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

[Mr Zoat]

12th March 2011
09:26 GMT

Rob squints towards where John is setting up the ritual. "You sure this'll work in the middle of the day?"

I shrug. "I don't know. I've read up on magic but I'd hardly call myself an expert. If John says it's okay then it's probably okay."

John looks around. "It's harder, but it'll make it easier to send him on his way if he's not happy about being woken up. Trevor, you ready?"

Mister Marrack Senior is standing next to one of the standing stones, his hands pressed against it and his eyes closed as he reconnects it to the local geomantic energy systems. I don't really know enough to say whether geomantic energy 'should' be channelled or left to run where it will. I do know which is more useful to my allies, though.

He steps away, blinking heavily. "This was a damn sight quicker than applying to English Heritage." He looks over to me. "Any chance you could find time to do the rest as well?"

I shrug. "Sure. Do you have time to align them all?"

He waves his right hand in the direction of his son. "Rob can do that over the summer holidays."

Rob sighs. "Cheers, Dad."

"It'll be good practice for you."

"'Cause it's not like I had plans or anything."

"It'll help with your magic." Rob slumps slightly in a very teenagery way. "Anyway, yes. I'd like to leave it for a bit just to make sure, but it should be ready to go now. What happens if it's not quite..?"

John nods. "If it's not, it won't make anything go wrong. The summoning just won't work."

"Right. Well then." Mister Marrack walks back towards where I put the stuff he brought with him.

"John, are you about ready?"

"Ready as I'm going to get." He exhales. "You sure I can't have a quick fag?"

"Graham Marrack was very anti-smoking. Said it polluted the air and harmed the lungs. And I'm sure -as a man who nearly died of lung cancer- you can appreciate where he's coming from."

Rob's eyes widen. "You had lung cancer? Was it, like, a little bit of lung cancer-?"

"He smokes twenty a day, what do you-?"

"I cut down afterwards. Fifteen a day at most." He takes one out of his pocket and sniffs it. "No. I had the malignant, coughing-up-blood-and-lumps-of-growth type lung cancer."

"You know, I can remove your nicotine addiction if you want. The trick you used to heal yourself wouldn't work again."

"What did you do?"

John grins. "Well, I-."

"He sold his soul simultaneously to the three joint rulers of Hell then killed himself. They had the choice of either putting him back together or fighting to the death for his soul."

He rolls his eyes at me. "Oh, suck all the friggin' fun out of it, why don't you?"

"Fortunately for John, the rulers of Hell were really stupid and it didn't occur to them to, say, cut off his arms and legs or rewire his central nervous system to put him in perpetual agony. Or create a new Lukhavim especially to possess him after first making his body invulnerable so he got a front row seat at the horror it would unleash on the world in his name."

John stops smiling. "Was a bit."

"Um, Rob? How's.. your uncle getting on?"

He shrugs. "'bout as well as you could expect. I don't know how Batman got him out that quick but I'm bloody glad he did. We're looking after him for the moment."

I nod. "If there's anything I can do to help…"

Mister Marrack returns, very carefully carrying an old fashioned travel case with him. "This has got Granddad's old uniform in it. Given all the time he spent wearing it, it should have the strongest specific link out of anything I've got."

John doesn't look sure about that. "You wouldn't have a bit of bone or something, would you? It'd be a lot easier."

Mister Marrack shakes his head. "He was cremated. His ashes got spread near here, that was why I thought this place would be best to try reaching him." He reverentially places the case in the middle of John's diagram within the stone circle, undoes the clasps and then retreats back towards Rob and I. Once he reaches us, he turns back to John. "Alright, over to you then. What's next?"

"You're on battery duty. When he tries to animate his uniform, he won't be able to draw power like he did when he was alive. You'll need to provide it."

Mister Marrack looks a little uncomfortable. "Do I need-?"

"You can do it from out there."

He nods, looking a little relieved. I suppose he really hasn't had that much exposure to the exotic parts of the magic world. Or maybe he's just nervous about being in the presence of his patrician grandfather?

John starts walking a circle inside the ring of stones. "In this sacred space we call out to the spirit of our departed forebear, Graham Marrack. We humbly request that he hear us and come to us that he might share his wisdom."

Nothing appears to happen. John continues walking. "I say again, in this sacred space we call out to the spirit of our departed forebear, Graham Marrack. We humbly request that he hear us and come to us that he might share his wisdom." He keeps going until he completes a circuit. "No?" He waits for a moment. "Alright then."

He looks over to Rob and Mister Marrack. They nod -Mister Marrack wincing slightly- and walk to the closest two stones. They each then take out a small knife, make a small incision on the palm of their left hands and press them against the stone.

"In this sacred space we call out to the spirit of our departed forebear, Graham Marrack. We humbly request that he hear us and come to us that he might-" The air above the case starts to get very misty. I have the ring track the moisture and it's being dragged in fast enough to create an appreciable draft. "-share his wisdom."

The mist thickens into proper 'can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face stuff'. A moment more and I can see lightning crackling inside it. Rob starts looking a little pale, but he and his father both keep their hands on the stones. The mist then appears to contract, as if being sucked into the case while the uniform is drawn upwards. It looks a bit like a pre-World War One army uniform, with the addition of a St Piran's Flag emblazoned across the chest. As I watch, it moves to a more upright position with the water vapour filling it up and taking the form of the areas that would be uncovered: hands and head. The area around the apparition is still misty, but nothing like as intense, and the lightning appears to be restricting itself to the interior of the figure. At first the face is only roughly Human, but as I watch distinct features appear.

It seems that we've got our man.

It fixes its attention on John. "You, sir, reek of the devil-herb tobacco."

John rolls his eyes. "Haven't had one for hours."

"Hmm. I heard the call of my kinsmen's blood. This had best be important."

The living Marracks release their stones and slowly walk towards him, Trevor Marrack taking the lead. "Grandfather."

"Trevor." The apparition regards him for a moment. "Is that it? Is that as strong as you have become?"

"Yes. I've done my best with what Dad taught me-"

"Hhhh. That boy!"

"-but my son wants to know more than I can teach him. We called you up to ask if you'd be willing to tutor him instead."

"Step forward, great grandson." Rob obeys, meeting his great grandfather eyeball to crackly mistball. "Hm. We might yet make something of you. What's your name, boy?"

"Robert Marrack, sir."

"What day is this?"

"The twelfth of Mar-."

"What day?"

"Saturday, sir."

"You attend school?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. I should be able to maintain myself for a further eight hours. We will begin at once. I will expect to see you here early each Saturday and I will expect you to practise between our sessions. In return, I will offer you everything I learned in a lifetime of arcane study and combat. Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes, sir."

 

[Mr Zoat]

12th March 2011
11:46 GMT +2

Adom narrows his eyes very slightly as we watch the convoy of lorries drive along the Wadi El Natrun - El Alamein Road, carrying food to the besieged former capital of Kahndaq. "To think that it has come to this."

Adom's people now control the rest of the country, and something that might reasonably be described as a constitutional convention is happening in Shiruta. He had been holding back from capturing the territory to the north of Cairo in the hope that the government's leaders might be persuaded to flee by sea, then the government started violently raiding it for equipment and resources and he didn't have much choice but to occupy the area.

"To be honest Mighty One, I'm still surprised that it's gone as well as it has."

It's not entirely clear what sort of position he's going to end up occupying once all the shouting calms down. There's been talk of making him king -either as an active constitutional monarch or a figurehead-, president -same again- or something else entirely. They're certainly going to need him. Plenty of those taking part have their own constituency of supporters, but none of them have nationwide support. There just aren't any other widely known political figures in the opposition movement, and that's… That's going to be a problem.

"Have I not offered them honourable terms? Their.. worthless lives, their stolen fortunes? How did a man prepared to hold his own people hostage… To starve them… How did he ever become ruler?"

