After 'graduating' from being Raven's Apprentice, Geo is sent home. Back to friends and family. But, it's not going to be that simple, is it? Please note, Geo is an OC (and not a SI).
[DC] Raven's Replacement (Raven Lunacy sequel; OC in Teen Titans)
Preface
This story was originally inspired by 'Prince Charon' on the 'Questionable Questing' forum '[DC] You Are Raven's Apprentice'. Actually, this is a sequel to the story that was inspired. If you read this story without, or before, reading 'Raven Lunacy' there's a good chance you'll be deeply confused. Of course, some might take that as a challenge...
A few warnings - I post what many regard as 'short' episodes, which I don't anticipate exceeding 2000 words, and I've no plans to change that - the muse gives me this stuff, I (just) type it in. Things will be posted in UK, not USA, English, so, the odd spelling may look strange to some readers.
This story is a 'Transformative Fiction', and in no way attempts to infringe on any ownership rights of the original creators. Their creation of such things as 'Teen Titans' is what inspires us to try and write things in those worlds, with our own twists.
Constructive feedback, and things like spelling mistake corrections are appreciated. But, in no way do I expect this story to appeal, or even look halfways sane, to all readers. You cannot please everyone, and trying to do so is a route to insanity.
Ultimately, this story is a bit of fun, though I reserve the right to wander off into weird bits of science, philosophy, or, even mysticism. You have been warned! The world is a strange place, and I might be a bit strange, too.
Just in case...
'DC' is 'DC Comics'
'OC' is 'Original Character'
'Teen Titans' may include bits from the comics or cartoon (not 'Teen Titans Go!')
AN: There'll be Author Notes, like this, at the bottom of many episodes. Maybe, even, at the start of some. You can ignore them, but, you do so at your own risk. Some are bits of humour, some are 'links' to things referenced in the story, some are about the 'logic' of the story. You've been warned!
AN: Episodes posted are subject to major revision, which will be done, if possible, immediately. Maybe the next day, if I've made a major mistake someone's kind enough to point-out. After that, things like spelling mistakes minor bits of grammar, will be the only changes I anticipate.
This story is a sequel for 'Raven Lunacy'. It's based in an alternate Teen Titans/DC Universe to the one of Raven Lunacy, and Geo arrives earlier in the time-line. The real difference is that the Geo who arrives in response to the 'apprentice summoning' has already been 'graduated' by a previous Raven. Possibly worth noting is that 'astral projection' is an important part of the story (as is 'meditation').
There are multiple references to 'alchemical technology', alch-tech, in the story. This is a set of add-on rules for the tabletop fantasy role-playing game D&D, which were written in the late 1970s, and were still being updated into the 2000s. The rules cover a very wide range of 'tech levels', and a great deal of technology found in science fiction stories has a write-up there.
Please be warned: if you don't like tech, or you're looking for an action-based story, this isn't likely to suit you.
AN: Astral projection, going places in spirit, leaving your unconscious physical body behind. Can be fun, could be rather risky if you don't know what you're doing. Meditation may help.
AN: I believe the idea of 'tech level' was first widely spread by GURPS.
AN: The author has requested that the alch-tech rules are not directly linked (maybe they're planning on moving them?), but a duckduckgo search for "(a)d&d technologist character class index -3e -4e -5e" seems to find them, as 'Index to Technologists'.
Awakening. Who am I? Where am I? What's going on? Panic. Confusion. Open my eyes.
I'm... Geo. I'm pretty sure of that. I don't know what's going on. It's a darkened room, lit with candles. And, I'm kneeling. Without any clothes. I feel... different, strange, not quite myself.
This feels horribly familiar...
I'm in a complex magical pattern, and I can see what looks remarkably like my (naked) body, over in a another circle, surrounded by candles. Slumped, but not breaking the circle. Look at my hands, front, back, feel my face. This is not my body.
I'm Raven.
---
Meditation. So useful. I think I grasp a little more of the situation.
I'm in Raven's, currently, grey-skinned body. Have faint access to her memories. And... Wow! That's a lot of magical power. There's my spirit, and it looks OK, I can see my Dimension Walking talent, and my pitiful Psychokinesis capability. More tricky, I've got Raven's chi, powerful but not trained like mine.
My Third Eye seems to be functioning OK, though without any need for a focus stone. Useful. Raven's eyes see colour slightly differently than mine. Further into the ultraviolet, I think, not as good at the red end of the spectrum. I'm pretty sure she can see in the dark.
I'm guessing something went really badly wrong with local Raven's apprentice-summoning ritual. I recall seeing 'home', my workshop/lab in Tokyo, Japan, in the docks, where I was summoned from. Then, was as if I bounced-off something, was thrown across the dimensions. Maybe I wasn't allowed back?
But, I think, seen just for an instant, a robed, really familiar, figure, from the rear, arrive 'home', hover in the air. Wearing my Best Boots. So, maybe I both made it and didn't? Like Riker in that Star Trek book I read while growing-up? Duplicated? Like a transporter accident?
More research is required.
---
Delving into Raven's memories. A surface skim, to check the details of the ritual - would be bad if I kill myself shortly after arriving. She was... desperate. Did it in a hurry, cut corners. I'd need to dig deeper to know why. But, I now know enough to exit my circle, walk across to my body, and extract that from it's circle.
