Earth 2 #1
Order and Chaos, Part 1 - Prologue
By BlackRobin195
Salem, Massachusetts
The Tower of Fate
Kent Nelson sits in his study, looking intently at the Helmet of Fate, which sits opposite him on a pedestal. He can almost hear the words of Nabu echoing in his head. It had been years since he had put it on as Dr. Fate, and he has no intention to, though recently he's felt as though it was calling to him. As if the voice of the Lord of Order, Nabu, whose power he once commanded, was trying to call upon him again.
His wife, Inza, approaches him from behind, leans down and places a hand on his shoulder.
Inza: Kent? Are you alright?
Kent (snapping himself out of his daze): Hm? Oh, yes, dear. I was just thinking, that's all.
Inza looks at the helmet, an uneasy look upon her face.
Inza: You need not worry about that helmet any more. You helped Nabu in with what he needed.
Kent looked up at Inza and smiles.
Kent: You're right.
Inza (smiling back): Come now, it's getting late. You've been down here for hours. You need your rest.
Kent (getting up from his chair): Of course, I – (turns his head towards the helmet)
He could hear whispers coming from the helmet, Nabu calling out to him.
Inza: Kent?
Kent (looking back at Inza): You go on, I'll be up in a few minutes.
Inza begins to speak.
Kent: I promise.
Inza (gives a smile): Hm…alright. But if you aren't up within the next five minutes, I'm coming back down here, and dragging you up myself.
Kent (smiles): I wouldn't expect anything less.
Inza: Good. (She then proceeds upstairs)
Kent turned back towards the helmet, the voice of Nabu growing louder, calling to him to don the helmet again.
Elsewhere in the tower, Inza walks up a flight of stone stairs, past walls adorned with swords, paintings, and various artifacts. She reaches the end of the hall, the bedroom just feet away, as something catches her attention out of the corner of her eye.
Inza (curiously): I could've sworn I –
Inza hears something behind her and turns around. In front of her, sitting on a windowsill is a cat.
Inza (approaching the cat): How could you have…?
As she came closer, she could see its ginger fur and dark tiger stripes. Inza's eyes went wide. In an instant, she darted away from the cat, which hissed and leapt off the windowsill at her. Inza rushed into the bedroom, locking the door behind her. She walked over to the bed, and pulled a dagger from out under the pillow. She faced the door, dagger in hand, waiting for the monster she knew would enter.
Inza (sweating): Come on, demon…
She could hear the cat clawing at the door, though it stopped after a few seconds. Inza knew better though. She remained in her position. That was when the door shattered, shards and splinters of wood scattered around the room. Inza cried out as she was sent off her feet, crashing to the ground. Her dagger flew out of her hand, and slid away from her, across the floor.
In his study, Kent approached the helmet. He could hear words coming from it. He was sure of it. Nabu was attempting to contact him. Kent slowly approached the helmet. The words were growing louder. They were jumbled though, as if multiple people were speaking at once. They were deafening now. Though something managed to rise above the noise, the sound something wooden shattering two floors up, followed by his wife's scream.
Kent (turning away from the helmet, his face in horror): Inza?!
Kent took one look at the helmet before he started to run out of his study, and up the stairs. He ran up two flights before entering into the hallway that lead into the rest of the second floor.
Kent (stopping in the doorway, terrified): Inza! Inza where are you?!
There was no answer.
Kent ran down to the end of the hallway. He turned right, looking down another hallway, at the end of the hall, was their bedroom.
Kent (starting to run): No!
As he neared the room, he could see claw marks scarring the doorway and ground around the room. Kent froze just next to the doorway.
Kent (muttering to himself): It can't be, there's no way that…
Kent took a breath and slowly turned the corner, entering the doorway.
Kent (in shock): Inza…
The room had been destroyed. The window and mirror had been shattered, the bed torn to pieces, and the walls were covered in claw marks. In the middle of the room, stood a creature Kent had not seen in years. It was feline though human-size at the same time. Its body was covered in ginger fur, with black tiger stripes. Its clawed hands were stained in blood, and in one hand, it held Inza.
Her body was limp and her eyes were closed, blood coming from her mouth and forehead. Her shirt and pants were torn, revealing bloody claw marks underneath, and her clothes were soaked in blood. The creature dropped her body to the floor, and slowly turned its head to face Kent, revealing a face that resembled a tiger.
Kent looked down. At his feet was Inza's dagger. That was when the creature let out a roar no feline should ever make. It lunged for Kent, who evaded, rolling onto the floor, and grabbing the dagger in one swift motion. Within seconds, Kent was on his feet, Inza's dagger in hand. The creature got back on its feet and growled at Kent.
Kent (angry): Come on! I'm betting it's me you want.
The creature growled again before lunging at Kent, this time quicker than before. Kent was ready though. He ducked, letting the creature's claws miss his head. Kent took this opportunity to attack. He griped the knife and plunged it into the creature's abdomen.
Creature (growls in pain): Raaaahhhhh!
Kent pulled the knife out, and blood oozed from the creature's wound. Kent readied himself to attack again, but the creature anticipated it. With one arm, it swatted Kent away, sending him into the wall.
