Now, Chapter 5. Okay, I've had a decent number of hits, and only 2 reviews, both from Alienvspredator5. Please review this time. If you've read this far, you already think it's worth your time to read. Why isn't it worth the 30 seconds it takes to write a review?

I don't own Teen Titans. I never have, and I never will (this does not include ZYX). Now, on with the story!

Once ZYX got back to his room, he studied Light and Dark more closely. They were identical, except for the color. The cross guards were 6" wide, and the hilt+pommel were about 7". You could swing it with two hands, if you didn't care about your lower hand covering the pommel. The blade was 3" wide at the base, tapering to a point at the end of its 36"s of mono-filament edge. He could tell the balance was perfect, and clichéd as this may sound, they really did feel like extensions of his arms.

Now, he thought, how do I make a sheath for these things? . . . I'll figure that out later. It's time for my special twist.

He started setting up a new spell ring. While Raven thought he had next too no talent for magic, that wasn't quite the case. He actually had a considerable amount of talent for the art of energy absorption and redirection. While he couldn't grab a laser out of the air and throw it back at its sender, he could turn objects into energy sponges (a wand, a walking stick, a sword. . .). That was about it for his magical talent, though.

He had a crazy idea in the works, but first it needed a test run. He placed Light in the center of the ring, and Dark off to one side.

"Pee-thah-kay-tey, No-co-lo.

High-ca-lee-tha, Si-ca-woe!"

When the dust cleared, Light was glowing faintly. One last thing to do, thought ZYX.

He emerged onto the rooftop.

ZYX: "Where- ah, there it is."

He climbed on top of the stairwell and proceeded to duct-tape Light to the lightning rod.

ZYX: "You'll get plenty of sun up here."

He swung down into the stairwell, then walked to the art room. It's a 40' by 50' foot room with a normal height ceiling on the fifth floor. As you step through the door, the first thing that hits you is color. The walls are covered in a rainbow of shades, including every hue you've ever seen and about half a dozen you haven't. Turn left, and you'll see the Sculpture Corner, which has clay in every color and 2 pottery wheels, one electric, one foot-spun. A half finished vase sits on the foot-spun wheel. Straight ahead are a few easels, and a set of paints. A painting of a city skyline sits on the one to the left. It's almost done, and Robin will probably come in to finish it once he's through training. The one on the right holds an abstract made of vibrant pinks and luminescent oranges, soft greens and glowing reds. It's Starfire's, of course. The two corners opposite the door were filled with the Titans past projects, including several exquisite sculptures, a few more of Starfire's abstracts, and some darker, moody paintings by Robin. Turn right (the door is in the center of the wall), and you'll see a drawing board covered in half-finished comics, spilled ink and broken pencils: this is the result of some of Beast Boy's off hours. Behind the board is a view of the city skyline, making it the perfect place to draft new buildings. ZYX carefully cleared off Beast Boys cartoons and the skyscrapers Cyborg had designed that were buried under them, as he needed the space.

He settled on the office chair, got a fresh sheet of paper, a ruler, and a good sketching pencil, and started to draw. He knew he would be there a while, as he wasn't a very good artist. After he'd been drawing for about 20 minutes he heard the door swish open. He immediately noticed a distinct lack of footsteps. After a few seconds, the pottery wheel started whirring. Ah, he thought, so that's Starfire's project. But when he turned around, it wasn't her at all.

ZYX: "I didn't know you did pottery."

Raven: "Eep!"

She started a little, and her hair stood up in that funny way that makes it look like a bird.

ZYX: "Woah, sorry, Raven! I didn't' mean to startle you!"

Raven: "It's okay."

ZYX: "Nice vase."

Raven: "Thanks."

It was a nice vase, and certainly unique. She taken a standard design where it goes in and out, you know, the classic vase shape, and extended the mouth (the hole at the top) so much it arched down and touched the wheel. The outside looks like one of those round cakes, and if you traced a line around the rim and the base, the outline would resemble a giant donut.

Raven: "Thanks. What are you doing?"

ZYX: "Just a few sketches, nothing special."

Raven: "Okay."

ZYX: "Do you think we could make a few more diamond blades? Robin and Cyborg want some."

Raven: "Another time. I want to finish this."

ZYX: "All right."

He went back to his drawings.

After another 40 minutes he finished up and rode the elevator up to the common room for dinner. One of the few things Robin insisted everyone did was sit down and have dinner together. He'd said something about "keeping the team together," when he'd first explained it. ZYX thought it was a result of Starfire's little time travel incident.