The moment I break her circle I feel a spark of spirit leave me, leap into the, my, body. Look out at Raven through my own eyes. It feels... natural. I think I'm all there, chi and magic looks OK, spirit is terribly weak, just the spark from me. I/we grin at each other. Novel.
This reminds me of my time on the Ship. When I started another self, to monitor the auto doc, where Nurf was trying really hard to die. That self had a spark of spirit. I'd reabsorbed it, when I'd packed things away, in my dimensional pocket, before returning to the Tower. Distributed Geos?
Shouldn't Garfield have burst in the door by now? Asking Raven what pizza toppings she wanted? Goggle at our naked bodies?
Worrying.
---
I've found the rest of the Titans. No Donna, though. They're all in their rooms, costumed, laid-out neatly on their beds. Fortunate I know all the (original) security overrides.
They're... spirit-less, though fully-healthy, and their chi and magic looks intact. And, I'll admit I'm crying. What happened to them?
I'm now dressed as Raven. Her clothes were thrown, on the floor, off to one side. Unlike her. I seem to have full command of her shadow, can levitate, reach-out shadow limbs. Will have to experiment and see if I can access her other tricks.
Beginning to feel I'm here for the long haul.
---
The one I know has the most training, at this point, in dealing with spiritual stuff, is Kory. So, I float her body behind me, back to Raven's room. Where I'd left other-me. Who's acquired baggy sweats and sandals.
We, me and me, clear away all the existing ritual stuff, after really careful study, of course. We consult Raven's books about how to boost my Third Eye, so I can deep-study Kory.
In the main book she used to do the apprentice summoning, there's a note, being used as a bookmark.
"My Apprentice. I've summoned you because I can feel my spirit slipping away, to the same fate as befell the rest of our team, the Teen Titans. I'd already prepared to do this ritual, as a prophecy says I'll need to banish my apprentice, and, banishing them home seems a far kinder fate. I know you're a good person, who would benefit from my training. Please..."
And, that's all she wrote. Looks like she hoped to find time to complete it.
So, I'm Raven, and, all the Teen Titans have fallen.
Help?
---
AN: Thomas Riker, the Riker who was the duplicate. Maybe.
AN: Guess you could say this's a bit of a Peggy Sue.
AN: Just to be quite, quite, clear, Geo is an 'OC', though she's quite a lot of history before the start of this story... Nurf is also an OC, and the Ship is something briefly mentioned towards the end of the previous story. You know, you could write an entire (Mature) side-story about Geo and Nurf's time on the Ship.
AN: Just to be clear, this is Raven-Geo, not Raven, and not Geo Raven, as the PoV character. Mostly. She's also got a Geo. Geo Raven-Geo. Confused, yet? You will be.
---
Panic. Doesn't solve problems. Unless the problem is 'How do I handle this situation in a really stupid way?'.
So. Get help.
Batman? He'll think I'm a monster from another world that's put all the Teen Titans in a coma. Which, maybe, sorta, Raven is.
Superman? Nice guy, but I don't really know him. And, Batman put me in contact with him. According to some of the stories he'll pull a way of using one of his super powers out of... his behind, solve everything. But, I'm not prepared to risk that.
Flash? He said contact him via Kid Flash, and Robin knew how to get to him. So, no. And, I don't see how super speed would solve this.
Wonder Woman? Via Donna? Never met her, don't know how she'd respond. And, I don't know how to contact Donna.
Zatanna? Raven may've forgiven her, but I haven't. Also, all the Homo Magi politics. No thanks.
I guess I could go find the Doom Patrol, but, I don't want things to get really weird. And I don't want to find myself having to fix Chief's legs.
OK. Good point. Oracle.
Don't really see any other choice...
---
I... want to get in contact with Oracle. I know all the protocols, could use the secure conference room, a secure comms link. But...
I need to think magic.
My Raven had raised really major wards around the Tower. I've taken a quick look. Nothing. Raven described the wards in general terms, as part of my lessons. Told me which books she drew on, to create the rituals, how she tweaked them. I can't leave the Tower, the Titans, undefended.
So, big magical ritual time. And, a ritual I've never done before. In a body I've never done magic with before. Joy.
Fortunately, I've got me to help. And, Geo-me has fully intact magic, and is quite experienced in using it. So, step one, ritually prepare the magical tools we need to do the ritual. I'm not prepared to use Raven's ones, unless I'm forced to. I'm not Raven, no matter how much I look like her. It could go really, really, bad.
Geo-me does, indeed, prove better at preparing ritual tools. We can copy the enchantments off Raven's ones, which speeds things up, a lot. I'm, slowly, getting the hang of using Raven's magic. It's like trying to thread a needle using a bulldozer. So, step zero, build a robot arm to fit on the bulldozer.
Ritual tools done, Raven's tools packed-away, with subtle 'do not use' markings on her chests so I can tell not to use them. No one's looking, so I get Geo-me to check if she still has a dimensional pocket. She does, and, it's full of all my normal supplies, plus, the stuff I was taking home with me.
Down to Victor's workshop/lab. Produce my Synthesiser. Make copies of Raven's chests, so I've got somewhere to put my ritual tools. OK, they're not steeped in magical history, but, a careful infusion of Raven's magic and someone will have to look very carefully to tell them from Raven's.
