Misplaced
- - - November 5th - - -
"And this is my office", Jim Lockhart announced, ushering the British girl in and closing the door behind them. "To be honest, I don't spend much time here. My colleagues manage most paperwork and patient talks for me, so I'm free to focus on the surgeries."
Even though his brother's recent updates had helped him improve his social skills significantly, he still generally preferred to deal with people after they were anaesthetised.
"How do you like it here?", Mary asked.
"The work? They haven't let me do anything complex so far, to be honest. But I suppose it's good to be active again, after a year at that retirement home."
The Fawcett City Charitable Clinic had offered him a position as a simple assistant doctor, after the League had updated his medical credentials to fit a more recent birth date. His brother had been most helpful with the paperwork. Tonight, he had sent Mary over via Zeta tube to deliver the latest batch of documents, including a framed forged college diploma.
"And you live nearby?"
Red Tornado could have just mailed the documents digitally. Yet apparently, Mary had been curious about his new employment. Doubtlessly, she would discuss her impression with his brother later.
Jim was still not quite used to people caring about him – although he would be lying if he said he wasn't touched by their kindness.
"Very near indeed", he replied. Pulling one of the window drapes aside, he pointed at the grey facade of the residential building on the other side of the street. Most windows were lit up, reminding him that normal people would return home at this hour.
"Third floor, just a one-room apartment. It's not like I really need a kitchen, or a bed for that matter…"
Something odd happened. It was the strangest sensation, a tear, splitting straight through his core.
Error: Madness detected.
Well, that was nothing new to him.
Proceed.
His thoughts felt slower than usual.
On the street below him, a car honked, and a woman screamed.
He heard Mary gasp, staring out of the window beside him.
She was there, but wasn't there.
He was seeing double.
"Something went wrong with my software again", he sighed.
He could hear an echo in his own voice.
"What is happening down there?", Mary asked, her words sounding muffled.
All cars had come to a stop in the middle of the street. In the light of the street lamps, he could see their doors opening. Children and adults kept streaming out onto the side-walks, turning around hectically.
Passing through each other.
Something was wrong with his visual perception.
"Did you just see a kid walk straight through the lady with the blue jacket?" Jim asked. There was still that strange echo in his voice.
"What kid?"
"The boy with the cap, he went…"
His office door was yanked open by one of the nurses.
"A patient just vanished!"
"Who?" Jim took a step towards the agitated young man. He felt twice as heavy as usual. Something must be wrong with his motion sensors as well.
"The Carter girl, with the tonsillectomy. Were just about to start operating. We've got to find her!"
The young man stormed down the corridor, leaving the door ajar.
Yet part of Jim's brain insisted that it was still closed.
"She's not the only one", Mary stated darkly. She was looking up from her phone. "I just got an emergency message from my mentor. Robin and the team have disappeared as well. All children in North America have vanished."
Jim shook his head, again feeling the added resistance. "Not all." He pointed out of the window, at a boy with the cap who kept running down the line of stopped cars, desperately prying open car doors that part of his mind insisted were already open…
"Do you not see that boy?"
"Which boy?"
He turned back towards her, and she wasn't there, no, she was there, was she really there?
Dismissing yet another error message, he tried to refocus his eyes.
He was still seeing double.
His gaze shifted towards his office door. With two heavy steps, he reached it, knocking his hand against the portal that was still closed and yet open.
Half of his brain registered the touch.
Well, then.
"Maybe you should give Batman a call", Jim suggested. He reached for his own office phone. "And do you know Robin's number?"
"Zatara says: The continent has been magically split into two parallel dimensions, separating adults from children and teens. I will locate the source of the spell immediately. Breaking its power will most likely require action from both sides. Batman says: Get the bioship ready. This is a matter of utmost urgency."
Kaldur nodded gravely. Of course this was urgent. Millions of babies and toddlers all throughout North America were currently unattended.
His team and Zatanna were gathered in the cave's central control room in full mission gear, listening to the android's call. Only Wolf was missing, still roaming through Alaska in which ever dimension he had ended up in.
"Copy that, we are ready to go. Have you been able to reactivate Red Tornado?"
