Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans, don't own D&D, don't own much at all, don't bother suing. 'nuff said.
I haven't updated this story in a while, and for that I apologize. I have recieved an e-mail from fellow author Ronin Drake, and he has brought to light something the other forty six of you might have noticed. Namely the powers. They seem unlimited right? You'll see about this later, as for how he got them, that will be explained either in this or the next chapter. I also would like to say that depending on certain information aquired throughout the course of the day, I may post another story in the Dungeons & Dragons section. Much will be explained this chapter, and depending on how I feel, there may or may not be a fight scene. If there is, I hope you like it. And without further ado, on with the show. (What do you mean the projecter is down? Oh? Well then, let's try switching to the backup. Okay, then, why don't we, like, try the DVD player? No good? Hmmm. I'll get the cleaner. What? It's working? Sweet. Let's do this. Okay then, this looks good. No, focus it on the... Ow! Ow! Stop it... Stop it... AAAAaaaahhhhHhhh, my back! Just... Start the thing! Yes, now! What? Oh crap! Shut off the)
The Titans were looking around the area were Slades robots were strewn about, some decimated, some still relatively intact. Robin was looking at the first one Gene hit. The head had a dent, but otherwise it looked combat ready. He looked over to Cyborg, who was retrieving a spare arm from the trunk of the T-car.
"Hey, cy!" Robin yelled over at him. Cyborg looked over at Robin, holding his new left arm to the attachment point as a few of the wires began afixing themselves to the proper points.
"Yo!" Was his reply. He started walking over to Robin, wondering what he wanted. The new arm was almost ready, and Cyborg flexed his new fingers to test how connected the arm was. He stopped next to Robin and looked down at the damaged robot.
Gene was sitting on a bench again, feeling slightly tired from the battle. He was watching Starfire trying to convince Raven to let him heal her, though she wasn't making any progress. What they didn't know was that Gene was listening to them, even though the were more than fifty feet away talking in lowered voices.
"But, Friend Raven, Friend Genes healing powers would allow you to concentrate so you may return to the tower un-aided." Starfire wanted her friend to be able to travel on her own, but the empath wouldn't trust Gene even though she wanted to teleport back to her room and read one of her many books.
"Sorry Star, but I'm not going to trust him just because he can help with my headaches. We don't know anything about him, other than the fact he doesn't know how to fully control his powers." Raven shook her head, immediatly regretting it. "He might end up hurting me more than he helps me. For all we know, he might accidentaly use that fire sword of his. I don't know about you, but I like my head on my shoulders." Raven began walking to the T-car.
"But Friend Raven, we should at least ask if he has the asprin or the tylenol. Friend Raven?" Starfire looked over at Gene who was now looking at a newspaper he acquired from a nearby news vendor. He was flipping the pages at a fairly quick rate, only looking at the same page for a few seconds. She was curious as to what he was looking for.
Gene was reading the comic section of the paper, and he was chuckling quietly to himself. 'Even in a different world, comics are still funny.' He couldn't see through the paper but he could tell that Starfire was floating toward him. Before she could say anything Gene decided to close the paper.
"Hello Starfire. Couldn't convince Raven to let me help?" He asked, knowing the answer word for word. He would leave some of his powers in the dark if he were asked. Enhanced hearing and smell being two that would remain a suprise until someone figured it out.
Starfire shook her head. "No, I could not. She is not willing to trust you until you have better control of your powers. Even then she is likely to wait until you prove to her that you are a good person." She looked over to Robin and Cyborg.
Cyborg and Robin were deciding how best to take the disable Slade robot back to the tower. Jinx had asked if she could stay at the tower for a while, and Raven couldn't fly more than a few feet before she had to land. Beast Boy was tired and was sitting in the car next to Raven, who was sitting in the middle, Jinx on her other side. Robins R-Cycle had been destroyed by the robots so he would have to ride shotgun. They couldn't fit the robot in the trunk, and they couldn't tie it on the roof.
"I think they want to take that machine I damaged in for study. I don't blame them, the others were pretty dead set on killing us." Gene had folded the paper and put it in his coat pocket. He stood up and stretched as Starfire floated over to her friends. 'If they need someone to carry it, I think I could try to fly it to where they wanted it. I could even try to ask for a place to stay for the night.' He looked over and saw Starfire pick up the robot, carrying it as she would a wounded ally. 'Worth a shot.' He stood up, but wobbled slightly. 'Hope I didn't overdo it in the fight. I'll just have to grin and bear it for now.'
