Déjà vu took over Joshua as he followed the Phantom Stranger through the familiar corridors of the Tower of Fate. A place he had not seen for five years and yet in that time yearned to visit again.
They entered the library and Joshua smiled recognising Inza as she put a book on the shelf. She heard the footsteps and turned around smiling a bowing "Greetings again Phantom Stranger, I assume that this is Joshua Spearing?", Josh shook his head in a double take "That exactly what you said five years ago Mrs Nelson. It's frightfully off putting."
"Forgive me Master Spearing I only asked as you have your mask and attire on.", Josh responded by taking off his mask, Inza smile "You have defiantly matured since last we had you here as our guest."
"Thank you, may I ask where…", the glowing golden ankh filled the room and Doctor Fate appeared in the room "It is good to see you again Master Spearing you have my condolences on the loss of your magic, but it can be recovered."
"The Phantom Stranger here said that my magic was restricted, I presume something to do with the source."
"Correct, and both myself and the Phantom Stranger have agreed that with this action we must tell you the source of your magic, tell me have you even wondered about the actually design of your badge?"
Joshua unpinned his badge from his cravat and looked at it "Once or twice, not really enough to research the specific significance of a black dragon."
"Then you will be unaware of being known as Zirnitra?"
"Is he the source?"
"Yes, once worshipped by the ancient Slavic people as a god of sorcery."
"So my powers come from a god?"
"Correct," The Phantom Stranger said "currently Zirnitra lives within the Dreaming."
"The Dreaming?" Joshua said tilting his head, "Has Zirnitra gone there to die?"
"No," the Stranger continued "he simply went there for asylum until his powers could be used again."
"We'll I've been using his powers for five years now?"
"And when you started acting against his wishes he decided to limit and if need be cut it off from you completely."
"So with me willing to kill Jinx, Gizmo and Mammoth if they didn't give us information and the punch I gave Robin after the incident with Grant Wilson he limited my magic."
"Yes and when the wizard Mumbo nullified your powers he saw it as an opportunity to help you improve yourself and become worthy of wielding his powers."
"I'm, not sure I could improve myself."
"You know now," Doctor Fate said, "it is up to you on how you do it."
"So do my powers just comeback now."
"Sadly it is not that easy, you will need to prove yourself to Zirnitra so you can once again wield your power, but that can wait, the day is turning to night."
"Nelson," the Stranger said "are you forgetting about the other pieces of knowledge he needs."
"I almost did, thank you," he turned to Joshua "I am going to perform a spell of revelation upon you, it should not hurt physically but whatever we shall see may affect you mentally." He placed his hand on Joshua's temples and they glowed.
Memories Joshua did not recognise and yet knew appeared in his mind.
A baby with a tuft of orange hair laid screaming on the bed as a woman, presumably the mother panted, and questioned if she should have had an abortion Joshua's eye widened, he stood there in the room, he saw the midwife writing down on a piece of paper a name 'Walter Joseph Kovacs' the date March 21st 1940.
The next few years flew by as Joshua saw the horrors of Walter's life, the son of a prostitute he heard his mother screaming, as a seven-year-old he walked in on one such occasion and his mother's client became angry and payed the woman off with very little, his mother took out her anger on poor Walter.
At age ten two boys, one with a cigarette lit bullied Walter. Joshua grits his teeth, he hated bullies, and Johnny Rancid reminded him of that. How Walter's reaction took Joshua by the greatest surprise, he took the cigarette and jammed it into the boy's eye, then pounced upon the other and bit him.
Only then did the truth come out about Walter and his mother, the authorities sent the boy to an intuition for troubled children. There he became intelligent, and physically strong, though quiet.
At age sixteen he learnt of his mother's recent death, killed by her pimp, his only comment "Good." He also left the intuition at age sixteen and began work, unpleasant to him as he handled ladies clothing in a garment factory, everything from dresses to underwear, thanks to his mother's action and now the condition of this work, Walter became asexual and very uncomfortable around women.
Newspapers and news reports began to appear in the early sixties about the United State new asset, Doctor Manhattan, a being with the ability, they claimed, to do pretty much anything. It made the Soviets fearful.
In 1962 a dress appeared in the factory, made thanks to Doctor Manhattan. Two layers of fabric with viscous black and white fluids trapped between them. The fluids remained in constant motion, being affected by heat and pressure, however, the black and white colours never combined to form grey. The patterns formed by the fluids also maintained a constant symmetrical pattern down the midline of whatever shape the fabric formed into.
No one, not even the woman who ordered the dress wanted it, all thought it ugly, to Walter it look beautiful, so took it home with him.