"Aqualad says: Copy that, we are ready to go. Have you been able to reactivate Red Tornado?", Doctor Lockhart repeated.
A second line of communication with the adult plane could be crucial, yet in contrast to his brother, Red Tornado had shut down in both dimensions once the spell took effect. Sphere had also not stirred since the two planes separated.
For a moment, they waited in silence. Robin busied himself pulling up various social network sites. All recent posts were virtually identical: My parents have vanished, where did all the adults go? Dónde está mi mama?
"Batman says: No. What happened with traffic on your side?"
"All vehicles slowed down to a stop simultaneously when the spell took effect", Kaldur reported.
"Aqualad says: All vehicles slowed down to a stop simultaneously when the spell took effect", the android repeated.
Kaldur shuddered at the thought of what could have happened otherwise with millions of cars, many with children on the back seats, once their drivers suddenly disappeared… Megan winced, clearly haunted by a similar speculation. Conner laid his arm around her shoulders protectively.
"We need to inform the rest of the world what happened", Artemis murmured, gesturing at the desperate messages on the holographic screen.
Kaldur nodded. "Robin, will you be able to coordinate that from the bioship?"
"Zatara says: I located the spell's epicentre. It's source lies on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. These are the coordinates…"
They all typed down the numbers.
"I'll need the cave's hardware for a large-scale media campaign", Robin answered Kaldur's question in a low voice. "So I suppose I'll stay here?"
The Atlantean nodded, making up his mind quickly. "Robin, Kid Flash and Artemis will remain at the cave", he announced, both to his team and the android. "They'll inform everyone what is happening, to give the other kids hope. The rest of the team is heading out with me."
While Lockhart repeated Kaldur's words, his three selected team mates nodded in understanding. They had to prevent a panic, to keep the children safe.
Picking up one of the cave's mobile computers to maintain the conference call, Kaldur beckoned his field squad to follow him towards the bioship hangar.
Zatanna raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"We'll need your magical expertise", he stated, holding the door for her.
He had the feeling they would need every advantage they could possibly get today. He had packed his equipment bag accordingly.
"Batman says: Copy that", the android's voice announced through the mobile device's speakers. "Also, try to contact this number..."
Billy Batson kicked the front of the uncooperative Fawcett City Zeta tube in frustration. Of course it didn't recognize his ten-year-old self. But how could he possibly transform? All adults had vanished, including his uncle, and joining their fate would certainly not help anyone with bringing them back… Truth be told, he was simply not brave enough to risk it. Not without his blessings.
Blinking away unwelcome tears, he slammed his sneaker against the wall of the unused photo booth hiding the access point.
A loud ringtone interrupted his lamentations.
Billy fished his phone out of his pocket, checking the screen with a frown. An unknown number.
Well, what did he have to lose?
"Hello?"
"Hey, this is Kid Flash speaking. I've got a message to you from Batman, he says 'You need to check in', whatever that means."
Billy's heart gave a leap. "Batman's alive? Where is he? Where did all of the adults go?"
"They are fine. The world was split into two separate dimensions by a magic spell, but everyone is doing well in theirs. We're working on fixing it. Tell your friends not to panic."
"Awesome! Thanks, Wally, that makes this a whole lot easier. SHAZAM!"
Wally stared at this phone, from which the call had just disconnected.
How had that boy known his name?
Maybe Robin was right about being more careful with keeping his civilian identity secret...
"Recognized, Captain Marvel – 15."
Black Canary briefly covered her microphone to muffle the Zeta station's announcement.
"Yes, Miss Grant, I repeat, the children are safe. They were magically relocated into a parallel dimension just like our own, just like their home. The League is already working on reversing that spell. I need to hang up now, but I'll have a video statement for you in just a few minutes. Keep telling people not to panic, okay? I'll call you back."
She hung up on the TV anchor, finally meeting Captain Marvel's eyes.
"Did I get that right that you can magically travel between the two dimensions?"
"Um, yes?" He looked a little overwhelmed.
"Listen, we've got a lot of work for you. J'onn and Robin will coordinate your assignments jointly – well, separately, you know what I mean. You can contact either one of them through your League communicator. You should start by moving over to the kid's pane, grab whatever mission gear you need, then head out with the Speed of Mercury."
