Mysteries
The Watchtower
March 15 17:00
Batman and Oren were watching a report on the news filled with pleas from the family and friends of those still missing that they be returned home safely.
"From your experience fighting this woman, do you think those still missing are still alive?" Batman asked.
"I'm not aware of this secondary goal she is trying to fulfill with these humans, so I'm not certain. If they still are, I gather they won't be for too much longer." Oren answered.
"There haven't been any more kidnappings, so we can be thankful for that." Batman said.
"Yes, but I wonder whether it's from our meddling or if she already has what she needs." Oren contemplated.
"The only way we'll know for sure is to find them. Did the Rune Knights have any records on how to find the vestige?" Batman asked as he changed the screen to show a map.
"Some records made references to an unspeakable evil sealed away long ago, but no mention of how or when. I believe this was in case something like this happened the perpetrator wouldn't have any information to help them find it. Of course, this puts us in the same predicament as well, but I believe I've uncovered a clue." Oren said, zooming the map in on Egypt.
"From what my records show our order began in ancient Egypt during the Third Dynasty. Egypt is known to many as a place that has strong magical energy within it. We should start there." he concluded.
"What exactly will we be looking for?" Batman asked.
Oren showed him a strange hieroglyph on an old piece of parchment,"This hieroglyph is the first symbol the Rune Knights used to identify each other when the order first came to be. During the Third Dynasty the capital of Egypt was Memphis. We should start our search there."
At that moment the alarm in the Watchtower went off. A map of Gotham suddenly appeared with a large red dot blinking on it.
"What's going on?" Oren asked.
"After discovering the rituals the cultists were performing I programmed the Watchtower to alert of if any of that same kind of energy came up again. Since it has, I'm guessing we're dealing with another ritual." Batman answered.
"No matter who you send, Raiku will go with them while Maya investigates Memphis." Oren said.
"What will Arin be doing?" Batman asked.
"He has...training that I must supervise. It can't wait unfortunately." Oren answered.
Once Aqualad was informed, he made two teams to accompany Maya and Raiku. Blue Beetle would accompany Maya to scan for the symbol, while Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Superboy and Robin went with Raiku to search for the cultists.
Gotham City
March 15 17:30
The Dark Brother silently observed the cultists conducting various rituals around him. Indignation filled him as his job was to ensure that nothing disturbed the rituals. He glanced over at the kidnapped civilians locked in a cage. Some hung their heads, resigned to their fate. Others were either sobbing, pleading for their lives, or making threats of knowing or being the child of someone who'll "make them pay." He fought back the urge to crush their skulls, as they were essential to Mother's plan, and he feared his punishment if he should fail.
While the others searched the streets, Raiku and Kid Flash checked the sewers. They saw that torches were still attached to the walls, and wondered if the cultists were still using the sewers. Their first stop was the altar where Arin and the others took down the Feeder. They quickly moved about the room, overturning chairs and pressing on the walls for any sign of secret passages. Raiku tried using his X-ray vision to see through the walls, but the magic in the area seemed to interfere with his vision. He started getting anxious, he didn't want to come across a Feeder full of civilians.
"Don't worry, we'll find them." Kid Flash reassured him.
"I know, I just hope we find them still human and not something else." Raiku said, concern in his voice.
Raiku felt a chill run down his spine. He knew they were close, but he couldn't tell if the chill came from the dark magic, or if something more sinister was waiting for them. He didn't hide his expression fast enough for Kid Flash not to notice.
"What's wrong?"
"Just...stay on your guard. I think they might be down here, but something doesn't feel right."
They continued through the sewers, wary of every shadow He eventually came upon a waterfall, and at the bottom was a door guarded by a cultist.
He used the telepathic link Miss Martian established to alert them.
Guys! Found a cultist and a spooky door! I think this is it!
When they all finally caught up to him, they went over their plan of attack.
"I can knock him out telepathically and we can take his keys." Miss Martian said.
"Awesome, but we don't know what's inside. Their using magic to block my X-ray vision." Raiku said.
"How is that even possible?" Robin asked.
"Flight, strength, speed, heat and x-ray vision are some of the basic powers a kryptonian gains when exposed to anything but a red sun. Scilia, the Dark Brother and the Dark Sisters are kryptonians themselves, so they're well aware of what we can do and know how to stop it." Raiku explained.
"If they're also kryptonians, why aren't they flying or fast like you guys are?" Superboy asked.
