Heyhey!
Sorry for the wait guys, but this one's slightly longer and I've almost got the next one wrapped up!
NightmareSiredMuse - I'm liking a few of those. Even had loose plans for him to get some powers like that. Mate, I'm planning on making him pretty badass as well :) Cheers dude!
ExNativo - I guess so man, it'll all come out. It's definitely not going to be one big skip mate. Stuff will happen during his training and I will be covering parts of his progression and events during that time. But yes, I agree with you and am trying to limit the amount I put into this time. And the same upon yourself good sir!
Lyanol - Great to know you're liking the story. There will be a bit more coverage of the training, but mostly for information purposes and character relationships. Thanks!
Sperence - Very good sir! Again, thinking very much along the same lines that I am! Planned Savagery sounds like an excellent way of putting it :)
newboy - I think it'll follow, at least partially, the path you've described. Remember though, Beastboy is the focus of this fic and the character I feel most comfortable writing. I find getting in Raven's head quite difficult.
Review Responses:
Jimmy1201 - i'm thinking the fast forwards will gradually span greater times in the coming chapters. Short leaps for now. I'm glad you're liking the story!
The Flying Frog - I agree with you. It will be a good study of Beastboy (as began in this chapter and the next) and his progression under Batman. Yeah, I'm not going to let all this buildup go to waste. He's going to be EPIC. Very good on the picking! You got him :) I don't think Robin would have paid much attention to the list Batman sent him.
Really appreciate that dude. There's definitely the temptation to feel the need to rush out material. But I'm taking it slow, getting everything sorted in my head. Thanks for the advice!
twistedpremise - Hey! Thanks for taking the time to read and review, means a lot!
I do think my writing style has progressed since those early chapters, but I thought the introspection parts set up the characters well and established relationships. You think it was a bit unnecessary?
Yeah man, Batman actually comes quite easily to me for some reason. Not sure why, but I enjoy writing him.
Those Robin comments are excellent. I'm really trying to make him out as struggling to walk the line between leader and part of the family. I was actually planning on integrating your views on the basis of his attitudes into later chapters. I think that's a big part of his persona.
Thanks for the awesome advice! Means a lot :)
Haebris - Yeah, it almost feels like cheating sometimes :) That's certainly an idea and it would make sense to get into something like that at some point. Great ideas :)
Chapter 24 - Language
-Titan Tower: Main Living Area-
"They've just been through a lot recently and need a bit of time to get over it all and get used to you. Give them another two weeks and it'll be like you've been here forever. Trust me."
"Yeah man, you're being waaay too optimistic. They hate me."
"Nobody hates you."
"Raven definitely does."
"Well that's kind of to be expected honestly. Especially if you try flirting with her. Idiot."
"I still blame you for that! You should have told me she was some icy queen bitch!"
"Hey! That's your teammate you're talking about! ...But yeah. My bad."
"Your bad?! She locked me inside my own nightmares for an entire night! I was barely sane in the morning!"
"Alright so you got off on the wrong foot with Raven, but like I said, we knew it was going to take a while for her to accept you."
"Nuh-uh man, it's not just her. Cyborg just grunts at me when I try talking to him. Starfire was friendly enough when I got here but now she seems to be avoiding me-"
"Most girls do to be fair, dude."
"Oh shut up, don't give me that look. Maybe if I keep hitting on her, it'll get you off your ass! Or better yet, she may just fall for me. Couldn't blame her like."
"Watch it. We may go back a long way, but don't push your luck. I'll still kick your ass. Or put you on laundry duty for the next month."
"Haha, I'd like to see you try either one! I'm just here as a favor man and I'll leave whenever I want. And at the moment, it looks like that could be quite soon."
"What? Why? What are you talking about?"
"Are you serious dude? Everyone is acting like somebody just died! And then came back to life again to everyone's joy, only to slip on a banana peel, smash their head on the floor, and die again!"
"...Well that was descriptive."
"I'm serious, something's going on here. Did something else happen you're not telling me? You never did say exactly why Beastboy choose to go on this sabbatical, training trip thing."
