A Shadow of the Titans

by Eduard Kassel

A botched banishing spell once again sends Jade hurtling from her world into another. This time though her surroundings aren't the only thing to change as she searches for a way back. Forced into an old form and a new role, Jade will need all her tricks to survive this strange new world. Meanwhile the Teen Titans must prepare to deal with a new kind of villain. NOT Jade x Jinx.

14. Media Res

Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie Chan Adventures or Teen Titan.

Betaed by: The patient Zim'smostloyalservant

Author's Note 1.:

BZZZZZ

BZZZZ

MORE POWER! I MUST HAVE MORE POWER!

BZZZAAPP!

YES, LOOK ZIM! THE HAND, IT'S MOVING!

ARISE! ARISE CREATION OF PDJ! ARISE AND WALK AMONG THE LIVING ONCE MORE!

KAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

---

A Shadow of The Titans

Created by

Nocturne No Kitsune

Written by

Eduard Kassel

Chapter 12

Media Res

OR

Already in Progress!

---

Evil Dick laughed as he placed his machine into the slot of the even bigger machine, "Those small-minded fools at the HIVE said it couldn't be done. They said to focus on real evil science. Take a minor in magic maybe. An evil baseball bat isn't an impressive weapon, they said! Get everyone coffee, they said! What's your name again, they said?!"

As the villain ranted, the abandoned warehouse shook from the machine powering up, red sparks playing over its dark gray boxy structure.

"Your rant is most different, Evil Dick," Starfire commented from where she was chained to the evil machine. Right under where it was labeled "evil machine", in fact.

"Yes, you know my name, but do you know why I am evil? Do you!?" he demanded, thrusting a pointing finger in her face.

"I have the feeling I am about to learn," she commented, her eyes crossing on the glove-covered finger.

"I became a villain to avenge my father! My father who lived and died, mocked for his efforts. And now I, his son, have proven his theory to be fact, and will use the machine he envisioned to first destroy the HIVE, then destroy Jump City, and then devastate the world. After that, maybe I'll make people build a statue of me. Or maybe just an obelisk with my image engraved on it? A really big obelisk. I mean, statues are kind of cliché for the whole dark future deal at this point," the villain went off on a tangent.

"…You are realizing the camera is still recording, do you not?" Starfire asked, as the villain considered his obelisk ambitions.

"Gah! How dare you humiliate me in my moment of triumph, hero!?" he accused, pointing at her.

"Has the Gadjo hitting you been addressed by medical staff?" Starfire asked.

"There's nothing wrong with me! It's the world that's wrong!"

"Having been to many different worlds, I would rate the Earth as a Botjeck Major at worst. Possibly a Ceetleb Minor in general," Starfire speculated.

"Don't give an answer to what wasn't a question! I don't believe you're still that culture blind; it''s just a cute little fake act you do, isn't it? Oh look, I'm a cute little alien girl, just laugh and buy me stuff as I pronounce everything wrong and drink condiments! And then you all go out for pizza on government pay. Well, we'll be having none of that in the new world order!"

"Uh, my alleged faking or government money?"

"Pizza! It will be no more! But more importantly — my father realized a great truth. For ages, science looked at birds and such and tried to harness the power of flight. And what is flight, but not falling? The fools! All that time they were denying falling, when they were turning a blind eye to its true power. Its glorious potential! My father envisioned this, the glorious Falling Machine! They said it was insane! Stupid. It's called gravity, moron. Well, they destroyed his reputation, drove him into villainy. They called him mad, insane… Rick," Evil Dick growled.

"Um…" Starfire said.

"Yes, that is right, my father was the Villain Whose Name Was Not Rick! And I, his son Dick, will use the machine he envisioned and I created to destroy Jump City and the HIVE, avenging his death!"

"How did he die?"

"And now you will all pay! Who could stop me now!?" Evil Dick cackled as his flipped the switch, the menacing machine powering up, arcs visibly brimming from its tesla coils.

A wall burst open, flooding in light as four figures walked into focus.

"Well, I suppose I asked for that?" Evil Dick mulled.

"Oh yeah!" Beast Boy said.

"Big time," Cyborg chimed in.

"Are you saying that was an accident? Who is that cliché without trying to be ironic?" Raven demanded exhaustedly.

"Titans-" Robin said, drawing a birdarang.

"FALL!" Evil Dick roared, pressing a button on his belt. Slots opened across the machine, and red bolts shot out of them in barrages.

The Titans scattered, Beast Boy morphing into a wolf who was stuck mid-leap up by a beam and botched his landing, skidding chin first on the ground. Raven raised a barrier with her incantation, but a bolt passed through it and her levitation gave out, dropping her abruptly on her backside. Cyborg took the sight in from cover behind a large metal container.

"His stupid machine works? How even-?" he muttered angrily, before a metal groaning drew his attention. The red energy was playing out over the container. Then, as if kicked, it fell over on top of Cyborg.

"Yes, all laughed, and all shall fall!" Evil Dick proclaimed, before getting blasted by his own machine. He face-planted, and sprang back up.

"I'm not supposed to be included in the all!"

"This villainous encounter is nearly as strange as Mumbo, yes?" Starfire said to Robin, rubbing her wrist as Robin slipped her bindings off.

"Hey, when did you free her!?" Evil Dick yelled.

"What can I say, the longer you hold focus, the less of a threat you seem to be," Robin shrugged, before firing a grapple into the air, pulling himself away just in time to avoid a barrage, with Starfire following him.

Dick's hand went to his belt, and he pulled his metal bat out from its sheath as the barrage of rays continued beside him.

"Bring it on, Titans! I will not be denied my day of glory! You shall all fall, and this city with-OOF!" Evil Dick's rant was cut off as another figure suddenly entered the room and shot across it, body slamming Dick and knocking him against a wall. As he slumped to the floor and the stars cleared from his vision, Dick looked up to see what had hit him, and his eyes widened in shock.

"Zhu Chan?!" he exclaimed. Indeed, Jade was standing before him, but aside from the blue skin and the style of her hair (which had grown back in somewhat, but was still a bit shorter than it had been), she looked completely different from what the villain remembered. Her red eyes were now green, the shade of which was matched by the horn nubs on her forehead. And even more surprising, she was wearing what looked like a version of Starfire's outfit that had been modified to be more concealing, with extra material filling in the midriff and creating sleeves and leggings.

"Actually, I kinda prefer Star Chan now," she replied with a slight giggle and a wave, "Hi!"

"What is this?" Evil Dick demanded, jumping to his feet, "Why are you dressed like that, and fighting alongside the Titans!"

"…Dude, she's been part of the team for like two months," Beast Boy pointed out with a raised eyebrow, "What rock have you been living under?"

"Er…" Dick said awkwardly, before he charged Star Chan with his bat, "Die!"

She smiled wider as black starbolts formed around her fists and she charged forward, with Starfire and Beast Boy as a stag covering her flanks.

X X X

"I can't phase through it!" Raven called out. Sure enough, her powers seemed to fizzle on contact with the glittering forcefield, and a slip of her hands sent her falling onto her back hard.

The Titans stood around the device, the warehouse wrecked but standing, and Evil Dick bound in bent steel pipes on the floor.

"Man, if I had some time I might come up with something. But I don't think we have time," Cyborg grumbled, glaring at the shielded device.

"Turn it off, Dick. You're done," Robin commanded. The villain laughed, spitting some blood to the side.

"Can't. Even if I wanted to, I designed the Big Fall program to lock everyone out, even me. That way, whatever happens to me, even if you could mind and body jack me, my plan goes forward. The wave of Fall Energy will send all of Jump City for a big fall. And there is nothing you can do to stop it. HAHAHAHAHAhuuuuh?" Dick's maniacal laughter trailed off as the forcefield vanished and the machine visibly powered down.

Star Chan walked back into sight, holding a power cord, twirling the plug. Cyborg facepalmed.

"Wow, really?" Raven and Beast Boy asked in sync, but with very different tones, to the villain.

Evil Dick cried.

X X X

"The Titans took down Evil Dick," Mammoth said. He stood in Jinx's doorway, watching the goth tinker with a set of scissors.

"Is that supposed to be a surprise?" Jinx asked, not bothering to look up from her work.

"Nope. But I thought you'd wanna know they had a little help."

"…"

"Zhu Chan, she pulled the plug on that loser. And I don't mean she killed," Mammoth snickered.

"Wrong," Jinx said, holding up one half of the scissors like a knife. The light caught on the marking engraved on it and for a sec Mammoth thought they flashed purple, "That isn't Blue. That's Blue holding Starfire's chi until the Titans fix her. Don't go acting like she has joined them. That… thing is an extension of the Titans acting as a placeholder."

"Uh, sure. Listen, Jinx, you've been all 'stay away from me' for a bit, I'm not sure you've been reading your…" he trailed off, seeing the pile of unopened letters bearing the HIVE crest by the door, "Right. Listen, the HIVE is really getting back into gear. And in case you missed it, to make up for the lack of classes while we rebuilt, we need to present an exam material; I'm busting out new moves, Gizmo has gadgets, some are using crimes. Point is, Blood is out for blood, they say. He wants the HIVE to come back swinging, and that means no mess ups."