"I think I can carry the fake Slade friends. I just hope Friend Gene finds a place to rest." Starfire was lifting the downed robot when she felt it lighten considerably. She looked over and saw Gene holding up the other side.
"Need a hand? I could carry the prisoner for you. That's what friends are for." Gene was smiling. Starfire smiled as well. She noticed Cyborg and Robin were getting in the T-car. She let go of the one side and let Gene try and lift the heavy machine. To her suprise he didn't fall over, in fact he lifted the whole thing off the ground. He was flying, albeit somewhat shakely.
"I need to get the hang of flying, so this should be a good test. Thanks Starfire, for letting me help." He began moving forward, slowly at first, but began picking up speed slowly.
"Where to?" He called to Starfire after a few minutes. He was following her, but didn't really think about where they could be heading. She turned around, still flying, and pointed at the T-car, some three hundred yards ahead. They were flying low, close to the water, and the T-car was in hovermode heading toward a 'T' shaped building a ways ahead. "Thanks." Gene had wished he had a way to speed things up, but was unwilling to seem overeager about getting to the tower. He was also weaving a bit, but he just chalked it up to having no experience flying at forty five miles per hour, or at all for that matter.
Stafire landed near a door on the tower, followed by Gene ten feet from where she landed. The T-car drove around to the side and went into the garage. Starfire put her palm to a plate near the door, and the door slid open. She walked inside, followed by Gene carrying the robot that he previously hit with an iron bar. 'Life sure is funny. First I knock this thing out, now I'm carrying it up to the top floor of a large tower.'
After levitating himself up the stairs to the top floor, he heard the others talking. 'I really shouldn't eavesdrop, but with my hearing, I just can't help it.' He sat down as quietly as he could, setting the robot next to him.
"Starfire, we can't just let him into the Titans just because he helped us with Slades robots. If we did, we'd have the entire police force with us." Raven was speaking in her usual monotone, but was clearly bothered by Starfire asking if Gene would be joining the Titans.
"Ravens right Star. Just because he helped us out, that doesn't mean he's Titans material. If he wants to join, he'll have to prove that he has what it takes. The same goes for you, Jinx. Your qualified, but you still have to pass some tests." Robin was clearly annoyed, having to mediate Starfire and Raven about Gene.
"He does seem powerful, but until he can fully control his powers he would be a danger to himself and to the team." Raven was tired and it could be heard faintly in her voice, but only if one were actively listening for it.
Gene decided to get the machine up there. He couldn't keep waiting forever. He walked through the door, and all conversation stopped.
"Heres the 'bot. Where should I put him?" The Titans looked at Gene like he was a different person. "What? Have I got something in my teeth?"
"Gene? What color were your eyes the last time you checked?" Robin sounded calm, but was actually somewhat nervous.
"Hazel. Why?" Genes was now feeling very dizzy. 'I need to set this thing down, and fast. I don't know what's going on, but I feel too weak to keep this up much longer.'
"Gene, your eyes aren't hazel anymore." Robin started to walk toward Gene, but as he took the first step, Gene dropped the Slade bot.
"Sorry about that, but I think all that flying overdid it. I think I need to lay down." As Gene finished the sentence, he fell forward, unconcious.
Gene awakened in the infirmary the next morning, but kept his eyes closed.
'What happened? Was that a dream, or did it really happen?' He opened his eyes. It was dark, but he could see, though only black and white. 'Darkvision, gotta love it. Too bad the lenses fused directly to my eyes.' He sat up, but still felt slightly dizzy and weak. 'I can't do much, but at least I can look around.'
"Gene? Are you awake?" A tired voice came from nearby, and Gene looked slowly around to see who it belonged to. After searching for a moment he saw Jinx laying on a sofa across the room. She had been chosen to watch Gene for the night and report any changes.
"Yeah. Still dizzy though. I don't think walking is going to happen soon." He watched as Jinx sat up and stretched. "How long was I out?" Jinx stood up and pushed a button on the wall, then looked up at a clock on the wall.
"Thirteen hours, give or take. It's Seven A.M. now. I volunteered to watch you and let Cyborg know about any changes." She pushed another button on the wall, and the lights came on. She winced at first, her eyes adjusting to the light. "So your eyes were hazel the last time you checked?"
"Yeah, at least they were the last time I checked. Have they changed?" Jinx picked up a hand mirror and handed it to him. Gene looked and saw that his eyes were now a very bright silver, as was his hair. "Wow. That's something you don't see happen all too often."
