Jump City, California
Present day, 0443 hours
She tossed and turned in her bed, asleep but not resting. The dream she was having was not quite a dream, nor was it quite a nightmare. She woke up and opened her eyes, the dream disappearing immediately from her memory.
She looked at the wall clock.
Quarter to five. Great. Too early to get up, but maybe not too late to go back to sleep.
She only then noticed the softly glowing rune floating in the middle of her room. In less than a second she was out of bed, levitating and facing the floating rune, her hands surrounded by a crackling nimbus of black energy.
By all that's… What is that?
The rune had a horizontal line at the top, from whose ends two curving lines went downwards, first expanding out and then curving inwards, like scimitars. Or fangs, she thought. There was a small dot in the middle. It looked like a vertical eye with a small pupil, or maybe a door… A portal? Will something come out of it?
She opened her mouth to start the incantation that would seal the rune in an unbreakable sphere of impenetrable black, to gain a measure of safety while she studied it more carefully. At that precise time, a voice came from the rune.
Raven? Sorceress Raven? Is this you?
Overcoming her surprise, Raven replied.
"It may be. Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want?"
Your caution is commendable, young sorceress, but the sending was attuned to you only. Nobody else could see or hear it. Therefore, I am certain I am speaking with the sorceress called Raven.
"Very well, I am Raven. Who are you?"
My name is Darys Othrelas, but I don't expect that it means anything to you.
"You got that one right."
I am speaking to you from another plane – another dimension – another universe. I am contacting you because you will need my help soon, and I will need yours. I need you to open this portal from your side and let me in to your plane.
"Not going to happen. I already got burned once by letting disembodied voices convince me to drag something into our world."
The voice coming from the rune was silent for a few seconds.
I… see. Some previous experience has made you wary. Is there anything I can do to convince you otherwise?
"You can start by telling me your story, then I will think about it and decide. No guarantees."
Unfortunately, I cannot maintain the sending that long. If you do not trust me, then remember this rune well. When the time comes, you will know what to do.
The rune slowly broke apart and vanished.
Raven floated there for several seconds more, then returned to her bed.
So much for going back to sleep.
The next few days Raven barely left her room, consulting her books, casting divinations, trying to find any shred of information or evidence about the rune she saw, or about the name Darys Othrelas. But wherever she turned, she ended up empty-handed.
The other Titans noticed that Raven was even grumpier than usual, and after an unfortunate incident involving Beast Boy and his attempt to spy on Raven, they gave up trying to fathom what was going on. As Cyborg reported from Sickbay, where he was looking after Beast Boy, "Well, he'll be looking like Mr. Potato Head for a couple of days more, but whatever she did to him also made his eyes and ears regenerate quickly, and there should be no lasting harm."
A week had passed since the visitation, with no further incidents, except that Raven's frustration level was rising to perilous heights. She was pacing her room in an even blacker mood than usual, when the sudden blaring of the Crime Alert wrenched her out of her reverie. Thankful for an opportunity to clear her mind, she flew out of her room to join the others.
As the Titans grouped to face the danger, they were amazed to see an army of demonic-looking creatures swarm through the streets. The creatures were man-like, but with red skin adorned with black paint or tattoos. They had pointed ears and small horns on their heads. The heavy armor they appeared to wear was black and red, and curving spikes protruded from it, especially from the shoulders. The strange army ported an assortment of medieval weapons – swords, axes, maces and bows. But it was not their appearance or their numbers that stunned the Titans.
Behind this rampaging army, an enormous monster strode, waving four arms and destroying everything around it. One arm was holding a battleaxe the size of a bus, while another had three claw-like blades extending from the forearm and over the hand. The other two hands were empty, but not less dangerous, releasing streams of flames and bolts of lightning.
Robin shook his head, snapping out of it, and shouted. "Raven, Starfire, go for the big guy! Beast Boy, Cyborg, form on me and let's go for the other ones! Titans! Go!"
The Titans, spurred into action, charged. Beast Boy transformed into a triceratops and crashed into the thick of the advancing horde, scattering the humanoids all over. Cyborg shot a continuous blast from his Shock Cannon, sweeping his arm to knock down dozens of attackers. Robin jumped right into the melee, his staff whirling, birdarangs flashing from his hands. They soon cleared a large portion of the street. Satisfied, Robin looked up to see how the girls were faring against the huge monster.
The situation there was a lot different. Starfire's bolts and beams had no effect on the hulking creature. Raven's black energy simply bounced off. Raven switched to telekinesis, throwing several vehicles at the monster, but it brushed them all away. The move attracted the monster's attention, however, and as it saw her, it voiced a huge bellow and lifted one of his empty hands towards her. A bolt of lightning shot from the hand, just as Raven expanded a black sphere around herself. The bolt struck the sphere and was stopped, but the sphere disintegrated and some of the power of the strike was transferred to Raven. She was thrown against a concrete wall, lost consciousness and started falling.
