Part 79: Culture Shock

All I know of Azarath came from the stories Raven would tell me and my father's memories, the latter being of a more sensitive nature (i.e.: invasion). Therefore, when I first arrived in the original Azarath, which had been turned into Trigon's domain, it wasn't as Raven had pictured it. Then again, she'd escaped to Earth before Trigon came to Azarath, for her own protective.

Neo Azarath is a new society built by the survivors of the previous Azarath. From here, I can make my own observations. From what I have seen in their architecture, Azaratheans are a spiritual and religious society. However, I see no animal life here. I later discovered that this city was built upon a large floating rock in the middle of an empty space. Further exploration would be required for more data but that would be for later.

Currently, I am in the home of Arella, Raven's mother. Raven had told me that her name back on Earth was Angela but when she'd been taken in by the monks of Azarath she'd been renamed Arella. I am not sure if it was voluntary or it had been designated for her. From where I had been trained, which was the Deathtron Academy; codenames were designated based on abilities, talents or personality. Rarely was it ever random.

Now, meeting the real Arella for the first time (as oppose to meeting a manifestation of her within Raven's mind) was a bit of a surprise. I now know where Raven got her unearthly beauty from.

Like any mother, Arella interrogated me. I gave her as much as I could tell. I didn't go too deep about my past or my darker powers. Though Raven possessed similar talents with darkness, I doubt Arella would be accepting of me.

What I do know of Azarath and the Azaratheans from Raven is that they do not rely nor believe in the use of technology. The closest society like that on Earth would be the Amish. Also, the Azaratheans evolved and adapted, delving into spirituality. This in turn allowed them to develop their mental and magical abilities. True, most psychics I know were born with the gift, but to develop it themselves took a lot of time, training and concentration. I wonder what I would learn from them.

Azaratheans are also pacifists and peaceful by nature. Frankly speaking, I don't believe anyone can be that peaceful. Believe me, I've been to several planets that claimed to be peaceful, right before the inhabitants tried to have you for dinner, and use your skull as a drum.

For now, I had to survive dinner with Arella first. I just hope I can do this. I have excellent table manners, but the look Arella is giving me is making me feel uneasy. The only person that could do that to me would be my own mother.

-Shadowcobra.

NEO AZARATH…

Dinner was more of a casual affair than celebratory, despite Raven's arrival along with Ichijyo's. The latter look down at his plate and grimaces slightly. He hadn't seen any animals so he doubted that the Azaratheans had any cattle or livestock. What they did have was vegetation, which they grew for food.

In Ichijyo's plates were familiar vegetables like sliced tomatoes, minced onions, lettuce leaves and sliced up cucumbers.

It was a salad. Luckily, there wasn't any garlic, which Arella had informed was due to Raven's warning since Ichijyo was allergic to garlic.

Sighing, Ichijyo indulged. No meat. Great…

Beast Boy would sure love this right now.

"I hope that your meal is satisfactory," spoke Raven's mother, Arella.

"It is," Ichijyo said, lying effectively. One of the lessons at the D-Academy had been lying and Ichijyo was the best. Masking ones emotions with false ones also helped with the illusion. "It's a wonderful salad." 'But where's the dressing?' The salad was raw and bland to say the least. "Thank you for the meal."

"You're welcome," said Arella, her lips turned up in a small smile, which didn't escape Ichijyo's attention. "So, tell me, how have you been lately, Raven?"

Raven smiled, "Wonderful, mother." She smiled at Ichijyo, "Trigon's finally gone for good and now I am free to feel." She placed her left hand upon Ichijyo's. "And it's all thanks to my friends."

Arella frowned a little, regretfully. She'd warned Raven about making connections and friends before Raven was forced to leave. However, she was dead wrong in her assumption that such things would be bad. The friends Raven spoke of seem to have helped her in not only expressing her emotions, but to even feel more alive.

From the limited time she'd been allowed to see Raven, her daughter hadn't express much emotion due to the fact that Trigon could use those emotions to manifest himself within her. The strongest emotions would be anger and hate. The other emotions Raven was taught to keep at bay often had effects on the environment.

Arella now knew that she was wrong. Friends made Raven stronger. What she was seeing was not the Raven she'd known those many years ago. This was a new Raven.

And Arella welcomed it.

