Family Issues V

"Not any more!" Starfire shouts back after regaining her balance as Ditto sneaks away and starts conversing with the Centauri police officers before handing over a package.

Starfire flies through a maelstrom of purple plasma bolts before landing a hit of her own in Blackfire's hand throwing off her aim and allowing Starfire to float above her.

And just as the two sisters seem about to begin a fistfight, the strange green-slime whip surrounds Blackfire and drags her towards the Dominant Centauri police officer who says, "Blackfire of Tamaran, under my authority as a peacekeeper of the Grand Centauri Empire, I hereby commute your sentence to house arrest on the planet Earth in the Sol system under the guardianship of the Teen Titans. In exchange for the reparations provided by one Ditto of Earth."

"NO! You can't do this to me! I'm-" Blackfire protests before a strange collar is placed upon her neck causing her voice to stop working and her purple energy-infused eyes to begin to wane. As the officer hands a controller over to Ditto and the rest of the Titans stare on in confusion as the Center police officers use their hovercraft to leave Earth's atmosphere.

"Ummm… What just happened?" Beast Boy says with a question mark over his head.

"Yeah, I'm with BB. What's going on Double T?" Cyborg questions.

"I would also like to know why my sister is here and not on her way to prison?" Starfire questions before realizing Blackfire is glaring at her ferociously. "Not that I don't want her here." Starfire tries to backtrack as Blackfire pouts indignantly.

"Yeah, what did you do, Ditto?" Robin questions while Raven observes silently.

"Um… Do you guys mind if we talk in the Tower?" Ditto asks nervously.

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The team goes back to the Tower, where they all position themselves around the living space as Ditto nervously twiddles their thumbs while still in Starfire's form.

"So, would you like to explain what's going on? I think we've been patient enough with everything that has happened." Robin says looking at Ditto pointedly.

"You're right, thank you for your patience everyone…" Ditto sighs before continuing, "I'm sorry…"

"Sorry for what Double T?" Beast Boy asks still lost as to what exactly is going on.

"I may have omitted the… Severity? Of my powers…" Ditto says shrinking down and mumbling.

"It's alright, Double T. You can talk to us about anything." Cyborg reassures Ditto with a pat on the back.

Gratefully, Ditto looks to Cyborg with a smile as they hold Cyborg's hand, "Thank you. Whew… Alright… Here it goes… My powers not only copy a person's appearance and powers… But their personality, memories, and thought processes."

The team stares on in shock, but with a strange look of understanding as some of Ditto's peculiarities begin to make more sense before Robin speaks up, "I assumed it was something like that based off of how you would change after becoming one of us. But can you elaborate? Are you becoming one of us? Are you able to read our minds?"

"No… Well, yes… But not really… It's confusing." Ditto sighs before trying to explain, "You know I need to touch someone to copy them, right?" Causing the team to nod as they follow along.

"Well, when I'm copying someone, I need to either touch them for a long time like I did with Cyborg when we first met, in order to build a mental barrier to keep my mind separate from theirs in order not to get their memories stuck in my head. The loophole for that is if I know the person well enough or I've copied them repeatedly letting me have a little box in my head for their memories to go into."

"Hmmm… That explains what I felt when you copied me." Raven exclaims in contemplation.

"Yeah, if I'm not careful, then the memories become blurred and I could forget who I am, thinking I am the person I copy. That's actually my first memory… I thought I was being replaced… Before realizing I was the replacer which hit me pretty hard. And ever since I've been careful with who I copy. I didn't want to accidentally become a villain… And that's why after making friends with you guys I let my guard down and just copied Blackfire making me realize who she truly was and her intentions…"

"I see… But why did you hid this from us?" Robin asks in confusion.

"I... I never had friends before and... I didn't want you to think I was a trying to spy on you or make you think I'm abusing my powers or ask me to lea-" Ditto says before starting to spiral into a pit of worry and self doubt as Beast Boy, Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire stop Ditto by giving them a group hug.

"Don't worry Double T. We got your back!" Beast Boy says with a grin.

"Yeah, we know what you're like and know you wouldn't do that." Cyborg says.

"You are most definitely our friend and we would never leave you behind." Starfire says.

"Yeah, you're a part of this team. If you'll stay?" Robin says.

"I'd love to!" Ditto exclaims, before everyone turns to Raven who had been standing to the side.

"I don't do group hugs... But, yeah. What they said." Raven says with an aloof look before Cyborg wraps his arm around her making her reluctantly complete the group hug.

"Welcome to the team." Raven whispers into Ditto's ear causing them to smile joyfully.

And the moment is ended when the team notices Blackfire silently pretending to vomit while sitting in a corner causing the team to separate.

"I'm still confused about how you got the Centauri police officers to agree to leaving Blackfire with us, and why they should be here in the first place?" Robin asks while straightening his cape.

"Oh that, I just gave them a Centauri Moon Diamond I copied and they said that it wouldn't be a problem so long as we keep her out of trouble. And as for why to keep her with us, despite her arrogance, jealousy, and manipulative personality. She does love Starfire deep down, maybe even deeper than she knows, and just wants her home. And I thought reform and trying to mend their relationship would be better than hard prison." Ditto explains what they did and why.

"That makes sense... But how are we going to keep them from causing trouble?" Robin asks.

"Oh yeah!" Ditto exclaims digging out a remote that was handed to her from the Centauri police officer, "This remote controls that collar on Blackfire which can not only prevent her from speaking but suppresses her strength to that of a human." Ditto says handing over the controller to Robin.

"It's probably better if you or Starfire hold on to this." Ditto says.

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