Two years later he read in a newspaper article about the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese, who Walter remembered as the woman who ordered the dress. He felt disgusted at the bystander effect of the neighbours, the New York Times reported thirty-seven people who witnessed this and did nothing. Walter felt despair hook his heart, he lost faith in humanity and with the dress he made the Rorschach mask 'A face I can bare took look at in the mirror.' He thought.
Joshua's eyes narrowed 'I did some research on Kitty Genovese, only twelve knew of the attack and only one had seen the first stabbing, and only one other who saw to second, everyone else hadn't been aware it was a sexual assault and killing, how could someone that smart believe something so overblown?'
"This was at the time Master Spearing." Doctor Fate said out load "The police investigation came after the report and were not made largely public."
'Walter lost faith in humanity over a lie in the newspapers, tragic.'
After this crime Walter became a masked vigilante, his mask gave him the prefect name of Rorschach. Similar to Batman, Walter would be ruff with kidnappers, rapists and murders on the street levels, and when the police arrived they found the criminals with a calling card, a symbol exactly the same as the one Joshua put on the Vincent.
A year later he started a partnership with fellow crime fighter Dan Dreiberg, the second Nite-Owl. Dan's technical skills reminded Joshua very much of Cyborg, helped by the fact that Dan made Rorschach a grapple gun. The two worked well taking down street gangs in New York.
Time went on and Joshua saw more costumed people, Edward Blake, called the Comedian, Laurie Juspeczyk, the second Silk Spectre, and Adrian Veidt, Ozymandias.
Doctor Manhattan reveals his true name in 1969 as Doctor Jon Osterman, a nuclear scientist accidently disintegrated and somehow removed from the physical realm, he reconstructs his body, and became a god-like being.
The Vietnam War, thanks to the intervention of Doctor Manhattan, finished in 1971 with a victory for the USA and the South Vietnamese forces. In the wake of this Richard Nixon repealed the two term President amendment introduced after Franklin Roosevelt's death in office. He kept the Watergate Scandal covered up, and kept being re-elected.
In 1975 Walter went looking for six-year-old Blair Roche, a kidnapped girl. Mistaken to be connected to the Roche family of chemical tycoon, when in fact the daughter of a bus driver. Personal reasons compelled Walter to take the case, the idea of a small child abused and frightened did not sit well with him.
Days passed and he finally found a lead, a man named Gerald Grice who lived some disused dressmakers in Brooklyn.
Walter entered the building, empty, messy and in slight disrepair, dogs barking outside. Inside he found no trace of little Blair until he found a burnt piece of children's clothing, with little cartoon teddy bears, inside a furnace, obviously Grice tried to cover his track. Walter continued and found a cupboard with half a dozen cutting knives and a hacksaw close to a wooden slab with massive cuts. Both Walter and Joshua thought the same thing, 'Whatever Grice chopped here, it took a lot of force.'
The dog's growls and barks took their attention, they both went to the window as saw the two German Shepherds fighting over a bone, a femur, the thigh bone, the two crime fighters came to same frightening conclusion. Walter went out with a meat cleaver in his left hand, and before he knew it, spilt the dog's heads in two.
Joshua felt like he would vomit, he saw Walter staggered back, the blood all over his brown trench-coat, "Mother." He said muffed, then after a few moments he stood straight, Joshua stared, he felt what Walter felt, the feelings and thoughts came with the memories, he knew Walter closed his eyes, and then when they opened a new man stood there, someone worse than the criminals and didn't care what people thought of him, there stood the definitive original Rorschach.
Ten Forty-five came, and Grice, drunk, walked back to the shop, called out to his dogs before entering, having found the door it unlocked, gingerly he entered the kitchen. The body of one of the dog flew through the window. He stepped back arguing his innocence. Joshua rolled his eyes, 'Criminal always say that when they assume there's trouble.', the other dog came through the door and Grice fell down screaming as he struggled the body off.
Rorschach stood next to him and Grice looked up before the vigilante gripped him. Dragged him into the kitchen as the drunken kidnapper spoke "… I haven't done anything. Look… Look I know what you think. You think I'm something to do with that little girl.", Rorschach handcuffed Grice to a pipe as he continued to speak "You can't prove anything I mean where's the evidence? You can't do anything to… me." He paused as Rorschach pulled from his coat the hacksaw and put it on the floor before the criminal.
Rorschach picked up a jerrycan and started to dump its contained fluid on the floor.
"Hey! Hey are you crazy? That's kerosene!"
