Chapter 3. The Plan
"So is there any spells I should worry about when we get there? Like, they're not gonna turn me into a frog or anything are they?" Blue Beetle asked Maya as he carried her in skies above Gotham. Batman and Oren sped on ahead in the bat-jet, but Blue Beetle had to watch his speed while he carried Maya.
"Nah, they're more into conjuring things. It's more likely we'll find a demon frog when we get there." Maya answered.
"You sounded pretty bored when you said that."
"Well, you see one demon frog you've seen them all."
"Wait, you're actually serious about there being demon frogs?" Blue Beetle sounded alarmed.
"Some form of demon or another. These guys are pretty hardcore with the dark magic. I mean we did just stop a few group sacrifices. Don't tell me with all this armor on you're afraid of a little demon frog." Maya teased.
"I honestly can't say, never had to fight a demon frog before." Blue Beetle pondered on it for awhile.
They flew in silence for a few more moments before Blue Beetle broke the silence again.
"So I gotta ask, how come you guys weren't around when the Regime and Brainiac happened?"
"We've spent the past...well, all my life...hunting Scilia." Maya answered sadly.
"All your-how old are you?"
"18"
"Oh, sweet. So am I."
"Sweet...um...that's...that's cool." she gave an awkward smile.
"Oh, sorry I-I didn't mean anything by it or to sound like a creeper or anything. So um, where are your parents in all of this? Are they Rune Knights too?"he asked trying to change the subject.
"They're...dead; killed by Scilia. Same thing for Raiku and Arin, though Grandmaster Oren is Arin's grandfather so there's a silver lining for him. It's just Grandmaster Oren, Arin, Raiku and myself." she sighed.
"Wow that's...I'm sorry to hear that. What are you guys gonna do when you finally stop her?"
"I've...never really thought about it. I'm sure Grandmaster Oren has a plan."
"Maybe you guys could stay here? We can always use more members in the League, especially with those locos from the Regime we weren't able to catch still around."
As they approached the police station, helicopters swarmed overhead while squad cars and police officers surrounded the building. The bulk of the force was entrenched in front of a large hole in the station's wall. From a distance, they could make out the bat-jet hovering above the roof and assumed Batman and Oren were already inside.
"Hey! Look over there!" Maya pointed towards a nearby alley. Six men, all wearing the same cloaks as the cultists from before, were running down the alley away from the station. Maya leaped from Blue Beetle's arms and dove towards them.
"Whoa! Hey!" he yelled diving after her. He panicked when Khaji Da told him she was falling faster than he was flying to catch her. His hand turned into a long tentacle, which he used to reach out and grab her. She surprised him when she turned around, grabbed his tentacle, and with strength he was unaware she had, threw him past her towards the group of cultists. They heard his cry of surprise but were unable to move out of the way in time. He landed on three of them as Maya landed on two more, knocking all but one unconscious. The last one summoned a sword made of fire and charged, only to be stopped by Raiku, who jumped from the roof above. Not long after that, Batman, Oren and Arin came down the alley.
"This is her assassination squad. It's likely we'll get far more information out of them than the peons they killed. Excellent work." Oren commended them.
"You need to work on your landing Beetle. We could see and hear you from the station." Batman scolded him.
"Sorry Batman, but she totally threw me!" he protested.
Batman saw Oren frown at Maya, who quickly responded," We were diving after them and he reached out so I thought I'd use the momentum to get him down here faster. It worked!" she gave two thumbs up.
"Got a pretty strong throwing arm." Blue Beetle mumbled.
"She'd have to with those big hands of hers." Raiku joked.
"Enough! We need to interrogate them and leave them for the police." Oren reprimanded them.
"You should do it quickly. They'll have heard the crash and won't waste any time getting over here." Batman warned.
"This one here should be the leader," Oren declared, pointing to the cultist Raiku had pinned to the ground,"Incapacitate him quickly. He won't be able to resist me probing his mind then."
"The last guy you did that do was in pain. What exactly happens to them after you probe their mind?" Batman demanded.
"There are no lasting psychological or physiological effects on an individual during or after a probe. The scream you heard came from me breaking a seal she loves to put into the minds of all her peons so that they can never willingly confess to questioning. Even breaking that causes no lasting harm." Oren explained as he put his hand on the cultist's head. After a few seconds he snapped his head towards Batman, a look of horror on his face.
"Rao's mercy, she plans to summon Trigon!" he exclaimed.
