The Watchtower:
"Captain, I think you know better than me about what is going on?" Mr. Terrific asks Captain Marvel as the former arrives at the monitor womb that is currently tracking a number of unfolding disasters occurring around the globe. Earthquakes in Japan and on the American Western Seaboard, strange storms in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, long dormant volcanoes in Italy, Chile, Iceland and other places are showing signs of activity again. Add to them are a number of unnatural event are also taking place, a pillar of blue light from the Temple of Scath is currently stabbing the cloud above Jump City, strange reports of disembodied weeping has been reported from a number of holy sites, including St. Peters Basilica where the noises caused panic in the crowd visiting the square outside. New Arkham Asylum was currently being evacuated as the walls had suddenly started groaning and moaning as if the building itself was a vast sleeping creature that was waking. And from Atlantis, they had received reports of strange noises and rumbles coming from the depths of the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Captain Marvel's eyes flash with lightning for a moment before they return to normal and he rubs his eyes. "Captain?"
"According to the Wizard, the rescue team made a grave mistake and now Trigon's Daughter is loose on the world." Billy replies.
"Raven? Raven is causing all of this?" Mr. Terrific asks.
"No. It is the Daughter of Trigon, it's the thing inside of Raven. The longer it remains out, the more of the world it will affect."
"And does your Wizard have a suggestion as to what we should do?" Terrific asks, knowing that they already had most of the heavy hitters of the League on site, Marvel's eyes flash again.
"I have to be ready to intervene; older powers are already moving against her. But our best hope is that those already there can wake Raven up."
"Older powers?" Terrific asks.
"There are few who mourned the passing of Trigon the Terrible." Marvel replies. "Many would cherish the opportunity to exterminate the rest of his line."
"Right." Mr. Terrific sighs and turns to the screens and the console. "Attention all Justice League personnel, this is an Alpha Level threat, prepare for emergency teleportation." He announces as he starts to power up the teleporters and assign teams for the various catastrophes happening around the globe. "I hope you're right Captain."
"It's a question of faith." Billy smiles before he flies down to the pads.
A hidden complex just outside of Seattle
"Miss Waller, how unexpected." Tala notes as she looks up from the potions she was currently mixing.
"You already know why." Waller replies from the screen, not failing to detect the succubus' sarcasm.
"It is difficult to miss, but you know I am limited in my options." Tala shrugs, referring to the fact that she was still a prisoner of Wallers, but that she could shave years off her sentence if she continued working in an advisory capacity on magical matters, and under strict control allowed to brew potions and cast spells for Wallers benefit.
"Start with what you know." Waller grumbles.
"As you know, Trigons little offspring vanished a few months ago, it appears she has returned." Tala replies as she carefully pours a thick purple liquid into a tall glass where a little yellow flower lies, making the mix turn green.
"And with an increase in power." Waller notes.
"Oh no, the power that she is exercising now has always been there, she just never displayed it." Tala shrugs as she pours a few tiny blackish-brown pieces of what appears to be stone into the concoction.
"You know she is a source of irritation to me Tala, if she goes south completely, what are our chances?" Waller asks.
"Your's are slim." Tala replies while stirring her brew with a long glass rod. "Old powers have already mobilized to try and contain her."
"You mean other supernatural beings. Will it work?" Amanda asks.
"Perhaps, but gods tend to be so predictable, so I wouldn't count on it." Tala continues as she studies her brew before walking over to pick out what looks like a small twig.
"Tell me something, why are they interested in her?" Waller asks as Tala pops the twig into the glass where the brew slowly turns blue.
"She is Trigons daughter." Tala shrugs before she looks up, the expression on Amanda's face tells her the explanation wasn't enough. "Trigon was an invader Amanda, he took over his own reality and removed any who could or would challenge him. They are worried his daughter will continue if she remains as she is. Ah yes, and she has the interest of the Morningstar."
"You mean Lucifer." Waller notes.
"Indeed, and to be of interest to him… well lets just say there have been fought countless wars and made billions of sacrifices in hell just to catch his eye." Tala replies as she takes a look at her creation, that's now turned an icy blue. "So Amanda, what are you going to do about her?" She smirks as she takes the glass and leans against the counter while waiting for Wallers reply.
"Do you have anything for such an event?" Amanda asks dryly, knowing that Tala was trying to work it all into an advantage for herself.
"I only have a few ideas, since I have been under your care for so long." Tala replies. "Some of my colleagues might be better prepared."
"And who would they be?" Amanda asks knowing Tala was associated with over two dozen cults and gatherings across the globe and beyond, and those were only the ones she knew about.
