With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Twelve)

[Mr Zoat]

10th September
19:47 GMT

Come on come on, where is she?

Maybe it was unrealistic to expect her to come here every day, but I'm on a a deadline and I'm.. getting the impression that Dox is losing patience with me. My recruitment campaign has -within our original parameters- been quite successful. My new Lanterns have been rapidly grasping the lessons I've been teaching. Lantern Yat in particular has grasped the opportunity with both superstrong hands, even if he is.. a bit younger than I really want to recruit. I wonder if he'd like to meet Kon or Kal-El? His friend Tessog was offered the opportunity to stay on, but he was rather keen on getting back home. Understandable, and his home is sufficiently far from the border of Reach space that I doubt we could persuade them to join.

Anyway, my 'mystical' technique has produced better matches than Dox's statistical technique, as confirmed by Hinon. But it has also left me responsible for a country full of blind women with no government, to say nothing of the hundreds of refugees with no medical records. I need someone who wants to heal, and who won't get bored with it after the first dozen.

I need Soranik Natu and I can't afford to soft pedal her any longer.

It's quite unlike my previous visits to Korugar City. With my rings on (under gloves) I can hear the background voices in clear English and as such I'm ignoring them as I would any English speech, rather than compulsively focusing on each borderline nonsense phrase in an attempt to make sense of it. I'm not even trying to act like a merchant or 'recruitment agent', even though -heh- this time I am planning on recruiting someone.

Ah, if the security forces can detect power ring scans that's just too bad. Ring, where is she?

Subject found.

Thank you.

I rise from my seat, nod politely at the waitress as I leave payment -the blank precious metal coins which are the standard way for visiting merchants without local accounts to pay for things- and head for the door. Okay, she's.. at a bar over there…

In for a penny…

I step out, and then back in inside an alley next to the bar before jogging back onto the main street and entering the establishment. Probably harder to detect than a transition, and without the orange glow. Civilian teleportation isn't allowed virtually anywhere in Korugar City, though as far as I know the locals don't have the technology. Ordinarily that would mean that they probably don't have teleportation detectors, but much like 'average speed zones' back home their camera network is perfectly capable of working out that I just covered more ground than should be possible. But since I'm not planning on coming back, there's no need to avoid committing crimes if their detection would require significant time.

I head towards her table as soon as I'm inside. She, Nakkoa and a man I don't recognise are drinking some sort of translucent purple drink from slightly-smaller-than-pint glasses. The man spots that I'm heading their way first, regarding me curiously as I approach. Nakkoa notices that he's seen something, turns to look at me and then smiles before elbowing her fellow doctor.

"Doctor Natu?"

"O-oh." Despite how well our last meeting went, she doesn't look all that pleased to be dealing with me. "Pawl." It was the closest I could do with written Korugari phonemes. "What brings you here? Killed anyone interesting lately?"

"No, they were quite dull. Look, I-."

"And apparently you're now fluent in my language. Or was it another translator upgrade?"

"Technically, a translator upgrade. I really need to talk to you about something. If your companions can spare you..?"

"I'm fine here." She takes a long sip from her drink.

"Okay, look, I was working up to trying to recruit you. I was going to take my time over it, see how you responded… But events have rather gotten away from me and I need to make my final offer now. Can we go somewhere-?"

"You know what? Yeah. Okay." She takes another glug and then rises from her seat. "I've had-" I transition us both to one of the pub's currently unused function rooms. "-about enough-." She blinks at the sudden change in location. "You can teleport."

"Yes. Shall we?" I gesture to a couple of nearby barstools, and after a moment's consideration she selects the furthest and sits down. "Doctor Natu, I recently overthrew the government of a nation which routinely gouged out the eyes of its female citizens upon them reaching adulthood. I desperately need someone-."

"What? Why would they-?"

"Some god or other, apparently. If I ever find them then I'll kill them too, but that isn't the immediate concern. I can give you all of the personnel and equipment you could want, but there's a country full of blind women-."

"You need an administrator, not a neurosurgeon. You'd be better off hiring Nakkoa-."

"You can hire her, if you want."

"And I still have my bond to pay off."

"Done. Anything else?"

"Why are you even offering this to me? You must have thousands of other people you could go to." She realises something. "Including doctors who are actually the same species as the patients."

"I'm an empath. There may be better doctors around, but of all of the ones I've met, you've got the closest emotional makeup to my ideal."

"What's that got to do with-?"

I palm a power ring on my left hand, lay it flat down on the bar and then slide it towards her. "Your signing on bonus." I lift my hand away-

-and she leans away from it as though it were a hissing cobra. "That's a power ring."

I pull off my gloves and allow my environmental shield to brighten slightly. "Yep. I'm an Orange Lantern. And since I don't like the-."

"What makes you think I'd want to touch that thing?"

I hold up my left hand, palm facing her. Then I generate a construct knife and sever my index and middle fingers. I let the wound bleed for a moment before recreating the fingers and disintegrating the severed ones. "There is no greater healing tool in the universe than an orange power ring wielded by someone who genuinely wants to heal people. And while I don't think you like power rings any more than most Korugari, I think that you recognise the utility of such a useful tool."

"I'd be exiled."

"Only if any other Korugari saw you with it. Sector Four Nine Five is a long way from here. No one need know."

Her eyes narrow. "How can you possibly think you know me that well after meeting me twice?"

"Because that's my job. I know things about you that you don't know."

She folds her arms across her chest. "Like what?"

"You know that you're adopted. And since you're a doctor, you almost certainly know that you're a hybrid." A shallow nod. "Do you know what species your other parent was?"

She frowns slightly, shaking her head. "No one knows that. But I guess you think you do."

"Your parents know. You're half Ungaran. And since a grand total of two Ungarans have ever been to Korugar..."

No backing up this time. She just freezes. "No."

"I imagine that they're keeping the information from you because they promised your natural mother. But it's too late; your natural father found out about you years ago. So-" I pat the ring. "-this isn't just about doing the Four Nine Five a good turn. It's also about protecting you. And everyone around you." I smile. "The pay and conditions are generous and you'll get to do far more good than you would in a Korugar City show hospital." I smile at her. "So how about it?"

And that's when she punches me.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Resolution

12th September
18:13 GMT

Dox and I walk side by side along the upper gantry over Ranx's ventral docking bay. Below us, the dock crew are busy making ready our latest aid transport to Tillettit in Sector Four Nine Five. Most of them are Urrigen natives. Their new government is strongly anti-Reach, and leapt at the chance to join Dox's mutual defence pact. While I've been rushing around trying to make sure that the women I intervened to aid actually have something to look at once their sight is restored, Dox has been working on his war plans. Involving a world the Reach already made a run on is a bit of a risk, but historically the Reach have responded to temporary setbacks by holding off and watching carefully.

"In some ways, this is a useful test of our processes."

"That wasn't why I did it, and I do appreciate-."

