Note from the lazy author: First of all, an apology to those faithful followers who patiently waited for me to update. And for those who understandably run out of patience, nobody can blame you, sincerely. The only excuse I have is "time flies" and "I can always update tomorrow". Usual procrastinator's BS. If there's somebody still out there…well, here it is: a little update.
Warning: I'm going raw, without any protecting proof reading. Thanks to all who helped me before and forgive my present arrogance. Don't worry: it's not contagious.
Chapter 27 – Long time, no see.
Day 37
Tower of Fate – Somewhere/somewhen between realities – Time irrelevant.
Shayera and Katar had been summoned from their break on the Amazonian rain forest. Imza placed them in a waiting room similar to those in every doctor's office or clinic. You could even find old magazines to read while waiting and a coffee machine.
Shayera: Excuse me, Imza: why the theatrics? – her hand moved around to draw attention to the room.
Imza: Yes. Usually we try to make our "patients" feel at ease showing them a familiar environment . Not your case, of course.
Shayera: Okay. Will the Doctor make us wait too long?
Doctor Fate (from inside his office): Katar Hol, Shayera Thal!
Imza: There he is. Please get into the office.
Once inside, the Doctor made them seat. Over his desk he had several old scrolls made from papyrus, one of them already opened in front of him.
The expressionless golden helmet of Nabu was kind of intimidating, but Shayera thought it was part of the theatrics, so she dismissed it. Katar thought to himself : "Really? Well: two can play the same game: want me to put on my own helmet?"
Doctor Fate: Well, then… your case intrigued me the most, and cause me to want to investigate even further. Now I know why: Turns out your history, mine and Mordru's are closely intertwined.
Shayera: Who's that last person you mentioned? Mor…Mordus?
Doctor Fate: Mordru. Mi nemesis. The darkness to the light I represent. More on him later. This all began with Khufu and Chai-ara…
Katar: I remember! Those were our names in the images we shared!
Doctor Fate: Please, don't interrupt me. Khufu and Chai-ara were a couple. They ARE yourselves. 200 years ago you also were decorated officers of the Thanagarian army. It's on record in the military personnel files of your world. Your romantic relationship is also documented: you two married (no offsprings) and it is on record. During a scouting mission to uncharted regions of space, your ship encountered and was swallowed by a wormhole. The black hole wasn't only connected with the other side of the galaxy, but also had quantum properties and was connected to another time. It was one of those unstable black holes with no fixed position in space, therefore, it was not found again. Your scout ship was hurled to the past, 6000 Earth years. And I'm talking Earth years here because your journey ended on Earth, near the river delta in the North of Africa. Trying to figure out what had happened, you took one of the anti-gravity platforms and went to the nearest city.
It happened to be the then capital, Iunu, and the king's name was Merek-Tu.
Hiding from the public sight, you made a weeks long monitoring to assess the living conditions in the city, since you probably would have to live there (You didn't know exactly where "there" was, but didn't see a way back).
What you saw wasn't pretty: besides the natural deficiencies caused by the poor development of the era (stars positions told you you've traveled to the past), you've noticed the government was utterly corrupt, the distribution of riches and resources was biased to favor the upper class loyal to the king and slaves died by the hundreds due to the mistreatment, abuse, and poor living conditions. The country was in a constant turmoil because the permanent state of war, so much of the gold was destined to that endeavor…well: the usual.
All in all, the people seemed to have some kind of intelligence to them, though seriously underdeveloped, but, exerting certain changes, making a living was possible. Also, you saw the possibility of somehow fixing the many injustices you witnessed.
As long as you two had each other, the rest was just adaptation. Or so you thought.
Katar: Excuse me: How do you know all this in such detail?
Doctor Fate: Two reasons:
I was there (holding his hand up before Katar tried to ask) We'll get to it. Be patient.
The Magical/Mystical Continuum keeps very detailed records of significant events. Much better than the mortal realm, because our archive keepers are not biased by personal agendas or take sides: they are as emotionless and detached as machines: they just recorded the facts after the facts, so they are incapable of meddle in their outcome. I have some of the documents in front of me and, as far as I can recall, this are accurate.
Shayera: Continue, please.
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Planet Fred – Fortress of Solely Two – 11:00 hs. AM
While Diana was taking a bath after their workout routine, Clark was seated on a rock facing the forest. Nothing too noticeable, but he was slouching a bit. His facial expression was distant and kind of depressed.