Will need to hide Raven's chests. Latter.
Speaking of which, I'm finding... Raven's more generous proportions annoying. My chest is quite adequate, thank you very much.
And... I'm standing in front of a mirror. Meditating.
It's... really difficult, but the safety blanket of magic power slowly fades, and grey-skin goes to pink. All the standard protective bindings are still there, but not as many of the more recent, clever, ones.
In particular, my personal spirit ward. Not noticing that was missing could've been a real 'Oops!' moment.
Pretty sure I can remember what it looked like, and Raven showed me the book she learned it from... And, it's missing from her shelves. Fortunately, I once paged through it, and I don't call my memory 'perfect' for nothing.
I'm, literally, sweating blood. It did have to be blood magic, didn't it? That was really, really, painful. But, the ward looks solid. And, really well hidden. Good.
Shower. A quick test, my shadow still works OK. I sit, step outside my body. Back in. All good.
Excellent!
More really hard work, and the basic Tower ward structure's in place. Geo-me is exhausted, magic totally tapped-out. I'm tired, but still pretty fresh. Guess that demi-god blood is good for lots of things. So, to the lounge.
Pull-out my auto chef mark III, plumb it in, fill the fridge and cupboards. All from Geo-me's pocket. We'll restock later.
Have a nice, robot-cooked, meal.
---
Kory's on the slab.
Well, not really. In a ritual circle, in Raven's room. All the ritual as solid as I can make it.
She's... empty. I have to wipe a tear from my eye. Nothing unusual, nothing out of place. Just. Empty.
But, that's what the ritual's for. My Third Eye should now go down to microscopic levels. A god could hide from that, particularly a god of secrets, but I'm hoping nothing like that's involved.
Hmm. Subtle spirit magic. Similarity-based.
Where've I seen something like that before?
---
Puppet King's box isn't in the trophy room.
So, I can't do a direct comparison. But, I can recall what the magic on the puppet looks like. And, it's pretty close to the traces left in Kory. There's also a similarity-severing effect in Kory. Her spirit, wherever that is, is no longer connected to her body.
That's... really bad.
What to do? Can't summon her spirit back, which I'd hoped to do. Can't trace where it's gone. If I could lay my hands on Pure... I'm not sure I could beat him in a straight fight, though, he's a much more experienced magi than I am.
So. Really hoped to avoid this. But, I really need Kory, on her feet.
---
"Friend Raven!"
She stops. Her smile falters. She looks at me. At her hands, front, then back. Feels her face.
"I'm... not Kory, am I? You're... not Raven, are you? Oh."
I let her think, recover a bit from the shock.
She smiles. Reaches out. Hugs me.
"Friend Raven, I'm pleased to meet you! You can call me 'Kory'!"
I guess that's how we're going to do it...
I hope our acting skills are up to this...
---
"Oracle? This is Sugoi, calling from Titan Tower. Please listen carefully."
"Code Omega Green Seven. I repeat. Omega Green Seven."
There's a brief silence.
"Right. I see. How's Robin?"
"He's in a coma. As are Cyborg and Beast Boy. I can revive them, but there's... complications."
"Who are you? I've never heard of a Titan called 'Sugoi'. Where did you learn that code?" She pauses.
"Sorry. My fault. First time-travel incident I've had to handle without warning. How can I help?"
"I think we need to talk about this, in person. Face-to-face. I know your policy on that, this early in the time-line, but I think it's necessary. There's things you wont believe, otherwise."
More silence.
"I suppose you're just going to pop-over? Appear in my living room?"
That's good quality sarcasm.
"That'd be rude. I'll arrive at your side-door, as usual. Usual for me, anyway. You can look me over, use all your fancy scanners. See if you're happy to meet me. If you say 'No', I'll go away, find help, somewhere else."
More silence.
"So, you can get here, from the West Coast, without any problems?"
"Unless the dimensional weather is nasty, or I get ambushed, sure. Probably fifteen minutes, if it's going to be more than a half-hour I'll call you again. Who do you want to come? I'd like Kory to stay here, guard the Tower, but Raven could come with me."
"Bring Raven. And, lots of answers to awkward questions."
AN: 'Code Omega Green Seven' is something invented for this story - you should be able to figure-out the meaning from the story. I'm pretty sure you can guess who's supposed to have created it...
AN: You could call 'Raven-Geo' something like 'RR Raven', if you like...
Cloudy with a Chance of Demons. That's the dimensional weather. Those walking the dimensional paths aren't happy.
The walkers are a pretty diverse lot. Humans predominate, but there's many minority 'races', though they're mostly humanoid. Rule One is: don't bother other travellers. As you can imagine, some demons ignore that.
I gather they're looking for someone. Hopefully not either of me. Raven in robe, with hood-up, Geo ditto - we're being anonymous, rather than anyone in particular. Fortunately, most demons are unimaginative and not good at higher-dimensional math, so it's reasonably easy to avoid them.
Looked like they'd attracted the attention of gods who enjoyed demon wrestling, and breaking. They'd rapidly make the demon problem go away, and it'd be back to business-as-usual. I expect someone will get curious, and investigate the demonic behaviour. Maybe publish something.
Still, annoying.
