The Obelisk had been always been a place of comfort and peace. As a two hundred foot egyptian style tower located in a magically sealed off forest in the Siberian wilderness far from civilization, it was to be a place where the weary or confused could come to find rest and solitude for deep thinking and self reflection. Where the defeated could rise up stronger and the lost could once again find meaning. At least, that had been the intention for as long as Kent Nelson had held the mantle of Dr. Fate. Over the years, he had helped those who had asked and those he thought deserved it. But the man who sat below the deck of his tower, staring out into the snowy blizzard that raged all around their protected pocket of land, had strangely not fit into either category. He had simply dropped into his home one day some weeks ago. Bypassing several dozen protection spells and magical barriers that were supposed to deter any unwelcome or unexpected visitors. And ever since he had barely spoken a word. Mainly spending his time staring out towards the forest that surrounded his new home and reading what he could on the outside world.

Now normally, he would've taken the time to his newest guest in depth by now but the last few weeks hadn't been particularly kind to his free time, what with the ever present risk of demonic invasions as well the increasing amount of work from the Justice League given to him since Darkseid's invasion some months back. He often wondered if he should let them now about his new guest but came to the conclusion that it would cause more worry than good. He'd keep him here until they had a chance to talk properly about who he was and where he came from.

"Still fascinated with our latest house guest?" Inza asked strolling up beside him. Fate's gaze softened behind his helm at the sound of his wife's voice.

"Some-what." He sighed. "I've decided to take the day off and get to know him." He looked over to her. "He talk to you any?"

"A bit here and there." Inza nodded. "From the day he arrived, he seemed confused and just as surprised as we were when he arrived here." She looked down to the figure still sitting calmly on a wooden bench seemingly fixated on the raging snow just beyond the barrier . "I think you made the right decision to let him stay here. He has sad eyes."

"Sad eyes?" Fate repeated with a chuckle. "Similar to Shayera?"

"Very much so."Inza replied. "But the guilt behind them, it triples that of Shayera's. "

Now that was a statment. Shayera or more commonly known as Hawkgirl had betrayed both her friends and the world in which she had lived on in favor for assisting her home planet of Thanagar with an invasion. She had a change of heart before any lasting damage could be done but the guilt had weighed heavy on her heart for years after. If this man's own guilt had equaled, let alone tripled, her own. It was almost a scary idea to wonder what he had done to feel guilty about.

"I see." Dr. Fate looked back down to the figure to see him stare back up to him and wave for him to come down. That was a first. "No time like the present." Fate said placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. "I'll be back a in a few moments." Inza nodded before a shining light consumed her husband and he vanished to the ground below. Having come much closer to the man Fate noticed that he held a somewhat somber expression. As if he had just recieved the news that a family member had just perished. In any case he'd find out soon enough.

"How are you feeling?" Fate asked the man. The man kept his expression but his gaze softened.

"Not particularly well." The man said. He reached up to the half of his face that bore the scars of a life he thought he had moved on from. Tracing over it lightly from his eye down to his hairless chin. "Do you think people can ever escape your past?"

Fate shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. A man's past always catches up with him."

The man ran a hand across his forehead. "I was afraid of that."

"Why do you ask?"

The man was silent for a moment before replying. "It seems that I'm not the only one to show up in your world."

"Enemies of yours?" Fate asked, figuring that was the reason he seemed so somber.

"No. The opposite actually." The man gave a sad smile. "I'd actually prefer it if my last enemies followed me here."

Fate was now very confused by the man's words. His friends followed him here yet he was still depressed? That was a bit of a mystery but he needed to know about something else before he could ask about that particular subject. "How exactly, do you know your friends arrived here? Some sort of sensory magic?"

The man stood up from the bench and motioned for Dr. Fate to follow back inside the Obelisk. The pair walked until they came to the room where the man had been staying. A modest size with a small tv and desk right next to a bookshelf. However, no books lay upon it. Instead they littered every corner of the room. A sign that the man had decided to learn all he could about his new residence and the outside world.

"Good to see you learning." Fate said. The man shrugged.

"If I knew it would tell me that the others were here, I'd of never have started." He said, grabbing one particular book off the floor titled. Unidentified Creatures of Space and Beyond. More of a list than anything else. A simple collection of notes that Fate himself had collected on sightings of mysterious and or magical creatures he or other League members had seen in the field. The man handed him the book with a section seperated from the others under Creatures of Apokolips.