"Since when do you think we're friends?" Jinx asked, putting the scissors back together delicately. Mammoth blinked as they grew to the size of hedge clippers while glowing faintly pink.

"I don't. We're villains, Jinx, friendship isn't part of that, remember? You do remember not to get too attached, right? Because you failing and me being stuck with Gizmo would be bad for me. For all its flaws, the Honor Roll works as a team and I don't want to waste time trying to rebuild it, because Gizmo certainly won't. So get your act together before someone tears it apart," he warned. He left without comment, and Jinx frowned. With a word, the halves of the scissors separated, leaving her holding the blades. Another word made them ignite, with the markings glowing hot pink.

"Hmm, it's debts. I don't care if you people don't get it," Jinx said. The weight of the sack she wore from a cord around her neck seemed more potent than usual, she noted.

X X X

The Titans sat on the couch, Star Chan perched on the back. Robin stood in front, the specs from the last battle displayed on the screen.

"So in summation, while Starfire getting caught by Evil Dick was unfortunate, it was more due to us underestimating him than his own skills there. And the rescue and neutralization went smoothly. Credit to Star Chan for checking for a simple solution. Way to cut the knot," Robin said with a small smile. Star Chan blushed a bit and looked away, while Starfire gave her a big smile and thumbs up.

"So, this mission was a success, and we should all be proud. Though a reminder we should take care not to underestimate the threat of any villain. Who would have guessed Evil Dick would have a legitimate citywide doomsday plan?" Robin concluded, turning the screen back to TV mode in time for a toothpaste commercial to pop up.

"Okay then! How about an after party?" Beast Boy asked.

"Marvelous!" Starfire and Star Chan cheered simultaneously. Blinking in surprise for a moment, they exchanged a look and giggled. Cyborg gave them a sidelong look, and got up from the couch.

"I'll be passing on any party. I want to give that wreck another thorough look-over, and that'll take some time. We got lucky Evil Dick is an idiot; I want a better game plan if someone smarter figures out how he got that machine to work," Cyborg said, ignoring the pleas of two Titans and an honorary Titan.

"I'm close to a breakthrough," was the only explanation Raven gave, before phasing down through the floor.

Robin found himself subjected to three sets of puppy dog eyes. One them being literal puppy eyes.

"I guess we have the time if there's no more trouble," he admitted.

"Huzzah! I will thaw the gafga; with a little smelgfd it will make a fine entree for all with your chips of the corn," Starfire said, getting up to make a beeline for the kitchen.

"I'll help!" Star Chan said.

"No fair, I wanted to do dip… You're describing dip, right?" Beast Boy asked.

X X X

Raven hoped her chi seeker was finally working right. The broken compass she held had a single strand of Zhu Chan's hair wrapped around the arrow, a hair harvested before everything with Super Jinx. She had forgotten about it with everything that had happened. She had asked Cyborg back then to scan battlefields for any physical traces, hoping to find answers to the girl. Answers had ended up coming in spades, though on reflection she supposed many questions remained.

Her previous samples from Zhu Chan for trackers had been from her current state. A state deprived of her chi. This, though, was a remnant of her true state. One arrow was pointing back to the Tower, where part of her was residing. And the other, pointing to this street in Chinatown.

It was… a lot more chintzy touristy than most movie Chinatowns, Raven noted, pausing to look into a store that seemed to be having a sale on a terracotta warrior stye line of refrigerators. That seemed to set the tone of the street, and it was dead of night, with most stores closed. She dreaded what it might be like during business hours.

The Titan, finding herself feeling cold, wound down a side street, where a single tiny storefront shone in the dark. Raven sighed, finding this scenery more bearable.

Unsurprisingly, she found herself guided to the sole late night business on the street. Or was it early morning now? The door was solid-looking wood, with only a tiny triangular window that looked to serve as an oversized peephole. The store window held no display, revealing thin bars crisscrossed behind it, and the store's name written out in both English and Cantonese.

"Uncle Chow's Antiquities and Toys?" Raven read the sign, frowning slightly. Shrugging, she grabbed the doorknob, pausing as a static-like charge of magic hit her. Frowning, she watched the wards activate and then peter back to dormancy.

Yeah, magic, Chinese flavor it seemed like too. Fairly weak, but skillful it seemed. A lifelong hobbyist's work, she would guess. In today's world a reasonable precaution, and besides, it wouldn't be able to keep her out anyway.

A quaint bell rang as Raven opened the door and stepped out of the night. She squinted, pulling her hood down a tad. The place was brightly lit by overhanging lights hooded in simple metal covers painted green, that blared down on stuffed shelves to either side of her. Looking between the shelves, she saw the walls were lined with bigger pieces displayed on tables or resting on the floor.

"Huh, this looks like the real deal," Raven noted with some surprise, looking over some of the artifacts to her left.

"Why thank you, young miss. And I must say, it is a veeerrryy great honor to have my humble shop patronized by such an important person," an old man said in a heavy Hong Kong accent.

Raven's attention snapped to the counter at the far end of the aisle, and watched as blue smoke billowed up and, taking the shape of a man, blew away, revealing an old Chinese man with untamed hair, glasses, and a blue west over a white shirt.

"Uncle Chow, I assume?" Raven asked, glancing down at the tracker. Which was pointing at the man.

"Indeed, and ready at all hours to supply the discerning seeker of the past's grandeur with fine antiques, and toys for all ages for the playful," he chuckled, giving a small bow.

Raven frowned, pulling her hood back and walking down to the counter. She took in the store; she could faintly feel… something's attention.

"Feel free to browse," Uncle Chow said, holding his clasped hands in front of him.

"Actually, I'm looking for something in particular. Not an antique," she clarified.

"Ahh. I rather doubt my humble selection of mystic basics would be of use to one such as yourself, and you seem unlikely to come shopping for a child. No need to explain — Uncle Chow is not just a purveyor of quality, but of discretion," he said, gesturing to a doorway next to the counter, one covered with a beaded curtain, "After all, even true heroes have needs."

"…No. I am looking for a shadow," Raven declared, blushing.

"…A shadow. Well, I have only the one, and it is not for sale," the shopkeeper chuckled, tapping the shadow of his right arm with his left index finger on the counter.

Raven put the tracker on his shadow, and it spun rapidly, first clockwise then counterclockwise.

"That's actually pretty clever. Hiding in someone else's shadow," Raven remarked.

The man's shadow stretched up onto the wall, and two red eyes appeared in it. The old man cursed as the eyes drifted over it.

"Please, it hasn't done anything wrong!" Uncle Chow said, holding his hands up defensively, as the red eyes watched cautiously from the shadow, "I was worried when it first arrived, but this spirit is harmless. It hasn't performed any acts of ill intent towards me or my clients, it simply stays there in my shadow, minding its own business. The most it ever does is manifest a tendril from my shadow to grab stuff just out of my reach for me."

"You've known you've had a chi spirit hanging around you and haven't done anything about it?" Raven asked, arching an eyebrow.

"As I said, it is harmless," Uncle Chow said with a shrug, "Besides, I am a very lonely old man. All my family are either dead or live far away. It's comforting to have the presence of another being near me again."

"I understand, I do," Raven replied, "But this entity doesn't belong here. And I'm here to take it back to its real home."

"Real home?" the man asked.

"The owner of the shadow, you could say. Though the actual explanation is far more complicated. In short, this-"

"She," the old man interrupted, frowning a bit.

"…She, is several missing pieces from someone. For the person they were to return, they need to be reunited."

The man frowned at her, and sighed.

"Shadow," he said, placing his hand palm up on the desk. His shadow stretched from its spot on the wall, a piece pooling in his palm, a single red eye drifting into place to look up at him.

"Do you wish to return? Reunite?" he asked. Raven wasn't sure this spirit or shard of chi could understand questions. But it blinked twice, and the old man held out the hand towards Raven.

"Very well. I put my trust in you, young hero," he said.

X X X

"So, she occupied?" Robin asked. Starfire nodded.

"I asked her to count the glrka seeds to make sure there was enough to make gerbak for everyone," she answered. They sat around the kitchen table. Except for Cyborg, who leaned with his back against the counter.

"You're sure that's all of it?" Robin asked Raven.

"Yes. The chi would have been drawn together, and if part of it was sealed elsewhere, the free pieces would have made their way there. This is the missing part of Zhu Chan," Raven said. She raised her shadow up off the floor, letting the misaligned red eyes look out for a moment.

"Good, when can you fix her?" Cyborg asked.

"Hold on now," Beast Boy spoke up, holding his hands up, "We probably shouldn't be hasty."

"I've been looking for this for weeks. Hasty isn't exactly the word," Raven said flatly.

Beast Boy and Starfire exchanged a look.

"What Beast Boy is saying…" Starfire said, "Is that while it is good that the darkness from Zhu Chan is found, perhaps we should not be quick to return it?"

"Explain," Robin said plainly, crossing his arms.

Beast Boy sighed and looked over the other Titans, running a hand through his hair.

