[C]-[O]-[T]-[F]
It didn't take long for me to realise I had been transmigrated into the DC universe, even without the memories of the body I now inhabited. I lived in Gotham after all. One didn't need to be the most die-hard fan of DC comics to know that city, there had been more than enough movies, shows and cartoons to know how fucked I was. Or is it 'kriffed' up now, considering the character the System transmigrated me with?
'Status,' I thought, just like it told me when I first arrived.
[STATUS]
[Name: Anakin Skywalker] [Age: 18]
[Character(s) Assimilated: Anakin Skywalker]
[System Functions: Inventory, Shop, Help]
[Essence: Blank]
I woke up in a sixteen-year-old version of Anakin's body, bruised, cut, and beaten to the point of apparent amnesia after being kidnapped and sold as a sex slave by some Gothamites. Being a 'pretty boy' in Gotham and not knowing how to fight could do that to you. Declining to participate in what your kidnappers tell you to… well, they don't like that very much, and they don't value a slave's life enough to hold back their punches.
Thankfully, along with the other victims, I was saved by Batman himself before being placed into foster care, as my mother was killed by the kidnappers. Personally, I'd have killed them, but the bat had his whole no killing rule going for him, so they had their bones broken before the police arrived. I didn't keep up-to-date with what happened to them after that, but if it's anything like the comics or fanfics I'd read, they'd be out in a few months somehow. Maybe a mass breakout, aliens attacking, or something daft like that.
It took a year for me to fully assimilate Anakin, mostly because I barely used the Force, which would have increased the assimilation speed. But even when I did assimilate the guy, I didn't suddenly become a hero in the spotlight. I knew this was a universe of people who could outthink my every move and figure out a way to kill me, so I don't tempt fate too much.
I limited myself to little things. Like using the Force on muggers and killers, while being far from the actual conflict. A [Force Choke] here and there or telekinetically throwing a few against a wall, knocking them out. All easy, not taxing, and difficult to link me to. At least for normal people. I wasn't naïve enough to believe big bats wouldn't just have an algorithm to find everyone within a mile of all the reports and link me to the incidents.
With that, I was able to gain a decent amount of System points and no hassle from the real villains or gangs in the city. Saving a person from harm earned me between 25 and 100 points, depending on how much harm they would have faced, plus another 25 to 100 points for defeating the individual attacking them. I had yet to use my abilities against an actual, trained individual or villain, but I assumed they were in the thousands, depending on their power level.
[SP: 15,600]
Gotham had a problem, and a big one at that. It wasn't known as the city of crime for nothing. I was stopping muggings or murders at least twice a week, and that was just going to and from school, the library, and my part-time job. When I finally assimilated enough, I had to significantly restrict my [Force Sense] due to the sheer amount of pain and suffering happening all over the city.
On the bright side, I transmigrated with both Anakin's blue and Vader's red lightsabers as my free pieces of equipment, which apparently all System users seem to get, along with their free character to assimilate. That had me asking the System if I had to worry about other transmigrants or reincarnates, but I had nothing to worry about. Each user is dropped into their own multiverse, and none can enter another's.
That gave me the peace of mind to take my time exploiting [Essence of Blank], which gives a person limitless potential while letting them master any skill or technique to perfection. After graduating, I planned to relieve a gang of their money so I could travel to a secluded place to truly practice, but that was a few months away. For now, I had to deal with a few people who thought it would be a good idea to break into my apartment and treat themselves to my food.
"I know you're awake, mate," a British voice called out from the kitchen, calm and casual like he owned the place, just as I heard the quiet click of the kettle go off, indicating the water had come to a boil. "No point pretending. Come on out, yeah? Kettle's nearly done."
There was only one Brit I was aware of in this universe that could just walk into Gotham, and considering my skill set and the fact that the voice seemed familiar, I could basically confirm it was Constantine without even seeing him. While he moved confidently in the kitchen, as if he belonged there, the other person I could sense was outside, crouched in silence on the fire escape.
While I couldn't sense ill will from the two, it didn't mean they would be bringing trouble. My mind had already gone through several thoughts, including mind readers getting my information from the two, Constantine being followed to my apartment… or just selling my soul in exchange for his own at a later date when he deems it convenient. I was technically new to the Force, so I didn't know if its danger sense would inform me this early. It didn't help the Jedi after all, and Constantine is known for being a danger magnet… and an asshole.
For now, I didn't panic. I don't think I ever would again, now that I thought about it, assimilating the 'Jedi without fear' had that bonus come free. I just took a deep sigh, swung my legs off the bed and reached for a pair of joggers on the chair off to the side. Padding barefoot across my room and through the door, I stepped into the dimly lit living room. At the kitchen table, a messy blond-haired man in a tan trench coat with a loosened black tie was pouring hot water into a chipped mug.
