It took perhaps two weeks for the verdict to be agreed upon, and for Jade to be placed in stasis. She expressed no remorse for her actions. She kept on her most smug face. It was the only dignity she had left, after all, and she meant to keep it. Jade forced herself not to contemplate the void. She'd heard that being put in stasis was like being locked in deep sleep, but she'd also heard that you dreamt. Likely, this was going to be her own private hell. But a private hell was better than real hell. Maybe the sleep would render her in total oblivion. Maybe. Her last action as the fields kicked in was to curl her fingers around the old worn rabbit's foot that no one had bothered to take away from her.
Dave had been present at Frankie's trial. Every single session. He'd even been called upon a few times. He hadn't let on anything about what had happened, though. Frankie had never even bothered to contest the charges, accepting the blame for them. It was not something he relished doing, but he didn't explain the Qwardian possessing her. He'd even been there when they put her into stasis. He felt somehow connected to her by the ring he wore. Maybe in some ways he felt responsible. He didn't have much time to think about it, though, now working on his own, his teachers deciding he'd learned enough to do so. Returning to his apartment late one night, he didn't even bother altering his clothing back to normal, deciding just to flump over onto his bed and go to sleep.
The sanctuary at the top of Arkham Tower was dark, lit only by the flickering flames of a few candles, the light from outside having long since stopped flooding in through the great oval window by the floating, hieroglyph covered throne. That small amount of light reflected off the gold helmet that sat against the foot of the throne, and in a somewhat softer way, reflected off the smooth skin of the head of the man who sat brooding in that seat of power. The Crystal Orb still hung in the air before him, but it too had gone dark. He had ceased watching images from the other dimension over an hour ago. It was not the first time he had gazed in on the life of his wayward agent. He had been watching carefully ever since the day she stormed out of the dimension after killing Hal Jordan, 'for no reason'. There had been a reason, but it was not one she would have understood. His brow furrowed - how often had Miss Rayner pleaded with him not to say that? She had come to understand, he knew. That it had been necessary for Hal to become Spectre. As so many other things had been necessary, so that he, despite all his power, was bound not to intervene. His hands were no longer tied. Slowly, those golden-gloved hands shifted from his lap, moving to pick up the helmet. Even in the dim light, Charles caught his distorted reflection in the smooth gold metal. Distorted, in so many ways. Closing his eyes, he slid the helmet on. Becoming Doctor Strangefate. He cast aside his thoughts for the moment, and stood. Extending a hand, a flowing red cloak drifted towards him at the unspoken command, settling around his shoulders as he slowly moved down the steps. Another gesture, and the Crystal Orb vanished inside its protective container, sealed away with a spell. Slowly, he strode across the silent hall to its center, stopping in the middle of the pentagram that was inlayed in the stonework of the floor. Both hands gestured together, and the pentagram arced with mystical fire, golden light filling the chamber. On his chest, the Eye of Agamotto gazed with its own glow across dimensions, united with Xavier's mind in seeking out the mind of the man who now wore Jade's ring. Upon finding it, Strangefate stepped through the portal that opened in front of him, another step carrying him into Dave's bedroom in what would appear like a slow, golden flash of lightening. Standing at the foot of the bed, the glowing slots of the masks eyes focused on the man in it, in silent contemplation. He refrained from touching the man's mind, at least, for now. He had already learned enough of what he needed to know. "David Armstrong," he said quietly, the mask actually adding a deep authoritative edge to his voice, instead of muffling it. "I have come to reclaim that which is mine."
Tired as he was, strange people appearing in his bedroom in the wee hours of the morning proved rather startling. His emerald shield was up in a flash, he was across the room, and a second force field was in place. Dave's eyes studied the figure carefully. As his gaze flickered over the helmet, Frankie's words came back to him. "You're the one Jade mentioned. But what are you here to reclaim?" The one answer that came to mind firsthand was the ring. That was a none too cheerful thought. He'd just started in his role as a Green Lantern, and was none too keen on letting it go suddenly.
