The Spectre moved through the thick atmosphere of his domain, the
space between the mortal and heavenly realm. While the Spectre, or the Hal
Jordan part, preferred to spend as little time as possible in this place,
as it was solitary and cold, it really did cut down on the time between
transportation between dimensions, and time was of the essence. Like any
good soldier, and Hal Jordan was a good soldier at one time, the Spectre
had carried out the instructions of the otherworldly champion to a "T."
While he did not know what Craig had in mind, the presence did not know.
Craig's status as an outsider that protected him from being scanned from
demonic presences also extended to angels, it seemed. Being a descendent
of the first human creation, a "child" of the "Mother," existence as it
was, did provide benefits and powers to Craig, powers which the Spectre was
sure he had not fully tapped into yet. Which concerned the Spectre and
Hal Jordan.
Hal Jordan had once been an ordinary man, who had been given access to great power, and eventually it had driven him mad. While he had eventually redeemed himself, at least enough to obtain the job of the Spectre to work off the rest of his sins, Jordan knew how screwed up he had been. The Spectre, an observer of humanity since the beginning of time and a punisher of their evil deeds also knew of what people were capable. This kid had been handed power which dwarfed that of a Green Lantern.........indeed dwarfed the combined powers of the GL Corp and their keepers, the Guardians. How would Craig bear the strain? And if he were to collapse, what sort of damage could he cause?
Stepping out of his realm, the Spectre kept himself invisible as he strolled around the Watchtower. As expected, it was bustling with activity before the meeting that was to occur between the assembled heroes and teams asked for by Hendrickson. Ray Palmer, the Atom and former friend of Jordan, was deep in conference with Firestorm and Mr. Terrific over the aspects of new weaponry. Superman and Wonder Woman were meeting with Alan Scott, the Sentinel and interim chair of the JSA during this time of crisis, Cyborg, head of the New Teen Titans, Nightwing, leader of the New Outsiders, and Oracle, discussing coordination of heroes planet wide. J'onn and Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern back from his journey in the stars, were communicating with off-planet allies, such as Adam Strange, who had been put on alert for this crisis. Aquaman, Flash, and Plastic Man, worked the computers of the Watchtower, which were plugged into all of the sensors the earth had, from satellites to computer banks, scanning for a sign of anything. Doctor Fate, considered to be the foremost magical authority on Earth, was consulting with Zatanna and Doctor Occult. Batman stood in a corner, half hidden in shadow, keeping his own council. Hal Jordan smiled, as he thought that despite the passing of the years how few things changed.
The Spectre was taken out of his daydream as a transporter tube activated. Stepping out was a man in a trenchcoat and fedora, cigarette sticking out of his mouth. Silence swept over the room as the majority of the heroes had no idea who this man was, except for the select few with Fate, and one or two others.
Zatanna was the first to speak. "John? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time."
"'Allo to you too, love," replied John Constantine, magician, knave, and onetime paramour of the female sorceress. "I am doin' fine, thanks for askin'."
Doctor Fate stepped forward. As the most prominent mage in the room, and one who had worked with Constantine before, he had the best chance of getting Constantine out of the way. "Constantine, you are not welcome here. We are dealing with forces that you cannot even.........."
"Oh shut up you bloody wanker," said Constantine pushing him aside and moving towards the conference table, where Superman and the other leaders stood. "Every time we see each other it is the same thing, and I don't have the bloody time, so piss off."
Spectre, as part of the heavenly host, knew of Constantine and of what he could do, and what he had done. This was not good. Spectre moved to "step into the light," as it were, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Spinning, he turned to find Craig, dressed in a sweater and jeans staring back at him. "Sorry Hal, but this is something that is going to have to happen. Everyone in this room needs to see Constantine as Constantine, and Constantine needs to learn to play with others. Besides, this is going to be fun, so stay put." Spectre, concerned, but not wanting to openly challenge the new power just yet, acquiesced.
Constantine strode up to the Superman and looked him up and down, and then put out his hand. "Right then. John Constantine. I am here to help you out of your spot of trouble."
