Chapter 4. The Revelation
"Harleen, did those scans I sent back reveal anything?" Batman asked. He, Black Canary, Green Arrow and Firestorm took the larger jet to the location Oren ascertained from the cultist; a remote island in the middle of the ocean.
"Sorry B-man, no matter which way I try to decrypt it, all I'm gettin is fuzzy silhouettes. Looks like they're blocking the scans some how." she answered.
"I'll put my money on magic." Green Arrow chimed in.
"Where's Jaime? I'm sure he'd love a piece of the action." Firestorm said.
"I sent him on ahead to meet up with the Rune Knights. I also told him to see if the scarab could get any information on them. Their arrival was too sudden, too random, and this conflict they're in with this witch has drawn too much attention quickly for me to believe they've kept this quiet for so long." Batman said.
"I did find something about Runic Knights though. Seems they were this secret order who only purpose was to take down people who went too crazy with black magic. About 20 or somethin years ago though, police in Brazil came across their secret hideout only to find everyone there dead. After that, it was assumed their order was gone, at least until now I guess." Harley said.
"Maybe they've been fighting this on another world or in another dimension? Would explain the disappearance and sudden reemergence." Black Canary suggested.
"Maybe, but the Grandmaster is being tight-lipped about their order. Hopefully Jaime can get more information." Batman said.
"Think he has that kind of tact?" Black Canary sounded uncertain.
"Not towards the Grandmaster, no. The youngest two are both his age, and seem to have a more carefree attitude than the Grandmaster and Arin. I'm hoping he can use that charm of his to get something out of them. They're not telling us everything, and with the threat of Trigon being summoned here we need more information." Batman said.
"Is Kara going to meet us there too?" she asked.
"After she finishes up things in Metropolis. It looks like there were cultists in nearly every city. Hal and Barry managed to round up a few themselves." he answered.
As they approached the island, they saw Oren, Maya, Raiku, and Blue Beetle waiting on the beach.
"Excellent, you're here. We've been keeping this hole in the barrier open until you arrived." Oren happily declared.
"Where's Arin?" Batman asked looking around.
"I sent him on ahead to scout out the area. There's a compound beyond this jungle I believe they're using as their base for now. As he discovers traps, patrols and whatnot he'll leave a series of markings to warn us."
"How much time do we have?"
"Plenty. They weren't able to get enough souls as an offering, so these men are most likely on standby. It's a perfect opportunity to gather even more information on her plans."
"Let's get to it then. She might have a plan b we're not aware of."
"We need to split up when we get inside. I'll be sending Maya and Raiku out as well to place runes at various spots in this barrier to dispel it. I'll be joining Arin in assaulting the compound and gathering any information I can find."
"Beetle, Firestorm, go with Maya and help with those runes. Black Canaray, Green Arrow, go with Raiku and do the same. I'll go with Oren and draw they're attention away."
As they went through the barrier, Batman noticed his radio signal back to the back cave was getting heavy interference.
"Seems like all the magical energy here is going to make communications difficult." he said.
"Only with the outside world. In here radio comms should work perfectly." Oren informed him.
"B-man! Supergirl and Hal are on their way, and there's something else-need-know!" Harleen began braking up.
"Harleen! What's wrong? You're breaking up!" Batman turned around to leave, but remembered that the barrier had to be broken first.
"It's the-knights-they're-nians!"
Batman tried to contact her again, but all he received was more static. He knew she was trying to tell him something about the knights, and it only increased his suspicion that they were keeping more from him on who they are and what they're doing here. He knew that he needed to stay alert, at least until Supergirl and Green Lantern arrived.
Scilia was back in her hideout, sitting on her thrown, eyes closed as she was left alone in the room to be with her thoughts. As pleased as she was that Superman so willingly agreed to help her, she wondered if he'd actually be able to take down Oren. She also tried to contain her excitement and be patient for news from her spies as to how all of her plans were going. At the moment, she knew everything was going according to plan, and she could hardly wait to finally achieve her goal.
"My Lady," a pair of green eyes appeared in the shadows once more,"They've taken the bait and are on the island."
"Superman, or Oren?" she asked.
"Both. Superman and his lackeys lie in wait while the Grandmaster and the Batman's forces are split throughout the island. They plan to undo the barrier you placed around it and raid the compounds. No doubt they seek more information of your whereabouts and purpose here." it responded.
