Raven doesn't really see anything other than different shades of blur on a white background above her, but she can feel that she is being carried bridal style.
"My son… is that?" A shade with a deep voice asks.
"The carrier." The one carrying her replies and Raven soon feels a hand on her forehead.
"Come with me, quickly." The other one says after a moment as the two set into movement again into a darker place.
"Can it be extracted?" Her bearer asks.
"With luck and if she doesn't resist." The other one says. "That however will be difficult for her… and dangerous for us." He continues as they enter into a brighter room. "Is the stasis field ready?" He asks some other shades.
"We need to do the final calibrations Highfather." One of them reply as the bearer puts her down on something she thinks is a table.
"Raven?" She hears the voice in her head as something bright is traced over her. "Raven? Can you rise? I am not sure what they mean to do?"
"Barely see… think…" Raven mutters, her body feels like lead, same as her mind.
"She's awake." One of the blurs says. "Hurry. Hurry!" He says as another shade approaches.
"Then I must take action and apologize later." The voice replies, Raven immediately feels like a weight is lifted off of her mind and body.
"What the…" The shade over her manages before her eyes go dark as something erupts from her.
"Orion! You will explain yourself this instant!" J'onn J'onzz commands as the last of him leaves its hiding place within Raven's body, having sought refuge there while Orion had argued with Alfred. Being met with the surprised expressions of a dozen New God scientists, along with Highfather and Orion.
"Manhunter." Orion growls and prepares to attack as they recover from their surprise, but Highfather puts a hand on his shoulder before he can move.
"What my son may not have had time, or failed, to explain is that we have been tracking an certain energy signature for the last couple of weeks, one that she carries." Highfather explains with a set face, knowing that the Martian was feeling cornered and would be ready to lash out if provoked.
"We have detected she radiates something, non-toxic, non-lethal, at least for the rest of us." J'onn notes. "What is it?" J'onn asks without budging.
"The Omega-Force, or at least a shade of it." Highfather can see J'onn's eyes widening. "We will extract it if we can before the damage becomes permanent."
J'onn carefully reads them all, probing them for deceit, but finds nothing that indicates it and stands aside, letting the two scientists resume their work. One of them scanning Raven once more with a short stick that shines blue, while the other readies four white bands from a box.
"How could she have acquired it?" J'onn asks, though he was noting the scientists urgency.
"From Darkseid, she doesn't have enough of it to have been in the Omega Realm or the strength to face that which dwells within it." Orion replies as he removes his helmet. "Eventually it will kill her from within."
"Our sources on Apokolips suspected Darkseid had returned several months ago when certain members of Apokolips' ruling class seemed to grow more cautious in the civil war between them." Highfather continues as a small sphere of metal floats over to him, it blinks and a screen forms over him and he gestures for J'onn to look at it. "Then this happened." He says as J'onn sees an orbital image of Apokolips taken from a distance along with some charts he doesn't understand; there is a flash on the planet and a spike in the charts before a colossal explosion rises from the surface of the planet and disappears into space.
"What am I looking at?" J'onn asks as he notes the scientist fitting the bands around Raven's arms and legs as a woman rushes in with a bundle and another metal ball trailing her, this one however form a screen between the team and the observers so they can't see.
"The Omega Force going out of Darkseid's control." Orion says. "We believe they must have met and they fought, as I know my father, she must have done something he was not prepared to deal with."
"Forces that should not mix, met each other. If I am not mistaken, Darkseid will have received a similar 'reminder' of the encounter, though I expect he will have removed it by now." Highfather says as the scientist that had been using the scanner approaches them.
"She has been prepared Highfather." The man says.
"You may begin." Highfather replies before he turns back to J'onn. "There is no easy way of doing this." He mentions to J'onn.
"You mentioned a stasis field." J'onn notes.
"Because she will not be able to control herself once we begin." Highfather replies and J'onn understands what he means.
"Let me speak to her." J'onn says before walking over to the team of scientists that were putting Raven down in a flat square at the center of the room, the scientist looks at Highfather for approval and gets a nod before stepping aside. "Raven." He sends while duly noticing Raven had been changed into something he recalls seeing Barda wear from time to time when she wasn't in her armor, which seems to be only a bra and panties with a sort of open harness covers her arms and legs.
