Zatrion Presents…

Of Ninjas, Titans, and Specters

You should know by now that I don't own Teen Titans, Ninja Turtles, or Mortal Kombat. Talleon, Zatrion, Tek-NOS and Nekros are my property, however.

Note: "Talking", Thinking, "Mind Speech", Communicator

Chapter 5: Pain

Jump City Streets – 9:26 AM

This is impossible! How can 4 measly teenage fleshbags do this to me? Tek-NOS is buried under tons of rubble and metal debris. I am unstoppable! He tries to move, only to find that he is damaged to a debilitating degree. My plasma cannon is junked, and my micro-dart launcher is useless. My arms and legs are down to 75 of their initial power.

If robots could smile, Tek-NOS would be doing so.

I've been waiting for a challenge. I've been too overconfident in my abilities, and underestimating those of my enemies. The ones in the past were predictable, easy to manipulate. But these ones, these ones are different. They are random, yet organized. Perhaps a greater study of them is needed. With a nod, he begins to stir.

1111

In the Netherrealm…

"I'm curious, Talleon. Some time ago, you said that you were well over 500 years old." Noob grabs his Troll Hammer, and places it upon his back.

"That I am." Talleon is once again in a meditative stance.

"How is that possible? Normal humans perish before they even reach 100 years of age."

"You of all people should know that I am far from any human." Talleon's piercing red eyes are directed to Noob's face.

Noob's eyes are equally piercing, only they are pitch-black. "What are you, then? Edenian, Outworlder? Perhaps you come from the realm of Seido, or even the realm of Chaos? Maybe you really are native to the Netherrealm."

"I originally came from the realm Arkoth, the antithesis of Jugon."

"But you now rule that realm. Pray tell, how did you conquer it?"

"By force and cunning, my disciple. How else?" Talleon tilts his head back, his eyes closed and a smile upon his face. The moment passes quickly, however, and Talleon once again stares at the realm viewer crystal. "But that will have to wait. Tek-NOS is rising."

"Do you believe that he will succeed, Master?" Noob's eyes are also fixed on the realm viewer crystal.

"There many be a chance that he may, but more likely he will go berserk and slay the child."

"I still wonder how the child is able to cross the boundaries between the realms without the assistance of the gods."

"Does it really matter?" Talleon's eye are once again fixed on the ebony ninja.

Noob looks up to the ceiling. "It doesn't anymore."

"I thought as much." Soon, Talleon is meditating.

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Jump City – Unknown Location

"So, these "Titans" are more than capable warriors. The question is, will they bow before me before they die?"

Nekros is peering into an energy sphere, showing the Titans. He has secluded himself away from the city by heading into its cavernous underbelly. While only a short time has passed since he and Tek-NOS had their argument, his secluded lair seems to be ancient.

"It amazes me that this world seems to be so similar to Jugon. Yet, I loathed that place for its emphasis on technology." Nekros walks around, taking in the dankness of the place. "This place is so similar, yet the magical potential of the very ground holds great merit."

"Nekros, what are you doing?" Nekros closes his eyes and concentrates. We can see his spirit leave his body and dive deep into the earth. Soon, he arrives within the Netherrealm.

"Talleon, what do I owe this distinct honor?" The sarcasm in his voice is evident, yet Talleon overlooks it.

"You have violated my word, and thus my law! Those who violate my laws must pay the price." Talleon's psychic voice is fierce, like the roar of a lion and the sound of a rushing waterfall. His body is dormant within the Dorfen, yet his spirit is overhead, speaking to Nekros.

"I grow weary of you, Talleon. You lay claim to taking me from Death's very hand, yet I have never seen you do so to another." Nekros' psychic voice is serpent-like in nature.

"I do so when I feel it has merit. You don't think I can do such an act, can you?"

"I just find it that you refuse to bring back the very best bodies. What of Zatrion?"

"NEVER SPEAK THAT NAME!" Talleon's aura flares, pure red.

"You still fear him, even though his spirit and body are torn from each other."

"I do not fear anything."

"Then allow me one final power before I part ways with you. Give me your power of resurrection, and I shall create an army that could never be conquered. To refuse is to show fear, and as you said, you fear nothing." Nekros' spirit smiles the smile of the dead, showing decaying teeth.

"Nekros, you have been my most valued general. Reconsider."

