"I have no memories I'm prepared to share with you."
Peter O'Toole
Titans Phantom
Chapter 5: The Sum of Memories
"Danny."
"Yeah, Sam?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Killing you."
It was early in the morning as Raven made her way to the Bookstore, the air still holding the rain's scent from the storm. The rest of the Titan's were still at home sleeping and Raven couldn't blame them, it had been a long night. But she found she could not sleep. Her mind was plagued by Phantom. She could see him, hear him, taste his power, and yet she could not feel him. It was as if he were a ghost, as if his heart and mind were not there standing in front of her. And yet he was, he was here, all of her senses telling her he was. Raven just couldn't reach him. This had never happened to her before. If Phantom truly was a spirit of some sort, then she should be able to feel his obsession, she should feel his heart. But Phantom held no such obsession, he held no desire, and yet he was filled with life. He existed. Why? What was keeping him here? And why could she not feel his aura. She arrived at the bookstore, only it was closed. Taking a look, Raven did see that it was only closed on Sundays but today was Tuesday. It should be open. Sighing Raven turned to leave mindful of the small glass fragments that still littered the streets, when she noticed a small black button beside the handle of the door. Looking at it she realized it must be the door bell, after all Cyborg did say that Danny lived in the basement. Raven debated if the store was closed then that must mean Danny was at school, but then how could the store be open by nine every morning? Curious Raven rang the doorbell and waited.
She heard the muffled chime as it rang through the store, its sound slipping out from the broken window. Raven wasn't sure how long she stood there, and was about to leave when she heard a door open; Danny walking down the aisle rubbing his eyes tiredly, he didn't even look up until he reached the door and seeing that it was Raven turned the lock to allow her inside. He must have given up trying to avoid talking with the Titans. The store was dimly lit, the only light filtering in from the windows, the smell of rain and paper filling her nose, moving around the store bringing her eyes back to Danny, who had flopped down on one of the nearby couches. Raven joined him, sitting down by his feet, which were covered with thick black socks, lowering her hood Raven sat there taking in Danny's appearance. He was wearing a long baggy jacket with a black under armor shirt to hide his arms, on his left hand he had wrapped white bandages around his fingers and palm, he wore deep blue baggy sweat pants that looked maybe a half a size to big. Overall his clothes made him look frail. As if he could shatter at the slightest touch and it didn't help that Danny had his right arm thrown over his face, shielding his eyes from the sun, his black messy hair looking like he'd just woken up. As Raven watched him, her overall impression was that he looked sick.
"Are you sick? Is that why you're missing school?" She asked with this Danny raised his arm showing two blue laughing pools. Danny did laugh out loud, until it turned into a slight cough. Raven sat there pondering the idea that maybe he was on drugs.
"Sorry, no I'm not sick; it's just a monster headache. And I graduated from high school last year," he said closing his eyes from the sun as Raven concluded that he was not on drugs, just in a lot of pain.
"Then you are a lot older than you look," Raven said looking at Danny trying to picture him as voter in California.
"No, I'm sixteen. I graduated when I was fifteen," he said opening his eyes and looking at her with slight annoyance.
"Then they must have done that to get rid of you. Were you too stupid for school?" Raven said for some reason she liked seeing him looking at her with such annoyance. It was better than him just lying there looking…dead. Danny gave a snort of irritation, now fully glaring at her although not quite pulling it off, the shadows under his eyes.
"No, I graduated because the school was too stupid for me. Ever heard of young geniuses?" He asked.
"Yes. But most of them are twitchy little things being held in underground government facilities, playing video games and designing jetpacks while trying their hands at online dating," she said. Danny gave a brief laugh.
"Wow. Didn't peg you out to be a conspiracy theorist," Danny said.
"And I didn't make you out to be a genius. And I'm not the conspiracy theorist, Beast Boy is. He thinks that's where all the smart people go, and why online dating exists," Raven said a smile forming on her face at the memory of BB telling the entire team that ridiculous idea.
"Please tell me you corrected him," Danny asked now really trying not to laugh.
"No, we tend to let him believe what he wants. He learns more that way when he discovers he's wrong," she said trying to hide her confusion as to why Danny was talking to her. She concluded it was from the pain when she saw him grimace at a ray of sun that seemed to like his face.
"I see," Danny replied now placing his arm back in front of his face. Raven looked around the store a slightly awkward silence setting in between them. She wanted him to speak again.
"Why are you not open today?" She asked her eyes falling back to Danny who was now staring at her from under his arm.
"Headache. Didn't feel like dealing with all of the customers today," with this Danny stood, swaying slightly he made his way over to the café and poured himself a glass of water, Raven followed noting how he favored his left leg.
"Is your leg injured?"
"Yeah, fell down the stairs last night and hit my head. Why do you think I have the headache?" He said looking at her, his emotions hidden just behind the wall. Raven sighed she couldn't reach him as well.
"I see," Raven said as her communicator went off. Looking back to Danny she saw him grimace at the sound, but otherwise said nothing when she answered it. Robin was on the other end.
"Hey, we need you back at the Tower," he said. Raven nodded as he hung up.
"I need to go. And I hope you feel better," she said pulling on her hood as she made her way to the door Danny following.
