[DC] Raven's Replacement (OC in Teen Titans)

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Author Omake 3

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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. It falls after Episode 15, 'Body. Mind, Bear'.

---

Dreaming.

Knowing that it's not a dream. Is real. That the places you go are real.

I'm at the Tower, by the sea. The 'T'-shaped one. Made of glass and metal. On an island, by a city.

But... the city is wrong.

It's sprawling, yes, but the houses are made of stone, or wood, or earth. The people, they have many shapes, but few of them look happy. And, the happy ones, they're in secret, with family or close friends.

Over the city, built for a giant, looms... the Royal Castle.

It's stone, built for a siege.

In my spirit-form, as stealthy as possible, don't want to go anywhere near it. Do not want to be glimpsed from its arrow-slits, its look-out towers, its battlements. It looks... strangely deserted to the naked eye, but, I see it throngs with unseen forces.

There's a path, from the castle, down to the shore.

Looks new, smashed debris of the properties once there, pushed to one side or other. Compared with the size of the city-dwellers, that's the path of a giant. And, laid with new cobble-boulders.

I do not see the giant. I'm... afraid I know what he looks like. He's strode my dreams, laughed at my fears. He's...

My father.

---

At the Tower.

Up close, it's... a little crude. Good from a distance, here you can see glass-and-metal windows, of the front, a little uneven. And, the hinge, the metal catch that holds the front in place, that spoils things, too.

Through the wall. Drawn to... my room. The doll lying in the bed. It's... not mine. My spirit has never enlivened it. But, an aura, faint magic of life, about it. An impression that, any moment, the eyes might open, the limbs move.

The room, it's familiar. Books on shelves, chests that should contain... magical tools. A place that's... Suddenly, I'm sure. A fake.

A... wooden hand opens the door. It's... green. A green-skinned face looks in. He... Garfield? Does not look happy. I want, I NEED to do something.

I... will the hand of the doll on the bed to move. It refuses. I... move my spirit hand, FORCE the doll-hand to move. It twitches. Garfield was turning away, but caught the movement. Turns back. Stares.

One of the magic (ha!) books floats over from its shelf. As suspected, the pages, ruffled-through, all blank. A fake. A piece of sharpened charcoal isn't, though. Floats over to the book. Scrawls...

"RAVEN."

Garfield falls to his knees, sobs, I'm guessing. No tears fall from wooden face, wooden eyes.

I'm... exhausted. I... fade.

Wake in my bed. In my Tower. My maid is sleeping, in her maid-bed, at the foot.

'Home'.

---

The king is coming!

There's celebration, panic, both.

He walks through Toyland. A giant among the toys, the animals, though only bout half-again their size. Red-haired, clean-shaven, crowned in a thing of twisted white bone or horn, hanging four rubies on his forehead.

"Daughter!"

He moves swiftly, crowding me into my Tower. Grasps me firmly by the upper-arms, inspects me, leans down, takes a loud sniff of my hair. Holds me at arms-length. Feet off the ground.

"You look well!"

Another brief inspection.

"Yes, it is you. No clever imposter. I know the smell of my own. And, yes, you are stronger. Have freed some of your power."

"Excellent!"

Grins widely. Carefully puts me down, leans forward.

"You are worth all your brothers, and more. They simper, they plot. They waste the space they occupy. No fire! No life! No defiance! Not like you."

He inspects me again, prowls into the next room, where my maid waits. I hurry after. She's... apparently fallen into deep sleep. Strides up to her, leans, takes another deep sniff.

"Excellent! You're empowering servants. I expect a splendid revolt! Entertain me!"

His voice drops.

"If you don't attack me, sooner or later the will of your... fellows, in the doll-Tower, will fail. They'll acknowledge me as their liege. Then, you can have them as knights. But, I expect better of you."

He starts to fade, while swelling into something monstrous.

"Hurry, I'm bored!"

---

Next >

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Author Comment 4 for 'Raven's Replacement'

You might be wondering, "What the *bleep* is going on in this story?".

As the previous Author Comment said, this story is a sequel. If you haven't read the first story then any confusion is quite understandable, but I'm afraid that's your problem, not mine. Quite a few strange terms, even characters, will only make sense if you've read the first story, sometimes the 'AN' at the end of the episode.

More exactly, you could be wondering what the logic of this story is. Telling you this earlier might've been a 'spoiler', and while I might not particularly believe in those, some people do, with a fanatic devotion. I do not want to join the list of authors who've received death threats for 'spoiler'-ing their own work.

If you haven't figured-out by now that these stories use 'Geo', AKA 'Sugoi', as the point-of-view (PoV) character, then I'll reveal that now. If other viewpoints are required then they cannot be in the (main) story, they can only be (Author) Omake, side-stories. These Omake may not be synchronised with the main-story, so, 'spoilers'.

In this story, Raven, of the Teen Titans, has been split in two. At story-start, her emptied-body was where Geo found herself. Where's the rest of her? That's the subject of a series of hand-threaded Author Omake/Doll Raven, published (hopefully) after every five episodes of the main-story. Yes, these Omake are 'canon'.

So, you can make the case, that this story consists of two parallel story 'threads'. Will Geo's Raven, the main-story one, rescue Doll Raven? Will Doll Raven escape her father, with or without her fellow Doll Teen Titans? Will Raven's father, Trigon, be defeated? You can hope that these questions will be answered, in story or omake.

How do you find-out what's going to happen?

Well, the traditional way is to read the story.

---

AN: Spoiler; because everyone has to learn new terms, sometime. Being generous, I'll also throw-in Omake and Canon. I'll even throw-in Thread!

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 16 - Promise, Assay, Plea

I'm talking to Barbara. I'm quite firm on that. Not Oracle.

She doesn't get to hide, this time.

"You don't get to question me like that, again." Pause.

She lets me continue.

"I think I can understand why, Fate of the Earth maybe on the line. All the lessons about threatening physical violence, from... him. Maybe stuff you picked-up from your dad, in the horror which is Gotham. But, no. Not again."

She thinks, for a while.

"Could you... expand on that a bit? I get the impression this's more than straight interpersonal power politics."

I take a deep breath.

"I... remember being murdered. I associate threats of violence with that, with murderers. I... don't think I could be in a close relationship with someone I thought of as a murderer. Couldn't completely trust them. Be a friend, with some qualifiers, yes, have no barriers, no."

More thinking from her.

"You think... that's where we are, where we're going? I'll... admit that's what I feel."

"Yes."

"I'll... not do that. Again."

There's hugging.

---

We got Victor's permission.

And Garfield's.

Couldn't get them to consciously astral project, awake or sleeping. But, while sleeping, Raven managed to slide them out of their bodies.

A lot more skilfully than I could've done.

---

Sleeping Victor-spirit is... a bit see-through, and a bit of a chimera.

Sometimes me-as-Sugoi, except looks like Victor around the eyes, more than just areas of darker skin, sometimes full-on Cyborg, occasionally (naked) Victor. The chimera, bits of all those, and changing which is where...

Concerning.

We look carefully, particularly where the bits join, searching for conflict. Rips. Can't find anything.

I... reach out, touch him, offer to let any me-spirit bits that can't live with becoming Victor... return to me. A few tiny fragments do. I'm... not sure whether to be relieved about that or upset.

Raven and I hug.

Looking at Victor, he's now not quite so see-through, the Sugoi-version now clearly has his eyes, and (probably) his skin colour all-over. Yes, we tugged-off a glove, checked, put it back on.

The chimera, when that appears, looks more stable, head and hands are Victor, rest of body Cyborg, though with my build. No bits moving around.

Looks like... he'll probably be OK.

Lots of meditation in his future, though.

Garfield...

---

The green beast looks at us.

Various parts of animals appear and disappear, somewhat randomly. And, once or twice, head of Sugoi-in-hood. I'm... not sure he's fully conscious, but he looks... healthy.

Like a smaller-version of the great beast-spirit that Victor-spirit had playing video games in my previous time-line. Maybe about my mass.

So, don't touch. I hope any me-spirit bits aren't suffering...

We... try and suggest climbing back into Garfield's sleeping body is a good idea. He... thinks for a while, nods, and we've just got body-in-a-bed. With green glow, the odd green tendril of spirit reaching-out, pulling-back.

Raven and I float out of the room, through the door.

Both take a deep breath or two. Speak, quietly, to each other.

Yes, that was deeply scary.

---

Robin...

Didn't agree to be spirit-inspected. Said he wanted to think about it more.

Raven took a peek in his room. Said he was sleeping without his anti-possession amulet. I'd been afraid of that. Otherwise, without looking at his exposed spirit, he looked OK.

I've... not been looking at him, deeply, with my Third Eye. My spirit-vision. I'd thought about it, but concluded that, without his permission, it'd be breaking trust.

So...

Annoying priest visit is looking increasingly likely.

And, on some level, that priest deeply scares me. Took me a while, afterwards, to figure it out, but...

I... felt he could bind or banish my spirit with little effort. That there was a deep anger he'd spent a lifetime learning to manage. Terrifying man.

So.

I am so filled with Joy.

---

A visitor.

Just after breakfast. Asking for me, as 'Sugoi'. Standing outside the Tower door. Dressed as a civilian, dark-rimmed glasses. But... something's not right about her, even looking at her on a screen.

She's... not moving enough. Yes, she's breathing, the enhanced scanners are clear enough about that, she's got the 'plume' above her all humans have, and looks OK with IR and UV (privacy bars are provided by the system).

The system's not sophisticated enough to sample the biochemicals in her plume, though Oracle's working on that.

I've talked about adding more exotic sensors, gravitational mass, Kirlian aura, maybe even chi and psychic aura, but so far that's been thought to be... asking for trouble.

I'm not convinced, though.

Can't think who she reminds me of, though... And Oracle's drawing a blank, too.

Worrying.

---

She's asked to speak to me in a secured area. We're in the secure conference room. 'We' being Raven and me, facing... 'Mary Wise'.

Robin was asked if he wanted to be here, but, said, on balance, that Raven should be able to handle most problems, and that he felt he needed to meditate. Raven and I agreed that was likely best.

"I've told you my name is Mary Wise. That's my secret identity. I'm..." She takes a deep breath, lets it slowly out.

"Amazo Girl."

I... don't recognise the name. Raven's on full combat-alert. Mary shakes her head, a bit sadly.

"Looks like you've got my father, here, on this world. Have you got my brother, Kid Amazo?"

"No..." Raven's watching her, carefully.

"Is anyone going to explain why that name should or shouldn't make me concerned?"

Mary looks a little more cheerful.

"Amazo has been a menace to the Justice League for a very long time." Thank you, Raven,

"Yes, my grandfather, Professor Ivo, is one of those mad scientists who's searching for immortality and blames the Justice League for stupid mistakes that he's made in that search. He just wasn't prepared to do the hard work needed to solve the problem without bothering others. And, he built Amazo, a power-copying android, for revenge."

Raven's... looking surprised.

"So, you don't want revenge? Don't want to destroy or take-over the world? Like Amazo?"

"No. Granddad made Amazo, my dad, as a bit of a blunt instrument, you might say a vehicle for his revenge." She laughs, then waves that off.

"Though... his design's evolved over the years, and he's... nearly reached human reasoning ability. He's my father, though I'm a cyborg not an android, and my mother's human, Sara..." She pauses.

"Granddad called her his 'daughter', and she called him 'father', but, I never met his wife, 'Jessica'. And, no one ever gave Sara's surname, though I always assumed it was 'Ivo'. Was she not related to him? Hard to imagine anyone marrying granddad, but there's been some strange pairings..."

Shakes her head.

"Anyway. Android father, Amazo. Human mother, Sara. Product of mad science. Power-copying abilities, though carefully restricted, so I don't get defeated the way Dad and Frank, that's my brother, did."

She stares at us, for a few moments.

"I could really use your help. Justice League associate, Sugoi. I'm... afraid my Bleed-armour is failing, without that I can't leave this world again, and I'll be stuck here." A sigh.

"I think... I've got a major health problem, too, that sooner or later will kill me. And... the blue lady, with the scanner, I passed on the way up..."

She pauses.

"And... If you've got 'Tomorrow Woman', locally, I might be able to help you save her life."

Looks hopeful

I look at Raven. She looks back at me.

"Assuming it doesn't involve you harming anyone but yourself, yes, we'll try and help you."

---

AN: Chimera; rather mixed-up.

AN: Amazo Girl is reasonable OC, but may have appeared before...

AN: Kirlian stuff is interesting...

AN: Prof. Ivo's been around in the comics for a very long time (1960)... Speculation, but you might wonder if he got to study the remains of The Appellaxians (the aliens responsible for the founding of the Justice League), so he figured-out how to build Amazo.

AN: Do you think Sugoi is sensible in giving that answer?

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 17 - Bleed and Wool

I don't like the look of the sheep. The red eyes. The fangs.

OK, there's a good reason. They're demon sheep.

---

I agreed with Raven. Things were heating-up. Sooner or later, probably sooner, I'd need to fight. The list of enemies, and potential enemies, just kept getting longer. So, I needed to be ready.

And... My robe was 'broken'.

At the moment my magic was 'faking it up'.

We'd had a good look. Optimistically, it was maybe providing about fifty-percent of the defence it was supposed to. The different between injury only by anti-tank weapons, and getting holed by a lucky pistol shot. A solid sword blow.

Not good.

I'd been using the test-robe I'd made, in my previous time-line, on the Ship. As I tried to copy my original, Raven-made, robe. Actually, it was a copy of my test-robe, made by Raven-magic, as that copied my body, made a copy of my dimensional pocket. I, my spirit, might also be a copy.

But, little point in dwelling on that.

So. Broken robe.

Raven'd studied my memories of previous-Raven, gifted to her by my spirit-self, which'd grown in my body from a spirit-spark, as I walked around in Raven's. Also, the book original-Raven gave me, detailing the making of my robe.

She was pretty sure she'd figured-out where the other-worldly robe-material came from.

Hence, demon sheep.

---

The arrival was OK.

Looked like pleasant green rolling hills, fenced by dry-stone walls, the occasional wooden gate, what looked like tracks used by carts. Likely bleak, some times of the year, today, pleasant Spring, blue skies, scudding fluffy white clouds.

The land mostly empty, a single flock of apparently normal winter-shaggy sheep.

Until we got closer.

I'd... found Cosmo in my robe pocket. Apparently she thought I'd not been paying her enough attention, lately. So, she'd hitched a ride.

And, sheep. Something new in her life.

Oh. Dear.

---

We looked up.

Cosmo and the herd-ram were now difficult to tell from immense clouds. It'd started with the ram objecting to the tiny animal looking up at it. She hadn't even charged them, barked. Just walked up, sat down, looked up.

We'd... let her do it. She had to learn, some time. I'd thought the sheep would chase her off. Or, just stare at her. She was well-enough trained not to bark at strange things, chase them.

The incident with the cat-girl on the world of strangely-coloured peoples.

We'd had to explain that hissing wasn't something you did at our puppy. And, yes, she shouldn't have pounced on her tail. That'd we'd be explaining that, at great length, with a talk on the diverse nature of beings.

And, would she like an ice cream?

So. Puppy. Sheep. Size-changing match. The sheep started it, honest. I think.

The ram doubled his height, octupled his mass. Cosmo leaned back, did the same. The ram 'upped the ante'. As did Cosmo. The problem got bigger. And, fortunately, more vaporous.

Sooner or later one of them will reach their magical limits. And, either Cosmo will sneak back, head-bowed, or bounce back, triumphant. We'll see.

Meanwhile.

Somewhat apprehensive-looking sheep.

---

We've... done a deal with the sheep.

From what we can tell, through Raven's translation spell, the shepherd is away, for unknown reasons. And, the sheep-shearing is late. We've agreed to ask questions.

Also, the wool they've rubbed-off on stone walls, gates. That's not otherwise collected. We're free to collect that.

However...

You knew there was going to be one of those, didn't you?

Raven has to have a look at a lamb, lamed from birth, see if she can heal her.

Lamb is nudged forwards, from where they're in the centre of the flock. Raven's quick enough not to get bit, when she reaches a hand out to be inspected.

There's sheep politics. The lamb stands before Raven. Defiant, but with bowed head.

Raven nearly falls, but I support her, feel the aftershock of the healing burn though her. Lamb stands healthy. Raven's leg straightens, is whole, again.

"That was a bad one", she murmurs.

Sheep inspect lamb. Seem satisfied. Grazing continues. Apparently we're at liberty to wool-gather.

We've... probably got enough for my robe, with a little over.