Due to a general oversight, lunch had been skipped, and everyone was feeling the results. Starfire's nine stomachs were all growling in a continuous loop, and the vibration was shaking the table. Raven was in active meditation, something she didn't usually do in public. Beast Boy was bent double, moaning about his "tummy cramps."And Robin? While he was trying to remain civil, you could tell it was a struggle. The only person who didn't seem troubled was Cyborg, since he was busy preparing dinner. ZYX heard a rumble that sounded suspiciously like "kerflush" coming from his midsection, and felt his hunger pangs subside. He knew they'd be back shortly, and with them a short(er) temper. He joined the group circling the kitchen counter.

Robin: "So, what did you make, Cyborg?"

Cyborg: "My original recipe for Cy-b-que ribs, both beef and pork, with mashed potatoes, hush puppies, French fries, and tater tots."

Raven: "Where's the vegetable?"

Beast Boy (with eyebrow waggle): "My specialty (ugh) tofu salad, of course!"

Raven: "Of course."

Cyborg: "Come on, man, why'd you have to ruin a perfectly good salad?"

Beast Boy: "Dude, it's (ooh!) not like you'll be eating it, (agh!) and what did those poor pigs and cows do to (ee!) you?"

Cyborg: "Nothing, they're just tasty."

Beast Boy: "Dude, you—"

Robin: "Quiet, both of you! (exhale) look, I know we're all on edge right now, so let's just eat."

Since they didn't have a traditional dining table, everyone sat at the little booths opposite the kitchen. The seating, looking from the kitchen, from left to right, was: Robin (on the bottom of the "L" of the first table, at the "head" of the booth), Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy at the first table, and Cyborg and ZYX at the second table. (This is based on the overhead view of the common room as shown in Season 1, episode 7, "Switched," at the 4min., 20 sec. mark.)

After everyone satiated their appetites by gobbling up a first plate, the Titans settled into more regular conversation. Robin and Starfire were talking and laughing, and would have been swapping bites if Starfire hadn't covered her food in mustard. Cyborg and Beast Boy were exchanging jokes and barbs about the food. Raven ate in small bites, didn't say a word, and left as soon as she was finished. ZYX focused on his food, going through 3 platefuls, then sat back and listened to everyone else, occasionally putting in a comment.

When everyone had finished, Beast Boy challenged Cyborg to a Racing2000 showdown, Robin went to file some arrest warrants, Starfire went to play with Silkie, and ZYX cleaned up. He did this every night, not because of hazing, but because he was faster than Beast Boy, Raven always disappeared, Robin was too busy, Cyborg cooked, and Starfire didn't understand the concept of washing dishes.

Cyborg dealt Beast Boy a crushing defeat just as ZYX finished washing.

Beast Boy: "Come on, Cy, best four out of seven?"

Cyborg: "No can do, BB, I have to go shopping. Anyone want to come with me?"

ZYX (shrug): "I'll come."

They went down to the garage, where Cyborg slipped a holo-ring on his finger, transforming into a normal looking guy.

ZYX (while cleaning his glasses): "Uh, Cyborg? Your ring isn't working."

Cyborg: "What are you talking about? These things never break."

ZYX put his glasses back on.

ZYX: "Well, I can sorta see the image, but I can see you as well. It like you're standing in front of a movie projector."

Cyborg: "Hmm."

He went into the corner of the garage where he kept his junk pile. After picking out a random piece of pipe, he slipped the holo-ring onto it. The pipe immediately took on the appearance of a severed human arm, which he showed to ZYX.

ZYX: "why does your ring have a setting for that?"

Cyborg: "That proves it. You can see through my holographs."

ZYX: "Really? (Thinks for a moment) Sweet!"

Cyborg: "Come on. Let's get going."

They got in the T-car and drove through the tunnel to the mainland.

ZYX: "So, Cyborg, if you're shopping in disguise, why are we in the T-car? It's kind of obvious."

Cyborg: "Actually, I've got copycats all over the city. My baby here is just the best."

It was true. As they drove into the (name your supermarket here) parking lot, ZYX counted at least three cars that looked just like the T-car, and a bus with the same paint job. They grabbed a cart and went into (name your supermarket here). Immediately ZYX spotted Jinx picking out apples in the produce area. She was wearing a holo-ring that projected an image of a cute Asian girl with short, straight black hair and bangs.

ZYX: "Uh, Cyborg? Has this store ever been attacked?"

Cyborg: "No, it's never gotten a scratch. Why?"

ZYX: "Because I think the villains shop here too."

Cyborg: "What makes you say that?"

ZYX: "Jinx is in the fruit section. Don't bother looking for her; she's got one of your rings."

Cyborg: "The rings that you can see through."

ZYX: "Exactly."

Cyborg: "Is she stealing anything?"

ZYX: "I don't think so. Still, I'll keep an eye out. There might be more of them."