"Okay then, cards on the table, right? Ever since the Shadow Crisis, we've gone from supervillain Zhu Chan, to Star Chan a hero. A friend, a Titan. Not only has she been a good teammate, but she's been thriving here in the Tower. Happy, much happier than a cranky thief who was willing to aid other crimes following orders for the HIVE."

"The Zhu Chan was not our worst foe, by any means. But she was like a damp bfdagf. Now she is like a sister, a sister who does not make you feel bad by talking or try to frame you for thievery. May it not be better to just… let napping puppies lie?" Starfire spoke up.

"…For starters, this is not inner darkness, it's chi. Shadow chi, but more like life energy still than anything good or evil. And frankly, it's one thing to change someone like this to keep them from dying, but this is hers. The chi in her now is Star's in origin."

"Well, a blood donation is someone else's, and that's not a bad thing," Beast Boy shot back.

"There is so much difference between-" Raven began.

"Raven," Robin spoke up, quieting the two Titans down, "I am not saying one way or another on this. But to get our facts straight — is she stable as is, and would leaving Star's chi in her to stay not harm her?"

"…Yes. In fact, unlike what the spell describes, I do not think the chi will imminently bond with her permanently. The same block that keeps me from accessing memories I think is keeping the condition from progressing."

"See, no need to rush," Beast Boy said. Raven frowned.

"This isn't rushing, you are asking us to delay, hoping to turn this into a status quo. Right?" Raven pressed.

"Friend Raven, you know much about the magic. I would never presume to tell you about it like I was a gfacd morvec. But I think you are looking at the magic rather than the friendship we have with this girl. Here she is not only safer, but so much happier. Why should that be risked just because of magic being the cause?"

"Robin," Raven said, not looking at Starfire, "From where I stand, Zhu Chan is rejecting the infusion, even in this state. It may not be killing her or rewriting her permanently, but part of her refuses to budge. I call it imprisonment, and we have the key to end it now."

"Or sealed evil in a can?" Beast Boy interjected.

"Even cute blue girl."

"Titans, let's keep calm-" Robin began.

CRUNCH

They turned to see Cyborg leaning against the wall, his right fist partially curled in it from where he had struck the back of it against the structure.

"Seriously. This is a discussion we are having?"

"Cyborg?" Robin asked, stunned. Scowling, Cyborg pulled his arm clear, scattering some dust and debris.

"This is really a question? She's been brainwashed. Not herself now. And that was our best option then, but now we can fix the mess we made, and we're hesitating?" Cyborg demanded.

"It is not really the brain being washed," Starfire said, "We did not intend this, we merely think the circumstances should be accepted as they are."

"Yeah, she's a whole better person now!" Beast Boy chimed in. Raven pressed her hand to her face in irritation, as Cyborg's jaw visibly clenched.

"Okay team, let's keep calm," Robin said. Cyborg turned to look at Robin, who for a moment felt like he was back in the Batcave. Stunned, he stood still as that glare swept across the team.

"Calm? Okay, let's be cooool," Cyborg smiled mirthlessly, "I will never endorse this. If she stays like this, I will go. No ten minute retirement this time. We've all had team-up offers elsewhere, I'll pull those threads and be gone. Because I joined this team to be a hero. And this? Erasing someone because they are inconvenient? That's not a hero move."

Without a further word after that declaration, he walked to the door and left the stunned Titans. The silence was broken by Raven opening a small bag of chips, and handing them to a crude hand sticking out of her shadow.

"Well, I saw that coming," she remarked.

"He's… he's bluffing," Beast Boy assured everyone.

"Maybe not," Robin muttered.

"Well, you still have to vote, Robin. I'll see if he wants to talk," Raven said, walking after Cyborg, seemingly unaware she was leaving a trail of potato chips behind herself on the floor.

And all of them unaware of the green eyes watching with confusion as they pulled back into a shadow of the room.

X X X

Raven did not go after Cyborg right away. First she went to check if their guest had overheard the discussion. That would lead to some needless drama. Fortunately, she was still playing solitaire with a deck of Tarot cards she had gotten as a poorly thought out gift for Raven, in the garage. Apparently she was winning?

Deciding it was best not to contemplate a game made up by what amounted to two Starfires and Beast Boy, she went to Cyborg's room. No response to knocking let her decide the situation called for intruding. But entering uninvited just showed he wasn't there.

Raven frowned. He hadn't been in the garage, and if he had gone through there to the major machine shop, Zhu Chan would likely have followed him or at least been disturbed in her playtime by his current state.

She found him in the gym, and couldn't help but smile as he pumped iron on a scale that would make a lot of construction equipment envious. Walking across the room, she let him see her. He nodded his head, but kept on his workout as another iron slab was added to the weight.

"I guess once a jock, a part of you always is one," she remarked.

"Don't knock it if it works," he grunted. Raven shrugged and lifted her legs to cross them, taking a seat in the air.

"Things escalated quickly back there," she noted.

"No, this has been building. Those two, they're so happy at a shiny new friend. Me, I can't not see this for what it is. Not surprised you wouldn't see — you've been busy actually getting a solution," he said, continuing to pump. Raven nodded in appreciation of the acknowledgment.

"I agree that Starfire and Beast Boy are wrong."

"Because it's wrong, or because it's wrong in some magic balance dealy?"

"Both. I regularly have to struggle with identity. When your emotions slipping can get people killed or worse, you start to wonder who you could be if you didn't have to live your life keeping a lid on things."

"Yeah. I have a different problem. A lot of me's mechanical now. Before that, I was all about training, making my body the best it could be. My dad saved my life with this, but it wasn't the life I had or thought I would have. I had to do a lot of soul searching, and I decided that while I would cherish what physical humanity I have left, what made me most human — most me — was myself. The way I think, I act, my emotions, my memories, my values. That so long as I had those, even if there wasn't a drop of blood left in me, I could still rightly claim I'm myself. But even if I don't lose another ounce of biomass, if my mind was wiped and some programming took its place…"

"It'd be like death," Raven guessed his thought. Cyborg shook his head, shrugging off the weight, letting it thunder against the ground.

"No, death happens. One could say that it's as natural as being born. But losing yourself and someone else, an impostor, taking your place and making off with what's left of your life? No, that's not something you should accept. Better a clean, clear end than that, I'd say."

"This is a side you rarely show," Raven noted. Cyborg shrugged as he grabbed a white towel off a bench and wiped his face. Raven followed him as he went over to the wall sink, where a glass was perched on the rim.

"I can't compromise on this, Raven. Some things have to be sacred, some lines can't be crossed. Period."

"So, you will leave? That won't solve the problem you have with Zhu Chan," Raven pointed out as he filled the glass.

"No, but it will make a statement they can't ignore. And going to the media with the fact the Teen Titans essentially brainwashed a minor into being their subordinate might get something done," he replied. Raven's eyes shot wide as he took a long drink. She smirked a bit when he stopped and wiped his mouth off.

"Wow, I always thought Robin would be the one to hit below the belt," Raven said, getting a slightly sad smile from Cyborg.

"What can I say, Rae? Turns out, this is my berserk button and it's getting pushed."

X X X

The HIVE faculty was assembled in the most impressive finished assembly hall the new facility boasted. The teachers were seated in the theater-style chairs in full costume, while the Headmaster stood atop a hexagon platform hovering in the air over them.

The presentation format for these exams had been going well. Currently, the Evil Science Villain Spencer was finishing up breaking down the features on the towering super robot he had built.

"Impressive, but not truly exceptional as of yet, Mr. Spencer," Brother Blood remarked to the student sharing the stage with a metal menace, "You implied, though, an inherent task for your creation. Speaking of which, you have yet to tell us its name."

Spencer gave an evil smile and rubbed his hands together, something Blood liked to see.

"His name is Kyle Reedbuck! And he was made to purge the world of a great wrong."

Blood's smirk slipped, at both the name and a sinking feeling that the wrong mentioned would not be proper villainous labeling.

"Kyle Reedbuck will seek out and destroy 'Adolescent Adventurers Wow' in all media, merchandise, and memes! No longer shall this ill-conceived spinoff malign the classic! Behold!"

Spencer dramatically pulled a remote from his lab coat and pushed the sole button on it. Yellow light flashed on across Kyle Reedbuck's spike-adorned frame, and electricity crackled in his fists as a visor eye slid open. An attachment popped from his back, and the robot smoothly pulled it clear and unfolded it.

The robot sat down on the stage and started typing away at the laptop.

"…"

"…What is Mr. Reedbuck doing?"

"The first attack is on the fan forums. He is launching a propaganda campaign that will crush their spirits by scathingly undercutting their wretched series, and then its fans themselves. Hahahahahahaha!"

"D-," Blood said, checking the faculties' votes on a tablet. A pair of drones grabbed Spencer and started to drag him off, "The internet troll has already been invented, Mr. Spencer. It's time you tasted the Chamber of Torment once again. I understand the Belgians did a fine job on it."

Later:

Dr. Tinee flexed her arms over her head in an impressive display of synthetic mobility. The robot-looking teen girl brushed her wire hair back behind her ears and, tapping a spot on her jaw in rapid succession, her body slid apart at the seams and began to rearrange itself as Dr. Gunn hit a stop watch. Blood noted the transformation's completion was marked with good time. Not every hero respected a power-up sequence. And she seemed to have added mass to herself at some point, as the slender robotic girl had hardly seemed equal in mass to what now occupied the stage.