"J'onn, whats going on?" Raven asks as he leans over her, holding her hand.
"You've been infected with the Omega-Force, we are on New Genesis and they will try to extract it." He sends back.
"It's going to hurt." She assumes with a dead-panned tone in her voice, obviously picking up on the feelings he was transmitting with his thoughts.
"I fear so." J'onn sends, though the reply makes him smile a bit.
"Better get it over with." Raven sends with a tone of resignation in her voice.
"Stay strong Raven." J'onn sends before squeezing her hand and lets go to withdraw as a bluish translucent barrier separates Raven from the rest of them.
"We will have to bring out the other form she wore, otherwise she won't be able to survive it." Highfather says as he nods to a pair of scientist waiting at a console.
"She is too weakened to do that." J'onn mentions.
"We have the means to force it out." Orion replies as the scientists twist four switches and a hum begins while a glow starts to come from the bands on Ravens limbs getting a groan out of her.
"It will not be pleasant." Highfather assures as the scientists slowly turn the switches.
"30% capacity Highfather, vitals are steady." One of them says as Raven gasps.
"40%" She continues as J'onn takes a look at what he was reading, the woman taps the red pillar for him.
"50%" She announces as Raven cries out in pain and J'onn sees Raven transform into her first form. "Highfather?"
"Keep going, she's not done." J'onn sees Raven try to get to her feet, her eyes a blazing red he hears a far off thunderclap.
"60%." She continues as Raven suddenly launches herself at the barrier in a feral rage, leaving white marks in it before they vanish.
"Spare her!" J'onn shouts in alarm before tossing the two scientists aside and forms extra arms to man their positions.
"Wait!" Highfather shouts.
"Raven?!" Nightwing shouts as he, the founding Titans, the League founders and several other members of the League and Tim Drake come running down the corridor just as J'onn twists all four switches to the full. Raven screams as lightning rises from the ground and courses into her, forcing her final form to emerge.
"Turn the stasis field on!" Highfather orders as Raven turns towards them all, her eyes blazing red for those who had faced her like this only hours ago, it is nearly too much to see her like this again as she lets loose an animalistic roar. "NOW!" Highfather bellows over the roar before Raven launches herself at the barrier that cracks with the blow she lands against it, she draws the hand back and sends it forwards with her claws first. The barrier stretches and tears as she keeps pushing as the floor begins to glow, Raven roars again as the floor erupts in light for one brief second, then dies away, leaving Raven frozen in place, still pressing against the barrier. Highfather sighs in relief and turns towards the man who was to activate the stasis field. "My apologies for shouting child."
"I was my fault Highfather." The man bows slightly. "We will continue when we have made sure it holds."
"J'onn, what is going on?" Superman asks his friend and suddenly everyone's mind if flooded with what J'onn had learned. "So he is back then?"
"It appears so." J'onn sighs.
"Guess we don't get to fight." Artemis mutters to Hippolyta, the Amazons forming up the rear of the group that had feared Raven had been abducted to Apokolips.
"I am not sure we'd be ready for such an encounter." Hippolyta replies as she looks at Raven's frozen form being approached by Nightwing and Starfire.
"Is she aware?" Starfire asks.
"I am not sure." Nightwing admits as he looks at Raven.
"It is a stasis field, she can watch, her mind may be able to wander, but she cannot move or hear." Highfather says as he walks up behind them, he raises a glowing hand at the claw. "It will hold. You may begin." He says to the scientists behind him.
"How long will it take?" Nightwing asks.
"It will depend on how much of it she has and how difficult it will be to extract." Highfather replies.
"Might I ask what would happen if she kept it?" Starfire asks.
"Acquiring the Omega-Force requires some physical sacrifices from the seeker and one has to pass the trials that lay in its native realm in order to wield it. As she has so little, by the looks of things, it means she has taken it from elsewhere. Which also means she will most likely rot away under it's corrupting influence." Highfather explains.
"What trials would this be?" Starfire continues.
"Only one person has returned from the Omega Realm, and he will not speak of what he saw within." Highfather replies as he sees four panels glide down from the ceiling above Raven to hover over her. "Let them work and she should, in time, be restored." He says and is about to leave.
"She's carried it with no apparent effect for some time now." Nightwing notes. "Has her personality anything to do with it?"