The door at the other end of the room opened and Cyborg walked in. "How's he doing Jinx?"
"Well, aside from the obvious, nothing. I thought that you'd want to talk to him." Jinx smiled and walked back to and sat on the couch as Cyborgs red eye glowed brighter.
After a minute of Cyborg looking Gene over he sighed. "Looks like you were just exhausted. I thought that that magic of yours was taking a lot out of you. Looks like I was right." Gene looked at his hands, which rested in a folded position before him.
"Yeah. I read that those spells used a lot of Mani, but I thought that if I just used the Mani in the air I wouldn't get so tired. Looks like I overestimated myself here too." Gene closed his eyes and sighed.
Cyborg looked at Jinx, who shrugged. "Gene? What exactly is Manny?"
Gene laughed under his breath. "Now it makes sense. I wondered why there was so much of it in the air. This explains it." He chuckled, loud enough to hear this time.
Cyborg was worried he'd missed something on his scan. "What's so funny?"
Gene stopped laughing. "Mani are magic particles that are thousands of times smaller than dust. When concentrated in large enough amounts, certain kinds of magic is made possible. They are a by product of Mana, the force that allows life to exist. Mani alone are not enough to cast the kind of spells I used, but when combined with a bodies Mani and Mana, such spells are easy to use. Are you with me so far Cyborg?"
Cyborg thought about it for a few seconds, then nodded. "Yeah. Mani, combined with Mana let you use magic. I don't get the whole Mana being what lets us live, but I get the magic part."
Gene nodded. "Good enough. It took me a few hours to accept that part as well. How about you Jinx? You with us?"
Jinx nodded. "Yeah. I've heard of Mana. I even tried to use Mana based spells once, though they didn't work out too well. I couldn't focus enough Mana for any serious spells. Now I know why."
Gene smiled. He was no longer dizzy and looked at his shoulders. He was still wearing his shirt, and could tell he still had his pants. 'Good. No chance of being caught off guard there.' He pulled the blanket to the side and put his legs over the side.
"Hold on there shiny. You shouldn't move around too much. We don't need you collapsing again." Cyborg made to move, but Gene held up his right hand.
"I'm fine Cyborg. I just used to much of my own Mana yesterday. I overestimated myself. I thought since there was so much Mani in the air I could use more spells than I did. I did that in my world, and I never forgave myself. I let down Folgoreste." Gene looked at the cieling for a second before looking at Cyborg, then stood up. "And before you ask, Folgoreste is one of the gods I worship. He is the god of battle and justice. He serves with eleven other gods in what is called 'The Council'. I worship them all, but mostly Folgoreste. Everyone I know worships at least one specific member of the council, and I really don't care who worships who."
Cyborg looked satisfied with that answer. "So, you're sure you'll be okay? No chance of falling down?" He was grinning slightly.
"Yes Cyborg. I'd even be willing to sign papers to that effect, even a wager if it'll get you to let me walk around." Gene saw the grin and thought that Cyborg was up to something.
"Good. Robin wants to see you and Jinx after breakfast in the training room. I'll show you the way there, but first I'll show you a breakfast you won't soon forget!" Cyborg was grinning ear to ear. Clearly he liked cooking.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Gene followed Cyborg to the door then stood beside the frame.
Jinx looked at Gene with a perplexed look. "Why'd you stop? I thought you were hungry."
Gene smiled. "I am, but as a gentlemen, I must say 'ladies first." He held out his left hand and did a slight bow, like a butler.
Jinx giggled and walked out the door. "Thanks Gene." She giggled until she was out into the hall.
'Always leave them laughing. Heh. Works every time.' Gene walked out and followed Cyborg and Jinx to the main room. The first thing he noticed was a screen with a polygonal shape like the robot he carried in. He looked around, and sure enough, the robot was standing against a special holding brace with wires connected to it.
Robin was reading the data on the screen when he heard Gene and Jinx sit down, though he thought it was Jinx and Cyborg. "How's Gene? Stable?" He had no way to prepare for what came next.
"I'm fine thanks. How's the 'bot? Busted?" Gene was smiling as Robin turned around. "What? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Should you be up? Cyborg said that you should rest for at least another day." Robin walked over to the table and looked at Gene intently, as if he expected Gene to drop dead right there.
