Wow. Kind of hard to believe this story's grown this enormous. As a word of warning, I intend to conclude Mox Quest by the end of the month. Hopefully, you'll all enjoy the final chapters. Oh, and sadly, no one was able to correctly guess what Cyborg's upgrade involves. A few came close with Robin, but didn't take it far enough. To see the answers, you'll just have to read on:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Teen Titans, Magic: the Gathering, the Metroid video game franchise, Retro Studios, or Picture-in-Picture. I do own a few words used in this chapter, as you'll see in the afterword.
The two Titans threw the thin chains attached to the Moxen over their heads. Blinding twin flashes of blue and white energy flashed through the Tower for an instant. After that instant, Robin and Cyborg beheld their altered forms.
"Well," concluded the leader, "this is different." Robin was almost unrecognizable, heavily armored except for her back, from which sprang giant, snowy bird wings. A massive broadsword lay in one hand, a large shield in the other. The only…wait a minute, her? "Why am I a girl?" asked the Angelic Wonder.
You are an angel, said the Mox Pearl, as though this covered every possible explanation.
"There are male angels, you know," responded a piqued she-Robin.
Not my angels. My angels are female constructs of purity and grace. I don't do male angels.
Robin sighed. "At least I kept my mask." Indeed, there were still a few traits that kept Robin identifiable as Robin. The angelic broadsword looked like an engorged Birdablade, the shield bore the familiar "R" emblem, and, indeed, Robin still had a mask on. She also had the same black hair, though it now flowed in onyx tresses to hip length, devoid of gel. Turning to see if Cyborg suffered the same fate, the head Titan saw that she couldn't tell. "Please tell me you're a girl under there."
Cyborg's current gender was well hidden by a highly advanced looking suit of armor. The technoteen carefully examined the suit, a blue and gray exoskeleton that, while resembling the usual cybernetic augmentations Cyborg relied on, appeared far more efficient. The half-robot saw with great surprise that where a right forearm usually lay was a rather large cannon-like device.
Shifting focus, Cyborg then examined the inside of the helmet that now contained the hero's head. The visor gave the world a slight blue tint, and what appeared to be a heads-up display within the viewing device showed structural integrity, ammo counts, radar, and a few other measurements, gauges, and icons that weren't immediately familiar.
Hesitantly, Cyborg's voice was tested for any signs of gender inversion. "It's a valid question," he said hesitantly, but he quickly smiled and gave a "Booyah!" upon hearing his familiar, testosterone-deepened harmonics. "Sorry, Robinette, I'm still the man!"
Fortunately, commented the Sapphire, I'm more flexible about gender roles than my esteemed sibling.
This quip finally completed the thought process Cyborg had been mulling over since the transformation. "I know what this thing is!" he exclaimed, "This is the Varia Suit! I'm a male Samus Aran!"
I decided to browse your memories for anything appropriate and stumbled upon that design. I thought it looked cool, so I implemented it. I call it the Cyberia Suit.
"Great," muttered Robin, "you get the mystic artifact that likes video games."
Gem and mechanoman both ignored the sarcastic seraph. "So," asked Cyborg, "were you able to restore my body, too?"
The Sapphire responded uneasily. Weeeeell, I'm not that good at crafting, y'know, flesh. Most of your cybernetic parts are still there, linked with the suit. The good news is that I was able to fix your head, at least for the time being.
"Why don't I like that qualifier?"
Because once I reclaim my power, half of your face is going back to cyber chic. Sorry, I can't do healing.
Enough of this blather! cried the Pearl, We must subdue the Ruby or there could be irreversible repercussions! TO ARMS!
"I agree," Robin said, "we need to get moving. Come on!" With that, her wings flapped and, pausing only to actually open the windows first, the new angel flew out of the Tower.
"So, can you get this thing airborne?" Cyborg asked the Sapphire.
There was a sound that, while indescribable, is best conveyed as the psychomineral equivalent of cracking one's knuckles. Now flight, replied the blue gem, I can do. With that, cerulean energy scintillated across the Cyberia Suit, focusing in the back. After a short period of retrofitting Retro Studios' design, the Sapphire triumphantly declared, One freshly fabricated cyanomana jetpack, calibrated and ready for use!
"Then let's go!" With that, Cyborg blasted out of the open window, following the Winged Wonder, both set to search for Starfire.
