Here we are... four years in the making, the finale to Cyborg in a Strange Land! Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Teen Titans

Chapter 13: A Great Leap in the Dark

This is it, thought Cyborg, We're almost in the clear. We can end this in just a matter of minutes if we play our cards right.

The duo of Cyborg and Red X stalked silently along the the hallways and the marble floors of the Council Building, the base of power and the last bastion of the Peace and Development Council. Cyborg was amazed at how it felt to move so quietly. Despite all his time in this brave new world he was still accustomed to sounding like a rusty tank whenever he moved.

The sound of gunfire and explosions popped up occasionally, sometimes very close, sometimes miles away. It all seemed to be winding down. The war's end was in sight, or so it seemed.

"I kinda figured there'd be more of an opposition to this..." whispered Cyborg.

"They built themselves a castle, but it was made out of sand. The tide came in and it all washed away." replied Red X.

Red X suddenly stopped and turned towards him, a finger to his lips. Cy faintly heard the sound of footsteps on the hard floor just around the corner and several feet away. Suddenly a door opened in the same hallway and closed seconds later. X nodded and Cy responded in kind, and the two made their way around the corner.

The hall was lined with identical dark oak doors. Red X was moving very slowly, eying each of them carefully, yet his body language suggested he was perplexed. Cyborg tilted his head to the side and stared down the hallway. He blinked several times as he noticed a green cat walk gracefully down the hall and sit in front of one of the doors. The determined hero made his way over to where the cat was sitting, and with a faint wisp of smoke it was gone. X stared at Cy, who only shrugged and gestured towards the doorknob. Red X walked over and the duo stood on opposite sides of the doorway, bracing themselves. X counted down from three with his fingers and then smashed the door open with his boot.

"Come quietly and-" X stopped suddenly. Sitting in a rather comfortable leather chair behind a desk was a very, very short man. The figure was bald, with a neatly kept beard, and was puffing contentedly on a cigar.

"Yeah, yeah. I surrender."

"Who... who the hell are you?" demanded Red.

"Me?" The man dumped some of his cigar's ash in the tray, a sly smile on his face. "I'm Citizen X, of course."

Cyborg could hear Red X laughing through his mask, but Cy kept a serious face. "He's right. It doesn't... I mean... but he's right..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. What, you were expecting that corpse Slade Wilson? He served his purpose. Great rhetoric, great speeches. Got us to where we needed to be. And before he could outlive his usefulness, before he could get too greedy and fuck it all up, he took a bullet for us. He was the perfect politician."

"So who the hell are you?"

"The name's Mikron O'Jeneus. I'm an actor. Been a good friend of Blood's for a while. Not going to lie, this is the sweetest gig I've ever had. When he told me what-"

"Hold on, hold on..." Cyborg raised his hands. "Mikron O'Jeneus? Are you serious?"

"What? That's my name."

"It's... no it's not, there's no way..."

"Oh, and I suppose your name is perfect and natural and normal. There's no such thing as any of those. What the hell is your name, anyway? John Smith? Robert Thompson?

Taken aback, Cyborg answered. "Victor Stone, actually."

Mikron rolled his eyes. "Wow, amazing. What a perfect name. I-"

Red X sighed and interrupted the ranting figure. "Hold on a minute, just shut up. So you're Citizen X. You're a nothing but a joke. Where's Brother Blood? This ends. Now."

Mikron shrugged, putting his cigar out on the table itself without a care in the world. "Fuck if I know."

Without warning the wall beside the tiny man exploded outward, sending both him and the large wooden desk crashing into the wall, his neck snapping with a sickening crack. Out strode Brother Blood, his eyes glowing a fierce red, his pupils not even visible. Red energy surged over his body as he walked into the room.

"I am here, heroes. You have come, of course, to finish your destruction."

Red X shook his head. "We've come to stop you, Blood. It's over. You know it. Your army is broken. Your assassins are all dead."

A twinge floating deep within his stomach, Cyborg's eye grew wide and he suddenly swirled around to face a somber looking man in a finely tailored suit who had been creeping up behind him. Not even thinking, he snatched the silenced pistol from the man's hand and brought his left fist into the man's throat as hard as he could. The man gasped and choked and he tumbled to the ground. Cyborg removed the pistol's clip and tossed the weapon down the hall.

"Well, NOW your assassins are all dead..." mumbled Cyborg.

"Oh, Eric. Good help is hard to find."

"Spare the cliches. How do you want to finish this?" X took a step towards the pulsating man.

