A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to get another chapter of this story out. I really was stuck on how to proceed. I knew what I wanted to do but it just wasn't coming out of the finger tips. After some long thought of writing sessions, a lot of music for the scenes, I finally figured out how I wanted to proceed. So, we're back on track. Hope you enjoy this next segment!
It was the gentle nudging of Cyborg's foot that woke Raven from her broken sleep. The sleeping felt odd and did not have enough padding to keep out the cold steel and irregular plates that made up the bottom of the transport. She also could not turn that much with her ankle handcuffed to the wall and so her side and stomach hurt from sleeping on them. Sitting up, Raven fought a losing battle with the yawn that had forced its way out.
The young sorceress could hear everyone outside the transport in muffled tones preparing to break camp. Raven knew there were a few more stops like this, but she actually wondered what Jinx had planned. Everything had come at her from all angles, and the lines in the sand had been firmly set. The dark girl wanted everything to go back to the way it was, but there was no way of that happening.
"Is she up?" Zatanna demanded as she strode into the transport. "I don't have time for her ass to be lazing around."
"Back off," Cyborg growled at the magician who was taken aback by the response. "I've got her, now go find something constructive to do."
Not quite sure how to respond to the aggressive response from the half man half machine.
"Thank you," Raven said standing and brushing her cloak off. Cyborg reached down and removed the ankle cuff that held her in place.
"I don't agree with what you are doing and thinking you're making a horrible mistake," Cyborg said. "But that doesn't mean I'm not here for you as much as I can."
The sorceress nodded silently and relaxed as much as the girl could as he clamped his robotic hand on her shoulder to escort her out. The cold air stung Raven's nostrils as she breathed in the clean, desert air. A few of the black SUVs were idling while their occupants milled about preparing to depart for their next stop. Most did not glance in her direction though she could feel Robin's eyes on her as she walked into the rest stop.
Cyborg provided her privacy in the bathroom, but the girl was a bit disappointed when she could not find Jinx in the room. There was a plan in play, but Raven felt out of the loop not knowing what they were planning to do. Hour by hour it had become easier to see Philip Coulson and those who sided with him the enemy. Even her own compatriots were becoming ones to defeat instead of friends to try and save. Was it Sovereign affecting her as Agent Coulson had warned or had she finally realized that to achieve the goal of peace for every sentient being required a sacrifice she was now ready to make?
Finishing up and heading back outside, Raven felt a deepening depression as the dark, looming transport entrance grew closer. She was not wanting to return to the seat nor get jostled around for the next twelve hours as they drove. There were no options though. She chose to sacrifice herself to get to the Obsidian Key, and she was relying on Jinx to get her out.
"Incoming!"
The shout from the man named Hawkeye knock Raven out of her thoughts and heard the distinctive squish and burn of an energy weapon. The unique smell of ionization told the sorceress immediately it was a starbolt.
Shooting overheard, she saw the black/silver blur tinged with purple of Blackfire as she flew low sending a beam of eye bolts sizzling through the gas tank of an SUV. The vehicle ruptured in a massive blast throwing everyone around to the ground. Raven stumbled, but Cyborg supported her with one hand while he began to fire energy pulses up towards the figure spinning around for another dive.
"Get me some cover and get the prisoner to the vehicle!" Captain America shouted as he deflected another purple beam with his red, white, and blue shield.
Raven's arm hair tingled as she saw the Scarlet Witch summon her power and lift the remnant of the broken SUV with her powers and throw it at Blackfire. Komand'r deftly dodged it as years of experience had taught her to fight. One thing Raven was sure of was that the Tamaranian princesses were well trained in the art of combat.
The sky thickened with blaster bolts, arrows, and objects while Blackfire cackled and dodged up in the air, taunting them to make contact.
Zatanna rushed up to Cyborg and pointed to the transport. "You need to cover the southern flank. I see more coming in from the ground. they're going to rush our position."
"Raven?" Cyborg said half worried about losing his prisoner, the other half was for her safety. Raven wanted to comfort the man, but she never had the chance.
"I've got her. They're not going to have the chance to rescue her."
That sounded a lot more threatening than Raven expected. Were their orders to kill her before her friend and comrade could rescue her?
Zatanna roughly grabbed raven by the neck and shoved her towards the rest stop which was out of the battle. They rounded a corner, and the magician shoved Raven to the ground roughly.
"Hey!"
"Shut up," Zatanna responded peering around quickly. She bent down and ripped the inhibiting necklace they had placed about her neck away, and then the magician uttered a magic word that cracked the restraints around her wrists. As they fell away, the dark sorceress felt her powers flood back, and control of her soul-self manifest in her eyes.
"Now make it look good," Zatanna warned lifting her hand with a crackle of power.
