A/N: Another night of insomnia, another extra chapter…
Also, some people are confused about the memories/dreams the two Nightwings are having. The Teen Titan's Nightwing's dreams have nothing to do with his connection to Raven. Otherwise, it wouldn't be both Nightwings having the dreams. The dreams started right after the YJ Nightwing got hooked up to the trans-dimensional device by an inept lackey of Professor Ivo. Hopefully that explanation's not too confusing. This plot will play out in a few chapters.
Chapter 20: Revelations
Speedy flipped on the big screen TV in the living room, programing it to split into multiple screens and show all the major news channels as well as the local Steel City news channel, then turned the volume down low and joined the rest of the heroes around the kitchen table and dining area.
Kaldur watched the screens for a moment before sighing. "There's still been no sign of any villains from our world."
"Maybe their lying low while they flesh out their evil plans," Beast Man suggested. "Just because they haven't shown up yet, doesn't mean they're not here."
"Right," Nightwing agreed. "We can't let our guard down just because things have been quiet so far. Mas y Menos, I want you to contact all the superheroes we know around the U.S. and warn them about what's happened. Also, tell them to inform the Titans if they hear or see anything suspicious."
"Sí!" The twins agreed, now knowing English after leaving in the United States for years.
"I'll hack into the local security cameras and look for anything out of place," Cyborg volunteered. "If these heroes landed here in Steel City, the villains probably did too."
"What do we do once we find them?" Bumble Bee asked. "We need a plan of action to make sure no one goes running in recklessly if they find anything."
"We need to find out which villains from our dimension came here and what they're planning," Kaldur said.
"What if there aren't any villains from our world here?" Beast Boy asked. "We should probably plan for that too. We've been here a couple days and we still haven't seen anything. The portal was still open when we got there and we didn't see anyone go through."
"If that's the case," Nightwing began, "then we need to think of a way to get your team back to your own dimension. There is a member of the Titans who can open portals to other dimensions, but it's a blind stab in the dark. He doesn't know where he's opening portals to and he might send you all to the wrong place."
"I think I'd rather we stayed here for a while to make no sure no villains from our dimension came here," Kaldur said. "And I'd also prefer a more sure way of us getting home if possible."
"That fine," Nightwing said. "Though my team will need to return to Jump City soon. The villains will realize we're gone sooner or later and start wreaking havoc on the city. Bumble Bee, are you okay to keep housing these guys for now?"
A screeching alarm went off a moment later, making everyone startle. Garth jumped to his feet and ran to a computer, typing something in. "It's HIVE," he said, turning to the room.
"We'll help you," Nightwing offered.
"We'll come as well," Kaldur said.
"Sure," Bumble Bee agreed with a shrug. "The more the merrier. At least, for our side."
~.~
Raven blinked groggily as she gentled floated down onto the bed underneath her. She sat up in confusion as she looked around and wondered where she was. And why couldn't she feel any of her magic? She never used enough to completely deplete her internal store.
As she wondered over this, her memories hit her in quick succession. Trigon attacking and possessing her. Nightwing destroying her physical form. The Lord of Chaos finding her and the Team.
Raven reeled from the onslaught of information and finally realized where she was. It looked like the Titans East infirmary. How in the world had she ended up here? The last thing she remembered was…the Justice League taking her away. Typical.
Dragging herself out of the bed, she pulled the black superhero mask off her face and wandered around and confirmed that she was in fact in the Titans East Tower, though she didn't find any of the team members. And of course she had no T-phone. Assuming hers hadn't been destroyed, it would be at the Titans West Tower. Sighing, Raven decided to make herself at home in the living room. The Titans East were probably away protecting the city and would be back eventually.
~.~
"We kicked their butts!" Beast Boy exclaimed excitedly as the heroes returned to the T Tower.
"HIVE did have three different superhero teams attacking them," Speedy said dryly. "I sure hope we kicked their butts with odds like that."
Their banter stopped when Starfire gasped and pointed at the couch. A number of heroes got ready to attack before they noticed who the figure was.
"Rachel!" Beast Boy exclaimed, running forward. "You're awake!" Flinging his arms around her, he said, "I'm so glad you're okay." Under his arms, he felt his friend tense and he pulled away, tears springing to his eyes. "You hate us now, don't you? What happened was all our fault. We let them take you. I'm so sorry! I should have fought harder." He turned to give a helpless look to the rest of the Team.