"Thanks," he said and with this he watched Raven fly off. Danny relocked the door and turning, floated back to the other side of the room, down the stairs and over to his room where he then phased out of his jacket and shirt, revealing red stained bandages running along his left arm and up his shoulder. Sitting down on his bed, he carefully removed the black sock on his right foot hissing in pain as he pulled at some of the new skin cells. Danny shifted, rolling onto his stomach so as not to disturb the burns that snaked across the back part of his right leg. He would have to change the bandages soon, Danny knew this, but once his head hit the soft pillow his mind drifted away into unconsciousness, the dull beat of the headache slowly fading with every breath he took, until Danny felt no more.
"A picnic, you demanded I return home so we can have a picnic," Raven said as she looked at Robin, who was smiling sheepishly. Raven continued to glare at him and the rest of the team.
"You know you want to," Cyborg said smirking as he walked up behind her holding a huge brown picnic basket. Raven sighed and followed the group out Starfire joining her side.
"Friend Raven, where were you?" She asked.
"I went to Danny's store, but it was closed," Raven replied.
"Was Danny at school?" Robin asked, although now that he thought about it, it was weird that Danny said to enjoy 'my' store. Did he own it?
"No. Danny graduated from school when he was fifteen," at this Robin was impressed.
"Is not friend Danny alright?" Starfire asked, concerned for him.
"He's fine he just has a headache from falling down some stairs and an injured leg." Raven said at this Beast Boy burst out laughing.
"Dude, even I'm not that clumsy!" BB said at this Cyborg stuck his foot out as they made their way down the sidewalk heading to the park, effectively tripping Beast Boy who landed on his face.
"Oh look, you're on the sidewalk; guess it means you're clumsier," Cyborg said as the Titans all walked past BB who promptly pulled himself off the ground.
"Not cool! And that doesn't count! I'm not clumsy!" He said chasing after them.
The park was beautiful, this day was beautiful. The breeze was cool, the sun was shining and Cyborg was cooking four and a half pounds of ribs. People were everywhere enjoying life itself. Robin and Starfire were talking on a park table while making sandwiches, Raven was meditating under an old oak tree a boxed salad by her side with slices of ham and eggs in it, a travel mug of herbal tea, and Beast Boy, well Cyborg wasn't sure, but the little grass stain was somewhere.
"Would you look at that? A little sunshine, a little breeze only one thing could make this day better, four and a half pounds of Baby Back Ribs!" Cyborg said as he made his way over to the table where Robin was eating a burger and Starfire was drinking from a yellow bottle, but Cy didn't notice that, he was too busy admiring his handy work.
"Man, I love picnic food!" He said.
"Agreed Cyborg. This tangy yellow beverage is truly delightful," Starfire said as both Cyborg and Robin realized that she was drinking mustard, both stopped eating at that.
"Ugh Starfire," Cy said
"That's mustard." Robin said grossed out.
"Is there more?" She said smiling neither Titan answered.
Meanwhile back at the grill, a little green raccoon made his way over to the grill from a nearby tree branch and dropped down onto the ground grabbing his lunch and transforming back into Beast Boy.
"Sweet my tofu dogs are cooked to perfection. Yo, Raven, try one! They're loaded with soy-beanie goodness," Beast Boy called waving his hot dogs in the air.
Raven only stared. "I respect that you don't eat meat, please respect that I don't eat fake meat." At this Beast Boy shrugged and gobbled down his hot dogs and Cyborg ran past him holding a football.
"Alright ya'll, who wants to play some football!" Everyone instantly joined Robin and Cyborg on a team, Beast Boy and Starfire on the other, Raven saying she'd be referee. With this the game started.
"Red 23 hut, Hut!" Robin called as Cyborg passed him the ball running down the field being chased by Starfire. As Robin prepared to throw it, Beast Boy began counting up in Gotham Cities as Cy continued to run.
"You can run, you can fly, but you can't catch Cy!" Cyborg yelled. Starfire's eyes an electric green as she prepared to intercept to ball.
"Four Gotham City, FIVE GOTHAM CITY!" BB yelled charging at Robin as a giant Triceratops, Robin yelled out in surprise but jumped onto Beast Boy spinning in the air and throwing the football as hard as he could straight for Cyborg's waiting arms.
"I got it! I got it! I…" Cyborg never got to finish, for his world went black as he shut down. He came crashing to the ground. His armor going black, his red eye shutting down as his human one closed in sleep.
Danny woke up in pain, for somehow he had managed to roll onto his back during sleep and irritate his wounds.
"Ow!" Danny yelled as he quickly floated up into the air, landing on the ground balancing on his left foot to avoid any extra pain. Frustration set on his face 'what was the point of recovering if he couldn't even sleep?' Mentally cursing his mind, Danny set off to the bathroom to change his bandages before heading out. Danny wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep, but looking at the clock he realized that it was past one. Grabbing his keys and sketchpad he headed out ignoring the burn of his flesh.
"Sam you've never killed me." Danny said looking at her through the darkness, Tucker had gone home long ago. But Sam shook her head and looked up to the stars as if the Heaven's themselves were condemning her.
"Yes I did. I convinced you to go in that portal, and I did again when I realized that we were all still in danger from Desiree and the other ghosts. I sacrificed you to protect us. I killed you Danny." With this she buried her head in her hands, her shoulders beginning to tremble from the tears that threatened to spill. Danny felt his heart tear in two, yes he was partially dead, but Sam hadn't killed him with this in mind he pulled her forward peeling her hands away from her face replacing them with his own.