"By being a bit quicker and a bit more ruthless than his rivals during the post war era." I shrug, though he isn't watching me. "I doubt he was always this bad. He just.. can't accept losing."

The front of the convoy comes to a halt at the agreed upon distance and a government… Should they still be called that when they don't actually govern most of the country? Whatever, a loyalist jeep drives up to the lead truck, those inside trying not to be too obvious about gawping at Adom. And me, I suppose.

"My military advisors counsel an attack. Had he not accepted this I would most likely have been forced to agree with them."

Adom and I worked out the plans for how to go about it if that ever became necessary together. If it happened there's almost no way he could lose, barring something completely unexpected like a scry warded nuclear weapon. On the other hand, casualties amongst the hostages even under favourable assumptions were far too high for us to countenance it.

"I'm glad he did, then."

Loyalist soldiers climb out of a truck and start their inspection. I'm not really sure what they're looking for. Spies, perhaps? Or maybe they're just trying to convince themselves that they're still in charge of something. I try looking a little deeper. They're not wearing wards. Green and yellow, but everyone who was really likely to try and get out has almost certainly left by now. I've no idea what they're telling themselves.

"The Kahndaqi army doesn't use Commissars. I'm not sure why they don't just drive away. As far as I can tell none of them have done anything especially vile." In someone not used to it that sort of thing usually shows up as a confused knot of yellow and red as the attempts at self-justification try and fail to take hold. Seen that a few times during this war.

"They have been told that I am a Demon. A fiend in the shape of a man. They made a propaganda film featuring Theodore and Sabbac." I nod. "You told me that you had a message for me from the American government."

"Yes, Mighty One. Well… They're not going to jump the gun on recognising you as ruler. This isn't a direct message so much as a statement of opinion and a request for information."

Adom breaks off his study of the convoy for a moment to look at me. "I understand, but… Before you do that, there is something I wish to say."

"Yes, Mighty One?"

"During my first life, I was Crown Prince from the moment of my birth, then, later, Pharaoh. Each moment of my day I was surrounded by subordinates, servants, slaves, lesser nobles and priests. I was 'Prince' and later 'Mighty One'. Once I received the gods' blessings, 'Mighty One' became less of a mark of respect and more one of veneration. I found… It was appropriate, I was their sovereign. But when I was among my equals, Rama Khan, Queen Gamemnae, Prince Khufu, Tezumak… When we were in an informal setting, I found that I preferred it when they addressed me by name. I would like it if you would do the same."

Gosh. It seems a little silly, given how informal the people I know are most of the time. But for him, that's a big deal. "Thank you, Adom. Likewise, please feel free to use my name whenever you think it appropriate."

A nod and.. the very slightest of smiles. Then he returns his attention to the convoy, where the first and second trucks have been waved on and the soldiers are moving on to the third. "What thoughts does America wish you to express to me?"

"Their largest concern is your relationship with Israel. They've been more or less bribing President Muhunnad to be nice to them and they want to be sure… They're prepared to offer the same terms to you, but they definitely want to hear something positive sounding pretty soon."

"I have no grudge against the people of Israel. Nor do I intend to make war on their country at any point in the foreseeable future. But I do not like the idea of accepting bribes from a foreign government, and I am less than sanguine about the blockading of the Palestinians."

"You understand why they do it."

"Because they will not control their own fanatics but demand that their neighbours control theirs." He says nothing for a moment. "The smuggling of weapons will remain a crime, but I would wish to discuss the situation with the Israeli ambassador before making further judgement."

"I'll pass that on. Their other concern was oil."

He nods. "I have learned enough about the modern world to guess that the United States would be concerned about oil."

Beautiful deadpan understatement, there. "What exactly do you plan to do with Kahndaq's industry? They are somewhat concerned that you might nationalise the whole thing. That's happened before, and you'd be a bit harder to remove than Prime Minister Mossadegh was."

"I do not think that radical changes in my country's economic model are in anyone's interest. Certainly not in the short term. Please tell them that I have no plans to nationalise either oil extraction or refinement, though I will make no promises regarding oversight or taxation. It is not entirely clear that I will have the power to do so anyway."

"Do you intend to attempt to become a member of OPEC?"

"It does seem wise to establish friendly relations with countries with whom we share common interests. But foreign policy initiatives of that sort will have to wait until my country has stabilised." The third lorry accelerates away from the checkpoint and into Cairo. "Now I have a question for you."

"Of course."

"Queen Beena has offered to arrange peace talks between myself and those who remain loyal to Asim Muhunnad." Ah. Interesting. "She had maintained diplomatic relations with him for her entire reign and had previously offered him sanctuary in the event that he accepted my offer to let him leave. I would say that she is his only remaining political ally. I would like to think that she may be able to persuade him where I have failed. Still, I am aware of her past behaviour and I cannot entirely escape the feeling that this is some manner of trap. I also cannot see what she hopes to gain."

"I'm not sure how it could be a trap, Adom. Even if she hosted, that's only half an hour flight time for you. Less if I'm around and I just transition you back."

"That is true. I was concerned that perhaps my enemy might attempt to use it as a distraction in order to commit some great atrocity, not to win but simply to enrage me to the point where I would do something… Impolitic." Rip people apart in public. "I would have to attend in person and I see no realistic prospect of Asim Muhannad doing likewise."

"I don't know why she's offering, but… You know as well as I do how many people will die if we end up having to force this. If we take precautions to moderate the risk, I think it's worth going for."

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
11:22 GMT -4:30

I wince as Kon looks at me. "What'd he say?"

I generate a gag round the would-be armed robber's mouth. Kon speaks fluent Spanish-Spanish, but that diatribe had several words from native languages and slang that hasn't made it into Cadmus' database as yet. "I have no desire to repeat it."

Kon nods in understanding, then gets out his mobile phone as he walks a little way away from the building, elbowing the mouthy man in the back hard enough to send him staggering into the wall. "Police? Superboy. Yeah, we've found them. Petare Barrio, near-." He pauses, looking back at me. "Yeah, we can do that. Do you want us to tape the area off?" He pauses for a moment, then moves the phone away from his mouth and looks at me. "Why is he laughing?"

I look away, towards the crowd gathering on the periphery of our working area. Maybe I'm getting paranoid, but I'm sure I've heard the word 'cake' at least twice. "Do you really think anyone would take the slightest bit of notice?"

"I guess…" He returns the phone to his ear. "Okay, we'll be there in a few minutes."

I turn to the investigative reporter who tried taking pictures of the wrong group of drug pedlars. "Ma'am? We can drop you off if you like."

Fabiana Holguin looks up from checking her camera. The gang might have grabbed her for taking pictures of them, but they recognised an expensive camera when they saw one and didn't just smash it. Looks like it's in full working order. "Thank you. I would appreciate that."

I nod and attach an orange filament to her before rising into the Caracan sky. The gang members get to dangle off the construct-ropes binding them while I grant Ms Holguin the courtesy of a more normal flight profile alongside me. Kon hangs around for a moment before following us into the air and taking the lead.

"How come two American superheroes-" I shudder. "-are in Caracas, anyway?"

"Do I sound like an American?"

"Ah. Maybe? Are you not American?"

"I'm English."

"I've only ever seen you in America."

"I was in England last week! There was this.. fear elemental thing in Cornwall."

"Where?"

"J-? Do I call you Mexican?"

"Okay, sorry." She brings her camera up and starts taking pictures. "So why are you here?"

"Training. Normally, we'd just get sent out on our own recognisance, but Superboy and I live somewhere with a very low crime rate." The entire Justice League meeting semi-regularly in a place can have that effect. There's actually a small plaque in Happy Harbour dedicated to 'the most unlucky burglar in America' after a petty thief somehow managed to run straight into nearly the entire League line up. "That's true for several of our fellow trainees, so we got our choice of cities to go to."