Definitely Constantine, as I'd guessed.
Through the Force, I could sense that he had power in him, but not like the Force, which was good because it meant I could sense magic users. Near the window, the other figure stood, tall and silent, half-shrouded in the shadows. The cowl, the cape, the sheer weight of presence - it could only be one man. One badass everyone and their grandmother knew not to fuck with, especially when given enough prep-time. The Dark Knight himself.
Batman.
If my guess was right, this was the Young Justice universe. Or at least a variant of it, because he was in the same suit I remembered from that show. Based on my research of the team to clarify which version of the DC universe I was in, I found that it was founded in 2003 when the Appellaxians invaded. Yet another sign I was in Young Justice.
To make sure I didn't let anything slip, I was sure not to flinch or slow down. Just walked across the room and dropped into the corner of my second-hand couch, one arm draping lazily over the backrest. It was a good deal I got when I aged out of foster care, one I didn't pass up.
Thanks to the money left behind by my mother, I had enough money to live in a small apartment on my own and pay for college and university. I wasn't worried about others listening in on our conversation as I lived alone, and I had no doubt the same thought crossed their minds when they decided to meet me. "So," I said dryly, glancing between the two. "Whose brilliant idea was it to break into my apartment? I'm pretty sure that's a crime in pretty much every state."
Constantine ignored the question entirely, leaning against the counter as he stirred his tea with a spoon. "You don't use magic. Not really. But it's... similar," he muttered as his eyes narrowed slightly. "Huh. Actually... now that I'm getting a better look at it — it's closer to what the Flash does."
Batman only grunted in agreement, though his eyes never left my form. "You're responsible for the unexplained attacks in Gotham."
Ah, so they found me via sensing my power rather than a computer algorithm of some kind. Or maybe a mixture of both, using an algorithm to get a timeline of the events and having Constantine scan the area when they think it will happen next.
I met the Bat's stare, unbothered. "...Am I?"
While I was a fan of the man — he was probably my favourite character — I had read and seen enough to know that his paranoia could be taken too far and result in the good guys taking more Ls than the bad guys. Still, the Force had yet to inform me that either of them was a threat at the moment, so I wasn't going to be outright antagonistic toward them.
"You're using power you don't understand," Constantine said as he casually took a sip of his tea. "That tends to go sideways. Fast. For everyone involved — even those not involved, for that matter."
Though still unbothered, I sent a scrutinising glance at the sorcerer. With my skill level, I was pretty sure I had assimilated Anakin just before his death. And while there were several aspects of the Force I didn't understand even now, I was definitely able to control my power, both light and dark.
Even while throwing people around or [Force Choking] them, I didn't hear the whispers of the dark side or anything like that. I asked the system about it once, and it just told me that the system doesn't like others using it indirectly. So, while mind readers would be able to delve into my head, maybe even stop me from moving, they wouldn't be able to completely control my mind or access any information about the system. It also saved me from getting cloned as an added bonus.
Looking between the two intruders, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, fingers laced loosely together. "So let me guess," I said with just a hint of amusement. "This is the part where you offer to take an individual under your wing. Turn the mysterious anomaly behind the unexplained incidents into a proper little hero. Make sure they don't misuse their abilities. Make sure they don't get kidnapped, blackmailed, or strong-armed into working for the wrong side. And maybe, just maybe — keep them alike."
While he had yet to meet or train him, I knew about Jason Todd. Becoming a child hero doesn't end well. The amount of trauma they must have had to go through. All the blood, gore, violence, and that was not even including the things they must have seen when investigating serial killers. Thankfully, I was already legally and mentally an adult, and I could respect that they waited until now to approach, but the principle still stands.
"Honestly, mate, sounds like a good deal," Constantine shrugged, taking another sip of his tea. "You get access to training - help controlling that weird power of yours - because let's face it... they're gonna blame you whenever something goes sideways anyway if they don't have another explanation. Best to give them peace of mind."
Something told me he was on the receiving end of one of those accusations, and if I were honest, I would have done the same. On the other hand, I'd rather have Constantine out there fighting demons than not. He reminded me of the Winchester brothers in a way, saving people from things that go bump in the night for no credit. I was pretty sure that was the only reason the League kept him around.
Batman turned to him with a sharp glare, clearly not pleased with the way Constantine put it, only for the sorcerer to roll his eyes and take another sip. Turning his attention back to me and going back to a neutral expression, the Dark Knight stepped forward slightly. "There are criminals out there who wouldn't hesitate to use you. They'll come with offers. Or threats. If you're going to help people, you need to hide your identity better. If we found you, others will too."