Superman stared back at the trenchcoated man. He had heard rumors of someone like this Constantine, vague unsubstantiated stories of a brutish man who fought supernatural forces.........on both sides. Rumor had it he had beaten some really powerful demons, and angels. Superman had also done both, and knew how difficult it was, so it was really hard to reconcile the stories of this man's actions with the dirty, unkempt man before him. "Mr. Constantine," asked the Man of Steel, "how exactly do you plan on helping?"
"No bloody clue," replied Constantine, sitting down in the Kryptonian's chair and propping up his feet. "Some bloke named Craig accosted me in a bar back in London, and laid out a situation with hell overrunning earth, demons poppin' out and killin', and such, and that there was a mission to stop it that could use my unique talents. So he got me one of those gizmos over there and told me to be here today for some sort of meetin."
"You saw Hendrickson," asked Superman, staring intently at the Englishman. "Did he say anything else to you?"
"Look, don't get your tights in a bunch," said Constantine blowing smoke into the face of Superman. "I told you what I know. What does it take to get a pint in this place?"
Constantine was abruptly spun around in his chair by a scowling Bat. "You will tell us what you know, and you will tell us now!" Zatanna shook her head in her hands. This was not good. Of all of the things that could give her bad mojo, right behind screwing up the first act of her show was kicking off a save the world mission with a confrontation between Batman and John. Batman was vicious, brutal and relentless, and Constantine was too experienced, too confident, and too stupid to care.
Constantine took a long drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke into the Batman's visage. Then in cool and even tones, the magus said, "look old son, I have faced actual demons.........a guy in tights and with his underwear outside his pants is not going to intimidate me. So either go get me a pint or sod off."
Rayner and West regarded each other from across the room. They had seen others like Darkseid, Joker, and Superman stand up to the Batglare, but always in a stare down sort of way. Those people also had the advantage of being either crazy or superpowered. Most people crumpled under it. The Flash and Green Lantern did. Meanwhile, this guy had not only withstood the glare, but ordered a beer from the guardian of Gotham. That was impressive.
Before Batman could reply a voice from behind him made him turn. "Enough, we have work to do," stated Craig, one step ahead of Spectre. "As you could probably guess, I am Craig Hendrickson, and we do not have a lot of time. I have another meeting to attend to, and several of you are going to be joining me for it.
"As for Mr. Constantine, most of you don't know him. I know that. As for who he is and what he can do, its complicated. Few understand it, including him. However, he has successfully faced demons the like of which make the ones in Batman's head look weak. To simplify matters, think of Dr. Fate, Zatanna, most every being who has ever dabbled in magic you have ever met, as someone who could tap into magic. Who can open up a channel, through spells or relics, into this force and use it. Constantine and his bloodline does not have to do this. The forces of time, space, magic, and luck just follow his every inclination in certain situations, which in turn makes him an almost unstoppable force at these times. He is one of the few people that can go head to head with a Neron or higher level demon and live to tell the tale. Combine this fact with his knowledge of hell, and he is indespensible. You will treat him with respect, and he will treat you with respect." At this Craig turned and faced the magus. "If he does not, he will suffer the consequences. Constantine, if I may have a few minutes of your time."
As Hendrickson and Constantine stepped aside to talk, J'onn, Kyle, and Wally approached the Spectre. These three were among a privileged few to know the Spectre's former identity. "So," asked Kyle, "is Constantine and Hendrickson as good as they look?"
The Spectre regarded the trio and began. "In Heaven, with regards to Constantine there is a saying. If a demon appears on Earth, there are several ways it gets sent back. For example, Superman could find it, and just beat it back to whence it came. Doctor Fate, on the other hand, weaves an extremely arcane and complex spell and pushes it through a portal. Constantine on the other hand........" Spectre paused.
"Well, what," asked the Flash.
"Constantine stares it straight in the eye and tells it to *&^# off. And it works." The three paused for a moment to appreciate this idea. "As for Hendrickson, well, no one really knows how good he is. He doesn't even know how good he is."