"Sam. Sam, look at me," he said his voice soft and strong. She shuddered and met his eyes with hers.
"Sam, you didn't kill me. I did. I would have gone into that portal with or without your help, but if you and Tucker hadn't been there for me once I stepped out, I don't know what would have happened. And besides, when I stepped in the portal the second time I was still half ghost, Desiree couldn't strip that from me, even though she believed she did; she only made me forget." Danny finished rubbing away two small tears that fell from her eyes.
"But Danny I still gave you up. I wished you away."
"And yet you wished me back."
The blackness was ending. Cyborg was coming back to the sounds of his friends who all sounded very worried, although why, Cyborg had no idea.
"Cyborg, are you alright?" Robin asked as he and Starfire helped him up.
"Yeah, thanks," he said.
"What happened?" Raven asked looking up at him in concern.
"Something must have gone wrong with my systems," Cyborg said taping a built in screen in his arm to scan for the problem, which instantly appeared.
"Ah man my power cell's dying," he said irritated.
"Dying!" Starfire freaked. Her friend was dying!
"It's only a battery, I'm fine, happens every couple of years just a natural part of being unnatural," Cyborg said shrugging it off like the wind or trying to at least.
"So what do we do?" Robin asked wanting to help, Cyborg bent down to retrieve the football and handed it to Robin.
"You keep playing; I have to go home and change batteries," he said walking off.
"You sure you don't want help?" Beast Boy asked.
"Just 'cause I can't have fun, doesn't mean ya'll can't."
And with this Cyborg left to head home, making his way across the grass and onto the stone path, it really was a nice day. As he continued to walk he noticed someone up ahead leaning on a tree, Cyborg knew who he was. Danny. Cyborg was shocked, he never imagined Danny to be the nature loving type, but there he sat a pencil and paper in hand drawing. Man, Raven really understated Danny's headache, the kid practically looked sick. Cyborg made his way towards him when he saw Danny close his eyes and lean his head back on a tree.
"Hey man, you alright?" Cy asked, making sure to note how long he had till his battery shut down. Twenty minutes. Danny opened his eyes.
"Yeah, you?" Danny asked a little annoyed.
"Yeah, did you injure your hand?" He asked noting the white bandages.
"When I fell down the stairs I strained my wrist, it should be fine in a couple of days," Danny said closing his eyes once more, praying that Cyborg would just go away. He did.
As Cy continued his walk a piece of the puzzle fell in place. Danny only answered questions he was asked, he never went into details. Cyborg asked about his hand and Danny told him, he didn't tell him about his headache or his leg. In fact, Danny never told them anything outside of what they asked, as if he didn't want them to know. It was like he didn't want anyone to know.
"Cyborg!" A voice called and turning Cyborg saw a kid no older than ten, dressed in baseball gear running up to him, school for them must have finally gotten out for the day.
"Whoa, Cyborg it's really you!" The kid said doing a double take at his hero to make sure it was him.
"You're my favorite 'cause look, you're just like me!" He said pulling off his gloved hand to reveal a brown prostatic hand that looked to extend past his wrist. What do you say to that? He never thought of himself as being disabled for his wires and bolts, but here this kid was saying they were just alike.
"Um yeah. I, I guess I am," he said trying to hide his shock. His communicator went off signaling an alert.
"Cool," the kid said as he watched his inspiration.
"Nice meeting you kid. But I got butt to kick!" Cyborg said running off to find the other Titans.
"Cool!" He yelled again, Cyborg was awesome! As Cyborg ran he checked his clock one more time, thirteen minutes and twenty-one seconds. He could do this.
The criminal was robbing Dan's Jewelry Store. Dan was tied up and gagged, hanging down from the ceiling screaming, as he watched the crazy blue magician stealing his gems. The magician turned around he had a big nose with a white mustache and a small pointy white beard with white hair that came to two points around his face. He probably was bald underneath his tall black hat. He wore a tuxedo with a yellow flower, no doubt designed to squirt water, he had on two white gloves and a bright red cape. On his face he had a mask exactly like Robins, but with the blue skin and pointy blue ears even his mother wouldn't be able to recognize him. His name was Mumbo.
"Thanks so much, you've been a wonderful audience. Now watch as the amazing Mumbo vanishes into thin air!" Mumbo said his voice annoyingly grating to the ears making anyone who heard him want to punch him in the face. But Dan couldn't, so he watched as Mumbo pulled out his toy wand, no seriously, that's what it looked like–Dan would swear to you –and waved it around, blue sparks flying out of its tip as Mumbo screamed.
"Mumbo Jumbo!" And Mumbo vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving Dan to wonder what the heck just happened and still tied to the ceiling.
Mumbo ran to Tito's Junkyard laughing all the way, looking like the blue form of the Tasmanian devil. Stopping when he felt it was safe after all, who would follow him to the junkyard? Snapping his fingers he made a beautiful diamond appear holding up an eyeglass to inspect it.
"Not bad for a matinee."
"Shows over Mumbo," Robin said, Mumbo gave a gasp of surprise overdramatically spinning around to look at the Titans.
"Now hand over the jewels before the critics decide to trash your performance." Mumbo gave an annoyed look at Robin, he really didn't like the Titans.
