This time it was the Hive five that struck the Jump City Bank. It was tamed compared to the last few battles the Teen Titans had fought, but it was about time for them to rear their ugly heads. As usual, Mammoth was the most destructive smashing through a few cars out to get Beast Boy in his ape form while Starfire and See-More were battling it out with their respective energy beams. Somewhere above Raven was sure Robin was dueling Gizmo on some sort of metallic contraption while Billy Numerous was keeping Cyborg busy with his multiplication trick. Raven had found herself facing down the pink pigtailed Jinx in a surprisingly tame and lethargic encounter.
Raven had just dodged a blast of Jinx's magical energy that seemed misplaced to begin with while the young Azerathian sorceress found herself hesitating long enough with a throw of an object by her magic that gave Jinx time to roll out of the way. What was going on? Jinx had seemed to be trying to tell her something with her eyes, but either Raven could not understand it or refused to.
What the final straw of that battle was when Raven had spotted the civilians trapped in a ground floor cafe that was desperately trying to get out of the way of Beast Boy and Mammoth interlocked in a struggle. Raven's breath caught as she reached out with her magic and gripped two young girls who would have been crushed by the massive monsters that plowed through the plate glass window. The other man that Raven could not grasp floated gently down gripped by the purple magic of her opponent. It was there that Raven made her choice.
It was the next night that Raven showed up at Station 13 where she had first found the Archon Ring, which was curled up under her blue cloak. The air had taken on a colder feel as autumn moved towards winter. The wall that she had shattered had since been repaired, but she knew about the space in between. It was the footsteps that made her look up at the woman that approached.
Jinx was wrapped in her cloak hiding her distinctive features from the rest of the world. Her purple eyes seemed curious and hopeful.
"I...I was surprised to get your message, Raven." Jinx said muted.
"I saw what you did. Those people could have been seriously hurt," Raven responded in her low voice. "You could have let them get hurt."
"I wanted the money," Jinx answered with a simple tone. "Nothing else."
"That's why I decided to let you speak with him."
Jinx's eyes began to sparkle, and the hood fell away allowing her pigtails to escape. "I...I appreciate it, Raven-"
"But I will be clear. You try to hurt me or take it from me; I'll bury you."
The Hive sorceress nodded mutely and looked a bit nervous at the portal Raven summoned.
"We have to do it where nobody can stumble upon us."
Jinx gave a small nodded and stepped in. Raven followed suit and was hit with the musty smell of dirt and fresh mortar that permeated the space that once held the ring. The sound of the subway was muted in the space between the walls.
Raven took out a small triangle and activated the lantern giving the room a warm glow. The two girls took a seat in the center, and Raven slowly produced the ring from under her cape. She heard Jinx's voice catch.
"What do you know of Sovereign," Raven asked holding the ring in her lap, and she could see Jinx struggling to keep her hand away.
"He's an entity of immense power and strength. When I was a little girl, my stepfather told me about him from a book that he had memorized. It seemed that the world had done everything in its power to remove mention of Sovereign."
"That it?"
"I've been searching for him because he's said to be able to answer any question you want to ask. I have a question that needs to be answered. This is the first time I got proof he's not a myth."
'Oh, he's not a myth' Raven thought to herself.
Gripping one end of the ring tightly, she offered the other end to Jinx. As soon as she timidly took it, they were immediately surrounded by the blackness of the subconscious world. Raven heard the squeak of terror and reached out gripping Jinx's silken sleeve. The girl appeared standing beside her in the inky blackness.
"Where are we?"
"My subconscious, I think."
"Its more of a twilight world that I've drawn your subconscious too, Rachel."
The voice filled around them, and Raven began to feel Jinx shake. She could not tell if it was excitement or terror.
"I see you brought Miss-"
"I prefer Jinx, sir." the girl barely squeaked out.
"Jinx. Such a heavy moniker for such a special woman."
"I'm tired, Jason." Raven began. "The Justice League is looking for this ring, you've made promises of worlds of peace, but all I hear about you is terror. You had something to tell me. Do it."