MEANWHILEINTHEJUNGLEMEANWHILEINTHEJUNGLEMEANWHILEINTHEJUNGLE
"Well," Raven deadpanned, "That's inconspicuous." She and Beast Boy had been trudging (Well, Raven trudged. Beast Boy took to the area like a duck to water.) through the jungle for an hour, in the exact direction the Mox Jet told them not to go. Now the two beheld a massive wall of wood. It wasn't an area of above-average arboreal population density, but a solid barricade made from fused tree trunks. "Well, this shouldn't be too hard," she said, and phased a hand into the massive structure. As soon as it entered, the wood around the hand began to fizz and crackle. Just as Raven found that she could insert herself no further into the barricade, a massive flash of green expunged her from it and into a nearby tree.
Beast Boy rushed to her. "You OK?"
"I'll be fine," she replied, "but it looks like it won't be so easy to get to the Emerald. Think you can do it?"
"No problem," Beast Boy boasted, and changed into a monkey. Failing to locate a handhold, he turned into a cat. Unfortunately, the wood was so tough, his claws couldn't penetrate it, not even as a panther. Finally, the shapeshifter tried the form of a gecko. Amazingly, after the first few steps, the lizard fell off the wood like a bad suction cup. "OK," he admitted after returning to human form, "problem."
"You could always fly over the thing," Raven pointed out.
"Oh yeah," he replied, grinning nervously. "I was, uh, just about to try that." With that, he shifted to a dragonfly, and began to gain altitude. Just as he reached the top of the wall, a sudden breeze picked up. Beast Boy turned into a swallow for greater stability, but the wind increased. Desperately, the changeling assumed larger and larger flight-capable forms, but the winds only intensified, soon reaching hurricane-level speeds.
Finally, a Quetzalcoutlus came crashing down outside the wall of wood, Raven rushing to its side. "Are you OK?" she asked anxiously.
Groaning, Beast Boy returned to human state. "One hell of a crosswind," he muttered. "How come you didn't help me out?"
She looked down guiltily. "I tried. I couldn't get any lift. I think my powers are being suppressed this close to the Emerald."
"Well, I can't climb this thing, I can't fly over it, and something tells me it runs deeper than I can dig." Frustrated, the changeling kicked at a pebble. "Now what?"
"I said my powers were suppressed, not cancelled. If I focus, I should be able to levitate us over the wall." She stopped his interruption before it came with a raised hand. "As long as I'm concentrating, no amount of wind should be able to affect me."
Frowning, Beast Boy considered this. "I don't like all the 'shoulds,' but I guess it's the only option."
"All right, sit next to me," Raven commanded, assuming the lotus position. She shut her eyes and focused her every thought on the pull of gravity and telekinetically giving it the finger. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azerath Metrion Zinthos…" Her familiar mantra accompanied her gradual rise from the ground. Slowly, she gained altitude, eventually peaking over the lip of the wall. Crosswinds tore at her hair and cloak, but the empath remained steady, moving forward those few crucial feet. Finally, she allowed gravity reign over her mass. The disgruntled force dragged her down rapidly, but a lush layer of grass cushioned Raven's fall.
"Oof." With that, the empath managed to pull herself up to a sitting position, and looked around. "Oh, that's a magnigoth." The comment was directed towards the gargantuan tree that stood in the center of the apparently circular blockade. It was easily the size of a decent office building, and surrounded by incredibly healthy grass. There was only one green object missing from the view. "Beast Boy?"
Much to Raven's surprise, the wordless reply came from directly behind her. Feeling around her back, she foun something suspiciously warm and fluffy in her hood. Moving the mystery fuzzball to her face revealed it to be Beast Boy in the shape of an adorable kitten, which explained his mewling reply. Smiling, Raven said, "OK, you're cute. Now why did you stow away in my cloak?"
Returning to human form, Beast Boy explained. "With all the 'shoulds' and 'probablies' and 'maybes,' I figured the least I could do would be to reduce the weight you had to lift." He smiled. "That, and you seem like a cat person."
Raven ruffled the boy's hair. "Well, I'm not. I'm a Gar person. Now let's go get that Mox."
"Right!" With that, Beast Boy struck a triumphant pose and cried, "TO THE TREE!"
Raven's giggle was cut short by looking at the tree once more. It suddenly seemed a lot more intimidating. "I don't know," she said, surprising herself, "are you sure it's safe?"
He looked at her perplexedly. "Look around, Rae. Grassy field, ginormous tree, solid barrier preventing any access. What's there to be unsafe?"
