Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story line and any original characters. Everything else belongs to DC Comics.
Chapter Two
"Dude, how did we get the money for this?" Beast Boy asks in awe as he looks around at the building. Raven is also impressed, she just chooses not to say anything.
Robin looks away. "I know some people. Anyway, most of the technology is the same as what's in our communicators. Any time an emergency involving a villain occurs an alarm will go off. You'll be notified through communicators and an object on your uniform. The red jewels in Raven's belt and wrist cuffs will blink. Something similar will happen with each of us."
Raven raises an eyebrow. "You've turned my traditional clothing into traffic lights? Wasn't your costume being able to direct cars enough, Boy Wonder?"
He narrows his eyes at her in return. "I'm not going to justify that statement with a retort. Anyway, I made sure Beast Boy and Raven have rooms on opposite ends of the tower. We don't need those two fighting and blowing something up…"
Robin continues to walk the Titans through their new home. He explains the strict training regiment the team will carry out, the health requirements for all meals (Beast Boy is outraged to find out he can only have one bowl of chips a day) and requirements to the city. Crime will have to be fought, Police will be cooperated with and the Press will have to be entertained. Upon explaining to the darker girl what the Press is Raven announces (very decisively) that she will not put up with "snobbish sycophants who only want to ruin our lives."
"Sorry, Rae, but I think we all have to do stuff for the Press," Beast Boy says. He's unfortunately unaware of Raven's disdain for the nickname.
"Don't call me Rae," she hisses. Moments later she disappears from the room leaving the other four completely confused.
"Do you know what that was about, Robin?" Cyborg asks. Their leader shakes his head in response. "No, but I'd be willing to bet it has something to do with that ring on her finger."
A piece of heavy cardstock rests on the dark pillow. Raven stares at it. Hesitant steps take her forward, pulling her toward it. It's as if a force is pulling her toward it. Knowing her mother, the obvious sender of the item, there probably is a spell.
Raven picks it up and examines the seal. It depicts a dragon coiled protectively around a raven, the seal of the House of Nix. She smiles lightly upon seeing it, briefly aware of the light bulb that explodes in the hallway.
She carefully opens around the seal, wanting the image to remain protected. That means cutting the envelope, which Raven willingly does. The seal will be a connection to Azarath, one she doesn't think she can lose.
As soon as the parchment is unraveled, magic emerges from it. The magic comes to form in the shape of a dove. Where Raven is aptly named for her soul spirit, her mother is not. Arella's soul takes the form of a dove. The evolution of the magic alerts her that a message is about to be delivered.
Her mother's voice emerges from the dove.
"He is drifting."
Raven stands stoic. The magic dissipates. The blank parchment lies on the floor where it has fallen out of her hands. Raven shakes her head. Her lips form incomprehensible words. Items fly around her, crashing into each other. Pounding falls on the door. Her teammates wish to know what is going on.
Suddenly, everything stops. The alarm is blaring. The levitated items fall to the floor. Raven glides from her room ignoring the concerned looks from her teammates. She has a job to do.
A large monster made of reddish pink goo is wrecking some of the buildings that make up Jump City. The monster is called Plasmus. The Chief of Police tells the Titans all they have to do is knock the monster out. Inside the villain is a civilian, but he is only a civilian while he sleeps. When he wakes, he turns into the creature currently drinking toxic gunk.
Why are there even trucks full of that in the city? Raven frowns, dismissing the thought. She begins to help her teammates take down the monster.
Beast Boy's attempts to knock Plasmus down in pterodactyl form only succeed in annoying the monster, sending the changeling flying into a wall.
Starfire's bolts are absorbed. She is knocked to the ground.
Robin's weapons have no effect. He retreats, obviously trying to figure out where to go from there.
Cyborg's blaster does little to no damage. He appears content with the little bit of damage he has managed to do.
"I wonder if we were a 'one hit wonder' with the attack from the Gordanians," Raven murmurs. She uses her telekinesis to lift a phone pole from the ground, her concentration on the object has it slamming into Plasmus.
It knocks the creature in half. Unfortunately, each half is now a separate monster. Raven hears Robin mutter a few choice words, but decides to ignore them.
"That may not have been the best idea, Rae," Cyborg says. The words pour out of his mouth before he realizes what he called Raven.
Her temper flares and goo flies everywhere. A sleeping man lies in the middle of a crater in the street. Plasmus is gone, and an angry Raven remains.
"I'm sorry, Raven. I forgot you didn't like to be called that," Cyborg rapidly apologizes as soon as the man who becomes Plasmus when he wakes is contained. Raven just glares in his general direction, not saying anything.
After a few moments she releases a breath of air. "I shouldn't have reacted so strongly."
It isn't an apology.
"Don't be sorry, Raven. You defeated Plasmus. Who knows how long that would've taken us if you hadn't lost your temper."
It wasn't an apology. That doesn't mean that Cyborg isn't taking it as one.
"You don't get it, Cyborg," she says softly. "I can't afford to lose my temper. I can't afford to feel emotion. The next time that happens, it may not be a villain that gets hurt."
Raven turns away from him and disappears from the scene, presumably returning to the tower.
The girl thrashes around in her bed. The dark bedding is bunched and soaked through with sweat. Her eyes are wide open though she is asleep. Panic is clear in her dream-clouded eyes.
"He's drifting, Rachel," the woman in white says.
"He is not fallen," the woman in black tells her.
"But he will if you do not save him," they speak together.
"The masked one will help you along the way to your destiny. The faceless one will help you defeat your past. It is up to you, Rachel."
"My name is Raven," she replies in a soft voice.
"No. Your name is Rachel. Your path is Raven."
Again the two women speak in unison.
"You will need both by your side if you have any hope of saving these worlds. One will guide your destiny. The other will pave your faith."
Raven wakes with a shudder. Air comes and goes from her lungs in short, breathy gasps.
She shoves her covers aside and leaves her room to make herself a cup of tea.
"I hate visions."