Author's notes: Okay, I can still see people are regularly reading this story, even when no one is reviewing it to give me constructive criticism. Regardless, I have rethought this story's format and after reading this chapter you should have a good idea what is happening and where we are going.
Also, major DC Rebirth reference in this chapter, which is also my way to celebrate the upcoming 3rd season of Young Justice.
Friday: ACT 1
''Yes, Director Waller, we have already disembarked to do the blood tests. Yes, I have Weasley with me. He is contained so he cannot escape and his face is hidden so he won't be recognized. I will have him put to the top floor of the Circle Tower and then put up shop to take the blood samples from the students. Yes, Weasley can create a phylactery now. We can both make them over the weekend and have them sent to A.R.G.U.S by Monday. I must stop now, Director Waller. We're arriving to the Tower and I must greet the guards. I will keep you informed.''
This was a dark room Ginny, Hermione and John Constantine found themselves in. They were put to sit on chairs and made to wear handcuffs behind their backs while tight belts kept them from getting up. In front of them there was a desk and
''RON!?'' Ginny said surprised and relieved seeing her brother and Hermione and John also lifted their heads to see him.
''Yes, Ginerva, he is still alive for now,'' male voice that they had just heard speaking said. ''And today, I might let him go free with you all if does what need him to do.''
''Who-'' Hermione asked turning her head towards the voice to see a man with a strawberry blond hair, wearing a yellow version of the Flash's costume.
''Yes, me,'' the man on yellow said with his hands crossed. ''Do as I say, encourage Ronald to do as I say and you all may eventually walk away.''
''Bloody brilliant,'' John said faintly chuckling as he looked at the man in yellow and the equipment Ron was forced to work with. ''I don't think Ronnie needs anymore experience with Blood Magic.''
''Who are you and why are you doing this!?'' Ginny asked, practically demanding answers looking at their captor.
''My name is Professor Eobard Thawne,'' the man in yellow said looking at the space between them and Ron, where there was a large stone casket. ''That is the name I was given when I was born, however now I'm known as Professor Zoom, the Reverse Flash.''
''Go figure,'' John said disinterested observing their surroundings and at Ron who had not acknowledged them yet. ''Oy! Mate!
''Has any of you ever been to the 25th Century?'' Professor Zoom asked them suddenly. ''Didn't think so. It is a cold and sterile future where time is literally money and accidents, which cost time, are illegal. Also, magic and superheroes are forgotten concepts.''
''I always knew capes were only a passing fancy,'' John said still looking at Ron. ''Ronnie!?''
''Ron?'' Hermione and Ginny said noticing the same thing as John had. ''What did you do to him!?''
''He is still alive,'' Professor Zoom replied glancing at Ron. ''I placed him in a void where time moves a bit faster for him, so he can learn to do what I want with Blood Magic.''
''You bloody fool!'' John said looking at Professor Zoom who looked too sane to be true. ''Blood Magic is too dangerous magic and it would cost too many lives to get that much blood to whatever you want to do.''
''It has already been done,'' Professor Zoom said walking past them to the stone casket. ''I am the living proof of it. Look.''
Professor Zoom opened the stone casket to reveal what was inside it, making John drop his attitude, Hermione look disbelieved as she looked back and forth and Ginny not understanding what she was looking at. There was an old corpse of someone who had been dead long enough for it to be just a rotting skeleton, wearing the exact same costume as Professor Zoom.
''The Flash killed me. He ran behind me and grabbed me at a neck breaking speed,'' Professor Zoom said gritting his teeth. ''But I'm back now. I was brought back to life somehow and I'm making sure that happens by overseeing my own resurrection on this past version of me.''
''I'm sorry- WHAT!?'' Hermione asked looking back and forth between the corpse and Professor Zoom. ''What do you mean back? And this is you in the past? How- What- HOW!?''
''One of the many abilities of a speedster,'' Professor Zoom said looking at the corpse with his costume on, ''is travelling through time if you can run fast enough. It is how I came here from the 25th century, to meet the Flash, before he ruined my life and forced me to become a criminal. I did everything I could to pay him back in full, until I tried to kill Iris West one too many times. The Flash stopped me from killing her, by killing me.''
''You are really trying to get us believe this is you?'' John said looking at the corpse. ''How can you believe that yourself?''
