Chapter 11

The Watchtower, Earth Orbit

In his private cubicle on the orbiting space station, quiet and fully equipped, insulated from the commotion of his colleagues, Batman strove to catch up on his research on the Kent case. Distractions were becoming a daily problem. Despite his efforts, research was something he hadn't had much time for lately. Instead, he had spent the best part of the past two days subduing a low-level auto theft crew in Gotham City. Despite their amateurishness, the thugs – none of them over 22 - had put up a surprisingly vicious fight when confronted, resulting in two seriously injured policemen and one or two bruises for him. It hadn't made any sense for such a punk gang to be so violent for such small stakes, but it seemed to be the trend these days. Criminals would kill and maim for a handful of change. Commissioner Gordon was not amused and neither was he. Lately, any kind of sense was undergoing a serious drought in Gotham, he thought sourly. Something needed to be done. But for the moment he put it out of his mind, there were other more pressing matters to deal with.

He pulled up the 3D screen, the glowing pixels floating in the air before his eyes. Two folders materialized. Ever since his manor home was compromised by A.R.G.U.S. (and how that had happened still confounded him) he didn't quite trust the security even though he had completely rebuilt the system multiple times. The breach had not reoccurred. Waller was content to leave matters as they were, it seemed...and the less he thought of his colleagues who had traipsed – uninvited – through his house, the better for his blood pressure. He focused instead on what he had in front of him.

One of his online files was the Kent case. But the other was on Zatanna Zatara and her family. After a moment's thought he decided to review that one first.

No one passed through the roster of the Justice League without a full background report compiled by him personally, which contained more than the individuals scrutinized might prefer to be known to anyone else. It was all part of policy – his policy. Of course Batman kept it all strictly confidential – to himself, just as he kept confidential his knowledge of each members' strengths…and weaknesses, in case such "information" should be needed. Zatanna was no exception.

It wasn't difficult to uncover her background since she was a public figure. Some of it was easily available to anyone with access to a computer and a link to Wikipedia: Her father, Giovanni Zatara, had been a relatively minor magician who had performed in the United States and Europe. He was originally from Palermo, Italy, and had immigrated to America in the 1960s. He had toured frequently throughout the country, performing his magic show in mostly small-to-medium venues. While not quite achieving the stardom of a David Copperfield or a Doug Henning, he had developed a devoted and loyal following and his shows were well-attended although he typically attracted an older crowd who were charmed by his Old World manners and accent.

In the 1980s Zatara had returned to Europe for unexplained reasons. In Turkey he met and married a woman named Sindella, also a performing magician. Bruce hadn't been able to uncover much detail on her, but he thought that the lack of surname suggested that Sindella was a stage name (it certainly didn't sound Turkish). He had also gleaned from various other sources that she was rumored to be an adept at Gypsy magic, or been part-Gypsy, or Romany as they were known, herself. That part wasn't on Wikipedia of course, but from Bruce's own sources. Whatever her real name might have been, her identity and background was still a mystery.

For a time Zatara and Sindella had traveled throughout the Continent performing together: Germany, France, Hungary, Austria, Spain. They were only married for a few years before Sindella died soon after giving birth to their only child, Zatanna. So, she had never known her mother, Bruce realized. Interesting fact, that.

Following the death of his wife, the elder Zatara had retired for a few years, or had otherwise disappeared from the public eye, but then returned to America and the stage, presumably to provide for his young daughter. Bruce had discovered many old advertisements for his shows, including some posters that now went for high prices on Ebay. Bruce noted that Zatara had decided not to resume the rounds of theaters and clubs and instead toured with circuses and the last of the traveling carnies, before the era of political correctness forever ended the lurid "freak shows." What must that have been like for him, Bruce wondered, caring for a young child and touring with bizarre (and very likely shady too) characters in remote, out-of-the-way areas? Why had he decided to do that? Zatanna certainly must have some interesting childhood memories, he thought. Zatanna had begun her performing career very early, noting several reviews that remarked on the presence of a precocious child assistant.

Eventually Giovanni Zatara retired from his peripatetic life and settled in San Francisco, although he still occasionally played local magic clubs, particularly the colorful Alighieri Club, until his death at age 65. Still a relatively young man.

Wikipedia didn't provide any details of his death, but some of the more sensational Web sites dedicated to stories of magic and magicians claimed that Zatara had died after a magic act had gone terribly wrong: there was a gruesome urban legend that he burned to death onstage in front of a horrified audience. But the truth was rather more prosaic: Zatara had had a heart attack during a routine rehearsal at the club and passed away backstage, in the presence of his daughter and the stagehands. The Alighieri Club still remembered him fondly: there was a special memorial within the Club itself, available for viewing only to private members. Zatanna had been a teenager at the time. Whatever she had felt about her father's passing she had kept to herself, although in interviews she always spoke of how much she learned from him. All accounts suggested that she and her father had been very close.