Sovereign did not respond, but the blackness began to fade like a mirage, and the sounds of screaming came to her ears. The stench of blood, death, the agonizing screams swam around her and Raven's knees buckled. Jinx had nuzzled in close for protection at the visions that assaulted them. When it felt like it would not end, the world changed to a peaceful green valley were children were running about and someone at the top was having a picnic.
"I can sense the evil and death from so many realities. Countless die due to evil choices. I had a vision of one reality, a reality that could contain the good so they may live where no harm came to them, no pain, no death."
"And for that, you were imprisoned?" Raven asked incredulously.
"I think it's your own saying that you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet."
"Beast Boy's saying."
"Well, Iris protested the eggs I had to crack. I had to siphon power from the nexus, but it could destabilize other worlds. I believe I could have kept them together, but they didn't even bother to talk to me about it. The next thing I knew, they had generated a prison and locked me away in The Between where I can only get snippets of what is going on."
Never given a chance to make a difference. That resonated with Raven in a way she was not expecting. The idea of people not having to worry about evil killing them or the inadvertent actions of superheroes was a world she could agree with. A world where she could hang up her cape and never worry about someone trying to kill her or her friends. A world of peace.
"A staunch ally, Millennium, used the Y2K virus to try and cause an energy burst that would have gotten me out but Iris was successful in stopping him. I cannot stand the sound of suffering much longer and want to build this world for people to live in."
"Where do I come in?"
"I need an emissary, someone to act on my behalf. I can channel a good portion of my strength through the Archon Ring, but I cannot manifest in any meaningful way. I need you to decide if you'll become my emissary and bring me back into this reality so I can build a better one."
So that was it. He needed someone to open the door to let him into the world. She was just a tool.
"You are not a tool, Raven. I am nothing without you."
"Use Jinx," Raven said dismissively. "I bet she would be happy to serve you. She's been looking for you for a lot longer."
"As much as it would be an honor to serve you, my lord," Jinx's voice came across a bit stronger but with a timid waver. "You did not ask me."
"I want you, Rachel. You can see the vision that I want. I don't want a mindless tool to do my bidding. I want someone who wants to build this new reality with me. Will you be my Archon?"
Silence filled the field they stood in. Raven closed her eyes and let the sensations of the sweet grass and warm wind push her hair about. The laughter of children carefree and full of potential careening around the grass chasing butterflies. The young sorceress opened her eyes to be greeted back the black void.
"Yes. I'll do it."
"You may be pitted against your friends. Some may understand your choice while others will not. Are you willing to do what you must to build the world you saw?"
"Yes."
"I will serve you also, My lord," Jinx said again, but there was a catch in her throat as if someone had grabbed her by the throat. Raven spun on to her strange ally and saw her eyes had widened. Something invisible had gripped her throat. She fell to her knees but did not raise her hands to defend herself.
"I do not take betrayal lightly, Jinx." the icy cold voice of Sovereign permeated the void. The temperature felt as if it dropped multiple degrees. "You betray my Archon, I will show you pain and misery your body and mind have never experienced. You will serve, Rachel, and do what she tells you even at the cost of your life. Do you agree?"
All Jinx could muster was a quick nod before she was released.
"Put the circlet on."
Raven's eyes shot open and found themselves still sitting in the dirt. She had made her choice. She slipped the circlet over her head, and it rested gently on her brow. To her surprise, she felt it shift and move to fit her head better and then dig in. Raven cried out in pain instinctively reaching to pull it off, but Jinx gripped her wrists and held it.
"It'll be over quick, my lady."
True to her word, it quick burning and she found that it had affixed itself to her body, becoming one with her. She felt the burning power of Sovereign in the back of her mind ready to be summoned when needed. The device had implanted the first step in Jason's plan in returning to the world.
"I know what we need to do," Raven said standing. Her voice resonated much more powerful than it once did. "but we need to cover ourselves, so here is what you are going to do."