Namely a motorcycle, which seemed an 80s style fusion of high-tech and a classic motorcycle.

"For my project, I modified myself into a Transformer style. It works for disguise, rapid shift in battle dynamic, and support role. And once I get the secondary paint job, it will look really rad!" her voice came from somewhere.

"Interesting, but let's see how quickly you change back before final numbers are tallied," Blood said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh umm, yeah. Could someone hit the red button in place of the key slot?" Tinee asked.

"…F. Next," Blood declared.

Without further prompting, a chain and leather-adorned student vaulted onto stage, combing back his mohawk.

"Chainswing, sirs! I've been mastering my basics to a new level for strong fundamentals. For demonstration, the classic hot wiring."

"Hey! You get out of there!"

"Along with a hack patch to overcome nerve software desecrating a righteous ride."

"You are so DE-!"

"And shutting down superfluous Knight Rider crap features. And thus ready to roll in less than 45 seconds. Thank you for your time!" Chainswing declared, revving Tinee up and driving her off stage.

"Uhhh, should someone do something about that?" Gunn asked, pointing after the two students.

"A- for him. He's getting serious focusing on solid core rather than flashy macho displays. As for her, we'll take under consideration transferring her from the student body to the motor pool. Next!" Blood called.

Soon:

After a fine presentation of a successful heist from Kyd Wykkyd, the faculty watched Gadjo walk on the stage, holding a mail bag stained with with blood.

"I killed Jump City's most annoying talk show host. He annoyed Gadjo and his ads were viral to the point of obscenity," Gadjo dumped the corpse and walked off.

"B. Solid performance and excellent irrational and petty motivation. But we know you can do better than homicide against B-list celebrities."

When the drones had dragged the cadaver off, Jinx walked onto the stage. She was looking better groomed than had been the case recently. A good sign.

"Young Jinx. I trust, despite appearances of late, you are ready to wow us with work befitting one of our leading students?" Blood said.

"Not just yet, Headmaster. I have a plan, but it will be going into motion imminently. I simply require your approval to demonstrate what I have learned in the field before your eyes," Jinx said. She looked up and met him in the eyes. Not showing the ire he felt at that look, Blood tapped against the hybrid's mind to make her break the gaze lock.

Jinx held his gaze and kept talking.

"The mission is to liberate a captive villain, and defeat heroes in their home base. The first is the priority, the second is desirable," Jinx said firmly.

"Moxy," Dr. Gunn said, "I like it. What's say we give her a green light, Blood? Some of these losers have been leaving a bad taste in my mouth. That fish guy's was disgusting."

Blood raised an eyebrow at Jinx, who finally looked away as he applied more power.

'Interesting. You have mustered much more will than normal, as this defiance isn't even directed at me. I shouldn't give an extension. But we are the HIVE, after all — breaking the rules to personal benefit and amusement is quite villainous.'

"Very well. Give them your best shot," Blood said, giving his best fatherly smile. Jinx answered with a fine smile worthy of a shark about to bite.

X X X

Robin needed to think, without interruptions. So his crime lab was out. He'd taken the Birdcycle into the city with a mind to patrol. The teen hero had not meant to end up here.

He entered anyway.

The ruins of Slade's lair. The Titans had combed over it for any clue as to his identity or agenda with League help after his defeat, but the wreckage itself had been left to rust where it had fallen. Now it was simply a massive junk heap beneath the city, one Robin had deliberately avoided ever since the initial investigation had concluded.

Now, however, he found himself wandering listlessly through the ruins. He didn't know where he was going or what he was looking for, so he simply picked a direction and started walking in it, letting his mind drift as he did so, trying to find some solution to the dilemma he was facing. Finally, he came to a stop in front of the shattered remains of Slade's bank of monitor screens, gazing into the dust-coated glass and trying to find some hidden meaning in his reflection.

How often had Slade watched him from here? When had the masked man decided to make him the center of his twisted scheme?

Raven had once compared Slade to the HIVE, but Robin disagreed. Villains were villains, but methods varied. The HIVE, for all its faults, did try to make its students stronger, addressing their weaknesses and building their strengths, even if for all the wrong reasons. Slade might have watched Robin, but Robin didn't think the villain had ever looked at him. He had looked through Robin to see what he had wanted to see. A villain in the making, perhaps a reflection of his younger self? Slade had never expected the other Titans to not be taken in by the appearance of betrayal. He must have thought they would quickly give up, pain turning to anger and then vendetta. Maybe something like that had happened to Slade?

But whatever Slade's story was, if there was any reason at all behind him, it didn't matter; because even as Slade dressed Robin up like him, he wasn't him. He and the Titans were who they were, and as such Slade would never have gotten what he wanted. The Titans had been ready to die to free Robin, never believing he had gone to the side of evil, and he for his part had forced Slade's hand, turning the cowardly trap against the villain. Slade had not just been beaten in a fight, they had defeated his self-serving cynicism by their devotion to and belief in each other.

That's why this place held no fear for him, Robin realized. It had been his prison, but like the corpse of a dreaded beast it was a horror overcome. A nightmare whose remains laid shattered under daylight.

Robin straightened his posture, wiping dust away from a cracked monitor with the back of a gloved hand.

Nightwing had warned him that the key to the Titans' breaking up, in that future that would never be, was acting like Slade. And Slade had both closed his eye to what was for what he wanted, and tried to make someone into what they weren't. Like many realizations, Robin felt a bit embarrassed how obvious it was once you had the answer laid out in front of you.

"Thanks, Slade — if I hadn't met you, it might've been easy for me to become you," Robin said to the darkness.

Though the darkness didn't answer, a single eye did watch him with interest as he made his way back out.

X X X

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos," Raven recited her mantra, letting the words trail off. Opening her eyes, she checked the time on her raven-styled wall clock. As she thought, it was time to be done.

No one had disturbed her this time. She was not sure if that was a good thing or bad thing right now. Seeing little point in pondering when investigation could quickly yield answers, she performed some basic stretches to ensure she was limber from her meditation session and exited the room. Raven resisted the urge to draw on her power and travel to the main room directly; there was no reason to hurry, and there was always the risk of falling into too much dependence on magic. That was why she trained her body as well even if it would never match her magic's power.

After what seemed too long, she reached the living room. And noted she couldn't suck the life out of this room if she tried. Way too much tension in the way.

Cyborg was in the kitchen, cutting up vegetables on a cutting board, with a large pot simmering on top of the burners. Beast Boy was on the couch, playing one of his racing games. Single player mode - not a good sign, and his cheers and curses were coming too rapidly to be genuine. And Starfire was just sitting there.

"Where are they?" Raven asked.

"Robin's not back yet," Cyborg answered stoically.

"But he did say he was in the branch," Starfire piped up. Yeah, trying to sound cheery.

Raven should have brought a book, she realized. Why hadn't she? It wasn't like she was being made too out of sorts by this. She knew where she stood, and whatever happened, happened. There was no point in getting worked up about something beyond your control.

And she was still standing there, she noted.

"Need any help?" she asked Cyborg. He just shook his head and smacked a hunk of pork down on another cutting board, and selected a fresh blade.

"Okaaay," Raven grumbled, her eyes narrowing as she frowned. Did they have to be so dramatic? Ugh, it made her wish something would happen already to break this stupid mood.

When one of the walls exploded, Raven raised her shield by reflex, even as the shock knocked her sliding across the floor.

'Glad I didn't say that out loud. Cyborg and Beast Boy would have a field day,' Raven thought.

As the Titans scrambled back to their feet, the smoke cleared, revealing a new massive hole in the wall. The HIVE Honor Roll were standing in it, Gizmo and Mammoth grinning smugly at the Titans, and Jinx merely scowling, hands already filled with hex energy.

"What the- how'd you get so close to the Tower without our security picking you up?!" Cyborg demanded. Ripping off his apron, his sonic cannon was quickly primed and aimed at the villainous trio.

"You really think I wouldn't leave a backdoor in your systems back when you let me use them, ya dumb scrap-bucket?" Gizmo sneered, "I thought you had at least half a brain, but I guess not."

"Shut it," Jinx snapped, shooting a glare at her teammate before turning back to the Titans, "I'm not in the mood for any dumb banter. We've been watching, and we know you so-called heroes are willing to leave Blue screwed up mentally. And I am not going to let that happen, so hand her over before we bring this whole stupid tower down on you!"

"…You just want to take her and leave?" Cyborg asked. Jinx blinked, apparently caught off guard by how calm he sounded, but nodded. In response, Cyborg lowered his cannon, shifting it back to his normal arm.

"Okay, she's all yours," he said, everyone else on both sides staring at him in shock.

"Dude! What are you doing?!" Beast Boy practically shrieked, waving his arms around.

"Friend Cyborg, have you — what is the Earth saying? — lost your ceramics?" Starfire asked.

"Marbles, Star, lost your marbles," Raven corrected, though she was staring at Cyborg with an arched eyebrow.