"Starfire!" Robin pointed. "Raven!"
But Starfire had already seen what happened and was streaking in a green flash towards her friend. She caught Raven in her arms, and avoiding several gouts of flame that the monster sent her way, landed with her on top of a building, at a safe distance from the huge creature.
Robin's relief was short-lived. As he glanced back from where Starfire had landed with Raven, he saw that the horde of unearthly creatures was still advancing. All the damage they've caused to them did not seem to have reduced their numbers.
He threw himself back into the thick of the enemy, striking with the staff, kicking, punching. Dozens of the demonic humanoids went down. Beast Boy was wreaking havoc as a stegosaurus, his tail knocking out several creatures on every sweep. He then reared up and dropped his massive bulk down, the concussion toppling scores of them. Cyborg lifted his arm and smashed it into the ground. The ground split open, cracks snaking at lightning speed away from the impact point, widening and swallowing dozens of attackers.
But it was not enough. No matter how many of them they took down, their numbers seemed to be inexhaustible. Worse, fresh hordes of humanoids started pouring from the side streets, threatening to encircle them. The huge monster slowly strode towards them.
On the building, Raven had just recovered and watched in horror with Starfire the battle below. The two girls quickly flew towards the other Titans. They did not have to make plans, both sensed exactly what they had to do.
As the three Titans found themselves surrounded, fighting for their lives, Starfire swooped down from up high and grabbed Robin by his arms, flying away with him. Raven landed and her soul-self emerged, covering Beast Boy and Cyborg with its wings, and flying them all away with a defiant screech.
They landed on top of a building several blocks away, all breathing heavily and slightly dazed by how the events were unfolding.
"What on earth are those things? Where are they coming from? How many are there?"
"I dunno, man, but no matter how many we take down, more spring up to replace them. This ain't working!"
"They are like ants! We stomp them, we crush them, but there are still bazillions of them left!"
"Maybe you should turn into a giant aardvark then, little buddy!"
"This is no time for jokes, Cyborg. We are losing badly!"
Raven watched the horde of creatures advancing, the huge monster following them. "That thing is immune to my magic and to Starfire's bolts, and physical attacks are not harming it. I have never even heard of something like this."
"We have to find a way!" said Robin. "I say we concentrate on the big brute. I have a feeling that if we manage to take him down, the rest will go away!"
"Yes, but take him down how?" Raven responded, her control cracking. "Didn't you hear what I just – "
She then remembered.
When the time comes, you will know what to do.
She turned to the others. "Wait!"
She tried to concentrate on the rune.
"Raven, what –"
"Silence! Let me concentrate!"
The Titans fell silent. Raven recalled the rune in her mind and lifted her arm. A snakelike black bolt shot from her hand to a vacant spot on the roof. It started growing and elongating, forming the rune.
Raven lowered her arm, saying "I may have saved us, or I have doomed us all. Let's see which."
The black rune grew to more than eight feet high, changing from black energy to solid matter. Black, clawlike spikes shot upwards, shattering the concrete around it. The air inside the rune started shimmering, quickly turning into a reddish-yellow vortex.
"What is that thing?" said Beast Boy in an awed voice.
"It is a portal" said Raven dryly. "But I have no idea what will come out of it."
As she spoke, a figure stepped out of the portal. It was difficult to discern any details, but it was humanoid. The shimmering in the portal abated, and the newcomer stood before them.
"Greetings, young sorceress! I see you remembered my words in your hour of need. Let us hope it was not too late!"
"Greetings, Darys Othrelas" Raven responded. "I hope I did not make a mistake in bringing you here!"
"You two know each other?" an incredulous Cyborg asked.
"Long story" growled Raven.
Robin studied Darys closely. He was wearing medieval-style full body armor, including a helmet that hid most of his face. The material of the armor was not metallic. Rather, it was made from some kind of large, iridescent scales, like the scales of a giant serpent. But there were no serpents with scales of that size. He shuddered.
His weapons were also from past ages. Darys wore a sword scabbarded on his left hip and a dagger on his right. On his back he carried a strung bow, made from something that resembled bone. A quiver of arrows completed the arsenal.
"Who is this guy, anyway? Where did he come from?" asked Beast Boy suspiciously.
Darys looked over at the approaching hordes of creatures and at the lumbering monster behind them. He turned to face the Titans.
"There is no time for explanations. Either you trust me and we may live, or you do not and we certainly die. What will it be?"
"It is not a question of trust. Can you defeat that?" Raven said, waving her arm to point at the monster behind her.
"I am the only one in this plane that has a chance."