"Dark magic comes at a price, even for our kind. It's corrupted them so much they can't even stand in the sun, which is why they're so pale and heavily covered. Kryptonite still works on them though, so that's a plus." Raiku answered.
"No worries, I can phase through the wall and take a peek." Kid Flash volunteered.
As Miss Martian knocked out the cultist, Kid Flash quickly phased through the wall and took a quick glance around the room. He saw a group of cultists, ten in total, gathered around one of the kidnapped civilians placed on the same symbol they saw cultists bursting into flames on at the abandoned factory. The others, he counted thirty, were kneeling with their heads bowed, minus the few that guarded the other kidnapped civilians. He suddenly turned and locked eyes with the Dark Brother, who had been watching him the entire time.
"Who is that boy and why did the guard not stop him from entering?" he asked loudly, his voice piercing the silence.
Oh crap! He saw me! Kid Flash informed the others.
Raiku smashed through the wall and went straight for the Dark Brother.
Get the civilians out of here! I'll keep him busy! he told them.
The Dark Brother caught Raiku's punch and threw his own, only to have it caught as well.
"Of all the people the Grandmaster sends to face me, he sends the mongrel. I'm insulted." The Dark Brother sneered.
"I got your mongrel right here!" Raiku exclaimed, kneeing him in the face and kicking him into the wall.
Kid Flash and Miss Martian went to rescue the civilians while Robin and Superboy took on the cultists. Many were armed with nothing more than daggers. One lunged at Superboy and stared in disbelief as his dagger shattered when he stabbed him. Superboy threw him into another group of cultist and started clearing a way for the civilians to escape. He looked up to see Raiku's fight with the Dark Brother was evenly matched. He knew that Raiku was simply buying them time to rescue the civilians. Kid Flash attempted to quickly grab the civilian in the ritual circle, but found a barrier of magic blocked his path.
I can't get to the civilian in ritual circle! There's a magical barrier or something in the way!
Robin, that staff's electric right? Raiku asked.
Yeah
His armor is metal, and that helmet doesn't offer him a good range of vision. If you strike him from behind it'll give me an opening to lay him out.
I'm game, let's do it!
Raiku threw a flurry of punches at the Dark Brother, using his ability to fly and the Dark Brother's inability to do so as a way to move out of his range whenever he retaliated. The Dark Brother grew tired of this exploitation, and the when Raiku flew up to escape his range again he jumped up after him. Raiku successfully blocked his punch, but the strength behind it sent him flying into the ceiling. Robin chose that time to strike, coming from behind and bringing his electric staff down to strike. The Dark Brother quickly turned around and caught his staff with one hand. The crackling electricity from the staff didn't appear to affect him as he used his other hand to grab Robin by the throat.
"I think I'll take this staff and shove it-" he was cut off as Raiku, fist engulfed in bright, red energy, punched him in the face.
As his fist connected a shockwave knocked everyone back and sent the Dark Brother crashing into the floor. Raiku used that moment to quickly form a rune in his hand to dispel the barrier around the civilian. Kid Flash quickly grabbed them, and along with Miss Martian and Superboy began leading the civilians to safety. Raiku raised his fist, and the same red energy enveloped his entire arm.
"WRETCHED MONGREL!" The Dark Brother bellowed as he leaped towards Raiku. His hand was open, as though it were a claw, with black smoke trailing behind it.
The explosion caused from their clash sent the Dark Brother back into the ground and Raiku through the ceiling and out into the streets. The others managed to evacuate the civilians before the room crumbled behind them. Raiku watched as the Dark Brother escaped through a portal, but before he could pursue him he realized he couldn't feel his arm. He looked down to see a gash in his arm where the Dark Brother clawed him, black smoke faintly rising from it.
Raiku! Are you alright? Miss Martian asked.
He got me in the arm, but it's nothing Oren can't heal. Did you guys get all the civilians?
Yes. We're heading to Gotham PD right now.
Awesome. I'm heading back to the Watchtower. Gotta hurry and get this wound healed.
As he flew off he looked back again at the giant hole in the street.
Crap...I'm probably getting scolded for this. he sighed.
Memphis, Egypt
March 15 20:45
As Blue Beetle scanned the city from above, Maya walked through the streets looking for the symbol Oren showed them. She eventually came across a bridge, and found the symbol carved into the side of it.
"Hey! I found it!" She alerted Blue Beetle.
Blue Beetle began scanning the area around the bridge, and saw a large room was under them with the staircase a few feet away. The entrance looked to be behind a large stone wall. Blue Beetle changed his hand to a cannon and prepared to blast through it.