"That's because I'm not entirely sure myself. He wouldn't tell me. Just said something about 'personal reasons.' So I approved it. I took time off to go train with the True Master and it helped me loads. I figured it would be good for him so I let him go."
"Whatever man, but that still doesn't explain the atmosphere in this place."
"Look, everyone is still a bit off at the moment. They'll get back to normal eventually. And don't forget, you've never been in a team before. Things will be different now. I know you're doing me a solid and I really appreciate it, but while you're here you're still a member of my team and I need you to try to fit in and act like one. Just for the sake of teamwork."
"Huh, I'll try man, I will. But no promises. And no more making me run to Chicago for pizza anymore, alright?"
Robin reached out and high fived the raised hand of Wally West, AKA Kid Flash.
"Done."
"Alright, best 3 outta' 5 then?"
"You're on, but you won't even get close!"
"Oh yeah? Pick up that controller and let your game do the talking!"
-Titan Tower: Garage/Workshop-
"I can't believe you tortured him like that!"
"Really?"
"...Okay, maybe I can. But still, you gotta' at least try Raven."
"He deserved it and you haven't exactly been rolling out the welcome wagon either."
"Maybe not, but at least I'm trying to keep some sorta' team spirit alive here!"
"Friends, friends! Let us not do the verbal combating of each other! We must unite in this time of dividing and confusion!"
"You were blissfully unaware of any confusion or division until three weeks ago, Starfire. Forgive me for not putting much faith in your assessment of the situation."
"Raven! That's uncalled for girl! Not cool!"
"...You're right Cyborg. Starfire, my apologies. I'm...not really myself at the moment."
"I understand friend Raven. I do not blame you for your thought of bitterness. Long have I thought on these last years and the relationships between us all. I do see now that my emotions have done the clouding of my views on such things."
"We know Star and we don't blame you for any of it. It's only recently that I've started really seeing things as they actually are as well. Ever since the Green Bean became Changeling, I've just... I've just..."
"You've been blaming yourself for the Beast incident. But that is a useless and illogical way of thinking Cyborg. You were under the assumption that Beastboy was cured and thus dismissed your actions as they led to that conclusion. After seeing the true state of Beastboy's emotions during the Changeling incident, you realized that his pain went back a long way.
"..."
"We are all guilty of this sin. But Raven is in the correct. No good will come of dwelling on the past. The question we must answer now is what do we intend to do? What is the problem that we must attend to?"
"Robin. Robin is the problem."
"You really think so Raven? You think this all comes back to him?"
"I do. And you do as well to some degree."
"..."
"I am not yet certain of my thinking on this matter. Perhaps the sharing of your views could help my forming of opinions."
"Cyborg, where's Robin now?"
"He's playing gamestation with Kid Flash."
"Let us know if he moves. Starfire, I think that Robin cares more about success than any one of us.
"...success, friend Raven?"
"Yes. Success of the Teen Titans and of the Titans Network. I think it is the single most important thing there is to him."
"And this is...bad?"
"It's bad for us Star. Because we're...we are more than a team. We're a... a family...At least, we are to me..."
"Me too. I'm right there with you Raven. You guys are all I've got now. Yeah, I've got Dad but we don't really...talk much. You girls are like my sisters and the rest of the titans are like my cousins. This is my family now."
"I also feel the same here among you all. I do not miss life on my home planet because I believe I have found my true family here in niceness and kindness."
"And I have no doubt that Beastboy feels the exact same as us. We are all he has as well."
"We do not know this for certain, friend Raven. There is little we know for sure of friend Beastboy."
"It's a pretty solid bet though, Star. We know a little of BB's relationship with his old team. I don't think they're particularly close anymore. I think he needs this as much as we do."
"And that's the problem with Robin. I don't think he feels the same way. The Titans are first and foremost a superhero team to him. Anything beyond that is just a bonus."
"But I do care for friend Robin! And I do believe he cares for us as well."
"Like we care for each other Star? Do you really think he sees us as family? Or as soldiers?"
"I think he sees us as more than soldiers. Hand me that wrench, would you?"
"Is it possible for you to not work on your car when we're talking about life changing matters?"