"Not exactly the answer I was hoping for." Robin said. "What do we have to do?"
"You must keep him occupied for a while. That is all."
"Great. At least it's simple. Titans! Go!"
The Titans jumped down and resumed their assault on the otherworldly creatures invading their city. Darys watched them for a few seconds, then shouted in an incredibly powerful voice.
"Mehrunes Dagon, Prince of Destruction! This realm is not for you!"
The four-armed giant stopped, turned towards Darys, and roared a challenge.
Darys smiled grimly. "So be it."
He then lifted his head to the sky and shouted.
Dur… NEH… VIIR! Hear my Voice and come forth! I summon you in my time of need!
A deafening roar answered, and out of the sun appeared what first looked like a large bird. As it came closer, it quickly grew, until its full size and majesty were revealed.
On the streets below, the battle stopped. Both attackers and defenders gaped at the sight of the huge dragon landing on the building.
The dragon Durnehviir landed besides Darys in a roar of wings. Its talons, seeking purchase on the roof, left deep furrows in the concrete. Greetings, old friend. It is a strange realm you called me into.
"You must bear me over there, Durnehviir!" Darys said, pointing at the monster. "I must send him back to where he came from!"
Mehrunes Dagon? Ah, this shall be a battle that will be remembered through the ages! Mount, old friend!
Darys mounted the huge reptile and secured himself. Durnehviir sprang up and unfurled his wings, circling to gain altitude.
On the streets, the battle resumed. The Titans were carving up a path towards Mehrunes Dagon, who let out another earth-shaking bellow. In the sky, Durnehviir responded with a defiant roar.
"Titans!" Robin shouted, as they drew near the monster. "Beast Boy and I will cover your backs! The rest, give Big Ugly everything you have!"
And they did. Green bolts and beams struck the monster; blue beams played over its body; heavy vehicles and enormous chunks of masonry, wrapped in cloudy black magic, struck it repeatedly. But the monster seemed invulnerable. Sizzling streams of fire burst from one of his hands, blinding arcs of lightning from the other. The Titans dodged and weaved but did not relent in their assault. Then the monster lifted his enormous battleaxe and struck the ground with it.
The closest buildings toppled. Bodies and debris flew up in the air. The ground was torn asunder and huge cracks yawned, spreading with incredible speed and swallowing everything and everybody on their way. Cyborg was caught in the path of one of the cracks, teetering on its edge. The pavement crumbled below his feet and he fell into the bottomless crevasse.
A green falcon dove down after him, changing size and shape as it arrowed into the depths. A few seconds later, a green pteranodon emerged, flapping heavily, carrying Cyborg in its claws, and deposited him on the surface. It then quickly changed into a green rhinoceros and charged the line of humanoids that was already approaching again.
The monster lifted his battleaxe again. Raven paused in her flight, shouting "Oh no, you won't!" and intoned the mantra as her eyes blazed white.
Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!
Black tentacles uncoiled from her body and wrapped themselves around the gigantic figure. It stood there, immobilized for a couple of seconds, and then with a mighty wrench it ripped the tentacles apart. The torn tentacles recoiled on Raven before she was able to dismiss them and flung her aside, spinning in the air head over heels.
As Raven wrapped Dagon in tentacles, Darys saw his chance. "Now, Durnehviir!"
The dragon fell like a diving hawk towards Mehrunes Dagon. As it was about to strike, it unfurled its wings, slowing its dive, and breathed a stream of sizzling flame at Dagon's face, ripping at his chest with its scythelike claws. Darys jumped from the dragon's shoulders, both hands holding a dagger, shouting "Dagon! I have something that belongs to you, and I am returning it!"
Dagon was not wounded – no magic could affect him in this realm, and no physical attack could damage him – but he was blinded for a few seconds by the gout of flame that Durnehviir spat in his face. He could not see Darys falling towards him and stabbing the puny dagger with both hands into his forehead.
Where the dagger struck, a violent vortex of red and yellow appeared, quickly expanding. It started swallowing Dagon, expanding ever larger, until he disappeared completely. The humanoids started screaming, but the vortex sucked them in also, as they were left without the protection of their master. When the last creature disappeared, the vortex suddenly darkened and vanished.
It happened so fast that Darys was still falling as the vortex disappeared, but with a rush of enormous wings Durnehviir caught him in its talons and gently lowered him to the ground.
I thank you for a memorable battle, Dovakhiin. I now return to the Soul Cairn. Farewell."
With a thunderous flapping of wings, the majestic creature flew off to disappear in the distance. An unnatural silence fell on the city. Raven landed, still dizzy from her roller-coaster ride, and managed to walk a more-or-less straight line towards Darys, where the other Titans joined her.
"I guess that now you will have the time to tell us your story" she said.