"Now Robin, I'm sure there's a peaceful solution here," Mumbo said as two small bombs appeared in his hands. "But this isn't it!" He screamed throwing them at the team, all dodging the flying bombs. As Robin landed on the dirt a safe distance away he felt someone reach out and grab his cape dragging him into a ditch.
"Who said you could start the fun without me?" Cyborg said smirking at the look on Robins face.
"Cyborg! What about your power cell?" Robin asked concerned, now over the fact that Cyborg startled him when he pulled him into the ditch, which he was thankful for because Mumbo was now throwing small bombs by the handfuls towards them, laughing all the way through. Starfire and Raven were hidden behind two other trash piles throwing star-bots and black magic at Mumbo every chance they got with Mumbo dodging all of them, including Beast Boy in his raptor form.
"Go home, get fixed, we can handle this without you," Robin ordered.
"I won't let you guys fight alone," Cyborg defended.
"And I won't let you put yourself in danger," Robin argued back.
"I got it covered, external battery pack," Cyborg said turning around to show four huge red batteries attached to his back. The cords wrapping around his arms, attaching around his chest then he activated his sonic cannon.
"Teen Titans, Go!" Cyborg yelled charging at Mumbo, firing slamming the blue man into a pile of trash, who screamed all the way. Mumbo stood brushing off his tux and pulling out colorful cloths all tied into a rope.
"Nothing up my sleeve! And Presto!" Mumbo screamed as they tied themselves around Cyborg slamming him into the ground. Mumbo clapped his hands as Robin came down from the sky preparing for a roundhouse kick, only he didn't make it.
"Need a hand?" Mumbo said sticking his arm up a pipe emerging on the other side, grabbing Robin by his cape suspending him in midair, he then was forced to dodge other hands as the attacked from different pipes.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven screamed. Her eyes glowing completely brilliant white as she launched three very big machines covered in black magic towards Mumbo, who simply changed the magic and turned them all into beautiful rose petals.
"You think that's good. Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat! Hocus Pocus!" He said aiming his hat and firing thousands of white stuffed bunnies at Raven, burying her in their cute fluffiness. Now she was mad. Beast Boy was defeated by thousands of cards that slammed into him, ironically when he was the ram.
"For my next trick I'll require a lovely assistant," Mumbo said as he pulled out a long brown cane which grabbed Starfire around the waist and pulled her to the ground placing her in a suspended brown box. Mumbo pulled out a very long saw, placing directly on the box's center.
"It's only fair to warn you, I have no idea what I'm doing," Mumbo said truthfully as Star struggled to free herself. Cyborg jumped in the way tackling Mumbo to the ground, sliding a good distance away.
"I hate fighting dirty, shall we clean you up!" Mumbo said his yellow flower shot out water throwing Cyborg off of him and into a giant dump truck. His battery pack broke off as it short circuited. Cyborg looked at it. His emergency alarm went off he had five seconds left. He stood; he needed to call for help, raising his arm in panic, his battery failed. And Cyborg knew no more, he just stood there as Mumbo dumped the trash down a bin that had a rusted out hole at the bottom and Cyborg fell into it. Robin ran to the dump truck, they had to get to Cyborg he was in that truck. But Mumbo drove away.
"Exit stage left!" Mumbo yelled while he sped off.
Robin chased after him but stopped when he realized he wouldn't be able to catch up, he waited for the rest of his team.
"Titans, he's got Cyborg!" With this they all raced after Mumbo, leaving Cyborg in the dark hole, where unbeknownst to them he slept, as mechanical beings with red eyes carried him away.
Danny was getting tired. He had been sitting at the park drawing when he felt sleep beginning to weigh him down. Closing his sketchbook, Danny tried to stand, but his muscles were too tired. His body needed sleep, and it was going to get it, Danny sank back down into the grass, his back pressed up into the tree. Strangely enough, it was comfortable or maybe his mind could no longer register how uncomfortable it was through its foggy haze. He felt his body shut down to sleep, as his conciseness tried to fight the tiredness, he needed to get home. If the dream came and he screamed, people would probably ask questions or think he was crazy, but the dream didn't come. And no one disturbed the raven haired boy sleeping on the tree, the warm wind ruffling his hair, for in his unwanted sleep Danny's face looked peaceful.
"Sam, when you first realized your mistake you didn't say 'Danny do you remember me I was the one who gave you your powers!' No, you told me you were my best friend. Of course then Desiree had to go and ghost up the place making me think you were really nuts by bringing up the whole ghost powers thing."
"I also did dress in pink," Sam stated shuttering at the idea causing Danny to laugh.
"Hey, you got my attention, but for both our sakes, I think you should just stick to your normal wardrobe. And we can file that under the never do that again category," Danny said as Sam burst into chuckles when she finally caught her breath, she looked at him with remorseful amethyst eyes.
"I'm sorry we had that fight," Sam said.
"So am I. I never realized how different my life would be without you Sam. And I'm glad that you wanted me to remember."
System Online: Charging. Cyborg awoke to bright lights lying in a dark room that looked to be more of a cavern. He was confused.
"You are operational, that is good," a strange man said. Cyborg turning his head to look at him from the operation table he was on, cords strapped into his main power cell.
"Ugh, what's going…" he tried to ask.
"Rest friend, your new power cell is not fully charged," spoke the man, Cyborg grabbed one of the large round lights and directed it into the darkness landing on many rows robots of all shapes and sizes as they, in turn, stared at him with bright red eyes.