''When I came back,'' Professor Zoom answered turning to look at Hermione, Ginny and John, ''I ran back to the moment of my death, waiting to see the Flash get justice for taking a life. But thanks to witnesses such as Iris West, Jay Garrick and everyone who had been there, it was dismissed as he had been trying to keep me from killing someone else and the Flash was let go, to walk as a free man with no charges against him.''
''Are you expecting us to feel pity for you after you tried to kill someone?'' Ginny asked disgusted at Professor Zoom's story. ''Do you have any idea how sexist and selfish you are? You tried to kill a woman to hurt someone else!''
''She is still alive,'' Professor Zoom replies and
ZOOOM!
changed from his supervillain costume to a suit of an academic. ''And I will have another chance against the Flash. I have already set certain events in motion to be ready when I'm done resurrecting myself. Once this corpse is up and running as I am, the Flash will have my full attention.''
''This is necromancy via blood magic,'' John said opening his mouth again. ''I'm not even sure how much blood that might take and how that would affect the blood mage.''
''Oh, don't worry about that, Constantine,'' Eobard Thawne said taking out a flask and took a strong gulp out of it. ''I have a way to get that blood. All Ronald needs to do is use it to resurrect my dead past self. And I know he will, how else would I be here?''
Batcave
''Dick, I just captured a phone call from Penguin to his Insurance company,'' Barbara's voice said from the Bat-Computer's intercom. ''He called to make sure his yachts are still insured as he has rented them for private cruises.''
''Can you get a client list?'' Dick asked overseeing everyone's comms and surveillance feed of the Circle Tower from the Bat-drones. ''Attack by sea is possible with the right passengers.''
''Let's see,'' Barbara's voice said as she begun to work at her end. ''Well, what do you know? Twoface, Ivy, Riddler, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Mad Hatter, Bane, Ventriloquist and Scarface and even the Joker. Penguin gave one of his yachts to them and the cruise goes right behind the Circle Tower at the ocean side.''
''Call your father and alert the GCPD!'' Dick said sitting up and ready to pull on his Batman mask. ''I'll get Red Robin and Black Bat to meet with them at the port ready to-''
KRA-KA-THOOM!
Suddenly, a lightning stroke from nothing inside the cave. It barely hit Dick as he jumped out of the way dropping his Batman mask. Then he looked up and saw that the lightning had stopped to in midair, with someone trying to reach out of it.
''DICK!'' that someone yelled, revealing a face covered in yellow mask, but with exposed red hair. ''Help me! I don't know how long I can- AAAAAARRGGGHHH!''
''Flash?'' Dick asked seeing a lightning bolt on the stranger's chest, but it was red on a yellow costume. ''Who are you?''
''I'm trapped inside the Speed Force!'' the stranger yelled trying to fight with his way out of the lightning. ''Please, Dick! You're my best friend, you have to remember me! My name is Wal-''
KRA-KA-THOOM!
The lightning stroke away and the stranger was gone. The lightning had been redirected elsewhere from the Bat-Computer to the trophy area of the cave. To the Robin costumes. At Dick's old Robin costume.
Dick picked up his Batman mask and moved to the trophy area to see where the lightning has stroke. The vitrine was still intact as the lighting had stroke to the pedestal, making a hole in there. In the hole, there was a framed photograph of Dick from his days as Robin, with two girls and boys in costumes.
''Roy, Garth, Donna, Lilith,'' Dick said recognizing everyone in it, smiling at the camera, but then he noticed a gap between two people in it.
Dick himself was there as Robin held in a playful choke hold by Donna while Garth was eating a pizza next to them on a coach. Above Donna and Garth, Roy as Speedy and further above Dick's right shoulder there was Lilith wearing her usual green dress. But between Lilith and Roy there was a large gap like someone had been there too.
''It's you, isn't it?'' Dick said out loud looking at where the lighting and the stranger had been. ''You were in this picture with us. Why can't I remember you if we were friends?''
''Master Richard?!''
''Alfred!?'' Dick said coming back to reality and grabbled back to the Bat-Computer where Alfred was settling down to it.
''I assumed you had already left, but then noticed the Batmobile is still here,'' Alfred said as Dick landed next to the Bat-Computer.