Hendrickson cleared his throat and began. "I have been tracking your effort and have been extremely pleased. However, I do not have the time and patience to heap on accolades or take time to again reemphasize how important this upcoming struggle is. So I won't. As for that other 'meeting' it will be with representatives from both realities. Superman, Batman, Nightwing, Fate, and Constantine are with Spectre and myself. Everyone else, stay here and continue with your work." With a nod to Spectre, the seven beings disappeared.
Hal Jordan had once been an ordinary man, who had been given access to great power, and eventually it had driven him mad. While he had eventually redeemed himself, at least enough to obtain the job of the Spectre to work off the rest of his sins, Jordan knew how screwed up he had been. The Spectre, an observer of humanity since the beginning of time and a punisher of their evil deeds also knew of what people were capable. This kid had been handed power which dwarfed that of a Green Lantern.........indeed dwarfed the combined powers of the GL Corp and their keepers, the Guardians. How would Craig bear the strain? And if he were to collapse, what sort of damage could he cause?
Stepping out of his realm, the Spectre kept himself invisible as he strolled around the Watchtower. As expected, it was bustling with activity before the meeting that was to occur between the assembled heroes and teams asked for by Hendrickson. Ray Palmer, the Atom and former friend of Jordan, was deep in conference with Firestorm and Mr. Terrific over the aspects of new weaponry. Superman and Wonder Woman were meeting with Alan Scott, the Sentinel and interim chair of the JSA during this time of crisis, Cyborg, head of the New Teen Titans, Nightwing, leader of the New Outsiders, and Oracle, discussing coordination of heroes planet wide. J'onn and Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern back from his journey in the stars, were communicating with off-planet allies, such as Adam Strange, who had been put on alert for this crisis. Aquaman, Flash, and Plastic Man, worked the computers of the Watchtower, which were plugged into all of the sensors the earth had, from satellites to computer banks, scanning for a sign of anything. Doctor Fate, considered to be the foremost magical authority on Earth, was consulting with Zatanna and Doctor Occult. Batman stood in a corner, half hidden in shadow, keeping his own council. Hal Jordan smiled, as he thought that despite the passing of the years how few things changed.
The Spectre was taken out of his daydream as a transporter tube activated. Stepping out was a man in a trenchcoat and fedora, cigarette sticking out of his mouth. Silence swept over the room as the majority of the heroes had no idea who this man was, except for the select few with Fate, and one or two others.
Zatanna was the first to speak. "John? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time."
"'Allo to you too, love," replied John Constantine, magician, knave, and onetime paramour of the female sorceress. "I am doin' fine, thanks for askin'."
Doctor Fate stepped forward. As the most prominent mage in the room, and one who had worked with Constantine before, he had the best chance of getting Constantine out of the way. "Constantine, you are not welcome here. We are dealing with forces that you cannot even.........."
"Oh shut up you bloody wanker," said Constantine pushing him aside and moving towards the conference table, where Superman and the other leaders stood. "Every time we see each other it is the same thing, and I don't have the bloody time, so piss off."
Spectre, as part of the heavenly host, knew of Constantine and of what he could do, and what he had done. This was not good. Spectre moved to "step into the light," as it were, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Spinning, he turned to find Craig, dressed in a sweater and jeans staring back at him. "Sorry Hal, but this is something that is going to have to happen. Everyone in this room needs to see Constantine as Constantine, and Constantine needs to learn to play with others. Besides, this is going to be fun, so stay put." Spectre, concerned, but not wanting to openly challenge the new power just yet, acquiesced.
Constantine strode up to the Superman and looked him up and down, and then put out his hand. "Right then. John Constantine. I am here to help you out of your spot of trouble."
Superman stared back at the trenchcoated man. He had heard rumors of someone like this Constantine, vague unsubstantiated stories of a brutish man who fought supernatural forces.........on both sides. Rumor had it he had beaten some really powerful demons, and angels. Superman had also done both, and knew how difficult it was, so it was really hard to reconcile the stories of this man's actions with the dirty, unkempt man before him. "Mr. Constantine," asked the Man of Steel, "how exactly do you plan on helping?"