"So, Raven, can you tell me of your friends?" Arella asked, curious, and wanting to know more of Raven's life as a superhero.

Raven smiled, "Of course. Let me start with my best friends, Starfire and Beast Boy…"

As Raven told her story, Ichijyo was picking at his food. An uneasy feeling was slowly welling up inside of him. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt something bad was happening back on Earth. He could also feel something starting up on Tamaran but without any information, he wasn't sure if these feelings were valid.

As a Deathtron, Ichijyo had to be both cold and logical. He couldn't do things based on hunches and instinct alone. Relying on instinct alone could get you killed, like many other rookies fresh out of the Deathtron Academy. He was lucky that he'd survived his first mission since that day.

Ichijyo felt someone shaking his shoulder and looked up to his left to see Raven, looking at him worriedly. He responded in kind, "Yes?"

"Are you okay? You kinda spaced out for a moment there," Raven said in observation.

"I'm sorry. I was just deep in thought," Ichijyo apologized.

"Are you sure? You barely touched your food," pointed out Arella.

"Maybe I'm not so hungry," Ichijyo stated, "But maybe I can have a few bites."

Raven looked at her fiancé worriedly. Something was off about him. Had it begun as soon as they stepped on Azarath or had it been during Arella's interrogation?

As Ichijyo took a sip of water, Arella decided to break the tension, "I find it strange that you two are engaged. My daughter isn't pregnant, is she?"

Raven's eyes widened in shock and her jaw dropped. Ichijyo, on the other hand, began to choke on his water, his expression matching his fiancée's.

"P-Pardon!?" Ichijyo requested.

"I mean, you are both young adults but marriage this soon is still peculiar," Arella said. "Back on Earth, you only get married so young if you were drunk or…you got knocked up."

Raven was surprised her mother knew those terms while the blood was rushing up Ichijyo's face. Under his feet, his shadow was dancing erratically, in tune to his heartbeat.

"It isn't like that! No, no, it isn't like that!" Ichijyo denied truthfully. "I didn't get Raven pregnant!"

Arella sighed, "Good. I was hoping that my daughter wouldn't go that far in a relationship before marriage."

Raven and Ichijyo were speechless and Arella caught on.

"You both have done it," Arella said in an ice tone. It was a statement, not a question.

Ichijyo gulped, a foreign feeling of fear rising up within him. He'd faced demons, enemy Knights, literal monsters, an immortal assassin, his former master, super criminals, psychos and seen every Asian horror movie without ever so flinching. However, there was one thing that still gave Ichijyo a sense of fear and doom: MATERNAL WRATH.

"We used protection," Raven spoke up, trying to put a more positive spin on things. Unfortunately, it sounded more like a confession.

And thus the room's temperature went down several degrees.

Ichijyo thoughts were this, 'Now I know what it feels like to get the 2nd degree,' and, 'Maybe we shouldn't tell her about the tattoo.' Raven returned a mental agreement.

As a scientist I've always prided myself in making scientific observations, mostly through participation. As such I have been studying the alien race known as the Tamaraneans with my observation subjects being two females of the race, a Koriand'r and her sister, Komand'r (my girlfriend).

Here's the data I've gathered so far:

1-Tamaraneans are a warrior race and as such possess exceptional fighting skills. Combined with their already formidable strength, they can be deadly fighters especially in wars.

2-Tamaraneans are an emotional race. In other words they wear their hearts of their sleeves. Their abilities are activated by their emotions. Flight is activated by joy, their strength is activated by what is described as boundless confidence, and their starbolts are activated by righteous fury.

3-Tamaraneans are like living solar batteries or solar reactors. They absorb solar energy through their skin. Solar energy is the fuel for their powers along with their emotions. They convert the energy they've absorbed into themselves for their powers. Also, they are immune from radiation due to this ability.

4-Tamaraneans have 9 stomachs and a long prehensile tongue. They also have very strong teeth that can bite through steel. A majority of Tamaraneans have brown hair while the rest have red hair. This red hair determines their lineage to see if they are of noble decent. All Tamaraneans have green eyes. However, this does not include Komand'r who possesses black hair and violet eyes. Of course, all members of the species have orange skin which may look tanned.