''I was just about to, but-'' Dick said looking at the picture before shaking his head. ''Alfred, I need to have this picture analyzed to see if it has been altered and what the original might have looked like.''
''Head forth, master Richard, you're needed elsewhere,'' Alfred said grabbing the picture and put it on the Bat-Computer's console. ''I'll let you know the results when I have them.''
Circle Tower, Great Hall
''Is taking a blood test a part of a standard health check procedure?'' Harry asked from Doctor Terrance Thirteen.
The day had started with his arrival along with nurses and social workers who were meant take blood from everyone all the students. Doctor Thirteen was someone Harry had not met more than once so he still had not formed an opinion on him, but knowing he was a squib, like Mrs. Figg and Filch, gave him a little confidence that he knew the history and background where the wizards were coming from. As the chairs, beds and equipment were being put to use, by conventional muggle means thanks to the Faraday Cage wiring in the Tower's walls, Harry had taken the opportunity to learn more about the arrangement with the blood tests and Doctor Thirteen's role in the future of the Circle.
''Well, yes,'' Doctor Thirteen said straightening his glasses. ''It isn't that uncommon as it is also done in the military and the police forces. The blood is also used for scientific reasons to see what makes some of us muggles and some of you people are witches and wizards, as well as what leaves some of us as squibs.''
''Half-bloods, muggle-borns and pure-bloods is an old concept,'' Harry said shaking his head. ''The Blood Supremacy is what Voldemort was trying to push forward and it shouldn't-''
''Everyone knows about Voldemort these days, he was you Hitler,'' Captain Cold said shutting Harry up. ''No one is stupid enough to go back to that.''
''Your republican president elect tells me other-''
''Don't mention that giant douche to me!'' Captain Cold said losing his cool, unstrapping his Cold-gun and almost drew it out, only to stop remembering everyone else present. ''Seriously, don't mention that giant douche to me.''
''Hmm,'' Harry muttered as an acknowledgement.
''That 'Blood Supremacy' is also something we might look at, mostly to see if it was what it has been originally interpreted as,'' Doctor Thirteen said carrying on the original conversation as Captain Cold put the strap back on the holster. ''According to the research I have done on it, it had been take for face value of the witch's or wizard's parentage and not through much else. With the shared knowledge that we have today, we can be able to put the final word on if anyone truly is superior just by their blood.''
''Considering how we live in a world of superheroes and supervillains, what is even the damn point?'' Captain Cold asked before Harry could even think about it. ''Superman is died and came back to life, the Rogues have gone against the Flash who is a human lightning bolt, Wonder Woman is allegedly one of Zeus' bastard children, Aquaman is the King of Atlantis with his Queen being from another dimension and there is an entire rainbow full of space-cops in the outer space. What the hell does having a wand waving parents matter if you can use a wand too?''
''A dead and buried matter, mister Snart'' Doctor Thirteen said looking elsewhere. ''I see everything is ready now. Are the students coming all at once or are they coming in groups?''
''Groups,'' Harry said as Captain Cold knocked a nearby mirror.
''McCulloch, eyes on everyone! No one is skipping this,'' Captain Cold told to the mirror and a man in green and orange appeared in it, giving an 'okay' sign. ''Mirror Master is keeping watch that everyone shows up and that no one skips their turns.''
''Good,'' Doctor Thirteen said smiling pleased. ''The faster we get this done, the faster we can all send those blood vials to A.R.G.U.S and everyone can go enjoy the weekend.''
In the Batmobile driving out of the Batcave, Batman connected his own personal cellphone to the hands-free and made a phone call.
''Hello, Dick,'' the female voice of Lilith Clay said in the other end, ''it has been a long time.''
''Lilith, you're the first one I'm calling,'' Batman spoke keeping his eyes on the road. ''As a psionic you should be able tell why I called.''
The Batmobile had driven out of the countryside and almost to the city when Lilith spoke again.
''I have that picture too,'' she said, ''and I agree with you, this gap between me and Roy, there should be someone there with us too.''
''You can't remember who it is, either?'' Batman asked, but was relieved to have confirmation.