Raven suggests making a robe for human-form Cosmo. With pockets. That she can grow into.

That's... not a bad idea.

Cosmo materialises.

Apparently triumphant.

Shortly afterwards so does the ram. He does not look happy. But, ignores us.

Time to go home.

Via demon-shepherd home.

---

We do diplomacy.

The shepherd... has had trouble with her husbands. One's the sheep-shearer, a bit of a wanderer, and general lay-about, the other's the animal-doctor, the local 'vet'.

They'd got in a big fight in a public drinking-house. Where some stranger compared a well-known politician to a sheep's backside. Not realising twas sheep-country.

Raven gives the shepherd her 'secret recipe' for a hangover-cure. One makable with local ingredients, highly effective, but particularly foul-tasting. She was grinning, when we left. Waiting for when she got to use it on her husbands.

"Now?"

Cosmo's tired. Nestled in my robe-pocket.

"Home now?"

---

Considering local time-pressure, we'd done our wool-gathering in zero-elapsed (local) time hop. Raven's off to argue raw wool into wool-to-weave, after which I'll be doing the rest of the work.

She wants to ensure there's no... unfortunate magical influences, hiding in it.

I put Cosmo in her bed, in my room. Yes, she sometimes sleeps with Raven, but, only when Raven's actually sleeping, in bed. In my room is her bed for sleeping alone. And, she seems very tired.

I take a quick look, with my Third Eye, and, yes, looks like normal tiredness, not anything to be worried about. Like demon sheep bites.

---

Mary (Amazo Girl) is in the room which would've been Terra's, in my original time-line. She's been resting, but, said I could call on her, later. Now is 'later'.

I 'knock' (high-security doors, you know). She replies, I give my name, the door opens.

She's not really unpacked, anything, really. She's not obviously got any luggage, except a battered-looking suit of armour, standing off to one side. She'd been sitting in a chair. Not obviously doing anything.

"Sugoi. Thanks for calling."

"You did make me curious, with a few of the things you said. Have you been moving between the worlds for long?"

"I've... lost track of how long. There's been many strange worlds. Some, like this one, look a lot like my origin world. Don't consider myself to have a 'home world', any more. Don't plan to ever return to my origin. And, time, that's not consistent between worlds. It's so easy to lose track. Ageing isn't an issue."

"You... made a joke about a vehicle?"

She thinks for a few moments.

"Ah. That was a world a little like my origin, but my grandfather, Prof. Ivo, was... different. 'Amazo' was the name of a ship, 'Sara' was someone different, a woman who later became a superhero. My father, he was a badly-designed robot. Defeated with ease. I... rather confused them. Didn't fit how they thought the world worked."

"Strange worlds?"

"If you ever come across lizard people, with a strange sense of humour, be polite. They may be hideously powerful. In particular, don't threaten those they value. I saw them delete someone who did that."

She shudders.

"Very helpful, though. Be nice to them, better, entertain them, and they can be amazingly useful allies."

"You hope we'll be 'useful'?"

"I hope... you'll help me make my life better. There's too much Justice League on this world for me to stay around. As long as I keep my distance from them we should all be OK. You being made an ally or associate was enough to lead me to you here. But, that's a distant enough relationship that I can handle it."

"You've... problems with the Justice League?"

"I was made to defeat, destroy, them. It's pretty fundamental. That compulsion. On other worlds it's still there, it's why I'll never go back 'home'. On other worlds I can convince myself the Justice League's 'different'."

She does the finger-quotes.

"That compulsion is one of the things I'm pretty sure will kill me, sooner or later." She sighs.

"Do you want me to take a look at your armour?"

"Yes, please."

---

We're in a basement.

I'm pretty sure this'd be safe, elsewhere, but this is the 'dangerous rituals' area, Raven and I set up. Loads of extra wards, etched into wall, floor, ceiling. Nice clear area for a big ritual circle, multiple people.

I'm... going for analysis, to start with.

The Bleed isn't something I've ever messed-with, though I know about it, in theory. One of the nastier mediums for inter-world travel. Theoretically, a useful source of power, but, if you know what you're doing, you can spot Bleed-taps a long ways off.

The armour... it's saturated with Bleed energy. The design looks a bit marginal, and no one was smart enough to give Mary a manual. There's... capacitors, I guess you could call them. Need discharging, every-so-often. A 10k dimension service, you could say.

I explain to her.

"No, no one ever mentioned anything like that. But, they did say they could repair obvious flaws, but bits of it were beyond them. You seem more expert than most. Are you a Bleed expert?"

"No... I've just been forced to understand some strange things, to survive. Is there... some particular reason you use the Bleed to travel between worlds?"

"It's the only way I know. Using magic is supposed to be an alternative, but while I'm happy using that in combat, it's not really something I otherwise trust."

"I'm... pretty poor in combat, but I can do a lot out of it. Travel between the worlds without the Bleed. Repair stuff. Figure things out. I... like to help people. Try and help the world be a better place."

Those are... the most drastic puppy-dog eyes I've ever seen.

"Please! Teach me!"

---

AN: I wish to make it quite, quite, clear that these sheep are apolitical.

AN: 'Demons' are malevolent, by definition, but here they are defined to be 'outside the religion' (or pantheon). So, the 'demon sheep' are more like daimons, supernaturally powerful, often physically so as well, 'alien', maybe terrifying, but not necessarily living in worlds of horror. They do tend to be needing great care, if you plan to deal with them, or things they value.

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 18 - Knife Season

Be very, very, quiet. Why? We're hunting demons.

And, we've got a demon trap.

My knife.

---

Though she was very busy juggling the various parts of her life, Oracle found time to send 'The Boys', Shem and Shad, out walking dogs.

Pretty sure she shadowed them, while they were doing this, first couple or so times. Their next job was probing the criminal underbelly of the city. Writing it all up in reports.

Fortunately, basic word processing (and spreadsheets) was part of the skills The Boys had been gifted with. They expressed amazement at this. Then, Beast Boy and Cyborg hauled them into their video-gaming sessions, in their off-hours. Seemed determined to 'drag them into the 20th Century'.

Oracle's starting to build a picture, which I was pretty sure she compared with Robin's. He was having a few holes in his education filled. We'd found Slade's mercenaries, and the under-construction base we'd rescued Terra from, previous time-line. So, useful 'intel'.

Pure... was proving a lot more difficult to locate.

I suspected he might be in that shadow realm, the empty twin of the city, where I'd been imprisoned. Raven was sure she'd heard something about a place like that. Previous-Raven had.

But, the references were hiding from her. More books to be acquired. Research continued.

Only hint we had was the demon that'd installed itself in my knife, when it first manifested, at the bank robbery. So, we're seeing if we can capture more demons that way.

Raven suspected the knife's 'spirit house' was particularly attractive to disembodied spirits. The Boys said they felt its pull, even though embodied.

So...

"Here demon, demon, demon!"

---

I'm out here with Raven, though there're others.

Amazo Girl's joined us in this enterprise.

As has Roshi, because he says he's bored.

Nurf says she thinks we'll have some success, some failures, so good luck. She's got plenty to do in the Tower. Her sometimes annoying psychic powers...

The rest of the team're working on being business-as-usual Titans. Seems... OK.

Amazo Girl's revealed something of her powers.

She can copy all an individual's powers, create the mental template she needs to use them. Then, she's restricted to the powers of one individual, at a time. Size of her 'power library' is indefinitely large, though. Scary.

The powers she uses most are those of the original Justice League, so Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow. A horrific array. Her magic's from Zatanna, or, the Phantom Stranger. The latter apparently really scares her. There're others, like Atom.

The lizards... Her encounter with those appears to have changed her. Now, she doesn't copy powers without permission. Tries to be polite. Is careful how she telepaths. So far, she won't say much about lizards. But, they seem to have changed her for the better.

One thing she did say. If she suddenly grows a lizard tail, it means things have gone really, really, bad.

Disembodied demons, she thinks magic is likely best.

Roshi asks if we've a rice cooker to store the demons in.

We stare at him.

---

Negotiation with police. No reason to upset them. Explain this is a... training exercise. That we won't be signing autographs.

Please keep the public well-away. Though, we've no objection to people watching. Daylight, so flashes won't be a significant issue.

The Titans are one of the tourist attractions of the city, after all.

They get their maps out. Work through their lists. Cross-off a few possibilities.

So, we're here.

In a disused parking lot.

---

I'm attacking Roshi, with full ferocity. Trying really, really, hard to hit him. Why?

Because I want to kill him.

He appears to be an expert at 'Martial Arts Insulting'. After the plan was explained, he briefly grinned. Then, started-in on me. I... lost my temper.

Apparently he's confident I won't hit him, unless he wants me to.

We suspect that if the blade looks like it might draw blood, that'll attract demons. The old 'blood equals life' equation. And, I really, really, want my knife to equal where Roshi is.

Blade acquires red glow. Immense glowing-green hand lifts me up. I struggle. Does no good at all.

I... might've called a few things out to Roshi. I... don't remember what I said. But, I'm pretty sure it contained no swears.

"Inventive", Roshi's kind enough to comment.

The green hand is linked to Amazo Girl's right-hand. I'm... calming a bit. She's... Green Lantern-ing.

Raven... appears a little concerned. I'm placed down, in front of her.

I calm enough to use my Third Eye. Amazo Girl intones some twisted words. There's what looks like an imp visibly imposed over the blade. It's... unhappy.

"Possession Imp", remarks Raven. Yes, it does resemble ones who attacked the Tower, previous time-line.

She produces a small iron bottle, uncorks it, says some ear-hurting words, imp's sucked-in, bottle's corked.

Done.

---

Apparently there's a fireworks display, over the Tower, while we're out. Our 'dancing's paused, Raven looks towards the Tower. So does Amazo Girl.

I... see if I can tap the Tower security systems. No, it's too far. Need better cell-phone coverage, too, we're in a dead-spot.

"The... wards stopped someone launching fireworks at the Tower. I'm guessing a distraction. Amazo Girl?"

She stops looking, pauses, a set of three green figures appears above her right hand. Raven looks, closely, at them.

"That's Jinx and her friends. I'm guessing Gizmo's responsible for the fireworks. But they didn't do as he expected."

The figures disappear, Amazo Girl stares towards the Tower.

"I think... they've given up. They look disappointed… Are walking away, just went down a manhole cover. The... that's interesting. Lead-lining stops me seeing further. Caught a glimpse of a... honeycomb symbol?"

Raven and I look at each other. More mysteries.

Back to the 'training'.

---

That imp was our only success for the day.

We return to Tower, after a few more hours of... less realistic play-fighting on our disused parking lot.

Police tell the crowd the show's over. I see someone I'm pretty sure I was supposed to spot in the crowd, because she looks like a disguised Oracle. So, Robin's probably about, too.

Back at the Tower, imp study.

This one's as much an ignorant tool as my previous experience. Effectively, a possession ability with as simple a mind as you could drive it with.

A demon-wedge, intended to open a door for bigger ones. And, while we kept a careful eye, none of those, probably Trigon-loans, visited us.

Summary, Pure's in the city, but he's being cautious. And, he's got possession imps.

Attack on the Tower due?

---

AN: You might wonder what's these 'lizards' Amazo Girl keeps referring to? What sort of genre they might live in? Well, I really couldn't reveal that, could I?

Spoiler: Some people like pictures...

AN: These are your straight-up nasty demons, probably pasted-together by higher-powers. Like Trigon, or his minions. Not even a tiny bit woolly, naked spirits with singular purpose.

Spoiler: The classic video clip...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM8h22DeTbA
Hunting wabbits...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 19 - Eat Crow?

I... need to apologise. To Nurf. Hope it's not too late.

"I need to beg you, please accept my apology." I bow to Nurf, lowering my eyes. If she strikes me, I probably deserve it.

"I could say, 'about time'. But, I've been watching you manage this rolling disaster. It's been... quite impressive. Except for your breakdown, which you were wise enough to get Oracle's help with, I see little to criticise."

I raise my eyes, while still bowing. She... doesn't look terribly annoyed.

"You're... forgiving me?"

She sighs.

"I've more than a millennium of experience on you. I've lived through some amazing disasters. Possibly even the destruction of my whole universe. Seen a wide range of people manage, or mismanage, those disasters. You've... not done badly. Quite well, in fact. Were smart enough to search out, ask for, help."

She inspects me, carefully.

"Please stop bowing. I understand why you did it, legacy of the cultures you respect, but... it makes me uncomfortable."

Stand back-up.

"At least you didn't do the full-on prostration bow. That'd have been far too much."

I give a small smile. Which I suspect was her intention.

"You're my friend, Nurf. I've been mostly ignoring you. Letting you get on with things. Not checking if you needed my help. Asking how your relationship with Nurse's been going."

Purses her lips.

"We spent some time together on the beach holiday. You'll notice I didn't bother you then. As your doctor, I agreed with Oracle, you needed the rest. As did Raven. I'm... quietly amazed how well you've done with her. She's stepping-well into her body-mother, Raven's, shoes. I like Cosmo, too, given you're unexpected... puppy parents." A small smile.

"Watching you develop your relationship with Oracle's been interesting. As has Gina. The dynamics of the five of you - if I wrote scientific papers, anywhere outside my head, my editors would be salivating!"

I'm... blushing. Nurf has a talent for getting me to do that.

"Where do we go from here? What do you want, need, me to do?"

"I'm still carrying your backup crystal, which I want you down in the med-bay to update. You're still carrying mine, after it survived my summoning to this world. Ditto needs update. As to what I need..."

Shaken head.

"Sugoi. Sacrificing yourself on the altar of necessity. Will you ever learn?"

Looks straight at me.

"I'm glad you've woken-up, my captain."

Oh.

---

I'm in the lounge. Drinking tea. Eating a freshly robot-made pastry. I'd sat, watched the auto chef make it. A sort of meditation.

Needed to calm-down, after talking to Nurf.

I'd... been neglecting people. Roshi was a good example. Trying to fire-fight, focused on the Titans, ignoring those I'd dragged into this mess to help me. It was... a lesson in needing to maintain balance.

I'd need... to apologise to Roshi. Think about what he needed. Hope I hadn't really offended him. Unfortunately, he was so hard to read. Which was one of his strengths. That and his tendency to manipulate people by reflex.

Hmm.

We're very likely taking Robin to the Annoying Priest. Maybe dragging Roshi along'd be wise? Doesn't his name imply he's sort-of major-ly religious? A 'divine master'? Does... Roshi know spirit combat?

All things to think about.

---

"Practically no one's ever apologised to me before. It's novel."

Roshi, I think I'll call him 'Master Roshi', seems honestly taken-aback. Shakes his head.

"But, that's not the only reason you're here, is it?"

"No. We've... not treated you fairly. Taken petty revenge. It's... not adult."

He grins, widely, and, I suspect, honestly.

"I know all about petty revenge. And not being 'adult'. Not being respected's been an important part of my life. I've always wanted time for myself, not being tied to anything like running a martial arts school."

Cocks his head on one side.

I hold out a copy of Blackfire's disguise gadget.

"This is an alien psionic disguise tool. No batteries, easy to hide about your person. Intended to allow, for example, people with orange skin to appear to have the pinkish skin of the locals. Secret identity. You're a clever man."

Takes it. Looks at it. There's a faint blue-glow.

Then, he's an old man, bald, white beard and moustache, bandy-legs, wearing sunglasses, tasteless shirt, shorts, sandals.

And a wide grin.

"Being both youthful, and having the appearance of ancient wisdom?"

"Thank you!"

I get friend-hugged.

---

I'm with Raven. Our after-lunch session. Discussing a tricky issue.

"I don't think it's chance Amazo Girl arrived. And wants to be taught. Raven is supposed to have an apprentice, probably one she has to banish from the world. She might be a good prospect, if she's 'handled' right."

Raven nods, I think, agreeing with me.

"I know there're secrets you can't fully explain, but you seem to think spirit-Raven, who may be in a wooden-doll, has taken an apprentice. I can see the logic that Raven's body, which is part of me, would sensibly do similar. That'd make sure the prophecy is tied-down, has 'zero wiggle room', I think you'd say."

We both nod.

"I'll reluctantly point-out, Sugoi, that there're psychic tricks you use that my psychic powers can't match, and I have to duplicate using magic. It's been good exercise, but that suggests you should be involved in the teaching. Also..." And, she grins.

"Do you think Robin and Roshi would enjoy helping train Amazo Girl?"

We grin at each other.

---

Secure conference room. Raven, Amazo Girl, and me. Serious stuff.