He still just stood there, hands tucking on his white cape nervously. "What about reversing the spell?"
"Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Captain Atom, Green Lantern John and Zatara are already en route to the world-splitting spell's epicentre at Roanoke Island. They cannot help the kids that are in danger right now. You can."
He nodded, then disappeared with a shout and a crack of thunder.
Frowning slightly, Dinah glanced around the team's cluttered mission room. Now, where to find a suitable background for that video message?
"Okay guys, I know it's hard to believe this, but I am Captain Marvel. Artemis, would you please lower that arrow? I'm not gonna attack you with water balloons or threaten to turn you into a chicken this time. I'm just here to grab some equipment – and Robin, could I borrow a pair of your sunglasses?"
"And he's the only one who can cross over?"
"Yes, but he's currently…"
With a lighting flash, Captain Marvel reappeared at Black Canary side.
"Captain Marvel!", Red Arrow shouted through the cave's comm system, his face flashing vividly on the central screen. "You need to get to the STAR Labs main facility at Star City instantly!"
The white-caped hero nodded. "I'll fly with the Speed of…"
"Instantly! Take the Zeta tube!"
"Ah, right. Sorry."
"Batman says: There are four sorcerers gathered around a pentagram at the centre of the crossroad - Wizard, Blackbriar Thorn, Felix Faust and Wotan. The fifth spot is empty. Our Target is a glowing artefact in the middle of the pentagram, the Gem of Duplication. Ready to engage?"
Kaldur nodded grimly. "Copy that. Glowing gem will be targeted from both sides. Fifth spot is Klarion the Witch Boy."
From their perspective, the pale figure with the black devil's horns stood at his corner of the pentagram alone, only accompanied by his tiger-striped cat, his arms raised as he chanted a blood-chilling incantation.
Their adversary was an ageless Lord of Chaos, and Kaldur had left half of his team mates behind. Superboy and Megan were skilled, but Zatanna had never even joined any of their missions before. Taking on this threat with only three fighters and a rookie would have been madness.
He was glad he'd picked up reinforcements on the way.
Garth's straight black hair and Tula's ginger tresses were still wet from their hasty trip to the coast through the Atlantean Zeta system, yet they stood ready at his side. Garth had brandished his favourite weapon, a bladed water-wielding stave, while Tula relied entirely on her battle magic, fingertips cackling with arcane energy.
His two oldest friends grinned at him, their eyes shining bright with excitement.
Oh, he had missed this.
'Conner, Garth, Tula and I will engage Klarion and his familiar heads-on, causing a distraction. Megan, stay camouflaged and try to dislodge the artefact. Tanna, you're our backup and air support. Everyone linked up? Good. Megan, get ready to open the cargo hatch.'
"Batman says: Now."
At the android's signal, ten tons of water dropped down from the belly of the camouflaged bioship onto the pentagram. Superboy and the three Atlanteans followed suit.
Klarion greeted them with a devious grin, holding what appeared to be a glowing red umbrella. With his free hand he stroked his agitated cat.
"Don't you know Teekl hates water?"
"It was some kind of experiment on nuclear fission", Red Arrow explained, as he led his white-caped companion through yet another security checkpoint. "After sixteen minutes, the reactor was shut down again – on this dimension. It could still be running on the other side."
The research team had enlisted his services to foil any attempted attacks on their laboratory – several STAR Labs facilities had been targeted by unknown forces lately. Nobody had expected a continent-wide chaos to break out during their tests.
"If the experiment runs unchecked much longer, we are risking a nuclear chain reaction. You'll have to shut it down."
"How do I do that?", the Captain asked calmly, his mature face perfectly composed. Courage of Achilles and all that.
"See that console? Good. Now, Doctor Blastings here will tell you exactly what to type."
The buxom physicist shot them a bashful smile. "It's quite foolproof, Captain, just a few short commands..."
Floating high above the battlefield, Tanna stared down at the steamy mess below her. Her entire body was tingling with the thrill of the fight, pure adrenalin pulsing through her veins.
Oh, she was so joining this team.
If they made it out of this alive. Which didn't look all that likely at the moment.