"It calms me down! Helps me think. Anyway, I think he sees us as friends at the very least. It's the mask that's always bothered me though."
"Robin's facial cover? What significance does that hold?"
"It means Star, that he's always ever been Robin the superhero. We have no idea who or what he is beneath that thing. Y'all know I'm Victor Stone beneath these implants; the guy who loves cars, food, video games; the guy who has gone through some real identity problems. You know me. I know you. We all know each other."
"Not Beastboy."
"...No, not Beastboy. But that's been a mistake of ours and we'll remedy that in the future. The point is Robin is always on work mode. Even when he's playing video games or volleyball with us, he's doing it as Robin; not whoever is underneath. It may sound weird coming from me, but it's almost like he's never shown a...human side."
"But he laughs alongside us! He protects us as we protect each other in battle! He...he does the watching of movies with us!"
"Star...that doesn't really mean much. Anyone can do that. And let's be honest, we all know Robin would much rather obsess over villain movements than spend time with us. But the point is he never talks about anything real, about anything personal. I don't know him and he doesn't know me. You remember the time we switched bodies and really opened up to each other?"
"Oh, of course friend Raven. It is a most beloved memory of mine."
"...Mine too Star. But have you ever talked to Robin like we talked?"
"...No."
"And that's it Star. Raven's right. You, me, Raven and Beastboy have became more than just a crime-fighting unit, more than just teammates. But Robin...Robin's just stayed as team leader."
"..."
"You have given him clear signs of your interest in him Star. Has he ever even acknowledged them?"
"..."
"Oh Star, come here girl."
The half-robot and then the half-demoness embraced the crying alien.
*BWAAAAYYY-BWAAAAYYY-BWAAAAYYY*
"The alarm!"
-Wayne Manor:Batcave Entrance Room-
"Are you comfortable Master Beastboy?"
"I'm never gonna get used to you calling me that Alfie."
"I also doubt I shall ever truly become accustomed to...Alfie."
"It suits you dude! And someone needs to lighten the atmosphere in this place. Seriously it's depressing!"
"I cannot help but form at least a partially homogenous opinion.
"... Nope, I got nothing out of that."
"Pay it no heed Master Beastboy. Now, these interviews are to be regular occurrences during your stay here. They will be used to assess your mental state and acquire any information you possess that may lead to furthering your training here. Each conversation shall be recorded and then transcribed. The resulting file will be encrypted and the original recording destroyed. Do you understand?"
"Em, I think I got it."
"Do not worry Master Beastboy, simply answer the questions."
"Alright, that I can do."
"We shall start with basic information and assessment today. Full Name?"
"Garfield Mark Logan."
"Age?"
"Turned eighteen three months ago."
"Birthplace?"
"Orlando, Florida."
"Height?"
"5'8"."
"Weight?"
"140 lbs."
"Very good. Now, you have been here for one week Master Beastboy. How has it been?
"Eh, it's been...weird, I guess?"
"...please, continue. How so has it been 'weird'."
"Well, I thought I was going to be doing awesome training and fighting and stuff. You know, becoming really strong and badass in no time. But so far it's just been loads of working out and tests."
"Could you elaborate?"
"Well Cassie said- Oh should I not say names?! I'm sorry, I just-"
"Fear not Master Beastboy, try to forget the recorder is even here."
"Ah, okay then. Eh, Cassie told me that Batman said my scores on my physical tests weren't that great so the first thing I have to do is get into proper shape. So it's been a lot of long distance running and endurance stuff and a lot of weight lifting as well. It's not really my thing to honest, I've always found that kind of thing pretty boring. I mean I can just shift into an animal stronger or faster if I have to. Why do I need to train my normal body when I can do that?"
"It's a valid argument, but I shall offer you a piece of advice about Master Wayne. He knows what he is doing and following his orders is the wisest course of action to take. Just because you do not see the logic behind his decisions, does not mean it is not there."
"Yeah that's what I told myself after he beat me to a bloody mess on my first day. Nothing else I can do is there?"
"I suppose not Master Beastboy, now please continue."