The first blast from Zatanna's finger's caught Raven in the shoulder, and she cried out in pain. The girl's eyes went white as she grabbed the nearby mailbox, surrounded it with her soul-self, and slammed it into Zatanna sending the woman careening into the wall. Pain and agony flooded her arm, and instinctively she did the only thing she could think of. Raven funneled all her strength creating a portal behind her and allowed herself to fall in. It snapped shut as soon as she went through.
The portal was uncontrolled nor did she even take the time to think of a destination. It was only the fact that she plowed into the sand that told Raven that she was still in the desert. The girl pushed herself off the ground as the searing pain shot through her arm and once in the sitting position examined it. The blast has burnt and lacerated her left arm searing it in the process. What had happened? Zatanna had released her but then tried her best to kill her.
'I'm away. That's all that matters.'
Sovereign was silent. She could feel he was distant, probably focused on something else of importance. Raven did not mind knowing the person she had sworn allegiance to was also putting his strength into accomplishing their mutual goal.
The woman stood from the ground and began to peer around her trying to get an idea where she was. All her eyes found was barren land for as far as the eye could see in all directions. Only rock arches and towers of stone doing delicate balancing acts could be seen. The air had begun to take on a warm feel as the sun broke through the horizon and was making its ascent towards the top.
'Crap. Now how do I get out of here?'
Portals were insanely difficult to make, and she had only mastered close quarters ones the best. To project herself across the state, let alone the country took a lot of power, a power that had not yet fully returned to her. Just the thought of trying to generate one of the mystical doors drained her.
Focusing her tired mind, she was able to get herself to levitate and then float quickly towards the closest rock formation. Raven knew she would need a place to hide from the heat soon.
For the next hour, sweat began to bead on her face, and her mouth became sticky. The arch was closer but still felt like it had a way to go. As she considered stopping to let her mind catch its breath, an aqua blue portal opened up in front of her, and she fell through before she could react.
Raven tumbled unceremoniously on the ground in the shade of the granite arch towering above her. The cool breeze was drying her face.
'What just happened.'
Looking up, she saw a man in blue clothing and gold armor descending towards her. Raven's heart thrilled in fear as she recognized the golden helmet and glowing white eyes. His golden cape snapped in the wind as his descent slowed. He stopped a few feet above her head looking down at her. Raven summoned her soul-self ready to fight the magic wielder.
"Stay your hand, child," his voice boomed like a loud orchestra of noise. "I do not mean to do battle with you."
"Sure, I believe you," Raven said with sarcasm as her eyes became awash with white light.
"The Lords of Order have forbidden me to get involved, but I do not think you have been told what lies before you." he intoned ignoring her as if she posed little to no threat.
"They've told me enough."
"No, they haven't," Doctor Fate responded dismissively. "The Lords of Order and Chaos have recognized the rise of Sovereign as what it is, the points of order and chaos converging into a choice. You, my child, are the one who will make a choice for many realities that exist and are to come. We cannot interfere in that."
Raven allowed the power inside of her to return, and she distinctly felt the connection with Sovereign being blocked by the magic user. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to leave her alone in her body. It felt like a giant ache in her heart like someone had torn out a vital organ that she now had to live without.
"What choice?"
"I see many futures in you, young Raven." Doctor Fate said lowering until his feet touched the ground. He was still tall which required the Azarathian sorceress to tip her head back to look at him squarely in the face. "I see a future where you have fully given your mind and body to Sovereign willingly to be his slave in both pleasure and command while I see another of a burned world of billions dead, with you standing there among the skeletons."
"So, there is no choice that I bring peace," Raven said in defiance.
"Peace is a relative world. There is peace in a land without anger and strife, but there is also peace on a dead world among the bones of their inhabitants. What you seek is possible though extremely difficult to get to."
"Then tell me how to do it, so no one has to die," Raven said on the verge of begging.
"I cannot. The balance cannot be tipped. You are the only one who can make the decisions that are to come. My only advice to you, young Raven, is to truly follow your heart when you hear it speak to you. There is no happy ending for you, but you can bring about a happy ending to millions if you follow the person that you are."
Raven was infuriated. The man who could have shown her the way had refused to do so. It was always riddles and orders, cryptic messages and blind faith. Sovereign explained his goals. Doctor Fate was no different than those who wanted to put her away or stop Jason's return. They feared and thought they can hide in obfuscation.
"Stay here," Doctor Fate said as he began to glide towards the portal that formed above him. "Your comrades will find you before the sun touches the horizon."
"So, that's it then? I'm just going to randomly make choices in hopes that I will get it right?"
Doctor Fate stopped and looked down at her. He appeared to be contemplating something he wanted to say.
"You will see me one more time, Raven. When you do, you'll know the defining moment will shortly arrive."
With that, he was ascending and vanished in a spiraling color of ancient symbols that evaporated in the air. Raven slumped down, back against the rock with tears of anger in her eyes. The feeling of Jason returned, but he was still too weak to break into her thoughts. She hugged her knees to her chest and cried hot tears of fury.