In fact, it was obvious to her that none of them would have survived the first assault at all, if the ageless Lord of Chaos had not appeared to enjoy their encounter. Instead of ending the fight quickly, the Witch Boy had only transformed his familiar Teekl into a demonic beast, spewing hell-fire all around the crossroad. The shipload of seawater they had dumped onto him was quickly dissolving into billowing clouds of steam. None of Tanna's spells had affected the ageless mage, hence all she could to was help to shield the others. Megan had failed to retrieve the glowing yellow gem, only narrow avoiding a sudden fire blast which now enshrined the artefact like a flaming shield. The Martian had retreated to the far end of the battlefield, trying to guard a wounded Tula who had jumped in the way of a nasty blow meant for Garth. Garth and Aqualad only barely able to hold their ground against the Chaos mage's constant stream of increasingly creative attacks. Meanwhile, Conner had found that the only effective method of stopping the tiger-striped hell-beast from breathing even more fire was to goading it into biting him instead.
Tanna did not dare attempt to target the transformed Teekl with her magic. Klarion had made it decidedly clear that anyone even thinking about hurting his familiar would be responsible for the entire team's excruciating end. She did not know what kind of curse he had invoked to ensure this, and was certainly not eager to find out.
It was obvious that Klarion was only toying with them. They were way out of their league.
"Mraws fo yrgna stenroh!", the Witch Boy cast. With a flick of his hand, he split the buzzing mass of conjured insects into six clusters, directing the savage stingers to attack each team member separately. It looked effortless, yet Tanna knew that controlling large groups of beings was hard, and sending them into different directions even harder, and he had not even bothered looking up while he did it!
"Stenroh nrut otni shtom!", Tanna countered, watching the transformed insects flutter into the all-abundant flames.
"Oh, did you not like those?", the Lord of Chaos cackled. "What about: Stsucol? Or stoggam? Which do you prefer?"
She felt Megan cry out through the mind link, as their skins were suddenly crawling with a withering plague.
"I hate maggots", Conner growled, still squirming between Teekl's tiger-fanged jaws.
"Stsucol dna stoggam nrut otni shtom!", Tanna chanted, trying to shield her mouth from the creatures as they, too, dissolved into fluttering moths.
"Now, now, that's no fun at all", her enemy chided, clearly annoyed that she had used the same response twice.
'Megan, duck!'
Kaldur's quick mental command saved the Martian from a red hot ball of fire that shot from the angered mage's fingers. Garth was less lucky – a sudden spike of stone erupted from the ground at his feet, slamming into him with the force of, well, several tons of rock. Kaldur used the distraction to swing his water-bearers at their enemy, but Klarion blocked him with a fiery shield.
This wasn't working at all.
'It's time for Plan B', Tanna announced through their mind link. "Luffud gab ot em!"
She caught the summoned equipment bag as it descended from the bioship. With trembling fingers, she retrieved the fateful golden helmet from its depths.
Aqualad had insisted that he be the one to wear it, should the necessity arise.
Yet their leader was obviously preoccupied, trading ground-shattering blows with the enemy below her. Plus, his squad clearly needed him to coordinate this desperate fight. Without his mental commands and warnings, the others would long have been turned into hell-fire kebab.
Tanna could feel the golden artefact pulsate with thaumatic energy in her hands.
How long since the dimensions had been split? It must have been almost an hour now. How many babies were crying in their cribs, how many forgotten dinners had started burning on the stove, how many unattended toddlers wandered off into unknown dangers?
This was a matter of utmost urgency.
Taking a deep breath, Tanna donned the Helmet of Fate.
And Nabu joined the fight.
"Robin says: There is a whole building complex at Central City that caught fire due to a gas explosion, and two more fire alerts from outer Toronto and from Mérida that require urgent attention. Green Lantern Hal says: Fire fighters are on their way in the adult's pane, but they still cannot cross over. Captain Marvel says: A nuclear emergency at Star City has been prevented. Artemis says: Our 'Don't panic' announcement has been shared all over social media. Martian Manhunter says – Error."
To Mary's horror, Doctor Jim Lockhart collapsed at her feet, dropping both phones.
Something shifted. Her entire body tingled.