"Here. The seventh page in." The man said. Fate took the book and turned to the page.

"Black humanoid. Last seen skulking in the background of Darkseid's castle during Braniac's invasion years back. Seemed to cause no real harm to locals." Fate looked back up from the sketch of a shadowy body to the man. "You recognize him?"

The man gave quick nod. "Yes. And if this Apokolips is anywhere near this world, you would be wise not to let him out of your sight."

Fate chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't worry Obito. Apokolips is another planet far off in space. And ever since their leader perished for the final time, no one has stepped on or off that planet."

Obito's sigh wasn't as reassured as he would have liked. "Far away you say?"

Fate nodded. "Yes. Locked in perpetual war zone that no one warrior can unite."

Obito took the book back from the doctor and gave the sketch one last look. The idea of their being other planets out there, ones where life was possible and thriving in, had been a bit of an adjustment fo the Uchiha. But Fate's knowledge had so far paid off so he felt he could trust his word. But he did have to take issue with his last statement.

"I can think of two warriors who could unify a place like that." Obito replied, his mind flashing to the last Great Ninja War. And the two men who had swayed him to their paths during its course.

"And did they arrive with you?" Fate asked crossing his arms as Obito close the book.

"The first, I trust has moved on with his life. But for the second..." Obito whispered. "I can only pray he stays dead."

"Okay, Seven Swordsmen." Sasori read pulling up something on the screen so Kakazu and Itachi could see. Their picture was the first thing, a black and white album cover of the group of seven musicians standing alongside each other. Each with a different style of sword in their hand, at their side, or over their shoulder. " Rock band blah blah blah, rotating members blah blah blah, Formed about seven years ago in…Huh." Sasori's lips curled. "Russia."

"I don't see any Asians in the photo." Kakazu pointed out. "Nor our blue bastard."

It was true, none of the performers looked all that much similar to them, each being either white, black, but not blue.

"He could've adopted a henge." Sasori reasoned. Itachi shook his head.

"I doubt it. Kisame was never a fan of disguises. Never used them unless ordered to. He liked to talk to people as he was."

"He always did have a speck more honesty than the rest of us." Kakazu said agreeing with Uchiha. "So what then? He the manager?"

"Any former members? He did in fact leave the same group back home." Itachi pointed out.

Sasori's fingers went to work and soon several new pictures flew onto the screen. "Ok. A few. Roy got kicked out, Jeric left to form a band of his own, Ivan's come down with some sort of sickness, and Drago…..took a vacation about three months ago." A hopeful shine morphed into Itachi's eyes that Sasori felt the need to quell. "Don't get excited. Odds are all of this is a coincidence. Besides, it doesn't say where."

"Kakazu's been living here for decades without your knowledge." Itachi pointed out looking over to the masked man. "Who's to say Kisame hasn't either?"

"A band though? A semi-successful one at that?!" Sasori half chuckled. "That's what the famous Monster of Kiri has decided to do with his new life?"

"Can't you just hack their personal computers?" Kakazu asked. "Would make our jobs a whole lot easier."

"Oh sure. I'll just type some number in on the screen and magically I'll have them." Sasori replied scowling at the mercenary.

"What? That's how it works in the movies." Kakazu replied.

"I've already tried." Sasori explained "The second Itachi sprang this on me. Problem is the band's old school. No social media accounts, no email, and the time it would take to figure out each's phone number..."

"Just pull up some pics of Drago, and let's see." Kakazu interrupted with a sigh. Sasori did just that. Pulling up a few pictures of a tall man with dark skin similar to those of Kumogakure. His bearded face held no resemblence to the man each of them knew but Itachi did note that he his grin looked distinctly sharklike in appearance.

"What do you think Itachi?" Kakazu asked. Itachi gave a short nod.

"We need to find out where he took a vacation to. And the band will know where."

"Well, that's going to be a problem." Sasori said typing some more onto his keyboard. "They're in the middle of a tour right now."

"Anywhere nearby?" Kakazu asked.

"Nope. After this week, their going back to Russia." Sasori's eyes scanned throug the information on screen. "Their last major stop is the west coast. Jump City.

"And how far away is that?" Itachi asked.

"We can book a flight and get us there in a few hours." Sasori replied. "It'll cost some money but..." Kakazu's hand grasped his shoulder.

"Don't waste the energy. Flights in and out of the west coast need to be booked a few days in advance especially around the holidays."