"And you picked Caracas?"

I nod. "Highest crime rate of any city in the world."

"Are you a masochist, then?"

"Once you've fought a couple of eldritch abominations, men with guns just aren't that scary. I mean, I was a little surprised that the government were okay with the League sending us here-" The President here isn't Hugo Chavez, but he isn't much more US friendly. "-but the police seem to appreciate it."

Kaldur and Garth are in Cape Town, while Tula and M'gann got Acapulco. When we visited it before we pretty much stayed on the beach. I imagine that seeing the rest will be an eye-opener. I asked to be paired with Kon, on the grounds that with everything that's been going on we haven't been spending as much time together as we used to. He's been busy with school stuff, Amazon stuff and M'gann while I've been busy with Zatanna. I mean, we live together, it's not as if we haven't spent time around each other, but he was right; it hasn't been the same.

"Wait, Superboy? As in Superman?"

I cup my right hand against my mouth. "Kon!"

He glances back then looks away for a moment before dropping back. "What do you want to know?"

"Are you..? Superman's son? You do.. look a little like him… And you're wearing an 'S'."

Kon sighs. He's in his Nth metal armour, which is sufficiently un-Supermany that people who just get a quick look usually don't notice the 'S' on the breastplate. "I'm a partial clone of Superman. I'm not his son, he didn't even know I'd been created until last July."

"Someone cloned Superman?"

"Yes. A company called 'Cadmus'."

"I thought cloning people was illegal in America."

"No, only cloning Humans." Kon looks away again. "The guy in charge is in prison and everyone else said they were being mind controlled."

I look down at the city as we fly over-. I extend an orange grabbing arm and hoik another drug pedlar off the ground, using a filament to pick up his stash as he tries to throw it away. He gets added to the prisoner group.

"Could we do an interview later? This sounds like something I could get an award for."

"Sure, but, ah… The story already broke in the US. It's not exactly news any more."

After the attack on the LexCorp headquarters various reporters have been asking the League who the chap in plate armour was and eventually Diana, Kon and Catherine Cobert decided between them that it would be better to explain the situation rather than allow the speculation frenzy to continue. Fortunately, I knew someone who would be happy to write a piece and -frankly- wasn't inclined to interview in an aggressive way that would wind Kon up. The public desire to know resulted in Dana Dearden's interview actually getting published, along with follow up pieces about the rest of us. Nationwide, as I understand it. I understand that Superman's been fielding some slightly uncomfortable questions but Kon was clear that he's happy with the situation.

Oh, for goodness sake. How blatant are drug dealers around here?

"It was news to me, so it will probably be news to my paper's readers as well."

"Ah. If we get time, sure."

"How long are you and…" She glances at me.

"Orange Lantern."

"Orange Lantern going to be here for?"

"Probably all day. You know, as long as nothing happens that means we need to be someplace else." He thinks for a moment. "Given the crime rate, we probably won't. Hey, Paul? Would it be alright if she came with us?"

"Um. I suppose. If she wants to?" I turn to her. "There aren't any significant supervillains active in Caracas at the moment, so it shouldn't be too hard to keep you safe."

"I've been kidnapped and kept in a cage under armed guard for two days. Compared to that, following a superhero around sounds pretty safe."

"Okay then. We can pick you up after you've given a witness statement about your kidnapping."

"Are you going to be coming back after today?"

"Depends. Maybe next weekend. After that… Probably not for a while."

"Okay then. I'll give a statement, phone my editor and then I will join you."

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
12:03 GMT -4:30

"If you keep this up, we're going to need a bigger gaol!"

The custody sergeant means it as a joke, but he has a point. Things are starting to get a little cramped. "We can start taking them to a different police station if you like."

"Doesn't the Justice League have some sort of prison?"

"No, they don't really get involved in that sort of thing."

He frowns as we head back out to where Kon and Miss Holguin are waiting and where the police in the office are trying to look like they're working rather than staring. "So where do they put the villains they arrest?"

"Depends on what they can do. Normal criminals get handed over to the local police like we're doing here."

"And the supervillains?"

"There's an assessment process… Most of them would be escorted to Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary. That's the United States' metahuman containment facility. It costs a lot to keep metahumans reliably imprisoned, so most places send their supervillains there."

He looks at me quizzically. "I thought Superman's enemies got sent somewhere called 'Stryker's Island'?"

"That's where Metropolis' prison is, and they had a metahuman detainment wing… Still have, actually. But they had to custom build the cells for each detainee, then they couldn't let them out for exercise or socialisation."

"And?" I raise my eyebrows. "Hey, I'm not saying the guards should beat them or anything, but if they're dangerous enough to need Superman to deal with them…"

"It was also a pretty expensive way of doing things and not all that reliable. And… There isn't much point putting them in prison if you're not at least going to make an effort to rehabilitate them. Belle Reve's actually got quite a good education program."

Kadabra's classes have expanded a bit. Even people who probably don't have any interest in going straight have started attending, if only because the alternative is a few more hours in their cells. Abra himself seems to like having an audience, and his experience with showmanship means that he knows how to deal with hecklers. I also think he rather enjoys the fact that whatever prison rules say they don't actually have any way to prevent inmates using magic.

They have a set of my manacles but at the moment those are only approved for the transfer of dangerous prisoners. They're still seeking funding to add a magic user detention wing of the prison. Senator Knight's been campaigning on the issue. Apparently he's the bookies' favourite to win the Republican Party nomination next year. Other than being vaguely aware of the fact I haven't really spent much time learning what's going on in American politics. I can't vote, and whoever wins they're still going to need supervillains stopped. Heck, I might not even spend significant time on Earth during his term, assuming that he wins.

The sergeant comes to a stop as we near Kon and Miss Holguin. "I will start getting the paperwork together so they can be formally charged. Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome."

He turns and walks away as I draw nearer my team mate.

"…have you been doing this, then?"

"My first fight with a supervillain was in July last year."

"And you're how old?"

Kon hesitates. "That… Kinda depends on when you count from."

Miss Holguin smiles. "Why? Were you created in a tank or something?"

"Yes."

The smile crystallises then fractures. "Ohhhh."

"If you count from when I got out of the pod, then I'm seven months old. But I finished growing last March, so if you count from then I'm nearly a year old."

Bit of a dispute between M'gann and I on that point. She thinks he should be celebrating his birthday in just over a week on the 21st. I say that he wasn't 'born' until he left the tank and started interacting with the world. Kon himself doesn't appear to be sure why it matters. It's not as if any law relating to a person's age can be meaningfully applied to him anyway. And while I was planning to leave Earth almost as soon as my year was up, it's not as if hanging around for a few days is going to matter.

Looks like Miss Holguin doesn't really know how to respond.

"Ready to head out?"

Kon looks around and nods. "Did they say where they want us next?"

"No."

"So how do you decide-"

"Which means it's your turn to pick."

"-where you're going to go?"

"We know where the high crime areas are. It's basically the barrios and around the airport, but the barrios have all kinds of crime and the airport it's mostly just thefts. But on the other hand, we can probably make all the airport thieves take a day off just by showing up once or twice, and you saw how the drug dealers barely slowed down when we flew over."

"So..?"

"Let's hit the airport first. It's nearly time for lunch and they've got better restaurants than Palo Verde."

"Rightyho. Lead the way."

Kon leads the way out of the police station. There's only been enough time for a small crowd to gather outside, but we get more than a few pictures taken as we take off and head out across the city. Right, start scanning for motorcyclists. Hundreds of orange crosshairs appear before my eyes. I imagine that it's a bit more than 1% around here.

"Can you really see what's going on down there?"

"Kryptonians have really good distance vision. If I focus, I can read the story in the newspaper that guy's-" He points downwards. "-reading."