Someone yelled in the distance. Someone cried. Was that a child's voice?
First things first. Mary kneeled down at Lockhart's side. How did one care for a disabled android?
To her relief, he was already re-opening his eyes, blinking rapidly.
"They did it!" Robin's muffled cheer erupted from the phone on the floor.
A surge of relief rushed through her. The kids were back!
The android groaned.
"Are you okay?" Reaching for his arm, she noticed how much her own hands trembled from the pent-up emotions of the past hour.
"That merger was… unpleasant", he commented drily. "But yes, I seem to be fully functional again. No more echoes, no double vision."
He sat up slowly, then turned to look at his office door.
It stood half open.
"Well done", J'onn's voice echoed through all League communicators. "Now, there is still a lot of work to do for us tonight, my friends. Superman, you are needed in Toronto. The Flash and Green Lantern Hal are already helping out at the Central City fire. Green Lantern John, how fast can you make it to Mexico? Captain Marvel, we've got a capsized ship near San Diego, I'll send you the coordinates. Batman, there have been riots in the streets of Gotham."
J'onn glanced at one of his computer screens at the Watchtower's mission control room.
One hour and sixteen minutes. That's how long the spell had been in effect, before Zatara and Doctor Fate had magically re-joined the two versions of that mystical yellow crystal, thus re-merging both panes of existence.
They still did not know how many fatalities the continent had suffered within that hour. Yet he was certain that it could have been a whole lot more, if the team and the League had not reacted so quickly.
Riots in the streets. He frowned at the thought. Of course parents had panicked all over North America after watching their children vanish, despite Black Canary's near-instant media announcements. Yet only in Gotham you'd have a full-fledged mob ready to raid and plunder within just a bit over an hour.
That city gave him a headache.
So, his secret was out now. Flying to the West Coast with the Speed of Mercury, Billy pondered what that meant for his future with the League. His Wisdom of Salomon told him that he'd have to be very careful around his fellow heroes in the upcoming weeks, making sure to appear reliable and mature in their presence.
Regarding the team - maybe they would they let him join their training sessions more often, now? They'd been baffled by his revelation, but at least Wally had seemed excited about finding out his true age...
And he was totally keeping Robin's sunglasses.
"Sir, what do you mean, you won't let him go?"
Mary stared at her golden-caped saviour in stupefaction.
The team, joined by Zatanna and Kaldur's two Atlantean friends, watched their exchange silently. Batman and Black Canary were hovering in the background behind them.
"The mage Zatara has offered me his body in exchange for his daughter's release. The world needs Doctor Fate, girl. I cannot remain inactive any longer, as today's events have proven."
He held out a large yellow gem at her. "This is the Gem of Duplication, the cause of today's predicaments. This artefact has been stolen from my tower by the Lord of Chaos Klarion, on the day he murdered my former host, Kent Nelson. The fiend's impudence, like his cruelty, know no limits. He cannot be allowed to roam this Earth unchallenged any longer, spreading chaos in his wake. Order must be restored."
"Was Klarion not captured with the others?", Mary asked, still trying to process Nabu's words.
"A Lord of Chaos cannot be bound", the man in the golden helmet informed her.
His voice still resembled Zatara's, yet his pronunciation differed profoundly.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I still don't understand. You intent to use Giovanni Zatara as your host – indefinitely? Without allowing him to take the helmet off, at any time?"
"It not a decision I make lightly", Doctor Fate proclaimed. "Yet the world needs me more than him, right now."
An heart-breaking sob interrupted them. Robin laid his arm across Zatanna's slender, shaking form.
The helmeted face betrayed no emotions.
Mary shook her head. "Sir, can't we share?"
The magician's cold blue eyes met hers. "You, girl, possess no magical talent. I need a host that has a chance to persevere in the battles we must face."
Another sob. The young enchantress had buried her face against her team mate's shoulder.
"Sir, with all due respect, even you cannot fight constantly, can you?"
The golden knight cocked his head ever so slightly.
"Well, from what I've seen with the team and the Justice League so far, being a hero requires a lot of preparation, research, planning, discussions, even paperwork. You don't need a lot of magic for those tasks, do you?" She shrugged. "I could take some of those shifts."