"Whoa, slow down there cowboy." She said lowering his arm,"For all we know there's a ward or a trap that'll reflect that right back at you."
Jaime Reyes, the Kryptonian female speaks the truth. This section of the wall emits strange energy. Proceed with caution! The scarab warned him.
"Oh...sorry." he lowered his arm,"So how do we get through."
"I'm...not sure." Maya admitted, slowly reaching out to touch the wall.
A ripple formed at the point her finger made contact, as though the wall were made of water. She pressed her hand against it and found that it actually went through. Blue Beetle tried as well, only to get knocked back.
"I guess it only allows Rune Knights through. Makes sense; wouldn't be much of a base if anyone could walk in." Maya commented.
"So should I just wait out here?"
"I have a better idea."
She grabbed his hand started going through the wall.
"Whoa! Hold on a second!" he protested.
He attempted to resist, but her strength was greater as she dragged him through the wall.
"I was hoping that would work." she said, letting go of his hand.
"What would've happened if it didn't?"
"You probably would've been knocked back again."
They continued down a dark, winding staircase until they came upon a door. Time had taken its toll as the wood was heavily rotted and at the slightest touch it fell from his hinges and onto the ground. The room behind it was full of scrolls and parchments all written in hieroglyphics.
"Can that being on your back read ancient Egyptian?" Maya asked.
"Yeah, but it's gonna take a while to go through all of this." Blue Beetle said.
"We just need to find any reference to the vestige."
"Then let's get started."
They spent the next hour going through the documents in the room.
"So...um...how do you like Earth so far?" Blue Beetle asked, breaking the silence.
"I love it, especially how easy it is to blend in. I don't feel so...alien here. I can see why the Grandmaster chose to come here."
"How many worlds have you been to?"
"I've lost count, but we were only on them to hunt down that witch. The other day was the first time in a long time we just...hung out."
"Yeah, that Grandmaster of yours seems real strict."
Jaime Reyes, I have found evidence of this Abyssal Vestige the older kryptonian spoke of.
"Hey, the scarab's found something!"
"What? What did if find?"
"It's translating now. According to this, when they sealed the vestige away it left a stain on the order. They don't go into detail how exactly, but the Grandmaster of that time left some kind of riddle regarding it."
"Really? Riddles? What's with these ancient people and their damn enigmas?" Maya sounded annoyed.
"The way of the dark fills thee with dread, as the path to the abyss is lined with the dead. A spirit, corrupted, leaves thee a shade, as light and memory begin to fade. Tears of the forsaken lament their fate, to be devoured and destroyed by what knows only hate. For the abyss consumes one from within, he who commits the ultimate sin."
Blue Beetle looked at Maya,"So...any idea what that Dr. Suess just said?"
The Watchtower
March 15 23:15
Maya and Blue Beetle informed Batman and Oren of what they found in Memphis.
"Hmmm...a stain upon the order? Yet another mystery and another question that needs answers." Batman said.
"What about the others? Did they stop the ritual?" Blue Beetle asked.
"Yes, and managed to find more of the missing civilians. Unfortunately the Dark Brother was there, and Raiku was injured. Oren is tending to his wounds." Batman said.
They found Oren bandaging Raiku's arm in another room. Robin and Kid Flash were there as well to check up on him.
"And I thought I made it clear not to call forth your soulflame in a place such as this. We are guests here and we should not begin making a mess of things." Oren scolded him.
"He had Robin by the throat! I had to do something!" Raiku protested.
"Yeah! He saved my life back there." Robin agreed.
"And it bought us enough time to get the civilians out." Kid Flash added.
"I admire your attempts to defend him, but the consequences of what has happened is greater than you all realize. At the moment our presence here is being kept from the world, mostly for the protection of the Justice League. Can you imagine the reaction the world would have to learn that not only are there more kryptonians amongst them, one half means to cause them harm? Though Kal-El has done a marvelous job painting our kind in a better light, Scilia's schemes would serve to darken it. But I am no fool, and I assume there was more to your decision along with the imminent danger to your comrades." Oren said sternly.
Raiku's mouth tightend as he looked down and away from Oren.
"Hmmm, I see," Oren's tone softened,"Well...in the end, as your two teammates said, you saved countless lives and dealt quite a blow to the Dark Brother. Excellent work."
He turned to Maya and Blue Beetle,"Ah, I see you've returned. What news do you have?"