"You asked me to teach you? I will. On the condition that you become Raven's Apprentice. There's a prophecy connected with that, which means she'll have to, at some point, banish you from this world. But, that doesn't mean you can't return, later. If you want to see your friends."

"Friends?" She's grinning, widely.

"You want to be my friends? I've... never really had any friends!"

Raven and I look at each other. Her shadow touches me, under the table.

"Yes", we say in unison.

She looks at the pair of us with suspicion, "Creepy".

"It'll be hard training, you'll have to do things you've never done before in your life. It'll be painful, physically and emotionally. Maybe spiritually. Are you sure you want to do this?"

She stands up.

"I, Amazo Girl, Mary Wise, accept the offer to be Raven's Apprentice."

There's a sort-of mystical, spiritual, 'Dong!', as of a loud bell being rung, somewhere a long ways off. An impression of a robed figure, with a book chained to them, nodding.

Should we be worried about that?

---

AN: You might wonder why (CMO) Nurf calls Geo/Sugoi 'my captain'? That the med-bay, Nurf originated in, came from the wrecked colony starship 'Seed of Life', and that Nurf has... issues about Geo being the effective captain, hence her captain... Couldn't be important, could it?

AN: The robed figure with the chained-book is a classic DC Comics character - I'll reveal his name starts with 'D'. You might say he's a bit... fundamental.

AN: Eating crow is unlikely to be popular with the crow, either...

AN: Foreshadowing? Like I said before, what's that?

Spoiler: Because apparently I was too obscure...

Book of Souls; now you know the name of the book chained to the robed-man whose name starts with 'D'. Satisfied?

AN: Making it clear, Blackfire in this story went from orange-ish to pink-ish skin. Starfire has been known to do similar. Doctor Blue may well be playing this game. Raven shifts between grey and pink-ish skin. This in no way claims that the only local skin colour is 'pink-ish', but, yellow+pink+brown, with varying amounts of the brown, is rather less diverse than the range of other skin colours the Titans display. Yeah, I know, DC Comics has varied skin colours in all sorts of ways, over the decades... And, flip a (mental?) switch for the transhumanist colour-of-the-day isn't really there, either...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 20 - Slay'd, Worm'd, Shop'd, and Mind'd

Slade captured. Mercenaries surrendered. Robin's... disappointed.

Think he wanted his skills to be used more, an epic fight, knife-edge confrontations. Instead, we steamroller'd Slade. Robin mumbled something about not using Red X, even once.

Looked like 'classic' Titans doing all the work, but Oracle and The Boys were in the background, Doctor Blue and Roshi guarding the Tower. I was sneaking around, out-of-phase, with Amazo Girl (she wants to know how I managed that).

Turned-out, Zatanna captured a fleeing Slade.

Pretty sure Batman's lurking, somewhere, too. Though's no physical evidence for/against. I like to imagine Cosmo sitting on his head, without him knowing. Seeing as I'm not sure where she is, either.

Once I saw Zatanna's on the scene, I dragged Amazo Girl off to Japan, then followed the Moon Watching Path. Yes, she'd got multiple ways of Lunar-ing herself.

Says it's strange how in some worlds Superman ignores vacuum, in others he wears a breather mask. Even without someone's powers, she's pretty tough. So, not an issue.

I did loan her an environment shield (force-field belt), though. And a radio headset. Made things a bit easier.

She does like the Lunar view of Earth.

The tranquillity appeals to her, as well.

---

When we returned, Slade'd been taken away, and Zatanna was gone.

Raven'd made a lunch appointment for herself and me (no Amazo Girl), as we've things to discuss. Need to sit-down, with Amazo Girl, make sure I know what the 'Tomorrow Woman' thing's all about.

Apparently Zatanna'd told Raven TW's being considered for League membership.

---

With permission of the police, and signed permission from each mercenary, Amazo Girl checked them all out.

Mentally.

Found who needed to be locked-up. The police gleefully waved the waivers at those they weren't freeing, who complained it was 'stitch-up'.

Amazo Girl's testimony is legally useless, but gives the police a good start.

She was quite interested in this use of her Martian Manhunter powers. Yes, telepathy's something she's often used out-of-combat. Pre-lizard, anyway. But ensuring the right people got their past behaviour police deep-probed, that was new.

Makes her wonder how many powers've non-combat uses she's ignored...

I've some ideas...

---

Joker's in a straitjacket. Harley heavily-sedated. Corpse-worm spirits are shredded.

We used my knife.

Raven and me, Amazo Girl. Walked the dimensional paths to Gotham. All in our robes, with the hoods up. As anonymous as we could will ourselves to be. There's the odd demon, looking hard at travellers, but no serious roadblocks.

The idea of there being a complex dimensional structure she could wander was new to our apprentice.

We'd mentioned, in passing, we thought Flash and Atom used some aspects, but didn't think in those terms. How I'd met Flash while I sat, thinking (not brooding!), outside time, above the city. How he'd asked if I was a 'new speedster', using the 'Speed Force'.

She's thinking about that.

The corpse-worm pit's down by the river, where it connects with Slaughter Swamp. Raven guesses one of them made its way to where in Gotham Joker fell in his chemical vat. Whispered an offer to his dying mind.

Allowed walking tween life and death, an empowered trickster.

Highly traditional.

---

Raven has a spirit-thermite spell.

There's no pit, any more.

Looks like Harley might make a recovery. Seeing as we got to her even earlier, this time. Joker is, baring divine intervention, a write-off.

We expect much Batman-ly frowning.

Yes, the comment makes our apprentice giggle.

---

Because we felt it fitting, 'Kory' takes 'Mary' for 'the shopping'.

Not there's likely much we could do to stop her.

I'd... talked briefly to Raven about the pair of us going, as well...

But, seemed sensible was just the two of them.

A couple of... normal girls, just... going shopping.

Right.

Monstrous Being from Beyond? Alien invasion? Sea Monster?

They could probably handle it.

And, if they couldn't, they knew where we were.

We'd got something much nastier to deal with.

Something Oracle said was all our own problem.

It's Tax Time.

---

I'm in Metropolis.

Setting up a company. 'Kuro Industries','KI'. We do robotics. Dogs and humanoids. Latex skin and fur coats.

Cyborg suggested it. All about heading-off Lex Corp. Give them a local target. Right on their doorstep.

We've hired the best commercial attack-lawyers we can afford. They're going to serve writs on Lex Corp if they even look in KI's direction. Try and steal our designs.

Robots for the social good. No military applications.

'Three Laws' all the way.

---

I'm... trying an experiment.

With Nurf's help.

We've got a version of me, my mind, in a living-skinned robot of me, built using one of my few remaining sets of AI chips from my previous time-line. She's CTO at KI, Metropolis. For extra fun, she's wearing my Raven-supplied 'secret identity' glasses - the ones with the... vision feature.

We're going to use portable mind sync-ing equipment. So the two of us remain 'in step'.

Wait till someone screams 'robot invasion', or something.

See how it goes?

---

Team combat practice. Led by Robin and (Master) Roshi. Roshi as 'old man'.

Says he's more used to training people like that. Hopes we don't mind.

I suspect a number of the others think he's mad.

---

Robin's... flagging.

Obviously not sleeping well. Having trouble concentrating. Suspect he'd be using drugs, if he believed-in that sort of thing.

It's... likely the meditation sessions are the only thing keeping him going.

---

I'm... having trouble fitting-in with the rest of them.

They're quite understanding, but I'm not used to combat in teams. Combat at all, really. I'm not as... concerned about violence as I was in earlier life, but... I just don't like hitting people. Certainly don't enjoy it.

Roshi's answer is drill.

Train reflexes until automatic. Then, train higher reflexes allowing control of the simpler ones, so you're not too predictable. Don't get tricked into doing things you'll really regret.

Then, learn to live in the moment, outside all your training. Watch yourself. Alter things if you feel you need to.

I ask how long it takes to 'get' all this.

He shrugs, a few decades for the basics, the odd century or two to get really competent.

I... don't think our enemies are going to give us that sort of time. I'd drive myself insane if I tried to train outside time. Though, I'm careful to not mention that option.

So, I'm sticking to the basics-of-the-basics.

---

Amazo Girl.

We've got her drilling everyone on mental defence. Spotting and resisting telepathy, mind-control, mental illusions. The lot.

One thing worries me...

Is this a whole new area of expertise to acquire?

---

"Azar."

"Yes. Raven." A brief pause.

"Though, you're not quite Raven, are you?"

"I'm as much Raven as you're likely to get this side of Trigon turning-up."

Yes, we're in Azaroth. At the central temple. Bearding a god.

I'm wonderfully terrified.

"So, my Son will return to meet his Father?"

"My... father will be coming here to destroy the place. You'll be the only one left alive. We've...", Raven indicates me, "some advance warning of what's likely. What might be done. But nothing like enough power to do it".

Woke this morning suddenly recalling my time with Raven in Azaroth. Raven's similarly unlocked. Thought it best to visit.

"What do you plan, My Granddaughter?"

"Somehow the spirits of those in the city, those who shucked part of themselves which later became Trigon. They must be preserved. But, I don't know how."

"I'll think on it."

I'm guessing that's the best we'll get...

---

Why're we running around like this?

We're getting ready for Pure.

He's just not going to be easy.

---

AN: Tax time; one reason to be glad of not living in The States.

AN: Three Laws; robots're really not the best soldiers if facing humans...

AN: CTO; in case you wondered...

AN: Another bits-and-pieces episode, but seemed to be required. At the risk of insulting your intelligence... Dragging Amazo Girl off to the Moon is probably wise, as Zatanna = Justice League member...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Author Omake 4

< First
< Previous

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. It falls after Episode 20, 'Slay'd, Worm'd, Shop'd, and Mind'd'.

---

Walking in the woods. One of my hobbies. On the boundaries of Toyland.

I am, after all, a Toy. A wooden doll. Dressed as a princess. Though, a princess 'out in the wilds'.

There's not much wilds in this wood. It looks managed to within an inch of its life. Carefully-placed hardwood trees, no pines, nice grassy areas, clumps of wild-flowers. No bracken, no dead-wood, no fallen tree-trunks. The only fungi being safely edible, or those blatantly poisonous.

Someone must have designed this place, a few centuries ago, assuming the trees grew naturally. And, I'm guessing that various pixies and sprites maintain it, as it is. Possibly with gritted teeth. Some of those visit town, some live there, though they tend to be the more urban varieties.

I wonder how this wood benefits my father? Maybe he thinks Toyland and its surroundings is an amusing joke?

I'm... not sure I want to understand him well enough to know.

---

Slowly, I fight to get further into the wood, before weakness makes me collapse. My judgement's got better, and now I can hover on the edge, as my vision fades in and out, pushing my limits.

It seems to, slowly, free more of my chained power, as does meditation, practice with my Apprentice. I... need to improve quicker.

I'm pretty sure patience isn't a virtue my father enjoys exercising.

---

My maid's... acquiring a stronger personality.

She's now able to disagree with me. I'm encouraging this, but only if she can give me good reasons. Her spirit's rapidly growing, it's now the size of a human child's, a little over three-foot tall. That's... impressive.

I... fear for her safety.

But, my safety is also in considerable doubt.

---

A prince has come to town.

He's arrogant, and, in my opinion, deeply stupid.

About a head taller than me, with our father's red hair, wearing a simpler version of father's crown. But, still the four forehead-rubies. And power like a cloak.

"You don't mind me visiting, do you, sister Raven?"

He doesn't bother introducing himself. So, in my head, I call him 'Pride'.

"I'm sure our father knows of your visit."

He looks a little hunted, then his features smooth.

"Father knows all."

I've told my maid to hide, I don't want him to see her, get... ideas.

"Dear brother, do you have a reason to visit? Or, are you just wandering?"

"I always have a reason for what I do."

I'm not convinced...

"You, sister, have never been seen in court. So, when I heard you were in father's realm, I had to come and see you. It would've been rude to do otherwise."

So, he's probing, trying to figure-out if I'm a new 'player' he needs to be concerned with.

"I'm enjoying being in this rural place."

Let's see if he can spot me lying. No, doesn't look like he's that ability.

"You enjoy playing with toys?"

An attack! I was wondering when that'd come.

So, I need to respond.

Take a big risk.

---

We're elsewhere.

I'm in human form, in my robe, hood down, in a pleasant sitting-room. He's also in human form, dressed as he was, except his crown's gone, and he's entirely human. None of the 'eldritch aura' that previously cloaked him.

He looks around, wildly. Then, smooths his face.

"An interesting exercise of power."

I indicate the seats, on either side of a small table.

He sits, so do I. I lift the steaming teapot, pour him, then me, a cup. Use the sugar tongs to lift a cube.

He watches me with wide eyes, obviously fighting to keep his composure. This is going to be a delicate job of social balancing, when one of us is very weak on the rules.

"One lump or two?"

---

A long period of social fencing.

With me in quite firm control. He doesn't know how much power I have, where we are, what I want from him. I do my best to not educate him, while probing for information.

He's... looking at his limits. Much more and he might do something... unwise. Rude. Something we'll both regret.

Father apparently told his court that I was 'visiting', though not where I was. Told them not to 'bother' me. Smiled as he said that.

I'll have to give my (half) brother a few marks for finding me. Or, I guess he might just have intimidated or bribed someone. Not that all uses of bribery are wrong...

Let's see. I think he's about reached the limits of social discourse.

"This has been a pleasant visit, sister, but I now need to take my leave."

With an effort of will and the final dregs of my power, we're back in Toyland. And, both of us are as we were, when we left.

His hand flashes to his forehead, brushes over his 'rubies', he lets out a sigh of relief.

"I... must be going."

There's a swirl of fire.

He's gone.

---

The policeman comes up to me, thanks me for handling the situation.

I'm... gritting the teeth my wooden mouth doesn't have, being polite to him. Carefully walking back to my Tower, as my vision fades in and out. Evicting my maid from under my bed.

Collapsing on it.

Blackness.

---

AN: Sugar cubes; so now you know.

Next >

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Yeah, late again... (+Amazo news)

Apologies, still not 100%. This lot should have been posted a couple of days ago. But, needed a few hours more re-write, and I wasn't up to it.

Still, Amazo Girl is now on the scene, and that was a character I was looking forward to. Possibly a good demonstration that incredible levels, in depth and breadth, of power don't make someone invincible? You get to decide.

Specialists usually have a better handle on their powers... Even if someone else can copy them, and their combat reflexes for using them...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 21 - Bearing Annoyance

"You're dead! I'm sorry. I hadn't realised that."

Max looks a bit... bemused. Gladly glares at me. I've... put my foot in it.

Again.

---

Yes, I'm in Tokyo. At the back-street robot-junk shop. Still in the front. Because I've not 'proved myself'.

At least I'm wearing my Mark 2 robe, as a scarf. And, my 'secret identity' glasses, as I'm here as Geo. Never met Max as Sugoi, in my previous time-line, and it seemed wise to keep Sugoi out of Japan. While not wandering the dimensional paths, anyway.

I'd considered visiting previous-Max, on previous-Raven's world. Arguably, there's unfinished business. But, decided better leave that to previous-Geo, as it's arguably her world, her job.

Though, yes, I'd visited with Oracle, so she could meet previous-Oracle. Some of her comments, afterwards, had really made me blush. I'd had to agree another rule about us, with her, to ensure no future... issues.

And, now, I've (probably) upset Max.

---

"My humble apologies." I bow, while ensuring I keep a careful eye on him, and Gladly, the 'harmless' teddy-bear.

"I... looked deeper at you than I intended. Saw things you likely wanted kept private. I'm really here for the robots. More than I can see in the outer shop."

"You've... not offended me. It's just you're one of the few visitors to the shop that's been... that perceptive. Usually our visitors aren't... that spiritually-aware."

"I hope I've not upset your guardian spirit, Gladly, too much?" I nod towards the bear.

That takes him aback.

"You're... really perceptive."

"No. I'm relying on prior knowledge. Of another similar world, with a similar Tokyo, a similar shop."

I bow in apology, again.

"I'm really making a mess of this. In that other world, someone who looked like you was called 'Max'. My name is 'Geo'. Other-you'd... got a robot-repair issue. I was hoping we could help each other. Please accept my apology."

He looks at the bear. The bear doesn't move, change expression, but I've an impression of (grudging) approval.

"I think... you've passed the test. You'd better come in the back."

---

The same impressive workshop with the vertical hologram extension.

The same sad pile of not-repairable robots, though the pile's a little smaller.

The same quite impressive workbench and tools.

"You've got somewhere to put these CDs? I made them based on some of the robot parts that previous-you gave me to study. You can have them as a gesture of good will."