"I was given the impression that you favored Tek-NOS, since his technology is everywhere in Jugon."

"That may be, but I was to hold you with the greatest honor I can give; leader of my Invasion Armies."

"Do not entice me with your false promises, Talleon. You may fool that wraith, but I know better."

"... Very well. I concede my powers of resurrection to you. Before I do so, you must swear two things on your honor."

"What may those be, former Master?"

"First, I wish to have the boy brought to me. He holds potential to be your successor. Bring him to me. If he is dead, resurrect him. "

"And the second?"

Talleon looks back down at the Dorfen. "The wraith wishes that certain warriors be spared from death."

"Why so?"

"So that he may kill them."

Nekros' spirit closes his eyes, taking his time. He answers, "I agree to the first, but I cannot to the second."

"To deny one request is to lose the power. Is that worth the risk?"

Nekros' eyes look at the spirit of Talleon. "How will I know which to spare?"

"While you may be able to use your powers on most of the population, the chosen ones will be immune to them."

"I do not like this, but I agree to the terms."

Talleon puts forth his left hand, and open it. Within is a small sphere of energy, not much larger than a grape. "This is the power of resurrection. Use it wisely, for it drains you of your life force."

"You forget, Talleon, but my life force is eternal."

Talleon looks upon Nekros. "Yes, that is true. But also know this; while you may bring their bodies back to life, their spirits remain, and as such, are just empty shells. And before you ask, you still have your spirit because it refused to leave the body."

"Yet I can feel that the power has the ability to return the souls to the bodies."

"That may be, but even I cannot access such power."

Nekros' spirit crosses his arms as a sign of impatience. "I see…"

"Now, receive the power!" The sphere floats off Talleon's hand and slowly enters the chest of Nekros' spirit. Soon, there is a violent scream, a seamless blend of ecstasy and anguish.

With that, Nekros finds himself back in his body. Raising his hand, he focuses his life force. It soon erupts, as a small green flame.

"Excellent."

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Jump City Streets – 9:30 AM

Hopefully that will take care of him. Robin looks down at the pile of rubble. If it doesn't, then I believe that we're done for.

"Robin, what is the matter?" Starfire hasn't seen him like this since he was taken by Slade.

"I hope it's over. But what if it isn't?" Robin looks back at her, his voice trembling.

"Just do not think about it." Why is he so scared? This isn't like him.

"Guys! Guys!" Beast Boy reaches them. Starfire turns her attention, and herself to him.

"Beast Boy, what's going on?" Robin turns around, his eyes focused on the green teen.

"He's not done! Whatever you do, don't…"

His message is interrupted by the sound akin to a gun blast. All three of them turn back to see a metallic fist rising out of the rubble.

"…Impossible." Robin's jaw drops in disbelief.

"Robin?" Starfire is also in shock, only she shows fear.

Beast Boy, obviously miffed, begins to whine. "Oh, man. What is it with the constantly returning villain? I swear, it's like we're in some sort of cartoon or comic."

In the realm between universes…

We see a young adult, no older than 18, typing on his computer, when suddenly…

sneeze! Either someone broke the fourth wall, or I got a cold. Meh, it's probably a cold. But just in case… He pulls out a small piece of paper and a pencil, and begins to doodle. If anything like that happens again, I'll… No, It'll never happen again. With that, he places on a set of headphones, and resumes typing.

Jump City Streets

"BB, next time you think something like that, I'll smack ya." Cyborg and Raven have finally reached the team.

"Where's the boy?" Robin notices the lack of the kid.

"He suspected that Mr. Shiny wasn't finished, so he decided to wait." Cyborg points his thumb back to the alleyway.

"Well, here we go again." Robin pulls out a backup Bo, and gets into fighting form.

Tek-NOS finally pulls out from beneath the tons of rubble, and the extent of his damage is apparent; his arms are sparking, while one of his legs has lost much of it's initial mass. His chest is heavily pitted, scorched and dented, while a small crack is around his entire head, above his visual receptors.

"I must give you credit. Very few have done this much damage to me, and the last time such damage was incurred was over 10 realm cycles ago." His speech is more warbled, due to the damage. "But I am afraid that playtime is over." His left arm thrusts back behind him and grabs the closest vehicle, which happens to be a vacated gasoline tanker.