Blood seemed unmoved by all of this, and ignored X's comments. He seemed dazed, but as sure of himself as always. "We had a perfect world. I know you won't agree with me on that... but can you at least accept that you've left these people with nothing but rubble and a struggle to survive?"

Red X removed his mask for the first time in what seemed like days, a wide smile on his face. "In total destruction comes infinite possibility." The figure continued to move towards Blood.

"Yes, well... let us hope you can build as well as you can destroy." He glared at Red X, the red hue darkening slightly. X found himself turning around to face Cyborg, red energy coursing around him. "This isn't over, though. You think you're General Washington or Simon Bolivar or whatever... you're not... you're just another idealist who has gotten in way over his head. You're no liberator. My perfect world is destroyed, fine. But I am not leaving here without some sense of satisfaction."

"What... oh no..." whispered Cyborg, dodging backwards into the hallway as his former comrade threw a punch that missed his jaw by inches. The red-tinged figure leapt into the hallway, swinging his boot up and colliding with Cy's head, sending him reeling backwards.

"I... I can't..." grunted Red, his eyes full of fear. His movements were stilted like puppet, but still as accurate and deadly as when he had total control. He swung forward with another kick, the dazed Cy ducking it and shoulder-rolling backwards down the hall and away from the attack. Red pressed the attack further, swinging a flurry of kicks and punches at the fleeing and confused man.

Cy suddenly lunged forward, shoving the lithe man backwards and sending him off-balance. Taking advantage of his opportunity, he brought his fist up in an uppercut that connected soundly with Red's chin, sending him stumbling backwards, dazed. He continued to press his own attack, punching his friend several times in the face and chest. Finally, he planted a strong boot into Red X's solar plexis, causing him to grunted loudly and slam into the hard floor.

"I'm sorry!" he shouted before springing toward Brother Blood, the figure's scowling face twisting into surprise.

Cyborg became aware unconsciously of an unnatural buzzing noise that began to grow. He thought absently that it might be tinnitis, some sort of ringing from the explosions, from the fight. He thought it might be the blood pounding in his ears. But it began to grow, slowly but steadily, pulsing to life all around him.

Blood wrenched Red X's body from the ground without an grace, the sheer force of his will bringing the controlled warrior to his feet. X launched into a jump kick, slamming into Cyborg's back and dropping him to the ground. He rolled the stunned Cy onto his back and proceeded to punch him in the face as hard as he could, over and over again.

With a dazed groan, Cy snapped his head to the side without warning, bring Red's fist into contact with the marble floor. Cyborg heard a horrifying crack as this happened, and could see the pain register on Red X's face. His friend brought the fist up once again against his will. Cyborg grabbed his forearm before he could bring the shattered hand against him.

"Fight it, man... you've got to fight it... I did it... it's the only way..." he rasped. Red's face was full of pain and confusion. The buzzing sound was all to clear to him now, but he ignored it despite the irritating presence it had over his mind.

"I... I... I'm... trying..." he grunted, struggling to bring his ruined fist into Cyborg's face. "His power is..."

"Shut up... you're both going to die here. You've ruined everything, little man. You-" Blood shook his head, squinting. He rubbed his ears and continued on. "You destroyed everything we've built and you don't even know why."

"Because you're a psychotic monster and you've ruined thousands of people's lives... that's why..." groaned Cyborg, using all of his all-too-human strength to keep his friend from pummeling him with a shattered hand. "Stop this! Just stop this! What are you hoping to accomplish at this point?"

Red X's knee suddenly jutted out to Cyborg's side, slamming into the hard marble floor. An intense look of pain swept over his face again as he raised his knee and slammed it down again, harder. Cy looked on in horror, bringing his own knee out to try to block his friend's self-harming motions. X brought his knee down again, sending pain shooting through Cyborg's body.

"Dick... forgive me, man..." mumbled Cyborg, X's face surprised at the mention of his true name. Slipping his hand off of his friend's wrist, Cyborg slammed his fist into the side of his head, dazing him. Before Blood could manipulate him further, Cyborg brought his hands around his friend's throat, squeezing. Red was caught off guard at this, trying halfhearted slaps to stop Cyborg's assault. Cy tried to apply just enough pressure, knowing he was straddling a razor-thin line that could easily end up killing his friend. Blood was rubbing his temples amidst this chaos, muttering nonsense to himself. Finally, Cyborg's plan worked, knocking Red X unconscious as he choked out. Groaning, Cyborg gently pushed X's body aside as he slowly stood up to face his enemy.

"This... ends... now..." he grumbled, trying to regain his breath. Blood finally seemed to regain his surroundings, and upon being directly confronted he drew a deep breath and then bellowed a harsh war cry, stomping towards Cyborg and backhanding him before he could react.