"Yeah, so, umm... Batman put Cassie in charge of my physical training and it's been mega tough so far. Batman hasn't actually done any training with me yet. He's just hooked me into loads of machines and had me shift for hours on end. He's taken my blood, put me in more machines and never told me anything about what they were or what they did. I guess he's trying to figure out how my powers work."
"Alright then, how has your relationship with Ms. Cassandra progressed?"
"Oh Cassie is great. She's a bit weird but-well I can't talk, but we get on alright. I don't think she really gets me sometimes, but then I don't get her either once in a while. But no, it's going alright. I still don't know her very well, it's only been a week."
"Good, good. Now we will move on. I would like you to summarize your life, highlighting the main events."
"..."
"Is there a problem?"
"No! Not at all! You just caught me off guard is all!"
"...Master Beastboy. I am aware of the condition Ms. Cassandra has placed on all your interactions with her. I will also require absolute truthfulness. Now, is there a problem?"
"...I...I don't really like talking about my life."
"You will be required to do a great many things you do not enjoy while you are here."
"I know, I know. I just..."
"We will be brief today. Tell me what you feel comfortable with. I shall not pressure you. Begin when you are ready."
"Thank you."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I..."
"I was born in America, but I grew all over the world. Most of the time was spent in jungles because my… my parents were biological geneticists and studied exotic wildlife. We spent time in Africa, India, Brazil, Madagascar, all over the place.
"Apart from that everything was pretty normal I guess. They sort of home schooled me while we were on the road. I don't really remember that much from that time though. Then, when I was 8, I got bitten by a monkey and contracted a disease called Sakutia. I had weeks to live. My parents recognized that animals were unaffected by it and set about creating a cure out of DNA taken from some amoeba or something. The cure saved me, but resulted in the side effects I still have; from my powers to skin color. I know all this from reading…their notebooks."
"..."
"They decided to return to America to get more medical help for me. We were…we were…"
"I am aware of this part of your tale. You can skip over it"
"You know about...that? How?"
"I researched you, do you not remember?"
"How did you find out though? Nobody has ever found out!"
"I did not uncover the knowledge. Master Wayne did. I do not know how."
"..."
"What happened afterwards?
"After…I wandered. The next three years, well, sucked. I don't really wanna' talk about it, but I spent a lot of time in Kibera… I eventually escaped and that's when I first met the Doom Patrol. They were on assignment nearby going after the leaders of the slave market. I watched them fight and decided that I wanted to join their team. I tracked them back to one of their secret bases and broke in. The leader, Mento, was... impressed with me and let me train with them to become part of the team.
"They... they were my family. Raised me, taught me, trained me. Eventually I became a fully fledged member of the Doom Patrol, but that didn't last very long. I left after a year. Well, it was sort of a cross between leaving and getting kicked off. I gave up on the idea of being a hero. Got into acting, funnily enough. Used my powers to play an alien in the TV show 'SpaceTrek 2020,' until it got sued by StarTrek.
"After that, I drifted around America, doing a half-hearted solo hero act. Went through New York, Atlanta, Gotham, Anywhere I could find food and shelter. That lasted for about a year until I wound up in Jump City and the Titans were formed."
"..."
"Well Master Beastboy, I think we can leave it there for today."
"...Thanks..."
"But before you leave. Please be aware that we will go into detail over some of the events you have just described, however some topics will be avoided more than others."
Beastboy nodded solemnly and made his way out of the room.
Raven, Starfire and Cyborg stepped out of the black portal into the Titan common room.
"It took you 22 seconds to get here! Why the delay?"
Cyborg stepped in front of the two girls, shielding Starfire's bloodshot eyes and freshly washed face from Robin's glare.
"That's my bad, Raven had to come find me in the garage."
But Robin had already turned back to the massive screen. The SOS from the police department was up on the screen detailing the sparse information they had on the developing situation.
Raven narrowed her eyes at the leaders back. 'Curse him for turning us into liars. But he didn't even care what the reason was. He's getting worse...'
"Hey guys, what you lot been up to?"
Kid Flash had non-too discreetly moved as far away from Raven as possible before addressing the group.
