"Where are we?" Zatara asked. One minute he had been within the Helmet of Fate, watching a meeting conducted by the Justice League and the next he was floating in space next to what appeared to be a flame.
"We have temporarily been displaced. The Lords of Order wish to speak to me." The flame answered with Nabu's voice and with a start, Zatara realised he was seeing the true form of the Lord of Order.
"And they want to talk to me?" Zatara asked, glancing around.
"No. They will not be aware of your presence." Nabu answered.
"Then why-"
"I have brought you here."
"Why?" Nabu did not answer this and Zatara realised that even after all these years, the Lord of Order woul not risk the chance of loosing his host body. And the magician could not deny, he would take the chance to remove the helmet if it was given to him. But he didn't have any time to respond as flames flickered before them. The forms of the Lords of Order.
"Nabu," One of the flames seemed to say and Zatara could feel the unease in Nabu as he was adressed.
"What have you not told me?" Zatara muttered but no one showed any signs of hearing him.
"Come home." The voice added and Zatara's green gaze flickered to Nabu. The Lords of Order were asking for him to leave, to go back to where he had come from? It was true that Doctor Fate was a great force but Zatara could not help but desire to be able to live again. To speak to his daughter, to taste food, to smell the air.
"I cannot. You know as well as I that Chaos still stains their world," Nabu replied and Zatara, silently watching hoped that the other Lords of Order would convince Nabu to leave.
"It is not just the human world that is threatened by-"
"-The Kali Yuga, I know." Nabu answered, facing down the other Lords of Order. The tension in he air was practically audible.
"The whole universe, Nabu. It is the whole universe that is infected with the Chaos." Another said.
"But we can fight Chaos. It is possible. We have done it for millenia," Nabu responded.
"Have you?" Asked one and Zatara could have sworn that the tone had become harsh. Nabu's form flickered slightly.
"You've spent so much time with humans, you share your mind with them, control their lives," With as much deteste that Zatara was glad that they were not aware of his presence in this meeting.
"Can't you see it, Nabu? You've lived with them so long, taken on their weakness,"
"You are wrong!" Nabu now argued back. The tension was now cement filling up the space around them, pressing in on them. This was not what Zatara had expected would happen. Why was Nabu defying the Lords of Order.
"We are never wrong. You have been tainted by humanity. You have been away from us for too long,"
"You are no longer capable of serving us. And if you do not serve Order, then-"
"No!" Nabu exclaimed with such force that the flames backed away slightly and Zatara shuddered. It had been a long time since he had last done that.
"Nabu? What is going on?" Zatara asked but he still recieved no answer. Then he realised something. Nabu was scared. Their link allowed an easier understanding of each other and the magician could now tell that this situation had the Lord of Order (who never worried) scared.
"Can't you see, you are serving Chaos! Come home, Nabu! Clense yourself and allow Chaos to win. Le this cycle, this universe come to it's pitiful end." The words of the flames were trying to be pursuasive but Zatara could tell that Nabu would not be swayed.
"And how many will die?" Nabu asked and Zatara felt his heart turn cold. Did the Lords of Order mean to destroy the world?
"As many as will be reborn Nabu. Reborn into the age of Order that will follow." There was silence and Zatara looked over at the flame that was Nabu. The being was dedicated to Order and Zatara feared that Nabu would condemn the universe.
"Will you come home, Nabu?" There was a second of silence. A single heart beat. A drawn breath. Then Nabu answered.
"I... reject you." Zatara had no idea what emotions filled him. Joy to know that Nabu wouldn't allow the universe to end, disappointment that he wouldn't be free, glad that his daughter would be safe if the universe didn't end, angry that Nabu was still going to be controling his body. He barely gave any thought to how difficult those three words had been for Nabu.
"Think, Nabu!" The Lords of Order pressed.
"Did you not hear me? I reject you!" Nabu said, his voice now strong as the decision had been made.
"Doctor Fate. Nabu. Wake up." Doctor Fate blinked, back in the meeting room.
'Nabu, what just happened? Did you just-' Zatara asked.
'Defied the Lords of Order. Yes.' Nabu responded simply.
"I am sorry, there were matters that I needed to see to. You have my attention." Doctor Fate appologised, looking out at the faces staring at him. Zatanna was the one who had spoken, looking slightly pale. She still cared for her father and worried what the helmet would do to him, Fate knew this. Superman and Wonderwoman were exchanging glances - they were most likely shocked that the one member who never got distracted had completely zoned out. The Flash and Green Lantern Hal Jordan had started a hasty game of chess under the table. Batman and Black Canary were looking concerned.
"When was the last time you've eaten or rested?" Black Canary asked, concerned for her teammate. Her skills as a therapist were not just limited to the younger team and she suspected that the Lord of Order was one to neglect human things, being a helmet dedicated to Order.