"I agree... this ends now..." he raised a red-tinged fist and slammed it into Cyborg's chest, sending him sprawling to the floor. He grabbed the dazed Titan and lifted him over his head.

"You asked me what I'm trying to accomplish?" Blood effortlessly tossed him down the hallway, slamming him hard into the marble and sending him sliding further down the hall. He bumped into the wall, stopping his skid. He tried to get to his knees before Blood's red energy surged over him, pinning him. Brother Blood began to walk determined down the hall towards him. "Nothing, now. I've accomplished all I can. I didn't think I would ever see this happen. I thought everything was covered... the people were afraid, the metas were neutered... I had complete control. And then you come along." Blood was right in Cyborg's face now, a strange tic in his eye. Cyborg became more aware of the buzzing. It seemed completely audible now. It was no figment of his imagination.

"I don't know how you did it, but you've managed to ruin everything. I mean, how could you be so thorough? It's insane. I knew you were changing things, I knew things would be different... I was so obsessed with fate and destiny, and yet I thought I could... defy it. Or maybe I just thought your fate was to fail, or that your little insurrection wasn't truly part of this destiny. It's my own fault, really."

Cyborg grunted. "You talk too much. Just end this."

Blood allowed himself a smile, and raised a fist, the red energy making it seem as though it were on fire. "Very well. Goodbye, Victor. It's been..." There was a strange flash, and suddenly the building began to shake. "What the... No, no, no! I was so close!" A strange white void, like living static, began to slowly ooze down the hallway, consuming everything in its path. With another flicker of power the redness faded from Blood's body, freeing Cyborg. The patriarch stared at him in horror. "I was so close... I couldn't have just this one last pleasure?"

Cyborg grabbed him by the collar. "If it's fate, if it's destiny, then you know you never had a choice. And the way it's gone so far, you knew you were never going to win this thing in the end." The static began to make its way closer and closer to Red X's unconscious body. The whole building seemed to be pulsing, and the strange buzzing sound was in the air. Blood offered no resistance now, simply looking at the ceiling as the void began to wash over it as well.

"All that is solid melts into air..." whispered Blood, a look of total awe on his face. A tiny bubble kept the trio in the hallway from dissolving as well.

"This has been fun and all, but I really should be going." muttered Cyborg swinging Blood violently into the wall that he was once pinned to and making his way to Red's body.

Red's eyes fluttered open as he picked up his body. He winced as he tossed him over his shoulder.

"What about him?" croaked X, looking at Brother Blood as Cyborg moved towards the window, the staticky void creeping ever closer to them. Cy looked over and found the man curled up into a ball on the floor, the void slowly overtaking his body, his form disintegrating slowly.

"I think he's made his decision." His free arm slid the window open, and he spied a large snowbank just outside. The rest of the city seemed fine. The building was in the midst of destroying itself while everything else remained oblivious. Cyborg looked over his shoulder one last time at who he felt had been his mortal enemy. Blood looked at peace, no signs of pain at all. Within a matter of seconds he was almost completely gone, whiteness all that remained. Wasting no further time, Cy and Red dove out the window, landing softly in the massive pile of snow.

The rest of the Ragged Army ran over to pull them out. Starfire looked horrified at Red's shattered arm, and Raven quickly applied dark energy to the wound, attempting a healing spell.

"Uh, guys... what the fuck is going on?" muttered Beast Boy, gesturing to the building. Everybody stood completely still as the building finally vaporized, a vast slate of nothingness standing before them. The void did not move outward, and with another flicker of energy began to shrink, giving them a view of everything that had stood behind the building.

Nobody said a word as they watched the bizarre scene. Within a matter of seconds, the void had shrunk down, changing its shape and colour to become a black hole. It finally stopped moving when it was about 6 feet tall by 6 feet wide. The strange buzzing noise persisted.

"Seriously, what the fuck is going on?"

Cyborg walked towards it, and suddenly the buzzing stopped. "It's... it's my way home." He turned around to the vast and motley group standing in the square. Cy licked his lips and began to speak. "You've won a great victory here, to be sure. But it's not over. The hard part isn't even over. You've earn a huge opportunity here. You can build a better world. Now do so. Take heed the mistakes of the past and listen to the opinions of your friends and neighbours. Don't become a city based on fear and divisions once again. Make this a place beautiful enough to live for, and great enough to die for." Taking a deep breath, and with nothing else to say, he began to step towards to the darkness.