---
Inside Oracle's door. In the security corridor. Looking up, yup, the murder-holes are still just as intimidating. I let Geo handle the negotiation. Though, I'm a bit concerned her weak spirit makes her a bit... unpredictable. My Third Eye shows me our dimension walk (I'm guessing, here) seems to have noticeably strengthened her. Useful.
And... We're into the lounge. For a bare moment a sense of a familiarly doubled spirit. That's... worrying. Play it by ear, I guess.
"Could you please repeat the code you gave me, earlier?" The interrogation has started.
"Omega Green Seven."
"You're claiming to be from the future? Where you're a member of the Teen Titans?"
"I'm from a future. There's an uncountable number. Many flicker, fade, some are longer-lived. I believe I'm from one of the more stable ones."
"I see. So, what brought you to this time and place?"
"Raven summoned me, to be her apprentice. There's a prophecy that she wanted to dance around the nastier parts of. Unfortunately, she actually did the summoning with the final ounce of her strength, as a doom she'd fought-off descended on her. A doom that'd already claimed all her team-mates."
Rather florid, not how I'd have put it, even though Geo-me is me, but I guess that'll do.
"If Raven was doomed, who's there?"
"Yes, that's Raven, but, also not exactly her. Raven summoned me into herself, and that's me, being Raven. We don't know what happened to Raven's spirit, and we'd like help in getting her back. Fixing things."
There's silence.
---
Drinks have been sipped. Some rather nice freshly-baked biscuits I brought munched. Thought has been had.
To amuse myself I imagine the silent grinding of teeth, somewhere close-by.
"Why didn't you contact someone like Zatanna, Dr. Fate? This sounds a lot more like their area."
"Apparently there's a prophecy that if they meddle in Raven's life, before certain things occur, all will be doomed. I heard this from future-Zatanna. Dr. Fate isn't someone I've spoken to."
"Why turn to me? I'm a knowledge broker, a hacker, for the heroes. I don't solve... supernatural problems."
"I... had a close relationship with future-you. We're... dating. After we got to know each other, late-night chats, I saved future-you's life, then... gifted you with a few things."
It's quite clear she doesn't believe this.
"You obviously know a lot about me, but I've never dated any women. Why should I believe you?"
I can see Geo-me's getting a bit angry. This... could be bad.
"Well, my pet-name for you is 'Babs'. We've got a pet robot dog called 'Gina', named after a childhood pet dog, you had. And, you make the cutest little squeak when I..."
Geo leans across, whispers in her ear.
Oracle, Barbara, goes bright-red.
---
It's quiet for a while. Geo has a smug expression. Barbara's looking rather shocked.
I'm beginning to wonder if I should speak-up.
"Raven? Can you confirm this... story?"
"Yes. All of it. Geo, there, and I, we share the same spirit. That's how I revived Starfire, gave her a fragment of my spirit. Why I've not revived Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy. Because, if I did, they'd be partly me." I sigh.
"I must apologise for Geo. She only had a small spark of spirit, though, it's growing. Unfortunately, that's bad for her self-control. She shouldn't have told you that last thing. Please put it down to a... difficult day."
Geo sticks her tongue out at me. I don't respond.
"How did you save my life? What were those... gifts? Why would I... fall in love with you?"
"We became friends, first. Long talks, with common interests. I heard you collapse, over the link, with me in the Tower, you in your workroom. Found myself with you in spirit-form. Called for help, got Batman, he got Superman to take you to the super-clinic, here in Gotham."
I reach a hand out, slightly dazed she places her hand in mine. A surge of pain, and then I'm OK.
"That should fix the problem that nearly killed you. Also, you need either special exercises, or a medical support device. Geo? The robot trousers!"
The trousers are standing there, brought from Geo's pocket. She also passes Barbara the manual and the CD. Barbara starts reading, looking a bit dazed.
"You said 'gifts', not 'gift'. There's more?"
"Yes. I... accidentally healed your legs. Agreed to deal with the Joker, in a non-deadly but as permanent as possible, way. And, I took you... Walking On The Moon."
"What?"
She's staring at me. I notice Geo's openly crying.
---
There're hugs, three-way ones. We're not joined by the presence which I'm pretty sure is still lurking.
"I've always wanted to walk on the Moon, since I was a little girl. But, since I... lost use of my legs...."
"We... may be able to fix that. Now. Intentionally. But, I'm pretty sure it'll hurt both of us. A lot."
Firm jaw. "Do it."
Geo is waving her hands. "No! I'm not going to disappear the way that robot did!"
I sigh.
"Nothing like that. Though, I'm going to need to borrow your ring."
Reluctantly, watching me with some suspicion, Geo pulls off her glove, hands me the ring. The non-cat's-eye one.
"You'll need to wear this, I'll need to take a firm grip of you, and, most difficult, you'll need to imagine, as clearly and as accurately as you can, exactly the process by which you lost use of your legs."
I see her waver, then, gather herself, put on the ring, hold out her left-arm. I'm... pretty sure she's got a knife concealed in her right-hand.
We both gasp, cry-out in pain, collapse to the floor. Unconscious.
---
Well. For my first, previously untested, use of Raven's empathic healing ability, boosted by her magic, that went pretty well. I've just got a fading pain in my legs.
Barbara is doing slow acrobatics. Yes, the occasional pained expression, but, basically OK.
Geo's got her ring back. Is hunched over it, with it clutched in both hands. She just whispered, "My Precious!".