Miss Holguin squints at where he's pointing. "What.. guy?"

"He's in a café just off that road. I don't think you can see him."

"Can you see through solid objects?"

"Kinda. I can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, so if there's a hot object I'll know about it."

"What about x-ray vision?"

"No, my range doesn't go that far. I think Superman's does, though."

She turns to me. "How about you?"

"My vision's good, but Human-good, not superhuman-good. I have to use the ring to scan for things."

Kon accelerates slightly as we approach the airport. "Are you picking up anything happening right now?"

Ring? "No obvious thefts in progress, though there are a few suspicious characters we could lurk over until they get the message."

"Okay, let's go-."

"Priority alert! Boom tube detected!"

Are the Bialyans getting another delivery? I stop in the air and hold out my left hand, palm upwards. "Ring, where is it?"

"Location: Paris."

Oh heck.

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
12:09 GMT -4:30

"What's a boom-" I'm bringing my left hand to my ear even as I begin lowering her at speed to the street below us "-tuuuube!?"

"Orange Lantern to Watchtower."

"Icon here. I assume that you have also detected the boom tube."

"Yep." Kon stops as well and floats up in front of me. "Superboy and I can be there in about five seconds."

"Members of your team are not supposed-."

"Which is less time than it'll take anyone else to run to a zeta tube and then get to-" Ring?

"Place du Carrousel."

"-Place du Carrousel. Including Paris' superheroes, insane fencing man and bad headdress woman."

"I will notify Batman of your involvement."

Ring, zeta tube.

A glowing orange circle appears in the air before us. Compliance.

"Remain in constant contact and do not hesitate to say so if you require additional support."

"Right." I lower my hand. "Kon, ready?"

He nods, and inside him I can see the excitement and desire to pit himself against a physical equal in combat. "Yeah."

"The Paris tube-."

"I know." He darts forwards.

"Recognised, Superboy, zero four."

I fly forwards myself.

13th March 2011
17:41 GMT +1

"Recognised, Orange Lantern, zero six." Kon's already headed off all full speed. I generate construct armour around myself and transition to Place du Carrousel. The scenery flickers and I'm floating next to him above a grass-covered roundabout with some sort of water feature in the middle of it.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

The Louvre Palace surrounds the area on three sides-

"It just..! Its teeth..!"

-with what looks like a park to the west-north-west. Beneath us people are streaming away from the Louvre itself-. Oh dear. A chunk of the glass pyramid immediately above the entrance appears to have been smashed. Too big or just acting out? Boom tube hasn't stayed open, so-.

"Priority alert! Boom tube detected!"

Where-?! The crosshair appears over my field of view, drawing my eyes to the roof of the Palace. For a moment I see a landscape of barren rock illuminated by a reddish light, then a figure steps lightly forth onto the roof. He looks Human, though his clothing marks him out as not being from around here. He's wearing a lilac tunic with what appears to be a representation of an eclipse embroidered on the front and a yellow belt around the waist, lilac leggings and a yellow cap with a feather sticking out. He's also wearing yellow gloves, boots and a cream coloured cape. His hair is short and black and a neatly trimmed goatee sits upon his chin. In his left hand he carries a short-barrelled pistol and in his right a sort of sword-like object. It appears to be missing most of the blade.

He quickly looks around the plaza, taking in the people streaming away from the gallery. Then his eyes flick up to Kon and I think I see him smile slightly. Then he shimmers and disappears, the boom tube shutting down behind him.

That was Kanto. Mister Free said that they'd never met and Barda didn't know much about him, though she was able to confirm what I remembered from the comics. Got above himself as a boy, was sent to Renaissance Italy -she hadn't known that he'd been sent to Earth, but she knew that he'd been banished somewhere primitive- before his predecessor tracked him down and killed his wife. He returned to Apokolips, they duelled and Kanto 13 died to his poison.

At least it's probably not an invasion. "Ring, scan for him."

"Unable to locate."

Wonderful. Hardly unexpected, though. "Kon, can you still see him?"

"No, but I can see the guy in the museum. He's riding a giant dog. And he's got a hostage."

"Orange Lantern to Icon. We're at the Louvre. Two Apokoliptians on site: Kanto and what sounds like a Dog Soldier. No idea why they're here. Suggest you try getting hold of Mister Miracle. Superboy and I are moving to engage."

"Understood."

I could just transition us both in there, but… I get an image in my head of what would happen if Kanto's using one of the many man portable FTL disruption devices that were described in detail on John's ring's database. It's the sort of thing I'd have if I were him.

I do a quick scan of the crowd to make sure there aren't any injured, then nod to Kon. "After you."

He switches to the swimmer pose as he arcs towards the Louvre entrance, fists first. Could a Dog Soldier take getting hit by him at anything like full force? Maintaining my upright pose I follow on behind him. Probably not, but I trust Kon not to do anything too extreme. I'm more worried about what Kanto's doing. Is he hunting the Dog Soldier? Perhaps, but -other than possibly sport- why would he? Dog Soldiers are pretty much mindlessly obedient.

We swoop over the escalator and the panicking people on it who are running upwards to escape. In the distance I can hear what I presume to be a French police siren. Huge dirty paw prints lead into the Richelieu Wing. Again, can't see anyone hurt. Apokoliptians aren't exactly known for avoiding civilian casualties; either he's here for something or just doesn't feel like killing at the moment. Kon pauses for a moment to look at me, then heads left after whoever it is we're chasing. Ring, scan for weaponry.

No concealed weapons found. Target is wearing armour which resists scan. Target is carrying a sword which resists scan. Canine of unusual size is armed with teeth, claws and a bad attitude.

Right. And the hostage?

I get an image of a woman strapped to the side of the huge Dog. She's dressed in nondescript rags and doesn't appear to be conscious.

Hostage is-. Error. Error. Error.

Stop. I do not like the sound of that. Some sort of Typhoid Mary?

I follow Kon as we head down another level and then take a left turn.

"…technical skill, I find myself somewhat disappointed. If he is a slave, where are the marks of his servitude? Where are his wounds? The signs on his flesh showing the hardships he has endured?"

People have already fled this section, so I get my first clear view of the man in grey and gold armour sitting astride. His steed is similarly arrayed, the decoration on its armour giving it a slightly reptilian look and reminding me of the Sphere. Is it cybernetic? Or is that just what New God technology looks like?

"But this! You see, Dreamer? This other is better. See how he conceals his struggle against his bonds? See how he stares down his oppressor, not deigning to visibly acknowledge his own reduced status? Such exquisite defiance." He twists in his seat as Kon approaches, interposing a shield. Kon strikes it with both fists, then stops dead in the air, all momentum arrested. The Dog turns, allowing the Soldier to slash at Kon with his sword and forcing Kon to pull back. "But perhaps I may find beauty in physicality as well."

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
17:44 GMT +1

Kon edges back and floats around in order to get on his far side. The Soldier dips his shield slightly as he takes us both in.

"Alright, Apokoliptian, who are you and what do you w-?"

His shield-arm comes up and gun! I tran-.

Kanto!

I dod-.

Art gallery!

I create a shield construct, the energy from his pistol burning into it but failing to break it. Kon flies in once more only for the Dog to rear and lunge, clamping its teeth around his forearms and twisting its head to hurl him at-! Shit, no! A crash barrier construct catches Kon before he can demolish the Soldier of Marathon Announcing the Victory, a statue with which I have particular sympathy.

"Whom do I have the pleasure of fighting?"

I form a railgun construct and load a solid slug. "You first."

"My name is Canis Minor, Human. I have come for your art."

I hold up my right hand and Kon nods. "Orange Lantern two eight one four. If you like it so much, why are you trying to get it demolished?"

"It builds character. In its destruction it can relay the pure savagery of our actions just as well as it can the emotional intent of the original sculptor. With gun and with sword we may reinvent it." He looks around. "To whom does this belong? What member of Earth's ruling council has sent his warriors after me?"