She tried to rationalize the strange fear. "It's just that, um, green magic is the best at creating living beings. There's probably a whole army waiting in that thing!"
The changeling looked at the tree, wrinkling his nose. "I don't smell anything but pollen and sap. We're fine." He turned to her, understanding oozing from every feature. "I know this is kind of overwhelming with the excitement and all. If you're nervous, Raven, you don't have to go up to it."
"I, uh…" She sighed. No use fighting it, she knew what happened when she tried that. "OK."
Beast Boy gave his winning smile. "Well then, I'll be right back!"
BACKINJUMPCITYBACKINJUMPCITYBACKINJUMPCITYBACKINJUMPCITY
Hovering, Cyborg scanned this latest street. Since they were unable to find Starfire from any wakes of destruction or cries of terror, he and Robin had split up to scour the city and quash the overcharging effects of the Ruby.
Switching to infrared, Cyborg found the jackpot. "Robin," he called on the now in-visor communicator.
A small screen appeared within the HUD, depicting Robin's face in all its divine glory. "You found something?"
"I've got a heat trail here that's shadin' into the white. Either our girl passed by, or somebody's been playin' Catch with an active nuclear reactor."
"I have your coordinates," Robin replied, "I'll meet you wherever the trail leads."
"You got it," replied the vaguely surreal image of Cyborg's face without cybernetic attachments, which then dissolved before the winged warrior.
"Remind me again why that's replaced my communicator?" Robin asked the Pearl as she surged towards the coordinates that had somehow been inserted directly into her mind.
An angel can always hear whenever another speaks to her directly. It was a simple matter to unite this ability with your communicator's video feed to create illusions of the speaker.
"Interesting," Robin replied, "So what happens if-"
" Oh Robby-Poo!11!1!one" cooed an all-too-familiar voice, as the accompanying face materialized before the angel.
"Kitten…" muttered the winged one darkly.
Meanwhile, Starfire was relaxing in a lovely hot tub, her mustard body paint dissolving into the water give a smell often associated with saurian flatulence. The giant Jacuzzi was formerly a municipal pool before the power-crazed alien had decided she wanted a dip. Now her heat aura was heating the water to full boil, and any other living being would've been boiled alive a long time ago. She sighed with pleasure, and the resulting cloud of charged energy sent a delightful current through the water.
Cyborg landed at the edge of the chlorinated caldera, switching back to normal view. "OK now, Star," he began, giving diplomacy one last chance. "If you just come with me, I'm sure we can calmly and rationally-"
Roaring, the Super Tamaranean surged forward, delivering a headbutt to the exosuited Cyborg at near supersonic speed.
"I'm guessing that's a no," he groaned, and lifted his arm cannon.
Quick reminder, Cy, the Sapphire advised, I was only able to replicate the Power, Wave, and Ice Beams. No Plasma or missiles.
"I know, I know," he muttered, firing a number of Power Beam rounds at the alien. Sadly, she was able to absorb the shots into her own blast, which was released as soon as Cyborg stopped. Barely rolling aside, he switched to Wave Beam, the arm cannon briefly glowing as it reconfigured itself. "Robin," he mumbled, "wherever you are, hurry."
"And then, after I remove the vibrator, we can-" Kitten's diatribe was cut short by Cyborg's head taking it's place, relaying the invocation he'd said before charging Starfire anew. "We have to hurry!" cried Robin, her disturbed paralysis removed by the plea for assistance.
Buh- Guh- She…how…and… The Pearl was still in a state of shock.
"We don't have time for some sick girl's fantasies," the angel scolded, "we have a battle to win!"
R-right. But I don't think I'll ever be able to look at honeydew melons in the same way ever again.
"You and me both."
INTHEJUNGLETHEMIGHTYJUNGLETHECHANGELINGSLEEPSTONIGHT
As Beast Boy raced to collect the Emerald before the other narrative shoe dropped, Raven tried her best to unravel the reason she was so frightened by the tree.
'It's just a big tree,' she reasoned, 'A huge hunk of wood and leaves and stuff. Nothing at all scary about it at all.' She looked back at the gargantuan plant. If anything, it was more frightening than ever. 'OK, so maybe it is kinda menacining. And mean-looking. And really, really, pee-my-leotard scary where the heck is Gar I need him he's always so brave and-'
The empath took a deep breath. 'Calm down, Rae. Rae? When did I start thinking of myself as Rae? I am Raven, daughter of…what's his name. Big scary red guy. Not as scary as the tree, but still. Four eyes. Raped Mom. Tip of my tongue." She snapped her fingers in desperate recollection. "Trigon, that's it!'