"We should have fought harder," Superboy corrected. "You are our friend and teammate and we should have believed in you. We know you, the Justice League doesn't. We shouldn't have let them come in and dictate everything."
"We know we screwed up royally," M'gann said, stepping forward, "but I swear we'll make it up to you if you let us."
"No, it's not that," their friend said, shaking her head. "I'm not mad at you, Beast Boy, I'm just not big on hugs. And my name's not Rachel." She turned to look at Nightwing, surprised and happy to find the Titans West there, though confused at the appearance of all these heroes. "It's Raven."
"You got some of your memories back?" Beast Boy asked in surprise. "Hey! The version of yourself in this world is named Raven too!"
Raven shook her head gently. "No, I am the Raven from this world." That statement set off a loud cacophony of noise with all the Titans talking at once while the Team stood in stunned silence, not knowing what to think of this latest development.
"Enough," Nightwing ground out, moving to stand where everyone could see him. The Titans silenced. "Raven, please explain."
"After I lost my physical body I still wanted to do good with my powers, but it was painful to stay near the Titans since I could not fight and live with you as I once did, so I found a dimension similar to ours to help defend, the dimension of this team," Raven pointed to Beast Boy and inclined her head towards Kaldur and the others.
"I was only there a short time before a Lord of Chaos, a very powerful and dangerous being, found me. While I was in spirit form, my powers were increased and I could see into his mind and see the Light's, the evil organization the Lord of Chaos works for, plan. They created a trans-dimensional device that could only be powered using the energy of a magic user who had the ability to travel between dimensions. This device would allow them to select whatever dimension they wanted rather than them ending up who knows where, which, as saw when we tried to help Killowat return to his own dimension, is what usually happens when you use magic to try and travel between dimensions. This device would also allow a large group to pass through the dimensional portal, something that can be very difficult and dangerous with magic. Basically, this device provided a safe and convenient way for the Light to travel to a dimension similar to theirs."
"And why did the Light want to travel to another dimension to begin with?" Nightwing asked, crossing his arms. Though he was elated he was right in guessing the supposed Scarlet Gem to be Raven, he still put superhero business first. Plus, he wouldn't be comfortable showing his true emotions in front of so many strangers. Even if one of those strangers was himself in a way.
"They plan to petition the supervillains here to join forces with them. The Light will offer to help the villains here eliminate this Justice League, while also establishing a permanent base here, and in return they want the villains here to go to the Light's world to help them eliminate the Justice League there. They want to create a lasting alliance between the supervillains of the two dimensions so that they can team up and defeat anyone who challenges them. For that plan to be a success the Light needs a stable link between the two dimensions so that all the villains can move freely between the two worlds."
Beast Boy sunk into the seat next to Raven, looking shocked and overwhelmed. "Bad news," he muttered, shaking his head and tossing a look at NW and M'gann. "Bad, bad news for both dimensions." Then he turned to look at Raven. "But how do you fit into all this?" He held back his myriad of other questions. The first being, how the heck did she lose her physical body and end up wandering around as spirit? And what did that even mean?
"I'm a magic user with the ability to travel between dimensions," Raven answered dryly. "I fit the exact parameters of what the Light needed other than the fact that I didn't have a physical body to connect to the trans-dimensional device. Since the Lord of Chaos had the magic to create a new body for me, that problem didn't create much of a barrier. When Klarion sensed my presence, he went after me. I used my powers to shove my magic into dormancy before the Lord of Chaos got ahold of me in the hopes that it would delay the Light's plan. However, binding my magic also shoved my memories into dormancy, leaving me in the state the Nightwing found me in."
"NW, not Nightwing," Speedy corrected. "We're differentiating between all the duplicate heroes we've got here. The Aqualads are just going by their names, and our Beast Boy is now Beast Man. That last name change is permanent, by the way."
Beast Boy hung his head and stared at his hands in his lap. "You went through all that trouble to try to protect our dimension, and then we ruined all your hard work and sacrifice in one night of stupidity."
"It probably would have happened eventually one way or another," Raven said gently, laying a hand on Beast Boy's shoulder. "Without my memories, I had no way of warning any of you of the Light's plans." Strictly speaking, Raven wasn't sure how she felt towards the Team for what they did, but she didn't blame Beast Boy for any of it. Everything was happening so fast right now that she didn't have time to sort out her feelings in regards to any of it. Luckily, Raven exceled at being stoic inside and outside.