"You're not eating?" Asked Captain Marvel.
"There are matters of Chaos that I have to attend to." Doctor Fate responded.
'Why do the Lords of Order want to destroy the universe?' Zatara asked, pressing the Lord of Order.
"You're telling me. We've had some news about a possibility of Red Lanterns or something like that. On top of the threat from Sinestro," Green Lantern John Stewart said.
'They believe the universe is beyond saving and that it would be a mercy to destroy it and let everything begin from scratch once more.' Nabu responded as Doctor Fate turned his gaze to Batman who was once again speaking.
"Fate, I understand you dedication to Order but you can't let it get in the way of looking after your and Zatara's body." The caped crusader said and Doctor Fate saw Zatanna leaning towards Nightwing, slightly unstable. She still cared.
"Then I shall go and rest," Doctor Fate said, standing up. It was a lie. Zatara knew that Nabu would not rest - they had slept only a week ago and Nabu's magic could keep his body going for a month if needed.
"I'll go and make sure that you do rest," Black Canary said but Captain Marvel had already flown out of his seat to stand beside the blue and golde clad figure.
"I'll go. I'm not so important to his discussion," he said quickly and after a look from Batman, Black Canary sat down.
"Be back in five minutes, Captain Marvel." Batman warned and Doctor Fate did not point out that he did not need an escort. Zatara knew that the Lord of Order was just humouring the others by allowing them to check.
"So we heading off, Doc?" By the time Marvel had finished his words, Doctor Fate had already teleported them to his tower. They stood inside the only room that Fate opened up to others; the living room. There were hints of Kent Nelson's style here, as well as some of Zatara's. The rest of the Tower's many (Or even infinite) rooms all bared Nabu's influence but Zatara suspected that for a room that he would use to host the League if needed, then having a human touch was a good idea.
"I will be fine from here," Doctor Fate said and Captain Marvel gave a sigh.
"Look, I'm here doing more than just making sure you get some rest," Marvel started as Nabu waved a hand and the fireplace sprung to life. The flames reminded Zatara of the Lords of Order and within the helmet, he shifted uncomfortably.
"I know," Doctor Fate replied, taking a seat and closing his eyes in a slow blink. A show of tiredness. Captain Marvel took the other seat.
"Shazam, the wizard," Marvel started, casting the Lord of Order a glance.
"Yes, I know him," Doctor Fate responded, patiently.
"He told me that the world... scratch that, the universe might be under some sort of threat and that the Lords of Order would be caught up in it. And then you zoned out for like ten minutes and I was just... well, wondering if that meant now."
"And you have yet to inform the League of Shazam's words?" Doctor Fate asked.
'Nabu, he's offering help. Take it.' Zatara said, aware that the Lord of Order was not one to admit that he might need assistance.
'The situation is beyond the help of mortal man. Even one powered by the gods.'
"Well, I was going to get round to that, after taling to you and I just haven't really, ugh, had a chance to talk to you."
"The Kali Yuga has begun. The age of Chaos. There is no way that the Lords of Order would not be involved with such a situation." Nabu responded.
"Oh, is that it? So you zoned out because there's so much chaos?" Captain Marvel quizzed and Doctor Fate gave a slow nod.
"Wow, that's a lot of Chaos. Guess it also keeps you up at nights. You're often out during the nights as well, aren't you?" Captain Marvel continued.
"You do have to get back to the meeting in five minutes." Doctor Fate reminded the champion of Shazam.
"Oh yeah. Right. That." Captain Marvel said, looking slightly disappointed that he had not recieved any more information. "Can you teleport me back or will I need to Zeta from Salem?" His question was answered as a golden light enveloped him and he was once more in the meeting room.
"Is he OK?" Zatanna asked as soon as the red clad figure reappeared.
"Yeah. It's the... Kali Yuga I think he called it-"
"Kali Yuga?" Batman asked but it was Zatanna who answered.
"Age of Chaos." Eyes turned to her and she gave a small shrug. "I read about it in one of the books at home. I've got a big library."
"So he's got a lot on his plate at the moment," The Flash shrugged.
"I think that it's a bit more than that. Shazam warned me about it," Captain Marvel replied.
"It would explain the Red Lanterns," Green Lantern John Stewart said.
"And the rise in demonic activity," Blue Devil added.
"Not to mention the increase in Seismic Activity," Superman contributed and there was a general nodding from the League.
"We'll talk to Fate tomorrow about this." Batman decided. "But for now, we have to do our bit."
The talk between Nabu and the other Lords of Order is based on Doctor Fate Volume 1.
The plot is going to be centered around the Kali Yuga but will involve more than just Doctor Fate.