Disclaimer: I don't. Own any TT or DC characters.

Chapter X: The Machine cultist

In the far view of the group a forest start to show leading them out of the fields. The said forest was dark and creepy with some sort of fog covering its grooves. The bark of trees was dark while the leafs where grayish green. Beast boy gulped looking forward to the spooky place.

"Dude, who are we looking for ?"-the armored transporter entered the shadows of the forest.

"Last night during my search I found a mechanic who is also a bio engineer. But here comes the crudd shat.- the autolights in the driver cabbin lid up because the darkness.-"The guy who answered my question was a snotty cultist. He kept blabering about some sick stuff. Replacing limbs and organs. Draining the blood and replacing it with cruddy nano fluid. Figured we could give him a look on what he does and if he is a bloody crackpot to hit the road for Gotham."

BB ears dropped at hearing this. Replacing stuff and other wierd stuff. Still it was better to be somekind of cyborg, then a monster, who could hurt his loved ones...like Raven. Before he could give an answer to Gizmo, on the front window from the top zapped a head in shadow with two yellow eyes surrounded by blackness.

" HOLY MOLLY"-Screamed the three Billies. The one driving almost knocking down tree while the two others hugged the unamused Garfield in comical way shaking in fear.

Gizmo facepalmed him and shouted at the figure in darkness:

"Stich, you fraggin mophead. Have you been on the roof this entire time!?"

"Yep. Was enjoying the sun on top before we entered creepyvile. Why did the copycat scream in terror?"-she pointed at all 3 copies of Numerous.

"It does not matter, just get in here."-The the transport aprouched a left turn- "Turn here, barfbrains".

"And get your self together already."-growled Beast boy who was in the hug of two doppelgangers.

Billy Numerous gathered all the doppelgangers while Stiche with agile moves crawled through the window. Unlike before she was dressed properly for action. She wore a pair of millitrary fashion cargo pants, a backless ,black wifebeater, a pair of service black boots and a Bandana to keep her braided orange hair together, which also covered her scary eyes from to much exposure. She sat between BB and Gizmo smiling unfazed by the misty, gray spooky forest.

They drove for five more minutes before reachig a opening. In that opening stood a two-story old and ruined mansion showered in golden rays of sunshine. The wall plaster had long degraded leaving the naked brick work out. Strangly there were no plants growing near the building. Even the tree's seemed to be waving away from the house, not a single branch dared to point to the mansion. The widows, pitch black with no glass allowing the worn out curtains to fling out in the air.

Gizmo, BB and Stich got out of the car, while Billy Numerous decided to take a nap.

"Dude , even Raven could find this place creepy."-BB stated while looking up at it.

"I cruddy doubt that. Any way the creep nerd is somewhere inside. He said he would greet us in the guest room."-Gizmo checked his notes.

"Who is Raven?" asked Stich out of blue.

"Nobody! Just lets go inside!-"Garfield almost shouted almost scaring him self. He was starting to act more and more like... He needed to hurry!

The green ex Titan lead the other two inside through a sqweecky wooden door. It was a room large enough for entertaining guests and crossroad to all the other rooms. A huge wooden staircase lead to thesecond floor and on that stair case was robotisized skull which was hovering on the last steps. It was a mesh of bones machinery and cabbbles floating a feet above ground with a single red glowing eye staring down at the approaching trio.

Beast boy a bit still cranky for no reason called at it while Stich huddled closer to the green teen. Gizmo was keeping one hand on his side laser ready to stop the mechanical terror if it attacked:

"We got a meeting with the mechanic in here."

A few pips a few pu's came from the floating skull before it moved towards the thtee and lower floor. It passed the 3 on edge teens and went in one of the right rooms.

"I think it would like we to cruddy follow it.-Gizmo took the lead.

They entered the guestroom. It was more decorated then any room by now. The walls had aged pink wallpapers and the support beams were beautifully decorated. In the middle of the room was long table. On it were all sort of machinery, most algorithmic and industrial. Sadly neither the skull or its owners were in sight.

"Gizmo what are these?-"Beast Boy approached the table confused looking at the pile.