"Indeed, for one to master the Omega-Force, one thing a person must do is to crush all emotions save for a black rage and a will like no other." Highfather replies. "Why do you ask?"
"She only recently regained control of herself, and the empathic powers she has." Nightwing says getting a nod from Highfather. "I guess heritage means nothing here so I will skip that. But if this was pulled from who I think it is… won't he know about it?" Nightwing continues, Highfather remains stoic but Nightwing can see he hadn't considered it.
"A valid concern." Highfather replies. "As for heritage, it is why we reacted." He says before he departs.
"What did he mean by that?" Starfire asks.
"Means they would have tried to kill her if she was a threat to them. It's why they sent Orion." Nightwing sighs as J'onn walks over to them. "How did you get here?"
"I hid between her molecules." J'onn replies flatly as if he had just said he opened a window while Starfire grimaces. "I will see if she is aware."
"There is no need." Raven's voice rings through their heads. "I can't really move though."
"Perhaps that was for the best." J'onn notes. "Did you hear it as well?"
"Yeah, explains why Carnage wears an Omega-symbol on her forehead in here." Raven replies as the others move closer. "J'onn, is there a way you can dig up what I can't remember?"
"There should be, and an encounter with… him, should be examined." Superman adds after taking a look at the New God scientists who he knew preferred not hearing mention of Darkseids name.
"You are worried about something else." Nightwing notes at Batman who is looking thoughtful.
"If New Genesis only became aware of this recently, chances are that Apokolips has been looking as well and that they may try to reclaim her."
"Then we will have to post guards." Hippolyta replies, though neither her or her Sisters, save for Diana and Raven, know what Darkseid is or what he and his minions are capable of.
"I'll stay and I suggest only the Titans and J'onn remain." Batman says slightly to the surprise of the others.
"I am not under your command." Hippolyta mentions flatly.
"He's not giving you one." Diana notes. "I'll head back with the others, there's still a lot of work to do. But you call us if anything happens." She says to Batman with a raised finger, but she sends a look at Starfire who nods in understanding.
"We will." Batman replies though he doesn't fail to notice it.
"While they talk, will you permit me entry?" J'onn sends to Raven.
"You may… But with the understanding that I am seriously grossed out by you hiding inside of me." Raven replies.
"I understand." J'onn replies before he sends his mind into hers.
J'onn emerges in Raven's mind, immediately feeling that something was wrong, even from the rock he always started from. "I feel things have changed."
"I am still rebuilding what was." Raven replies in his head. "I am prodding Memory in your direction."
"I am not certain she is the one I need to see." J'onn replies. "Carnage is."
"She doesn't have a memory." Raven replies.
"I believe she does." J'onn notes. "All of your emotions share each other on some level, and the degree of freedom you have given them also granted them personalities of their own. If she was the one that was present, she will remember what she saw more clearly."
"As long as you are sure about this." Raven replies with a sigh. "Her realm is still behind the door in Rage's realm."
"I remember." J'onn notes before he flies off towards the empty Azerath, passing over the empty streets before he halts over the old square with the statues, now broken, spotting Hope sitting on the ground before Azars statue. "Hope? What is wrong?" He asks as he floats down, she raises her head, revealing the tears in her eyes.
"There's a bad man in here." She sniffs. "He's telling me I am a lie… that I don't exist."
"Is he still here?" J'onn asks while he tries to scan the immediate area, but finds nothing except the feeling he had when he came in.
"Someone else is here?" Raven asks with a concerned tone in her voice.
"It may only be an echo, but I will find it when I have seen to Carnage." J'onn replies, though he wonders if Hope was the only one who had been verbally attacked, and if so, why her? "Pay him no heed if he should return." He says to Hope before he takes off. He passes through the gate and heads into Rages realm.
Like its owner once hinted, she had redecorated the place; now an endless expanse of iron tiles that covers the floor and the smell of blood hangs in the air. He finds Rage a little inside the cave, sitting on her iron throne carefully sharpening a sword. "She is expecting you." She says as J'onn approaches while she looks down the length of her weapon. "If you can't get her to sing, I will." She says and nods for him to leave towards the door and frame that still stands even if the cliff it was mounted it in is long gone.
"J'onn, just remember, I may not be able to reach you in time." Raven says as he lands before the door.