"Yes." Rorschach finally said, low, gruff, growly but monotone. He pulled out a pack of matches "Shouldn't bother trying to saw through handcuff, never make it in time."
Joshua knew the choice, the memories of the plan stewed in his mind for hours by this point, he didn't like it, not one bit, he would have tried and given the police the burnt piece of clothing and the femur, but this Rorschach did not work that way.
Grice looked confused "What do you mean, what am I supposed to…", Rorschach struck the match.
"Oh God! Oh Jesus no! You're kidding, you have to be kidding!", Rorschach dropped the match and walked out as Grice screamed.
Joshua held back his vomit as he followed. The two stood in the street and watched the shop burn to the ground, nothing left the building.
After that Rorschach quit his job and began walking the street holding a sign saying 'The End is Nigh.', for finance he takes money from criminal pockets, baring those who mugged and stolen from banks, the money returned the owners.
1977, policemen strike because they thought the superheroes interfered with their work. The Keene Act passed quickly through Congress and vigilantism became illegal in the United States. Doctor Manhattan and the Comedian still remained active as government agents, Laurie Juspeczyk quitted having more or less been forced to become a crime fighter by her mother Sally Jupiter, the original Silk Spectre. Dan Dreiberg retired but wished to remain anonymous. Adrian Veidt already gave up his life as a crime fighter two years by then. The only one not to yield Rorschach left his response, a note saying 'neveR' with his symbol attached to the corpse of a multiple rapist.
During Nixon's fifth term in office someone killed the Comedian, having him thrown out of his high apartment window. Rorschach investigated and believed it to be the cause of a "Mask Killer." And warned to others, Dan, Veidt, Manhattan and Juspeczyk.
Further investigations led Rorschach to a setup, captured by the police and sent to Sing-Sing.
At the same time as Rorschach's investigation, the Nova Express magazine accused Doctor Manhattan of giving his old associates cancer. Laurie recently left him, due to his continuing loss of contention to humanity, without her and the accusations, he left Earth and went to Mars. Giving the Russian the opportunity to invade Afghanistan and the Cold War began to heat up.
Laurie went to Dan, the two started a relationship and in fact rekindled the flame of being superheroes.
Rorschach used hot oil to scald a prisoner about to attack him. On Halloween night that prisoner died and the prison erupted into a riot. Dan and Laurie went to save Rorschach.
On returning to Dan's house they found Manhattan there and he took Laurie away.
Both Dan and Rorschach investigated the links they both found. From Rorschach the murder of Edward Blake linked to an island full of writers, artist and scientist. And Dan researched a link to those formally in contact with Doctor Manhattan, those who ended up with cancer. All of them led to a company called Pyramid Deliveries.
They went to see Veidt, now a wealthy business man, to hopefully get help on understanding the motivations of Pyramid.
Dan looked at the Egyptian artefacts in Veidt's office, plus his name as a crime fighter, Ozymandias, the Greek name for Rameses the Second. Looking at Veidt's computer files Dan found out, Veidt ran Pyramid.
Quickly they used Dan's aircraft to head to Antarctica, and Veidt's retreat of Karnak. Not before Rorschach mailed his journal with an entry of Veidt's involvement finishing with '…For my own part, regret nothing. Have lived life, free from compromise, and step into the shadow now without complaint.
'Rorschach, November 1st, 1985.'
After, the two reached Karnak and got easily defeated by Veidt, who explained his plan. To stop all out nuclear war he would need to give two the massive enemies an even greater fake enemy, however Manhattan proved too powerful and unpredictable so Veidt took steps to have him leave Earth.
Edward Blake discovered the plans, so Veidt threw him out the window.
The plan, create a fake alien lifeform, cloned from a human psychic and genetically altered, and teleport it to New York. The creature would die on arrival and trigger a psychic explosion to kill half the city.
Veidt in fact enacted his plan thirty-five minutes before midnight, long before Dan and Rorschach arrived.
In the end Veidt succeeded, even after Manhattan and Laurie arrived to stop Veidt, too late of course. However, Rorschach would not expect defeat, free from compromise he would prefer to live in a truthful world about to destroy itself instead of a peaceful world made of lies.
Doctor Manhattan stopped him.
Joshua stood in the entrance to the icy desert and watched, both he and Rorschach knew what would happen.
Rorschach removed his iconic shifting mask before ordering Doctor Jon Osterman or Doctor Manhattan, to "Do it.", with a mere thought, the blue man vaporised the vigilante, leaving a smoking patch in the snow that began to be covered over.
Joshua looked as a Goth girl appeared beside the ghost of Rorschach, introduced herself then offered to reincarnate him in another universe.