5-Tamaraneans can survive in space without the need for spacesuits and can travel at the speed of light. I'm not sure if they can breathe in space or that they can hold their breaths for long time. This requires further research.

6-Tamaraneans use 'lip contact' (kissing) to absorb knowledge from other races. This allows them to learn a foreign language in a matter of seconds. The process can also be used to allow another species to learn from Tamaraneans, though it could be temporary.

7-Tamaraneans display affection through touching. I do believe the action is done through certain embraces, though I've only seen Koriand'r and Komand'r do so. Koriand'r seems to enjoy and shares it with all of us but Komand'r is more reserved.

8-Skin to skin contact is most pleasurable for Tamaraneans, especially during acts of copulation. I found this out first hand.

9-Tamaraneans are descended and evolved from a cat-like species. Whether these traits still exist within them remains to be seen, but I can say that they do possess the agility of their ancestors as well as flexibility.

10-Tamaraneans eat like they fight: brutal and violently. In bed, well…that 's another issue altogether.

There is still more I've yet to understand about Tamaraneans, but rest assured this scientist will not rest until he has learnt all he can. Right now, my Komand'r wishes to snuggle.

-Pluto.

TAMARAN…

"Man, that felt good," Takada yawned as he stretched his arms. The bottom half of his body was still covered up in the blanket. Blackfire was resting against his chest, smiling peacefully and serenely. Both were unclothed, which made obvious sense if what they did the previous night was any indication.

Last night had been unbelievable. Like many spots before, they'd christened the bed with their lovemaking. Blackfire even admitted that he was the only guy she'd ever done here. The Dog Knight took it as an honor.

Their clothes had been tossed about the room, lying strewn all over the floor in a mess. Takada doubt he would ever find his underwear anytime soon, but at least his Zodiac Deck was safe in his pocket. Of course, he would have to pick up his jumpsuit to check.

Blackfire opened her eyes, purring. She leaned up to her beau and kissed his lips, rubbing her hand up and down his chest. She remember him being lean their first time but ever since the incident with the nanobots, the boy had put on some muscles. Those nanobots sure improved on what was already so perfect in her eyes.

Blackfire was in no sense a virgin before she met Pluto. She'd had flings, one night stands, and boy toys before in the past, but all those gave her temporary relief. There was no affection, merely physical attraction and the need for sexual release. What Pluto and Blackfire had done many times before was unlike anything Blackfire had ever experienced. It was like he knew what to touch, how to touch it and when. His sense of timing was amazing and he could make her squeal and scream during the throes of orgasmic bliss.

Despite him being human, he was invulnerable to harm. She had scratched his back and left no marks and she had ridden him without breaking his pelvis. His stamina was also something else. It was probably due to his Zodiac Power, which he claimed could only be activated if he was in contact with his Zodiac Deck, or his invulnerability which enhanced his stamina. For a nerd, he sure was fit.

When Blackfire first knew about Takada's past, she was at first afraid that their relationship would end like so many others he'd had prior to their meeting. The fears were unwarranted and the female Tamaranean never had such fears before. Then again she'd never truly fallen in love before.

'I guess me and Starfire are similar that way,' thought Blackfire blissfully, listening to his heart beating.

"You know, Komi," said Takada, as he ran his hand down her back, resting at the small of her back. "We should be getting up."

"Why can't we stay in bed some more?" she whined, rubbing herself against him, causing him to shiver despite the warmth. She sure knew how to make him tingle.

"Well, it's because I really don't wanna miss breakfast," he told her. "Need to recharge, y'know?"

Blackfire blinked and laughed. She was briefly reminded of the previous night's feast, "You know, you really surprised me back there when you joined in."

"Hey, on Earth there's an old saying: when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Earth sure had a lot of sayings. Most races just said what they meant without the use of figures of speech, idioms and expressions.

"I bet you impressed Galfore," Blackfire spoke up. "I mean if anyone can fight him over one of the dishes and win, he deserves some respect." She reached downwards and into the covers. She grasped something causing Takada to freeze up. He then began to moan. "You sure got mine."

"Uh huh," Takada responded, mind foggy with pleasure.

Blackfire removed her hand and the Dog Knight frowned. She slipped out of bed and Takada looked up and down the back of her body, his eyes resting on her shapely rear. Emiko had offered her a chance to be a model and with a body like that she'd be a hit on the catwalk.