"So what then? We visit him in Russia?" Sasori asked turning around to Kakazu. The mercenary shook his head.

"No. We'll just take my plane."

Packing went quickly and a quick call to Harley was all it took for transportation to the airport. Now, with suitcases in hand the three former shinobi stood out in the snow looking back at the former homeless ones.

"We'll be gone for a few days." Itachi said.

"You sure you don't need any help?" Wallace asked. "It'd be the least we could do..." Itachi held up a hand to stop him and smiled.

"Thank you but this is something we have to do ourselves. You all just stay here and try to turn your lives."

"Yeah, you can start by getting jobs that don't end with you getting shot or fed to sharks." Sasori grumbled to the four. Janice gave a quiet nod as did Paul who opened his mouth to give a reply.

"I'll get that roof fixed by the time you guys are back. Don't worry about it." Sasori nodded at Paul before moving out towards the driveway. Itachi did the same before being stopped by Frank.

"Hey, I'm not sure what you guys are doing out there but I noticed you talking about the Seven Swordsman..." He handed him Itachi a folded note. "If you can, give this to Vlad."

Itachi looked concern. "Vlad?"

"I met him back when I worked security." Frank replied. "Just, let him know I'm available if he or any of the band needs someone extra to watch his back."

Itachi nodded and put the note away. "Understood. But if you knew him why didn't you contact him sooner?"

"Because he hates me." Frank replied with a rather sheepish smile. " And while I'm not particularly fond of him either, I..."He turned back to Wallace, Paul, and Janice. "I can't really afford to be picky anymore." He sighed one final time before extending his hand. "I can't thank you enough for this Itachi. Really."

"Thank nothing of it." Itachi smiled taking his hand. "You keep them out of trouble until we get back."

A loud horn brought Itachi's attention back to the driveway where a limousine now resided. Itachi gave one last wave to the four and moved towards the car.

"Didn't interrupt anything did we?" Kakazu asked.

"Actually..."

"Didn't think so." Kakazu knocked on the dark window that seperated the driver from the rest of the limo. "Airport Quinn. You know where."

"Got it K." Harley's voice came back. As they sped down the road and Kakazu settled on taking a nap, Sasori tossed something at Itachi. Catching in a rather nimble fashion, he looked down and saw a small rectangular device with a pair of wire leading to ear plugs.

"I worked it up just before we left. Figured you'd like to hear what your friend's been up to. If it's indeed him." Sasori said. "It's a bit on the older side but it should be easier to use. Just hit the button with the triangle on it to hear Seven Swordsmen's music."

Itachi gave a nod of thanks to the redhead. "They've got a few originals like Sharkskin but they also did a few covers by some other artists...and you don't really care. Got it." Sasori sighed as Itachi had already begun listening. With his two associates now throughly in their own worlds, he simply opened his laptop.

"That was nice of you." The driver called back to Sasori. "And here I though K only hung out with assholes."

Sasori paused and shifted his eyes towards the front of the limo. He might as well ask why one of the most recognizable rogues in Gotham's history was friends with Kakazu. "Exactly what is your relationship with him Quinn?"

"Oh, K and I go way back. He was the original member of a group called Task Force X." Harley replied. "That's actually how we first met."

"And you worked well together?"

"Decently enough." Harley sped through a yellow light before continuing. "I always preferred working with some of the others but he and I got along ok." She took a moment before continuing. "Hey, I can trust you with this right? I'm not really allowed to talk about the Squad."

"Quinn I've been dealing with classified information all my life." Sasori said with a nod. "Last thing you need to worry about is me spilling secrets."

Jump city had been relatively quiet so far. No big villain launching a plan for domination or announcing the creation of a world ending device. Just a few attempted muggings that quickly went sideways when Beastboy and Raven showed up. But that was to be expected. The holidays always were a time of lesser crimes rather than big ones. It seemed even big bad guys needed some time off here and there. The two Titans themselves now sat on a rooftop as the afternoon sun floated high in the sky.

"Pretty nice day so far." Beastboy admitted.

"If this is your definition of nice. Yeah." Raven replied.

"What exactly is your definition?" Beastboy sighed. "Everyone covered in either black or blue hoodies and going around whispering "This day is pointless.' In a dreary monotone?"

"What's so wrong with that?" Raven asked back. "It would at least be more truthful."

"Yeah, but I don't think blue's my color and I can't pull off the "everything is pointless" look like you can." Beastboy replied looking back down towards the street to make sure they didn't miss anything. "This side looks clear. Any magic?"