I send filaments out across the room, upping my glow slightly to disguise them. "Ruling council?"

"Yes, the Justice League. Your lords and masters." Kon and I exchange a puzzled look, which he spots. "Do not take me for a fool. I've studied Earth symbology. You-" He gestures at Kon with his sword. "-wear the emblem of the Superman." He switches his attention to me as a filament on the far side of him rises up and cuts through the straps binding his hostage with an x-ionised knife. "Your emblem I do not recognise, but I do recognise your rings. I have seen similar rings in Darkseid's trophy halls." Nice to have confirmation about First Lantern Qarrigat's attack. "Is the second a battle trophy?" Bonds severed, I maintain the pressure of her presence against the Dog's side with a construct, attach a filament to her and pull her away. "Or simply a sign of your mastery?"

"Little from column A, little from column B." The Dog shifts slightly and lets out a low growl. It can't see her from where its head is, the construct is silent, it can't have felt the weight shift…

Scent. The environmental shield around her is blocking her smell. I yank her violently away as the Dog turns to snap at her retreating form. Another filament deposits an x-ionised sword out of subspace just in front of Kon as my railgun fires, nailing Canis in the chest and knocking him off his mount.

He doesn't even grunt as he rolls to his feet.

Kon flies along the length of the room before darting at Canis, sword at the ready. Canis goes to block with his shield again but Kon's ready for it. He strikes the shield as before, then shifts his fist to grab the outer edge of it and pulls, causing Canis to stagger forwards and giving Kon an opening which he uses to punch his foe in the side of his helmet.

The Dog barely reacts to its master vanishing. Instead, it fixes me with a stare and growls, huge teeth bared, saliva dripping onto the gallery floor. How mundane is its physiology? Don't know. On the other hand, empathic vision tells me that it isn't sentient. I jam the filaments I have spread across the floor into its body and apply electric current. The ones which try to attach to the armoured portions of its body can't get hold of it but all of them zap it.

"Reww!" It shudders for a moment, then -"Rerrrrrrrrrr."- charges me, tearing free of the bonds. Okay, super strong and super tough. But still a Dog. I dart sideways faster than it can turn and stick manacle constructs around its hind legs, yanking them back while they're off the ground. The Dog trips, slams shoulder first into the ground and slides towards Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss. The hostage safe-. Wait, would Kanto have been after her? Damn it, can't let her out of my sight either. I bring her back from the reception area and deposit her just outside this wing. The Dog I lift into the air by all four ankles, just managing to avoid smashing into Cupid's outstretched wing. Right, it's probably still basically a normal creature. I jam a gas mask over its muzzle and start forcing xenon into its lungs. Heavier than air but otherwise inert, that should render it unconscious without risking further harm.

It bucks fiercely against the restraints, but they're flexible enough to stand it. Yes, good, use up all your oxygen. I glance in Kon's direction and see that he's actually fighting a sword-duel. Canis' technique is better but -as they cross guards and Kon holds him off one-handed while punching him in the gut- it looks like Kon's stronger. Whatever armour Canis is wearing must be highly effective. Still, I've got a direct line to Kon's earpiece and a railgun with crumbler rounds that will chew through whatever force field it's projecting. I can just tell Kon to pull back-.

A bolt of brilliant golden-orange energy hits the Dog in the chest, causing it to spasm and yelp! I drop it on a clear area of the floor. Where did that-?!

"Brut!" Canis appears to suddenly slide to the side, slashing at Kon's armoured flank. Kon gasps as Canis' sword makes contact but I'm busy trying to spot where the shot-. There! An orange destructive pulse blasts from the ring on my right hand and disintegrates… Some sort of drone weapon? What's left is mostly black with the typical Apokoliptian tron lines picked out in grey. Okay, scan-. The remains disintegrate as I watch. Didn't get anything useful.

I pull back towards where Kon is feeling his side to check whether or not he's bleeding while Canis checks on his Dog. As far as I know the only other thing active around here that might have access to Apokoliptian weaponry is Kanto. I don't remember what sort of weapons he preferred in the comics, though infantry-directed drone weapons are a fairly standard science fiction thing that I suppose it makes sense Apokoliptians would have access to.

"Kon, you alright?"

"Think so."

"Is the armour alright?" He shoots me a look. "I don't want to have to replace it, do I?"

Canis holsters his pistol so that he can touch his Dog's face with his left gauntlet. I see red light roil within him, momentarily forming the picture of Kanto's face. The.. texture..? Of the light seems different to what I'm used to. Is that a New God thing? I haven't seen Mister or Missus Free since New Year and I didn't spend much time studying them then. A moment later, apparently satisfied that his Dog is still alive, Canis steps away from his unconscious body. "Face me assas-!" Another brilliant bolt hits him in the leg and causes him to collapse to the floor.

"I think not." "Appropriate location for it."

Canis draws his pistol again and shoots at a nearby wall, plaster and brick exploding from the point of impact! Need to stop that. "Kon, get him. Keep him from wrecking the place. I'll get Kanto."

"Right."

Kon flies in again with his sword at the ready as I open my empathic vision to the fullest extent. Come on, he's a New God, he's got to have some sort of-. There! The background is somewhat distracting, but he's got the same sort of weird depth as Canis. I can't see any drones, but then I didn't see the first one. Phasing and some form of stealth? Tricky, but nothing I can't replicate.

My full power armour manifests around me and filaments shoot outwards, running through the Louvre corridors and galleries. Once I'm confident that I've got the surround my Praexis Demon horde pulls itself free from them in a scene reminiscent of the way low level enemies appeared in the first Devil May Cry game, pulling themselves from the floor.

I picture the networks of energy that I see where Kanto stands clearly in my mind.

Praexis Demons, feed.

"Yay!"

Then I trigger my own phasing system and fly through the wall towards the Assassin God.

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
17:48 GMT +1

How does Kanto fight? Hm. I slow slightly to watch the first Praexis Demons reach his location. I can't see exactly what he's doing, but the particulars of his desire-flares suggest-. Yes, the first Demon disintegrates without any detectable energy discharge. He stabbed it rather than shooting it. My construct-shield easily soaked Canis' shot and Kanto's gun looked about the same size. Kanto probably has access to better stuff, but that might well be as small as those whatever-they-ares can be made. Another two Praexis Demons reach his approximate location and swiftly vanish. A fourth barely has time to get into the room before disappearing. A shot of some sort? They should be able to consume just about any form of energy. Can they not detect Kanto by themselves in order to respond to his actions? Seems plausible.

There's a tiny flash of well controlled yellow as I pause in a corridor to replenish the Praexis Demon horde. None of them lasted long enough to gain useful information but they're all eager for another try. I re-engage phasing and accelerate. The courtyard which Kanto's in doesn't appear to contain anything absolutely irreplaceable. Okay, how much force am I willing to use here? He's a murderous minor god in the service of Darkseid, and I don't know exactly how tough that makes him. Or how resilient to what. Several walls flash by me, then both I and a tourist get an unpleasant surprise as I phase directly through him.

Up ahead, the Praexis work out that solo attacks aren't working and mass for a charge, only for Kanto to use some sort of explosive, okay, need to sort this out now! I accelerate even more, finally passing through the last wall between us and appearing in the air over his position. With construct armour active there's no point in invisibility. Praexis Demons stream past me as I raise my hands and use my revulsion at the idea of Earth ending up like Apokolips to fire an orange energy pulse at him. There's a little more yellow in the mix now as he dives to evade, sword -I presume- slicing through another couple of Demons.

The second energy pulse hits him in mid-air, striking him in roughly the centre of his mass. Empathic vision just shows me where he is, it doesn't let me see him. Much as I'd like to do a called shot to his sword arm that just isn't possible.

