A/N: At the behest of my readers, I have redone chapter five. Please enjoy.
"The Fullmetal Titan"
By cdc100
Summary: Edward Elric is a new resident at Jump City. When the city is in danger, the Teen Titans must turn to the Fullmetal Alchemist for help.
Disclaimer: This is a work of pure non-profit fan fiction. I do not own any of the characters, their weapons, their abilities, or any of their universes, nor do I own any of the lyrics that will appear in later chapters, or any of the products mentioned in the story such as Coca-Cola, or Playstation.
Chapter Five
"Xenothium"
As Al was led down the H.I.V.E. Academy hallway, Brother Blood spoke to him.
"You're wondering why I called you here, surely?"
Al faced forward.
"Yes, I am. You said that you need my help with something. But what?"
Brother Blood stopped momentarily and faced the hulking armored being.
"Patience, my young and genius friend. I will get to that momentarily."
He then continued forward, at the same time talking to the "Fullmetal Alchemist."
"Let me ask you a question. Do you know what xenothium is?" asked Blood.
"I'm told that it's arguably one of the most dangerous elements on the planet, more dangerous than xenon, chlorine, arsenic, and chromium."
"Your knowledge of modern chemistry is impressive, Fullmetal," replied Blood with a smile. "What I mean is, you're very knowledgeable in this field compared to your knowledge in your true specialty."
Al merely grunted in acknowledgement as Blood continued.
"Using many of the devices in the H.I.V.E.'s arsenal, we've found a means of acquiring this element. We've been able to excavate deep beneath the earth and find xenothium ore by the kilogram."
Just as Blood spoke, an elderly man with a white uniform, red goggles, and a large backpack came walking out of one of the lecture rooms.
"I'd like you to meet one of my associates, Professor Chang."
"I can't believe he's still got Chang under his control," whispered Cyborg.
Robin shushed him.
"Listen."
"The research conducted by my associate here spawned great progress with turning xenothium into its useful form. If you'll just follow us in here, we will demonstrate how this element works…"
Blood smiled and led Chang and Alphonse back into the lecture room.
"Professor Chang…" said Robin. "Come on, Titans. Let's go."
They crawled as carefully as they could in the ceiling, and gently lifted up a panel, through which they saw Red X standing in front of the trio with his arms crossed.
"Who is this?" asked Al.
"My friend, this is another one of my associates. His name is Red X."
Red X extended his hand to Al, who hesitated for a moment, and then shook it.
"Red X is very gifted in the martial arts, but even then, he needs a little assistance with his work. The devices in his suit are powered by raw xenothium. It is because of this that I have asked him to demonstrate it for you. I have here, an observation window overlooking an obstacle course, where Red X will attempt to make it to the end."
"Hmm," said Al.
"Red X, if you'd be so kind."
"My pleasure," said Red X.
Red X began to sink into the floor. A hexagonal panel in the floor began to slowly lower itself to the obstacle course.
Blood and Al went to the observation window, and watched as Red X readied himself for the course. He armed with a staff, and two X-shaped throwing projectiles. No sooner than he pulled out his weapons had two large cannons came out of the hexagonal panels on the wall of the room. They began firing large balls of electricity at the black-clad villain. Red X ran all over the place, avoiding the projectiles. He threw the two X's in opposite directions, and hit the cannons, making them explode on contact. When they were finished off, four more appeared, which were larger than their predecessors. Red X drew out another red X-shaped object, and threw it in-between the cannons. The X expanded, attaching its legs to the cannons, and then retracted, pulling the cannons off the walls, and smashing them together.
A large robot then came out of the floor, and approached Red X with the intent on attacking him, but Red X was to fast for it. He threw another X, which attached itself to the robot's chest plate. It created an X-shaped crack in the plate, and opened, giving Red X access to the generator inside the robot. Seizing this opportunity, Red X jumped onto the robot, and made his own off switch on the robot. After the robot was down, Red X bounded to the end of the room, and posed victoriously.