There's a dog sitting on the floor, next to her. Looking over at Barbara with needful eyes.
I sigh.
"Barbara? I... don't think I can deliver on the Joker side of things, without quite a bit of research. I'm... not Raven. But, I'm pretty sure it's do-able. If you don't mind doing things out-of-order we can go do the Moon Walking, when you feel ready."
She stops. Looks at me wide-eyed. "Really?"
I... don't think I've been kissed that vigorously before.
When I get my breath back, "Might want to hold-off on any life-changing decisions for a few days. Till you get in a... more settled state?"
"No! Grasp life with both hands! I'm sure I can get an Elvis in Vegas to marry us!"
I back away, hands up, really quite worried.
"Kidding. I think we've both got good reason to see if we can be friends, though. After that?"
Walking On The Moon. Hope I never get tired of this. With Barbara.
Unlike last time, Geo is hanging-back, and Raven is walking with her. She's wearing a spare environment shield, from Geo's pocket, I'm using Raven's bracelet, locked on my wrist, as well as her standard protective magic. When you're playing with vacuum, you don't take chances.
As last time, I've made sure Barbara's got a camera. And, a vacuum-proof sample case, so she can take her bit of the Moon home with her.
---
First, we took a trip back to the Tower.
I wanted to show her the rest of the team, and, Kory. Also, I needed to pick-up Raven's bracelet. Maybe once I figure-out how Raven does her non-bulge robe pockets I'll work-out a standard load to carry in them. But, more research needed.
Before leaving Chez Oracle I speak to apparently empty air. Explain I'm taking Oracle back to the Tower, then off for her Moon Walk. That anyone can try and follow us as we walk the dimensions, but I'll not be responsible for their safety. And, there were demons around, on the paths, on my way over here.
Also, please don't damage the robot trousers or the (now imprinted) robot dog. Though, of course, assuming Barbara's happy, I've no objections to taking copies of all the documentation. But, please, no product announcements without consulting me.
No reply.
Barbara, standing with no support, also speaks to the air. Thanks an unnamed someone for taking time to be there. But, she's happy to go with me. And, no, she doesn't think she's under mind control or other undue influence. That she really does want to check on Robin, urgently. At this point she grabs a go-bag.
Again, no reply.
So, we leave.
---
The demons had cleared-up by our return trip. I saw one or two divine dogs chewing on what I assume were demon bones. Barbara is wide-eyed, but I make sure I've got a firm grip on her arm. I'd offered the safety-strap, explained we'd once used it with future-Robin, but I thought she'd got more discipline.
After I made the offer she looked happier. Though, I noticed she kept half-an-eye on where I was, all the time. Did my best to avoid the crowds, she was wearing a deep hood, and an Oracle mask, so we can hope the three of us avoided undue notice.
At the Tower, I stop just before the final step. Explain I raised wards before leaving. That I need to key her into them. About a minute's ritual and that's done. These aren't the really thorough wards, so none of her blood's required, just saying 'Oracle', holding out a finger she's licked, at the right point.
We go straight to Robin's room, and I let her make her own way through the locks. Thirty-seconds, a lot quicker than I could manage without knowing the codes. She does a quick inspection, breathing check, pulse, both pupils, earlobe, ears, mouth, takes a quick photo of his face.
I'm reasonably sure she palms a small gadget that takes a minute blood sample from his earlobe. "You need to be really careful with blood, you can do all sorts of things to someone given a blood sample."
I get a blank look.
"Are you happy with the security of this room?"
She looks at me, gets out some instruments, uses them and does a thorough physical search.
"Provisionally. What do you want to tell me?"
"Future-Robin told me he was Dick Grayson. But, no, I don't know all his secrets. That's one reason I'm reluctant to put him back on his feet, without pressing need. When, not if, we get his spirit back he'll know I've been 'inside his head'." I do the finger quotes.
"I doubt he'll like that, assuming I understand his personality. So, either I need someone to authorise me stomping all over his privacy, or, pretty soon, I'm going to have to put his body in some sort of secure long-term storage. I'd really like someone he trusts to sign-off on the second option, too."
She frowns.
"Good points. I think his mentor would approve."
She thinks for a while.
"We'd have to move him elsewhere, but I'm reluctant to suggest Gotham, which's where I know best. Too many things... happen there. I don't trust Cadmus to look after him. S.T.A.R. Labs is always getting raided. Superman could probably help, but I'd prefer to avoid getting him involved." A frown.
"Do you have any suggestions?"
"One major one, but it'll take some preparation. And, I'll need to put Cyborg on his feet, to help. I'm pretty sure he'll forgive me for doing that. Eventually."
A raised eyebrow.
"You knew him that well?"
"Before we parted I told him he was the 'big brother I'd never had'."
---
In the lounge. Eating. She was intrigued by the auto chef, particularly when I explained I'd installed it.
"You'd other reasons for bringing me here. Please explain."
"I wanted to loan you this mask-collar, from Raven's collection of magical objects. It wont interfere with your vision, but will let you be Oracle in the Tower, while hiding your face and hair. You'll have to add your own vocal disguise."
She nods.
"I've got the gadget, in my bag. Why?"