"Your primary function here is to train new Lanterns in your methods, so that they remain sane and focused. You have now spent several days not doing that."

"I couldn't very well leave their country in turmoil."

"You did not have to create turmoil. Once you made your initial assessment, you should have realised that intervention would do more harm than good without the application of resources we are ill-disposed to provide in a location far from Reach space."

"They're late nineteenth century at most. It shouldn't require that much to-."

"I ran the social dynamics equations. Their society may not have technically been a theocracy, but it was strongly organised around their religious practices. And now that authority has gone. Violent crime will increase by between one hundred and eighty and two hundred and twenty percent, depending on precisely how well Lantern Coutara can take charge of the situation."

"And in the long term?"

He glares at me for a fraction of a second. "There are too many unknown variables to calculate with any accuracy." He heads towards the edge of the gantry and stands ramrod straight, hands behind his back. "This is a vast investment of time and effort which is unlikely to see any return within the foreseeable future. I do not want this repeated."

I walk up beside him and lean on the railing. "While I'll avoid setting out with the intention of doing something like this, I'm afraid this sort of thing will probably just come with running a Corps of Orange Lanterns. If you ask us to do something we don't want to-."

His eyes narrow slightly. "You will all disobey."

"Part of your job is finding out how to make sure that doesn't happen. I do realise that that won't come as easily as-."

"My Lord Illustres!"

Lantern Coutara zips up to our level and comes to a halt in the air in front of me, her eye sockets still glowing orange. We have offered her replacement eyes, either cloned or cybernetic, but she's turned it down. Made some comment about not being able to get used to them after so long. Which could be a genuine medical thing; I seem to remember that phantom limb syndrome is a result of the brain repurposing bits of itself when areas of input vanish. Her brain would relearn to see eventually, but the ring can show her the world around her immediately.

"Lantern Coutara, I'm not a 'lord'."

She pauses for a moment, then nods. "As.. you say, Illustres. We are ready to depart. It.. seems that my desires relating to my homeland-" Her environmental shield flares as she says it. "-are still sufficiently strong that I am the best choice for creating the required spatial warp."

"Hardly surprising. Are you adjusting alright?"

"That…" She half turns in the air, looking down to where Lantern Taranna is laughing as one of Ratchet's people decides that she's looking down and therefore needs a hug. "Doesn't matter. My daughter is, and that does."

"Have you..? Had a chance to look at the briefing material.. on-?"

"The Reach?" She turns back towards me and nods. "Yes."

"Please understand that our offer of help to your people is not conditional on-."

"No, I understand." She nods decisively. "And once my country is stabilised in a way that is not evil, I will return here to aid you." She smiles demurely. "My daughter is quite taken with the Princesses."

"I thought that they might serve as positive role models." I lean slightly to my left. "And she also appears to be quite taken with-."

Coutara's face sobers. "I will be chastising them both for behaving so in public momentarily."

"Alright, well, dismissed. The sooner you get home, the sooner things start getting fixed."

She performs her people's version of a salute, both hands rising to obscure her eye sockets. Then she flips in the air and flies back towards Lantern Taranna, whose cybernetic eyes widen as she tries to persuade her new friend to let her go in a hurry.

"And then there's that."

I wince. "I.. am her line manager. She does.. strictly speaking.. report to me."

"The entire Corps believes that I am your secretary. That is not what I agreed to."

"Alright. What would you like me to do about it?"

"Go home."

…

"Igd-? What?"

"You have explained your methodology. Lanterns Koriand'r and Komand'r are both perfectly capable practical instructors. Your interstellar teleportation ability means that in the event of an incident you can return here within a minuscule span of time. And I imagine that you will find things on Earth which will keep you occupied without causing me any further difficulty."

"Um. Yes..? What about the missing rings?"

"Controller Vosk Vit Vorlanni believes that he can remotely drain them using the Central Power Battery, or at the very least prevent their use. Construct-rings are apparently different enough from true rings that he can do so without affecting our operations at all."

"And the Ophidian? I was going to supervise putting her in the-?"

"I've already spoken to Hinon; she's ready at the Central Power Battery now." Dox has stopped looking at me. "I will call you when your return is required."

I stand up straight, come to attention and salute, letting my environmental shield flare just a little so that some of the people below will look this way and see me deferring to Dox's authority. "Sir. I will depart shortly."

"Good."

No salute back… Though to be fair, Coluans don't have an equivalent gesture.

Right then. I.. guess I'm going back to Earth.

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
18:19 GMT

I hold my personal lantern up to my face, staring into the scintillating orange flickers within. This time last year I was dealing with the fallout from my 'contest' with Artemis. Now look at me. Here I am, on the grandest planet in the universe-.

"Having trouble letting go?"

I exhale, then lower my lantern to look at Hinon. "No. Just thinking."

"Is it likely to take long? I realise that Clarissi Dox is supposed to be the brains of the outfit, but I do like to think that the number two man can spark a couple of neurons now and again."

I huff, then step forward to plug my personal lantern into the indicated attachment point. "I just think there should be more ceremony to something like this. We're transferring the Embodiment of Avarice into our Central Power Battery. There should be a parade… Line of Lanterns hailing her…"

"You can have a parade once the Reach is destroyed. How about that?" She waves her hands at the Central Power Battery. "Control systems good, structure sound…"

"That would be a parade of celebration. Being a Lantern-."

"If it makes you feel any better, we didn't have one when we bottled Ion either." She turns away from the Central Power Battery and looks up at me expectantly. "Mm?"

I raise my left hand to my mouth. "Illustres to all Orange Lanterns and Controllers. The Ophidian is about to enter the Orange Central Power Battery. You shouldn't notice any ill effects, but if you do, report them immediately."

Ophidian.

Yes, my Agent?

It's time. The Corps is ready. Not as big or as strong as it will become, but they're ready for you. The Central Power Battery is ready to receive you, and we made sure that you will be able to access our full data stores from inside.

Thank you, my Agent. I will delight in being able to feel every desire my Corps experiences!

And I'm glad you will, but Dox is getting a bit shirty about people calling it anyone's Corps but his, so…

I will be mindful of his fragile ego. At least, I will be once I experience it from his perspective.

"Alright then, I think we're about-."

"Wait!" Hinon and I look around as Kalmin flies into the Central Power Battery Chamber, landing just behind us and holding out some sort of monitoring device. "And begin."

"Well, so long as it's convenient for you…"

He nods distractedly. "It is. Begin."

Ophidian.

I press the interlink button.

Now.

There's a momentary flare in my lantern, then in the connection attachment and then the lights being emitted by the Central Power Battery itself oscillate for a moment before settling down to a new, brighter and faster-pulsing level.

I wait for a moment. "That it?"

"Yes." / "Yes."

I flip the switch again, then lift my slightly duller lantern out of the slot. "Any problems?"

"No, of course not." / "Not yet."

I sigh inwardly as I return my personal lantern to subspace. "Let me know if anything changes. Kalmin, is the item I asked for ready?"

