glow, as did the dull blue channels, which were now glowing an almost blinding cerulean. Four devices resembling satellite dishes extended from the device, each originating at the shoulder and hip, if one thought of the chamber as the trunk of a giant body. As they began to crackle with azure energy, there was, on the edge of hearing, a low chuckle.

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"Oh, doctor, please tell me you can make Robin Robin again!" Starfire pleaded.

"My dear, I'll do my best," he said, "but this is the worst case of identity crisis I've ever seen. Furthermore-"

"Furthermore?" Star gasped, "Is there something else wrong with Robin besides the crisis of identity?"

"No, it isn't him."

"Then what is it? What?" Starfire then gave a puppy dog face that even Beast Boy's kitten form couldn't outcute.

The psychiatrist, however, was unaffected by this adorable display. "It would greatly help Robin if you would LET GO OF MY LEGS AND ALLOW ME TO SEE HIM!" He gasped for breath, exasperated.

"Oh," Starfire blushed. She realized she had put a death grip on the analyst's lower legs in her desperation. "My apologies." She released him, and both moved to Robin's ward. Hopefully, something would cure the deranged Boy Wonder.

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Well, that's it for now. In the meantime, I leave you with this zombie protest chant:

"What do we want?"

"Brains!"

"When do we want 'em?"

"BRAINS!"

See ya'll soon!