"Sorry, guys, but as much as it pains me to say this, they're in the right here. I said it before, and I'll say it again — leaving Zhu Chan like she is is just wrong, and I don't want any part of it," Cyborg said, turning and walking away, leaving the room.

"Huh," Jinx remarked into the sunned silence. Then blaster bolts tore through the air, forcing the Titans to scatter as Gizmo retracted his guns to reveal two missiles.

"Enough! I didn't come here for angst, you crumb-crunchers!" the diminutive villain yelled as he forced the confrontation into violence.

X X X

"Well Victor, you went and crossed a line now," Cyborg muttered to himself as he walked down the hall, the sounds of battle erupting behind him.

Each step was a struggle, the instinct to respond to trouble, the need to come to his friends' aid. But this time, things were flipped. Being a hero wasn't about fighting, and it wasn't about helping your friends. It was about doing the right thing, even when it meant risking what meant the most to you, with no reason to think you'd get anything in return.

It hadn't really occurred to him that friendship might be on the scale someday. But here he was.

Star Chan ran down the corridor, nearly flying with those leaping steps. She nearly skidded into him as he stopped.

"Cyborg! What's the trouble!?" the brainwashed girl looked up at him. The tone and the expression were solid Starfire. He put a hand on her head, and sighed.

"It's like this-" he said. And sent volts into her head. By his studies, it was enough to knock Starfire out. Scooping the tilting girl up into his arms, he decided it was sufficient for this, too.

"No half measures, end zone or go home," Cyborg declared to himself, frown resolving into a game face, left eye flashing red.

X X X

Raven saw Cyborg enter the room in her peripheral vision. Only a glance, as she had to raise a shield above her head with a swipe of her hand. A chunk of ceiling falling from hex magic. Which left her open to a sweeping kick that hooked around her ankle. Going down with a grunt, she cried out as Jinx brought an elbow down on her torso, knocking the air out.

"Stay down!" Jinx growled. Raven's palm slammed into the witch's chin, knocking her back. Getting her feet, Raven recited her mantra, deflecting a jab from Jinx. Her power enshrouded her in the shape of a raven.

Jinx was forced back, still seething, with Mammoth, who was sporting a shiner, and Gizmo, who looked angrier than usual, taking up formation with her. She spotted Starfire and Beast Boy as a silverback gorilla taking their own places beside her. No Cyborg?

Turning her back on the enemy, trusting the others to cover her, she saw him clearly. He was making no move to help by the door. And holding the catalyst of this fight over a shoulder.

"Terrific," she cursed. Having no time for that, she turned to face the HIVE with the others.

It was the quiet before the battle resumed. But not that quiet? She knew that sound, Raven realized.

The Birdcycle flew through the hole the HIVE had made, skidding to crash against the far wall, but not before Robin leaped clear. With an absurdly well executed roll, the Titans' leader came to a stop between the two groups, already extending his bo staff.

Sh absolutely did not smile at that needlessly dramatic display. Only the villains had an angle to see, so no reliable witnesses anyway.

"Titans! Hold," Robin said, turing to face the HIVE.

"Huh?" Raven said, along with Beast Boy.

"Robin, that is not the line," Starfire told him.

"I am guessing the HIVE knows what we have been debating," Robin said to Jinx.

"Yes," Jinx stated.

"Well, there's no more argument. We're fixing Zhu Chan."

Everyone did a double-take at that. Except for Cyborg; Raven could hear his relieved sigh from there as he walked to hand Star Chan over to Mammoth.

"Okay then, so no fighting; we're doing this?" Raven asked, still enshrouded in the raven shape formed from her powers.

Jinx looked intently at Robin, frowning. Robin held out his bo staff and dropped it. Jinx, still frowning, dispersed the hex bolts in her hand.

"Robin…" Starfire said.

"I made up my mind, Star. We agreed to a vote, right?" Robin said, looking to where the victim at the center of all this was now draped over Mammoth's shoulder. Beast Boy made to speak, when Raven put a hand on his shoulder. Looking back at the magic user, he sighed and nodded his head.

"Should have known it was too good to last," he lamented as Raven walked past him and the others to stand between the HIVE and Titans.

"Jinx, I have everything I need to fix this now. Except her," Raven said, pointing at the shadow girl. Jinx glanced between the two, but nodded. Mammoth gave a shrug and moved Star Chan into his hands and walked over to lay her on the floor in front of Raven.

"Our surveillance showed you want her fixed. So I'll trust you, but any funny business…" Jinx threatened, holding up a fist. Raven rolled her eyes and inspected Star Chan's face, pulling back an eyelid and then inspecting the jawline.

"If we're not going to be kicking crudstompers around, I'm done here!" Gizmo declared. The metal spider legs retracted into his pack and a jetpack popped out, firing up before he hit the ground. With a final sling of juvenile profanity, he flew off through the hole the HIVE entered through.

"Here," Raven said, pressing down on two points on the blue girl's jaw. It popped wide, and Raven quirked an eyebrow at the girl's non-sharp teeth. She distinctly recalled the girl's teeth being fit to eat a rosebush readily.

Throwing out her right hand, her shadow extended, and part of it rose up like a reversed ink drop, two red eyes opening on it. The eyes focused on Star Chan, widened, then narrowed and plopped upward into Raven's palm.

"Yeah, promise kept," Raven said.

"So, do you need to draw an array or get her to your-" Jinx asked, stopping when Raven jammed the shadow into the girl's mouth. Heedless of her audience's reactions, Raven held the jaw wide with one hand, while gathering up the errant shadow from her own and shoving it in.

When she started to work the jaw in chewing motions, Robin found his voice, still standing wide-eyed.

"Uh, is that magic, Raven?"

"More like a puzzle. I have to put it back in her, and there's only two holes available unless I'm cutting her open."

"So, did it say this in the book?" Robin asked, glancing to Jinx, who shrugged.

"No, I inferred it, and the chi wanted this over quick. Also, turn around. Once I get this in, she'll have to expel the Starfire chi out of the other end."

"You know what, I think I'll just leave," Mammoth said. He looked to Jinx, who gave a wave, keeping her eyes on Raven. Then he made his way to the hole as the Titans turned around.

"So, you're going to pants her so that can poop Starfire's chi?" Jinx asked, as Raven kept trying to stuff the semi-solid shadow down the twitching girl's throat.

"…I suppose," Raven said, with irritation at the wording.

"Well, it's nothing I haven't seen before, so I will keep an eye. Also, try putting some hot sauce on that shadow and maybe it'll go down easier."

X X X

"Told ya," Jinx said, kneeling down next to Raven, who set the bottle of hot sauce aside and pulled the girl's lips back to make sure there was no chi chunks left stuck in the teeth.

The girl groaned. Her eyes were barely open, but she did not stir, and her belly protruded from the mass in it.

"Okay then, backs everybody," Raven said.

The Titans had already been facing away, but they understood it as a threat from a grumpy Raven. They heard Chan getting rolled over, then it was quiet.

"Oh please, I'll do it. There, now-" Jinx griped.

"Xing!" Raven shouted, cutting the villain off and making the Titans start.

*Graag KRAKOOM*

Starfire cried out as something struck her from behind and she staggered.

"Starfire!" Robin called out, moving to the side of the Titan. She held up a hand, showing she was alright and actually giggled.

"I actually feel quite good, most strange reaction to a blow. I have not enjoyed a hit that much since that time I sparred with Sister after she spiked my lunch with geeegsgbda," Starfire said cheerfully.

"…Okay. And now she's decent," Raven said.

"Why isn't she waking up?" Jinx asked.

"Little one? Are you well?" Starfire asked, flying over to the blue girl and hovering over her, patting her cheek.

Zhu Chan's eyes snapped open, and she punched Starfire right in the face.

"Blue," Jinx sighed in relief. She extended a hand, which Zhu Chan clasped, pulling herself to her feet. Scowling, she reached back, and grabbed at air for a second before realizing that her current outfit had no hood.

"Feeling alright?" Raven asked, as Starfire landed next to her, rubbing her nose.

"…I remember what happened when I was under. And that fake me, she did eavesdrop on your little powwow," Zhu Chan seethed.

"We-" Starfire said, before Zhu Chan made a slashing movement and hissed. Glaring at her, Zhu's red eyes swept over the Titans, and rubbed at her tiny horns. They noticed that the horns, green since the transference, were now a shiny black.

"I… I can't hardly even talk about it! You actually considered… At least Blood is open about being a bad guy. You two, you're trash. And on my list! You have to share the archenemy spot, you green bastard. You, way too late for me to think you're worth that cape," she seethed, turning from Beast Boy and Starfire to Robin. Her eyes locked on Raven.

"We're even. I don't think you would have done squat if the group told ya no, but you did at least want to do right by me. Cyborg, get a new team. You deserve to run with heroes. Jinx!" Zhu said, holding out an arm. Jinx stepped and, after a come hither motion, grabbed the hand and Zhu dragged them both into the shadows and out of sight. Though Zhu Chan extended a hand, and one finger, before it vanished from sight.

…

…

"Well, honestly, I think that went pretty well, all things considered," Raven said, shrugging.