He nods, and holds out a decorative box near-identical to the one which Alan used to keep his personal lantern in. "I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find a sufficiently strong source of hope to make the connection. Fortunately, those people you gave refuge to have no idea that you brought them here merely so I could study them."

I smile indulgently at him. "I knew that you'd need subjects…"

He holds the box out to me, grinning. "I've murdered a few religions in my time, but I've never had the devotees thank me for it! I knew that you were worth my attention!"

I take the box, my smile probably slightly more strained. "I had.. enthusiastic help."

"It's a curious approach, motivating people like that." He nods. "I never bothered while I laboured for the Anti-Monitor. But I think I like it."

"I'm.. glad it meets with your approval-."

"What have you got there?"

"A present for Alan. Kalmin, will it survive me teleporting? I wouldn't want to ruin your work."

"On its own, I would not recommend it. Not without a Central Power Battery providing additional stability. But I added protective systems to the box; it will endure."

Hinon raises her hands, and a sphere of orange light surrounds us. "What have you lunatics done?"

"Our Illustres taught me of the fearsome power of hope. I spent some time in repose and study, and then I built-."

Hinon regards the box with polite horror. "A blue personal lantern. Archor preserve me, you actually…" She shudders, and drops the orange sphere. "Go!"

"Hinon, what-?"

"Go!" She makes a fanning motion with her hands. "Shoo! Shoo! Before you… Do anything else!"

"Ah… Alright? See you when I see you." I raise my left index and midle finger to my forehead, Goku style, and then step out.

Alright, where's Alan? His desires were always a bit harder to see than most people's. All that green light, and the fact that they weren't a big part of his character.

Huh. That's… Odd. Can't… No, no, no… Ah. Can't feel him at all. Oh well, not as if I'm an expert at this yet. It's midday in New England, so no appearing right next to my friends… Probably shouldn't jump a League member, not when the last thing I did before leaving was kill one of them. Then where..?

I step back into the universe inside a robotic laboratory.

12th September
19:19 GMT +1

Immediately, about thirty turrets pop out of the ceiling, walls and floor and aim at me and Thaddeus Sivana Junior's head appears from underneath some sort of flying vehicle. He takes one look at me and then turns his head in the direction of the doorway.

"DAAAAAD! THE TELEPORT JAMMER'S NOT WORKING!"

"You're perfectly capable of fixing it yourself, Junior!"

"BUT IT'S YOUR DESIGN!"

"I have every confidence that you can improve on it, my boy! Who was the intruder?!"

"THE ORANGE LANTERN!"

"Oh, that's a pity! I didn't think he was too bad! Still, if you can scrape up-!"

"HE'S NOT DEAD, DAD!"

That seems to give Sivana Senior pause. "The teleport jammer and the turrets? Oh dear me. Perhaps I should take a look at them."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
19:32 GMT +1

"Keeping yourselves busy, then?"

Thaddeus Junior has gone back to his air car, but Georgia appears far more happy to see me-.

Ring, nothing's gone missing from my subspace pocket this time, right?

Subspace security remains in place. No objects detected as missing.

"Oh, yes. In addition to all the work with creating working versions of the Sheeda technology which Father studied while in the future, I've been trying to model probable modifications we could make to Human society in order to better resist their next Harrowing. You see, we received an offer from-."

"SOFT SUBJECT!"

Georgia turns her nose up. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Ah, I'm afraid that the only social scientist I know who might be able to help-."

She gives me a sharp look. "I don't need help."

"Alright, not.. 'help', but someone who could understand your work at your level and perhaps make pertinent observations. Thaddeus Junior has made his opinion known and I doubt that it's really your father's field."

Georgia considers for a moment, then nods. "No, it isn't. He tries to show an interest, but… You know him. Who did you have in mind?"

"My immediate superior in the Orange Lantern Corps is a genius by the name of Vril Dox the Second. I know that he's been studying social heuristic programming. If you've got a quantum entanglement communicator, or something else that can-"

She nods. "Yes."

"-commun-. Ah, okay. If you give it to me then I'll drop it off on his desk next time I go back."

She frowns. "It's a little big for that. But I can improve it. Give me… Two days."

"Okay. And there's a man in the Greek finance ministry, Professor Demetrios Prokopios. He's not a general genius, but-."

"Ooh, I've read his work!" She grins excitedly. "His secretary keeps screening me! And I could never persuade Thaddeus that we should kidnap him."

"Ah. Well, yes, don't kidnap him. I can either set up a meeting or arrange a phone call, whichever you would prefer."

"Probably a phone call. But I'd be grateful if you could get him to autograph a photograph for me." She.. blushes slightly. "After I read his dissertation of catastrophe theory I… Developed a slight attachment, and-."

"I will certainly ask. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to America."

"I would offer you our teleportation system, but if you've got your own…" She frowns, then pulls a not-tricorder out from her lab coat and points it at me. "Then where is it?"

"I'm afraid that it's an innate ability, but you're welcome to scan me when I use it."

She puts her hands on her hips. "As if you could stop me."

"Ready?" In lieu of a verbal answer she raises her scanner and presses a few buttons. Alright then, armour, invisibility, and step out. Now, aim for Alan's neighbour Mister Davis and step in.

12th September
13:35 GMT -5

I appear in Inwood Hill Park, with Mister Davis walking his dog a short distance to my right. Still invisible? Looks like. Good. I drop to the ground, walk over to a large tree and then walk around it as I send my armour back into subspace. That way, anyone who wonders why they didn't see me will just assume that I was behind the tree last time they looked this way. Then-. I stop for a moment as I look over to Alan's house. It feels a bit… Home-y. I mean, I have quarters on Ranx, but even after I decorated them, they didn't really…

I shrug, and start jogging down the path towards the road.

Ring, dial Alan.

Compliance.

I hear it ringing as I check both ways and then cross the road, pulling my key out of subspace as I go. The gate to his drive is opening before I'm even on the pavement, and I jog up his drive to his front door and insert my key.

"Alan? Are you in?"

I can hear his phone ringing-. Ring, end call.

Compliance.

The ringing stops.

I push the door open and step inside. I hope he wasn't taking a nap or something. "Alan?!"

I frown slightly as I walk through his house towards the kitchen. Not here, not in the garden… There's a small layer of dust on the windowsill. It evaporates as I see it, but it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Unlike pre-ring me, Alan's always very particular about his housekeeping. It's unusual for him not to be home at this time of day, but-.

…

I transition back to Mister Davis. "Excuse me Mister Davis, do you know-?"

He starts as he sees me. "Oh, hey Paul. How's Alan doin'?"

"I-I don't know. I've been away. Where is he, what happened?"

"Oh, ah… I'm not sure exactly. He.. kinda collapsed about two weeks ago? Ambulance took him to the hospital. I'm not on the contact list, so I don't really know-."