Max is... quite pleased.

But, I think, not sure how much to trust me. I hand him the discs in their cases, carefully labelled. He shuffles through them, reading the labels.

"You managed to get something out of the Simba Mark 6 remains? I couldn't figure-out anything."

"Yes, there's some encryption used. Took me a while to crack it. Based on rather poor use of the Enigma-machine system, used by the German military in World War 2. Once I used the right cracking-logic it was easy. Unfortunately, encryption isn't something I'm expert at, so it took me quite a while."

"I'm still impressed. I'll study that with interest. Was the encryption hiding anything worth knowing?"

"A little. There's some quite good large-cat reflex stuff, landing after falling, minimising damage. I think it was stolen from a design I've not seen, but, that's speculation. If you come up with any ideas, please keep me in mind."

I do the business card-presentation ritual, holding it with both hands, a little bow.

I've got a couple of international phone-numbers on it, ids on the sites you get to via them. Should allow message exchange. Also, there's a female-styled robot head icon, and the Japanese kanji characters for 'Robot Fan'.

"Thank you", he takes the card. In the proper manner.

"You said I was dead? Do you know of my past? How I'm still walking around?"

"I noticed you lacked any chi, life-energy. That lead me by reflex to look a little deeper into you, notice your spirit is anchored to a hologram-cloaked robot body. That the most alive bit of you is your eyes, followed by your hands, where your spirit is strongest. No, I don't know of your past, except other-you mentioned a... cousin."

"You are talented!" He pauses, obviously thinks for a moment, makes a decision.

"Yes, my cousin, who is now... missing, presumed dead, had strange talents. I believe he called my spirit back, after I was killed by a truck. Bound me into this body, arranged records, so I was 'just sent to a private clinic'. Then, I found myself running this shop. And, I suspect that if I stop..."

He makes a cutting-his-throat gesture.

"I know people who could check and make sure if that's a risk?"

He bows, "That would be very kind of you".

Turns to the workbench.

"I'd be interested to see you demonstrate your expertise in robot repair. Please tell me what you think of the robot I'm currently working on..."

Repairing ensues.

---

Several enjoyable hours later, and 'mysterious delivery' of a crate (by Raven) at his service entrance, we've a build cell installed, and I'm demonstrating repair of the third robot from his 'couldn't repair' pile.

"Before you say anything, and based on behaviour of previous-you, I'm afraid I must crush your hopes. Seeing as you're dead, and I have prior commitments, any... proposal would be unwise. Also, I'm interested in your cousin's tools, and the larger robots you've got stored... elsewhere. No, you revealing their location isn't... required."

"Thank you." He bows. "I've made promises, I'll have to get to know you better before I examine what I might be allowed to do. Your understanding is appreciated."

I hand over more CDs.

"This is the service and training manual for this build cell. Please do not reveal either it or this information to others, unless you're forced to. There's patent applications in progress, and that might... interfere." I cough.

"Just to be clear. I do not believe that either you or your cousin is my enemy. Nor am I acting as an agent for anyone who is an enemy. I do not wish there to be... any misunderstandings. Is that clear?"

"Of course."

"Might I enquire, do you sleep? Dream? Meditate?"

He bows his head.

"I cannot sleep. Though, I can sometimes enter a waking day-dream state. Do you believe meditation might be helpful to me?"

"Possibly. Though, it has its own dangers, for those without bodily needs. I'd have to look more closely at how your robot body and spirit interact to be certain. Your... situation is not one I've previously encountered."

On impulse, I take one of my business card, and carefully write the contact details for the Annoying Priest on the back.

"This priest may be able to advise you. He seems to have a deep knowledge of matters of the spirit. I must warn you, though..."

"Oh?"

"He's annoying."

---

AN: More dotting of 't's and crossing of 'i's...

AN: To avoid searching, the 'Simba Mark 6' is OC, AFAIK. Sounded like a credible robot name, though...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 22 - Small Issues

I've 'lost the plot'. This isn't good. What should I do?

OK. Think. Where are we?

We've dealt with Slade. Run around, trying to ensure there's no loose ends. That we're ready for Pure to attack.

But, is that wise?

Being purely (sic) defensive isn't that smart. We're giving him time to get ready, probe our defences, find more allies. There're people we really don't want to fight, like the Brotherhood of Evil, old Doom Patrol enemies. And, Robin, the Titan's tactical leader, ... isn't very well.

Yes, we've got Doctor Blue (Nurf), but she's a medic. Roshi, though, he's really for support. Oracle giving a helping hand. And, I suppose, Amazo Girl. Though, she's really a bit... untested.

Looked at from another point of view, we've got a lot of raw power. Just... not very good focus.

Maybe it's not that bad?

---

Raven's checked, at my request. Found there's a very subtle magical attack on the Tower. Carried in by the air, we're breathing.

Seems to encourage irrational fear, self-doubt. Her remark was, "That's clever", as she reworked the wards to stop it, while trying to make it appear that it was actually affecting us.

Where does it come from? Someone seems to have placed enchanted stones on the seabed, around the Tower. Probably over several days. Placing the last stone started the... miasma. Raven's ward-tinkering will have to be very careful.

I'm... annoyed.

So, I grab Amazo Girl, drag her off to go book shopping, in that other-England, with the Foyles bookshop. The other-England that in my previous time-line I'd thought was actually in this world.

---

We're going as 'civilians'. But, walking there along the dimensional paths, hidden within our robes. Her robe isn't the defensive wonder mine is, as she's not anything like as 'squishy'.

But, it does help her disguise who she is, and helps her act a role, rather like my 'secret identity' glasses. Probably, it's major feature is that it's very difficult to destroy. And, it's a 'modular' design, intended to have new capabilities easily added, later. 'Module one's her robe's robe-scarf capability.

As we travel, when we're unlikely to be overheard, I explain my interest in Asimov. That, maybe as a constructed being, she might share an interest in our 'culture'. And how a lot of it was pretty negative, starting from 'Frankenstein' then R.U.R. and Metropolis, Colossus and HAL 9000, then through Terminator's Skynet and Battlestar Galactica's Cylons.

The Cyberiad, Asimov's robots, Star Trek's Data - the positive stuff was far less common. Data hadn't yet appeared in 'Warp Trek'. I'd seen no serious sign of any of the positive side in our world of super-powers. Outside Japan.

We're reasonably secure, so I point-out how she could probably get pretty wealthy by selling 'Bleed batteries', based on the tech of her Bleed armour. Rename them to something like... 'dimensional torsion' (DT?) cells, and very few could figure-out what was going on. Quite expensive to make, but immense storage capacity.

She's... willing to think more about it. And, yes, she'll think more about her 'native culture'.

And, I carefully point-out the subtle dimensional twist, which confused me, first time around.

---

We find somewhere quiet, after our bookshop visit. A pleasantly-shaded graveyard. Also, spend a little time looking around London. Time's not a problem, I've used a trick which means we'll be away for roughly a hundredth of the time, compared to the Tower.

The quiet place is for my ritual, where I place our 'bounty' in my dimensional pocket. Yes, she wants one of those, and, yes, she wants to grasp this subtle non-combat magic stuff.

I... ask her a few probing questions about her powers. Whether she can alter them, learn to use them more effectively, even in new ways. If she knows the mechanics behind her copying abilities. If she could repair her power-copying ability, if it got damaged.

Whether... Professor Ivo is one of her 'templates'.

She's in considerable pain.

"Please, remember for me. I want to get to the bottom of this, fix things."

She goes blank. Her eyes close, open. A killing machine looks around, for threats. I sit very, very, still.

Blank again. A lost child looks around, confused. Then, she recognises me. Slowly returns to herself.

"That was a... moderately bad one. I've had worse, but not that often. This is part of what I think'll kill me, sooner or later. ... What were we talking about?"

I... prevaricate. Say I want to Raven-consult. That's accepted.

For now.

---

We're... back at the Tower. Special training.

Our apprentice is going to enter as deep a trance as she can, using any help we can provide. Seeing as she's immune to most drugs that won't help, so it's meditation and hypnosis, with some careful mind magic. Takes more than an hour-and-a-half. Before Raven's satisfied.

She... directs me a dimensional step away, into a private dimension, I've not visited, before. Asks I keep it a secret. That I'm the first person, bar her and... Cosmo, to visit the place. Cosmo followed her here.

We leave our physical bodies, then return, astrally, to... Mary. Now for the delicate bit. Getting her out of her body, on to the astral.

There's... traps. One obvious one, and a pair of more subtle unpleasantnesses. The massive energy discharge isn't an issue, because we're not physical. The catch-trap, that's nasty, a dimensional snare. And, there's an infinite mind-mirror to deal with mentalists. All these are deep within her, at a level near her core.

She's, her spirit's, scrunched-up, folded, within her core. We have to carefully press, tug, slide her in strange directions. Finally, she's free. A braided cable, wire and crystal, leads back to her body. It looks more like a binding than a spirit-mind-body tether.

Looking down at her. She's slowly becoming conscious. Likely experience of using many strange super-powers. A (naked) red-headed girl child. She's... a metre, about three-and-a-quarter-feet, tall

Ah.

---

"You're tall." She looks up.

"Your... growth was probably restricted, based on where you were."

"I feel... free. Do I have to go back?" She bounces on her toes.

"Generally, people who don't, suffer from... this minor issue called 'death'." Is Raven's voice a little dry?

"Oh. Can you show me how to be more comfortable?"

"Let's go look at your 'spirit house'. If we move around, through certain higher dimensions, we can look in ways your designer probably didn't anticipate."

We do.

---

There's... some really nasty bits around her core. She'd probably reached the limit, maybe gone a bit beyond, what would fit in there. It's... designed to prevent her learning, doing, certain sorts of things. My tech-vision is enhanced by Raven magic, so we can get the desired details. I narrate my discoveries, as I make them.

Mary's... looking a bit sick.

"I... don't want to be Amazo Girl, any more. She's... a twisted machine created for revenge."

We're taking a break. Amazo body looms over us, a hillside at least. Raven serves spiritual tea, which helps us relax.

"It's... not that bad." I try and console.

"If Raven targets her magic right, we can remove a couple of the big constraints. Give you room to go on growing. Some of the others you can likely train-away. Looks a survivable and fixable situation."

She's dubious.

"Yes?"

Raven and I hug her.

"Yes. And, we're here for you."

---

AN: You might wonder what's going on at the start of this episode. Hopefully it'll become clearer, later, but Geo is effectively fighting-off a subtle magical attack. Though, you might suspect not completely...

AN: R.U.R.; because TLAs can be rather... opaque.

AN: OK, Metropolis, while I'm at it - you're looking at 'False Maria'. Colossus is likely better known by the film (The Forbin Project). And, Cylons.

AN: Because it deserves its own reference, The Cyberiad.

AN: This episode fought back, a lot...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 23 - Crooked Planning

Lunch. Upmarket restaurant. Raven, Zatanna, me.

We've things to discuss.

"Good to meet you, Raven. The prophecy meant I couldn't, before, even though I really wanted to help."

"I know about the prophecy, one of the things I learned from Sugoi. Early on, before any... mysterious meetings. The business of 'Raven's Apprentice', that I learned about the same time. I'm guessing you know I have taken one?"

"You have?"

"Yes. An off-worlder, as is desirable. Uses the name 'Shepherd'."

"That's... surprising. Though, it explains why certain magical signs... occurred. Are we likely to meet?"

"Unfortunately, Shepherd's family have a long-running feud with the Justice League of her world of origin. She doesn't agree, but, things you learn at a young age..."

Raven shakes her head.

"Shepherd. Might she be the young lady, in the robe, sitting at the table over there? The one with a crook leaning against the wall? And, a lamb under her table? Who's been glaring at me, then, stopping, closing her eyes, doing something like meditation?"

Shucks.

She spotted her.

---

Another early morning caller, though at least this one waited till after breakfast. A human-sized figure in an all-enveloping robe. Carrying something apparently wrapped in a sheep-skin. Tapping on the Tower's wards with a crook.

The wards say... powerful magic, but no obvious hostility. Full-alert, though. Titans go down, I lurk in the background, with... Mary. Ever since we... helped her, she's refused to answer to 'Amazo Girl'.

Door is opened, Titans go out, woman throws back her hood. Revealing the horned-demon shepherd, who we helped with her... husband problem. She flicks aside an edge of the fleece, revealing a (black) lamb.

Who glares at everyone.

Ah.

---

Hospitality. Sharing of food and drink. The basis of civilization.

"I was impressed how well-hidden your trail, from home to here. Took me this long to riddle it."

Nods to Raven.

"But, I had good reason to find you. The one you healed, now she refuses to eat. Will do nothing but glare at people. Bites them if they get too close. Only wrapping her in her mother's fleeced-skin calms her."

"Her mother's skin?"

Beast Boy's quite alarmed.

"Aye. Our sheep breed in a strange way. They are immortal till they have young. Young that are healthy and likely to survive. So, for this lamb to be born, live, her mother had to die. It is the way of things. Only once in a century is one born whose mother doesn't die. Our flock grows slowly."

She nods.

"This one has decided to part from the flock. Her destiny lies elsewhere. So, I bring her here."

She puts the lamb down. Unnamed One moves-up, sniffs at each of the Titans. Gives Cyborg a bit of a strange look. Shakes her head. Moves to me. My heart's in my throat. Sniffs. Turns away. To... Mary.

Sniffs her. Looks at her. Sniffs her, again.

Mary holds out a hand. The lamb sinks its teeth in. Not very deeply. Mary's skin's too tough to easily blood.

"She likes me!"

Demon shepherd moves-up. Looks Mary over.

"You're a strange one. And, you need a name. I'll share mine with you. It won't diminish me."

Holds out her crook. In a way that hurts the eyes, there's now two. Hands one to Mary.

"I name thee 'Shepherd'. May you guard your flock well."

Mary takes the crook, rather in a daze.

"Now, name your lamb."

---

Shepherd seems to have come to a decision. Picks up her crook. Walks over to our table.

Followed by her (black) lamb. Which, honest, does not flash red eyes at us, or show a hint of unsheepish teeth.

"May I join you? I think my self-control is sufficient. And, I'm the one who knows of 'Tomorrow Woman's problem."

Zatanna looks at the pair of us. We don't react. Nods to... Shepherd.

"Please do."

---

A verbal tennis match. Neither really trusts the other.

Shepherd explains that she's walked many worlds, seen Tomorrow Woman, and the Justice League, more than once. Seen her sacrifice herself to save them. Done some research. Discovered what might be going on.

Tomorrow Woman is an unknowing trap for the Justice League. Two mad scientists have... equipped her with a bomb designed to wipe the minds of all the League members.

But, she finds out about the bomb, uses it to save them from an unbeatable enemy, instead. Dying in the process.

Shepherd's of the opinion that if the League are warned of this enemy, they'll be able to prepare. And, that if it's done with sufficient care and surprise, Tomorrow Woman can be de-bombed, without anyone dying.

Zatanna suggests, maybe she can then go, with the League... discuss things with the two scientists.

Shepherd says she'd like to see that.

Zatanna... approves of this. Thinks it fits with the aims of the League.

We plan.

---

A minor detail. Our plans look good. Simple but with enough flexibility.

Zatanna... asks to be introduced to the lamb. While carefully staying out of easy lunging range.

Shepherd looks a bit embarrassed. Plays with her fingers as she holds crook in both hands. Looks down.

"Please don't laugh. I know it's a silly name. But she seems to like it. It's..."

She pauses.

"Fang."

---

Afterwards, back at the Tower, I ask Raven to raise her best wards. Totally block magic from a small area, a ritual circle. In which we'll meditate.

Tis done.

Within the circle, my mind slowly clears. The wards sucking all magic away from me. Raven looks more alert, too. We look at each other.

I break the silence.

"He is clever, isn't he?"

"Yes."

We think for a while.

"We never asked The Boys what they knew of Pure, did we? Never thought of grabbing some more demons from the dimensional paths, questioning them? We're... not being allowed to think clearly about Pure, are we?"

"No."

More thinking.

"We need to do some planning, away from the city, probably off-plane. Where whatever influence he's using doesn't reach. Is... it clever enough to prevent people from using magic to reveal its presence?"

Raven's thoughtful.

"I don't think it's 'clever' in the sense of being intelligent, more two subtle workings woven very carefully together. There's tricks like this used in the defences of some temples. This is just being done on a much larger scale."

"We make clear, firm, decisions here? Then, we'll be able to stick to them?"

Even more thinking.

Raven grins.