"Seems to be machinery...parts. Not connected, but i have not seen such before..."

"The parts are for your sick friend...-"A booming metalilic voice called from behind.

Beast boy turned around claws popping out, Gizmo pulled out the laser pistol and Stich calmly turned around.

Behind them in the door way stood which they passed stood a towering man who hid his face under a hood. The man's both legs were robotic but unlike Cyborg or Robotman where gray and industrial looking. His left hand was also robotic, but more bulky. The teen group could see a few thick wires going towards the head. On the back of this huge creature was a sword combined with a chainsaw bigger the three combined.

He stepped forward towards Beast boy, fearless from attack :

"...Don't fear me. The emissary of the machine god means you no harm."

"Machine god? Are you cruddy loony?"-Gizmo and BB calmed down .

"LoonY? No my dear brother mechanic. I do serve my god by tending to the broken and finding new...machines. But let me introduce my self. I am Techpriest Kosta'Din of the temple mechanicus and its inventor."

"Wait, you have invented it?"-Stich asked while twisting her head in attempting to get an angle to see under his hood.

" Yes, friend, indeed. I invented the machine god to preserve my soul from being corrupted. I had much dark times behind me with suffering and pain. "-he kneeled down infront the calm Beast boy pulling his hood down. Beneath the hood was his bearded face. From the cheeks came cables while on his mouth was plastered a huge creep frozen smile. Both his eyes were replaced by on one side a single red lens on the other a three multi colored ones.-"Now lets see the corruption in you boy."

Kosta's eyes started to flash in repetition. Garfield a scared tried to joke:

"Actually I have no corruption...i have only a itsy bizy...chemical pollution on me... and my name is Garfield. ..We wanted only to know if you...you know...fix me?"-

For a few seconds BB was scanned by the giant. Unlike Cyborg this guy did not see the tech as a tool, but as a salvation for his soul. Better not allow to turn him in a robot like Fixit almosr did with Cyborg.

Finshed with scan Kosta'din walked to the table poking and selecting some of the wierd behnd him asked:

"ummm...Doc, did you found a way to cure me."

"Cure!? Garfield, your soul has been heavily corrupted. You shall need to be rebuild. The corruption as we speak is gnawing on your soul... We shall need to rebuild your soul, even if that means... losing something..."

Anger took over Garfield like a storm. He shoved both his friends outside while Kosta picked items from the table.

"Dudes, that guy is a creep. Lets get out of here."

"I agree. The snoting guy would probably turn you a freacking floating skull bot."-Gizmo agreed.

" Gar, I don't know. What if he is right?"-Stich asked.

"Stich, trust me. You can't understand, but that guy was insane. He was not normal. He can not be trusted, now come. This place is annoying me.-"He schooled her.

After exiting the mansion The gang climbed back in the armored Transport readdy to go. At that moment The Techpriest rushed out waving his hands while the floating skullbot carried in a bag the assorted parts.

BB sceamed commanding at Billy Numerous:

"Numerous the gas. Hit it now!"

Startled by the green teen's tone Bill started the van and rushed out towards the road in the forest. The Techpriest tried to follow:

"Wait, you can not leave like that. The evil inside you shall corrupt you more and more until you are gone...I can help you..."

***Probility of reaching target:0. Discontinue chase ***consulted. The flying skull bot while trying to keep up.

He stopped huffing and nodded.

"Yes. We can't reach him now, but we need to follow him until we do. Lets hope that when we reach him there would be still something left of him."

***For the Machine. Spirit***

Kosta'Din renewed his chase followed by the flying skullbot.

Mean while in the T-Tower Robin and Cyborg entered the main room:

"Can't believe we let Beast Boy escape us!"-

"Can't believe you allowed Billy Numerous to steal from the army."-Cyborg replied.

"Beast boy is a bigger danger. We got a signal he attacked a homeless person."

Suddenly Starfire bursted in screaming:

"Friends. Friend Raven is gone! The room is torn appart. I fear our friend has been kidnapped! "

TattatataD`aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Thanks for reading and keep in tune for the next nail bitting chapter XI. R&R.