"Me too!", Tanna cried out, red-shot eyes suddenly wide open. "We could share, right? I'm responsible for all of this mess, I should take some of the burden – I would give you half my life to get my dad back!"
"You will not give up half your life!" This time, the mage's tone sounded much more familiar. "You are not yet at the peak of your powers, you are still a child."
Two pairs of bright blue eyes locked onto each other.
"It might be educational", the black-haired Atlantean, Garth, interrupted the scene. "I wouldn't mind doing a bit of magical research for Doctor Fate, it might help me with my own studies. Maybe one afternoon per week?"
Kaldur shot his friend a dubious look, but the young man just shrugged. "I might get extra credit at the Conservatory."
Mary nodded thankfully. "Sir, how about this: I'll wear the helmet for one or two hours each evening, so that Zatara can regularly stretch his legs himself and spend some time with his daughter. I'm sure you'll find an activity that my lack of powers and my petrification curse won't impede. And we pick one day each week, maybe Sunday, on which Zatara is completely free, if we find enough volunteers to do non-combative arcane research with you. Would that be acceptable?"
"The Justice League would support that proposal", Black Canary spoke up.
"And we would ensure that the agreement is honoured", Batman added.
For a long moment, the golden knight regarded them silently.
"I will need a few weeks to resurrect the spells guarding my Tower of Fate", he finally announced. "After that, I might consider your suggestion."
"How many weeks?", Zatanna inquired.
Mary placed a hand on the desperate girl's shoulder. This was the best they could hope for, today.
When Artemis came home that night, she found her mother staring at her laptop with tears in her eyes.
"Mom, are you okay?"
Instead of a reply, her mother simply gestured at the screen.
Artemis' own masked face looked back at them, her smile full of confidence. "So until we get your parents back to you", her voice rang out clearly, "we need you to stay calm, okay? Watch out for each other. I know you can do it. Watch out for the younger kids, for the little ones, your siblings, your neighbours. Stick together, make sure no kid is left alone. Stay safe. Take care of each other." The frame cut to Wally, asking the older kids to turn off any fire hazards, like stoves or flat irons, before Robin reminded them to use lids instead of water if something started burning in a frying pan.
"I'm so proud of you, Arty."
Her mother pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
"I'm so glad he didn't manage to break you, too", she murmured into her daughter's hair.
Swallowing hard, Artemis returned the embrace.
"It's good to have you back, Mom."
They both knew she didn't just mean their separation tonight.
"He's only ten years old?", Dinah shrieked, staring at the security footage. A little boy in black-tinted glasses was hastily pressing keys and buttons in an abandoned control room.
Batman nodded stoically. "What did you think how he managed to pass over to the children's pane?"
She threw her hands in the air. "Through magic? How would I know?"
"Technically, his transformation is classified as magical."
"How? Just, how?"
"As Captain Marvel, he is blessed with the Wisdom of Solomon, the Strength of Hercules, the Stamina of Atlas, the Power of Zeus, the Courage of Achilles and the Speed of Mercury. I think it's the second or the third that give him an adult body, when he chooses to transform."
"We sent a ten-year-old to shut down an unstable nuclear fission reactor?"
"And he did it well, didn't he?" She could have sworn the Dark Knight was smiling. "Never underestimate kids."
Mary was about to crawl into bed, when a soft knock on her door stopped her.
Robin stepped into her room silently.
"Are you sure about that offer? Sharing the helmet? Nobody would ask this of you…"
He really did act like a big brother around her.
"Thank you, Robin. But Nabu saved my life, you know?"
Author's note:
I'm definitely breaking canon again here, I know. But it just seemed too cruel. The entire word was split for a long night in the series, and cars and planes still functioned - can you imagine the death toll? It also seems rather unfair that the entire globe should suffer, when only the American heroes are allowed to address the issues alone - that's why I confined the spell to the North American continent.
If you want, you can blame all my changes on Klarion using a different artefact - as you might have noticed, the yellow gem isn't called the "Ambre Jeune Perdu" in my version...
Oh, and WHY did nobody offer to simply share the helmet with Zatara in the series?
Please review and let me know if you agree or disagree with my ideas!