"Thank you." Blow secrecy. I transition directly to the foyer of the Allen Hospital, accelerating my perception as I dodge around a man pushing a boy in a wheelchair and run up to the front desk and why am I bothering? I turn my empathic vision up and look around there! Green! I transition again, coming to a halt outside his room before shoving the door open-.

Alan's lying on the bed, asleep and looking like death warmed up. But not actually dead. Okay, immediate panic over. Get-get-get his ring.

I transition back to his house, appearing in his office with my right hand outstretched as I focus my will. Nothing, okay, that was a long shot. I tear open the safe and grab the small box withinyes. Not glowing much, but I didn't expect there to be much power left at this point. Transition back to the hospital.

"Ugh?"

Alan blinks blearily as I reappear, grabbing his right hand and shoving his ring-.

His hand's cold.

"Oh. Paul." He smiles weakly. "You're back."

"Yes. I am."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
13:36 GMT -5

He weakly shakes his head and blinks, then pushes himself upright. "I was… Ugh." His arms shake and I don't know whether to offer to help or not. Reaching what he appears to think is an acceptable verticality, he leans back against the headboard. "I was a little worried that I wouldn't.. last… Long enough. So?" He smiles weakly. "How'd it go?"

His ring isn't… Doing anything. Out of power completely, I assume. But since I'm here, that's not really critical any longer. "Fairly well. The Orange Central Power Battery was recovered and transferred to Maltus. Controller Hinon improved it to the point that future Orange Lanterns shouldn't have quite the same problems with the…" I wave my right hand at the side of my head. "Mental effects. I've recruited a few good people, and our Clarissi is organising the whole thing into a military force that will -with a little time and a little luck- be able to hold off the expansion of the Reach."

Alan's head tilts back, his eyes closing. "I'm very glad to hear it."

"We haven't finished building our infrastructure yet, so… Sorry, but building a statue of you had to get put on the back burner."

His smile widens slightly as he returns his full attention to me. "Heh. I don't… I don't need a statue. Just knowing it all worked out for you is plenty." He momentarily raises his right hand. "Sorry. I did follow your advice, but there isn't a drop of power left in it."

"Yes, I see. Um, Alan? I-."

"You meet any nice girls in space?"

"Ah… Yes? Actually, I think I recruited slightly more females than males. Or.. 'other's."

"No. I mean, good, but what I meant was-."

"No, I didn't meet anyone I was more interested in than Jade. And I'm not really a casual.. hook-ups kind of guy."

"J.. ade…" He frowns. "That was the… Asian girl?" His eyebrows rise slightly. "The assassin?"

"Former… Um. Person who was involved in an organisation that did occasionally-."

"I'm not a lawyer, Paul. I'm just.. a little concerned. Getting involved with a supervillain didn't work out too well for me."

"I'm happy to.. bring her round. You can get to know her, and if you still think it's a bad idea… We can talk about it."

Alan's eyes drop for a moment. "I.. doubt that I've got the time I'd need to-."

"I got you a present." I put Kalmin's box on the bedside-. I put Kalmin's box on the bed next to him so that he can reach it without stretching.

"Heh. Hope it's not a long book."

"It isn't a long book."

"Okay." He picks it up, and with visible effort puts it on his lap. "Let's take a look at-" He opens the long side. "-this…" His eyes widen slightly as he looks at what is probably Universe 16's first blue personal lantern. "W-what is this?"

"The Guardians have you on the 'Do Not Recruit' list, no one else can make green personal lanterns without their permission and the only other place I know of with unused green personal lanterns is Apokolips. So that was out. But after I consulted with a few experts, we concluded that you would probably-."

"You-? You got me a blue lantern?"

"I had it made for you, yes. Did you really think I'd tolerate you dying, Alan? I saw a problem, and I worked to fix it."

"I-." His eyes move uncertainly from me to the lantern and then back again. "How does it… Work..?"

"You said I made you feel hope. So I got you a personal lantern that runs on the stuff."

"Paul, I'm…" He shakes his head. "Not getting out of this bed. I-."

"Yes you are. You remember when you tried to separate me from the Ophidian and I told you-."

"You said I was becoming.. living green light. That was why you couldn't heal me after I had that fall…"

"Fortunately, blue light isn't quite as antithetical to green light as orange light is. Literally all you have to do to be well again is point your ring at that lantern and… Hope."

"And… Then what? I…"

"Whatever you want. I can't spend all my time healing people because I can only get properly invested in a certain number of lives. A blue ring doesn't have that restriction. Or… You'll be physically fit enough to become a full time superhero again… If you want."

"I… I don't know what to say…"

"I think it went: 'I will spread my light over dark evil, for dark things-'."

"Did I ever tell you that I only ended up with that because I made a mistake with what I was meant to be saying, and I didn't know how to wipe it and start over?"

I blink. "No. What was it supposed to be?"

"The first part was supposed to be: 'I will spread my light over all things dark and evil', but I got… I don't know, distracted or something as I was saying it. I had to spend sixty years saying something that made no sense with a straight face."

My face creases up as I snort with laughter. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. It didn't come with a user manual. What was I supposed to do?"

"I-. I don't know… But right now you need to come up with a new one. I mean, you'll be fine after you use it, but at the moment you're still dying."

"Oh, I ain't dead yet, son."

The lantern flares, and I stand back as the blue light pours into Alan.

"Oh, not again."

"Connection established. Please stand by."

"Ah?" Alan raises his ring slightly and a pure blue beam connects it to the glowing core of his lantern. "Is it supposed to feel..?"

"Hopeful?"

"Ye-ah."

"Restoring AI support structures. Updating database. Installing AI assistant. Copying communication protocols."

The undulating blue energy gives off a strangely musical noise as Kalmin's update system goes to work.

"Establishing user interlink."

For a second Alan's eyes flare blue, and his skin…

"Restoring innate empathic spectrum energy."

His skin starts to swell as muscle and fat are added beneath it. YES!

"Final checks in progress. Stand by."

One last surge of blue light and the lantern dims back down to normal resting levels. Alan's lantern-shaped ring is now glowing bright blue, and the man himself looks much as he did when I first met him.

"Welcome back, Alan."

"Thank you." He takes a moment to check his rejuvenated arms, then gingerly raises his hands to his face to check for wrinkles. He then exhales as he lowers them. "It's good to be back."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
14:12 GMT -5

I fly backwards across New York harbour with my arms folded across my chest as Alan tries to relearn flying with his upgraded ring. "Are you managing okay back there?"

Alan grimaces, then wobbles in the air for a moment before chuckling at his error and stabilizing. "It's taking a bit of getting used to."

"Get used to it quick. Lantern Stewart needs a new sparring partner."

"Oh, great." He accelerates, coming alongside me and forcing me to turn in order to keep facing him. "Boot camp. You know that I'm ninety, right?"

"You're ninety four, but that's okay. Age-related memory loss is now a thing of the past."

"Who did you rope into making this, anyway? I'll have to thank them." Another slight wobble, but he comes back under control immediately. "Maybe wait until I've gotten a better grip on how to use it, though."