What also wasn't available on Wikipedia and the Internet was the fact that Zatara had more than once volunteered his help to police departments working with missing persons, mysterious homicides, and other unexplained matters of a "sensitive" nature. Meaning, an occult nature. In fact, Bruce had spoken to many old detectives (Commissioner Gordon was one) who had known that Zatara had done a hell of a lot more than read tea leaves. His assistance had been crucial to solving more than a few cases. Perhaps this had made him enemies, it was impossible to know at this stage, but it didn't seem to have hindered him.

Zatanna subsequently took up her father's profession, and with much more success: she'd received critical and popular acclaim as an "up-and-coming" young star whose "bizarre yet seductive blend of magic and burlesque" packed in the younger hipster crowds her father had never attracted. But Bruce knew that Zatanna also had a lighter act aimed at children, and had taken the time, more than once, to fit in a special performance for a children's hospital or orphanage - especially those financed by his charities. Her production staff was loyal and dedicated to her, and only a select few of them knew that she was the real thing.

Batman had known most of this beforehand. But there was something else about Zatara that had caused him to take a closer look at Zatanna's file, and it wasn't just the help she had also provided law enforcement, which had initially drawn her to his attention.

Maybe it was all the head shots he'd taken in his fun-filled life, but something about Zatanna had pricked at his mind, from the moment he'd met her, and he hadn't been able to put his finger on it. It had grown stronger ever since Themyscira. It had stayed at the back of his brain, evading his attempts to track it. Only when one of the gangsters managed a lucky shot to his temple, it had finally jogged his memory (he supposed he might owe that thug a debt of gratitude – but not really).

He remembered that he had once met Zatanna's father, Giovanni Zatara.

It must have been years ago, when he was a kid. It couldn't have been very long after his parents were murdered. At the time he was taking classes at the day orphanage; every second Thursday of the month the teachers would invite in clowns and storytellers, that type of things, to entertain the kids or do arts and crafts. Most of the time he was bored and uninterested in the activities, preferring to sit off in a corner by himself despite their attempts at encouragement.

But then one day there was a magic act. The staff always made sure the kids attended a "special event" whether they wanted to or not. He had been forced to sit up front, and prepared to sulk. A man in an old-fashioned top hat and tail-coat had appeared, who spoke funny. He was sure that it was all going to be stupid, and hated the guy already.

But soon, what he had seen had utterly captivated him. When he recalled it, the man had done really very simple tricks, but with such skill and ease that it soon had his entire attention, and the attention of the other kids, who also were enchanted. He remembered vivid colors, animals that appeared out of pockets and hats, and golden coins that materialized out of thin air. It had been really wonderful and Bruce remembered that he had almost smiled.

Bruce remembered a bit of what Zatara looked like. He was a tall, thin man, with a long handlebar mustache and dark beard, very Italian. He must have been middle-aged then, since he distinctly remembered gray at his temples. But what he remembered most of all was the man's eyes. He had had very sad eyes, deep-set, as if containing some painful memories. Bruce noticed it even then – he thought it was maybe because someone had told him what happened to his parents and that was why he'd looked so sad. After the show Zatara had taken the time to talk to each one of the children; he seemed to pay special attention to Bruce, maybe because of his withdrawn demeanor.

"Did you like the show, young man?"

"Yes. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course?"

"Do you know real magic?"

Zatara had given him a cryptic but gentle smile. "All my magic is real. If you believe in it, it is real."

"Can you teach me magic? I want to learn to use magic to fight. I don't like it here."

Zatara seemed to look at him differently then, as if seeing something else there.

"You can use magic to learn many things. But to fight...I can show you something else instead. Something that may be more beneficial to you."

Bruce remembered he had shown him how to escape from handcuffs, even gave him a special pair. Although it wasn't what he had asked for he thought it was a neat trick. But Zatara had said:

"Know that whatever terrible circumstances you find yourself in, you have the means to deliver yourself. No one else can do that but you, young man."

After he'd left, Bruce had practiced it for hours every day, until he could do it with ease. He'd even tried to practice on some of the other kids, until the teachers caught him and took them away. But by then he didn't need them anymore.

But what Bruce couldn't remember was whether Zatanna had been with him. She was performing with him then, and she was only one or two years younger than him. But try as he might, he simply couldn't recall if she was or not. He had a vague memory of a girl, but there had been girls at the day-orphanage too.

Of course, he could simply ask Zatanna herself if she remembered him, but she had never given him any indication she had ever met him before, and somehow it seemed foolish to ask her outright. But still it bothered him, although he couldn't exactly think why...except he didn't believe in coincidences.

Bruce compelled himself to re-focus, remember why he had pulled up Zatanna's file in the first place. Trips down memory lane could wait.