A lot more, as it turned out. As they made their way around the store, arguing over whether to get veggies in addition to all the meat ("Broccoli is not that bad, Cyborg."), ZYX pointed out Private Hive, See-More, Control Freak, Dr. Light, Mammoth (he just barely fit into his disguise), Red X, Adonis, and Mumbo, all just shopping. No stealing, no tricks, nothing. They even went through the checkout!

ZYX: "Okay, this is getting weird. What do you think?"

Cyborg: "Villains have to eat too, I guess. But man, it's disconcerting to stand in line behind your worst enemy." He glared at Gizmo, who was fishing a credit card out of his suit. "How did he even get one of those?"

ZYX: "Who knows? At least this explains why no one's ever trashed the place." They paid for the groceries. "That everything?"

Cyborg: "Yep." He glanced around nervously. "Let's go, man, this is getting creepy."

They left with two shopping carts full of food. As they were loading them into the car, a storm appeared on the horizon, moving towards the city. By the time they got back to the tower, rain was coming down in droves, with a spattering of pebble-sized hailstones. Halfway through carrying the food upstairs, an enormous bolt of lightning struck the tower, followed closely by an earsplitting crack of thunder. ZYX, turned white, remembering that he'd attached light to the lightning rod a few hours before. And it was raining so hard he couldn't go outside and take it down! As he could do was wait, wincing every time he heard a rumble of thunder.

When the storm finally let up, he rushed to the roof to survey the damage. As he stepped out of the stairwell, he was already figuring out what to say to Raven to explain how he broke their creation. But when he climbed onto the lightning rod, he found Light was completely unharmed, and crackling with electricity. After checking to see if it would zap him if he touched it, he carefully took it down. Since the spell he'd used allowed him to read the energy contained within, he saw it had been struck nine separate times, and absorbed them all. He could now fire several bolts of lightning without a recharge, in addition to the sunlight it had eaten.

ZYX: "Sweet."

He stayed to watch the sunset, since those in jump city were extra beautiful, and the view from the top of the tower was spectacular. After the sun sank out of sight, and dusk started to turn to night, he wandered down to the shooting range. Robin was practicing with his bird-a-rangs, so he waited an hour until Robin got went upstairs. ZYX didn't want anyone else in the room when he shot lightning for the first time. He queued a circle target taped to a large mound of dirt, straightened his arm, pointed Light downrange, sighted between the knuckles of his thumb and index finger, then released a single bolts' worth of energy at the target.

CRAKA-KABOOM!

The explosion generated a small cloud of smoke. When it cleared, he saw the piece of paper the target was painted on had been vaporized, along with about a third of the dirt pile. He followed it up with a few blasts of sunlight and a wave of light arrows, which reduced the pile to a charred spot on the floor.

ZYX: "This is awesome! It's too bad I have to recharge it."

Of course, he couldn't hear himself say that due to the dead feeling in his ears. Once it had cleared, he hid Light energy aura so it looked "normal," (more or less) and went back to his room. He then considered doing the other thing he was working on.

ZYX: "Nah, it's late, I'll do it tomorrow."

He stuck Light in a wall socket to charge, did his stuff and went to bed, noting the floor mounted lamp that had appeared by his couch.

In the security room, the Titans were having another meeting.

Robin: "You got the recording, Cyborg?"

Cyborg: "Right here."

He popped it into the player, and everyone settled back to watch ZYX fire a lightning bolt at the dirt pile. When it had finished, they sat in stunned silence for a moment.

Raven: "That was unexpected."

Robin: "I think this is part of the reason he got dumped here. If he could do this" he tapped the screen, "in a week, who knows what he can after a month, much less a year."

Cyborg: "I wonder what he's going to put in the other one."

Beast Boy: "I dunno, dude."

Raven: "You never know."

Beast Boy: "Hey!"

Starfire: "Please friends, let us not fight. It is late, and—" she yawned, "I am ready for sleep."

Robin: "You're right, Starfire, meeting adjourned. Now remember, everyone: keep an eye on him, he's more dangerous than he looks." He tapped again, for emphasis.

The group split up. Everyone went to bed except Robin, who stayed behind to watch to video of ZYX's appearance again. No matter how hard he searched, he couldn't turn up anything on the Protoss. The only evidence that the ship was Protoss in the first place was the memory crystal and ZYX's word. After three hours of fruitless viewing, he finally gave up and sat there, rubbing his knuckles into his face.

Robin: "Who are you, ZYX? Who are you really?"

Aannnddd that's chapter five! A note of caution to those of you who read my story: I make no promises about updating ASAP. I'll post the next chapter when it's ready, not before. I'm warning you now so I won't have to apologize for the next chapter taking so long. Now remember, R&R!