Unmoving for a moment, he gazed across the room at the hand, and then simply waved his right hand in a gesture of dismissal. Yes, that's where Jade-Parallax had learned that move. Instead of a forceful attack, however, the gesture served only to draw the green energy out of the ring and the man, making it hover in a green, floating blob a few feet away from him. The ring was now about as useful as the plastic ones they sold at the register of Warriors. Strangefate dropped his hand by his side. "I am Doctor Strangefate. And it is within my rights to reclaim this. However..." His hand moved to gesture a small circle in the air with his fingers. Just like that, the power was suddenly back in the ring. "I choose to instead claim Miss Rayner. It is not my intention to make this appear as an attack against the headquarters of the Justice League. Which is why you will accompany me, and serve to announce my intent to them."
Dave carefully studied the man before him. He obviously could mop the floor with him, as he'd just yanked all the energy from his ring, and returned it just as quickly. But the League would definitely be less than happy that he was doing this, but if this man, who he recognized from Jade's memories as Strangefate, was here to 'collect' Jade, then he'd take her to the other universe, and no one would be the wiser. And as opposed to getting himself killed and putting League members at risk - it seemed the wiser option regardless. "Would you rather use the League transporters, or do you have means of transport?"
A soft chuckled escaped the confines of the mask. "I have my own means of taking us both there, Mister Armstrong. But as I wish to be as non-offensive as possible... Which do you suggest?" Strangefate was, perhaps, making his own assessment of the man that now wore -his- ring. Dave was certainly far more polite than Jade had ever been, and Strangefate concluded that common sense extended to other areas as well. From this, and what he had seen through the Orb, Armstrong seemed... acceptable.
"Either of us could get there, I think its just a matter of who trusts who. I would think that I should just take us. It would ease my worries about you transporting me someplace strange, and I think you would be able to escape even if I did try and leave you in the vacuum, or use the transporters to either incarcerate you or injure you, judging by the power you just exhibited." He was trying to be polite and accommodating, as Jade had recommended. Strangefate was hugely unsettling though. Why even bother with this? Surely he could just spirit Jade away and no one would ever know.
The man gave a nod. "I trust you, Mister Armstrong, and accept your preference." It was quite likely true that he could have simply pulled Jade to the other dimension, with no one being the wiser. However, he wished to make his name and presence known in this dimension. If his thoughts were correct, he might be forced to rely on the assistance of the beings in this realm, very soon.
Dave had considered using his ring to carry them both there, but not really much of a showoff, he settled on using his ring to call the Watchtower, calling for transport of himself and Strangefate. In a flash, they were there. A briefing room had been called for so that Strangefate's demand could be noted.
Strangefate didn't seem in the least disturbed by the transport, appearing in the Watchtower looking as imperious as ever. He didn't quite land, either. He was hovering about four inches off the floor under the influence of his cloak. The masked head turned slightly, the eyes taking in details and storing them for later as he was led to the briefing room to speak with the league.
Being an apparent 'liaison' between League and Strangefate, and since he wanted to keep his ring, Dave explained Strangefate's 'claim' to Frankie, and his want for her to be returned to his service. He even added as a more personal remark - "She's in stasis, and she's powerless. Dr. Strangefate is from another dimension, and he has power that can keep her in check. We can't keep Jade indefinitely, I mean, somewhere along the line, the League might be attacked or destroyed, and her stasis field won't hold out forever. This way, she presents as little a threat as possible to any dimensions." He felt horrible, villainizing Frankie like this, but what else could he do? He needed a break, and was aiming for one. The appraising stares of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were rather intense. He knew Bats knew of Frankie's predicament, or at least he assumed he did - he'd been on the ship that rescued him. The others were more of a tossup.
Strangefate loomed quietly as Dave explained things. The man was doing a good job at skating around certain parts of the truth, and was obviously trustworthy. Perhaps, to a fault. When Dave had concluded his speech, Xavier stepped forward. "I am aware that you may hold suspicions that I somehow intentionally sent Jade to this dimension with a destructive purpose. I can only give you my assurances that I did not. I am bound, as is every being, by fate, and despite my wishes to curtail the actions of my rogue agent, I could not. For both good and evil, she had a role to play in the development of your dimension, and my hands were tied." This was somewhat noble. His next words, however, were a lot darker. "That role, however, has come to its conclusion, and there is nothing to prevent me from taking custody of my agent in order to discipline her for her crimes both in this dimension, and my own."