"The security of the Tower needs a complete make-over. I can handle some of it, but I've nothing like your full range of skills. Cyborg found physical bugs, comms taps, security holes, inadequate encryption, no encrypted off-site backup..." I pause.
She nods, again.
"And?"
"I'm... not the world's best actor. If I have to pretend to be Raven for any length of time I'm going to do something really stupid. I knew her best, among the Titans. Probably followed by Starfire and Cyborg. Then, Beast Boy and Robin, Terra last.
"Terra? I'm guessing she's a late arrival."
"At this point she may be mixed-up with Slade. Or, maybe not yet. The whole business of Slade wanting an Apprentice, Robin being first choice, Terra a late alternative. It... got messy."
"I see."
"Future-you is really good at disguises, acting like someone totally different. I... really need help in those areas. It might be necessary to make it look as if the Titans are still fully-active."
"Tricky. And, who do you think is responsible for this situation?"
"My current best guess is a magi calling himself 'Pure', who works for Raven's father..."
I hold my hand out.
"Please don't say his name, unless and until I can greatly improve on the Tower's wards."
She nods.
"I think Pure used a magical construct-minion called 'Puppet King' to steal their spirits, stuff them in wooden puppets that magically resemble them. Which, if we're really unlucky, have already been turned-over to Raven's father. Pure may want to be paid, first. I don't know the terms he's working under."
"OK, makes sense."
"So, someone needs to use serious detective skills to find Pure, if he's still in the city. And, stealth magic seems to be his speciality. Oh, and he's probably got a small army of combat-capable demon minions. And something he called a 'fetch'." I shudder.
"Ignoring all the other super-villains in the city... For extra fun, unless I can surprise him there's good odds, one-on-one, Pure'll win in any fight. If I can find him, if he still has the puppets, if I can get them off him..." I take a deep breath.
"I may be able to save the Titans."
She purses her lips.
"There's a technical term we, in the trade, have for this sort of situation."
She pauses.
"You're *bleeped*."
---
AN: Chez; because it was suggested to me I should explain 'Chez Oracle'.
AN: Please note, '*bleeped*' is a Geo substitution for the word Barbara really used.
AN: You may wonder about Geo using 'bleep' instead of a swear-word. Well, she's got a 'swear filter', something she acquired at an early-age, well before she even had a robot body to walk around with. You know what they say about early habits...
But, if you don't like the game, change the rules. I'm just going to have to get a lot more sneaky. The enemy has minions? I can get employees. With a contract of employment, magically-enforced.
And, I've got all the dimensions in which to find them. And, Raven's books to find ideas for suitable minions, sorry, 'employees'.
Even if Pure has turned-over the puppets to... Raven's father. While something that looks like Raven is still around he'll likely stay in the city. He's, potentially, a useful source of information on what happened to the puppets.
And, Raven's father strikes me as the imprison/gloat, rather than the destroy, type.
Of course, maybe I get lucky. I luckily find Pure. I luckily beat him. I luckily retrieve the puppets.
But, hope for the best, plan for the worst. And, unless Raven's father has destroyed the spirits of the Titans I want to give them a chance to live in their bodies, again.
I need to dig into Raven's books on skrying, cross-dimension, With maximum stealth. Both to improve the Tower wards, and to do it myself. Fighting an almost unknown enemy? Find out more. Block their sources of information.
Feed them false intelligence.
---
Barbara's agreed to help.
As Oracle. Relocate to here, upgrade the Tower, detective the city for me. Yes, she's family in Gotham, but commuting isn't necessarily an issue. We discussed whether she might like to have a robot 'Batgirl' roving the streets of Gotham.
But, she's holding-off on that idea. We giggled over gifting a robot 'Batdog' (yes, including cowl). No, I haven't spoken the name 'Wayne', at any point; it's still hard to think it.
I've been pumped for information on future-her. Yes, she wants to know about the dates, but all the rest of it fascinates her. She's going to keep the robot trousers, and robo-dog Gina's become part of her life.
Casually mentioned the alternate city with the many-coloured people, and, she wants a holiday there.
---
We've discussed... finances.
I don't have access to more than Raven's (limited) Titan petty-cash account. I've no idea how Raven finances her book addiction. Barbara's prepared to put some of her own money into the project, but she's not rich. Thanked her, but, for the moment, declined.
I introduce her to the Bank of Mammon. They're pleased to ensure I've local access to my money.
Also...
They're prepared to offer a loan, at very reasonable rates, if I'll do my best to persuade restored-Raven to bank with them. They seem to like the look of her (potential) finances. Something about an income from more than a million worlds, was what they talked about.
Barbara's a bit dazed by the Bank.
The idea of her card working in very many dimensions seems to interest. And, if she's in one where it doesn't work then the Bank's prepared to at least consider opening a branch there. Or, there may be local merchants who'll honour the card.
Money is power, that sort of thing.
---
I need Victor.
Even if it's Victor-me. He knows the Tower, inside-out, and the plans back-to-front. He's also, frankly, a better engineer.
While I've been planning with Barbara, Geo-me's been setting up her workshop/lab, starting with the one next to Victor's, the alch-tech one to follow.
She's used the Synthesiser to do the heavy-lifting side, make stuff with minimal supervision. Got a load of build-cells out, placed them where future-Victor has/had them in his workshop, got them making more.
Once we run Tower-local material supplies down we'll have to do a supply run.