"What a second, what a second," Beast Man said, holding his hands up by his chest and walking to the couch. "So you're telling me that this Raven is our Raven."
"Yes, Beast Bo—Man, I am the Raven from this dimension." The moment the words left Raven's lips, Beast Man threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around his friend.
"I thought that Raven didn't like hugs," Beast Boy said, watching the interaction and feeling hurt, but also happy to see that the version of himself in this world appeared to be such good friends with Raven. Maybe that was why he and Rach—Raven got along so well.
"She doesn't," Beast Man said, squeezing Raven tighter. "But we hug her anyway. We missed you so much, Raven!"
"That's not a good enough reason to suffocate me," Raven said, feeling happy about the exuberant welcome despite her words. Beast Man finally backed off and Starfire immediately replaced him.
"It is most joyous to have you back, friend Raven. We have spent many long nights missing you and trying to find a way to bring you back to us."
"It's good to see you too, Starfire," Raven admitted. After Trigon possessed her body and she had Nightwing destroy her physical vessel, she never expected to be able to be with her friends again. To see and be among the Titans once again…Raven didn't know how to express how she felt. Though she did know that she was grateful that her powers were no longer as strongly connected to her emotions as they once were, or the living room would probably be destroyed by now.
"I apologize for interrupting your reunion," Kaldur began, "but I was wondering if perhaps Raven could tell us which villains traveled to this dimension."
"I have no idea," Raven said, shaking her head as Starfire sat beside her, on the opposite side of Beast Boy. "Klarion knocked me out at the Hall of Justice. The next thing I remember is waking of here. How did we end up here?"
"We were searching for you after…," Superboy started to say, then cut himself off. "We were searching for you when Robin found a major power surge and we decided to check it out. It led us to you and the trans-dimensional device. When we found you, you were unconscious and hooked up to the device with an open portal behind you. Nightwing disconnected you from the machine and when he did that, the portal dragged all of us through to this dimension before it closed."
"There's only so much we can do with the information all of you have given us," Cyborg said, looking frustrated. "We still don't even know if any supervillains from your world are here and who they might be if any of them are here."
"I find it hard to believe that none of the Light are here," Raven cut in. "Why else would the portal have been open when the Team arrived?"
"The Team?" Beast Man echoed. "What kind of name is 'the Team'?"
"Not the point, BB," Cyborg said. Beast Man glared at him over the old nickname and Cyborg shrugged apologetically. "Anyway, what I was getting at is that there's only so much we can do right now other than just keep an eye out, so I think we should celebrate the fact that Raven's back."
"No," Raven said, shaking her head vehemently and waving her arms in the air. "Oh, no. I don't want anything like that and you know that, Cyborg. Besides, whether we can do much or not right now doesn't change the fact that there's still a potential crisis going on. We can celebrate after we kick the Light out of our dimension."
Cyborg raised his eyebrow. "Even then you still won't want to celebrate, so what's the difference between us celebrating then and us celebrating now? We at least need to let all the Titans know that you're back and safe."
"That last part we can do," Nightwing said, "but we should probably hold off on doing anything else for now."
"Or forever," Raven muttered.
Beast Man smirked. "Jinx is going to be pissed that all her work to bring back Raven was for nothing."
~.~
"What do you think of our plan?" Vandal Savage asked, sitting back after explaining it in part.
"It is a good plan," Brain admitted, "but the Brotherhood of Evil would like to make some minor adjustments to it."
"Oh?" Savage questioned, that one word carrying a world of threats.
"It has been our experience that it is wiser to take out the newest generation of superheroes first. They can be most persistent and are surprisingly formidable foes. If we eliminate the new generation of superheroes first, the Justice League will have no one to fall back on, and once the Justice League falls, there will be no one to stand in our way."
"Yes," Savage agreed slowly as he thought through the implications of this change to his plan. "The former sidekicks of the Justice League in our dimension may have caused us worse trouble than the Justice League themselves. I see the logic in eliminating them first."
A/N: For those who don't know, when Raven first came to Earth in the comics, she went to the Justice League to ask for their help against Trigon. Zatana said that she sensed a demonic aura from Raven and the League refused to help her. Hence, Raven thinking it typical of the Justice League to not trust her.
And the story of the Titans helping Killowat (an honorary Titan in the TT TV series) return to his own dimension happened in the TT comics that were written to go along with the television series.