"Not that I can sense." Raven said back after a brief search. She paused and looked back to her green friend. "What's with all the compliments recently?"

"What?" Beastboy tilted his head. "It's just that you pull off looks that I can't. Like if I tried to be cool, or mysterious, or sexy if wouldn't work nearly as well."

"Sexy?" Raven repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"It's...It's something you pull off kind of well." Beastboy reiterated though with a more strained voice. "We should probably keep moving." He morphed into a hawk and took off into the sky followed closely by Raven whose hood hid a small smile. The pair soared through the air looking down at their city below before Beastboy took note of a distinct sound coming from the nearby Titans Stadium. He had always thought it was cool the people had named the stadium after them but that was rather far from his mind right now.

"Hey, let's cut over the stadium."

"Isn't there a concert going on right now?" Raven asked.

"Yep! And I know these guys." Beastboy replied dashing over towards the air above. Raven followed suit and the two hovered a few feet above the top row staring down at what must've been twenty or thirty thousand people. A decent amount by all accounts. Raven thought before the music hit her. One of the band members down there, was playing the base like she'd never heard before. Squinting, she tried to see the source and saw it as one of the people on stage. A man slightly to the right of the main singer and sliding his hands up and down the guitar like an artisan working on a masterpiece.

"Who are they?" Raven asked setting herself down along the top row of seats.

"Seven Swordsmen." Beastboy yelled morphing back to his human form and peering down at the group with a smile on his face. "Remember a few months back when we met Red Star?"

"Yeah."

"Well, after he almost blew up, he gave me a CD of these guys." He pointed down towards the band. "And they're awesome!"

"I see." Raven nodded. She listened back as a the man's seemingly endless solo finally faded out. "One seems quite talented."

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. HAMMER TO FALL!" The main's singer's voice cried out. A joyful roar rang out the crowd as the instruments kicked back up. The man who played base restarted his own with a renewed vigor and the notes of the famous Queen song suddenly erupted out into the stadium. Beastboy took note of Raven's foot lightly tapping as the music took to fruition.

"You're a fan already huh?"

"Don't you remember? You got me that best of Queen album a few years back." Raven replied as the lead started to sing in a voice that didnt quite match the late Mercury's but still blasted its way through the stadium.

"Holy crap, you actually listened to it?" Beastboy laughed. "I didn't think you liked upbeat stuff."

"...Every now and again." Raven said after a pause. "I uh...I never did thank you for it."

Beastboy waved her off. "Look, the last thing I want is for you to feel like your obligated to..."

"Thanks." She interrupted. Beastboy seemed to stunned to offer a reply so the two sat in silence as the concert below them raged on.

"I would ask where your tickets are but I don't want to ruin the moment." A new voice replied. The two turned to see a dark skinned man dressed in black pants a light blue jacket. He sported a pair of tinted black shades, dark blue gelled up hair and a rather thick beard similar to a Russian mountain man. He smiled at the pair and gave a hearty laugh. "Funny, I didn't think the Teen Titans were fans."

"Holy crap. Drago?" Beastboy asked. His smile increased two fold as the man nodded. "I thought you were on vacation."

"Officially I am." The man replied. "This is just me checking in on the others." He looked over to Raven who stood back with a wary gaze. "Something the matter miss?"

Raven's gaze didn't soften. "Don't take it personally. Just a little weird how someone who should be on vacation is watching his band perform."

Drago shrugged. "I gotcha. But like I said, I'm not officially here." He pointed down to the concert stage and the person playing the base. "Just wanted to see how the new guy's doing. Your take?" He asked.

"He's awesome!" Beastboy yelled out. Raven nodded and gave a thumbs up gesture.

"Really?" Drago asked surprised. "I thought he sounded a bit slow myself. Maybe my hearing's off."He said scratching his left ear. "So, what can I do for Jump city's heroes?"

"We just wanted to stop by and listen." Raven replied she gave a quick glare to Beastboy to remind him they had a job to do. "We'd better take off."

Drago nodded. "Ok, sure. Don't let me keep you." Raven took off back into the sky and Beastboy was right behind her morphing into a crow this time and following.

"Did that seem odd to you?" Raven asked.

"Should it have?" Beastboy cawed back. "He seemed like a nice guy."

"A nice guy who could easily sneak up on us, when we should have heard him a mile away." Raven pointed out. Beastboy didn't have to think about it long to realize that a regular guy really shouldn't be able to do that.