"Tell you later dude, let's focus now." Cyborg stiffly, still standing close to Starfire.
"That's the attitude I like to see Cy," Robin praised, turning back to the group, "It's Plasmus. He's on the loose in sector 3, I think he's making his way to the city's sewage plant, so that's where we're heading. TITAN'S GO!"
Kid Flash took off at once, while the rest of the team went about the alert without the usual skip in their step.
'I really despise this creature.'
Raven floated high over the bubbling monster of toxic gunge and slime, shaking her foot in an effort to get some of the purplish muck off her boot. She surveyed the battle ground, grimly screwing up her nose. The place stank.
Plasmus had apparently followed a sewer pipe all the way out of town to the sewage plant where they were currently combating him. The villain was making his way in between huge, deep, circular pools of stinking brown water set into the ground. Each one stirred by a long metal arm for some unfathomable reason.
'Not one of my areas of expertise. And I sincerely hope it stays that way.'
But she wasn't particularly worried about being forced into taking a closer look. Plasmus had traveled a long way and was slowing down under the sustained punishment of starbolts, sonic canon blasts and anti-personnel bombs. Raven was on defense, shielding and teleporting her teammates whenever they needed it and Kid Flash was creating a perimeter, clearing the facility of any staff.
She deftly formed a shield of energy to protect Cyborg from a swing of its massive arms as Starfire charged up a super-powered starbolt and caught Plasmus square in its back. The force dissipated over his body but the strike was enough to lift the being off the ground and into one of the cesspits of human waste. A large wave of filthy water exploded over the sides of the pool, forcing Cyborg to jump away with a loud curse.
'Guess she's channeling some of that emotion from earlier.' Raven thought, seeing the sickly green glow of Starfire's eyes.
"Titans surround him! Don't let up." Robin cried.
The team was soon in position around the calming pool, weapons and energies ready to fire at a moments notice.
A few seconds passed.
Then a few more.
"Hey guys, what did I-oh shit!" Kid flash appeared out of nowhere, and the titans had reacted to the sudden movements, aiming all they had at the sudden arrival.
"Sorry dude. You caught us off guard." Cyborg said apologetically.
"Nah man, it's all good. So where is the massive mess?"
"In there." Robin stated, bomb still in hand, ready to throw at a moments notice.
"Our enemy has been under for a most long time now." Starfire said in a worrying tone. "Perhaps I injured him."
"Or maybe he can't swim." Raven added, eyeing the murky depths.
"Beast-" Robin started, before catching himself. "Raven, scan for him."
She resisted the temptation to roll her eyes.
"I can't scan for him as he doesn't have an active conscious or spirit."
"Here, I can scan for him." Cyborg stepped up to the side of the pool cautiously before an argument could start. He leaned slowly over the edge and activated the most basic scanner in his robotic eye.
"He's...he's not there."
"What?! Where is he?" Robin shouted.
"I don't know man! Give me a sec!" Cyborg angled his head differently searching.
"Kid, sweep of the area."
"Righto boss!"
"It's hard to tell, but I think each pool is connected to each other-"
A sudden explosion of filth at the far end of the block of pools caught everyone's attention. Plasmus flew out amidst the sludge and immediately barreled through one of the walls of a nearby industrial looking building.
"After him!" Robin took off shouting, his team in reluctant pursuit.
They entered the sterile building cautiously, but the trail of purple and green slime was easy to follow.
'Stay quiet. Ambush attack." Robin ordered, before leading the way forward.
It wasn't long before they found the toxic villain. It had found where the bright blue barrels of poisonous chemicals used to treat the sewage was kept and was pouring the toxins down into his body.
Robin gave his orders in a hushed voice. "Starfire, hit the last of barrels with a big one. Raven, contain the explosion, Cyborg and Kid, circle round behind him. Three, two, one, Go!"
Starfire released a massive starbolt with a roar as Raven spread a blanket of energy over Plasmus and the barrels. She frowned, concentrating and left a small gap in her shield for the bolt to rush through and before closing it instantly behind.
Nothing could be seen through the opaque energy, but the whole bubble ballooned out violently. Raven winced and fell to her knees as she struggled to keep the shield up.