"Agg." "Why do I bother with invisibility?"

Whatever device he was using to prevent visible light revealing him fails as he hits the far wall, his costume fraying a little at the edges. Even as he lands he throws two knives directly at my face. I counter with two small railgun constructs, slivers of iron shooting them out of the air. I mean, those can't possibly have been normal knives, right? I let the Praexis horde move to surround him as he regains his feet and points his sword at me in a classical fencing pose.

"Surprisingly effective, for a mortal. But you meddle in affairs-."

"You're Kanto -formerly Iluthin- of Apokolips. You're Darkseid's court assassin. You grew up in Granny Goodness' orphanage and were briefly exiled to Earth after growing too confident -rightly confident- in your abilities for her tastes. You worked for Cesare Borgia and were briefly married to his sister before your predecessor -Kanto Thirteen- attacked and killed her in revenge for you showing him up. You then returned to Apokolips and duelled him, winning by poisoning the water he drank before the fight started. You have a beard now because Darkseid instructed you to grow one when he confirmed your position, because he was concerned that you looked too young for it." He can't see it under my faceplate, but I've raised my eyebrows. "How did I do?"

He tilts his head to the side. "Sur-prisingly well. But you don't know why I'm here now." "Interesting."

"Darkseid instructed you to kill Canis shortly after he was revealed to have killed his father, Canis Major. Not an art lover, I assume." I create a new railgun construct, loading… I don't know… Mageslayer? The advantage of a Mageslayer round being that in addition to the anti-magic effect it's still a supersonic lump of metal and stone. "Tell me why you're here and then go home, and I'll let you go unmolested."

"Let me think for a moment." His free hand dips to his belt and-. What? Space distorted around him, the wall behind him sort of twisting out of his way.

No matter. I wave the Praexis Demons forwards and reactivate my own phase generator before accelerating forwards. He's reached the surface but since I can't see anyone else I'm going to assume that the area has been evacuated. The wall and roof flash past me as I head after him. What's his plan here? Am I.. badly misunderstanding power levels here? One last layer to go. What could gragh?

Kanto smiles smugly at me as I try and work out why I've stopped moving. "A phase shifter? I suppose I should be surprised that you could get something like that on Earth." My body's stuck in the brickwork. Bits of me appear to have fused with it. That's.. not good. "But there are any number of counter strategies a man such as-."

The destructive bolt from my face hits him in the mouth, knocking him off his feet with a few fewer teeth than he started with. Right, my brain's fine. A flare of orange cuts a me-shaped piece out of the wall. I float forwards, trying to ignore the extremely uncomfortable feeling of large parts of my body not really interacting with the others. Wholeness Rightly Assumed oh that's better. Oh, and fix the phase shifter and.. probably the wall as well.

Compliance.

At least I can feel mildly happy that I didn't try using faster than light travel. And that whatever he just did didn't trigger while my brain was… Yeah, okay. Less happy.

Railgun, crumbler.

Kanto's just pushing himself up as my round strikes him in the centre of his sunburst.

"Ggah!" "Firepits!"

He staggers back as the decoration is obliterated, leaving the lilac under-armour showing. That layer is only mildly abraded. Interesting. Wonder how it does that? The Praexis Demons finally start to catch up with us as I grab his wrists with cons-. They dissipate. Fine, I take manacles out of subspace and clamp them around his wrists, pulling him up into the air. A silver burst of energy strikes me in the side of the head as another drone weapon makes an attack. It starts burning through my construct armour in earnest for a moment before my railgun turret tracks the point of origin and fires once. The beam cuts out.

Kanto runs his tongue around the inside of his mouth and spits out blood. Be analysing that later. He looks at me curiously. "Are you a god?"

"That's complicated." I take hold of his discarded sword and pistol with filaments. "Now, are you going to answer me or do I have to brand you first?"

He smiles reinforcing armour! There's a pulse of vibrations from his wrists as the metal clamps melt and drip off. Brand!

"Extreme resistance detected."

Okay, still not seeing on exactly how he plans on hurting me, but I trigger the Demons anyway. Like the obedient ambulatory mouths they are they swarm forwards as Kanto leaps back and throws another knife. This one isn't aimed at me, but at the closest Demon, which…

"Ahh!"

Appears to be sucked into it. Not good. I do not want an Apokoliptian in a position to analyse my constructs. Kanto raises his right hand and the dagger reverses its course to return to him, before being shot out of the air by a crumbler round. The dagger is reduced to nothing and I feel the Demon return to the ring. Okay, now-. Kanto doffs his hat, steps backwards and… Disappears. Can't see his emotional resonance any longer. I send a construct line forwards after him and it disappears where he did. Okay, invisible portal. I take a neural shock grenade out of subspace and fire it through, only for it to pass where I believed the aperture to be and clank down on the paving stone on the far side. Just to check I wave a ten foot steel pole across the plaza. No, that's it. He's gone.

What was that? Some sort of stealth boom tube? I raise my left hand to my ear. "Orange Lantern here. Kanto appears to have disengaged. I'm uninjured, minimal collateral damage. Any news?"

"Might need you to repair some ueh-. Some statues. This guy's not h-happy about his Dog."

"Barda has indicated that she will be joining you shortly."

I turn to return to Kon. Ah. Probably shouldn't risk phasing until Mister Free can check the area over. I plot a route and instruct the ring to fly me there as swiftly as possible. "I'm going to need about twenty seconds to get back to you, Kon. Are you going to be alright-?"

I hear a yelp in the background. "Turns out his eyes are vulnerable."

"Well spotted." My course takes me back through the main entrance and through the corridors. "I'll check the hostage. Let me know when Barda-." From the end of the corridor comes the flash of light which I remember from New Year signals her teleportation. "Never mind." I stop in front of the hostage. Still pretty out of it. I create a construct stretcher for her and load her onto it before returning to the sculpture room.

Canis' sword is embedded in… Oh dear. I pull it out as gently as possible and use my prior scans to restore the statue. Kon's got Canis pinned front first onto the ground with his arms around Canis' neck. His helmet has been lost at some point and for the first time I can see his face. Brown skin, medium length black hair and a look of exertion on his face as he struggles against Kon's hold.

Barda stares down at him, mega rod in hand. "You have lost. Yield or die."

Canis tries pulling once more then relaxes, exhaling in frustration. "Yes, Aunt Barda."

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
17:01 GMT

Diana looks through the window into the Watchtower medical bay's secure observation room. "Who is she?"

Canis hesitates to respond, then twitches slightly as Barda tightens her hand around his shoulder. "Her name is Dreamer. She is of New Genesis."

Inside, Mister Free is unpacking some rather odd-looking equipment he brought with him. He's wearing his red, green and yellow costume but currently has the mask folded back out of the way. None of us are really qualified to deal with spiritual injuries or New God physiology, so he's our best bet. It was a stroke of luck that Barda's captured Mother Box started pingpingpinging as soon as it saw who was in need of assistance. Apparently it has decided to accept that its owners are now on the side of righteousness and appears to be trying to make up for all the time it spent silent by talking their ears off. The Sphere is inside as well, remaining still but constantly revving itself in what appears to be nervousness. Icon is busy explaining things to the French authorities while Kon and I are up here to give our reports in person.

"I understand that you are from Apokolips."

Canis' Dog -its name translates as 'Béton Brut'- is chained up in one of the secure cells as far as we could manage to put it from the quantum Horse herd out in the gardens. They seem to have settled in nicely to their new home but I don't know how they'd respond to a large predator. Once he was quartered Canis didn't seem all that worried about him so I'm assuming that either he's not seriously injured or can regenerate.

"I am." "Truth and beauty in one. This pleases me."

Diana turns to face him. "Then how did she come to be in your possession?"

He curls the left side of his lip upwards. "Bernadeth guarded her inadequately."