"The Dark Circle, they would not have been ignoring her." Tala replies before she takes a sip.
"The one you've spoken the least about." Waller notes.
"I have been saving them for a rainy day." Tala smirks. "If I am allowed to meet with them, we may be able to arrange something."
"And I assume only face-to-face will do." Amanda rumbles, liking it all less and less as Tala nods and take another sip. There is a long period of silence from Amanda before she continues. "On one condition; I am coming along."
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Tala smirks before she downs her drink.
London:
"Oh bloody hell!" Constantine shouts as he has woken up and finds an item in his tiny flat on fire. He quickly jumps out of bed and knocks it off the shelf and to the ground before taking his pillow and throws it onto it followed by himself hoping he could smother it.
"… Bad way to wake up." He mutters to himself a moment later as he guesses the fire had gone out. "Ah nuts." He grumbles as he picks the pillow off the effigy, a small wooden figure that's been roughly carved into the shape of a demon with four eyes. "Ow! Ow! Hot! Hot! Hot!" He continues as he picks it up and finds it still far too hot to hold so runs to his kitchen and puts it in the sink. "Right… better get the posse together." He grumbles before washing his hands.
Elsewhere:
Wherever here is, is difficult to explain since it is a realm where only gods and the mad visit, as no other could make the journey and no other would dare. The traveler has made the journey a few times now, though he has never liked having to do so. In truth he dislikes the idea of acting through agents like this, but neither his own daughter or the Spawn of Trigon were entities he would cross outside of his place of power on such short notice.
Even to his eyes, their abode looks pleasant enough; a green cottage with a thatched roof on top of a green hill. It's rather deceptive, he knows, they didn't like being reminded of what their best known trait was amongst mortals, even at their most terrible, they preferred simply being called the Kind Ladies or the Kindly Ones. And he reminds himself of that as he knocks on their door, knowing they would know he'd be there even before he arrived.
The door is answered shortly after his knock and an ancient looking woman appear in the doorway. "Well look who it is, come in old Thunderfist." The Crone greets before she lets him pass.
"Oh hello Skyfather, what brings you to these parts?" The aged but pleasant looking woman who is sitting in the living room greets as he is followed in by the Crone.
"I am in the need of your services Great Mother." Zeus says as he is directed to a chair while he notes they had switched, the Crone was now knitting, the young blond Maiden was now pulling the curtains aside and the Great Mother was emerging from the kitchen with a kettle and a few snacks which she places on the table separating them before they change again. The Crone rises from putting the tray down, the Great Mother sits down on the couch and the Maiden continues knitting. "And perhaps the Ladies will be entertained?"
"Blood-Vengeance only Lovie, you know the rules." The Maiden replies with a smile.
"Oh, let him finish Poppin." The Crone adds before they switch again.
"Of course. But my problem has murdered her father." Zeus replies, getting the oddly satisfied smiles to play across the faces of the Ladies, he is willing to think it was because they hoped some would seek them out for this and not because he was doing something he might come to regret, such was always the risk.
The Heliopolis:
Admits the brilliant white clouds and crystal blue sky floats a gigantic temple city, a memory of a greatness that no longer exists in the world of men, now only represented by the tombs of men and ruined temples that were left behind.
Under a colossal pyramid of gold, a gathering is taking place. Not so much that the participants in the room come and go, but more that their presence is directed here into the enormous obsidian statues that carry their likeness.
"I deem it unwise, he did not fare well the last they met." Bastet, the cat headed goddess says to the proposal from Shu, the wind god. "He has defied us before and we are not as strong as we once were should he fail."
"This time he will arrive at his choosing, not awaken after long slumber. And if fortune is with him, the Olympians Champion will assist him." Atum the Creator replies. "What say you Thoth? Is our course a wise one?" He asks the Ibis-headed god who has so far remained silent.
"He considers." Isis replies as the god of wisdom remains silent.
"Mother, you and yours have walked the minds of your old followers." The rumbling voice of Maahes, the lion headed god of war, starts at Bastet. "What do they say of her?"
"Like most of the mortals, they only consider her in mortal terms. They do not see her at all the way we do." Bastet replies.
"Yet they must know." Maahes rumbles. "What do they say?"
"The Bana have begun to consider her an inspiration ever since their queen elevated her after the battle against the Lion of Olympus." Isis adds.
"It is rooted in their own feeling of lack of progress within Themysciran society." Bastet continues.
"The anomaly in this situation is Athena of Olympus." Thoth finally says. "Why has she failed to react to this development?"