"Seriously?" Beast Boy said angrily, as Starfire looked ready to cry. Raven pulled up her hood and gave him a flat look.

"This was never going to end well. The fact you thought it might is the difference here," she answered plainly.

Cyborg let his shoulder relax and, looking very tired, exited through the hole in the Tower, checking to make sure no villains were around. Seeing the coast was clear, he kept walking.

X X X

On a high rise rooftop, the shadows of the stair access shed darkened and pooled as two figures rose up. First a pair of pink hair horns, then Jinx herself, and Zhu Chan, glowering.

"The rally point, eh Blue?" Jinx said, taking in their surroundings. Zhu Chan coughed and went to her knees, vomiting green goop.

"Whoa!" Jinx said, stepping back quickly.

"Augh. Muck, spag," Zhu grumbled, spitting out more of the lightly glowing muck. Breathing heavily, she gave another heave and wobbled on her knees. Jinx stepped up, putting a balancing hand on the girl's shoulders, and kept it there as she moved a few paces from the mess.

"You okay?" Jinx asked. Zhu glared daggers at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Yeah, dumb question. Do you need me to get you help?" Jinx clarified. Zhu shook her head and took a deep breath.

"It's just my body realigning after being stuck out of whack. That should be the last Starfire residue. Ugh, they even let that thing dress me like her!" Zhu groaned, looking down at what she was wearing.

"I thought you remembered everything?"

"Most. I think. It's two sets; and I owe some cool guy in Chinatown some favors. Probably shouldn't have told you that," Zhu grumbled.

"You sure we shouldn't rush you to sickbay?" Jinx pressed. Zhu Chan gave her a look.

"Blood," Zhu Chan wheezed. Jinx looked to the vomit with concern.

"Where?" Jinx asked.

"Ugh, Brother Blood, Jinx. Leaving me to be a brainwashed hero would probably suit him fine. Good way to show students why they need the HIVE's protection and that the heroes are really bad, so why not go all out? All that stuff. He wouldn't go out of his way for me after what happened, right? So why?" Zhu demanded.

Jinx started to answer then stopped, biting her lip. Rubbing the back of her head, the Goth demi-fey looked to the side.

"Okay, fine. This was all my idea. I had Gizmo use the bugs he planted in the Tower to track the Titans' progress on fixing you. So when I heard they were thinking of not fixing you, I decided to do something about it. And don't read much into it, Blue! You took a bullet for me once with Raven, then your dark side or whatever took one for the planet and me by extension. I'm a villain, but I'm aiming to be the kind of villain who pays her debts. Understand?" Jinx snapped, hands on her hips.

Zhu frowned, reaching back to her shoulders, only to frown, remembering again that she had no cowl in this outfit.

"So we're even?" Zhu asked. Jinx's frown deepened, and she stepped forward to smack Zhu upside the head. The girl flinched but didn't cry out or rub the spot. She watched as Jinx pulled off the bag she was wearing about her neck and opened it up.

Zhu's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when Jinx pulled out the Rooster talisman from the bag.

"I managed to get ahold of this. You held out on us, Blue. You said these things were like tattoos, decorations. But I couldn't help but notice that while you can float and go through shadows after Raven hit you, you couldn't use telekinesis. But when I picked this up, I felt magic on it, and after a little prodding…" Jinx explained, and pulled a beer can that was littering the roof into her hand with no visible effort.

Jinx tossed the talisman, and Zhu scrambled to grab it, clutching it to her chest.

"You may be back in your right mind, but what you did cost you one power for each Talisman lost, right? So we're still not even," Jinx said.

Zhu seemed to ignore the words, though. Holding the Rooster talisman tight in one hand, she used her free hand to pull up the purple shirt she was wearing, which revealed her blue belly with a light blue, round scar around her navel. Zhu smacked the talisman into place, and Jinx's annoyed expression gave way to wonder as the stone sank into the flesh. Before her eyes, it sunk in, the scar hidden and just like it had been when Jinx had dressed her.

Then Zhu pressed her fingertips down on it, and with a deep breath pushed. The talisman didn't move, but something in her seemed to give. The talisman sank deeper, coming flush with her skin then deeper, with the edges being swallowed by blue skin. When Zhu let up the pressure, taking her hand away, all that was visible of the talisman was a circle of stone displaying the rooster image.

"Thank you," Zhu sighed, patting her talisman and belly before pulling the shirt back into place.

"Uh, yeah. Cool magic there. I don't suppose you could whip one up for me?"

"If I could make magic like this, you think I would have made the Belt of Awesome?"

"Fair point. Well, guess that just leaves these," Jinx said. The witch reached into a pocket and pulled out a pair of scissors.

"Zimslo," Jinx said, and the scissors lit up with purple magic and grew in size. Shifting her hand, Jinx was now holding one of the handles to what more resembled garden shears with scissor-like handles and runes engraved across the blades. With a simple motion, the blades came apart, leaving her holding two knives. With a smooth motion, she flipped them around and held them out to Zhu.

"You can shrink 'em down with the same word. But the word only works when you are holding them. And they won't come apart that easily except by the will of the last person who changed their size," Jinx explained. Frowning, Zhu accepted the blades, holding them awkwardly. Jinx rubbed her neck, and answered the unasked questions.

"You're still down two Talismans. So consider this a payment. But don't go thinking you can hold a favor bank over my head, Blue. I decide what you're owed and how, got it? Now, we should get back to the HIVE. If you're good enough to travel, it's probably better not to make them wait," Jinx said, walking over to the fire escape. Zhu followed her, putting the blades back together and shrinking them down. Then pouting, realizing the Star Jade outfit didn't have pockets either.

"Jinx," Zhu said, catching up with Jinx, who was faced with a rusted release and trying to decide how to tackle it.

"What?" Jinx demanded crankily, delivering a heel kick to the release. It didn't budge.

"Thank you," Zhu said, striking the release with a palm strike. With a shuddering groan that gave way to a shriek, the ladder descended down toward the alley below them.

"Don't get soft on me, Blue. They sure as heck won't be soft on you."

"After that pity of heroes, I think I know where I stand with villains, Jinx," Zhu said, following Jinx down a few rungs, before jumping off the ladder and striking a three-point landing on the pavement.

X X X

Cyborg stood on the stony shore of Titans island, watching the waves break as the sky began to turn from morning dyes to daylight blue. It had been one heck of a night.

The wind shifted, and he heard it catch a cape, and sighed.

"So, Robin, I guess they told you what you missed?" he said, turning as the Boy Wonder approached. Robin looked stoic, his face betraying no emotion nor his body language. So, usual game face. Cyborg wasn't bothering; he was tired and not afraid to show it. It was just… things needed to be said and stuff answered before he could consider turning in, even for a recharge.

"Yeah, this whole chi thing really tied us all in knots, didn't it? Except you," Robin said. That woke Cyborg up all the way. He made a turning gesture with his hands, beseeching Robin to explain, as words seemed jammed in him at the moment. Robin smiled.

"A very wise man once told me, it takes a lot of courage to make a firm stand against those we fear for what is right. But even more to stand as firm against those we love for what we know is right. I know what the team means to me, and I think that means I know what t means to you. That couldn't have been easy."

"It wasn't. But… they were wrong, Robin. Change, redemption, reform — if it's not a choice, it's no different from brainwashing someone to make them fit what you think they should be. Taking a square and cutting it into a circle so it will fit."

"Yeah, and I think we should have known better."

"Hey, Raven did too. And you came around."

"Raven didn't go as far as you did. And I took my time, didn't I? I think this was it, Cyborg, what Nightwing warned me about."

"…That's not really possible, Robin," Cyborg deadpanned.

"Huh?"

"Well, it's quite simple really when you consider time travel. The whole Titans breakup was tied in part to Starfire disappearing for the bad future. But here in this timeline, we brainwashed Zhu Chan with Starfire's chi, which we would not have had if there was no Starfire. It's the whole 'shot your grandfather' deal. Either you have to miss, or all of reality breaks and we get a new reality where we're all a bunch of bug-headed anime knuckleheads obsessed with food and toilet jokes who may or may not actually fight crime," Cyborg explained in a lecturing tone, gesturing as if to an nonexistent display.

Robin gave a nervous chuckle. He had not pictured this going like that.

"Well, not exactly, maybe, but I think something like this. Slade would have done what he wanted, and I realized I needed to do what was right, including trust that Zhu Chan as a criminal of her own will was better than a hero forced by our will. And that's how the Titans don't fall apart today."

Cyborg grimaced and looked back out to the water, "You sure about that?"

"Cyborg? You're not still going to leave, are you?" Robin asked, his stoic manner cracking.

"Can I stay? I sided against the team, Robin. A team needs trust more than anything else. I stand by what I did, but having done it, can they still trust me?" Cyborg asked, looking at his raised hand.

"Yes, it may be hard now. But even if they don't quite understand, I think right now they are probably worried about you being able to trust them. If you can still have faith in this team, I think there's still hope for us," Robin said.

Cyborg guessed Robin saw something he didn't, because he turned to leave. Once he was gone, Cyborg let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Could this really turn out alright?