Scilia smiled,"Oh Oren, always thinking he's one step head. I look forward to watching how this all unfolds."
"Do you truly believe Superman can take out the Grandmaster? After all, he-"
"Don't be foolish, of course he can't!" she snapped,"But he will prove to be the greatest distraction for Oren and Batman while we move on to the next phase of the plan. Tell the peons to prepare to move out. We're going shopping for a spaceship."
As Arin moved throughout the compound with minimal resistance. He encountered no traps, and from what he could gather it looked more like this compound was less of a ritual site and more of a campsite. There were virtually no guards, and most of the cultists grouped together appeared to either be studying tomes or having idle conversation. The scene unsettled him; he didn't even feel any foul magic in the air that would accompany a demonic summoning. He decided that he should move in deeper, suspecting that the campground was a front for whatever horrors awaited inside.
He found that none of the building were guarded, nor where they trapped either. He saw one building in middle of the compound that looked like a temple of some sort, and decided to investigate it. He walked inside to find the temple empty, but all the candles were lit and the lights were on as though someone had just been inside. As he walked farther in to investigate, the door behind him suddenly closed.
"You should really pay more attention to your surroundings." Cyborg said, blocking the exit.
Damien jumped from the lights above Arin, sword aiming for his head. Arin quickly unsheathed his own and deflected Damien's blade. As Cyborg rushed him, he quickly kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into a wall. Damien attacked again, using his agility to look for an opening. When he went for one, Arin caught his sword and kicked him away as well.
"Got a pretty strong kick there." Cyborg said dusting himself off,"You won't be doing that again though."
"Where's the witch?" Arin demanded.
"Not here. This whole thing was a trap, and you clowns fell for it." Damien answered.
"Where is she? You can either tell me or I can beat it out of you." Arin threatened.
"I'd worry less about her if I were you tough guy." Cyborg warned.
"I sense no demonic energy or anything of the sort here...strange." Oren said as he and Batman looked through the compound.
"You said yourself that they didn't have the souls to do a summoning." Batman reminded him.
"Yes, but if this is where they plan on performing it, this area should be ripe with magical energies in preparation if they ever acquire the amount they need. I'm also sensing...that we weren't as quiet in getting this far as we thought we were."
"Don't feel to bad Grandmaster. After all, this is a trap." Wonder Woman suddenly appeared in front of them. Batman turned around to also find Black Adam behind them.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Superman said floating above them,"Two criminals with now where to run."
"What? How did you get out of the Phantom Zone? And how do you still have your powers after I took them away with the golden kryptonite?" Batman demanded.
"The witch, she's behind this. Those men were pawns meant to feed us false information to lure us here." Oren deduced.
"Nothing personal Grandmaster, but I agreed to take you out as well in exchange for her services in helping to reinstate my Regime." Superman said.
"You? Take me out? You overestimate your abilities boy." Oren scolded him.
"Really? Well unless you have some kryptonite in that robe of yours old man, I'd say your chances of victory are zero." Superman said confidently.
"My chances are greater than you think, but I've wasted enough time on the likes of you. Tell me where the witch is boy!" Oren demanded.
"I've had enough of you calling me boy!" Superman yelled as he charged at Oren.
"Clark! No!" Batman yelled.
Oren held out his hand and caught Superman's punch. For a moment, everyone stared at the scene in front of them as even Superman looked shocked.
"He...didn't even budge." Wonder Woman gaped.
"You dare assault an elder? You bring shame upon your house Kal-El." Oren said in a dangerous tone.
"Batman!" Supergirl yelled, landing beside him,"I got your message and hurried here!"
"How did you get past the barrier?" Batman asked.
"Hal's here to, he managed to make and hole and will be here...to...Kal? How did you...General Oren!" she exclaimed happily.
Still holding Superman's hand, Oren turned towards Supergirl,"Kara! You survived as well?"
"Wait, you know him?" Batman asked.
"That' means..." Wonder Woman looked horrified.
"Yes," Oren said, knocking Superman away,"I am Oren-Ket, patriarch of house Ket, Grandmaster of the Runic Knights, former General and member of the Defense Council, and another survivor of Krypton's destruction."
Oren slowly began to rise in the sky, his eyes trained on Superman,"And now, boy, I will properly instruct you on the combat tactics of the Kryptonian military."