Starfire looked around in concern, but Robin charged ahead. "Starfire, attack!"
The Tameraneon watched her leader charge towards Raven's quivering shield and for the first time in her life, disobeyed an order. She crouched next to her friend, laying a hand on her shoulder gently.
"Are you alright friend Raven?"
The demi-demoness rose silently to her feet. "Oh course, Starfire. I was just surprised. Thank you though."
The two smiled at each other. A moment of peace amidst the chaos.
Suddenly Raven's shield shattered.
"Ah!"
Plasmus plunged out of the smoke and broken energy, right in front of Robin.
The team leader gasped in surprise.
The monster had at least doubled in size, the top of his form leaving a trail of slime on the twelve foot high ceiling. Bubbles of trapped air sizzled in patches over the behemoths body, releasing toxic gases into the enclosed room.
"Team, retrea-Oomph!"
Robin couldn't fully avoid a massive swat of Plasmus' arm and was caught in one shoulder. He sailed end over end into one of the far walls, out for the count.
A laser of blue light pierced through the monster's left shoulder from behind it, momentarily halting its advance towards the two girls. Cyborg's shout echoed around the massive storeroom.
"Kid, grab Robin! Everybody on Raven for retreat!"
The titans jumped to obey and soon Raven was surrounding the whole team in black light and teleporting them outside. The team took a moment to regroup on the concrete between the murky pools.
"What the hell was in those things? Steroids?! Monster steroids?!"
"Shut up Kid! Plasmus gets stronger when he absorbs toxins and poisons. You'd know that if you read the files Robin gave you!" Cyborg rebutted harshly.
"Enough." Oddly, it was Raven's dead but threatening monotone that stopped the arguing. "We need a plan."
"We must remove the human within and unconscious them." Starfire contributed.
Cyborg took charge.
"Alright I got it. Kid you're running interference with me, we'll keep him busy. Raven find out where the guy is inside that mess while Star covers you. Then work with Star to get him out. Keep your distance, he must be packing some serious heat to knock Rob out like that. Everybody –"
He was interrupted by a massive crash as the semi-solid villain barreled through the wall of the storehouse towards them. The team leaped into action as the building slowly collapsed in on itself.
Raven and Starfire took to the sky watching closely as Kid Flash ran circles around the villain, creating a small tornado that temporarily trapped the monster inches off of the ground.
"I have gotten your back friend Raven. Do not fear."
Raven couldn't help but smile a tiny smile as she closed her eyes and extended her senses towards the mass of dripping slime.
"Running...Out...Energy!" Kid Flash yelled when he could.
Cyborg ran over to a containment pool and ripped the stirring arm off the rim. "Starfire! He's coming your way."
"Bring him the on!"
Acting quickly, Cyborg moved so that the suspended Plasmus was between him and Starfire.
"Batter up!"
With a tremendous baseball style swing, Cyborg smashed the stirring arm through Kid Flash's whirlwind and straight into the back of Plasmus. The force was enough to break the rod into pieces and send the villain sailing through the air towards a powered up Starfire.
Starfire whipped her head forwards and unleashed a brightly glowing, wide stream of green from both her eyes. The thick beams struck Plamus in the center of his chest and threw him straight back towards the ground.
The earth beneath Cyborg and Kid Flash trembled as the villain crashed into the unforgiving concrete. His sheer mass was enough to crack and the hard ground, but his whole body thinned out under the constant burning pressure from Starfire, flattening out on the ground.
"Friend Raven?" Starfire struggled out. She was tiring quickly, expending large amounts of energy very quickly.
Raven shook of her words, focusing intently. She was having trouble identifying where the small man was in the massive form. She cursed inwardly. 'This isn't working. He doesn't have an active soul to pick out. Think, think! ...Physically. I'll find him physically.'
"Five more seconds, Star." She stated opening her eyes and focusing her energy.
Starfire didn't answer, too intent on keeping up the stream of already waning energy.
On the ground, Cyborg had cranked up his sonic cannon and had was working on severing one of Plasmus' legs. The going was slow as the goo would rejoin after he cut through it.