"Who are you?" Cyborg asked.
"I am called Fixit." Fixit said as Cyborg muttered 'whoa' under his breath upon seeing all of the machines.
"You were broken, I have brought you here to be repaired," Fixit said the light finally falling on Fixit himself. He was tall, pale white and had a defined bone structure with ocean blue eyes rimmed in black designs, and in the center of his forehead a white blue circle with two identical lines running around his face. He wore black coils that started at his neck and ended at his shoulders, making his neck look longer than normal. Almost African in structure, underneath that was a simple deep blue robe that reached the floor, the long sleeves flowing past his hands in a bell shaped design. He looked lean, his voice was neither deep nor high, just… calm, and he flowed with unmoving ease, that was terrifying, yet calming all the same. He looked like the perfect robot.
"Where's here?" Cyborg asked looking up at man in confusion.
The Sun was high in the sky when the Titans finally caught the dump truck, but Cyborg wasn't inside.
"And his locater signal is being jammed," Robin said putting up his communicator. Robin was puzzled.
"This doesn't make sense. Why would Mumbo want to kidnap Cyborg?" Robin asked, Beast Boy spotted something and ran towards it.
"Guys! Over here I found something!" Beast Boy said picking up Mumbo's hat.
"I wouldn't…" Robin said but it was too late, thousands of doves flew out of the hat covering them all in white feathers.
"Way to go," Raven said annoyed. They went back to searching.
"Charging is complete. The new power cell is functioning properly," Fixit said scanning the power cell.
"Yeah, I'm feeling better. Lots better!" Cyborg said stretching his arms in the air.
"Of course you are. I am Fixit, things come to me broken, I make repairs," Fixit said making his way over to a pile of broken machines selecting different parts, standing up, Cyborg decided he should head home.
"Well thanks, for everything," Cyborg called making his way towards the door. Fixit stopped the levitating pieces he was planning to use. They clattered to the floor; all the robots now looked at Cyborg.
"You cannot leave," Fixit said approaching Cyborg.
"I can't'?" Cyborg asked.
"You are not repaired, not fully."
"I'm not?" Cy asked.
"My examination revealed many flaws, serious flaws," Fixit said his voice growing darker.
"Serious. How serious? What's wrong with me?" Cyborg asked panicking.
"There is no cause for alarm. More repairs are needed, more repairs will be made."
"But I feel fine. Are you sure I'm…"
"Quite. Will you remain? It is for the best," Fixit said turning back to the examination table.
"Well yeah, I guess. Let me just tell my friends where I am," With this Cyborg began to activate his communicator in his arm, he never noticed Fixit's eyes turn red along with the circle on his forehead the two blue lines following suite.
"Whoa! Something really is wrong with me." Cyborg said for he couldn't place the call, turning to Fixit whose eyes were now ocean blue once more.
"Rest now, you may contact your friends later. I'm sure they're not too concerned," Fixit said as Cyborg went to lie down on the table a sense of dread filling his heart.
"Maybe they should be."
The Titans were having trouble. They couldn't seem to catch the 'amazingly' annoying Mumbo. Even when he was leaving an easy trail to follow, the Titans all stopped when they noticed a disappearing bus and a mail box spitting out rabbits as a woman floated by, suspended in three rings. And still, no sign of Cyborg.
"I'll say this much for Mumbo: he's an easy act to follow," Beast Boy said trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, I would commit myself to a life of muck shoveling in the filth mines of Cornacks, if Cyborg could only be returned safely," Starfire said looking up to the sky.
"He was malfunctioning, he shouldn't have been helping," Raven said looking to Robin, but hiding her fear underneath her blue hood.
"I tried to stop him but he's Cyborg," Robin replied, at this Starfire sighed sadly.
"I wish the Phantom were here, he always knows how to help," Star said.
"Well he's not, and we need to stop relying on him every time he shows up," Robin snapping looking at the group seriously.
"Uh, whenever he shows up, it's usually to save our butts," Beast Boy said reminding him.
"And getting hurt in the process," Raven added, at this worry now filled all of their hearts, not only for Cyborg, but for Phantom as well. Were his burns even healed? Was he even alive? The Titans were pulled from their worries when they heard Mumbo yell not too loudly.
"Mumbo Jumbo!" And running around the corner of the street stood Mumbo as two ATM's poured out all of their money onto the concrete, once Mumbo noticed them he stopped laughing and bowed to them taking off his hat he said, "Sorry folks, no time of autographs." With this he sucked all of the money into his hat and ran off.
"Titans get him!" Robin yelled as the split up running down different alley ways. Raven was chasing Mumbo from behind, they came to a brick wall Mumbo yelled.
"Open sesame!" And the bricks disappeared allowing him through, but closed when Raven got there. Mumbo ran down another alley, where he screamed when he saw Beast Boy as a giant green bull. As BB charged, Mumbo pulled off his red cape and dangled it in front of him and right when BB got close, pulled it away to reveal a brick wall. Beast Boy really should have seen that coming, but Mumbo laughed transforming his hat into a sombrero while saying 'o lay!" He took off running again. Starfire began attacking from the sky firing down star-bolts, but he countered throwing a bouquet of flowers which promptly exploded in her face. Mumbo was nearing the end of the alley way when Robin landed his bow staff ready for attack,
"Abracadabra!" He yelled Robin's staff turned into a cobra which the Titan dropped. Mumbo raced up the stairs he was almost free, laughing at his soon to be clean get away.