Barda turns, grabbing the bottom of his cuirass and using that to lift him and hurl him against the far wall. He hits it with the back of his head before sliding down. With his helmet gone the impact seems to briefly stun him. "My mother had many children and I have many nephews. If you wish to have a place here you will start being helpful!"

He recovers slightly and goes to push himself up. Then he stops. "Have I your permission to rise, Captain?" "I will comply." Barda's eyes narrow for a moment, then she gives him a small nod. Not quite taking his eyes off her he rises to his feet. "Some time ago Desaad boasted of a great victory against New Genesis: capturing a group of their younger warriors alive. Lord Darkseid was greatly pleased with him, and bade him use all of his art upon them to attempt to break their will." He shrugs. "She was being transported to Granny Goodness' Orphanage when I learned of her location. Slaying her guards was no great feat, but her suffering to that point had rendered her somewhat incoherent. And Kanto was once more nipping at my heels in a disagreeable fashion. I needed to be away, and since I would not be welcome on New Genesis I thought that perhaps you and-." His eyes flick to the glass screen. "-Scott Free may be able to help her."

Barda peers at him. "You expect me to believe that you helped her out of the goodness of your heart?" "Thin ice, nephew."

I'm certainly not seeing any indigo. It's actually a little strange. Most people have at least a little within them. Even thugs are capable of comradely concern, even if they don't do much with it most of the time. He's genuinely got none.

Canis looks slightly puzzled. "No, of course not. I simply don't have the information that I want on New Genosian artwork. I had thought to interrogate her but as I said, she was not really capable of cogent discourse."

Barda blinks. "Art?" "That's even less credible."

"An unusual pursuit for one of Apokolips, I know. Father left much of my upbringing to a damaged Mother Box. I believe that she used the opportunity to expand my horizons." He shrugs again. "I find beauty in many things. Many places. Dreamer is.. not beautiful, not as she is, but she may become so. At the very least, I could satisfy my own curiosity as to what it is that her people regard as beautiful."

Diana takes a step forwards. "How many others are they holding?"

Canis' eyes dip for a moment. "I don't know. I only needed one as an information source. More than two, less than ten."

"What exactly are they doing to them?"

"I-."

"Desaad is a master torturer. He takes great pleasure in matching each form of suffering to those his victim dreads most. At the most basic level, he would use electrocution and pain stimulation, both to cause suffering and to demonstrate his victim's powerlessness. He might make use of cruder techniques… Knives, poisons, engineered diseases and memetic programming, but if his aim were to break them…" Barda walks over to the intercom built into the observation window. "Have a care, Scott. She has been-."

"Exposed to the Anti-Life." He nods. "I noticed."

"Pingpingping."

"Apparently it's only a secondary infection. I should be able to get rid of it, at least enough for her to function again." "Not sure what sort of state she'll be in."

"Orange Lantern." Diana turns to me. "How powerful was Kanto?"

"Not very, to be honest. I suspect that I could have killed him, though… He might have had access to technologies I didn't see him use. Nothing I saw him do couldn't have been replicated by an athletic and well equipped Human."

Kon looks at me. "I thought you said he trapped you in a wall."

"I knew phasing was disruptable. As far as I know-" I look at Barda for confirmation. "-that was a technological device, not an innate ability he gets from being the New God of Assassination."

She nods. "His godhood grants him an instinct on how to use it, but it would just have been a trap he deployed." Barda turns to Diana. "The most powerful members of the Justice League can fight New Gods as equals." She hesitates for a moment. "Most of them, anyway."

"Equals? Is that why you complain whenever I fly during our spars?"

I punch the air with my right fist. "Wooo! Fifth World rules!"

Barda ignores my juvenile outburst. "You do not have the resources to fight all the armies of Apokolips. And you do not have the strength to fight Darkseid."

Kon looks offended. "Says who?"

"Says the former leader of his bodyguard. I know what he is capable of better than anyone."

I nod. "His Omega Effect? Does it.. actually erase anything from existence, or is it just a powerful energy beam?"

"The Effect is an outward manifestation of his cruel and vile domination. A being with a strong soul may survive for a few seconds, but that is the most I have ever seen anyone last."

"Then, yes,-" I nod. "-we're a very long way from being able to fight Darkseid."

"What about that sword, the one with the two pronged blade?"

"Oh, that could certainly kill him. The trick would be getting close enough to use it without getting Omega Effected. The Omega Effect is fast and he can consciously redirect it. And if he doesn't feel like fighting you himself he can just have you swarmed under by Parademons."

"Maybe if the Flash used it?"

"If they could counter phasing, they could probably counter superspeed. And that's assuming that the Flash was willing to kill someone, which I'm not convinced about."

Diana nods. "The League will need to discuss what -if any- action we intend to take."

Barda grimaces. "If Kanto has come to Earth, there can be no doubt that Darkseid knows that Scott and I-."

Scott knocks on the window. "She's waking up."

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
17:05 GMT

Diana enters the secure observation room while the rest of us look on through the one way glass. This could well get a bit awkward. Dreamer has almost certainly heard of Mister Free, but I doubt that she'd be able to recognise him by sight. She certainly won't know Diana. Would she recognise this as a Green Lantern Corps facility? Do they even have Green Lanterns in her neck of the woods? If she won't talk to us then we won't be able to either send her back to New Genesis or raid Apokolips to free her colleagues.

Diana takes position near the door while Mister Free removes the most disturbing-looking medical probes. The Sphere has quietened down while-

"Pingpingping."

-the Mother Box is getting even more excited.

"Mra box?" Dreamer's eyes open the tiniest of slits, her irises unfocused. Mister Free takes a step away from the bed, staying in her line of sight but trying not to crowd her. "Wha'?"

"Pingping! Pingping!"

The Sphere warbles joyfully along with the Mother Box as Mister Free smiles down at Dreamer. "How are you feeling?" "You're among friends here."

The moment she hears a voice her eyes snap open, her respiration rate increases and she pulls her legs in, moving to a crouch and watching the two other people in the room like a cornered rat.

"Hey." Mister Free holds up his hands in a placatory gesture. "No one's going to hurt you." I'm not sure whether she's just trembling or shaking her head. "Do you know who I am?"

"N. N. N-n-no."

"My name is Scott Free. When I'm at work, people call me Mister Miracle. But.. you wouldn't know me by that name. I was only given it after I left New Genesis."

"Why did you leave?"

"My father handed me over to Darkseid-" At the mention of the name she cringes, curling up and covering her head with her hands. "-in exchange for Orion." Freedom. Mister Free looks away for a moment. "That would have been about two hundred Earth years ago. Huh. When you put it like that it sounds like a really long time."

Dreamer keeps watching him, uncurling slightly.

"Ping!"

"You have a Mother Box? How-?" The Sphere revs and Dreamer's eyes flick towards it. "The.. New Genesphere…"

Mister Free raises his right eyebrow. "That's not very original. You couldn't call her the 'Ultrasphere' or the 'Trispherecle'?"

"Pingpingping!"

Dreamer slowly lowers her arms, then sits with her knees pulled up to her chest. "I'm really back on Earth."

Diana takes a step forward, immediately drawing Dreamer's attention. "Do you remember how you got here?"

"I-." Her eyes widen again and she starts shaking. "I think they were moving me, from… From-." Her jaw clamps shut.

"Okay." Mister Free holds out his right hand in a warding gesture. "That's fine. You don't have to think about it right now." Dreamer nods. "I grew up in Granny Goodness' Orphanage myself. I remember what it was like." He gives her a moment to settle down. "You said that you'd been to Earth before?"

She nods hesitantly. "Yes. We…" She shudders again. "We came to Earth seeking stolen New Genesis technology."

Diana nods. "When was that?"