In a special room in his Batcave, Bruce kept a small amount of Kryptonite. He had obtained the substance from Superman himself, a fail-safe in case something, some malevolent force or other, should possess him or use him to evil purposes. He had similar items on other members of the League - either physical things or information. Bruce hadn't quite determined what Zatanna's weaknesses were, unless, of course, it was just stronger magic. Personally, he thought magic was just...

There was a rapping on his door. He ignored it.

"Batman? Are you in there?"

The rapping came again, louder. He continued to ignore it.

Zatanna passed through the closed door. With a display of irritation, Bruce shut down his screen. "What is it, Zatanna?"

"I need to talk to you."

"It can't wait until after the meeting?"

"No, you know it can't."

"Then what is it?" Bruce asked impatiently.

Zatanna stared at him. "Have you talked to Superman and Wonder Woman?"

"You know I haven't, not today. David Kent is arriving at their home, probably around now."

"Why couldn't you stop it?"

"Zatanna! They're adults, and they're capable of deciding if Kent is a danger or not. Besides, you haven't decisively proven to me without a doubt that there is something dangerous about that man."

"I told you what I found through the working-"

"You told me you had a vision of men captured by the Tcho-Tcho, but nothing else, not of what happened to Kent following his capture, or why he was being held for so long. It wasn't enough to convince Superman that he shouldn't host his uncle. Anyway, if there is something...wrong with him, then he's under his eye. Is that all?"

Zatanna bristled at his dismissive tone. Lately, it seemed that Batman was deliberately trying to antagonize her, or otherwise avoid her presence altogether. She wasn't yet sure whether it was because of who she was or what she was. He seemed to only tolerate her because of her unique "help." Constantine had always sneered that Batman would just use her and toss her aside like a Kleenex. Why did she put up with it?

Her father, perhaps.

"I've found out something else," Zatanna crossed her arms. "If you're interested, that is."

Bruce tried not to grit his teeth, and forced himself to be patient. "Of course. Tell me...please."

"Early missionaries and explorers to Indochina described the Tcho-Tcho as cannibals, who practiced religious rites distinct from their neighbors. They were shunned, although no one dared to try to fight them or wipe them out. Not even the colonial French, as long as they didn't interfere with their administration."

"Perhaps there were homo magii among these old imperialists?"

"Yes. They knew about the Tcho-Tcho, some of them even tried to contact them, to learn their rites. Some of them didn't come back."

"But some did?"

Zatanna paused. "They came back changed. Their friends, their colleagues said they were never the same person. They were cold, distant, sometimes dangerous. They were obsessed with only one thing - accumulating knowledge."

"That sounds like half the businessmen I work with. Did they have anything else to impart?"

She frowned. "Some of them eventually recovered a bit of their original personality, but went mad. Others vanished all over again, never to be seen. The homo magii eventually determined to leave the Tcho-Tcho alone."

"There are no more Tcho-Tcho," Bruce said shortly. "The Japanese military attacked them, and the remaining villages were bombed by the Americans in the 70s."

"That's not quite true," Zatanna replied. "The Tcho-Tcho are still around, just not in their old tribal lands. They are scattered throughout the world, now."

"Then we wasted our time searching there," Batman murmured. Zatanna shook her head.

"No, not quite. If David Kent was in their lands, then there is a Tcho-Tcho nearby...and whatever it may be that the Tcho-Tcho worship. They would never leave without their gods...and I don't think some airstrike or whatever would have done the job."

Batman sat up straighter. "Then how?" he demanded sharply. "How do we investigate this?"

Zatanna regarded him cooly. "You don't trust me, do you...Bruce?"

Narrowed eyes through his cowl glared at her. "What?"

"I know when someone is checking up on me. You've been sticking that pointy nose of yours in my business. If you want to know anything about me," Zatanna smiled. "All you have to do is ask me, nicely."

"I don't think so," Batman stood up abruptly, his cape swirling about him. "If you have anything more to add, you can do it at the meeting."

"Your meetings are a waste of time!" Zatanna insisted. "Now that David Kent is back in America, the danger is now right on our doorstep."

He brushed past her. "Bring me something concrete, Zatanna. Something we can go off of. Until then, I have a Justice League to run!"

He was out the door before she could say anything. Very well, she thought darkly. If you want evidence, I'll get it for you, and you'll likely be sorry for it!

[A/N: Slight diversion with a Batman/Zatanna-centric chapter? I've diverted a bit from the recent 'retcon' or whatever they call of it, of Zatanna's background, for my own non-profit-making purposes of course! Anyway...Will they be able to uncover the mystery of David Kent? Will they be able to work together, or continue to regard each other with suspicion? Does Zatanna remember Bruce? What's her motive in all this? Will they...well you know what! A bit shorter chapter since school has started up again. Thanks for continuing to read and as always, please review!]