"I don't get it? All my sensors say I'm fine," Cyborg said confused as he looked to Fixit standing in the shadows.
"Your sensors are incomplete, mine are more precise," Fixit said floating over to where Cyborg was laying on the table with cords attached to his chest, arms and head.
"Guess I'm just getting kind of nervous. How long am I going to be down here anyway?" Cyborg asked.
"Repairs could take some time; besides, why would you want to leave? Look around you, look at yourself, you belong with us," Fixit said as a glowing red cord attached to Fixit's central processor located in the center of his forehead.
"No I don't. I mean, you got a nice place here and you've been really cool to me, but I couldn't live down here. I don't know how you can?" Cyborg said confusion crossing Fixit's face.
"What do you mean? The power supply is adequate, replacement parts are easy to find," Fixit said looking around his cavern.
"I need more than that. What about sunlight? What about fresh air? What about food?" Cyborg said his voice bordering on panic.
"I do not require these things. And when repairs are complete neither will you," Fixit said and with this he floated away. The thing in his gut telling Cyborg to run was screaming at him now, he needed to leave, standing, he pulled out the cords connecting him the cavern.
"You know what, I'm feeling alright now, so thanks anyway but I'm just gonna go," he said making his way towards the door and away from the man who was making his stomach do back flips of fear.
"Stay," Fixit ordered his eyes going red once more, this time making the robots attack Cyborg and they began dragging him back to the lab table.
"Repairs are not yet complete. Your biological components are not perfect and must be replaced," Fixit said as a heavy metal door opened revealing new body armor and a mask that would cover the rest of his human face. Cyborg felt his heart jump into his throat, as fear consumed him while staring at his twin red eye. Fixit was going to make him a machine, Cyborg screamed.
"NO!" He fell into darkness, the red eye swallowing him whole.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Danny," Sam said leaning into him, pressing her head into his shoulder, Danny felt a bright red blush form across his face as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"So we're okay now?" He asked still afraid that Sam might still be blaming herself.
"Yeah, we're okay," She said sighing into his shoulder, it was then the two heard the snapping of a camera and turning they saw none other than their other best friend. With whom they were suddenly very mad at.
"TUCKER!" Both Sam and Danny yelled as he made a 'gah' noise while trying to make his escape.
Biological Components: Removed.
Repairs: Complete.
"Awaken friend. Awaken and see your new face," Fixit said Cyborg's twin red eyes opened to stare in a mirror, a mechanical being gazing back. Rage consumed him, he was human! He was HUMAN! Just like the little kid in the park, Cyborg wasn't just part machine, he was a human as well. Cyborg screamed and shattered the mirror his now metal body falling into blackness.
"AGHHH!" Cyborg yelled waking from his nightmare, he breathed.
"Do not be afraid, you were dreaming. Sleep will not be necessary once repairs are complete," Fixit said floating over to the mask to continue working on it.
"What if I don't want to be repaired! What if I like ME this way!" Cyborg said trying not to let his panic show as he struggled against his restraints.
"Such thoughts come from your imperfect biological components. They will be replaced momentarily," Fixit stated.
"Not if I can help it," Cyborg said.
Mumbo was almost there, just a few more roof tops and he'd be scotch free. So busy throwing silly hexes at Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy Mumbo never noticed Robin racing on top of another building until the magician had his wand snatched right out of his hand by him, and snapped in two. It gave a resounding crack and Mumbo screamed, all of his spells coming undone. The money reappearing along with the jewels, Mumbo crying while his hat shrunk down, and disappeared along with his tux and blue skin. Until all that remained was a Mumbo with grey hair, dressed as a magic shop owner, with brown pants and suspenders a white shirt underneath. No one paid attention to this. Robin was too angry, he wanted his friend back. Robin grabbed Mumbo by his suspenders and pulled him up glaring.
"No more tricks! Where, is, Cyborg!" Robin growled menacingly.
"How should I know?" Mumbo stuttered.
"Where is he!" Robin screamed.
"You took him from the junkyard!" Raven stated, trying to control her emotions.
"What have you done with him!" Starfire said.
"Nothing honest! When you broke the wand you broke all my spells, even if I had done something, it'd be over now. Poof! He'd be standing right here!" Mumbo explained raising his hands in surrender. Robin let him fall to the ground, looking to Beast Boy who started speaking.
"If Cyborg's not with him then he's still at…"
"The JUNKYARD!" All of the Titans exclaimed. Not getting any of this, Mumbo smiled and proceeded to try and get himself out of trouble.
"So do I still have to go to jail?" Mumbo asked he was met with four angry glares.
"I thought so," Mumbo said, well it was worth a try.
Cyborg was struggling to get loose. Fixit stopped working on the mask.
"I am ready. We will begin now," he said.
"Perfect timing," Cyborg growled and with a burst of strength he broke through the restraints and made a dash for the door. But Fixit stopped him, his eyes turning red as he shut the steel cased door. Cyborg gasped and turned to face Fixit, he was running out of options.
"I didn't want to have to do this but…" Cy stopped speaking, he activated sonic cannon, but it shut down.
"Your defensive systems have been disabled for the procedure. They will be reactivated when repairs are complete," Fixit stated.