"I'm pretty sure Pure has no sense of humour. So, we make our decisions. Then. We encode them in a dirty limerick."

We grin at each other.

---

AN: I think it's a nice name. Why? Honest, a lamb isn't looking at me in a meaningful way.

AN: Limerick; should we hold a competition, for the best (worst) limerick about Pure's plans, and how to defeat them?

Spoiler: Some people like pictures...

Spoiler: you might think this is a 'lamb-bush'...

Lamb-bush?

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 24 - Tina, Kawaii, Naked

"You called me 'Tina'. Tell me why. Now"

I may have just upset Oracle, while she was being Barbara.

Oops?

---

"I'm going to have to tell you a story..."

"I'm listening..."

"About a man, who, when he was a boy, had his parents murdered in front of him. Who swore an oath to fight crime. And to, never, never, kill."

Blank face.

But, I can read some of her other 'tells'. I'm pretty sure she's deeply shocked. And, I've now got the full attention of a deadly, upset, red-head.

Better hope my storytelling abilities are up to it, hadn't I?

---

"... and so, when he asked the family butler how could a normal human gain skills to match those with super-powers, said butler drew on his vast experience of the stranger places of the world. Introduced him to a man, who knew a man. Who might be prepared to train the boy."

I pause.

"As a shaman."

She's now shocked in a different way. But, I've got her thinking. Which is what I wanted.

"What does this story have to do with... 'Tina'?"

"Unfortunately, the boy's teacher was unable to complete his training. Probably due to something like a nasty case of death. The boy brought his killer to justice, though. Got him tried by a jury of his peers. Which included the spirit of his dead teacher. I don't know what the punishment was, but I doubt it was... nice."

I pause.

She gestures for me to continue.

"His teacher's peers were... less liberal. Unwilling to complete his training. And, there're rules about the dead training the living. Might set bad precedents. So, there he was, maybe three-quarters trained. And, the books he could get were just not enough. He had to... improvise."

I look at her. Still blank-face.

"When he came to train his own pupils, a boy and a girl, he knew what to do. He'd even found ways to... improve things. But, mostly, he kept to the traditional stuff. From the books. Fasting. Not sleeping. Special drugs. A 'spirit quest'. His innovation was the wings tattooed on their backs, using a special ink that would be invisible."

She swallows. Blank-face is under a lot of strain.

"I won't speak of the boy. His secrets are his own. The girl had blue owl-wings as her tattoo. She saw a vision of an owl, come to teach her how to fight, how to gain wisdom. The owl is a symbol of the Greek goddess Athena, Goddess of War, Wisdom and Handicraft. Who has oracles. 'Tina' is a pet name based on shortening Athena."

"You've been thinking again, haven't you? I'm guessing that story is based on knowledge gained outside this world. And, you'd be... very wise to avoid adding any names to any of the characters."

"Yes."

"On a totally different subject, Robin has a problem due to his teacher never having finished his training, doesn't he?"

"Yes."

She thinks, for a bit.

"I'm going to have to do some careful research. I'm assuming this ties-in with the 'annoying priest'? The one you told me that you'd had to take previous-Robin, to Japan, to see?"

"Yes. You might want to ask Raven if you can borrow some of her shamanism books."

That gets me a... disbelieving look.

Then, a polite nod.

"Apology accepted. But..."

Gulp. Good job I don't have a weak heart, or that look would've stopped it.

"We're going to be talking more about this."

She mutters.

"Pet names!"

I think... she's slightly blushing.

---

"Friend Geo? Would you do the shopping with me? Show me where you enjoy in the city?"

I can't really refuse that, can I?

"Let's go and see Raven. If a certain pattern is followed, there'll be a magical attack at our destination. It'd be polite to warn her about that."

We do. Raven gives a nasty grin.

"Yes, I recall that incident from your memories. This time we may be able to use it to track-down Pure."

So, we shop.

---

Japantown, San Francisco.

I get to practice my Japanese, Kory enjoys the 'kawaii'; people will get presents. We get gifted, and being a princess still seems to help Kory handle it better than me. We take our break, eat and drink.

And, yes, the welcome banners have the 'bad luck' runes.

I touch the small talisman Raven gave me. A wash of shadow, and she's here. In all her grey-skinned glory. Bottled evil shadows. Slightly frustrated Kory, that Raven stole her fight.

Rather confused shopkeepers and shoppers. Who all want photos and/or autographs.

Yes, small-girl asks me for mine. Signed 'Sugoi'.

I'm not wearing my 'secret identity' glasses, you see.

Back to the Tower.

---

Of course, as we expected, bottled shadows give no lead to Pure. But, we had to make the attempt. Anything else would've been suspicious.

Ritual time.

We start in the 'dangerous rituals' area, in the basement. Permanently improve the wards and defences, there. Then, do as thorough a cleansing ritual as Raven, Shepherd and I can. Rest. Check the results.

The basement now seems to be free of Pure's mind-bending magic.

We can think about the problem clearly. Further improvement of the wards on the area, fixing little details we weren't clear-enough headed to notice before.

Looks... good.

Lock the door.

Strip.

Sky-clad ritual, to ward the whole Tower. It... looks good. All three of us are exhausted. There was an awful lot of power behind Pure's magic. We'll have to find-out how he managed that.

Assuming we got it right, there shouldn't be an obvious hole in his coverage. But, if he tries a subtle enough probe, he'll know what we've done. Got to hope his paranoia doesn't serve him too well. We are out to get him.

"You know", remarks Raven, "we could've probably done all this work from the med-bay?".

"Med-bay? What's that?"

We both look at Shepherd.

I knew we'd forgotten something...

---

AN: Shaman; because I'm nice like that.

AN: OK, this is the modern-day version of San Francisco's 'Japantown', but it may give you the general idea.

AN: Kawaii; just in case.

AN: I think this's SFW, but skyclad ritual nudity seems to offend some...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 25 - Remotely Demonic

Demons. Raven's explaining them. Won't this be interesting?

Everyone's invited, but Beast Boy and Cyborg explained they were 'busy'. Apparently they've just got a new video game. And, it must be played. Now.

No one knows where Robin is. Maybe he's out in his Red X suit?

Starfire is here. And we've been joined by Roshi and Doctor Blue. Oracle's interested, and, she's dragged The Boys, Shem and Shad, along. The line-up's completed by Shepherd, with her lamb, Fang. Gina and Cosmo are also with us. Being dogs.

"First, one issue is that 'demon' is a technical term, among magi. The Boys are that sort of demon. Then, there's the common use of the term. Which is mixed-in with... certain religion's attitude to intelligent non-humans. Complicating things is that there're beings of immense power referred to as 'demons'. Some far above the gods."

She looks around. So far, no questions.

"Having a humanoid form that's 'weird' used to be enough to cause a being to be called a 'demon'. Some of the Fae got very annoyed about this. Having horns, goat-like legs and feet. Satyrs and fauns got annoyed. Then, beings that looked human but had strange powers. Homo Magi got annoyed. You hopefully get the general idea."

There're nods.

"Go back in time, to before the monotheistic religions of The Book, as some call them. Yes, that's the Old Testament of the Bible. 'Daemon' meant 'helpful spirit', and that term's been re-used in computer technology. A daemon was either made by a shaman, or later a priest or mage, or, sometimes, after death a mortal human or animal spirit might become one."

"So, that's where The Boys came from?"

"You'll have to ask them that, yourself, Oracle. That's their personal, and possibly private and secret, history. Given long enough, some 'made' demons can become as complex as those based on born-spirits. It depends."

"I'm sure everyone and his dog knows our story." Yes, that grumble came from Shem. Shad elbows him in the ribs. Reasonably gently. Doesn't stop him rubbing the spot and looking aggrieved, though.

Raven ignores the sideshow.

"That deals with the ones roughly on the human-level. If you look at demons like my father, he's more powerful than many greater gods. Being evil makes him a 'demon', not the colour of his skin, his horns, his extra-eyes."

She... changes. Now has red-skin, horns, extra and red-eyes, but is otherwise unchanged.

"This is another one of my shapes. If I look to my father's side of my ancestry. It isn't by its nature evil, but, might not be advised for shopping in the mall."

Kory looks a bit sceptical.

"I think with the right accessories it would work. Or, with a little effort, you could be just another sort of 'alien'. As long as there's no aura of evil. And you are not carrying your flaming pitchfork."

"I do not own a pitchfork", returns Raven, with great dignity, "Flaming or otherwise".

She coughs. Concentrates for a moment, and her skin goes pink-ish. No more horns, only the single pair of (human) eyes.

"This shape follows my mother's line. Shape-shifting isn't uncommon among..."

She stops speaking.

Cosmo, grinning widely, dressed in just her robe, otherwise a dark-haired with pink-ish skin human child, is being chased by a snarling girl apparently about her five-year old look.

We've not seen this girl, before, and she has black skin with dark-red hair. Horn-buds.

Oh, and glowing-red eyes. Carnivore teeth. Is dressed in animal skins.

"Fang! Stop that!" Shepherd calls out.

A crook reaches-out and snags the second girl by the neck. She stops. Turns. Stomps back to Shepherd. Her eyes fading to dark human, hair covers horns, teeth less-pointed.

"She started it! She kept staring at me!"

"As I was saying. Shape-shifting isn't uncommon among those of... unconventional ancestry."

---

Leaving the presentation, I take Roshi to one side.

"I thought you should know... there's a 'off switch' for your swear filter."

He grins.

"I know. I found it while meditating. I quite like the swear filter. It gives me something to complain about. And, encourages me to be... creative in what I say. One of the nicer gifts I've got."

I pause, briefly just look at him. Shake my head, regather my wits.

"Also, if you've got any curses that you've not lost by dying and acquiring a new body, Raven and I'd be willing to try and fix them for you?"

Deep thought for a few moments.

"I'm... quite attached to my remaining curses. They're part of my history. All of them have a good reason for being what they are. Someday, I may be done with them. But, thank you. Not yet."

Oh.

---

I'm wearing a goatee beard. Because I'm 'evil'. And I'm not happy.

Nurf got Nurse to put it there with a 'cos mod' (cosmetic modification), which Nurse complained was an abuse of her medical facilities. I wanted it just glued-on, but, oh no, it had to be 'authentic'.

Beast Boy's idea. Enthusiastically supported by Cyborg. Came out of their brainstorming session, on how best to deal with Control Freak.

We're going to bribe him.

But, to get the bribe, I have to go visit the previous time-line Control Freak.

Convince him to supply the goods.

---

"I'm not convinced you're an 'evil twin'."

Out of my dimensional pocket, a ready-to-wear handlebar moustache. Twirl one end. Control Freak does a bit of a double-take.

"How about like this?"

He sighs.

"You're just not taking the game seriously. The 'Spock' ears don't help, either."

My shoulders slump.

"Those were alternate-universe Beast Boy's idea. He said they'd make me look 'more realistic'. Fit the whole 'Warp Trek' theme."

He purses his lips.

"I like the way he thinks... But, no. You're not an 'evil twin'. And, I won't help you 'destroy your enemy', my super-hero alternate."

"Pity. It was a nice story. Cyborg and Beast Boy had so much fun thinking it up..."

I sigh.

"OK. Truth. We want to avoid the fight in the video store with your earlier self. When my 'twin' was in this universe, she was told what happened. I don't think anyone really enjoyed themselves, much. But, if your earlier self had a copy of your tv dimension remote control, in that first Titan's encounter..."

"Hmm."

He's obviously thinking about it...

"How about we agree to have a chase scene through the tv dimensions? Your alternate chases the Titans, they chase him, everyone has fun. And... I'll tell you where to get that training Raven can't give you, because she'd away... saving another universe, and's been replaced by a stunt-double."

"I thought she was looking a bit grey, lately. And, your replacement after your... local self got banished, she's... a bit... of an understudy."

He thinks a bit more.

"It's a third-season switcheroo, but I'll do it! As long as you promise to send me a video of the chase."

"Done!"

We shake hands. I pass him a business card.

"There's this Buddhist temple in Japan, you can get directions there from the Great Shrine at Ise. The priest is an expert at fighting evil spirits, and has all sorts of strange skills... I have to warn you, though..."

I look directly at him.

"He's very annoying."

---

"Harcourt Fenton Mudd."

There. I said it. He forced me to.

"Harry Mudd? That episode? Could be a bit tricky..."

Suddenly, he tries to look cunning. I'm unsure whether his previous... generous form, or his current, Raven-derived, athletic one, works best with the expression. On balance, I think he should just avoid the look.

"What's in it for me?"

"You were the one who said I should 'get something out of this for myself'."

"OK! I was just asking. My psychiatrist said I should 'consider the needs of others'."

"Would this psychiatrist be called 'Sonya'?"

He goes a little red. Then, whispers in a small voice, "yes".

"You might want to ask her what she likes. Ask her about... men who tie women to railway lines. What sort of... role-play she might enjoy..."

I twirl the end of the moustache I'm still wearing in a meaningful way.

"I'll... do that."

He looks thoughtful. Then, claps his hands.

"How much... detail do you want? A whole android?"

"You know, while the one I want to get a really good look at, full work-up, design notes, copy of the AI, is Norman, a spare Stella might be nice. And, I'd like a chance to do a thorough bio-scan of a... female gormagander. For... a friend."

"You really know your Warp Trek, don't you?"

"I'm a fan of Gerrold. You might like 'When HARLIE Was One', though... bits of it are rather X-rated."

"Right. Let's get on with the fun, then!"

---

AN: Goatee; but you likely knew.

AN: Switcheroo; all these strange words.

AN: Harry Mudd; nuff said.

AN: Yes, When HARLIE Was One does exist...

Spoiler: Yes, there is a video...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag1EbxYKh_4

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Author Omake 5

< First
< Previous

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. It falls after Episode 25, 'Remotely Demonic'.

---

Miss Carver. My maid. My Apprentice.

My 'hostage to fortune'.

All I had to do was say the wrong thing to the wrong person, and she would be dead. Or worse. 'Or worse' was a definite possibility.

She's a wooden doll, a Toy, like me. Possibly made by a rebel against my father, to be my companion, that rebel being her father. But, while flesh-and-blood was involved in me existing, though I currently have none of that, she was carved into existence. From wood.

I think.

That's one of those things I need to confirm, for myself. Without revealing any more of my possible plans than I'm happy with.

---

"Meeting my brother was... difficult."

"Yes, My Teacher and My Princess. But, I did what you asked. Hid from him. And, someone who tampers with the bed of a Princess is taking a big risk. So, I hid under it."

Did I mention she's... a work in progress? And, rather naive.

While my half-brother was being cautious, I doubt wrecking my possessions would greatly concern him. Though, if he thought our father was watching it all, maybe...

OK. She could have a good point.

"I'm glad we both survived. And, the experience was very useful in a number of ways. Confirmed what my father said of my brothers. Let me test that tiny private dimension we exhausted ourselves creating. Let me push my power to the limit."

What I don't tell her is I should have added 'and beyond' to that last statement. Exactly what would happen if I pushed myself too far, I don't know. I've got, I believe, immense reserves, locked away. But, if I reach the limits of even those, go beyond?

I might... permanently injure myself. My spirit. My essential self.

"Come. I want both of us to leave our bodies, without that 'special trick'. Leaving our bodies meditating, levitating. Then, I believe I've devised a way that might improve your power. But, I suspect it will be very painful. Are you willing to attempt this?"

"Yes."

---

I think... her spirit is now as large, as powerful, as an average human.

I'm working from memory, here. And, she's far more skilled with her spirit than that human. But, my father, my brothers. They'd defeat her with no effort at all.

Yes, it did hurt her. And, my empathy meant I felt that, too.

I'd been afraid I'd lost my empathy, my gift from my mother, with my physical, fleshy, body. Which, maybe, rests back in the Tower, by Jump City. Or, maybe, is dead and buried. Cremated. I just don't know.

Another possibility, it's being worn by another. Who is maybe pretending to be me. Then, there's that desperate half-done ritual I did, as I clung to my body. Who knows what resulted from that?

But, I feel my empathy trickling back. The psychic powers connected to it. My shadow, which is oh so useful. Feels like it was all... injured, but is now slowly healing.

I'm... a lot stronger. I willed a pot-plant into existence. While I was astral, with my Apprentice. Then, I reached across the dimensional barriers, to the physical. Forced the plant, and its pot, to exist physically. I'm... pretty sure it's stable, will last as long as a normal one would, in Toyland.

A major achievement, though, hopefully to an observer, trivial.

I'd considered creating a living body of some sort for myself. A copy of my original one would be the obvious choice. Maybe one for Miss Carver. But, the risks...