"She will have ceased to care, as the Olympians are want to do." Shu snorts disdainfully.
"That is unlikely." Isis replies.
"The offspring of Apep has had the attention of Athena for centuries, and continued to have, last we spoke." Bastet continues. "I am in the belief that she knows more than we in this matter."
"Or she does not see the threat for what it is." Thoth continues. "Not even she sees all ends."
"Enough." Horus commands and the others fall silent. "My choice is thus; Teth Adam will be tasked with undoing the daughter of Apep, while he still can or he will be stripped of our favor and his life. Let my will be done!" He rumbles before the deities depart the chamber, while Isis sends Bastet a knowing look and slight nod.
Asgard
The mighty Hall of Odin has stood since time immemorial, as long as the mountains that surrounds it for most of those who make their home inside, it has just always stood and will continue to do so, until the end of days. Like a mountain in itself the fortress city is a dizzying amount of ancient timber reinforced with stone and black iron that supports it to its peak, where the golden hall of Valhalla rests above the clouds.
Near the base however is where the mounts are normally kept, including the mighty eight-legged Sleipnir, Odin's own mount, swifter than any horse that walks the Earth and now, being readied for its owner, who is waiting patiently for his steed as he is approached by his son.
"Father, you ride forth with the Valkyries? But not for war?" The massive ginger bearded God of Thunder asks his father, currently hiding most of himself under an old brown cloak and a wide brimmed hat while carrying a heavy oaken staff and his two ravens perched on his shoulders.
"I ride to observe certain events in Midgard I have found disturbing. Surtur's daughter has shown herself once more." Thor just freezes at the mention, knowing what that could mean for them all. "But my wise eye see hidden hands in what is currently happening, and I do not believe things are lost, yet."
"Why the Valkyries then?" Thor asks.
"Some worthy may fall before she is restored. But I am warning you, my son, do not interfere with this." Odin says and fixes his son with a stare from his one eye as Sleipnir is brought out of its stable. "I'd prefer not having to bring you back with me." He continues as he mounts getting an irritated huff out of Thor.
"Then you will not. Travel well All-Father." Thor replies as he steps back before Sleipnir takes to the air, riding on the wind, while further up a host of Valkyries on their flying mounts take to the sky as well.
Oa, Citadel of the Guardians:
"We are aware of the disturbances Lantern Salaak, appropriate action will be taken." One of the female Guardians assure the lantern addressing from the central power battery below them.
"I understand Guardian, it is just that in all my years I have never seen such a thing." Salaak replies and the Guardians know he would have been looking for similar incidents.
"It happens occasionally, you need not to trouble yourself." One of the male Guardians reply.
"But…" Salaak starts.
"You need not trouble yourself." Ganthet repeats firmly.
"Yes Guardian." Salaak replies after a second of surprise before lowering his head and the transmission is terminated.
"If it is happening here, it may be happening elsewhere." One of the male Guardians says.
"Most likely." One of the others continues. "The Abstracts of Earth are already mobilizing to deal with it."
"It would be unwise for them; they are imprecise and often inadequate in their responses." One of the females adds. "Should we take action before they worsen the situation?" She asks before they all feel a slight shift in the air around them.
"Unusual." Ganthet notes before an electrical discharge flies out of the ground with a flash leaving Athena in full battle armor standing in the center of the room.
"Greetings Ancient Ones." She salutes.
"And to you Athena of Olympus." Ganthet replies. "You are here regarding the situation in sector 2814." He notes.
"I am here to dissuade you from intervening. Matters are complicated enough as they are, your involvement will only make it worse." Athena replies getting a few shifts between the Guardians. "Clumsy as you may call us, our plans are already laid and in motion." The Guardians remain quiet for a moment as they think and communicate amongst themselves.
"Your plans carry many great risks." One of the female Guardians note. "It will only take one to fail."
"That is the nature of such things." Athena replies.
"Do you believe we will condone them?" The same Guardian continues.
"We care not if you do." Athena shrugs. "I come here to serve warning that your involvement may undo it all. Remember Ancient Ones the amount of will each one of you carries and what she could do with it should she drain just one of you. Remember!" Athena replies before she disappears in a blast of lightning.
The Garden of the Forking Ways
This garden is unlike any other, filled with paths that change and weave under a set sky, through empty plains, hedge mazes, ruins, clouds and trees. In a sense it is not a place you can reach by travel, but in another you don't need to, because you are already here; in the Garden of Destiny, where you will all walk from your birth till you die and beyond.