"I'm okay, I just over did it with the spells. I'll fill you in later on the specifics, maybe in the training room." Gene looked over to the robot. It's visible eye was looking around the room. "We have a problem." Gene stood up and turned toward the now moving RoboSlade.
"Cyborg, you told me that thing couldn't activate again." Robin pulled a staff from his belt.
Cyborg charged his right sonic cannon. "I told you it shouldn't have been able to, not couldn't." The robot was walking toward Gene.
"Looks like he has a bone to pick with me. I'll handle him." Gene cracked his knuckles outward, at the robot.
"You just left the infirmary. You shouldn't exert youself." Robin began walking to the robot, which had picked up the broken sword that Robin recovered to run tests on.
"Thanks for bringing the sword Robin, but next time you might want to hide it. You go ahead and fight it, but if it looks like its going to hurt you, I'll step in." Gene stepped to the side so Robin could take a shot at it.
Robin jumped forward and swung the staff down as hard as he could, but the robot blocked it, followed by a kick to Robins stomach. Gene stepped forward, but Robin motioned for him to stop.
"I can handle this." Robin stood up and blocked the sword as the robot swung.
"Very good Robin. I see you've been training. I only wish to speak with your new friend. I've taken full motion cotrol of this unit, so you don't stand a chance on your own, and you know it. Step aside, and you can run all the tests you want. If not, even if you win, you lose the information this robot contains." This voice ran a chill up Genes spine. It sounded familiar.
"I say we hear what he has to say. Talking never hurt anyone. Besides, I'd like my sword back so I can fix it." Gene walked down the steps toward the robot, which turned the sword so the handle was toward Gene.
"Thank you. The Titans always think the worst of me. Even when I just wish to talk. Here is your sword, Mr..."
Gene grabbed the handle in his left hand. "I'm Gene. Who're you?"
The voice chuckled, which sent another chill up Genes spine. "My name is Slade. I train powerful warriors to their fullest potential, and I see much potential in you." Slades voice was almost unnaturally calm, as though he had known Gene many years.
"I'm not going to lie Slade, your voice creeps me out. You sound calm, like a business man trying to close a deal." Gene made no effort to hide this fact.
Slade chuckled again, sending even more shivers to Gene. "Sorry about that, but that is who I am. And since you seem so troubled, I cut straight to the point. I'm looking for an apprentice. Interested? I can help you harness your powers and bring you to your full abilities."
"I'd like to control these powers better, but I think I'll stick with the Titans. If your robots were trying to kill them, your probably someone I wouldn't get along with. I'll be perfectly blunt, you seem evil, and I was raised to fight evil. I'd likely end up causing you bodily harm within days. Thanks, but no thanks. Don't try to tempt me. When I make up my mind, it stays that way, come Hell or high water."
The robot raised it hands in defeat. "Okay then Mr. Gene. I know when I'm beat. If you do change your mind, use the communicator in this robot to let me know. It's located under the face plate, just talk at the screen." Slade made the robot walk back to the stand and re-secured it. The eye went white.
"Well. That is that." Gene spun the sword in his hand and set it down on the table the robot took it from. "When your done with the tests on the sword, let me know Robin. I need to fix the blade." He walked up to the table and sat down. "Cyborg? Fire in the pan."
Cyborg turned around and saw that his pancakes had somehow caught fire in the pan. "No! My pancakes! Now I have to start over."
Jinx was looking at Gene. She had heard that Slade never gave up on getting an apprentice, but he had admitted defeat easily. She looked at Gene, who was now spinning a spoon on the end of his index finger. Just who could he really be? Her thoughts were cut short by Cyborg setting a plate of sausages in front of her, followed by a plate of waffles and a glass of orange juice. He set Genes and Robins and his own. Everyone else was eating, so she decided to think about it later. She dug in to her waffles while Cyborg challenged Robin to a waffle eating contest.
Gene however was thinking. If he played his cards right, he could get Slades training, and put him in jail. Surely the Titans would help him with that. 'All I need to do is think of a way to convince Slade I said that for the Titans, pretend to move out of the tower, keep contact with them, and find Slade. If this works, I should able to gain better control of my power as a bonus.' He smiled as he drank his orange juice.
I think this chapter is the longest yet, but this thing doesn't have a word counter. I have the first two chapters of my original story ready, but I need to think about having someone Beta it first. After I'm done with that I'll post it and wait for peoples opinions of it. I warn you that it starts out kind of odd, but that will be cleared up after a while. I hope you all like it.