"I.. don't know your dating system. Mother Box… Our Mother Box led us to a mountain on the coastline of this world's smaller landmass where she had detected the New Genesphere. But before we arrived she said that she detected some sort of elemental life form which she did not think that we would be able to defeat."

Huh. Smaller landmass being the Americas and the mountain presumably being Mount Justice. Which means that the Ophidian scared them off. Four and a half months ago, then.

"We then went after another New Genosian artefact, the Rescue Drill. It was being used by a group of thieves to break into a vault containing large amounts of gold." Think I remember reading the report. "They were armed with weapons from Apokolips, and were able to fend us off until we summoned Infinity Man."

Infinity Man? Isn't that what Darkseid's brother started calling himself after his attempt to merge with the Omega Force resulted in Desaad and his brother backstabbing him? That makes Dreamer one of those children who swap places with him. I don't really remember much else about him… Wait, wasn't it him who ended up killing all the other New Gods off when the Source went mental?

"Infinity Man. I don't know who that is."

"Infinity Man is a titanic machine that draws power from the Source, making it unstop-." Another wave of shudders. A machine? That's not how it was in the comics. Does that mean no Drax? Or did he build it on that planet he ended up on? "It was.. a powerful force for good."

"What happened to it?"

"After we recovered the stolen technology, we pursued the thieves to an aircraft launch centre. We were ambushed by more Humans armed with Apokoliptian weapons. We fought them, and when they threatened to overwhelm us we once again summoned Infinity Man." She stops, clearly reliving the moment.

Next to me, Canis frowns. "They could not even overcome a small group of Humans without calling upon this 'Infinity Man'?"

Barda glowers at him. "She's little more than a child, Canis."

"And? I led an army to victory when I was her age, and against a far more capable foe."

Mister Free nods sympathetically. "What happened next?"

"Desaad himself was disguised amongst the Humans. He provided them with a Father Box, which they threw at us as we merged to create Infinity Man. It corrupted our connection to the Source with Anti-Life, changing Infinity Man from a warrior for good into an Engine of Destruction loyal to Darkseid." She pauses again. "I am not sure what happened next. When I.. came around, we were bound and being presented to-." Another series of shudders.

Mister Free nods. "Darkseid." "Tyranny." "Who else was taken with you?"

"My friends. Vykin, Bear, Moonrider and Serifan." She looks up at him imploringly. "Please, they are still on Apokolips! You must help them!"

"Pingpingping!"

Mister Free nods. "Mother Box is right. Attacking Apokolips without a lot more information would be very risky."

Dreamer nods. "With your Mother Box, I could open a boom tube to Supertown on New Genesis. I am sure that Highfather-" Mister Free looks away for a moment. "-would offer his aid."

Diana steps forward again, laying her right hand on Dreamer's left shoulder. "We will take that under advisement. For now, try to get some rest."

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th March 2011
17:09 GMT

"Who-? Who are you?"

"My name is Princess Diana of Themyscira."

"Are you from New Genesis as well?"

Diana smiles and shakes her head. "No. I am from Earth."

Dreamer doesn't look entirely convinced. "But.. you feel as if you are from New Genesis." She looks at Mister Free for confirmation.

He shakes his head. "Aside from Himon, you're the first person from New Genesis I've ever met."

"I don't know exactly what you mean by 'feeling' like I'm from New Genesis-."

"Ping pingping!"

Diana pauses for a moment. I.. suppose that noise meant something to her? "Ah. In that case, perhaps the fact that I was given life by one of this world's elder gods is causing you confusion."

Next to me, Canis turns away from the window and prods me in the chest. "You, Human. This world has Old Gods?"

"I don't know what that term means for New Gods, but we do have quite a lot of sentient arcane life forms, many of which can take on corporeal forms."

He frowns. "But… This is the seat of the Justice League's power. Why are they not here?"

"Because they're not members?"

He looks at me in absolute disbelief. "They're not.. members…" "How.. powerful is the League?!"

Missus Free glances at him with a very slight look of amusement on her lips. Um. "Ah. I can introduce you to the Ophidian later, if you like. She's not exactly a god, but-."

The door to the secure medical bay opens and Diana leads the way out. "-happy to assign you quarters, either here-" Dreamer follows close behind her. "-or on Earth. I am certain-."

Dreamer sees Missus Free, and I get a brief yellow light review of Missus Free's career as a Female Fury before she was persuaded to leave Apokolips by Mister Free. Dreamer steps back, and her field of vision expands to see Canis and myself. "NO!" Her eyes go wide with fear and she starts trying to back away, nearly tripping over her own feet and more or less collapsing into Mister Free. "Apokolips! They're-!"

"Dreamer, it's okay." "Barda, could you lose the-?" Barda presses a button on her belt, her armour disappearing and… Ah. It seems that she didn't have time to dress before the call came in. "Barda doesn't work for Darkseid any more. Orange Lantern never did and Canis is the one who rescued you."

Dreamer nods and attempts to steady her breathing, clinging a little less tightly to Mister Free. After a moment she is in control of herself well enough to nod. "Is..?" She looks at Canis. "Are you part of Himon's resistance?"

Mister Free looks a little uncertain for a moment. "Ah, well-."

Canis shakes his head. "No, I am a loyal servant of mighty Darkseid!"

Mister Free shakes his head. "He doesn't mean that." "Canis, shut up."

"Certainly I do!" "I despise such deception." "I was personally trained by his uncle. I fought at the head of his army. And he has shown his favour by sending numerous assassins after me, to ensure that my skills are always at their sharpest."

Eh?

"Aero Troopers, Parademons, my own Aunts! Shortly before I liberated you I learned that he had even dispatched Kanto to slay me!"

He's smiling. Er. Is that..? It could be an Apokoliptian thing, but I was rather under the impression that Darkseid tried to kill things when he wanted them dead. I remember that the Parademon in the Secret Six felt better about things once he'd been tortured for a while. Would Darkseid send killers after someone as a show of affection? I glance at Barda. Ah. No, no he wouldn't.

Canis nods to himself. "I am truly blessed."

…

At least Dreamer doesn't look scared any more.

Kon looks at Diana. "What happens next?"

"Now, Mister Miracle attempts to contact his father and I contact Batman. If the League decides to get involved it's something we need to decide as a group."

"It's not like we'd be initiating hostilities. Apokolips has already involved itself with Earth, sending weapons to Bialya and apparently-."

She regards me levelly. "Yes Orange Lantern. I am aware of that."

Right, of course. "Sorry sir." I raise my eyebrows. "Where do you want Superboy and I?"

Diana pauses for a moment and takes in our group. "Mister Miracle." He's pulled his face mask on. "How long will you need to visit your father?"

"Opening the boom tube should only take a few seconds. Telling him about what happened… Fifteen minutes? I don't particularly want to have a long conversation with him."

Two hundred years ago the man handed him over to the God of Tyranny. It wouldn't be surprising if he held a bit of a grudge, but what I'm seeing is more like what Kon feels for Superman: it might have been nice but it didn't happen. He hasn't seen the man since he was an infant. Of course, Kon ended up with Diana while he got Granny Goodness.

Missus Free looks at her husband. "I'm going."

"Honey, I don't-" Her jaw hardens. "-see any reason why you shouldn't." He smiles winsomely.

Canis nods. "I myself would like to see the capital-."

Missus Free stares at him. "You can stay here where you can do less harm."

"But the whole reason I did this was to learn of the art of New Genesis. If I don't see anything then I've wasted my time with the wench."

"Orange Lantern, Superboy: escort Canis Minor to the guest quarters and give him access to a hologram projector and a database of Earth's art and history."

Canis looks truculent. "That is hardly-."

"As a temporary measure while we decide what we're going to do with him."

"If it helps, these rings have databases filled with the artistic knowledge of thousands of civilisations. I'm sure we can find something that you consider appealing."

He considers for a moment. "Very well. For now."