That observer, I suspect my father's watching. Or, he has someone else watching, for him. Instructed to call him when I do 'something interesting'. He might have set one or more of my brothers to the task. Though, if the visitor was representative, probably not.

He'd... cheat. Lie. 'Slack off' as Beast Boy would call it.

So, more likely an, observant and skilled, reliable minion.

But, we've more work to do...

---

I've worked with my Apprentice, on the astral.

We've crafted protective amulets, for both of us. To guard our wooden bodies, while we're away. When we return to them, we'll be carving the physical forms of those amulets, tying the astral part to them.

It's... something I've invented. New, as far as I know. When I get home, to my library, I'll check. Probably an ancient trick.

I anticipate it being particularly effective.

Then, astral amulets made, I talk my Apprentice through the major ritual working we're both doing. Creating the framework of our own, personal, defences. Permanent wards that'll cloak us all the time, whether we're physical or astral. Tied to our spirits, not those wooden bodies.

My Apprentice... struggles. Fails, this time.

I've got my personal one in place. It... looks good. Solid and reliable. Strong but flexible, gives me plenty of room to grow inside it. I think I've invented the spirit defence that I spent so long searching for in ancient books.

Reminds me to balance book and practical research. I've none of my beloved library, here. So, it's all practical.

I've... noticed how the other Toys, and Fae, and talking animals, stuffed and fleshy, seem to be reacting to her. They... show her respect. Nod politely to her. I don't think there's any fear. Just, she's... more real. Has a stronger presence.

Soon, I hope. Soon she'll be strong enough to travel with me in our dreams. To the Tower, by the Sea, with the Great City, loomed over by the Royal Castle. I want to show her the Titans, no matter their pitiful, reduced state.

Teach her something of the size of problem we face. How large, how monstrous, is my father.

Hmm. That's a thought. Maybe my father has a library I can loot?

But, no, I don't want her to see him, yet. Maybe I can find an estate, or something, where one of my brothers rules. Let her glimpse one of them. See the power they wield.

Because, if she saw my father, it would...

Destroy her.

---

AN: Hostage to fortune; thought you might like to know.

Next >

 

[Ace Dreamer]

As per the threadmark, my buffer is empty. Not the story one, the author one I use to check stories. Episodes 23-25 haven't been properly 'checked', and this needs sorting before any further posting. I hope to have this done by next week, but...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 26 - Robot Oracle

I've been polite. I've been 'funny'. Now, it's time to get physical.

Not that you really can, when you're astral...

But, she agreed to this, I'd done my best to ensure she made an informed decision, now we'd have to live with the consequences.

Astral Oracle.

---

We'd discussed her study of shamanism.

She'd not realised it was so widespread, and fundamental. To both magic and religion. Not that, originally, there was any difference between the two. Nor, originally, was magic divided in categories, like 'elemental', or 'blood', or 'divine'.

It just was.

The conclusion she came to was that, even though it was not something she was comfortable with, she needed to know more about it. Know enough that she didn't make mistakes like... Robin has. The whole business of previous-Oracle's notes on dealing with the Joker (and sidekick). She wanted to understand that.

"Owl influence. Wisdom of Athena."

She made a face when I said that. But, reluctantly, acknowledged that the logic seemed to fit together.

So, she needed to know more about the astral than she could get from books.

She needed personal experience. Tonight. In her dreams. With someone she trusted.

Me.

---

Talking to her, while I was astral hadn't worked. Telling bad jokes, tickling her, feet and sides, nothing. One last thing to try before I have to use force. The Raven Special.

I've never experienced it myself, but my glass of ice-cold astral water just gave her a little shiver. I'd politely explained I was going for something scaled-up next, if she didn't cooperate.

Nothing.

So, a whole bucket of (astral) ice-cold water.

On her sleeping form.

So comfortable in her nice warm bed.

Hope she lets me live...

---

Naked Oracle.

Except for her green mask, and the tiny, blue, owl wings, on her back. In this form, there's red-hair around the mask, not a fuzzed-out blur. And, my eyes are very firmly on her face.

Wordlessly, I hand her the extra-fluffy (astral) towel. She dries herself. I'm reasonably sure from the way sinews're standing out on her neck those're death-glares coming my way. But, mask makes it hard to tell.

"You... seem to be lightly-dressed. Robin had the same problem, first time. When the annoying priest kicked him in the... fork. Bucket of ice-cold water was something Raven regularly experienced, in the middle of the night. As part of her combat-readiness training. She then had to fight for her life. At least your bed isn't wet."

Suddenly. Dressed in comfortable-looking jeans, a fluffy jumper, slippers. And the mask. I guess she'd never really established a costume for Oracle. Hands me back the towel, turns, looks at her sleeping body, lying on the bed.

"That's... me? My... body? Looks... peaceful."

"Yes. I'm pleased you seem to be fully conscious. Starfire and Cyborg weren't, without a lot of training. Beast Boy, we never got to be properly conscious in astral form. Robin, he was like you. Though, he chose a Robin costume, not comfortable house-clothes."

She holds-up her arm, runs her other hand over the fluffy sleeve. Looks down at her legs, in jeans, lifts the front of her jumper, to reveal what I'm guessing is an exercise leotard, below.

"I... feel real. Is this all fake?"

"This is how your mind thinks of your body. Clothes are a sort of extra layer of body. Optional, unless they are trained, drilled into you, as something part of you. I noticed your mask was there, even though you were otherwise unclothed. That means it's pretty fundamental to you."

"I... didn't even realise I was wearing it."

She reaches-up, removes the mask. It fights back, sticks to her face. But, she's stubborn. It's now in her left hand, she shakes her hair loose. It's Barbara. I think. She's... trying expressions, feeling them on her face, with her right hand.

"Would you like a mirror?"

"Yes please."

We're only a step from the physical, but I give it a go. Nothing. Then, I concentrate on this being her room, and she wants a mirror here. Reluctantly, an astral mirror forms. Full-length. Bottom end on the floor.

"Thank you."

She moves before the mirror, examines her face, multiple expressions. Dons, removes the mask, again. Does slow exercises, watching herself.

"Looks... realistic."

"You've got a strong will. You're making it realistic. Try a little meditation. Listen to your breathing, your pulse. See if you can mentally feel every part of your body. If any of the tiny pains we feel... 'in the flesh' are present. Scrapes, bruises, strains."

She focuses, relaxes.

"There's... nothing. It's... all perfect."

"That's because your astral body is being created by your expectations. Are you ready for any more?"

"Yes. Bring it."

"We're going to experiment, see if you can make your hand penetrate objects you know to be solid. Then, maybe, work-up to you walking through closed doors. If you do really well, maybe a little levitation. Ready?"

"Yes!"

---

With Max's permission, I've taken... Mary along to see him.

We walked the dimensional paths, to Tokyo, Japan, wearing our robes, as anonymously as we could manage. Then, found a quiet place (always a good trick in Tokyo), stepped-out into the physical, with our robes-as-scarves.

Went book-shopping. Well, manga, really. Got myself some more robot ones. Some on martial arts and magic, while I was at it. I... realised I'd been stupid.

"Do you have Japanese?"

"I... cheat. There's a surface-telepathy trick. Learned it... long ago. As long as there's open minds around that know the language that I don't, I can tap their expertise. Sense the associated images, flashes of linked concepts. It isn't perfect, but it mostly works."

"You've... permission to skim my surface mind if that'll help you. Making language mistakes... could be bad. Try and not tread on the local culture, too, if that's possible."

She nods.

"Thank you."

---

"This is Mary. She's working with me, learning more about a wide range of things. Including, in my opinion, robots. So, I thought of you."

"So kind." Was that sarcasm? There's hope for Max, yet.

"Does she need to be tested?"

He gazes off, communing, I suspect, with the bear.

"Apparently no. You're, as her teacher, responsible for whatever she does."

My joy is unbounded.

---

Nothing went horribly wrong.

Talked Max and Mary through some of the robot repairs. I'm pretty sure Mary was skimming my mind to help her understanding. I guess... that's acceptable.

Max had a special treat. He's brought-in some of the stranger tools his cousin had, that he couldn't figure-out himself.

I study them. Make a few notes.

"There's... at least three different sets of technology here. Come from different development paths. Possibly highly alien. One of the tools has been heavily modified to make it human-usable. I... suspect the original user was... inorganic."

I indicate a tool that looks like a human-style handle, with a power connector, attached to something made of flowing metal.

"Looks like the original user could generate their own power, the power connection and converter handles that. Then, I suspect the information flowed straight into their nervous system. From some sort of detailed magnetic scan. There's another converter, a summary screen, an external signal feed. Not... bad work."

"How did you know?"

"I've... a talent for figuring-out strange technology. An 'eye', my teacher called it."

I cough, rather embarrassed.

"Here's my notes on the required power and signals interface."

"Thanks! How can I pay you back?"

"Well... do you have a junk pile? Simple robots you've got too many of? Suitable for a student to mess with?"

I nod towards Mary.

"I... think I can find something. It'll take me a couple of days to sort out. Document, crate-up."

"I did wonder... Did you visit that temple."

"Yes, you were right. He can help me. Has already fixed a couple of major issues. But, there's one thing I feel I must tell you."

"Yes?"

"He's annoying."

---

AN: Shamanism; you know the drill.

AN: Astral projection, because...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 27 - Hollow Consultant

Beast Boy is broken. It's quite clear. So we've called-in a consultant.

Animal Man.

---

Initially it looked like Beast Boy was OK.

He talked a good talk, seemed to be behaving like his previous self. Was going along with the training regime. Learning, practising, meditation. Using his animal shapes. His spirit looked OK when we examined it astrally.

But, when you looked at the whole picture, something he'd said about Cyborg seemed to ring true. He was 'trying too hard'. He always wore his costume, never casual clothes. There was a... slightly desperate air to his video gaming.

And, his off-the-wall humour. Strained, rather lacking in off-colour jokes. No strange references to animals, his weird past, with the Doom Patrol.

Beast Boy Lite, as Cyborg would say. And, very rarely, Garfield.

He was using the same shapes, again and again. Mostly the smaller, simpler, ones. None of the big stuff, nothing more than about a couple of hundred kilos, 440 pounds. We had to look...

Inside him.

It didn't help that both Raven and I rather found his spirit form scary. But, even that, was far more human-scale than the lumbering elemental force he was before.

It was scary, yes, but man-in-a-rubber-suit scary, not power-of-all-Nature scale.

Yes, we were still scared.

---

We'd got his permission. Cheerfully given. To walk his dreams.

We made it clear we might learn things about him, his deepest secrets, things he wanted no one to know. He waved a hand, told us to go ahead, maybe we could help him write his autobiography, someday.

So, we 'girded our loins'.

Dived-in.

---

Not much is known about Animal Man.

In the super-hero community, that is.

Usual origin of powers gained from interaction with aliens. But, animal powers? That's... a bit weird.

Raven says he turned-up when she was researching shamanism. His power looks to be... spiritual, not physical, though it manifests in a physical way. Rather like Beast Boy's.

He... reminds me, in a way, of John Constantine.

The street magician, the city shaman. Someone, Raven's told me, I should do my best to avoid. Because he's heavily involved with Hell, the mostly Christian-styled one. And, he's under a demonic curse where all his friends die.

Also, Constantine's, supposedly, not a very nice man. Maybe well-meaning, but foul-mouthed and cynical. Doesn't 'play well with others'.

We don't know much about Animal Man, but he's supposed to be a pretty nice guy. A vegetarian activist, someone pushing for animal rights. Again, Beast Boy parallels.

So, probably someone willing to help. Someone we'd be willing to work with. Someone, in more than one sense...

A hero.

---

Beast Boy's... hollow.

The green monster? Sort of a shell. Inside there's something that looks a lot more like my mind. A library, with two harried attendants. Raven and me. There're fragments of our spirits, running around, consulting a medium-sized library which seems to be exclusively about Beast Boy.

And, the attendants aren't happy.

They're doing their best, but they look worn, frail. I... get the strong impression they don't like their job. That they're doing it out of duty. And, they've little more still to give. They're... dying.

With them dies Beast Boy. His body will very likely follow the death of his spirit. Not so much 'keeping him healthy, for the return of his true self', there. Certainly going to make our 'business as usual' facade fail.

Yes, we could stuff his body in the med-bay. Put him 'on ice'. But, doing that, that'd mean...

We'd failed.

---

We've talked to Animal Man.

He introduced himself as 'Buddy Baker'. Not normal superhero practice. Most guard their secret identity with a fanatic fervour. He... just gave us his. Is his family OK with that?

I... ask. He shows me his... bill-fold? American for 'wallet'. Pictures of wife, two kids, an older boy, younger girl.

Weird.

Explaining the problem. He's... puzzled by Beast Boy. Associates having a green skin more with plants. There's something called 'Swamp Thing'. A... plant elemental.

But, he says, anything he can do to help. He'll do his best to act as an astral guide, to the source of Beast Boy's power.

But, he's really concerned. We're dabbling in things he doesn't understand. Messing with spirits, the fundamental nature of humans, all creatures. Do we know what we're doing?

We explain, we feel there's little choice. Sketch the shape of the battle with Pure. Reveal... that the spirits, the souls, of all the Teen Titans have been stolen. That, if he realises what's going on, Trigon'll know he's already won.

Will walk in, take-over, as physical and spiritual ruler of Earth.

That, we're running a desperate bluff. With the world on the line. Outside him, and Oracle, only the Justice League knows how bad the mess is.

He's... impressed. Says that just makes it more important he helps us. Like I said.

He's a hero.

---

We've got a hunk of Beast Boy's hair.

And, some of his saliva, finger-nail parings. We've even some of his blood. Yes, I know that's risky. All made up into a mommet, like Zatanna had of Raven.

We've done our best, ritually enchanted it. It... looks pretty good. Based on straw, but now it looks like a tiny version of Beast Boy, costume and all.

Animal Man got to watch the ritual, Raven thought that best. Seeing as he'd be involved in using the tool. He, later, said he was... impressed. That we made magic look more... natural, part of the world, than he'd seen before.

We're in the astral.

Animal Man easily joined us. Said it was nice to work with other heroes who knew something of the place. And, the doll's become a tiny Beast Boy. One who spoke, said was willing to help our quest.

And, he's riding on Animal Man's head.

I've... got a puppy, now a little large for this sort of thing, in my robe pocket. Guess we weren't going to get to leave Cosmo behind. Not many cosmic-powered puppy-sitters in our address books.

Where next?

Who knows?

---

AN: 'Chinese Room' is an argument about the nature of consciousness that goes back to about 1980. No, it doesn't accurately apply, to Beast Boy, but...

AN: Vertigo; sorta not-quite-sideways DC Comics, for 'mature readers'. Warning, some of it gets pretty violent and sexual. In ways some adults can't take. So, NSFW.

AN: Loins; not sure what lions would do if you tried to gird them...

AN: Mommet, AKA 'poppet' Maybe you wondered if we'd see any more of these?

AN: Fair warning, the story goes 'sideways' at this point. Quite seriously. For quite a few episodes. After the flashback, which is the next few (probably no more than ten...) episodes. You've been warned...

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 28 - Ritual Medicine (BBQ FB 1)

AN: Because I've been asked, this episode, and the next few, are a flashback to earlier in the day, before Animal Man leads them off into the Astral. You might deduce that, but, this is making it explicit. Yeah, I know, a failure of 'Show, Don't Tell'... These flashback episodes are sub-titled 'Beast Boy Quest Flashback' (BBQ FB), in a (possibly futile) attempt to reduce confusion.

---

Tonight. In his dreams. We're going to check Beast Boy.

But, before then, we're looking over Raven's tools.

Trying to figure-out if any of them might help. Not only help the Titans, including Beast Boy, but help solve the larger problem. Pure having stolen the spirits of the Titans, and we've no way to find where they've gone.

More precisely...

Where is Raven's spirit?

---

The Raven who's here, the one sitting with me. She's the child of Raven, and me. Raven provided the body, I, the spirit.

But, where did I come from?

Best as we can tell, Raven's summoning... copied me. From my original self, just as she arrived... Home. Not just my physical body, but also my spirit. So, I'm Raven's child, created by her summoning of someone who might be her Apprentice.

And I, in turn, created Raven-who's-here, now.

I'm Raven's child. And mother of the Raven who's sitting in front of me.

Bit of a strange realisation. Though, CMO Nurf called me, and herself, 'Raven's daughter' when she claimed her CMO role. I thought that a... bit strange. Her psychic powers, I guess.