Scilia stood over an unconscious Superman, muttering chants and occasionally waving a hand. Wonder Woman stood behind her, sword at the ready in case anything she did brought harm to him. Damien and Cyborg stood close by, also in case she tried any tricks.
"How did she get him out of the Phantom Zone?" Cyborg asked.
"We're still trying to figure out how she got past the guards, or even how she was able to find this location in the first place. She's clearly something more than what she's letting on." Damien whispered.
"I'm pulling up nothin on her either. No birth records, nothing in the league's database concerning her. Now she just pops up, breaks him out, starts restoring his powers, and happens to be a supporter of the Regime? I'm not buying it." Cyborg sounded suspicious.
"None of us are, but she's fulfilling her end of the bargain. On the plus side, Batman and his crew of suck ups don't know that Superman's back. The element of surprise is ours." Damien smiled.
"Makes you wonder how strong she really is with voodoo like that."
"How much longer?" Wonder Woman demanded.
"I'm actually done now that you ask. All that's left is for him to wake up." Scilia declared taking a step back.
Superman eyes shot open and he sprang up from the bed, nearly falling over in the process.
"Clark! What did you do to him witch?!" Wonder Woman held her sword to Scilia's throat.
"I suspect he's disorientated and alarmed waking up not in the Phantom Zone. Perhaps you should get your sword away from my throat and tend to him?" Scilia suggested calmly.
"Whoa! Calm down there man." Cyborg said steadying him.
"Wh-where am?" Superman sounded dazed,"Victor? Diana? Am I dreaming?"
"No Clark, we're real. This is real." Wonder Woman said soothingly
"Yeah, that witch over there pulled you out of the Phantom Zone and restored your powers." Cyborg added.
"My...powers? I don't feel any different." Superman said.
"You need sunlight first my dear. I simply removed the effects of the golden kryptonite." Scilia said.
Superman walked outside and closed his eyes as he stood in the sun. After a few moments he began to slowly rise from the ground, and shot a beam of energy from his eyes for good measure.
"I suppose I should thank you for the help. Who are you?" Superman asked turning to face Scilia.
"I am Scilia, a sorceress and current target of some rather disagreeable fellows." Scilia said with a polite bow.
"And you broke me out of the Phantom Zone and restored my powers in exchange for taking them out, right?" Superman asked, folding his arms.
"It wouldn't have been much of an issue for me, but my foes have aligned themselves with the Batman. As I understand he's the one who foiled your attempts to implement the Regime and imprisoned you twice. I figured you'd be happy for a chance to take him down." she smiled.
Superman's eyes glowed red at the mention of 'Batman'.
"We told her in exchange for freeing you and restoring your powers that we'd help her." Wonder Woman informed her.
"And after you've taken them down I will be entirely at your service for reestablishing the Regime. The world needs your order Superman." Scilia offered.
"I find it strange that I've never encountered you before, ever. Not before the Regime, during it or even when Brainiac attacked. How is it now you've suddenly appeared before us, more specifically in our time of need?" Superman demanded.
"My foe and I have been locked in that game of cat and mouse for a couple of decades now Superman. I do not believe I can run from him much longer." Scilia answered with another bow,"I beg for you assistance in exchange for my services."
Superman stared at her for a moment.
"Very well. Tell me who and where this man or men are and I'll take care of them."
"His name is Oren, Grandmaster of the Runic Knights. He has three other warriors with him, all wearing golden armor under red cloaks."
"Ah, a magic user."
"Indeed, and the magic of their runes is quite potent."
"I'm sure I can handle it. Now where are they?" Superman demanded impatiently.
"I had some of my men give them false information in order to lure them to a remote island. It's distance from the civilized world means you won't have to worry about possible civilian casualties when you battle them. I shall give the location to your android over there."
"The name's Cyborg witch." Cyborg corrected her angrily.
"My apologies, Cyborg." she gave him a curt nod before turning back to Superman,"I'm positive Batman will send most his companions along with the Knights to this place. The element of surprise will be yours."
"How soon will they be there?" Superman asked.
"Another hour or so if they've responded fast enough."
"Then let's not waste any time."
"One more thing Superman," Scilia said as they all turned to leave,"Or, two things actually. If you cannot face the Grandmaster alone, ensure your strongest are with you. With Batman by his side their combined might may be more than enough for even you. Also, one of his Knights has his left arm covered in bandages. If you do not wish to taste defeat today, do. Not. Let. Him. Unseal. It." She emphasized.
"Noted. Cyborg, Damien, you two find that Knight and neutralize him. Diana, Adam, you'll be with me when we face Bruce and this Grandmaster. Let's go." Superman smirked.