"I do not fear her." J'onn replies before he opens the door and enters.
J'onn enters into this new world, the air is heavy with the metallic stench of blood, the ground is covered in a deep layer of bones and skulls that forms the geography of the realm, forming hills and valleys. And around the place, like gruesome trees growing out of the ground are iron stakes where human bodies are impaled. All of this doesn't really trouble J'onn, he doesn't feel the same unease humans do around dead bodies and body parts, not the human bits anyways. He was actually thinking it was excessive, he knew already that this was the side of Raven that would be more likely to put on a show like this, but he also knows from Raven and their magical colleagues that only childish, simple-minded or demons with a fixation on things like this made such realms when possible or simply to intimidate visitors.
J'onn takes off into the sky and flies over the landscape, hoping to find its ruler, but he feels nothing around him for miles, as if he was flying blind. He flies higher in hopes to see a pattern of some sort that would lead him to Carnage, and he finds it while noticing the rivers of blood and acid were all flowing in the same direction; towards what looks to be a distant lake or ocean.
He can feel his skin burn in the poisoned air that becomes worse the closer he gets to the lake, but he presses on as he spots an island in the distance that carries a structure on it's back. As he flies over the lake, he realizes the structure is on fire and that the air that wasn't burning his skin nearly as much as the heat of the fire was. As he comes closer still he sees the structure is a bronze fortress out of an old fantasy movie, sculpted to contain all manner of skulls, heads, limbs, spikes and other such things, making J'onn wonder what Carnage was thinking? From his observations he would have guessed that even at this level Carnage would still have some of Raven's traits and at least some of her taste for sophistication.
Looking at the castle from above, J'onn notes again how uninspired everything here seemed to be as the fortress layout is shaped into a pentagram with the island forming the circle and the castle's wings forms the star points, then he descends. "Stay out!" A voice hisses in his mind as hesweats with fear of the flaming buildings that now surround him as he stands before the main keep, where a pair of glowing metal doors bar his path.
"Come out of there Carnage!" J'onn shouts at the gate. "Do not make me drag you out of there!" He waits a moment while there is no reply before he tries again. "This is your last warning; Come out!"He waits another half a moment before the gate creak inwards and Carnage emerges from the inferno within, standing tall, looking like Ravens first demon form and dressed in her cloak of flowing blood.
"You have quite a pair, I will give you that." Carnage growls an annoyance. "So… here to claim vengeance?"
"No." J'onn replies as she keeps moving towards him. "I am here to learn what happened to you."
"And why should I cooperate?" Carnage asks. "Here? In my place of power?" She continues as she looms over him, having grown herself to be slightly taller than him. She leans in close and takes a deep breath as if smelling something on him. "Have you any idea the danger you are in?" She hisses at him.
J'onn remains quiet for a moment, he knew it would be more difficult than he would like if he had to use force against her, but then he remembers that he won't have to. "Do you wish for me to return to Rage and say you won't cooperate?" Carnages eyes widen at the mention and leans back. "Bravery perhaps? I am sure quite a few of them would like the excuse." Carnages jaw clenches as she backs away from him with a single step before she leans forwards again with her eyes blazing white.
"And what… if you never get back to ask?" She hisses at him.
"I left them with the notice that if I did not come back, they should come looking." J'onn replies calmly as they stare each other in the eye. "Don't make me call them." J'onn knows he is making a gamble with this. He wasn't sure Carnage wasn't strong enough to look through his bluff, and he wasn't even sure she respected the Primals as much as he hoed she would.
Carnage hisses and pulls back. "There is no fairness in the world." She hisses to herself and turns her back on him. "Even here I can't decide on my own."
"You just did." J'onn replies but remains where he is.
"Yeah… I just chose to be intimidated, again." Carnage huffs to herself. "All I remember is waking up in the fortress… for a moment I thought I was free… and then that wench leaned in and started giving me orders."
"What did she have you do?" J'onn asks.
"Whatever she damn well fancied." Carnage replies with a sigh. "I've had to act as her servant, bring her food and drink, carry out her trash… dance for her amusement… and other things. If I didn't, she'd get upset…" Caranage then mutters something J'onn can't hear, but he sees whatever it was, had an effect on the world around them.
"What was that?" He asks.