Suddenly, about fifty thin spears of dark energy pierced the main body of the villain. He looked like one of those magic boxes with a bunch of swords stuck in it. The creature bellowed and raised a massive hand to block Starfire's weakening beam.
Cyborg started at the voice of Raven at his shoulder. "Burn away as much as you can in that spot."
Unquestioningly, he spotted a single remaining rod of energy in Plasmus, raised his canon and shot a beam of burning sound at the base.
Plasmus was getting up though, fighting through Starfire's thinning eyebeam until it faded altogether. The alien doubled up in the air, gasping for breath as she struggled to remain airborne.
Cyborg concentrated on keeping his beam on the one spot as the monster stood.
"I gotcha!"
Kid Flash was suddenly in front of the monstrous villain, arms crossed and foot tapping, "God, you're disgusting you know that? I mean, I've seen some nasty things but you are by far the nastiest."
Plasmus swung wildly at the badly trash talking hero, who took no chances and sped away, only to reappear nearby and repeat the process.
Cyborg could feel himself tiring as he continued to cut into Plasmus, having no effect as far as he could see.
"Raven, anytime now!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth that a human size bullet of darkness struck Plasmus exactly where his beam had just been firing.
With a disgusting 'Squelch!' the force pierced through the far side, before alighting heavily on the ground. The cone of energy peeled back, revealing Raven, a human form slung over her shoulder.
With a truly horrific sound, the massive form of Plasmus sloshed to the ground. All the titans jumped back to avoid the splashback.
Raven unceremoniously dumped the man on the ground.
'Oh.'
She quickly spun away from the prone form as the rest of the titans joined her.
"Way to go little lady, had me worried for a second there!"
"A most splendid end to the battle!"
"Yeah...eh, nice one."
"Our opponent fought most valiantly but we have bested him." Starfire turned to inspect their quarry.
"Starfire, no! He's-"
"Ah! So this is the human male sexual appendage. I have never seen one a real one before!"
It was too late. The very naked man was now being scrutinized by a very curious Starfire.
"I wonder-" She reached out a hand only to have it caught in a literal iron grip.
"Not until you're 21 Star!" Cyborg shouted, turning her away and gesturing to Kid Flash to do something about the nude villain. "Someone call it in!"
Twenty minutes later, a specialized transport vehicle was on the scene.
Robin had woken up shortly after the host of Plasmus had been secured. He had not been happy at his quick dismissal from the fight and had demanded to know everything that had happened. Not satisfied with the mumbled explanations, he had ordered detailed written reports from them all to be handed in the following morning.
He had then suddenly smiled, "Great job guys! Thanks for having my back."
'It's verging on multiple personalities at this point,' Raven mused, thinking back on his words and action, 'Bi-polar at the least. This doesn't bode well.'
Cyborg adjusted the mask over the man's lower face. It was feeding a constant supply of light anesthetic to the unconscious man, keeping him under.
"Ya know, I really feel for this guy." Cyborg sighed to the military guard behind him. "Doesn't know he's doing it at all. Just transforms as soon as he opens his eyes and that's that. Poor bastard."
The guard gave no response. Not that he could with the full face mask to prevent accidentally breathing in any residual toxins. Or maybe just because of the smell.
"Anyway, he's all yours. We'll get the paperwork to you by the end of the day, alright?"
The guard nodded before stiffly loading the sleeping man into the back of the vehicle.
"Alright guys," Robin called, "That's us for the day. Kid, you get those witness statements? Good. Back to the tower then."
Raven immediately teleported to get the most of the hot water.
Starfire took off into the sky, still feeling out of sorts emotionally.
Cyborg took the driver's seat of the T-Car.
Robin took the seat next to him.
Ki d Flash collapsed into the rear seats, exhausted.
The guard observed the famous car leave, mechanical eye blinking red.
And there we have it!
Thought I'd try a little experiment in speech in the first few segments. Did it work?
More Beastboy next chapter I think. Shouldn't be long.
As always, I welcome any input at all. Just knowing people actually enjoy what I write is a fantastic boost!
See you when I see you!
CJB