As he has done for over 10 billion years, Destiny walks his garden, his tall form hidden under the brown robe and hood. With him he carries the Book of Destiny, wherein the fate of all is written down. He is the only one who understands and is able to navigate the peculiar geography of his garden with ease, as he is not bound to it the way most others are.
It was at the statues of his siblings he read the page of his book, instructing him to return to his abode, passing duplicates of himself three times along the way. After entering the structure that appears similar to a roofless Greek temple, he heads towards a special room, a room that he doesn't use often; his gallery. But as his book instructed him to do, he knows he must use it now.
He passes first the swirling painting of his youngest sister, then the image of a hooked ring, then a silver heart, the empty portrait where the Prodigal should have been, then he passes a full portrait of a thin, white skinned man dressed in the manner of a French nobleman under a full moon. But Destiny stops at the final portrait, for she is the one he must notify.
"Sister, I stand in my gallery, will you speak with me?" He asks her portrait. The portrait blinks before the woman leans out of the frame and smiles.
"Hiya brother, what's the occasion?" She asks as she rests her arms on the frame of the picture before resting her head on them.
"I have consulted my book, and it has told me you must be somewhere." He replies.
"I am everywhere already, you have to be a little more precise." She teases.
"It is different this time. For what reason I do not know, but there is someone in the Earthly Himalaya's you must meet with." Destiny replies.
"But not take away?" She asks. "Not going to tell me who?"
"Perhaps. All I know is that there is someone you need to meet in the Himalaya's, that is all." He continues.
"Hrr. Ok, I guess I better get going then, don't be a stranger." She replies, knowing he wouldn't elaborate, before she sinks into the painting again and takes up the previous position.
Themyscira
"Your Highness? It is not like you to be out at this time of night." Artemis notes as she is heading home from her local watering hole, but finds Hippolyta coming from Magala's cavern.
"It is late for you as well Sister, but there were matters I hoped I could receive clarity." Hippolyta replies.
"Were there none to be had?" Artemis asks knowing that Magala was as likely to give sound advice as she was to get distracted by clouds and cracks in rocks.
"Not this night." Hippolyta sighs and looks down over the sleeping city. "Something is wrong, I can feel it in my bones and the Gods are quiet on the matter."
"You don't think they found her?" Artemis asks knowing Hippolyta was getting impatient regarding the efforts into finding Raven and that like her, she was concerned she wouldn't be found amongst the living.
"I don't know. But I pray they find her well in body and mind." Hippolyta sighs.
"She will be, and if not, we will try and make her right again." Artemis replies.
"We will. Good night sister." Hippolyta nods and leaves.
"Good night Your Highness." Artemis replies after her before she also heads for home. But when she enters her quarters, she can feel something is different. Out of the pile of weapons lying on the ground she quickly arms herself, even if she can't see anything. "Come out."
"As you wish." However surprised Artemis is at the voice and the being that phases into being in front of her, she doesn't let her guard down. "Smaller than the one you used to have." Bastet, having taken the shape of a gray furred human woman with a cat's head as she always did in person, notes at the room. "Just as messy though."
"Bastet." Artemis replies as she relaxes and bows having had the time to asses whenever it was Bastet or not. "What do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"Unfortunately I am here to request your services for combat. Great powers are moving against your friend, seeking her death."
"Raven? They found her?" Artemis asks.
"Part of her. Athena is playing her games, games Isis and I are part of. The rest of the Heliopolis however isn't, even parts of Olympus are against her in this matter." Bastet explains.
"So they've sent assassins." Artemis replies, figuring that it was Raven's least pleasant side she, Hippolyta and the oracles and mages had been feeling this last hour or so. "Am I to be yours?" She asks knowing even Athena could at any time renounce her favors and turn on a champion if it served her purposes.
"Do you wish to be?" Bastet asks and lets a moment of silence fill the air where neither of them break off their stares. "You wouldn't anyway, not before you accepted she was lost. No, we do not wish her death, we wish her to remain alive at least until the gambit has failed. I will grant you a boon for this task, you will remain unseen and untouchable until you choose to engage, so your blow must count."
"I always do." Artemis notes.
"This time more than any, for once exposed you will be battling gods and those with their power." Bastet replies stiffly.
"And I am the only one to go?" Artemis asks, though she does feel pride for being selected, she knew there were others here that would want to go if asked.
"Athena has sent her messengers to your Queen and your friends, but you must dress for cold weather before you make your way to the smith and ask her."
"Can Athena's envoys not reach her?" Artemis asks as she looks in her closet for some heavier clothing.
"She sleeps behind locked doors." Bastet replies.