"Nothing you need to know!" Carnage snaps. "Oh… I hate that woman so… more than I could imagine I could hate anything… and yet be so powerless against her."
"Talia." J'onn notes and instantly has to dodge to the side, as Canage turns and shoots at him with her eyes, demolishing the tower behind him..
"DO NOT SPEAK THAT NAME HERE!" Carnage bellows in at least four different voices and briefly changes into something J'onn has a hard time describing, but deep down he feels he just had a brief glimpse of what Carnage could have been. Just as soon as it was there, it is gone and Carnage has turned away again. "You don't understand what it was like."
"I do not. Because I don't know what they did to you." J'onn replies as he slowly gets back on his feet.
"She degraded me, humiliated me… she twisted me around her finger like a damn string! And… Trigon damn me… I needed her."
"Needed her?" J'onn asks and she turns slowly towards him, letting him feel the shame, the fear and the hate in Carnage.
"To protect me from him." She hisses."When she wasn't looking, he'd drag me aside… for testing… for practice… to see what a real demon could do."
"Did he… prepare you to return here?" J'onn asks as he builds himself up to ask the hard question.
"No… because he couldn't determine when you'd get to her… and the wench would disapprove."
"Would you mind if I confirmed this?" As expected Carnage gives him a look that speaks volumes of the dislike she already holds him in. "We would all prefer you remain whole." He says.
"But you don't trust my word." Carnage huffs.
"I am asking permission." J'onn notes. "Will you let us help you?" She looks at him in question again, unsure if he was making fun of her or not.
"One wrong move." She rumbles.
"Agreed." J'onn replies calmly as he sends himself towards the emotion and does something he is quite sure will be a new experience. As soon as he makes contact he knows he made a mistake and by then it is too late.
The mind of Carnage is like a hurricane, images flash by in rapid succession, battering J'onn around as he is trapped in the storm of feelings, thoughts and memories. J'onn knows that if he doesn't impose his own will over the mind of Carnage, then it would tear him apart. He curls up in a ball and closes his minds eyes and wills the storm to quiet down around him.
He opens his eyes again and the raging storm is gone, instead he sees a vast dark wasteland, dark clouds hang above him, the sand is red beneath him and the horizon is a thin yellow stripe. J'onn looks to the skies and the light brightens a bit, letting him see that the wasteland was in fact a graveyard that stretches from horizon to horizon. "Tragic, isn't it?" A deep rumbling voice of a man says behind J'onn, who turns around and faces the speaker, and is immediately happy to see that it was only a fantasy. Seated on a throne of bones, with one arm wrapped around Carnage, the other carrying a staff, is Trigon.
"What am I seeing?" J'onn asks.
"A graveyard of broken dreams, hopes and possibilities that never came to pass." Trigon replies, sounding much less threatening that he would in life, actually he sounded almost sad, but J'onn suspects that he and Carnage here aren't any different from the graves, the two here were also a dead fantasy; Carnage's idea of a loving father and his terrible daughter that together would rule a world of misery.
"You have come seeking knowledge." Carnage notes as the pair rises from their seats. "Follow us." She says and J'onn is left to walk after the infernal pair a few rows away from their seats to a pair of headstones that reads: Ghul. "Rise." Carnage commands and the graves heave as what is buried starts moving beneath the loose soil. J'onn expected a pair of skeletons or zombies to rise, but out of the ground emerges only the heads of Ra's and Talia, the necks of both are mounted on the wrist of a single hand that had dug them out. "Ask your questions Martian."
J'onn's skin crawls as he picks up Talia, who doesn't speak or appear to see him, but the hand wiggles and grasps for him with its cold fingers. He looks Talia in the eyes and lets his mind absorb the knowledge the head holds. He confirms that Talia had indeed been the one Carnage had served primarily, doing all kinds of menial tasks for her, washing, cleaning, even cooking, fetching things, even sparring with her in fencing matches Carnage always lost willingly, and when ordered to, she would entertain with song and dance. And Carnage did it all, in hopes Talia would be pleased, or at least content, so she wouldn't administer punishment for failures. J'onn senses it was more the displeasure of Talia that had hurt Carnage more than anything else, since Carnage had the body of an Amazon and all Talia had would at best equate to a rolled up newspaper being used against a fully grown bear. Also J'onn notes that part of Carnages outburst earlier was that she was in a way admitting that she 'felt right' as Talia's servant. Something he learned from Raven was very likely; Carnage would be terrifying if goaded to anger, but submissive if caught off guard by firm voices that she would mistake for Trigons authority.