"As you can see, there is virtually no limit to the things that xenothium can do," said Blood.
Blood then pressed a button on the interface in front of the window.
"Red X. Thank you for your impressive demonstration. Please join us once more."
Red X stood where he was as a hexagonal panel lifted itself off from the floor under him. It floated upwards, and then toward the observation window, which slid open, allowing Red X to re-enter the lecture room.
"Now, my friend, if you'll follow us, we will show you where we make this wonderful element into its effective state."
The Titans followed Blood, Chang, Red X and Al through the hall, until they finally reached a large, brightly colored room. Several workers wearing H.I.V.E. uniforms were working at assembly lines, compressing something until hot steam emitted, and pouring red liquids into test tubes.
The Titans watched as Blood and the others walked into the room. Inside the refinery, all of the H.I.V.E.'s students stood at attention. They formed a line on either side of Blood and his guests.
"This is it, my young and genius friend," said Brother Blood. "This is the H.I.V.E. Academy refinery, where we make the xenothium we've excavated into its useful state."
He led them to a panel in the center of the room.
"Huh," said Alphonse in acknowledgement.
"Using ordinary means, like compression, distillation, etc., we've found a way to successfully make xenothium more effective. As you've seen in Red X's demonstration, xenothium has the capacity to give its user supernatural abilities. My associate Professor Chang even used xenothium as ammunition for the large cannon in his observatory. But while we have successfully made a bomb from this mighty element, we have noticed that during production, its half-life is shortened, its radioactive decay is hastened."
Blood pushed a button on the control console in front of him, and a small trap door opened, releasing a large, square-shaped object that was the size of a briefcase. He smiled at Al, and bowed slightly.
"This is the prototype for the xenothium bomb we are attempting to make. We have yet to find a way to make it more versatile, but in exchange for your help in making it so, we would be happy to supply your headquarters at Central City with all the xenothium bombs you require. Please help us in making this magnificent element into a more effective and versatile form."
Al shook his head.
"No," he said.
Blood growled at Al
"I apologize, Brother Blood, but I can't allow such a dangerous material to make its way back to headquarters. I'm sorry, but I won't help you improve it."
Al turned to walk away, but was stopped by Blood's voice.
"You dare refuse my proposal?!"
He pressed a button on his arm, and lowered a large electromagnet from the ceiling, which immediately attached itself to Al.
"Oh no!" hissed Starfire. "Robin, we cannot allow Alphonse to be harmed!"
"We'll move here in a minute," said Robin.
"Don't bother struggling, Fullmetal," said Blood. "That electromagnet you're attached to only attracts the metals that I designate from the control console."
"But you didn't even touch the control console!" exclaimed Al.
"Who needs a console…" Blood pulled off the robes on his body, revealing his entire body, and not just his face to be similar to Cyborg in all but color. "…when you have all the controls to this entire academy within your own body?!"
"That's not good," said Beast Boy, morphing back into his human form.
"But I digress," said Brother Blood. "You are reputed to be a genius in your world, but I can see your true colors, even if I can't read your mind. Your reputation comes from your alchemic power! You're scared that with this bomb, nobody will ever have a use for you, and you and your wretched kind will become obsolete."
Cyborg came down hard on top of Blood, pinning him to the ground.
"Titans, GO!" exclaimed Robin and Cyborg.
Robin drew out his staff and started attacking Kyd Wykkyd. Every time Robin attacked, Kyd Wykkyd simply sidestepped it. Brother Blood threw Cyborg off of him and began attacking his weak spots.
"I still haven't forgotten your blueprints, Cyborg. I know every weakness you have…"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Blood," said Cyborg.
Blood attacked Cyborg's chest plate, but withdrew his fingers, finding that they hadn't even made a scratch.
"But after that little fiasco at East Titans' Tower, I made some major modifications."
Blood was furious. He jabbed another finger at Cyborg, and then ignited his laser cannon. He fired one shot, and Cyborg dodged it.
"Al! Don't worry! We'll get you down from there!"