"His name is Kalmin, and I'm sure he'd love the chance to watch you use it. He was actually quite interested in how you function as well."

"Is he..? One of those Controller people?"

"No, a Qwardian. And before you say anything, he's going to do less damage on Maltus than he would on Qward."

Alan smiles in bemusement as he shakes his head. "Paul, I've got no idea what a Qwardian is."

Oh, right. Of course he wouldn't. "Then this is an excellent chance for you to learn to access your ring's database."

"Ah, I suppose it is. Okay then, ring." He holds his right fist just in front of his face in a way which I've really got to train him out of. "Why don't you tell me all about the 'Qwardians'?"

"Certainly, Alan. Data burst in two, one-"

"Ah, pardon me?"

"Zero."

A beam of brilliant blue blasts from his ring to his forehead, a shockwave of blue energy radiating away from his head! Alan stops accelerating, going limp in the air.

"Data burst complete. Have a nice day."

I stop too. What did Kalmin-?

"W-? Wh-?" He blinks, then raises his left hand to rub his forehead. "Someone get the number of that bus?"

"Are you alright?"

"Ahh. I think s-. Wait, that's who the Qwardians are?"

"As I said, less damage-."

"On Maltus than on Qward." He nods. "How do I know all of this?"

"Power rings can transfer data into the wearer's mind. Now that…"

He nods. "Mine's been repaired, so it can do that as well. That is going to take some getting used to." He frowns to himself. "Why do I know what their poetry sounds like?"

"Data burst in two, one-."

"No, you knock that off right now."

"Certainly, Alan."

"Mine just gives me information closely related to the topic. I think Kalmin decided that larger amounts of information made more sense. You might have to… Fiddle with the setting a little. Um. Until you get to a level you're comfortable with."

"I'm not complaining. Just… Take a little getting used to." He straightens up, looking around the harbour. "Were we headed anywhere in particular, or just doing a tour?"

"I was planning to see Diana at some point today. I'm not… I'm obviously not happy with how we left things, but there's no massive rush…"

"No, no. I'm not doing anything I really need you watching me for." He turns, looking back towards the city. "In fact… Why don't we go there together? I should probably let her know that I'm not at death's door any more."

"You should probably tell Jay, too."

Alan spreads his arms. "If you can find a pay phone before we hit the embassy." I hold my right hand next to my head and make an eighties mobile phone construct. "Oh. How do I do that?"

"Data burst in two-."

"You, stop that."

"Certainly, Alan."

I dismiss my own construct. "You just.. sort of hope that a phone will appear. You don't need to picture it perfectly, just hold out your hand..."

Alan holds out his hand, his eyes unfocusing a little as… Hah! As a circular dial-faced telephone construct appears with the handset on a cradle on the top. It also has a handle on each side. Odd.

"Ah…"

"I don't think those work without wires. But maybe if you hope really hard..?"

"At least you didn't make a crack about my age."

"You… Sort of made that for me."

Alan reorientates himself in the direction of the Themysciran embassy, then accelerates towards the land while a filament of blue light works the phone's construct-dial. I fly along after him. The last I heard from Wallace was that Jay had fully recovered from his possession, and if Alan didn't say anything then I'm going to assume that there's no update on that.

"It's ringing."

"Ah, the audacity of hope."

Alan lifts the handset to his ear, managing to metaphorically walk and chew gum in a way Jordan still struggles with. "You got any plans for the rest of the day?"

"I was planning to visit Jade... I'm not trying to blow you or.. Diana off or anything, but I… Was in space for two months." Huh. Felt like longer. "I want to… Um. Reregister my interest."

"Oh, it's not a problem. I've got plenty of time n-. Oh, hey Jay. Yeah, I'm out of the hospital. No, no, they were right, but a new lantern fixed me up good as new."

Right. Diana. I'm not angry with her any more, though I am going to be looking for some indication that she wouldn't repeat… That whole thing if it happened again. Wouldn't behave in the same way if someone else got grabbed. People worked hard to split me and the Ophidian up and… The 'me' part of 'us' had far more agency-.

"No, I'd never ask them for something like that. Paul's back. No, we're going to go see her right now."

Totally not still angry about it.

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
14:22 GMT -5

People back away as Alan and I land on the street outside the embassy, though I think it's more out of respect than fear. Cameras rise and I hear 'cake dude' in at least three different voices as I head for the open gates. At this time of day they're wide open, in what I've always thought was a fairly optimistic way. I wonder how many Amazons have been taking advantage of their ability to come here? I mean, I'm assuming that Diana's arranged some sort of culture shock classes by now…

"Think I should be worried about the whole… Mask thing..?"

"My opinion is that tiny-"

He nods like someone who's heard a point reiterated entirely too often. "Tiny masks are pointless."

"-masks are… Yes, pointless. They are. And.. if you do become active again, people are going to spot that you look a lot like 'that Green Lantern from the thirties'."

"And forties and early fifties."

"Right." I press the buzzer. "Now, I'm happy to redesign your costume as fully enclosed armour that might actually preserve your anonymity, but… Do you really want to look like that?"

Alan considers for a moment. "No… I don't think I do. And.. I… Suppose that at my age a lot of the other reasons for having a secret identity don't really apply. I don't have a civilian job, and… Most of my friends are super heroes."

Alan does have family. His brothers both married, and most of their children are alive -if retired- today. I got introduced to one of his nieces once, and she definitely knew what Uncle Alan used to do in his spare time. But none of them live in New York. And… Well…

"And… I think everyone who might take a pop at your family already knows your secret identity. It was on the Justice League database…"

Alan looks down for a moment. "Mm."

"Who is it?"

Much as I enjoy trying to work out what Ms Candy is trying to say to me, things will go a bit quicker with Alana being on duty. "Alana, good afternoon. Is-?"

"Paul?"

"The.. very same. I sort of assumed that the orange glow and mutters of 'cake' that follow in my wake were a giveaway, but-."

There's a faint 'clunk' from the door as the lock releases.

"Come in, I'll.. see if Her Highness is available."

I smile towards the security camera, push the door and walk through, turning around on the far side to hold it open for Alan. He smiles bemusedly. "I can probably manage doors myself."

"You're welcome."

"Hello." A voice I recognise comes from a room adjacent to the reception area. "If you're here for the language class, it will be-" Mala walks through the doorway with a small pile of files in her hands. "-starting at-" She sees us. "-goddess!"

I stare at her for a moment, then pat my upper chest with both hands. "Not unless they've really relaxed the requirements."

Alan smiles. "Mala. I didn't know Diana had you working here."

"Save for the princess, I am the best English-speaker Themyscira has to offer." She lays her folders down on the front desk before approaching us. "Alan, I was told that you were dying. How..?"

He raises his right hand, ring glowing calmly. "Not any more. Right now, I'm feeling better than I have in-" Mala walks past me to embrace him. "-years."