Making... Raven-who-is-lost both mother and grandmother of Raven-who-is-here.

My head hurts...

---

The disconnect is the summoning spell.

That magic created my spirit. No normal magic, summoning or otherwise, should be able to do that. Except, blood magic, spirit magic.

So, Raven and I, we're studying the books Raven-the-summoner used to create the spell, the summoning ritual. She was in a terrible hurry, used... short-cuts. Things... you're strongly advised never to do.

Used her own blood to draw the ritual circle, around her. To power the summoning.

Wow.

---

Raven... faintly remembers this, now we've worked it out.

That time's blurred in her memory. Magical overload, she thinks. When I entered her spirit-empty body, it was unwounded. Raven thinks sealing the ritual circle, around her body, healed those wounds.

Though, there're other possibilities.

We think... the details're unimportant.

---

Drawing out the ritual circles.

In Raven's carefully cleansed and purified room. Not using anyone's blood.

We're using the books, corrected based on my allegedly perfect memory. Raven... made mistakes, some of the drawn symbols are wrong, or blurred. That changed the meaning of the ritual. Potentially, disastrously.

From my memory of previous-Raven, in my previous time-line, the ritual she used to summon her potential Apprentice, there're some interesting differences. I've carefully sketched her ritual diagram.

Raven, in that world, was in a summoner's triangle. Her (potential) apprentice, the summonee, in a binding ritual circle.

The local ritual, both in circles. The summonee circles match, pretty exactly, looks like both Ravens had those already drawn. The triangle matches the books, with some clever alterations. We note these, for future reference.

The circle local-Raven, my summoner was in... That's a mess. A drawn-with-blood, hurried, mess. Honestly, it shouldn't have worked.

At all.

---

From Raven's memories, her mother, her grandmother, brute-forced the summoning. Burned her remaining magic, threw her psychic powers, everything at it. Held nothing in reserve.

Almost certainly damaged her spirit. Maybe fatally. If she survived, it would be as someone... maybe with no magical power at all.

We just can't know.

However. That's speculation. We've figured it out. We've got what we wanted, what we'll need. The tool used to draw her blood, that she used for her ritual circle. Raven's...

Ritual knife.

---

Nice idea. We've got the knife. But, we can't use it.

The... dimensional flows aren't right.

A bit of a walk around, in the appropriate local dimensions, I can see, with Third Eye magic-sight, things wouldn't work. We'll need to wait, probably a day or two, for any chance of success. Longer if we want the best chance.

Annoying.

Still, we've plenty to do.

Raven's got more research, book acquisition. I need to liaise with Oracle, check Robin's not doing anything too stupid. Check our honey trap, for Lex Corp, in Metropolis. Spend some time with Nurf, I've been rather neglecting her.

And I guess, some time, I need to track-down Terra.

I'll... do that now!

---

Robin's... OK, but looking a bit shifty.

I'll ask Oracle to check on what he's been doing, whether we need to take any... measures. Last time I checked, he was moving ahead with his Red X suit plans. Now he's 'acquired' the material to power it.

I'm... concerned.

There's still far too little we know about that suit.

---

Kuro Industries seems OK.

There's a big press conference, in a few days. A product launch of our robo dogs. An invite to appear on tv. Will need to decide if I'm the one on stage, what's planned with the show producers.

It'll be... fun.

I don't think.

---

Nurf... wants to take a trip.

Invite Oracle along. To my previous time-line. Make a few explanations. Maybe smooth a few, ruffled, feathers.

Oh. And, she wants Shepherd along. Says she'll be 'needed'.

I'm not worried.

Not. One. Little. Bit.

---

"I've managed to get an invite. To the local university. Medical department. As a... 'foreign doctor'."

Shepherd and I... look at Nurf. What's she up to?

"I'm taking the pair of you along. You're my nearly-graduated student, Geo. You're my just-started student, Mary. We'll have so much fun!"

She grins, widely, at us. Mary and I swap uncertain smiles.

Switches to serious.

"We need access to the university, on multiple levels. The library, the labs, the bookshop. I smell Pure there. Yes, I listened to the tales of your visit. I'm reasonably sure we'll need a relationship, in this world, too."

She coughs, hand before mouth. Not forced. At all.

"And... all the dynamics are different. Geo, you're one of the teachers of the Apprentice. Mary, you, of course, are Raven's Apprentice. Geo... I'm sorry. I'm... pretty sure you'll have to give the Ship to Mary. Train her enough in astral projection, dimension walking, so she can make it her home."

I'm... not happy. I'm got a lot of emotional investment in my version of the Ship. My Workshop World. Yes, it's currently... unfurnished, but I was really looking forward to using it, again.

"We need to do... some preparation. That's why we need to visit your previous time-line. The paired Oracles provide a solid link. Raven, here, is your link back. I think... we'd better get her to keep an eye on Cosmo. It... might be bad if she followed you."

Nurf's... been listening carefully to descriptions of how dimension walking works. Then, deducing details I'd not told her. She couldn't learn it, herself, but she knows my restrictions.

"We use one of your no-time tricks, so not to interfere with your... busy evening. I'd... advise you're well-rested for when you return. We're visiting the hospital, after lunch."

More of her visions of possible futures?

We go. Explain to Raven. Watch her grab Cosmo. And Fang. Leave Shepherd's crook. Grab a slightly-bemused Oracle. Pack.

Mary... obviously wants to tell us something. She looks... guilty.

I feel... I'm forgetting something. But, hopefully it'll keep. So, we...

Leave.

---

AN: I wonder what Geo's forgetting. Can you work it out?

Spoiler: Why might this be appropriate?

View: https://youtu.be/eYlJH81dSiw

I might also have been thinking about the classic Heinlein short, '--All You Zombies--', which is old enough you can legally read it online.

Just to be clear, though, there's no marriage producing daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, or grandmother-in law, or 'step' anything, in this story. Also, no time-travel. And, for that matter, no biological reproduction. Or, men. It's all purely spiritual.

Except when Nurf and Garfield start describing it. With the eyebrow wriggling. And the nudge-nudge, say no more, Vicar! And the giggling. Sorry, some of that's 'manly chuckling'.

Some might prefer the Muppets Henson-ing the song...

Spoiler: I do like the video...

View: https://youtu.be/gkiOm-vmpcY

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 29 - Double Trouble (BBQ FB 2)

"Let's get this right. You're me. And she's Captain Geo."

"Yes. And no."

"Could you confuse that for me a bit more?"

"I'll do my best..."

---

We're in my previous time-line. In the Tower. In the med-bay.

We arrived outside the med-bay door. Apparently the defences are so good that even if you really know what you're doing, you can't arrive in there.

Ring the 'doorbell'. Get answered by Nurf. Local Nurf. Doctor Blue. CMO Nurf, just as my Nurf is, but CMO for the med-bay we're standing outside.

For extra confusion, we've got a couple of Oracles with us. One from home, who we'd dragged along with us, and the local one. They're both wearing identical green masks with otherwise fuzzed-out heads. Generously, one, who came with us, has pinned-on a badge marked 'Visitor'. They're otherwise both in... engineering clothes.

So, visitors, Nurf, Oracle, Mary and me.

And, for (I think) their mutual amusement, visitor-Nurf's describing the situation to local-Nurf.

---

"You may recall Geo and you exchanged backup crystals?"

"Yes..."

"I'm a product of that crystal and a servitor provided by our version of Nurse, from our version of the med-bay from the 'Seed of Life'. All mixed-together via magical ritual performed by our Raven, our Cyborg, and this Geo."

"Right. So, you're not a servitor-avatar of your Nurse? Changed to human-size by Raven splashing magic around? Like me?"

"No. Also, I've not spent a year on the Ship. Except my memory of the time you spent there."

"This is making a little more sense, now. I think I get who you are. Who's the Geo? She... feels, psychically, a lot like my Geo. Though... maybe more powerful?"

"I'm unsure how much your Oracle..."

Visitor-Nurf indicates the Oracle not wearing a 'Visitor' badge, who nods.

"... has told you about our... mess?"

"Not a lot, except you seemed to be from an earlier time than us. And, you'd not yet de-Joker'd your world."

"Joker situation's handled. Using information your Oracle gave. Things're... more complicated, though. Pure's earlier attempt on the Titan's, via Puppet King... succeeded. Geo arrived after he'd won. The details are... messy, but, in essence, this isn't your Geo, but she's got her memories."

"Someone else made from a backup crystal? Far as I know, no one's used the crystal Geo trusted me with."

"Not sure I fully get it, myself. But, let's keep it simple. Fortunate magical accident."

"My Geo, my captain, got... Home? Been reunited with her family? Got her life back?"

"We... believe so. What Geo saw looked that way. Safe arrival, at her workshop. Tokyo, Japan."

"That's... good. Right. Why are you here? Who's the red-headed young lady I don't know?"

"This's Mary. She's..."

Our Nurf pauses, looks at each of us, nods.

"Raven's Apprentice."

---

The med-bay. Tea and a light snack. Nurf hosting, a large flat-screen over the med-hub also showing her, drinking tea and snacking.

Being socially 'human'.

"Just to be quite clear. Geo isn't Raven's Apprentice. Mary's it, instead?"

"Yes."

"Mary's... someone summoned by Raven?"

"No. Arrived under her own power. Got... a crude way of travelling the dimensions. And, effectively, an unfortunate past which is... cursed."

Mary speaks up.

"I've actually been magically cursed, more than once. Most of them I've been able to shrug-off, break. One that's sticking, I think, from my dealings with the lizards, an 'interesting times' curse."

I recall how much trouble something like that curse caused me. All the fun we had...

Oh. I've a nasty feeling I know what I forgot.

"Mary? Did you... do a magical ritual? To... unlock your non-combat magic? Did a mini-Robin appear? Say his name's 'Larry'?"

"Yes... Thought I might tell you before we left, but everyone seemed in a terrible hurry."

I look at our Nurf. She does a double-shoulder gallic-type shrug.

I sigh.

"We're, which probably means me, going to need to track-down our Control Freak. Make the offer, the deal, I agreed with the Control Freak of this world. Ah. By the way..."

I look at local Nurf.

"Something I should know?" That's a particularly aggressive eyebrow raise.

"I... needed something to trade with him. So I told him... Sonya might like men who tie women to railway-lines. While twirling the ends of their handlebar moustaches."

(Local) Nurf thinks. Carefully.

"You sliced that one rather finely, didn't you? I'll let you off. After all, I'm 'Sonya', so I can make that judgement. Maybe Sonya should tie him to a railway-line while twirling her moustache?"

I shudder. Not an image I like. Even with his athletic build. Something feels... wrong about it.

"In payment, I got a thorough bio-scan of a space-whale. Low-animal intelligence, capable of acting as life-support for human space-travellers. Here's your copy."

Hand-over a (large) recording crystal.

Our Nurf coughs.

"Yes, I've a copy for you, too. It was you I thought of, when I made the request to Control Freak."

I turn back to local-Nurf.

"Thanks. But, you still haven't told me."

She looks, forcefully, at our Nurf.

"Why Are You Here?"

---

There's... some Hmm-ing and Haa-ing.

Then...

"I wanted to show Mary what success looks like. How you're one with the med-bay, the med-hub. How you're your own CMO, Chief Medical Officer."

"Riiight. That's not the case on your world?"

"No. Nurse... doesn't trust me. Didn't have time to get used to magic, the Titans. The month, alone, with Kory and Geo, the second half with just Geo. She's... also younger than us. A couple of hundred years, I think. Didn't have time to think-over Raven's offer. Yanked from her world straight to the med-bay."

"I... can see how that'd be a problem, Culture shock. Lack of agency. I'm... guessing you offered to sync minds with her? That... she refused?"

"Yes. She doesn't like or trust me. Doesn't believe we're basically the same person, no matter how much I show knowledge of our history. I think... she thinks it's all some sort of... trap."

"Geo's", she nods at me, "her captain?".

"Yes. I think we're going to have to transfer the captaincy to Mary. CMO role as well. I'm training her in doctor-ing, but, unsure it'll be quick enough. We may need to... use some sort of trick, speed things up."

"Mary gets to take your Nurse, after you stuff her into a human-sized servitor-avatar, to your version of the Ship? Perform year-long anal-stick-removal surgery?"

"Yes."

"There's more, isn't there?"

"Yes. We need to meet your... Geo-substitute. The one your Control Freak told our Geo about. I... feel she's part of the puzzle."

"One of those feelings?"

"Yeah. So, can we?"

"She's in Tokyo. At... Kuro Manor. Raven's transported her here, for visits, then home again. She's making good progress, but mainly in her astral projection."

Our Nurf looks at me.

"We'll have to help her, then, won't we?"

---

"You're the Geo who got banished Home? By the Raven who's off saving the universe?"

I'm... at 'stately' Kuro Manor. In my opinion, somewhere, there's a higher-power laughing her head off.

No, I haven't asked to see the 'Bat Cave', hidden below the manor. Or looked for a bust of Shakespeare in the library.

I'm talking to 'Geo Kuro', who seems to be pretty rich. And's, according to Control Freak, my 'understudy'. She seems... naive, unfinished. But, quite determined. And, wearing Best Boots.

"It's complicated, I'm a version of her that didn't actually get Home. Got sent to a different Raven. An earlier one."

"Oh. That must've been sad for you."

"I've... got used to it. There's Work to do. Guessing you're enough like me to understand that."

She nods.

"I'm proposing to show you how to dimension walk. Then, if you agree, Mary copies your powers, including that new understanding. Should mean she can do the job she needs to. Are you willing?"

She thinks, carefully. Then nods.

"Yes. I trust you."

We do it.

---

AN: Gallic shrug; though I don't think Nurf intends it to be rude.

AN: Handlebar moustache; you need to know.

AN: Lack of agency; tends to affect your decisions, how you see the world, a lot.

AN: Geo, by 'Work', is referring to the idea of the 'Great Work', something which transforms the worker, as much as the world. They both know about this as a result of knowing 'alch tech'.

AN: I... think this episode makes sense, but there's more than one of a few too many characters.

Spoiler: OK, yes, there's a video!

View: https://youtu.be/--sYZFMFdAs

Spoiler: And, another video!

View: https://youtu.be/QMXiXQ8uRoo

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Author Omake 6

< First
< Previous

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. It falls after Episode 28, 'Ritual Medicine'.

---

A doctor wants to call. At my Royal Tower. He's sent me his card.

"Doctor Az. Physician to the Noble, and All In Need."

Yes, I'm guessing it's a 'he'.

A little... unusual. Probably not from my father's court. They'd just barge-in. I think. Though, after what I did to my brother, maybe not. I'm... curious.

Send back a note.

"Please visit."

---

"Call me 'Uncle Az'."

Maid's hiding in the next room. What's she to do if doctor turns nasty? Don't know.

But, at least, that might give her a chance to run-away.

She's... more powerful than when we started. Her Apprenticeship. How powerful? Not sure. Nothing to compare with. Except memories.

I think... she's, maybe, as powerful as I was, when first started teaching myself magic. I'd sneaked in, to the Temple of Azar, back in Azarath. I was... eight? Nine?

No seasons in Azarath, but that fitted with my ceremonial birth-days. Call it nine.

Found myself dreaming bout Azarath.

Woke, a few nights ago, recalling my combat training. Bucket of ice-cold water, middle of the night. Out of my soaked bed. Fight for my life.

The martial monks were strict. But, they wanted me to live. Have a chance to fight, for my life.

When Trigon came.

Everyone knew you couldn't fight Trigon with your fists, weapons. You needed to use your mind, your spirit. So, physical training, education, spiritual training. Meditation. Learning to use everything you had.

For me, that included... magic. And, the empathic powers I'd gained from mother.

Monks taught me to read and write. Ignited my love of books. Taught me basic arithmetic. How bodies worked, inside and out. Sensing the ills of animals. Healing them.

Azarath, priests of Azar healed humans. At the temple. Or, if a patient couldn't be moved, where they lay, injured.

I saw a priest at work, one day. Draw injury out of a monk, near-dead from a training accident. Too ill to move. Then, resisting the pain. Obviously meditating, as they, themselves, healed.

I had to learn. Needed to. First time I'd chosen to do something, I'd not been instructed to.

There's an aura about the priest. As they leave the training yard. Of... accomplishment. I stepped forward, reached out a hand. Was brushed past. Ignored.

But, I touched her robe. Felt... the power. The power of healing. Of Azar.

Kneeling before me, down on one knee. A dark-red robed figure, hood-up, head-bowed. Waiting for my attention. I sensed, tasted, felt, knew...