"That was sweet," The Flash said, making a sobbing sound as he leaned on a rock, wiping his eyes with his free hand.

"What!? Flash? When? How?" Cyborg exclaimed, jumping through defensive positions on reflex before just standing, befuddled.

"League saw what went down, I thought you might need a pep talk. But Batman Junior surprised me."

"Uhh, you saw?"

"Yeah, we kinda wanted to keep an eye on the girl who was key to unleashing the near end of the world as we know it. And it kind of translated into some of us watching some Teen Titans drama and comedy with popcorn."

"…You guys actually waste time watching what we do in the Tower. That's creepy and a bit sad," Cyborg said bluntly.

"Hey now, I don't ask what you kids get up to on the internet these days. Anyway, after all that, we thought you might need some support."

"And they sent you?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I am the jolly red heart of the Justice League. And J'onn was the first pick, but he passed the buck to me. Anyway, Batman Junior there seems to have covered the bases; which is all kinds of sweet. So I guess I'm just here to deliver a message now. The short version is, you really impressed a lot of capes up there. The League isn't short on firepower, but one of our biggest worries is that we might turn into the Justice Lords piece by piece. The government hasn't really worked out as a partner we could trust, so the best thing so far has been looking for Leaguers that are ready to call other Leaguers out on crossing lines 'for the greater good'. So if you ever decide to leave the Titans or the band just breaks up, consider this a standing invitation from the League."

"…Do I have to say anything now?" Cyborg asked, "This has been one heck of a day, and now this. I think I need to get to bed before Slade starts his comeback tour or something."

"Uh, sure. Hit those Zs, big guy. I'll tell them you gave me a definite maybe," Flash gave him the thumbs up, and then was off, the water splashing up in his wake the only visible sign of his passing as he cut across the bay toward the city.

The Next Day:

Jade stood in the tribunal chamber, looking up at the faculty members led by Blood. The room was actually more menacing, and finished, than the rest of the new HIVE facility.

Blood glared at her, and Jade wished she had her proper uniform so she could hide her face behind shadows. She could only meet his look without defiance, hoping for the best.

"You betrayed the HIVE. Even if it was under mind control duress, that still holds your weakness accountable."

"Now just a sec, Headmaster," Dr. Gunn said from his post on the left end of the high bench. With a white-gloved finger, he pushed his black cowboy hat up enough to reveal his right eye, "As I recall from the data, she fought the control enough to hand herself over to the Titans, resolving the matter. If not for that, yer brains woulda been a blue plate special."

Blood gave him a sneer but did not argue as the other faculty members either muttered agreement or simply sat unfazed.

"That has been noted," Blood stated. "And the fact is you have returned willingly after your little… heroic interlude. Which we are well aware was the result of heroic mind control."

Jade didn't hide her scowl, glancing away at that. Cyborg and Raven were in her good books, but Robin only just barely was off her list. The other two… well, Beast Boy had punched his archenemy ticket after all, and it was a plus one as it turned out.

"Additionally, the HIVE is in a stage of rebuilding, so a need for prestige and capital is present. You have proven you can provide both. So, Zhu Chan, you are welcomed back into the HIVE. But you will be punished, do not doubt that. It will simply be done in such a way as to benefit the HIVE such as to compensate for your lapses. Dismissed," Blood declared. Jade bowed at her waist as the lights clicked off and the faculty filed out. Only when she heard the door behind her slide open did she rise alone in the spotlight.

'That could have gone worse,' she admitted.

Later:

"The Villain Mentor program?" Jade asked, sitting on her stool. It had been simple enough to get lab space; Gizmo was a terrible workspace mate, even with a blast shield. And her reputation gave the previous occupant reason to pull out without loosing face. Jinx and Mammoth had saved much of her lab equipment, Jinx as the driver and Mammoth as the muscle. But little luxuries like comfortable stools would have to be replaced.

It surprised Jade how pleasant it was to be back in a lab of her own. And her uniform. Her Titan outfit she had burned with Jinx and Mammoth, with Mammoth actually having brought a skewer and a sausage for her to toast over the fire. He simply said some cliches are meant to be enjoyed. The meat and the metal had been delicious.

But now, putting her lab in order was on hold as she looked over the pamphlet Jinx had brought her.

"Yeah, it was the Headmistress' deal, Blood abolished it as part of his takeover. He likes to keep a tighter grip, I guess," Jinx shrugged. As Jade opened it up, Jinx continued, "The program wasn't open to everyone; sometimes a year would go by without anyone getting a nod. It could either be punishment or reward."

"And now I'm in it," Jade sighed, tossing the pamphlet into her metal trashcan.

"I suggested it," Jinx stated. Jade almost dropped her dried lemur head before turning back to look at Jinx.

"Hey, they were going to do something to you. I figure this way you could actually benefit from it. Besides, this is a villain school, Blue. If you're gone for a few months, there will be some other crisis to occupy them and they will be less inclined to rake you over the coals when you get back. Besides, I hear Catwoman is in the program!" Jinx practically shrieked, jumping a little. Jade smiled at that, putting the dried lemur head in its pot.

Yeah, boys just couldn't quite grasp why Catwoman was an idol for so many villain girls. She wasn't the most successful or by any measure the most powerful. But she was an icon! One of the most recognizable villains out there. Able to get the better of even the likes of Batman with just her wits, skills, a whip and a few tricks. And even her teaming up with heroes at times added to her rep. She was such a bad girl she didn't even follow the bad girl code properly. And if any villain mentor would cut you a good deal, it would probably be her.

After Jinx left, Jade could admit it would be pretty awesome to work under Catwoman as essentially an intern. And besides, any villain who signed up would probably have to be a pretty okay villain for the HIVE to risk the investment they had in the students under their care.

X X X

Jade was enjoying a plate of scraps and leftovers with three little bowls of sauces to dip in when she realized she wasn't alone.

"Oh, it's you," Jade said to the shadow seated across the table from her.

The Queen of the Shadowkhan was darkness given shape, that shape now including the kasa hat she had worn during her time with Tarakudo. Her eyes blazed red and her horns, while black, were veined with the same glowing red. Faint, but standing out stark against the rest of her.

The Queen reached out and plucked a screw from the platter and popped it in her mouth. Jade cocked an eyebrow, the motion revealing the Queen was much flatter than she should be. Not like paper or something, but more like something not stuffed enough to be full and then pressed down.

Grabbing a pickled veggie with her chopsticks, Jade ate the morsel, dipping it in the hot sauce slightly. The Queen took a morsel in answer.

'Silent treatment, eh?' Jade thought, taking her next bite quicker; the Queen also grabbed hers with more urgency.

In a few rounds, turns had given way to a frantic eating contest, until at last the final oil-coated shrimp was seized on one end by the Queen's thumb and forefinger, and the other by Jade's chopsticks.

"Too slow!" Jade taunted.

"I grabbed it first," the Queen retorted.

…

"That is one tough shrimp!" they said in sync, both tugging on it. Jade scowled and the Queen smiled at that. Jade released the shrimp, the sudden change making the Queen smack herself in the face.

"I'd say ouch, but that didn't really hurt," the Queen remarked, tossing the shrimp back onto the platter.

"Didn't figure you needed to eat," Jade remarked.

"I don't. Besides, if this wasn't a dream vision thing, my eating would just nourish you. This was just a different mouth to reach the same stomach," the Queen said, reclining back in her chair.

Jade frowned, and really looked around. This was the kitchen table from Uncle's, but it was her old lab at the HIVE.

"Comfort zone," the Queen stated.

"No it isn't," Jade answered flatly. The Queen actually sagged, not just sliding down but crinkling a little.

"You're really not going to thank me, are you?" the Queen asked.

"Thank you for what?" Jade demanded. The Queen slapped her across the cheek. Jade blinked, putting a hand to her stinging cheek as the Queen's stretched arm retracted back across the table.

"Brat, don't you dare say that you don't suspect a thing," the Queen hissed, slinking down further on herself. She looked a bit like a grumpy dark mushroom with the hat on.

"You know full well how the chi transference spell works. Too long, and the newly infused chi will permanently bond with the recipient, influencing them ever after even with their own chi restored. And you haven't wondered why, despite being in full Starfire mode for what, two months, you aren't the least bit her?!" the Queen demanded.

"Uh, I figured Shadowkhan were more resilient-"

"Me. That is me that resilience comes from. And not just static defense either, you ingrate. I was the one to save your chi, and with it the means to regrow your mind. It ended up expelled rather than destroyed or shattered. Me, not you — you twiddled your thumbs and indulged in self-righteous paranoia as we faced oblivion. And I could have left you, Jade! Tarakudo set me up as my own entity, I was free and clear of you. But to beat the dead horse into un-life once again, I do not want to exist as my own entity, Jade! I threw that chance away for the mere chance to be part of a whole.

"And I could have bonded with Starfire's chi, you know? It would have been easy, and my Aspect would have been dominant, as that chi was foreign in the first place. Just like how I dominated Tarakudo's 'clean' shadow chi infusion. Oh, there would have been mixing, probably a perky affably evil Zhu Fire. More an anarchy trickster villain as easily able to ally with heroes as the big bads, depending on how fun the event might be.