He wasn't wrong, and I already knew he could find me to begin with. If anything, I thought he would get here a lot earlier. Actually, now that I thought about it, meta-humans were already a thing, and Batman could have brought Constantine here because he tested my DNA and found no meta-gene, thinking it was magic instead. Granted, it could just be me being paranoid, but this was a comic universe, and a healthy amount of paranoia could literally save a life. Was it hypocritical of me? Definitely. Did I care? No.
I sat for a moment, thinking about my options. Even considering messing with their memories with the Force, but there were too many threats in the multiverse to go around refusing training and knowledge. Training in seclusion could wait.
"No records of me," I said firmly, looking between the two. "No files. No sharing my name, face, energy signature with anyone or anything of the sort."
Constantine quirked a brow. "'Bit paranoid, aren't we?"
He was one to talk.
"I'm decent with computers and mechanics," I replied blandly. "I know how unreliable they are when it comes to keeping secrets, and considering the people or creatures you guys go up against, I'd prefer if they couldn't find me due to your methods of keeping data. And, to my knowledge of the occult, names and DNA have power. I don't want to be used in some kind of ritual and have no way of defending myself."
There was also the Tower of Babel. I didn't want to be in some database somewhere for Ra's to steal and use to take me down.
Batman nodded with a blank expression, even as a flicker of approval passed through his emotions. "That seems fair. However, we will need to make some league members aware, such as Superman, Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter, in case of emergencies."
I didn't truly believe that he wouldn't keep a record somewhere, in case he needed to take me down. His paranoia wouldn't allow it. I knew it was unfair of me to constantly compare him to other versions of him in the multiverse, but I just couldn't help it. Either way, I gave him a slow nod, "I also want access to magic."
Constantine paused, lowering his mug slightly. "Magic, eh?"
I smirked, giving the sorcerer a look. "In case I run into someone like you. Someone who wants me under their control... or dead, with magic."
There was no way I wasn't going to learn magic, especially with Trigon being a thing. Even if Constantine wouldn't teach me, I'd find Kent Nelson. If needed, I'd tell him what I knew of Trigon, the multiverse, and my 'visions' of it. Him, I could trust, especially based on what I saw of him in the Young Justice show.
There was a long silence as Batman's gaze slowly slid over to Constantine, waiting for a response.
The sorcerer let out a long breath through his nose, setting his mug down on the table with a gentle clink. "Well, now... that's a tall bloody order." He shrugged, now seeming to be unbothered. "Can't really teach you, mate. I'm not exactly sittin' on loads of free time. Honestly? Might be better off with someone like the Flash. Seems closer to your… brand of power source."
That was the second time he mentioned the Flash. I had a theory that the Force was similar to the Sage Force, the telekinetic version of the Speed Force. But when I asked the System, it just said that, while similar, the Force is completely different to those forms of cosmic energy fields.
I shook my head as I leaned back on the couch. "I don't need help learning to control what I already know, that comes with practice. What I need is to learn new things - things I can use to protect myself when I'm not the one choosing the fight."
I didn't want to use my pints to learn magic if I could help it. If possible, it would be more cost-effective to use my points to learn Force abilities or increase my physique while manually learning everything else.
Constantine gave a dramatic sigh before glancing at Batman with a hopeful look. "Surely the league's got someone who owes a favour and knows a few incantations, yeah? I'm pretty sure there are a few retired mages out and about who might be willing to help out."
Batman didn't even blink. "The League will try to get you magical training if you show the aptitude for it. But Constantine's a good start. There can never be too many people willing and able to fight demons. However, should you not have an aptitude, the league will be more than willing to train you in other ways."
Ah, so Bats was looking for another magic user to add to the league in case of emergencies. I hadn't seen much about Doctor Fate, Zatara or Kent Nelson lately.
Constantine winced like someone had just asked him to pick up a second shift on no sleep. "Fine. I'll leave you some books. Neutral stuff and Light stuff. But that's it - until the League sends someone else with books thicker than your bed and no sense of humour."
I shrugged. "Good enough for me."
There was a chance he'd just give me dud books to keep me busy and indoors, but if I read them and find that they're just fiction, I'll just go back to doing what I was doing before.
"Until we're sure no one's tracking your power signature, restrict your ability usage." The Bat added. "Only in situations where you've verified it's safe - or while supervised by someone in the League."
I nodded, but said nothing.
He then gestured to the table, where a sleek WayneTech phone and matching laptop sat beside Constantine's mostly-ignored tea, both their cases off to the side. "These are yours. Encrypted. You can use them to contact me or the League directly."
I glanced at the laptop, then looked back at the detective with a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. "You noticed I spend most of my free time at the library."