"Owls." Artemis mutters as she gets into a pair of pants she normally intended to wear on long sea voyages along with a thick sweater. "How will we get there?" She asks as she picks her weapons.
"Give me your hand." Bastet says and holds out her own and waits for it to be filled with Artemis' "Join hands with those with the marks and you will go." She says as she lets go and Artemis finds a tiny paw print on the skin between her thumb and index finger. "It will fade, in time."
"Assuming we live that long." Artemis replies.
"Aye, fortune be with you Artemis of Bana-Mighdall." Bastet replies before she fades away.
New Genesis:
"Highfather." Orion greets quietly as he kneels before the leader of New Genesis, who himself is kneeling before the featureless gray slab of stone that serves as his conduit to the Source.
"My son." Highfather replies as he opens his eyes before rising to his feet, supported by his staff. "There is an anomaly on Earth we need you to investigate."
"Is it a threat?" Orion asks as he rises as well.
"That is what we need you to estimate, the Source is vague." Highfather replies as he motions for Orion to follow him into an adjoining room that features a console with a screen. "Tell me what you see." He says before pushing a few buttons and brings up an image where many lines cross up and down as if a seismic measurement. However to the New Gods it is a language of its own, telling its own tale.
"That can't be." Orion starts as he reads it. "Darkseid himself would never do such a thing."
"More the worry, but it is there. I have ordered our forces to stand ready, but we need you to assess what this is before we act. Is it a weapon Darkseid has created? Or has someone else managed to tap into the Omega Force? We need to know, and quickly." Orion nods at Highfather's request.
"I will report as soon as I have located it." Orion replies before he makes his way out. Highfather looks after him before turning back to the screen in worry; Darkseid as the sole wielder of the Omega-Force was more than enough evil the universes had to bear, if other, older, more evil beings mastered it, they could become unstoppable, if they didn't rot away first.
New Orleans:
"Brother, what an unexpected surprise." Sam greets the tall, long haired, blond being shown out into the back garden of Dis where he is having lunch.
"I sincerely doubt that." Michael replies as he takes the vacant seat in front of him. "Why did you agree to meet me?"
"Curiosity. Why did you wish to speak in person?" Sam asks, considerably more at ease than Michael is.
"We are interested in what your stake is in the situation the in Himalaya's." Michael replies but gets a laugh from Sam.
"You think I have anything to do with it?" Sam asks with raised eyebrows.
"Don't you?" Michael asks calmly.
"Why would I have anything to do with this brother?" Sam asks as he leans back in his seat again.
"We know you consider her interesting or you would never have let her across your doorstep." Michael replies.
"When she is in her right mind, we are kindred spirits she and I, you wouldn't understand." Sam replies as Mikela steps out with a glass of red wine for each of them before she heads back into the house.
"So you do have a hand in the current situation." Michael notes calmly as Sam sends him a look with red in his eyes.
"Brother, it vexes me when you try to be clever, mostly because you aren't any good at it." Sam growls before emptying his glass in a mouthful. "She and I are both rebels against predestination, what's walking around in the snow right now is very much like you; tedious and predictable. Tell me brother, does she trouble you?"
"She troubles me not." Michael replies flatly before sipping his wine.
"I think she does; it troubles you that she is allowed to wander this plane and not doing anything that would permit you or some of the others to act."
"We only act when needed." Michael shrugs. "We think it troubles you as well, if left as she is, there might be much less to interest you around here."
"Undoubtedly, but there are quite a few already drawing swords, why should I?" Sam continues.
"It would interfere with all those scenarios you've seen her in, all those plans you've woven."
"Only in my mind. She has potential, potential even you might be surprised to see." Sam replies.
"A few years to get everyone beaten into lines, a few more to make it all happen. I am more concerned about how many innocents she takes with her." Michael just looks disdainfully as Sam starts to laugh.
"Oh that, sure, she could do that within a year." Sam replies as his mirth dies down. "The Pit is just itching to have someone to rip into and it doesn't care what it is. But if that's what you think of her, you better return to your perch, because I think you will be in for a surprise."
"Hmm, so no intention to intervene?" Michael continues.
"None, yet. You?" Sam asks.
"If necessary. Yet?" Michael asks.
"I might now that you're interested." Sam smirks.
"It will be your choice as always." Michael replies as he rises from his seat.
"As long as I am here? No it isn't." Sam replies with a sour tone entering his voice.
"Regardless, I wish you well brother." Michael continues before he turns to light and disappears into the sky, leaving Sam to look after him.
"Hmm, Asmodel then. Perhaps this does require a little something." He says to himself and smirks while rising from his seat with an idea. "Mazikeen!"