''No, I'm trying to remember,'' Lilith answered, ''but I feel like there is something blocking me from-''
''Same,'' Batman said feeling guilty not being able to remember someone who had called him 'his best friend.' ''Listen, Lilith, this came to me when I was in the middle of doing something urgent. Can you-''
''Call everyone else and ask them to be on a lookout if he appears to them?'' Lilith said literally reading his mind. ''Sure, whoever he is, he must have been my friend too.''
''Thanks, Lilith,'' Batman said noticing Red Robin and Black Bat closing in on his destination. ''I need to go now, but I will call you back.''
Batman ended the call and activated the autopilot to have the Batmobile park itself as he exited to the rooftops to overlook at the Circle Tower.
''Did Oracle brief you two on Penguin's cruise ship?'' Batman asked Red Robin and Black Bat as he turned on the voice filter.
''I have been tracking their route around the bay ever since she did,'' Red Robin said showing the holographic interface from his gauntlet. ''They set off from Iceberg Lounge and headed to the ocean. Up until they changed course to return.''
''Have you calculated their possible route?'' Batman asked taking binoculars and looked at the ocean.
''Unless they change course, their yacht is headed for Metropolis, not back at the Iceberg Lounge,'' Red Robin said drawing a line in the air with his finger. ''Or, if they have the yacht keep turning 25 degrees left they will end up-''
TSHAAAAAFFFH!
''-freezing the surrounding area around the Circle Tower?'' Red Robin said describing what had just happened at the bay.
''Mr. Freeze,'' Batman said lowering the binoculars, ''he's on the passenger list.''
Circle Tower
''So, any plans for the weekend?'' Captain Cold asked Harry as the blood drive was on going. ''The Rogues are planning to have bar round, what with us now being legit, and I thought we could have a nice get together with the entire circle staff to make it easier get along together.''
''As in?'' Harry asked.
''Every company has office parties and students tend to have crazy parties, well, the Rogues have crashed into some,'' Captain Cold said continuing. ''What I mean is, if we have to work together full on, it would take-''
TSHAAAAAFFFH!
''What was that?'' Harry asked and as he spoke fumes came out of his mouth. ''Did it suddenly cold in here?''
''Yep,'' Captain Cold said unstrapping the holster of his cold-gun and turned to another mirror. ''McCulloch! What is happening outside!?''
''Ice and-''
CRAAACK-THOOOM!
One wall broke down and from there came gas, that for some reason felt kind of funny.
''Hah ha ha ha hah aha haha ha ha ha ha!,'' everyone from students to adults begun to laugh maniacally.
''Boat by sea, ice to door, brute force as a key and Joker Venom as house warming gift,'' a voice said the hole in the wall a cold air from it froze the gas and made the laughter die out. ''Multiple answers used as one to get into this so-called impenetrable tower. You may think it was impossible to get here, but not for the genius mind that is the Riddler.''
Planet Oa, home of the Guardians of the Universe and their Green Lantern Corps
''We have failed,'' Guardian Appa Ali Apsa said as they were overlooking the holographic map universe and many lights on it. ''The War of Light has erupted. In nearly every sector the Lanterns clash. Emotion runs rampant.''
''But look here, my fellow Guardians,'' Guardian Sayd said pointing at the blackness in the map. ''I see a shadow moving across the universe. A shadow from Space Sector 666?''
''Yes, and it is approaching us,'' another unnamed Guardian said. ''I fear Ganthet has been correct. The Blackest Night cannot be prevented, only confronted.''
''We must call a Code Black,'' Appa Ali Apsa said bowing his head down. ''We must call for all our Green Lanterns to return to Oa.''
''No, 'fellow'' Guardians,'' Guardian Scar said standing behind the other Guardians. ''They will never receive our call for help.''
''Why not?'' one of the Guardians asked turning to look at Guardian Scar.
''Because it will never be made,'' Guardian Scar answered by charging at the Guardian who had questioned her sank her teeth on his throat. ''You abandoned emotions eons ago.''
''Your hearts are worthless,'' She punched her hand in his chest and pulled his heart out, ''EMPTY!''
''The Darkness cannot feast on your hearts,'' Disembodied voice spoke as Scar puked black goo at her fellow Guardians, trapping them. ''They need full ones!''
Author's notes: Two more Friday chapters and then 4-6 more. That is how long I assume this story will last. Thank you for reading and if you have any questions, you know how the reviewing system works.