There's a sound of footsteps as Alana comes down the stairs. "Paul, Her Highness is oh my God-!"

"For sufficiently low standards of god, yes. I-."

"Alan?"

"I'll just show myself up, shall I?"

"Ah-?" She drags her attention away from Alan for a moment. "Yes-. Yes, of course. How-?"

I transition myself up to the corridor just outside Diana's office, then step up to the door and knock.

"Paul, you can just come in."

I open the door.

Diana's in her preferred casual chiton-. No, she isn't. What she's wearing now has a good deal of ornamental embroidery that the one she actually likes doesn't have. And.. she's wearing her tiara. There have been a few additions since I was last here, and my eyes linger for a moment on the photograph of myself and Kon. I frown as I head towards her desk. "You having guests in?"

That appears to wrong-foot her slightly. "Yes, quite a few people have shown an interest in learning of Themysciran history and culture. It means that I am obliged to dress more like a princess."

"Could always just wear the bustier." I sit down opposite her. "I doubt that you'd get any complaints. Oh." I hold out my right hand to the side and take a sword and scabbard out of subspace. "I got this for you."

She reaches carefully across the desk between us. "Thank you. What is it?"

"A qwa-sword. Bit larger than standard to account for your strength. If an opponent can be killed with a mortal weapon, that will do it." I lean forward slightly and open my right palm in her direction in a warding gesture. "But really don't touch the blade to anything you don't want to kill."

She pulls it an inch out of the scabbard, notes the glow of the blade and then returns it to the scabbard and lays it down in front of her. "Was your.. time away from Earth successful?"

"You're looking at the Illustres of the Orange Lantern Corps, so yes." I lean back and smile ruefully. "All thirty three of them. And I didn't run into any problems I couldn't blast my way through."

Diana nods. "Lantern Gardner told us about your attack on Qward."

"Oh, that-" I point to the qwa-sword. "-wasn't a prize of war or anything. It was custom-made."

"Paul." Diana sighs. "I need to talk to you about Alan."

"Yeah, I… Just came from the hospital. That and a stop off to check up on the Sivanas is why I wasn't here an hour ago."

"Then… You know that he-."

"That he's fine, yeah. I really.. sort of wanted to talk to you about where I stand in relation to the League."

She looks at me sadly. "Paul, Alan is dying."

I roll my eyes. "Diana, it took me eight months to work out how to kill a Lord of Order. I had longer than that to work out how to keep Alan alive. Did you really think that I'd tolerate him dying? He's downstairs being stared at by Alana and Mala. He's fin-"

There's a roar of displaced air as Diana goes from a sitting start to maximum flight speed in less than a second, narrowly missing smashing through her desk and actually smashing through her office door in her hurry to get downstairs.

"-e?"

And quietly I hear:

"Ambient hope detected. Charging. Charge: ninety eight percent."

I lean back.

"I'll just… Sit here on my own, then."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
14:24 GMT -5

"…staying with me for the time being."

I'm getting more than a few stares as I walk along the streets of Opal City, construct phone gleaming in my right hand. But no one's actually screaming or fleeing. I'm an oddity, but not cause for alarm.

I look down at my suit for a moment. I'd gotten so used to grey that the yellow-orange check pattern is making me feel strangely vulnerable. Heck, maybe that's why I'm getting stared at. People aren't used to seeing me out of my armour.

"I must admit, I'm surprised that you've been so effective." Diana being pleased with me is a novel experience, but a far from unpleasant one. "Whenever I fought her, I found her to be remarkably single-minded."

"She's not some criminal chancer you could talk into rethinking their life. You being alive threatened her core interests. The only way to change her would be to change that dynamic. So that's what I did."

"I did try-."

"Diana, listen. You threaten her core interests by existing. She would interpret anything you say as a ploy, no matter how sagacious. Because that's what she'd do. Only someone who didn't threaten her in that way could make a successful approach."

"And where did this insight into supervillain psychology come from, Grayven?"

I can hear her amusement. "Are you joking? Compared to Apokolips, this is a child's playground squabble. I can't imagine DeSaad becoming so accommodating just because I resurrected his pet Cat, and they're actually a pretty similar age."

"DeSaad had a Cat?"

"Sort of. Not an actual.. Earth-Cat. Kind of a… Purple Wallaby-Sabre-Tooth?" Objective in sight. Knights Past, place of work of antiquer, author and firmly retired superhero Jack Knight. It got rebuilt about three times when he was active, the first time on the day his brother was killed. After what Mister Swift did to the last demolisher, no one's tried since. I slow my pace. "Listen, I-."

"Kon was asking about whether you'd want to rejoin the team." Oohh. That I was.. not expecting. "I said that I'd talk to you about it, if I heard from you before they did."

"Yeah, sorry… You're right. I should have done more than just leave them a message."

"And?"

I stop in the street, my mouth twisting slightly. "Did you ever talk to Guy about why he stopped being a prisoner counsellor?"

"Lantern.. Gardner and I aren't.. particularly close. I think… Hal said something about the two of them being caught up in a prison riot. I could understand-."

"No, it wasn't that. Oh, there was a riot, and Guy laid out three guys when they came after him. Three big guys. Everyone else backed the hell off. Thing is… He liked helping them, even the ones who only saw him so they'd get paroled a little earlier. But hitting them, fighting them? That felt right to him. He told me during one of our anger management sessions that he was this close to just laying into the rest. He left because he couldn't take the risk of becoming that man."

"I.. see."

"I mean, at least Snart Senior was consistent. He didn't play favourites. So… Yeah… If you really need me? Call me. But I don't.. think regularly fighting people I'd be perfectly happy killing… While surrounded by impressionable teenagers… Is.. really a good idea." I shrug. "I'll tell Kon and Mitchell myself, naturally."

"As you wish."

"Anyway, the reason I phoned you is that I need a reference."

"What sort of reference?"

"The best way to keep Lex on the straight and narrow is to give him things to do. So I started looking around for underutilised technology that could benefit humanity, and I came across the Cosmic Rod."

"I remember you mentioning it during your appearance before the Defense Subcommittee. Do you think the Earth needs another weapon?"

"No. I think it needs a new way of generating electricity."

"I knew Theodore Knight, and I don't remember him using it for that."

"How long do you think it will take Lex Luthor to fix that wrinkle when he realises that it will give him exclusive control of the cheapest method for generating electricity on Earth?"

And then I actually get to hear Wonder Woman splutter. I have Found My Cow.

"I tried to do this months ago, but Jack Knight knew I'd had a falling out with the League and hung up on me. I was hoping..?"

"But why do you want to give it to Lex Luthor?"

"Because he needs something to do, just like Circe needs security. Because I can't watch him every moment of every day, and if I don't give him something to do he'll… Tear up the veranda with his teeth, metaphorically speaking. Plus, if we were able to adapt it, it would slash electricity bills everywhere we could put it into operation. To say nothing of slashing corruption and conflict in places selling oil."

"By undermining their main product."