It could very well have been a plan to reduce my exposure, but I think it was a two birds, one stone sort of situation, allowing Bruce to better monitor me through the devices. I didn't question it though. I didn't really care, seeing that I wasn't up to anything nefarious. I just hoped it wouldn't be used against me at some point.
Batman gave a slow shake of his head. "It was a good thing you helped those people on your way there. But for your own sake, improve your capabilities first before you start acting alone again. That's why we're here," he said, turning slightly as if preparing to leave. "You've made it hard for anyone to find you — you were careful. That means the ones who can find you will most likely be looking for you specifically and will try to do much more than offer help and training."
With that, he stepped out onto the fire escape. A moment later, the familiar fwp-thunk of his grapple gun echoed faintly through the window, and he was gone. Constantine remained, setting his half-empty mug in the sink with a clink that echoed louder than it should have in the silence. He turned toward the living room, rolled his shoulders, and muttered something under his breath. With a shimmer of golden light, three worn, leather-bound books appeared on the table next to the WayneTech laptop and phone. The oldest among them looked like it had survived a fire. Twice.
"Study up, kid," he said, already walking toward the door. "World's not getting any safer. And you're not getting any less interesting. Just don't end up being annoying in the end, yeah?"
With that, the door shut behind him, and the lock clicked only a moment later. An application of magic, I assumed.
Alone now, I made my way to my feet, flicked my gaze toward the table where the phone, the laptop, and the slightly ominous stack of magical tomes sat. With a shake of my head, I exhaled through my nose and padded back toward my room, putting them out of my mind for now.
Stepping into the small attached bathroom, I flipped on the light and leaned over the sink, splashing cool water against my face. The face staring back at me when I looked up at the mirror was one I'd grown used to over the past two years, but it still struck me as odd sometimes. Strong jaw. Intense blue eyes. Scar over my right eyebrow, courtesy of my kidnappers. Brunette/Dark-blond hair. Anakin Skywalker's face was annoyingly handsome, and I actually went out of my way to not look in mirrors due to how different it looked to my original.
I could see how he got Padme in the end. He was a walking cheat code. I stared for a moment longer, then shook my head again and walked back into the bedroom. If there was one thing teenagers like, it was sleep, and I had plenty to catch up on.
[C]-[O]-[T]-[F]
The quiet sizzle of flame preceded the scent of smoke as Constantine lit a cigarette, leaning back against the damp brick wall of a narrow alley near the boy's apartment as his trench coat fluttered lightly in the breeze.
Batman silently stepped out of the shadows beside him. "What can you tell me about him now that you've had a better look?"
Constantine exhaled smoke slowly, eyes fixed on nothing. "Unusually powerful, that much is clear. Dangerous too, with how well he was able to use it. Medium range, without needing to be in the line of sight of an attack, and still no one died?" He shook his head. "The kind of power he has could fuel spells like a bloody reactor. If he joins up, and he learns how to use it right, he'll be a hell of an asset."
Batman's jaw tensed slightly as he narrowed his eyes. "Could it corrupt him? You've said yourself, there are some corruptible magics, some even costing the user's blood, soul or life force, maybe even turning them into monsters."
"Ah, but that's just it, he's not using magic. From what I could tell, he's only as corruptible as anyone is with power, I guess. I didn't sense anything to indicate such and I'd recommend you have Barry take a look at him." Constantine flicked ash from the tip of his cigarette before taking another puff. "If the kid was gonna be a cunt, it would've happened by now. Kid's been at it for over a year. In Gotham, of all places. Power like that, raw and unsupervised? If he was going to snap or misuse it, he'd have done it already."
The Dark Knight said nothing for a long moment, eyes narrowed in thought beneath the cowl. Then he grunted, turned away, and vanished back into the shadows without another word. Constantine stayed a moment longer, staring up at the sky between the buildings.
"Another piece on the board, eh?" he muttered, taking one last drag before flicking the cigarette to the ground and crushing it under his shoe. Before leaving, he muttered a few incantations and waved his hand toward the apartment the boy was in.
[C]-[O]-[T]-[F]
"The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. "
- Qui-Gon Jinn.
[C]-[O]-[T]-[F]
Hello There
It's always good to get these ideas out of my head and finally on paper. Clears up some space. So, here we have it, a transmigrant with Anakin as his starting character. Same concept as the others, System, good or neutral deeds, Essence of Blank, along with a skill, bloodline or equipment.
As far as being OP goes, I don't think Anakin is OP for this verse like the others are for their own.
[C]-[O]-[T]-[F]
Disclaimer: I own nothing except OCs and original ideas. All credit goes to their respective owners.
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[C]-[O]-[T]-[F]
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Until next time, Light's out.