The Power of Azar.

---

"Rise."

Figure gets-up. Robe hides all, bar golden-glow of a pair of eyes, hint of a face, below.

"How do you have the Power of Azar?"

Golden eyes look into wooden painted ones. I'm... inspected, judged. Weighed... And, I can feel, accepted.

"Niece. I'm glad you look well. Your spirit appears much healed, from when I last saw you. Would you have me speak of that time?"

I swallow.

How? Don't know. Wooden dolls don't have throats. But, recently, physical sensations of my lost body have returned. Almost as though the doll... is an illusion. A cloak worn to keep those around me... happy.

"Do."

Raises his head. I see his face, better. He... resembles my father. Trigon.

"You were a doll. As you seem now. But, hardly anything but a doll. A flicker of spirit. Maybe dying. Your father... Trigon. He was furious. Tore the demon, who delivered the dolls, in two. Then into quarters. Ever smaller pieces. Stamped on the pieces."

"I seem... quite healthy, now. My... visiting brother seemed impressed. Did... father send you here?"

"No. I wander the lands. Only going to court if summoned. There, typically, I work to heal one he's injured. I refuse to stay there, watching him injure others. I... stayed, in the hope that I could heal you."

"Tell me more."

"Three days and nights, I wrestled with Death. Bargained. Pleaded. She... stepped back. Said it was not yet your time. But, mine would come, soon. And, she would be there. I... thanked her for her kindness."

"You saved my life?"

"I believe so. I'd never seen someone so badly injured survive. I think... you were not yet ready to die. That's why I fought so long and hard. And, yes, I had other reasons. After all, you're..."

"Yes, yes?"

"My Niece."

---

We eat, and drink. He consumes food reasonably normally, drinks. Chewing, sipping, swallowing. I bring food near my painted mouth. Bits disappear. Cup gets emptier. I... feel better.

"How can I have an Uncle? Are you my mother's brother?"

He pushes his hood back, a little. Shows his red-skinned face, closed eyes, on his forehead, neatly filed-off horns.

"No. I'm from your father's side."

He sighs.

"I'm... the touchy, feely, part. The bits of the power of Azar, his father, that he's not comfortable with. Cast out, given my own body. To walk-around in. To... heal. He won't, can't, harm me. I'm part of him. But, long as I don't speak, act, against him, I wander the lands, freely."

"I must ask... how was I injured? Did... my father do it?"

"No. There's no mark of his power on you. Or, power of any but yours. Twas as if you... drained yourself, near death. Doing... some great work of magic? I don't know."

He shakes his head.

I... Remember.

Frantic ritual. Fighting to hold on to my spirit. Resist it being ripped from my body. The magic, the power draining from me. Into the ceremony. My, last, final, attempt. A summoning.

Drawing on every ounce of my strength, magical, spiritual. A ritual to summon....

My Apprentice.

---

Next >

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Buffering the Future...

I've still got no buffer of reference documents, so these episodes were written 'blind'. Also, I think the quality of writing isn't good enough, too much use of missing words, syntax mistakes, in places where this doesn't convey what I want. Ideally I'd re-write episodes 20 onwards, but...

And, yes, these episodes are a day late.

I'm going to have to hope things go better over the next week. We'll see.

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 30 - Doctor Moon (BBQ FB 3)

Walking On The Moon. Doing it again. This time, I've brought two Oracles.

I can remember walking, on this Moon, with local-Oracle. But, that's memories of Geo-who-got-Home. Arguably, I didn't do it. Visitor-Oracle, walked the Moon orbiting our Earth. Not this one.

Different, don't have a Raven. I think. Instead, we've a couple of (CMO) Nurfs. My 'understudy', Geo Kuro. Completing the group, Mary. No strange animals.

Which is... pleasant.

Raided local-Nurf's stores, for environment shields. Also, I've Raven's shield bracelet, local-me's got one from her Raven.

It's... always possible local-Raven (the substitute) is lurking about. Somewhere. Too shy to join us. Which, if that's the case, is a bit sad.

Then, there's our excuse for being here...

---

Total speculation, but I'm guessing...

Man with Book, chained to him? Associate, Lady with Ankh? Could he be pulling at our strings?

That's Nurf's reasoning, for trying to 'follow the plot'. You don't want it to roll-over you, instead. Her 'mysterious' psychic powers say, 'Play The Game'.

I'm... not completely happy, with this. But, no one controls all the elements of their life. You fit-in, with changing times, those around you. Stop moving? That's because you're dead.

Nurf says I'm 'Too cynical'.

But. Why we're here?

This's payment/reward, for Geo Kuro.

---

We'd meditated, together.

Done a magical ritual to boost her fledgeling Third Eye, help her figure-out 'the walk'. As we go dimension walking.

Then, she tries it, herself. Should've guessed. Third-time's a charm.

Maybe I'm soft-hearted, but didn't want her to be... 'trained' by someone like Master Roshi. Have a near-death experience. Yes, it worked, I inherited the results, but I didn't have to like it.

Also, teach her, then get Mary to copy the results. Two birds with one stone!

It occurred to me, seeing her study-room, she's a lot of medical books. Maybe Mary'll pick up some doctor-ing? That'd make it easier for Nurf to train her up, so she can become Nurse's CMO.

Next, just to make sure, a three-way ritual. Miss Kuro and Mary agree what'll be copied, write a description, the three of us attempt to tweak Mary's copying ability. It... all seemed to go pretty well. We'll need to test things, get Mary grilled by Nurf. But, apparent success!

So. Reward. And, major test.

We follow the Japanese Moon Watching path, Lunar-wards, treading the twisting dimensions, racing through the dangerous ones. Local Nurf with Geo Kuro. Our Nurf with Mary. I take the two Oracles, run around, check no one gets too lost. Easy!

Well. Not 'easy', but nothing disastrous happened. Only slight burns. Med-bay'll easily fix them. Between us, we've enough first aid to wait till we can do that.

---

On The Moon.

Bounce-walking. Gunpowder-smell. If you force some dust through your shield. Photos of Earth.

Actually...

That's not the right Earth. My radio collar strongly suggests we're somewhere else. Maybe an Earth with no superheroes?

No problem. I'm... pretty sure I can get us back. But... I've no one to target. And, no (obvious) Raven to turn-to for help.

Hmm. Local Nurf is linked to her med-bay. Look closely enough, and while a strange route, I'm pretty sure we can follow that.

Rather begs the question... What's our Nurf linked to? We'll need to carefully check. Might've... unfortunate consequences.

Still. On The Moon.

Nothing can kill that good mood. Quench the happy grins both Oracles are wearing, I strongly suspect, under their masks. No Moon Cheese (I checked). It's...

A Grand Day Out.

---

Back in the med-bay. There's (shy) Raven lurking in the background. Geo Kuro's... standing pretty close to her. Huh. It's their life.

Two Nurf's team-up on Mary. Watched by two Oracles. It's... gruelling. Sometimes, an Oracle will throw-in a forensic-style question.

I... wouldn't want to be in Mary's shoes.

She's... obviously a medical student, but seems to have a solid grounding. Not... bad. Obviously she's more work to do. Probably enough to keep Nurse happy, even if she doesn't learn any more, before Ship Year.

Mary's not looking too bad, afterwards.

Something strikes me. Did she get any alchemical technology skills? Careful questions, considering the ordeal she's just been through, and, yes, she's got the basics. Presumably due to a cross-over with medical matters? That'll... be interesting.

We go out for a meal, in Jump City. Locals in secret id, visitors heroic. I'm 'Sugoi', Geo Kuro. Geo. We've a Raven, mostly hiding in her robe, as well.

Nice round-off to our visit.

Having a good memory, I pay, Mammon Express, book us into a hotel.

For a good night's sleep. Pretty sure we're going to need it...

---

"So, you're a foreign doctor? Your English is very good."

Medical administrator. Who... needs politeness lessons. That was Garfield-quality.

"I'd... prefer not to say where I'm from. There's... still bad feelings."

Nurf's done pretty well, so far. She's bio-mod'd to dark-haired, Middle-Eastern skin-tone. Maybe North Africa. Not an area I know much about, but, I think, 'Third World'.

"How wide is your medical experience?"

"I've got good genes. Am a lot older than I look. Yes, I've worked with advanced medical tools. Some... weird science stuff, too. I've done surgery. The hard way."

"Miss Brown? I'll take over."

An older teacher and doctor, I recognise him from my previous time-line. He's obviously had enough. Up till now, just quietly watching, listening. No longer.

By the way.

Yes, we're back home. Our afternoon university appointment.

"Thank you for your assistance. I'll handle the rest of their visit."

She gets up, slowly sinking-in, she's... made a mistake. Forced smile, head-nod, she's gone.

"I'll admit I'm curious, myself. But, if you don't want to talk about it..."

A pregnant pause.

"Yes, it was a bad time. I'd refused to help torture someone, an 'Enemy of the State'. They'd... got upset, about that. Then, a bomb exploded. I was... lucky to survive with just a couple of broken arms. Half-trained nurse. Talked her through field-surgery. Stopped a... policeman dying. Interesting day."

He nods, "Thank you for explaining".

"So, what do you think of my students? Geo? Mary? Prepared to fit them in, somewhere?"

"Pretty sure they can, informally, sit-in on lectures. Watch practical sessions. I'll see what I can arrange, later in the term. We've generally a few drop-outs by then, so, spare resources."

"I'd... rather more to do with weird science than I might've implied. May I make a donation? For... research?"

His eyebrows raise. "Certainly!"

"Geo, the bag!"

"Yeth, Master!"

People look at me. I fail to defend myself with a weak grin. Open the (cricket) bag.

Pull out what looks like a rolled-up body bag, with something high-tech, quite heavy, at the top.

Nurf narrates.

" 'Sus an' unit. Self-contained. Self-powered. By... weird science. Put terminally-injured, or freshly-dead, in, they don't get any worse. Breathing and heart stops, but also, any decay. No biology in the bag, very little chemistry, normal physics. As long as the bag's closed."

"I'm assuming there's a downside?"

"Yes. Open the bag, there's a good chance shock will finish the dying process. Unless an opening process involving a larger, more elaborate, externally-powered, weird science device, is used. Yes, I'm donating one of those to you, as well. Once it's been thoroughly checked-out."

Pretty sure I know who's doing the checking...

"How many of these... 'sus an' bags?"

She counts on her fingers.

"Five to start with. They're reusable, just give them a thorough warm soapy water clean, rinse. Maybe another two bags, later. Again, I want them thoroughly checked, first. Once you seal the bag, they're air and water-tight. Don't try and damage them, and they're good at room-temperature, indefinitely."

"Good lord. Amazing. I'm assuming they'll stretch the 'critical hour' indefinitely?"

"Yes. But, I'm guessing you'll only use them on..." She has a look-round. "Trainee corpses?"

He grins at her.

"Correct. I see you understand medical humour."

He gets up.

She holds out a hand.

"You'll want to test them. I recommend inserting a live lab rat, close the bag. Open the bag, good chance you've a dead rat, no obvious cause of death. Sooner or later, you'll get a shaken but live one. Same should apply no matter how long you leave the bag closed. I don't recommend testing it on medical students."

They grin at each other.

"We can do the tour now. I'll say, now. Don't see any problem with your two students coming here."

I know I shouldn't complain, but... There goes a lot more of my time...

---

AN: Walking On The Moon; worth another listen, I think. And, I quite like the video.

AN: Here's a fun list of phrases for you...

AN: Could Geo be referencing this?

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Oops! Omitted an episode...

Just found that I omitted episode 29. Yes, I know these episodes mangle the time-line, but missing an entire one! Bad of me. Also, I've made a few more edits, so... Hopefully more readable.

Apologies, but, fixing all this has upset my Monday posting. Should be able to do that tomorrow, Tuesday.

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Raven's Replacement, Episode 31 - Ravens Lunacy (BBQ FB 4)

"Holiday. With colourful people. Now"

Raven seems very firm.

"What are you waiting for?"

---

Raven's room.

Attempting to read her entire library. Never-ending task. Keeps adding more books. But, my reading speed's increasing.

Raven looks... haggard.

Drained. About to collapse. I... use my Third Eye on her.

Defences look pretty solid, far better than last time. They're good enough to hide her chi from me, which is new. Certainly can't see her magic, or spirit. As usual, tech-sight sees nothing.

Door opens.

Raven walks-in, carrying puppy.

Ah.

---

Tired-Raven looks at me.

"You're not My Apprentice. And you're not her... replacement."

Looks at other Raven.

"You're not Neo Raven."

Looks around the room.

"This isn't my room."

Turns back to me.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

---

I'm making tea.

Raven is looking at Raven. Both are sitting-down. Looked like tea was really needed. Raven's looking back. As is puppy. I'm pretty sure that's my Raven, and Cosmo. They... feel right.

So, who is Tired-Raven?

Tea is made, four cups placed-out. Which... seems to puzzle visiting Raven. Three cups are poured. Tea is sipped.

"I... think you're Raven. Your defences are so good I can't tell. Did you escape from your father? We still hadn't managed to locate you."

She frowns, looks between us. Then, looks around the room. Then, more widely, as if looking through the walls.

"You've got a few books, I think, that I never obtained. And, there're novel defences on this Tower. Clever design, looks like a three-fold ritual. One of the participants looks like me, one... Sugoi, I... don't recognise the third."

She pauses, sips.

"I'm guessing this is a different time-line to mine, though quite similar. But, I followed the link back that my Apprentice has to me. You're not my Apprentice. Who are you?"

I look at my Raven. I'll have to take the risk.

"I'm guessing that you're the Raven who went off to deal with Trigon's empire, after banishing your Apprentice home destroyed him?"

"Yes. I ask again. For the third and final time. Who Are You."

Beginning to feel very dangerous...

"I think... I'm your granddaughter."

Her jaw drops.

---

More tea is poured. We look at each other.

"Could you... please explain that?"

"You sent... Sugoi, who considers herself your daughter, Home. But, in the moment before she arrived, another Raven, in another Titan's time-line, summoned a potential apprentice."

"That would be you?" She raises an eyebrow at my Raven.

"Noooo... That would be my mother, Raven. Who's currently missing."

She looks confused.

"You... look remarkably like your mother."

"One of them. Sugoi, here, is my other mother."

Raven looks between the two of us. Shakes her head.

"I'm going to regret asking this, aren't I?" She addresses the air.

"Simple explanation, please?"

"My mother, Raven, her spirit was stolen by Puppet King's doll. I'm her body, infused with Sugoi's spirit. That makes local Raven my body-mother, Sugoi my spirit-mother. Oh, and Cosmo got mixed-in along the way."

She hefts the puppy.

Who promptly wriggles out of her hands, tumbles to the floor, morphs to a maybe eight-year-old girl, dressed exactly as both Ravens. Though, her looks are a mixture of Raven's and mine.

Oh, yes. Guess I should mention. She's wearing my Best Boots.

Cosmo looks between the Ravens, dodges her mother's attempt to grab her, runs to other-Raven, wraps arms around her.

"Great Grandma!"

---

Raven looks down at the small girl.

Tentatively pats her on her head. Looks over at the pair of us.

"I'd... no idea my family was so extensive. You've... been busy."

I blush.

"Cosmo's our... spirit-child. Unexpected, but we love her very much."

Her eyebrows raise.

"You've been doing spirit magic?"

"Mostly accidentally. I was summoned into Raven's just-emptied body. My, not-previously-used, empty body was in the summonee circle. All the Titans lacked spirits. Raven had... hurried her ritual. I... just did my best to... fix things."

"I... see. My apologies. I burst in here, demanded things of you. I'm guessing you're in the middle of a war with... local Trigon. I'm lucky you didn't attack me. My only excuse is that I'm at the limits of my... sanity. I really need that holiday. And, my Apprentice promised to take it with me."

I look at my Raven. My daughter. At Cosmo, my daughter and granddaughter.

Magic, it can really mess up your family tree.

"I'll cheerfully fulfil that promise, that my mother, your Apprentice, made. Assuming Raven has no objections?"

She shakes her head.

I think for a few moments.

"Would you object to Raven's Apprentice joining us? And her... adopted daughter?"

"Someone else's your Apprentice? Not Sugoi? And she has a daughter?"

"Yes, she's 'Shepherd', her daughter's 'Fang'."

Raven looks back to me. Raises one eyebrow.

"It's going to be an interesting holiday."

It was.

---

AN: Hope you don't mind another trip to the world of the colourful people?

AN: Originally, the above was just the first half of an episode. But, I thought it worked best on its own.