Clark's thoughts were all over the place:"Three years! I've lost three freaking years of memories! More than 10% of my life, so far. That period is when Ma and Pa passed away…and I don't freaking remember! Did I have the opportunity of saying good bye to them? Did I have the chance of telling them how much I love them and thank them for the life they gave me, their courage and all their teachings? I don't know if I could gave them closure…or even if I had any. I don't remember, dammit! And what about the rest? What other events took place in my life I'm missing? In the venturous lives we lead, thousand of things happen in a short interval of time, so I'm sure I'm missing a lot. What joys or sadness marked my days? Should I bang my head to undo the effect of the first strike? It doesn't matter now, but…did I let any opportunity with Diana pass me by? Speaking of her, such a bargain I turned out to be for my love: powerless and without memory! I wouldn't be able to survive without her in this wretched place! Damn you, red sun!" Looking at the ground and the double edged shadow he was casting he saw both stars were waltzing apart "But not fast enough. And I don't know for sure if this would help with my present situation. Eidetic memory? Ha! Try 'idiotic memory'!". Clark was having a negative day, where nothing seemed to show any sign of improvement, until he heard the Amazon approaching from the pond, humming a happy tune and still drying her hair with the towel. Turning to face her he thought he was being unfair with his life: if this woman, this amazing woman, declared her love for him, he could, at least, admit his luck wasn't so miserable and he had the obligation of pulling his head out of his ass for her.
It was a hot morning and she was wearing a yellow tank top and red shorts.
Diana: What's wrong, Melopita (Honey pie in Greek)? You look so sad.
Clark: I was wallowing in my pain and self pity. Outstanding way of passing time.
Diana: Something I can help you with? You know I'm here for you, for whatever you need me.
Clark: I know, Yed-salit (Kryptonian for "One and Only") and I'll never could possibly thank you enough for it.
Diana: Nonsense. You'd be doing the same for me. Remember that time we were prisoners on Apokolips? I was badly hurt after the last battle and fading in and out of consciousness and in extreme pain. You were shackled with kryptonite restrains, cuffed to the walls in the cell next to mine.
Clark: Yeah. Stupid Darkseid. He wanted to make a public entertainment of our deaths. Little did he know the worst he could do was put us close to each other: we somehow draw energy from one another.
Diana: Seeing the state in which I was woke something inside of you, making you muster all the strength you got left inside of you, even though you were in great pain yourself, and rip off the chains from the walls after an hour of non stop struggle. It took you another hour to recover, but you did it. We escaped by the skin of our teeth that time, but it was thanks to your resolve. I learnt then that nothing can really stop Superman.
Clark: Yeah, except a red sun.
Diana: This is a temporary set back! Come on, Melopita: don't you dare bail on me now! Not now we're making our love flourish. We're still here and have a fighting chance… and I need you!.
Clark: I…(shame was visible in his face). You are right. Our love is worth fighting for…thank you, Di, for the pep talk. I needed it. I told you we feed energy to each other (he kissed her). Back to business: actually, there`s one thing you can do for me: help me fill in the gaps in my memory about those 3 missing years. Tell me what happened, from your point of view. Maybe hearing it triggers a correlation with my own history.
Diana: Good idea. We spent a lot of that time together in the League, so many are common memories between us two. Let's begin with the two most important things that happen to you: The death of your parents and your short romance with Lois Lane. But, first…(she wrapped her lasso around his waist) Memory and truth come from the same place. I once helped Dinah to recognize true memories from implanted ones. This may help even further to recover yours.
Clark: Here goes nothing.
Diana: Here's what I remember about the tragedy of Jonathan and Martha:
They were returning home from purchasing groceries and supplies in Smallville. As you know, the farm is only 11mi from town, but it was getting dark and there had been an accident the day before and the road wasn't entirely cleared from debris. Mostly, but not entirely. Kara-Supergirl was watching after them in your absence, since you were off planet on assignment. Everithing was going smoothly. Kara warned the Kents of the obstacles still on the road.
Kara (calling the truck's cb radio): Ma: half a mile down the road there are some debris from yesterday's accident. Move carefully.
Martha: Don't worry, Sweetheart, we saw them in our way to town. We are aware. Proceeding with caution.
Kara: Roger. I will go look a little ahead, just in case (she increased her speed).
Jonathan (snatching the receiver from his wife's hand): Give me that, woman! Copy that. Dinner's on us.