She suddenly realized the importance of that last thought process. 'Sweet Azar on a stick, I couldn't remember the name of the being that's defined my very life? What's happening to me? It's like the, the…Oh Azar, what's the word? Smartness? We'll have to go with that. Like all the smartness is, like, being sucked out of my body. Or head. Or brain. Whatever. So, like, why is that happenin'?'
She smacked herself on the forehead. "Great, I'm starting to sound like those bimbos back in, in, um…the city. That'll have to do. Oh man, I can't even…even… Wait a minute, am I saying this out loud? Can't I even keep up an inter…inter…oh, come on! Think, girl! Internal monologue! Yeah, that! Can't I keep one? They're probably real cheap, and I want one. Maybe Gar will get me one."
She paused, more and more cognitive power slipping out. "I'm hot."
Desperately trying to keep her train of thought on rapidly melting tracks, Raven concentrated harder than she could ever remember (Which, due to her drawing all available brainpower into this thought process, was about ten minutes.) "OK, green magic. I'm almost intrinsically composed of black magic, an opposing color. Green doesn't think, it relies on…thingummy, instinct. That means anything smart gets too close to the green gem, it undergoes a process of dumbening. How do you spell 'dumbening,' anyway? Wait…dumbening isn't a word! Crap! I'm losing IQ points as I speak. Oh Azar, Garfield! He barely thinks as it is, what could this be doing to him?"
Unfortunately, before Raven could further pursue this question, her higher cognitive processes totally shut down, leaving her with the limited instinctual suite of human and demon. Since only the former was accustomed to grasslands, and nothing nearby looked both gatherable and edible, she decided to sit and wait for her mate to return, picking at grass to fill the time.
Beast Boy was, incidentally, totally unaffected by the intellect-dampening powers of the Mox Emerald. Since only a handful of minds he'd used had any sentience to them, he was protected by the verdepsionic equivalent of several hundred pounds of Kevlar. As he climbed the massive tree in monkey form, he reflected on the following:
'Heh, guess I've really come full circle. First a green monkey jumps down from a tree and bites me in Africa, and now I'm in Africa, as a green monkey, climbing a tree. It's, like, irony or something. Raven'd know. Well, I just hope Mom and Dad are proud of what I've done. I wonder if they'd approve of Raven? Heh, nice thing about both people being orphans. No embarrassing meetings with the parents. Oh man, what if ol' Big, Red, and Demonic tries to crash the wedding? Heh, imagine him giving away the bride.'
All right, I never said the kid was focused on one thought at a time in normal circumstances, did I? Anyway, after mentally chuckling at the image of Trigon the Terrible in a tuxedo, giving away Raven, Beast Boy reached the Mox Emerald. The gem was embedded in the trunk, an octagonal, faceted jewel in the maw of a golden, framing beast. Beast Boy, confident in his footing, returned to human form, and grabbed the Emerald. "OK," he said, knowing what he had in mind was both stupid and potentially quite fun. "One, two, THREE!"
On three, he pushed off the magnigoth's trunk, Emerald clutched in both hands. Both boy and Mox flew off the tree. Triumphantly, Beast Boy put the jewel in his mouth and transformed into a pelican, then soared to a landing. Spitting out the invaluable pendant, he returned to normal, and picked it back up. That was when it decided to say something.
You know, the Emerald said in a chorus of voices ranging from the insectoid to the cetacean, I don't like being plucked like a ripe berry from my resting place. I don't like being swallowed. And I especially don't like being treated like just any piece of jewelry. I'm not happy. In fact, it began to glow ominously, I'm angry. And you won't like me when I'm angry.
ENDCHAPTERTWENTYSEVENENDCHAPTERTWENTYSEVENENDCHAPTERTWENTYSEVEN
A warning: Don't try to look up cyanomana, verdepsionic, or ginormous in the dictionary. Those are patented OMisms. (Well, maybe not ginormous.) Just don't want everyone futilely flipping through Webster.
Now then, this round of speculation is as follows: What will the Emerald do to Beast Boy? Will Raven ever recover her higher thought processes? What exactly was Kitten doing and talking about? I can assure you that the first two questions will be answered in the next chapter. As for that last one, you really don't want to know.