Frustrated Cyborg ran towards him prepared to knock him out, but was stopped by the other robots which wrapped their coils around him and stopping him just short of reaching Fixit. Cyborg stretched his hand out and grasped the clock around Fixit and tore it away. Revealing a man who was completely robotic, his green organs surrounded by thousands of wires. Cyborg gasped in horror as he was dragged onto the table.
"The biological malfunctions are growing worse. We must begin at once," Fixit said replacing his deep blue robe.
Robin leaped down into the giant hole.
"His battery pack, he must have fallen down here," Robin said looking up at his team, who quickly joined him in the darkness where the rays of sunlight could not reach.
"Star can you give us some light?" Robin asked with this Starfire lit a star-bolt around her hand and they made their way deeper into the cave, calling out there best friend's name. They weren't sure how long they had been walking, when out of the darkness came hundreds of robots all with gleaming red eyes.
"Whoa, any of you guys seen a dude about this tall, with one red eye, and Titanium body armor?" Beast Boy asked, it didn't help, the robots advanced.
"Teen Titans Go!" Robin called with this they began to fight. While Star's attacks only lighting up the dark in brief flashes as they cut through the army to get to their friend.
Fixit was ready; he went over to retrieve the mask and brought it over to a still struggling Cyborg, his eyes widened in fear at its sight.
"Do not resist, it is for the best," Fixit said covering the rest of Cyborg's face in metal his human eye just visible through the glow of the red eye covering it, showing a panicked look.
"No it isn't! If you take out my biological components, you take out the best part of me, the part that makes me who I am!" Cyborg screamed.
"Your memories, your 'self' will be preserved," Fixit said calmly as his eyes and forehead began to glow a bright red, "I will download them into your new brain," he said with this Fixit's central processor cord attached to Cyborg's forehead preparing for the download.
"No, you can't, please, you don't understand! Nooo!"
"Oh, come on! Please don't kill me that was a picture perfect moment!" Tucker screamed very girly as he dodged ecto- blasts from Danny and two boots plus some rocks that Sam found on the ground.
Danny stopped at this which in turn caused Sam to stop as well, giving him a questioning look, suddenly Danny broke into a smile.
"No, if it was a picture perfect moment I would be doing this…" Danny said as he grabbed Sam around the waist and pulled her into kiss. Sam quickly registering that it wasn't like the fake-out make-out kiss they'd done back in the lab, no this was real. And she loved it, quickly melting into it as Tucker stood there his mouth hanging in a giant 'o' shape. They resurfaced somewhere when both realized that they needed air, and meeting each other's eyes. Danny and Sam both sported perfectly matching blushes and smiling faces. They then turned to Tucker who was fist-pumping the air, whooping and hollering.
"Yes! I finally did it, I got my two best friends to finally admit their love! I'm the best cupid ever! Wait, ah man, now I'm defiantly a third wheel!" Tucker said grumbling as Danny and Sam made their way over to him laughing at his antics, placing him in the middle of the group as they walked back home. Sam's arms around his waist, Danny's arms around his shoulders.
"Don't worry Tucker you're the best third wheel anyone could ask for," Sam said.
"And think of it this way, tomorrow you'll get three hundred bucks for hooking us up before school let out," Danny said happily.
"You're right, I won the bet! Sweet!" Tucker said his mind's eye swimming in cash.
"Wait, what bet?" Sam said confused, both boys let go of her shrinking back in fear as she yelled out again "What BET!" they began running as Sam began chasing them barefoot all the way down the street.
The memories were too much: the sun, the breeze, the people, the food, and his friends. Eating, playing football, seeing their faces flashing across his mind Raven, Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Danny, the kid with the wooden arm. Fixit screamed as he broke away from Cyborg falling to the ground his eyes now ocean blue. Everything stopped working, the restraints holding Cyborg lifted, the mask came clattering to the ground, and the robots fighting the Titans shut down as their master no longer operated them. Cyborg stepped onto the ground, his legs giving out from shock, the red eye mask looking at him emptily. Fixit slowly rose into a sitting position looking down into his hands.
"Cyborg," Robin said placing a hand on his friend's shoulder breaking Cy away from the mask. He turned and saw his friends all standing around him.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked looking down at the mask.
"Yeah," he said getting to his feet.
"So beautiful. I had forgotten, how beautiful… the world through your eyes," Fixit said sadly his ocean blue eyes looking downcast.
"Through human eyes, the same kind you have," Cyborg said kneeling down to the robotic man.
"Perhaps, I am the one in need of repairs," Fixit stated turning over his perfect white mechanical hand that looked perfectly human.
"And maybe I'm the guy who can help repair you," Cyborg said standing and holding out his human mechanical hand. Fixit took it and together, he and the Teen Titans left the cavern for the sun. The first place they went was back to the park, where the sun was beginning to set, casting streaks of colors into the cloudless sky. The Titans couldn't help but smile at the look on Fixit's face as he felt the warmth of the rays on his skin. But as they continued to walk Cyborg's mood grew darker. Fixit wasn't a fighter. He couldn't stay at Titan's Tower, it would turn into nothing more than another cave, but if people always saw Fixit with the Titans they would assume he was a hero and begin attacking him. At the same time, Cyborg knew he couldn't leave Fixit out on his own, so what should he do?
"Friend, is it common for people to sleep under the sun?" Fixit asked pointing over to a person with black hair resting on the grass underneath a tree.