"Plenty of places have perfectly functional economies without selling oil." I look both ways and then cross the road. "Well?"

"I will tell him that you were working for Batman during your time with the Light. Anything else is between the two of you."

"Fair enough." I push the door open and… Whaw, this is some bric-a-brac. Just looks like random detritus to me, but I seem to remember Jack and his writer knowing their stuff. Should probably pick up a souvenir… "Just a moment." I put her on mute. "Ahoy the shop!"

"Just a moment, buddy." I hear a rumble of metal rubbing against metal from the stockroom. "You here for something in particular, or just browsing?"

I actually don't think I'll fit between these shelves. "Yes, but I'd like to purchase a souvenir as well."

"Okay, well, I can-." I see the shadowy outline of Jack Knight as he gets a look at me. "Grayve-? I told you I-. What are you wearing?"

"I thought you liked old stuff." I unmute the phone and send it his way. "Phone for you."

He takes the phone as he steps out of the shadows. This Jack Knight is a lot older than the one I remember from the Starman comics. He's carrying more weight and more facial hair and there's more grey streaks in the untidy mess of hair on top of his head. But it's still recognisably him. "Who is-?" He blinks, standing a little straighter. "Ah, yeah, sure… I think we.- Right." His face creases up. "Batman? No, no, I can see it. Yeah, heh, yeah, he does. Okay, ah, yeah. Good to hear from you."

He hangs up, and I let the construct evaporate. "Huh." He looks up at me. "So, you want a look at Dad's journals and stuff?"

"It would be a start. I wouldn't mind… Actually getting a look at a gravity rod or a cosmic rod..?"

"Heh hah." He shakes his head. "It's funny, you asking about that. When I first started out as Starman, I made Dad promise he was going to work on that sort of thing."

I raise my eyebrows. "If he made any progress..?"

Jack Knight shrugs. "Handed it all over to a high tech development company before he died. If they ever made anything out of it they never told me about it."

I nod. A bit surprising, but I'm glad that I'm not the only one doing this. "If you could give me their contact details? I have.. resources not available to most people. Perhaps I can assist them."

He shrugs again. "Sure, I don't have any problem with that. I always wanted Dad's scientific work to have a bigger impact. But I'm kind of surprised that you're not asking about his starship."

…

I blink.

"Starship?"

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
14:26 GMT -5

And she left the sword. A supervillain could make a decent career for themselves with a weapon like that. I stand, then lean across the desk slightly to take hold of it. Press down and activate the scabbard-lock, and… She has a safe in here, but it's too small for this sword. I settle for taking a nondeterministic transponder out of subspace and attaching it to the pommel.

I mean, she's had seventy years of seeing Alan walk around. I've been gone for two months after we had a fairly major falling out. Did she not think-? No, no, she honestly thought he was going to die. For some reason. I mean, you'd think after killing Nabu -and Klarion- they'd have stopped underestimating me like that.

Ugh. I leave the sword on her desk and then follow Diana through the door at a more sedate pace than the one she used. At the top of the landing I pause, half-turn towards the splintered remains of her office door and apply a little orange light to restore it to its pre-smashing state. Then I stroll down the stairs with my hands in my pockets.

"…as a fiddle, Diana."

Looks like I missed seeing the Crown Princess of Themyscira tackle-hug Alan, but she still can't quite bear to take her hands off him. Her right hand is on his left shoulder while her left is on the right side of his waist.

"It's… Such a change…"

"I did say."

Diana turns towards me, her left hand coming free while her right hand stays exactly where it is. "I apologize for doubting you."

"Not a problem. Just try not to do it again."

"That may be difficult."

"Princess?" Mala looks… A little smug, actually. Wonder what that's about? "Should I reschedule the language class? If you would like some time with Alan and your student?"

Diana's eyes dip for a moment as she considers. "Paul, are you on Earth for long?"

"For the foreseeable future."

Alan smiles as Diana nods. "And Alan's change of health. Is it-?"

"Permanent, as long as he retains the capacity for hope and keeps his ring charged. His lifespan is indefinite, the same as mine and yours. Alan?"

"Yeah?"

"Try not to get shot in the head."

Alan chuckles. "I can't say I was planning to anyway, but sure."

"Then, no, Mala. I will still be able to attend. But if you-" Diana looks briefly at Alana to include her in the order. "-could give us some time now?" They nod deferentially, then Mala leads the way out of the room. Diana returns her attention to me. "And do you have any particular plans?"

"See Jade? Check out the place for good Orange Lantern recruits?" I sigh quietly. "Normalise my relationship with League members, but… I don't want to…" I stop. "We don't have to do that now…"

Diana sighs as well, then removes her remaining hand from Alan. "The League… Discussed the subject at some length."

I nod. "After Batman sent you all to your corners, Guy said."

"No, after that." She takes a breath. "We.. came to the decision that… We were too accommodating to Nabu. Certainly, we should have been looking for alternative hosts."

"At least." Alan starts to open his mouth, but closes it when Diana glances back at him. "And?"

"There wasn't any consensus on what to do about you. Some.. League members felt that having exhausted all reasonable measures, attempting to arrest Nabu was… If not sensible, at least reasonable."

"Do you intend to tell me who, or should I find out from them?"

"If… If you intend to keep working with the Justice League-."

"Heh." I smile. "Oh, I wasn't expecting my invitation to join to still be open or anything."

Diana takes another deep breath, then lets it out. "No. It isn't." I shrug. "Hawkman spoke in favor, and Major Atom and Red Arrow agreed with him. They believe that once you identified Nabu as an enemy, searching for ways to kill him and using them when he lashed out was a reasonable course of action."

"I guess I know who's getting Christmas cards from me this year, then." Alan winces. "And everyone else?"

"Several… Hadn't taken the time to read all of the briefing documents Batman prepared concerning Doctor Fate."

"They didn't read-? No… Okay, that's fair enough. They're busy people. Do you mean 'Doctor Fate' as in Nabu, or 'Doctor Fate' as in Mister Zatara."

"Nabu and his hosts."

I nod. "And what's the consensus there?"

"Once.. you made your particular interpretation of the facts clear, they… Were displeased with the way we had managed the situation. Though they by and large don't support your particular response, none of them feel that your actions warrant further sanction."

"Fair enough. Tell me who they are and I'll make a point to ask them how they would have handled it better."

"Plastic Man didn't even know that Zatara had been possessed. He-."

"Wait, what? How did he meet Justice League requirements for basic compet-?"

"Paul."

I close my eyes, tilt my head downwards slightly and raise my right hand with my palm towards her, breathing out audibly.

"Atom wasn't aware that Nabu was in full control of Zatara at all times. Icon hadn't realised that Nabu had.. blackmailed Zatara into accepting the position of host. I assume that Guy spoke to you concerning his reasons-."

"Actually, no. I was so focused on building an improved relationship between our Corps that I didn't ask him."