"Wait!" it was Starfire. She ran forward and proceeded to hug Cyborg. "How do you know this is what you think it is?" She gestured towards the pulsing blackness.

Cy smiled. "Trust me. It's the only thing that makes sense anymore."

Beast Boy shuffled forward and hugged his friend. "I'm... I'm going to miss you, man. You take care."

Cy chuckled to himself. "You too, grass-stain." Beast Boy laughed at that, but winced and rubbed his swollen eye, tears trickling down his face. "Ah, sorry..."

"No worries..." He was trying desperately not to weep himself.

"What about your body?" It was Raven this time. "Do you really want to go back to your old form? Won't you miss the flesh and blood?"

"I've still got flesh-and-blood back home... just a lot less of it. Look, I love you all. But there are people back home who are probably quite worried about me. I owe it to them... besides, as great as this has been, I'd have rathered a vacation in a metal-free body that had less death and more women in bikinis." He shook his head, laughing, tears finally finding their way down his face. "I'm sorry, it's... it's been a long few days..." He looked at Red X, who wore a subtle grin but said nothing.

Cy nodded slowly. "It's up to you guys now. Good luck, goodbye..."

"Wait, hold on!" Red X finally spoke, wincing through the pain in his ruined arm. "You said you were the only one who could bring down Brother Blood. I don't know how you did it, but... Well, what exactly happened in there?"

He was forced to pause and consider this. "I can't quite explain it... but I know I'm responsible for all of this. From start to finish." Cy gave a wave and stepped into the void, falling into the infinite blackness.

xxxx

Cy opened his eye and looked around. The rest of the Titans were asleep in front of him, slumped over chairs in the infirmary. He slowly began to sit up, his metallic arms glinting in the lights of the various machines.

His stirring caused Robin to stir and within seconds he was by his side, the others beginning to wake up as well.

"FRIEND CYBORG!" shouted Starfire, wrapping him in a bearhug. Robin tapped her shoulder and she sheepishly relented. "I am sorry, but after everything... I..." she choked back a tear and stepped aside.

"Good to have you back, man..." mumbled Beast Boy, his eyes red and puffy.

"What... what happened?" grunted Cy. "Have I been laying here this entire time?"

Robin shrugged. His voice was raspy when he spoke. "It was a terrible virus. We tried everything in our arsenal, everything you'd developed in your Emergency console. Nothing seemed to work. Exhausted, we just gave it over to fate. It was just wait and see."

Raven shook her head. "Frankly, it feels like a miracle. I thought... we thought we'd lost you for good. What happened to you? Do you remember anything?"

The events swept over Cyborg like a wave and a strange look came over his face. "I remember everything but... I just... I can't explain any of it. I must have some sort of fail-safe anti-virus that kicked in when you were trying to help me and I just had to wait for it to do its job. But it was so... so vivid. It was like... it was like when I had visited that world in the past, with Sarasim and those monsters. But that was... real, wasn't it? This felt just as real as that did. I could swear I have been there. I mean I met these people, I talked to them... I feel like I truly knew them. You can't tell me they were just some sort of virtual reality program, that they were like characters in a video game or something. They were far too complex, too... too real. I really felt like I knew them. You can't say that about a video game character."

The rest of the Titans looked at him somberly, not saying anything.

He shook his head finally and spoke, gazing into his hands. "I saw a movie once, not very long ago. And there's a line in it that sticks out so clearly to me now." The other Titans offered smiles as he looked up at them.

"What was it?" offered Beast Boy gently.

"They say that dreams are only real as long as they last. Couldn't you say the same thing about life?" He shook his head once more and began to step out of bed, his body creaking and groaning around him.

"Oh this body, this damn body!" he shouted as Starfire and Robin moved to his sides to brace him. He surprised everybody by suddenly laughing. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. God, you don't know what you have until it's gone."

The other Titans looked lost and he broke the brief silence once again.

"Come on, I've got a lot to tell you. Maybe laying it out for you will bring me closer to finding some sort of meaning in all of this."

The group made their out the door and into the hallway, the faint rays of the sun poking through the window as the dawn broke before them.

xxxx

Well there you have it! Four years in the making and it is finished! I hope you've enjoyed reading it. It was quite fun to write, certainly the most depth I've ever attempted to put into a story. Cyborg's quote "from a movie" is from Richard Linkletter's Waking Life, a fascinating film indeed.
So where do I go from here? I think this will be my last Teen Titans story, at least for the time being anyway. I've got a few other ideas lined up and I hope to get them up and running soon. They'll be different but exciting!
Anyway, thanks for reading, sorry about the humongous delays, and all the best to you and yours!
- Zee