"Just hurry!" exclaimed the armored boy.
Billy Numerous immediately split himself in three, and began attacking Beast Boy left and right.
"Three against one's not fair, so I think I'll make it three on three."
Beast Boy transformed into a rhinoceros and charged at the Billy clones. Every time he charged into one, however, three more would take his place.
Raven busied herself with fighting Mammoth. The brute was picking up incomplete xenothium bombs and throwing them at the psychic.
"Azerath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" exclaimed Raven, grabbing hold of the bombs with her telekinesis. She then dropped the bombs just above Mammoth, who immediately ran to the other side of the room. Before the bombs even hit the floor, however, Raven took hold of them once again with her powers. She then gently dropped them to the floor. To her dismay, this kept her occupied long enough for Seemore to fire a laser at her from his eye. Starfire threw one of her starbolts at Seemore, ceasing his attacks on Raven. Robin had finally managed to floor Kyd Wykkyd when Red X dropped from the ceiling and began his attack.
"Good to see you again, kid," said Red X.
Robin didn't reply, but simply threw a spin kick at him. Red X blocked it, and threw one of the X's in his belt at Robin. The X exploded on contact. Seeing that his comrades weren't helping defeat the Titans, he decided to take the others into his own hands. He threw a restraining X at each of them, binding their arms and legs to their bodies.
"Now that the Titans are all wrapped up, we can get back to business, Fullmetal…"
"Why do you keep on calling him 'Fullmetal?'" asked Robin through the containment field.
"Didn't he tell you?" asked Blood. "Your friend here is the Fullmetal Alchemist; a legendary scientist who can transform different materials into whatever he desires using the science of alchemy."
"That sounds strangely familiar…" said Raven.
Blood pushed a button on his arm, and four xenothium-powered lasers lowered themselves from the ceiling, positioning themselves on any which side of Al.
"Now, Fullmetal… why do you refuse to help us improve the xenothium bomb?"
"I have morals, Blood! The bomb you are attempting to make could be dangerous, and thousands- no, tens of thousands of people could die if you even drop it!"
"Put those lives aside, my friend… you fail to see the big picture. Those people will die as the cost of advancement… Now, will you help us to make the xenothium bomb, or not?"
"No!"
Blood growled.
"Then, you must die…"
He fired two of the lasers, making a large hole in the top of his head, and one through the centers of his shoulders.
"No!" exclaimed Robin.
The armored boy was slowly lowered to the ground, and his helmet fell off.
"You would have been an asset had you cooperated, and our progress on the bomb may be inhibited, but it won't be impossible without you…" said the cruel headmaster. "Now… let's see what you look like…"
He came down to examine his victim, only to look inside and find that there was no victim.
"It's empty! How is that possible?!"
His voice and face grew malicious. The Titans couldn't believe that the thing that came and talked to them last night was an empty shell.
"It was you… You hotwired this thing to bait me! You'll all pay for this!"
He had the Titans taken to a torture room on the other end of the academy. There, he stood in front of a control panel, his finger on a button, while his students watched.
"Now… if you value your miserable lives, you will tell me where the Fullmetal Alchemist is!"
He pressed a button, and the Titans' air supplies were cut off. Even Starfire, who required little air to survive, was feeling the lack of air.
"Where is he?!" asked Blood.
The Titans, even the oddly-colored ones, were beginning to turn purple.
"We don't know where he is!" exclaimed Robin.
"I think you do… and if you don't tell me, it's goodbye!"
Just as he said this, the Titans heard the clapping of a pair of hands, and a large metallic spike came out of the wall, which punctured their containment field, letting in air. However, they were still restrained by the goo of Red X's restraints.
"Where did that come from?" asked Blood.
"Brother Blood!" exclaimed a voice.
The Titans and the H.I.V.E. members looked toward the source of the voice. They could see a boy with black pants and coat, with a red overcoat, white gloves and black and red boots. The only thing that they couldn't make out was his face.
To Be Continued…