"Yeah, that does seem weird." Beastboy agreed. "You think, he's...AHRWA!" Beastboy's body lost all sense of feeling after being electrified by what looked like a whip. Said whip then pulled him out of the sky and sent him crashing onto a nearby building.

Not bothering to shout his name, Raven shot off towards her friend whispering the words she'd often say before an attack. "Azarath Metrion Zin-THA!" A powerful punch to the stomach stopped the words in her throat and soon she and a new figure fell from the sky and onto the same roof has Beastboy.

"Well, well." A particularly deep voice laughed as he looked at the magician. "Looks like Christmas came early." Raven's mind clicked on who it was when she's caught sight of the man's clossaul frame.

"Adonis..." She muttered.

Adonis gave her a dark smile. "In the flesh." He replied twisting his neck until a notable crack was heard.

"You see, Titans. Young Adonis has finally seen the light." Another familiar though older voice spoke, brining Raven's attention to it. She was greeted by a newly freed scientist dressed in his signature armor.

"Dr. Light."

"Correct." The doctor replied giving a sinister smile. "Normally, I'd want the pleasure of killing you two myself. But in the spirit of the holidays." He paused and stretched out his arms as several other figures suddenly appeared on the rooftop. Cinderblock, Mamoth, Simon Sez, Plasmus. All in all, six very dangerous criminals each with a certain hatred for the Titans. "I thought I'd be more generous to my friends here."

Raven's mind raced through a bunch of different escap scenarios as she tried to catch her breath. They needed an exit strategy now but nothing was likely going to work unless Beastboy regained consciousness and soon.

"Now then, how's about we start by..." Dr. Light's smile faded somewhat as he heard some newly arrived footsteps. He as well as the other villains and Raven looked to see someone who shouldv'e been back at the stadium.

"You know, It's funny." Drago said with a lack of a smile. "I'm not usually one to get involved in other people's fights. But..."He pointed to the prone body of Beastboy. "I like that kid." He stopped just a few feet away from the rogues and stared at each of them. Seemingly sizing them up, which to Raven didn't seem to make much sense and just put him in a dangerous situation.

"Listen, you need to get out of here. Call the police, they'll..." She started before a loud yell rang out from Cinderblock who charged at the man intent on not letting him do such a thing.

To Raven's horror Drago didn't bother moving and stood perfectly still as Cinderblock's fist came crashing down with what was definately an impact, but to everyone's surprise and especially Cinderblock's, Drago still stood there. His smaller hand effortlessly holding off Cinderblock's large boulderlike fist.

Drago sighed looking up to the villain. "I let you take the first shot and you give me THAT?!" His gaze hardened and Raven felt a bit unnerved at the grin that stretched across his face. "Now, I'm annoyed."

Poor Cinderblock didn't even know what hit him before blasting into the sky and falling to the street below. Drago looked to the others, "All right, who's next?"

The airport was about as crowded as you'd expect for Gotham City in the Holidays, packed traffic but still not quite as crowded as the airport itself. You would stand in line after line that would then take you to other lines that would eventually put you on your plane. Luckily, the former shinobi didn't have to deal with that. A quick glance from Kakazu to security allowed them to go to a private hanger away from the crowds.

"Exactly how much did it cost to get a plane again?" Itachi asked as they drove by the fenced off area.

"More than I care to admit." Kakazu rubbed his temple as he remembered the significant loss of money. "It was a good investment on my part, but still...money was lost."

"Yes, I can practically feel the loss." Sasori said shutting his laptop and getting a middle finger from the mercenary. The limo suddenly came to a screeching halt and he looked over to see Itachi had stiffened and his stare out the window had hardened.

"Uh, guys?" Harley's voice called back with a growing sense of alarm.

Sasori and Kakazu looked to each other then to the windows. Just outside stood Batman and two of the Bat Family, Wonder Woman, Huntress and Question. All standing out in the cold and directly in front of Kakazu's plane.

"Great. Because of course they'd know you have a plane." Sasori groaned.

A/N: Well, tada...Yeah, this really shouldn't have taken as long as it did. Sorry. I kind of got wrapped in things I shouldn't have but I'm feeling better and hopefully I can get back to writing. :)

On a side note, If you listen to Hammer to fall by Queen listen to it live. It sounds a million times better.

Anyway, Hope you guys enjoyed it and hope to see you guys next chapter. See ya.