The sound of wings.
Joshua blink as he found himself in the hospital, the Goth girl told the baby boy something and left just as Joshua witnessed his own birth.
The memories left and Joshua stood wide eyed as Doctor Fate let his hands go "I had not considered you would have been such an individual in your past life and seen such tragedy."
"I," Joshua said looking at the mask in his hand 'It's Rorschach, the original Rorschach in the mirror.', "I don't know, can I even be Rorschach…"
"You are different from Walter Kovacs," Doctor Fate said "you did not react to the brutal death of Blair Roche the way Walter did, he felt angry, you felt sadness, and you figured a possible way for convincing the police, without the death of Grice, or his dogs."
Joshua grimaced "There's an irony in there, I end up loving an alien canine girl, she befriends a Kistune, and I even get transformed into a dog by Mumbo, maybe Edward Blake had some truth to his views, perhaps the universe itself has a sense of humour." He chuckled "Also Walter was left handed; I'm use my right."
Doctor Fate touched the boy's shoulder, "You still wonder if you can be Rorschach after this?"
"I don't know, I am Rorschach, that's been a part of me in one lifetime, and now this one, but I refuse to become the Rorschach Walter became."
"That is understandable." Doctor Fate said before the Phantom Stranger spoke "But you fear that the original Rorschach will overtake you." More of a statement then a question.
"Yes, I can see Walter behind me in mirror, my alternate future self said he was getting closer and closer with each violent act he committed.", Doctor Fate made a mirror appear.
Joshua looked in and saw Walter, dressed in his Rorschach attire minus the mask, the brown trench coat and purple suit with black pinstripes, a white neck scarf. Joshua sighed "Rorschach, I know you don't like being called Walter."
Rorschach smirked "Good you finally know me."
"Yes and let me first say that while we are technically the same person, I will never let myself become you."
"No one should become me. I am a monster. I admit it."
"They why do you get closer and closer."
"You're starting to be me."
"And you don't want that?"
"No. But may if you keep on acting like this."
"I don't get it, before you admired the Comedian now I act like him and you…"
"Admired Blake, because he ignored who did not like him, never yielded. Both us saw the true face of our world."
"Well this world isn't like you."
"I know."
"And?"
"You can be better than me. Like how this world is better than mine. Want to give you advice, never give up, there is good and there is evil and evil must be punished…"
"Even in the face of Armageddon I will not comprise? It's not the same here."
"Going to say, even in the face of Armageddon do not give up."
"Sorry."
"No, I said that. You know me. I know you. We are different. My world made me. Your world made you. This world can do with Rorschach. Just not me."
"So you're passing the mantle over to me?"
"Already did. I became you. Thankful you won't become me. For my own part, regret nothing. Have lived life, free from compromise, and step into the shadow now without complaint. Goodbye Rorschach." The previous incarnation of his soul walked away to the door and disappeared into the shadows. Joshua felt a weight he didn't even realise having lift off his shoulder. He looked to the mask and smiled. He turned to the Phantom Stranger and pocketed the mask "What happened to the journal?"
"It was published, Veidt was researched, and the truth came out."
"And what happened to him, to Daniel and Miss Juspeczyk?"
"Veidt was placed under house arrest for life, his assets frozen and his company in pieces, Dreiberg and Juspeczyk grew closer, they have had children."
"So the world did not destroy itself."
"Enough people saw the reason behind Veidt's motives, he was correct that the nations would unite under a common enemy Kavoc's journal gave the world the true enemy. Then the fact that he committed those horrors for the good of humanity caused people to wonder about the horrors their governments committed for good of their citizens. Secret came out, US and Soviet leaders were forced out in disgrace, both nations massively disarmed and a new system came to Russia."
"Any better than the Soviet?"
"The new Russian ministers' limited government powers and opened to Non-profit organisation to take control of services. Still socialist in principle."
"Okay, good to know, at least that world is reforming there, the rot is beginning to heal. It's also very nice to know Daniel got a happy life in the end, the good friend he was deserved it. What about the Keene Act?"
"It is still active, however the world there has found new appraisal for superheroes thanks to Walter's information."
"Now Master Spearing," Doctor Fate "the time has come for you to regain your magic.", Joshua looked at the Doctor "How, can you bring Zirnitra here?"
"Unfortunately my powers cannot interfere with the Dreaming, the Lords of Order made a pack with its Lord and have stayed away from interfering."
"So I have to go to the Dreaming how?"
"The Phantom Stranger will take you to a Soft Place, the boarders between the Earthly Realm and the Dreaming, very few are left."