"Give it up, Tek-NOS. You're outnumbered." Robin stands ready, as do the other Titans

"Yet, you are outclassed. I stay true to the axiom, quality over quantity." With those words, his nanotechnology begins to activate.

"You can't lift that in your current condition. Right now, you have to be at the very most 75." Cyborg states this instead of asking a rhetorical question.

"Who said anything about lifting it?" Behind him, the tanker begins to be absorbed into Tek-NOS. Soon, the only things that remain are the wheels. No metal, no gasoline. Anything that could be of use to him, he absorbed.

"God Modder!" Beast Boy yells out.

In the realms between universes…

Sneeze! "Okay, this is getting annoying!" The boy get up and… suddenly runs to the bathroom, but not before knocking his left knee into the nearby sofa. "Dammit!"

A few minutes later…

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I have to find out what's making me sneeze." The boy sits down once again, and begins to think about what has occurred. It seems that someone, or something, is pissed about me is some way, shape or form. What did I do? Perhaps it's my cold… Nah! Although, I should know better than to cavort out in the snow in only my shorts and sleeveless. Getting the shivers just thinking about it, he rubs his arms.

"AH! I got it! I need to give him a flamethrower." Sitting back down in front of his computer, he begins to type again.

Jump City Streets

"BB, shut up! Now is not the time for your senseless blathering!" Cyborg looks back at him, his Sonic Cannon aimed at Tek-NOS.

"This isn't right! He has to have some kind of weakness, but each time we do something drastic, the rules change! It's as if…"

"Stop! Just don't say it." Cyborg's yell make Beast Boy go chibi.

"Hmmm…" Tek-NOS takes quick inventory of his absorption. Since his leg was the most severely damaged, it received the most repairs. Soon his legs are back in pristine condition, while his arms are moderately changed. His chest receives very little repair, and his head gets none at all. Looking at his gauges, he finds himself at 90, and something extra; the gasoline. Liquidous carbon form, very combustible when in a vapor and combined with air. I wonder… His right arm morphs into a two-pronged weapon, one higher than the other, while the lower one is slanted upward.

"Now what's he planning?" Robin looks at the arm and sees something unexpected; a small electrical spark emanating from the lower prong. A taser? Let's just hope… He then sees a small flame appear from the top prong. "Watch it, he's got a flamethrower!"

"Ah, man! That's just not fair!" Cyborg begins to whine.

"I told you, Cy, I told you!" Beast Boy regains his composure.

"Well, are all of you going to attack me, or do you realize your futility?" Tek-NOS looks down at his newly acquired weapon, his head slanted. "Perhaps you can finally let me finish my objective."

"Forget it. He wants to be left alone." Raven levitates over her teammates, her dark aura covering her hands and her eyes pure white.

"I have tarried too long with you lot. I must complete my mission, so if you don't mind, move."

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Raven recites her mantra and launches dark magic bolts that strike his head, and envelop his body in smoke. When the smoke clears, Tek-NOS is still standing, only the top of his head is missing. Instead of there being a gaping hole, or a cavity filled with circuitry, there is a small jar. Within that jar lies a brain suspended in a green liquid.

"Gross!" Beast Boy turns a darker shade of green, covers his mouth, and runs off to an alley. We hear his retching off-screen.

"I did not see that coming." Starfire also looks unwell, but is handling it much better than Beast Boy (who just returned).

"Hmph. If you think that's bad, wait until you meet my brother." Tek-NOS looks down at the top of his metal head, then looks back at Raven. "I never suspected you of holding such powerful dark magic. I can tolerate fleshly beings to some extent, but I loathe magic!" He then pulls out a small bar from his back. Pressing a button on it, it converts into an energy axe. Looking at it for a moment, he then throws it at the raven-haired empath.

1111

Well, Tek-NOS' little secret has been revealed. Will this push him over the edge? And who is the boy in front of the computer? Comedy relief, or an actual part of the story?

Before I stop, let me say this: WHERE THE HELL IS MY WHITE CHRISTMAS? Where I live, White Christmas was almost guaranteed. It seems that God found it funny to make it cold, but absolutely no snow! This is absolute… you know. Sorry about my tirade, but I just hate the dullness of this winter. Where's the chance to slide in some fresh powder?

REVIEW, AND REJOICE!