She nods. "Guy was unaware that the host found themselves in a featureless void while Nabu controlled them. He also hadn't realised that Nabu intended to keep Zatara as a host for the remainder of his life."

"You just…" I shake my head and look away. "You just say it like that and it just reminds me why I still hate that bastard Lich."

"Black Canary didn't believe that it was possible to free a host externally. And I think that Hawkwoman would have agreed with you if you had managed to avoid directly insulting her during your diatribe."

"And the rest?" I don't say 'including you', but she'd have to be far stupider than she is not to realise that I'm still wondering.

"For the most part, we feel that you should have communicated your intent to us and allowed us to attempt to persuade Nabu. Particularly given how your choice of Eris as a patron had already made him.. skeptical where you are concerned. Even if you did not believe that most of the League could help, Batman and I were your supervisors. You should have come to us."

"I may well have done so if you hadn't made Nabu a League member."

Diana gives me a shallow nod. "I suppose we'll never know for certain."

"No." I exhale. "But what I'm taking away from this is that no one actually misses Nabu, everyone's going to be reading their e-mails more carefully in future and no one is going to be able to get away with possessing anyone again. Would that be broadly correct?"

"It…" She nods. "Yes, I suppose that it would."

"Then.. I'm.. good." About as good as I could expect. I smile. "I should.. probably go and talk to Batman. Let you get back to work. Alan? See you this evening?"

He nods. "Sure. You don't want me to come along?"

"Ppppprobably best if I handle this myself."

Diana nods. "I believe that he is spending the day in Gotham, but-."

"Oh, don't worry. I've learned how to teleport." I raise my right index and middle fingers to my forehead and step out.

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th September
14:31 GMT -5

"Intruder detected. Deploying-"

I don power armour and generate construct armour, then fold my arms.

"-countermeasures."

A laser turret to my right deploys and fires a weak beam at my helmet, aiming to blind me. Rubber bullets and beanbag rounds strike my construct armour to little effect. There's a quiet clang as gas and flashbang grenades land at my feet and a quiet hiss and not so quiet boom as they detonate.

"Batman?"

"Subject has metahuman durability. Escalating."

A metal rope bolas spins through the air and winds itself around me before flaring with electricity. Fortunately, constructs don't conduct electricity unless their user wants them to and it all arcs into the surrounding metalwork. Ooh, I would not want to have to repair that. Next come the low power plasma shots, causing weak ripples across my construct armour.

"Batman, I know you're there. I just came from seeing Di-."

I wince as the crumbler round triggers on my construct armour, destroying the outer layer. My return shot from a rapidly generated railgun smashes the turret responsible to pieces and penetrates the metal behind it, causing two of the nearby lights to go out.

"-ana seriously?!"

"Computer, stand down."

"Standing down."

I look around suspiciously for a moment, then deactivate my construct armour and float in the direction of Batman's work station. The man himself has his hood down… Which actually makes this the first time I've seen his face while he's wearing his costume. He's actually got noticeable mask-hair. It's off-puttingly humanising. It's.. not his Bruce Wayne persona, but I'm forced to relate to him as a person.

"I appreciate that we didn't part on particularly good terms, but I didn't think things were so bad that you were in a 'shooting on sight' kind of mood."

"The cave's defenses weren't set specifically to attack you. Until Diana notified me a moment ago, I didn't even know that you were on Earth."

I land and regard him for a moment. "That was a crumbler round."

"Crumbler rounds are highly effective against a wide variety of targets. As you know." His face remains remarkably expressionless. "I see that you've learned to teleport."

"Sort of."

"And found a way to bypass the wards protecting the cave."

"No, I-. Actually, I didn't try to scan for you. I just stepped out of the universe, looked for the patch of desires I know are you and then stepped back in. Since you're almost certainly only warded from other parts of the material universe, the only way to get around it would be to completely stop wanting things." We look at each other for a moment, though inside him I can see him starting to want a way to block that as well. "How have you been?"

"Busy. Crime didn't stop just because you left the planet."

Fair enough. I leave my armour on, but send my helmet back into subspace. "So… Diana gave me a summary of the League's feelings regarding the Nabu situation. Since your name wasn't specifically listed I'm going to assume you still aren't happy."

"You killed the League's magic expert without giving me any prior warning. Regardless of my feelings about your methodology, that created a major weakness in our ability to respond to magic threats."

"You've had eight years in which to find more magic users than the one you've been relying on. King Orin has dozens he could call upon, and I gave you a list last year. Did Diana speak to Doctor Tolon?"

"Doctor Tolon didn't feel that she could commit the time that League membership requires. The world wouldn't accept a Demon as a League member after the attack on Fawcett City, which makes Doctor Blood ineligible. And the Security Council has stated that they are reluctant to let the Justice League become 'an extension of the Atlantean military'."

"And the others?"

"They are proving somewhat difficult to locate. If you're interested, I would appreciate it if you could help us find a replacement."

"Were you not listening? Depending on one replacement is a bad idea. If you were planning on taking action against Nabu-"

"I was."

"-then-. Oh." I frown. "You didn't mention that."

"You have expressed an awareness of the fact that I have plans to counter the strengths of every League member." I nod. "Developing a method for combating Doctor Fate-. Nabu-"

"Nabu." Oh.

"-required knowledge well outside my normal area of expertise. In addition, I had to contend with the same need for secrecy that you did."

"I still managed it inside eight months."

"Yes. You did. Finding the right people or equipment to perform a task is something you've proven remarkably adept at."

Is he saying… That I out-Batmanned Batman? I guess that's a compliment.

"Okay, anyway… You need at least two. With a twenty one person Justice League four would be better, but…" Huh. She should be around… "I think I can.. get two within a reasonable timeframe. Neither are active superheroes, but they've got the magic skills you need."

"Is one of them the current owner of the Helmet of Fate?"

"Not unless things have gone seriously awry while I was away." Though I am going to need to speak to John… "I don't think… That person would be inclined to join the Justice League."

Batman looks at me, then his eyes narrow slightly. "John Constantine."

"I will neither confirm nor deny any guess-."

"He's a magic user you know well, believes himself to be in debt to Giovanni after the death of Sindella Zatara and has proven himself against stronger opponents on numerous occasions. What I'm not clear on is why he's keeping the Helmet. Or why -if the Helmet is intact- you claimed that Nabu was dead."

"Oh, Nabu's dead. Brain dead. If you read my full-."

"His consciousness was magic-based. Your mana batteries drained it when they overloaded."

"No, they deformatted it. Power still flows from the Plane of Order, but there's no mind present to do anything with it."

His face relaxes as he nods. "Except Constantine."

"I was gone two months. I don't know what he's doing with it now. But he was keeping hold of it when I left."

"Do you intend to return to active duty?"

"I'm the Illustres of the Orange Lantern Corps. I'm always on active duty. What you mean is: do I intend to work for you?"

"If you prefer."

"You asked me to find two magic users and I'm planning on doing it. So it sounds like the answer's 'yes'."