Barbara's impressed by our industry.
In the sub-sub-basement I point-out to Barbara where I'd like the med-bay to go. But, there's a lot of work that Victor did, first time around.
So, really, yes, we do need to get him back on his feet. She confesses that the process interests her, but, I warn her that, visually, there not much to it.
---
Victor-me is with us.
Revived in the ritual circle still dominating Raven's room. Barbara watches from a safe distance, I trust her not to interfere.
Victor's only comment was, "Yes, this is a mess. Gonna have to work hard to fix this one.".
We go down to the lounge, where Kory comes in. She's made sure to be seen, outside the Tower, though, she's not yet gone into the city. Stayed within the wards.
All have a sit-down meal, chat about the situation. Nice to relax a bit.
Barbara says she doesn't know the Titans, except from reports and publicity stuff. But... she can see that while relaxed they don't all act like me. Raven is obviously different, and is 'me' unless I consciously relax, let her mental reflexes take over.
So, we start our first acting class, 'Living The Character'.
It's... very difficult.
All my life, as Geo, I've fought to be 'me', not be just a convenient tool, to at least be a different viewpoint on the world. Now, I have to put that aside, watch myself react as if I was someone else.
It... hurts.
---
Hit the books.
Go through my memories of Raven's notes. Try and work-out where she found... the med-bay. I recall she went through a lot of possibilities, and had to 'cheat'. Maybe I can use my memories of the math Nurf did on the Ship? She had to describe her universe really accurately as she tried to analyse the History Wars.
Now, if that can be translated into dimensional characteristics at least I'd have a better idea where to skry. But, there's no guarantee that my existing dimensional maps are good, as they're based on my previous dimension. And, I may be able to work-out how Raven used my description of the required alch-tech to target her skrying.
All the local dimensional stuff is likely identical, or very similar, which was the case visiting Gotham, it's the longer-range maps...
I may have to do some (careful) scouting.
Also. if I want to copy Raven's redirection deal, with the drow wizard who has/had spider issues, will I be able to find her, or an identical version of her?
Tricky. Really tricky.
Might be best to make a call to my tech supplier...
---
AN: 'Intelligence'; Geo calls it 'troubleshooting', but you might be starting to suspect things about her background... And whether the word 'counter' should prefix some of it...
AN: This is an 'Author Omake', this one happens to be 'canon', but shouldn't (greatly) impact the overall story, so you can skip it if you want to. OK, many people would consider that a lie. It falls after Episode 5, 'The Rules'.
AN: Do you believe in 'spoilers'? If so, do not read this Omake. You've been warned.
---
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AN: Still here? OK, read on.
---
I'm not dead. Always a good start. At least, I don't think I am. Difficult to be certain.
You might think, 'How can someone not be sure if they're dead?'.
Well, not being in your original body is a good start. Not knowing if your current body counts as 'alive'. And, being rather concerned about the state of your original body.
OK, you might be wondering who I am?
I'm Raven.
---
Apparently I'm both a Princess and a Toy, who lives in Toyland. The inhabitants are all toys, of different sorts, many carved wooden dolls. I live in a castle, and I have my own Tower. My purpose in life is apparently to lean out the (unglazed) window, at the top of the Tower, and sigh, as I wait for my prince to come and rescue me.
Sometimes, if I get into the right state of mind, I can half-recall another life. In that I also lived in a Tower, but I was one of a group of great heroes, who fought against evil. For a while I hoped one of them would come and rescue me, but, then I had a nightmare, one night. One that I cannot forget.
In that the heroes were also wooden dolls, and they were in a T-shaped Tower, by the sea. But, their Tower was a dolls-house, owned by an immense red ogre, who played with the dolls, in cruel games.
One of the dolls was not like the others, it was a girl doll, in a cowl, but she never moved, always lay in her bed. No matter how much the other dolls begged her to help them. I half-recall wearing a cowl like that, once, myself...
---
I've tried to escape, on my own.
But, whenever I get far from my castle I get weak, and the further I go the weaker I get. Eventually I fall to the ground, unable to move. But, fortunately, other dolls quickly find me. Carry me back to the castle. And, in a day or two, my strength returns.
I've asked the other dolls, ordered them, to tell me what lies beyond the wood, on the other side of the hill. Most, just look at me with blank eyes, say they don't understand me. But, a few, the less predictable ones, they say nothing, but look at me with real fear in their eyes.
Author Comment 2 for 'Raven's Replacement' - A Few Explanations
Some things might be usefully explained, in particular if it's a long time since you read 'Raven Lunacy'. So, maybe, a bit of a FAQ?
"Who is Donna?"
Donna is Wonder Girl, Wonder Woman's sidekick. She has a... complicated, rather retcon'd history, even if you respect the year 2000 cut-off that is used for the comics, in this set of stories. When Geo first arrived at Titans Tower one of the people there was Donna. And... she never reappeared, later in 'Raven Lunacy', until the very end.
"What's a Third Eye?"
Geo developed this capability in 'Raven Lunacy', after Raven suggested she seemed to have this mystic potential. No, no third eye, visibly opens in the forehead (unlike DGZ's Tien). Geo's manifestation of this ability is not visible. Raven, on the other hand, may get 'red eye' as she does this, and, if she pushes it really hard, a second pair of eyes will (hopefully briefly) appear, above her normal (now red) pair. Basically, it allows seeing suitably trained aspects of reality 'beyond the normal',
"Why is Geo having trouble recalling some things?"