"Danny!" Cyborg yelled as the Titans and Fixit all ran over to the teen who appeared to not be moving. Robin bent down over his sleeping form and gently shook his shoulder. He didn't know that there was burned skin underneath his clothes. Danny snapped awake and shot into a sitting position gripping his shoulder painfully.
"What did you do that for? That hurt!" He said angrily.
"Friend, you were asleep under this tree, something bad could have happened to you!" Starfire said worried.
"Yeah man, when did you fall asleep?" Cyborg asked.
"I don't know…thirty minutes after you left, why?"
"Dude, that was nearly five hours ago!" Cyborg said shocked as Danny gripped his head in pain from Cy using such a loud voice.
"Headache! Could you be any louder?" Danny said as Cyborg quickly apologized. Danny's eyes fell immediately onto Fixit who fidgeted; it was his first time meeting another person.
"Who's your friend?" Danny asked slowly standing to avoid fainting. He really didn't want to go to a hospital.
"My name is Fixit. You are Danny?" Fixit asked trying to confirm that this was the name of the person the Titans had called out too.
"Yeah," Danny said his eyes slowly closing as he looked towards the sun. Cyborg then had an idea.
"Danny, could Fixit stay with you? After all, you have an extra guest room. I know this is a weird request but…"
"Sure," Danny replied not letting Cyborg finish. Danny then turned to Fixit.
"That is if you want to. You won't hurt my feelings if you say no."
Before Fixit could even answer, Cyborg interrupted.
"Whoa, you don't even let me finish and you say yes! Are you mental?"
Danny huffed at this. "No, but he doesn't look like a fighter and knowing you idiots, you'd probably get him killed by accidentally falling on him in the middle of a training session or something silly like that," Danny said all of the Titans blushed scarlet, Fixit couldn't help but smile at their flustered looks, this Danny kid sure knew how to get underneath their skin, plus he liked to sleep under the sun so…
"May I stay with you?" Fixit asked all of the Titans getting a grip on their faces as Danny nodded.
"Sure, but be prepared, I own a book shop, so that means you'll have to put up with annoying customers and broken coffee machines," Danny said as he and Fixit walked down the path leaving the Titans.
"I am Fixit, I'm sure I can handle fixing your problems," he said and turning back around Fixit gave a small bow to the Titans
"Thank you, Cyborg. I wish to see you soon friend."
"Yeah, same here. Have fun," Cyborg said rubbing the back of his neck. The Titans waited until both Danny and Fixit disappeared from sight before…
"Dude, the first time we meet Danny he nearly takes are heads off, but the instant he meets Fixit he's all 'sure we can be friends!' what the heck? What do we have to do to get that kid to like US?" Beast Boy yelled in exasperation. All of the Titans agreed.
"Hey Cyborg, can you do some digging into Danny's past? I'm curious to know who he is and what he's been through," Robin asked, Cyborg nodded as they made their way back to Titan's Tower.
Fixit was impressed, first by the store and now by Danny's house, it seemed so bright. As he continued to study the architecture, a question came to mind.
"Why do you like hexagons?" He asked.
"My parents used to use them a lot when they built things," Danny said hesitating to answer.
"That is not all though?" Fixit added.
"No, it means family, the hexagon. To me at least," Danny said staring up at the painting on his wall, his mind in a faraway place.
"Will you tell me about your family?" Fixit asked the look of pain did not go unmissed by Fixit's ocean eyes.
"No, I can't. I'm sorry, but there are some things I can't tell you or anyone. Please understand that," Danny asked his ice eyes showing his shattered soul. After a long pause, Fixit nodded. What happened to this kid? Danny sighed.
"Thanks. Look I'm going to bed, feel free to look around the store or in my library just please don't enter the black door got it?" Danny asked.
"I understand. Have a nice night," Fixit said as he floated over to Danny's library and pulled out the first book on the shelf and sat down to read. Danny turned away and headed into his room, his eyes clouded over with fear.
"If only it were that simple," he whispered and with this he got ready for bed.
"I love you, Danny." Sam whispered.
The Titans were at the park again, waiting for Fixit and Danny to arrive. Apparently, Danny was having trouble kicking customers out of the store. Fixit explained that over the phone as the Titans heard a loud crashing noise in the background, followed by some very colorful words issuing from Danny's mouth, which none of the Titans explained when Starfire asked what Danny meant. As they were waiting, Cyborg was heading back to the group after retrieving the football when he heard a familiar voice call his name, turning Cyborg saw the same kid from yesterday dressed in the blue baseball shirt and hat running towards him, only this time he had a friend.
"See I told you its Cyborg and look, he's just like me!" The little kid said to his friend excitedly holding up his prostatic arm.
"Whoa, cool!" The friend said as he awed the baseball kid and Cyborg.
"I am just like you. But it's not your arm that makes us the same, it's the stuff connected to it," He said pointing at the kid's heart. Both kids awed Cyborg as he stood and said,
"Now, go deep!" He yelled pointing to the other end of the park where both kids took off running preparing to catch the flying football.
"I love you, Sam." Danny whispered back.
AN: Okay I know this is a different ending then the one in Memory Blank, but deal with it! Also sorry that the chapters shorter I was having trouble writing it, but am still pleased with how it turned out. Let me know what you think please Enjoy and Review!