Blackfire looked over her shoulder flirtatiously at Takada, smiling sensually, "I'm gonna take a bath. Wanna scrub my back?"

"HELL YEAH!" Takada whooped, throwing off the blanket and then grabbing Blackfire and then throwing her over his shoulder. He carried her over his shoulder and towards the bathroom.

I thought I knew enough about Azarathean culture from Raven. Apparently, I was wrong. It would appear I was going to learn something extra about this peace loving society.

And I thought I had culture shock when I returned to Earth after years in the Academy.

-Shadowcobra.

NEO AZARATH…

Arella had kept silent the entire dinner. She then picked up the plates and bowl and went to the kitchen to wash them. Both Raven and Ichijyo exchanged nervous looks.

Arella came back inside, wearing a serious expression. Ichijyo was unsure what she was going to do so she sat back down. Raven and Ichijyo were glued to their seats and Arella gave the two a cold hard look.

She then said one shocking statement, "You both need to be married, immediately."

Ichijyo and Raven nearly fell off their seats in shock.

I know science, and I also know fashion)and believe me when I say that purple is so NOT my color. Blackfire always said I looked good in black and blue. Well, that's a relief. Even beaten and bruised (as if that could happen) I would still look dang good.

But, seriously…purple!?

I've seen enough purple on this planet to last a lifetime. Frankly, it looks on all of them, but not me. Heck, even the snake doesn't wear ALL purple. He wears black to balance it out. Would so clash with his pasty white skin complexion.

Me? I like blue? It's my signature color. Actually, to be more specific, I like Navy Blue.

-Pluto.

TAMARAN…

Blackfire and Takada stood in the room, fully dressed this time. She was in her usual black and silver ensemble. The Dog Knight, on the other hand, was dressed differently. He was dressed similarly to Ryand'r, which was a sleeveless purple bodysuit with the matching boots, and metal neck guard and armguards. Of course, he also had a loincloth hanging from the V-shaped silver belt around his waist. His Zodiac Deck was in a pouch strapped to his right leg. The only thing that remained from his original wardrobe was his headset.

"So, how do I look?" Takada asked his girlfriend. She responded by stalking over and slapping his butt.

"Nice!" she grinned.

Takada frowned, "Well, I don't know about you, but purple is definitely not my color." He closed his eyes and willed his nanobots to appear. They were so small they could crawl out of his pores. What Blackfire was seeing was swarm of something crawling all over her boyfriend. The nanobots crawled all over the clothes and did some alterations. At the nanoscopic level, they were altering the color and design itself. The nanobots then retreated back into their host's skin. "Now, that's better."

Pluto had altered the color to a navy blue. His loin cloth was decorated with the symbol for the planet Pluto in silver. On his chest was a silver emblem that resembled a dog but more streamlined (the Maximal Symbol from Beast Machines). Also, his hands were covered in black gloves. He still had on the armguards and neck guard but his boots had now been turned black.

Pluto removed his headset and converted it into a circular badge before attaching it to the centre of his belt, making a buckle. "Now, that's better." He turned to Blackfire, "Well, whaddya think?"

Blackfire had seen Takada's nanobots to a lot of stuff, and altering clothing was nothing compared to all the other incredible things those mechanical critters could do. Smiling, Blackfire approached Takada, and whispered into his ear, "You look hotter than a super nova."

Takada smiled, taking it as a compliment.

Suddenly, shocking the couple before they could kiss, a quartet of guards barged into the room. They pointed their glaives at Blackfire and Takada.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Blackfire demanded angrily.

"Hey, what is your problem!?" Takada shouted as well.

"Blackfire, you are now placed under arrest!" one guard, the leader, shouted.

"On what charges?" Blackfire angrily asked, wanting to know what this was about. Hadn't she been pardoned of all her crimes?

"You are being charged with the assassination of Emperor Galfore!" the same lead guard stated, straight to the point, no pun intended (since he was holding one of those glaives at the couple).

The color drained from Blackfire and Takada's faces. Neither could say a word.

It couldn't be true, could it? By the grim and determined look on the guards' faces, the two Z-Titans knew this was no joke.

Galfore was dead…and Blackfire was the prime suspect.

To Be Continued…