The universe is leaning on her. Yes, she has (some) 'out of context' knowledge. But, where it impacts on things like secret identities, which haven't been explicitly revealed to her, she's fighting to recall that stuff.
"Rings, what rings?"
Geo is normally wearing a pair of magical rings, hidden under gloves. They don't glow or do anything spectacular. The cat's-eye ring when activated makes her pupils go cat-like and lets her see clearly in the dark. The second ring was the gift of the drow wizardess, and causes her body to regenerate, fully heal, from any amount of injury, as long as neither fire nor acid is involved. But, normally, only from injuries taken while wearing the ring. On the Ship, Geo came to understand this ring well enough to make a (persona-locked) version for Terra. Basically, both useful, the second incredibly valuable.
"What's She Got In Her Pocket?"
Well, the answer to that is 'quite a lot'. Geo had learned a way of ritually making things disappear while maintaining a personal link to them. And, she acquired or built quite a few things while on the Ship. These items ceased to have a location, which made them very difficult for others to mess with. But, while she could later give them a location, generally within arms-length of herself, with an effort of will, 'pocketing' them again wasn't an easy process. Geo was pretty sure she was soon going to be banished home by Raven, so everything she didn't want to leave behind (a number of pallets-full of stuff) had been ritually pocketed.
"Ship? History Wars?"
Geo spent about a year, personal time, on a weird giant Ship, where she got the parts needed to repair the salvaged med-bay and built a personal workshop. This was, briefly, mentioned in Chapter 60 of 'Raven Lunacy', and expanded on in a couple of author omake, from two different viewpoints. However, the details of this period involve Mature themes, so...
Warning. This deals with mature themes of sex and power. Ownership of what are arguably people.
There is also quite a lot of implied violence. Really, really, quite a lot. Nasty dystopian. Some of it mixed with sexual elements. Please do not ignore this Warning.
Given the warning... Some may read this and go 'This isn't even worthy of 'R'/15 rating'. Or, 'I've seen more risky stuff on Children's TV'. Times change. YMMV.
This story reveals secrets of Geo not given anywhere else. And it reveals a great deal of Nurf's history, the logic of the 'History Wars', and hints about the 'Anti-Historians'. Some might claim that there is gratuitous use of high technology.
Author Comment 3 for 'Raven's Replacement' - Spirited Gaming
The whole issue of spirits is a tricky one. Also, I wanted to use the further development of Geo as a now magical post-graduate to drive the plot. Again, I used Hero System 5thEd. to do the game mechanics.
Adapting some of the (originally horror) rules for astral projection, and some notes on the design of things like ghosts and demons, gave me Hero System logic for what happened to the Titans. Also, the trick Geo did with 'putting them back on their feet'.
'EGO', as a game mechanic, is strength-of-will, and also measures the 'mass'/integrity of the 'spiritual' essence, the core of a being. Like many systems that are based on, or grew out of using three six-sided dice (3d6), this is typically a number in the range 3-18. A typical human has 8, a purposeful, potentially heroic, one, 10. Every +5 above 10 is considered to double the effectiveness of the characteristic, every -5 halve it; so 8 is about three-quarters, 3 about three-eighths. This makes 1 and 2 generally sub-human.
If a being has no EGO, the characteristic is zero, then it can be assumed to have no will (this is not the same as having a higher value which has been temporarily reduced to zero). All the intellect, the memory, physical talents are there, but there is no motivating force. If Geo provides a 'spark' equal to an EGO value of one then this will be inclined to self-sustain, and will likely grow over time, possibly faster by doing things which exercise the spirit.
The spirit is assumed to carry an image of the intellect and memory of their origin. This is clearest when concentrating. But, with a little effort, the spirit can access the physical memories, 'relax' into them, and over time these will likely merge. This works best with an initially weak spirit. Some emptied bodies 'work better' for spirit sparks - it helps a lot if the two are compatible, like each other.
So, that should give an idea about astral projection, the spirit and intellect leave the physical body behind, which still has all the memories. If a powerful spirit enters a body with no spirit then this may completely over-shadow the intellectual memories of the body (unless the spirit knows what they're doing) but the physical nature, learned reflexes, responses, of the body will govern most actions.
This is (mostly) compatible with the Teen Titans cartoon, but some of the fine details differ. Particularly the Raven/Starfire body-swap. I also don't in any way guarantee that this doesn't stomp all over some part of the comic canon.
Yeah, I know, this will likely completely bore those not interested in silly tabletop gaming mechanics.
AN: Hero System has been around since the early 1980s, when it was 'Champions!', which was later joined by 'Champions! 2', then 'Champions! 3'. From there the rules were adapted to a number of different genre, including fantasy, spies & private eyes, horror, and space opera. Followed by Hero System 4th, which unified all those into a common system. Which was good enough for most purposes.
AN: Horror Hero (1994) may well be an interesting read for some - while it is Hero System 4thEd. such can pretty easily be used with the more recent versions of Hero System.
![[DC] Raven's Replacement (OC in Teen Titans)](/data/threadmark-index-icons/l/64/64178.jpg?1658181097){kind=icon}