Kent (in pain): Argh!
The creature leapt onto the windowsill of the shattered window, clutching its wound with its left hand. It turned to face Kent, who was starting to get up. Then it spoke, its voice a deep, demonic growl.
Creature: You are fortunate, servant of Order. You get to live another day. Next time, I will not be so generous…and neither will my master.
With that, the creature turned and leapt out of the window, into the raining night. Kent ran to the window, and looked out into the surrounding forest, but he saw nothing. The creature had disappeared.
Just then, Kent heard a cough from behind him. He whirled around to see Inza still lying on the floor. He rushed to her, got down next to her and cradled her body in his arms.
Kent: Inza?
Inza lies still for a moment. Then her eyes begin to open slightly, and she lets out a cough. She looks up at her husband and smiles.
Inza (gives as much of a smile as she can): Kent.
Kent (smiles): Just hold on.
Kent stood up, holding her body in his arms. He rushed her to a small living room, and softly set her down on a couch. Within seconds, he was out the door and running down the hall, He took a flight of stairs down into a room, containing charms, talismans and potions. Inza and he had used it as an infirmary. Kent grabbed a book from a shelf and bounded back up the stairs. Nothing would stop him from saving his wife.
Kent (running up the stairs, book in hand): Please, please don't let me be too late….
Kent ran back down the hallway, and entered back into the room where he left Inza. She was still lying on the couch.
Kent crouched down beside her.
Kent: Inza?
Inza (opens her eyes slightly): Yes…I'm still here…
Kent: Good, then I'll get started.
Kent opened the book and flipped through the pages until he came to the one he was looking for. It was a healing spell. It wouldn't be instantaneous, but it'd get the job done. Kent reached out and took Inza's hand and began to speak the spell.
1 Hour Later
Kent stood over Inza, who was still on the couch. The spell had worked, her wounds were slowly beginning to heal. All that was left was to wait for it to run its course. As he left the room, he recited another spell. It would cast a barrier around the room, protecting Inza from the creature or any other entity that might attempt to invade the tower.
Kent took the stairs back down to his study. He stopped in the doorway and stared at the Helmet of Fate, still sitting across the room atop its pedestal. The voice of Nabu started again. It was clear this time. It told him to put on the helmet, that the world once again needed Dr. Fate.
Kent approached the helmet, stopping in front of the pedestal. But this time, there was no hesitation. He reached down, grabbed the helmet with both hands, and lifted it over his head. He took a breath, and put the helmet over his head.
That instant, the room was engulfed in a bright golden light. Dr. Fate had returned. He stood in the center of the room, wearing a long, collared golden cape, fastened with two large buttons. Beneath, is a deep blue shirt with a golden oval set in the center of his chest. He wears a golden belt, with deep blue pants with golden boots.
Nabu (in Kent's head): Finally. I have been trying to contact you, Nelson, and now you understand why. The evil of the Lords of Chaos has returned. Your wife was just on the receiving end of one of their familiars.
Dr. Fate: Teekl. He was the familiar of the Witch Boy, Klarion. I know. After all, it was I who killed the Lords of Chaos.
Nabu: You did. All but one, though. Klarion. His rise to power is your doing.
Dr. Fate (shouts): He was a baby!
Nabu: Yes, and now look what he has done to your wife. Have you forgotten that he is a Lord of Chaos? The ONLY Lord of Chaos? In the years since you destroyed his brethren, he has been plotting, growing more and more powerful. He has mastered the collective abilities of his fellow Lords.
Dr. Fate: And now he is coming?
Nabu: Yes. I believe he sent Teekl here to draw you out. He wants his revenge.
Dr. Fate: Then I will seek him out and finish this.
Nabu: You cannot do this alone, Kent Nelson. Klarion is the most powerful Lord of Chaos that has ever existed. I believe he wants nothing more than to see this world and its heroes eradicated. He hates the Lords of Order and their ideals, preserved today by you and the other heroes, or "wonders" as you've dubbed them, of this world. He is coming for you all.
Dr. Fate: If what you've observed is true, then I won't be able to do this alone. I'll gather a team and end this.
Nabu: Be cautious, Kent Nelson. Klarion is not in this alone. I've observed him speaking with someone, though something blocks my magic from seeing who. Whoever this person is, they are not someone to be trifled with, human or not.
Dr. Fate (smiling under the helmet): I will. There's a reason you chose me to wield your power, remember?
Nabu: Mmm. I suppose. Best of luck, Nelson.
Nabu's presence then backed away, though it remained there in Kent's mind, as per usual. Dr. Fate looked down at himself. It felt good to have the helmet on again, to be wielding the power of Nabu again.
Dr. Fate casted an energy projection in the shape of an Egyptian ankh. He proceeds into it, appearing in the room he left his recuperating wife. Inza looked up at him.
Inza (weak): I suppose I'm in no particular position to stop you. You know what you're doing, though. I trust you.
Kent: Thank you, darling. You'll be safe here. I will return soon.
Then, in a flash of golden light, he was gone.
To be continued in Earth 2 #2!