"I could have had my happy ending, and the essence of your chi would have wandered as a friendly ghost thing, likely for the rest of its life. But I didn't want that. I held myself fast against the intruder, keeping myself and your deep core free of contamination. I gave up any influence over the Star Jade deal, letting a Starfire knock off drive the body, in the hope that someday you would return.

"And why? You ask me what you should thank me for?! I dare say I have done more for you than you did for Jackie, Jade. And I did it because you are the only one who can complete me. You and you alone are my other half, the only one I want to be one with. No one else, only you. Even when you reject me, Jade," the Queen said, slipping under the table.

Jade swallowed and, putting hands atop the table, peeked under. The Queen was not in any solid shape, even her eyes out of alignment, drifting in what looked like a huge puddle of shadow.

"Even then, it doesn't change my desire for you," the Queen said. The dripping lines connecting her to Jade's feet thickened as the shadow crept up past her ankles. Jade shivered at the sensation. It was soothing, like the Shadow Realm, calming; it almost made her want to slide down off the chair. Into the shadows...

"Gah!" Jade cried out, stabbing the back of her left hand with the chopsticks.

Her eyes snapped open, this time staring at the ceiling of a darkened room. Glancing around, she saw her room at the HIVE. The clock said it was half past still-too-early.

She got up anyway. A shower would be the first order of business.

X X X

Jade suppressed a yawn as she stood in the assembly. Why couldn't the HIVE have students sit like other schools for boring speeches? Probably part of being a villain school, she decided.

Blood had called this without warning, for students at least. She was guessing that review class in Evil Chemistry 112 for Friday's practical test was just a sadistic ploy between the faculty, as this assembly looked like it was going to run through that time.

At least the morning hadn't been a waste, with Dr. Gunn having the Physical Feats Class do a game of Extreme Dodgeball. So many beautiful explosions; it really made her miss the Dragon talisman! Rooster had been the most vital one, and Jinx got so many points for getting that back for her. But she really missed having firepower. It was hard to have to go back to not being able to fire explosive blasts from your palm and having heat vision-less eyes. And the holes were so freaking tender. Jinx had tested them with a test jab. Ugh, the Pig's old home had almost made her pee.

Well, finding them was just another long-term project. In a world like this, some hero or villain type would find them and use them for a nefarious scheme. Or for good. But she felt like evil and nefarious was more likely. But anyway, they would pop back up, and she would get them back where they belonged, and then she would not have to wear gauze plugs in herself.

Without thinking, she brushed the Rooster through her uniform. She had not meant to sink it in so deep. Had not even realized it could go deeper. It had been, perhaps, instinct? With no edges to grip, she could not even try to remove it. And it seemed easier to use the power now with her chi flowing around so much of it.

On the one hand, it reminded her of Shendu. Never good. But on the other, there was a chance she couldn't be separated from this talisman now. Jade smiled fondly at the possibility that when she went home and became human again, Jackie would never be able to make her give up this or the other talismans. What right did he ever have to decide that such wonders should be locked away where they could do no good, only reluctantly breaking them out for a world endangering crisis? As part of her, they could do so much good! And hadn't she earned that with everything here and back home?

"-Zhu Chan, please come to the stage," Blood said. Jade blinked as a spotlight kicked on through the octagon just above her head.

'Well crap, I wasn't paying attention,' Jade thought.

Jade did what she normally did when caught flatfooted — played along. Rising ominously above the other students, she flew over them, her cloak billowing as she passed. The Rooster supplied properly dramatic billowing; it had taken her some time with the mirror to get that effect back up to stock. Yeah, she looked too cool for anyone who still had a grudge over the Shadow Crisis to mess with.

She set down in front of Brother Blood and bowed as tradition at the HIVE required. He did not acknowledge her, turning his attention to the crowd.

'Prick,' Jade thought.

"As you know, the HIVE has recently re-instituted the Villain Mentor program. Well, I am pleased to say our own Zhu Chan has been tapped as the first student of the HIVE in reviving this tradition," Blood said. He gave her a smile that was pure shark.

'Well, at least I'll be away from you for awhile,' Jade thought. She'd just have to hope she could continue her research while gone.

"And the villain to endorse the HIVE with their patronage to one of our best and darkest is none other than an esteemed rogue from Gotham itself," Blood continued. Raising a hand, a door opened up on the wall.

'Gotham?! Can it be? Come on Catwoman! Catwoman, Catwoman, Catwoman, Catwonaaaahhhhhhh!' Jade's thoughts ground to a halt as the villain stepped into the light.

"Avast there, all aboard that're going aboard!" the man said, blowing bubbles from a plain-looking pipe. He wore a rubbery kind of raincoat like a sailor might wear, complete with the matching floppy brimmed hat. All in purple, with wild green hair spilling from under the hat. The bright colors contrasted with deathly pale skin, which made his red lips seem to pop out.

The Joker's teeth were immaculate as he turned an appraising look on Jade, thoughtfully blowing more bubbles out of his pipe. Those eyes and that smile snapped Jade from her broken thoughts, to no thoughts.

"Urk," Jade made a noise.

"Well, tide waits for neither man, nor woman, nor banjo polish! We cast off at four bells; anyone trying to jump ship gets keel hauled," the Clown Prince of Crime proclaimed. Grinning wide, he pulled a hand bell from inside his coat and waved it, ringing it loud and clear three times. Without further ceremony, he swept back into the dark passageway from whence he had come.

"Well, there you have it," Blood said, giving Jade his best "fatherly" smile.

"Urk," Jade sounded.

"I trust you will serve well under your mentor and be an example that will be noted by all students of the HIVE, present and future. Everyone return to your studies. Our student ambassador needs to pack her bags," Blood said.

"Urk."

"Well I need to find a new lab partner."

"You can forget the twelve bucks you owe me, Zhu."

"Now that's just cruel. He could have just burned her alive like a civilized villain."

"I WANNA EAT FRENCH FRIES!"

"Blue?" Jinx asked, pulling Jade's hood back, everyone gone except her and the blue girl.

"Urk."

"…I'm gonna go talk to the Headmaster, but maybe you should start packing?"

Zhu's head snapped up to look at her, quick enough to startle her. The girl walked off, shoving her aside and muttering what Jinx thought was some unholy mix of Cantonese, Japanese, and English profanity. She switched to full English, threatening to do something demonstrably impossible to Robin and some other Titans.

"…Guess that happened?" Jinx remarked, before running out to head for the Headmaster's office.

Meanwhile:

The door to the garage slid open, letting Starfire and Beast Boy peer inside. Cyborg stood in one of the alcoves, the Birdcycle on a slab before him, partially disassembled. Sorting through its innards, he gave a twist with a tool and removed a part. Setting the tool aside, he inspected the part.

Starfire and Beast Boy exchanged a look, made fists toward each other, and pumped them three times. Starfire threw rock. Beast Boy threw scissors. Starfire gave Beast Boy a thumbs up as he crossed the garage.

"Okay, dude. It's still just Cyborg. Don't make it awkward. It can't be anymore awkward than what we have been having. And you know what Raven will do to you if you don't start fixing this," he muttered to himself.

"Beast Boy," Cyborg said, without turning.

"Gah! Cyborg! What are you doing?" he asked. Then faceplamed as Cyborg turned to look at him with an unimpressed expression.

"Uh, you okay?" Beast Boy asked.

"…I guess. You?" Cyborg asked.

"I guess?" Beast Boy answered.

"Wonderful! You are in sync," Starfire cheered from her spot by the door. Flying over, she beamed at Cyborg, "Now that the ice is broken, may I commence the poem and dance of Tamaranean 'Let's No Longer Be Uncomfortable With Each Other'? It was originally formed for quarreling lovers, but several sepstars ago it was modified to apply to friendships as well."

"That would be less awkward if you had given less information, Star," Beast Boy pointed out.

"Yeah," Cyborg agreed.

"And now you are agreeing. We are making up like champions," Starfire beamed. Then their communicators started blinking.

"Trouble," they said in sync. Opening the channel, Robin spoke.

"Titans! Some kind of giant scorpion has been spotted rampaging in the Badlands."

"We're on it!" Cyborg said.

And so the Teen Titans rushed off to their next adventure.

---

Author's Note:

Well on the chance that any readers still care, its back. Zim calls it good so i hope it is, after so long away I don't really think I could give you something close to worth the wait.

For a long time I hoped the Starjade deal would click and it could be a neat min-arc like Nocturne wanted. But it didn't; and I started to realize it may never. And thart cou;d mean the story never contuing at the rate things were going. So the chapter ended up as is, media res close to the climax of Jade's time chi swapped. I at least see the story able to move forward from here.

Too Gotham. Nocturne and I talked about Gotham some, but not much was solidly laid down. Which after the Starjade experience may prove a good thing as Zim and I build up around those lomg waiting columns. Hope the Gotham Arc is a significantly shorter wait, and well worth a read.

But for all the trouble and changes; I am glad to be back to work on it, an i hope it made an enjoyable read.

Long days and pleasant nights to you all.