"No bloody clue," replied Constantine, sitting down in the Kryptonian's chair and propping up his feet. "Some bloke named Craig accosted me in a bar back in London, and laid out a situation with hell overrunning earth, demons poppin' out and killin', and such, and that there was a mission to stop it that could use my unique talents. So he got me one of those gizmos over there and told me to be here today for some sort of meetin."
"You saw Hendrickson," asked Superman, staring intently at the Englishman. "Did he say anything else to you?"
"Look, don't get your tights in a bunch," said Constantine blowing smoke into the face of Superman. "I told you what I know. What does it take to get a pint in this place?"
Constantine was abruptly spun around in his chair by a scowling Bat. "You will tell us what you know, and you will tell us now!" Zatanna shook her head in her hands. This was not good. Of all of the things that could give her bad mojo, right behind screwing up the first act of her show was kicking off a save the world mission with a confrontation between Batman and John. Batman was vicious, brutal and relentless, and Constantine was too experienced, too confident, and too stupid to care.
Constantine took a long drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke into the Batman's visage. Then in cool and even tones, the magus said, "look old son, I have faced actual demons.........a guy in tights and with his underwear outside his pants is not going to intimidate me. So either go get me a pint or sod off."
Rayner and West regarded each other from across the room. They had seen others like Darkseid, Joker, and Superman stand up to the Batglare, but always in a stare down sort of way. Those people also had the advantage of being either crazy or superpowered. Most people crumpled under it. The Flash and Green Lantern did. Meanwhile, this guy had not only withstood the glare, but ordered a beer from the guardian of Gotham. That was impressive.
Before Batman could reply a voice from behind him made him turn. "Enough, we have work to do," stated Craig, one step ahead of Spectre. "As you could probably guess, I am Craig Hendrickson, and we do not have a lot of time. I have another meeting to attend to, and several of you are going to be joining me for it.
"As for Mr. Constantine, most of you don't know him. I know that. As for who he is and what he can do, its complicated. Few understand it, including him. However, he has successfully faced demons the like of which make the ones in Batman's head look weak. To simplify matters, think of Dr. Fate, Zatanna, most every being who has ever dabbled in magic you have ever met, as someone who could tap into magic. Who can open up a channel, through spells or relics, into this force and use it. Constantine and his bloodline does not have to do this. The forces of time, space, magic, and luck just follow his every inclination in certain situations, which in turn makes him an almost unstoppable force at these times. He is one of the few people that can go head to head with a Neron or higher level demon and live to tell the tale. Combine this fact with his knowledge of hell, and he is indespensible. You will treat him with respect, and he will treat you with respect." At this Craig turned and faced the magus. "If he does not, he will suffer the consequences. Constantine, if I may have a few minutes of your time."
As Hendrickson and Constantine stepped aside to talk, J'onn, Kyle, and Wally approached the Spectre. These three were among a privileged few to know the Spectre's former identity. "So," asked Kyle, "is Constantine and Hendrickson as good as they look?"
The Spectre regarded the trio and began. "In Heaven, with regards to Constantine there is a saying. If a demon appears on Earth, there are several ways it gets sent back. For example, Superman could find it, and just beat it back to whence it came. Doctor Fate, on the other hand, weaves an extremely arcane and complex spell and pushes it through a portal. Constantine on the other hand........" Spectre paused.
"Well, what," asked the Flash.
"Constantine stares it straight in the eye and tells it to *&^# off. And it works." The three paused for a moment to appreciate this idea. "As for Hendrickson, well, no one really knows how good he is. He doesn't even know how good he is."
Hendrickson cleared his throat and began. "I have been tracking your effort and have been extremely pleased. However, I do not have the time and patience to heap on accolades or take time to again reemphasize how important this upcoming struggle is. So I won't. As for that other 'meeting' it will be with representatives from both realities. Superman, Batman, Nightwing, Fate, and Constantine are with Spectre and myself. Everyone else, stay here and continue with your work." With a nod to Spectre, the seven beings disappeared.