Dave wasn't quite sure that kind of heavy-handed speech would be all that convincing. Batman seemed to have things well in hand though, aiming to give Frankie a shot as well, knowing there was more than just vengeance behind her last move. "If she has committed crimes in your dimension as well, then your claim must predate the one of this dimension, in which case it could be easily arranged for her extradition into your dimension." His words were legalese, and were stretching some laws, but technically, he was correct - it could be done.
He let some of the imperiousness slip away, his tone shifting to something more sincere and trusting. "If such is possible without making those in the general populace of Earth aware that there -is- another dimension, extradition does appear to be a most logical course of action. However, while I trust all of you, I cannot say I place the same trust on the rest of humanity, and others that might gain knowledge of this information. I would be most grateful if this went no further than this room."
Batman didn't seem phased. He'd tried to follow the rules, but if this required a low profile, he could do that also. It was Kal and Diana who might object. Whether Jade was here or there - it didn't matter. She would be away from outside influences regardless. As expected, they went into a small huddle, but Batman finally talked the others into going along, and it was decided that Frankie's stasis tube would be emptied, but left operational to provide a ruse.
Strangefate waited quietly and patiently while they discussed the issue. In truth, he had little intentions of actually 'punishing' Miss Rayner. Forcing her back to work would be punishment enough. While he tended to hide everything - especially his emotions - behind the cold, golden mask, he was fond of Jade. While her temper and attitude had been frustrating, he was well aware of her inner conflicts, and had tried to aid her in dealing with them. Her lack of willingness to accept help made that difficult. Perhaps this time would be different.
Dave accompanied the small group down to the stasis bays. He was unsure about Strangefate, but he never had liked the idea of railroading Jade and keeping her here, either. Part of him was hoping she didn't wake up before Strangefate took her away. He wasn't sure he wanted her to see him and realize that Strangefate had gone to him, and that he'd helped him out. This was just one big no-win situation.
Strangefate watched as they brought her out of stasis, also taking in the details of the machinery. He had created many machines himself, such as the spacecraft jade had once 'owned', and had no small interest in the technological workings of the other dimensions. Jade woke almost instantaneously. Like someone jerked out of a nightmare. The face that had been held by stasis in the stoic-smug look broke all too easily into a combination of horror, and confusion as she looked at those who had brought her out of stasis. Finally, things sunk in. She hadn't yet seen Strangefate. He'd positioned himself so she wouldn't do so right away. Why...? the woman murmured, her eyes fixing, for lack of a better place to go, on Batman.
Batman glanced at the nearby Lantern, but Dave didn't seem interested in explaining. He wasn't even looking at her. Batman said nothing at all, turning his head to regard Strangefate, figuring it would be explanation enough. Superman and Wonder Woman hung back, not familiar with all the details of the interdimensional entanglements as Batman and the Green Lantern seemed to be. Dave finally glanced up at her, the look in his eyes very much so one that seemed to apologize profusely. Maybe if he'd resisted...no, that wouldn't have helped. Frankie never got a break, and he felt guilty. Maybe it was some kinship he felt in wearing her ring, and inheriting her legacy, so to speak.
When there was no explanation for what was going on and Dave was the only one that would look at her, Jade narrowed her eyes a little and stepped away from the stasis chamber. Catching sight of Strangefate. The confused look on her face faded away into pure dread. No... Please... Just let it be... she whispered. Strangefate drifted forwards, now nearly a foot off the ground, in full imperiousness. "You have much to answer for, Miss Rayner. I cannot simply 'let it be'." As he came closer, she backed away. There was nowhere to go, really, and there was no one in the room that would come to her defense. She'd ensured that herself. The irony. The look on her face went from dread to being utterly horrified. She dropped to her knees, apparently resigning herself to her fate. Strangefate gazed at her a moment, then turned to address the others. "You have my gratitude. I foresee a time in the near future where we might be required to meet again. Until then." He gestured with one hand, the medallion on his chest glowing. Then, in a blinding flash of light, he and Jade were gone.
Dave the others filed out of the room, dead silent. Dave couldn't bring himself to go. He hated himself at the moment, to be blunt. Superman had lingered a moment, but the look on his face made it clear he didn't want to talk. "I'm sorry, Frankie," he said to the empty room, staring at the empty chamber. "I should have done something."