J'onn puts down the head of Talia and turns to Ra's. Here, however the vision is a cavalcade of unpleasantness. First, he sees Ra's force Carnage to swear it all to secrecy or die. Then he sees Ra's scientists conduct a number of experiments and tests, by the looks of things meant to gauge, strength, endurance, speed, martial skills and a number of tests seemingly meant to see what would happen. Specifically, he sees the harm inflicted on Carnage only to see if she could heal it or at least withstand it. There were at least two times Ra's had to authorize the use of the Lazarus Pit located beneath the fortress in cases where Carnage's system was feared it couldn't handle the abuse it was put through, even if it lead to the deaths of at least five men when Carnage emerged the first time from the pit, restored and as crazed as feared.
J'onn sighs as he puts down the head while Talia's finishes digging its way back into the ground. Batman had to be told, more than Raven in fact, because Bruce would know better what Ra's intended to do with what he gained and what it could mean. "How long were you held there?" He asks the silent pair behind him.
"Two months… I think." Carnage replies.
"And you were not the one who met Darkseid?" He continues.
"That would have been unfortunate if it was." Carnage replies. "He is more like Father than anyone." She notes as she brushes Trigons hair affectionately.
"I see. Thank you for cooperating." J'onn says before he disengages himself from Carnages mind and returns to the courtyard. "A question; you hate her, more than her father. Why?" He asks.
"His was just fun and games to me, think I laughed sometimes when I remembered it." Carnage shrugs, reminding J'onn that Carnage was the most demonic part of Raven, and as such had a completely alien idea of what fun meant. "Are we done?"
"We are." J'onn nods and lifts off the ground but hold himself there. "I have a suggestion you may wish to hear. You clearly hate your own flaws as they cripple you outside of this place."
"I hate everything with legs, including my own, so what of it?" Carnage grumbles.
"In here, you are the supreme authority, perhaps it would be good for you to be as you wish to be. Farewell." J'onn says before he flies away, leaving Carnage in the courtyard and the heat.
She looks up at the keep in front of her and thinks about J'onn's last remark, it was true, she knows, all of this had been something she made the moment she felt him coming in hopes to scare him away and it had all failed. "Be as I want to be? Hmm, guess I will be raising that army then." She mumbles as the land slowly fades away to nothing, leaving only the white canvas she would begin with. "So… where to begin?" She asks herself. "Ah yes, I will need an elephant." She says as she sets about creating the monster.
"For a moment there I thought you were getting lost." Anger says as she looks at J'onn down the length of her sword as he steps out of the door. "Didn't give you any trouble, did she?"
"None I couldn't handle." J'onn replies, though the air here still stinks of iron, it's better than the smell of Carnages realm.
"Pity." Anger shrugs. "Memory is waiting for you in the Council Room."
"Why there?" J'onn asks having suspected he'd have to go to Knowledges realm.
"Carnage just shared what she read from you. Our realms will be in turmoil shortly. Mine especially." She replies as a red gleam appears in her eyes and the slits open in her forehead as the others grow. "You have to leave."
J'onn nods once and takes off a he can hear far off thunder and the pressure continues to build, he is at the end of the tunnel when the realm behind him is struck by what J'onn can only be described as an explosion. He only just manages to close the door behind him as a wall of fire races after him. Almost immediately Hope grabs his leg, obviously terrified.
"He's here! The bad man!" She sobs fearfully and points to an alley across he square, in it's mouth a dark humanoid figure stands.
"Who are you?!" J'onn demands as the figure moves out of the alley, but what it is remains a mystery to J'onn as it appears to just be a shadow, but it appears to be fixated on Hope who hides behind J'onn.
"Hope is a lie, freedom is an illusion." It rumbles with the deep voice J'onn recognizes as belonging to Granny Goodness. "Only Granny loves you, come to me little one!" The specter smiles before it rushes them, throwing J'onn aside to corner Hope against the gate. "Come to Granny." It says before it tries to grab Hope, but she leaps through its legs. "Now, now, no more games or Granny will be upset." It says as it leans on the gate before turning towards Hope lying on the ground.