As he finished that phrase, a pain in his chest and left arm made your father jerk the steering wheel, losing control of the car. Martha instinctively unfastens her seat belt to assist her man, as one of the tires bumps into a piece of metal on the road, making the pick up roll and stumble out of control. Kara was seven miles ahead from them when she heard Martha screaming "Jon…!" and turned immediately, at full speed catching Ma in mid air, after being violently expelled through the wind shield, then, pulled Jonathan's already lifeless body from the side window, as the vehicle burst in flames. Kara thought it wasn't a good idea to move them, specially Martha, who was badly injured, an X-ray vision scan revealed, so she called the League for help and remained on her knees, holding both victims, crying her eyes out.
The heart attack killed Jonathan instantly. Martha passed away on her way to the hospital due to a ruptured aneurysm in her brain.
This is the report she filled to the JL, before submitting her resignation.
To this day, Kara secluded herself, at my request, on Themyscira. She blamed herself so hard, she became a risk to herself. She thinks she failed you and you won't/shouldn't ever forgive her.
Clark (His hands were covering his face. When he finally lowered them, she looked at Diana, with tears in his eyes, and said): I have to go see that girl and talk to her. With your mother's permission, of course.
Diana (also sobbing): You've already tried. Shortly after it happened. She's too ashamed, too sorry. Too sad. She says she can't dare to look at you again. Give her a little more time.
Clark: I'll go see her when we return (and we WILL return). I've already lost two loved ones in that crash, I refuse to lose three.
Diana (surrounding him with her cinnamon color arms): Kal: I am so sorry to cause this pain to you…again. I only hope it helps to recover your memory.
Clark: It's okay: I needed it. Thank you, Yed-Salit
At this point, Clark broke into an ugly crying. The tragedy was fresh to him, because, from his point of view, he just knew the details about it. The Amazon cried feeling the pain of her beloved.
Their embrace made them look like they were welded together.
After a while, Diana went to prepare to her daily search of the homing beacon. Clark put himself together and went to help her.
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Tower of Fate – Somewhere/somewhen between realities – Time irrelevant.
Doctor Fate: You formulated your plans, but you didn't know all the players involved and the exact circumstances. Least of all, the intervening forces.
Posing as emissaries of the gods, which wasn't difficult given your wings, you presented yourselves in full Thanagarian regalia, helmets and all, in the main square, where the people was congregated, and proclaimed you were going to take charge of the government. People starting murmuring in astonishment.
Until the king spoke.
Merek-Tu: Excuse me, oh, Divine ones: may I know the reason why the gods decided such drastic measures?
Chai-Ara: You dare question the wisdom of the Gods, mortal?
Merek-Tu: No! Of course not, Winged One! I'm just surprised, as everybody here. Is it that the Gods aren't pleased with my performance as ruler?
Kuhfu: No, not at the moment – don't know about the Gods, little weasel, but we know what you've been up to-. Even though there's always room to improve. It's only that it was decided, since this people showed such devotion, we will take a more "hands on" approach to certain unresolved problems that still arise.
Chai-Ara: And to show you there's no ill disposition towards you and your administration, you'll remain in court as our main adviser and right hand.
Merek-Tu: Such an honor, oh, Divine Ones! – Damn you to the next life and beyond, cursed interlopers!. I'll show you you can't dispose of Merek-Tu just like that!
Here's the kicker: Merek-Tu had been involving himself in the Dark Arts, Black side of Magic. He was an enthusiastic practitioner, and had a significant amount of power, it wasn't wise to ignore it or oppose him.
Like many evil wizards throughout history, his ultimate goal was the hoarding of power.
Katar: So…he abused that power uncontested?
Doctor Fate: Here's where I intervene and our histories cross. At the time my name was Farut, and I was High Priest in the Temple of Horus and Hator. In my youth I met and befriend a Sumerian old man by the name of Utnapishtim. He initiated me in the Occult Arts, but the benevolent side. He taught me the use of them in my own benefit would only hurt me in the long run and everybody around me. Utnapishtim warned me about Merek-Tu and told me I was the only barrier to his unchecked power trip. When I ascended to the High Priest position he considered his task accomplished and said it was time he moved on to instruct others with "the potential". I told him I wasn't ready and he tried to knock me with a blast of energy. Instinctively, I blocked and deflected it. He looked at me smiling, took his few belongings and left. At the threshold of the passage he summoned he said without looking at me:
Utnapishtim: Trust in yourself like I do, and everything will be right.