"Not half as upset as me." A voice says from behind the gate before they are blown off their hinges, revealing Anger, with her cloak on fire. She walks out to pin the shade under one of the doors with a foot and places her sword against it's throat. "Been trying to nail this sucker for months, kept slipping away in the city."
"You read from me that it was here?" J'onn asks and Anger nods. "Why not Hope?"
"I was scared." The small primal mutters as she gets up. "Thank you, both of you." She says, looking both at J'onn, then at Anger.
"No problem little one, I will dispose of it." Anger says before the door disappears and she grabs the shade's legs. "It may take a while, and make some noise." She says before she turns around an drags the shade after her back to her realm.
"Wait! No! You wouldn't! Granny loves you!" The thing screams as it claws at the ground.
"I am sure. Now let me show you how much we love you back." Anger replies calmly as she keeps walking. "Oi Hatred, we have company, get your hammer!" She calls into the darkness before the gates reform, sealing the passage once more, J'onn for once doesn't want to know what will happen behind those doors.
"There were others like it, but the others could handle it." Hope says as she tries to help J'onn back on his feet. "Do you know what it was?"
"No. Some kind of shadow demon I suspect. It thought it was a New God called Granny Goodness, she… deals with children on Apokolips, steals their hope and replaces it with blind obedience."
"So that's why it was here?" Hope asks getting a nod from J'onn. "That is disturbing, I hope there aren't any more left?"
"Not unless you've seen any?" J'onn asks getting Hope to smile in reply. "I need to go the Council, take care."
"I will." She replies as J'onn takes off to the Council. J'onn manages to get to the closed gates where he stops, noticing that while Arella was no longer there, the ghostly pigeons she had been feeding were still there. J'onn wonders briefly if he had just missed them in the past or if the phantom bird were Raven's subconscious cry for help, as if the birds presence would call Arella back, his musings are brought to an end when someone intrudes on his mind.
"J'onn, the others are departing, can we join you?" Batman asks.
I am uncertain if it would be wise to be here, I am still not sure under what conditions Raven has experienced Apokolips. According to Carnage she must have been there for some time. But I am certain she has encountered Granny Goodness and that it left an impression."
"We need to see it, regardless of the risk." Batman replies after a moment and J'onns eyes glow and the others are pulled in. He waits for the others to come to him, most of them in a natural fashion because they had been here before or knew how to fly, Antiope, Penelope and Io, however are much slower moving since they had no experience with this way of moving.
"It's a quiet place, but alert." Artemis notes at the city beneath them. "Does nothing dwell in it?"
"Only the embodiment of Raven's Hope, it's a replica of the city she was born in." Nightwing says.
"Place looks kinda creepy now." Beastboy notes.
"It may risk becoming more so. She is waiting." J'onn says and turns to the doors before pushing them open and leads them all inside.
"Well, they are all still here, at least." Cyborg notes at the seated emotions in relief.
"Are all of these parts of Raven?" Penelope asks.
"We are." They all reply. "Aspects of the greater whole."
"Wisdom." Wisdom replies before she flips a page of the book she is reading.
"Anger." The red-cloaked emotion rumbles while she continues to sharpen her sword before the sleeping Sloth breaks wind next to her. "Fathead." She mutters.
"That was my line, you..." Rude growls before they all blink at some unknown command and remain silent and an emotion wearing a cream colored cloak rises from her seat and herself by the looks of it as there is now two of her.
"Memory." J'onn asks as the aspect approaches them, though they can't see her eyes for the hood that seems to be further down than any of the other emotions. The aspect nods as it stops before them.
"Doesn't she speak?" Starfire asks.
"All she does is watch." Wisdom adds from her seat.
"What's with the hood?" Antiope asks, though she has a hunch.
"Her sight is fully bound to our optic nerves and our mind's eye." Wisdom replies. "Which means..."
"She is blind." Artemis finishes.
"No." Wisdom corrects. "It means her eyes are different."
"So… will we have to lift the hood?" Nightwing asks. Memory shakes her head and raises her hands to lift the hood, but stops.
"We are certain." J'onn replies and Memory continues, when she has almost revealed her eyes, they see a blue light coming from under the hood a split second later they see the source, and they are gone.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the wait :)
Next: Burning Apokolips