"We will travel to the Australian Outback.", Joshua nodded before yawning, "Sorry it just I've been having some late nights."
"Sleep here for the night." Inza said "You are more than welcome to."
"Then," the Stranger said "I will return in the morning."
"Wait," Joshua said "before you go, what made Doctor Manhattan change his mind about humanity?"
Joshua entered the bedroom Inza he escorted him to, recognising it as the room he stayed in five years ago, the fire burned warming the room.
He shut the door and took off his coat, taking out his mask he looked at it. 'So this is really the only piece of evidence in the entire world of a parallel universe.' He closed his eyes, the face of the Goth girl came to him, 'Thank you, but I hope I don't meet you for that one last time for a long time.' He thoughts turned to Sasu and the two German Shepherds 'Is she going to accept me when she knows? I've got to tell them.' A tear fell down his cheek as he imagined Sasu angry and walking out and away he even reached his hand out 'Please don't leave, I, please don't leave Sasu.' The tears continued and he covered his head with his hand.
Outside the room Inza heard the sobbing, she recalled his comment about loving a canine girl and Walter Kovacs. Her eyes narrowed 'I think I should ask Kent about this.'
She found her husband in mediation "Inza my dear, what troubles you?", she explained the sobbing and her confusion at the comments, Doctor Fate nodded and explained.
She nodded "I can understand his concern after this, perhaps we should bring her here?"
"It may help, I do not think Lord Daniel or Zirnitra would like to see their guest saddened, and he would be in the wrong state of mind to confront them."
"Shall I go to her and bring her?"
"Yes, I would do it myself however my last encounter with Wotan has meant I need to cast a spell that require my full attention, forgive me Inza."
"No need Kent, I understand." And she teleported away.
Sasu rested on her favourite branch, looking at the stars, she looked to Canis Major, the Great Dog, to her the great god of her people, Cynhund 'Please Cynhund make sure Joshua is safe, I don't know what I'd do if I lost him.'
"Sasu?" Suzanna called, "We have a guest she wants to speak to you."
"Coming." She jumped off the branch and walked into the living room, then greeted by a woman she did not recognise, the woman bowed "Greetings I am Inza.", Nicholas's eyebrows frowned "As in the wife of Doctor Fate?", Inza nodded and Sasu gasped "Is Joshua alright?"
"Perfectly."
"Has my boy regained his magic yet?" Nicholas asked.
"Not yet, but he will soon begin what he must do to regain it, but at the moment I require Sasu."
"Me?"
"Yes, we have uncovered a past about Joshua, I amuse you know of hyper-time?"
Suzanna scowled "You are not going to say my son is from another universe when I birthed him."
"Your son was born in the universe that is true, his soul however came from another, he is the reincarnation of a man from one the oldest hyper-time lines, and his past self was very different."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Some of the things his past self may disturb you and he is frightened that when he tells you, you will leave him."
"I would never…"
"You have not heard what happened."
"Alright tell me."
"It is not my place."
"Then take to who it is."
"This is your decision, what happens after this is not my doing.", Inza took Sasu's hand and teleported away.
Suzanna turned to Nicholas, "I hope when Josh came back he'll tell us about his other life.", Nick nodded.
Joshua meditated before the fire when a knock came on his door, he opened his eyes "The door's open."
A pair of arms encircled him and a cheek rubbed against his, he swiftly looked and his eyes widened "Sasu?"
"Inza thought we should talk," the door closed behind them and Sasu walked to the bed and laid down on her stomach as Joshua sat in the armchair "Inza said your soul came from another timeline?"
"Yes." And Joshua explained a brief history of Walter Kovacs and his time as the original Rorschach.
"It's tragic," Sasu nodded "but nothing really disturbing."
Joshua sighed "That was until 1975, and Blair Roche." He went on to talk about the backstory of the case, "…then Walter looked out the window and saw the German Shepherds, the bone was a femur, a human thigh bone", she gasped and lowered her head "So what did Walter do?"
"Overcome with anger at Blair's treatment he blindly stepped out with a meat clever.", her eyes darted up. Joshua looked away ashamed "Yes, if you hate me now I don't blame…"
"Why would I hate you? My instincts would have told me to do similar."
Josh blinked "Even to a pair of dogs?"
"They weren't pack, and if they ate an innocent little pup I would tear them to sherds."
"I would have tried to get the bone away from them, when Walter came out they seemed passive."
"They were domesticated Josh; off course they would become docile in front of a human. From what I've seen of Earth dogs they would want to be Walter's friend."
"So you really aren't angry that in a past life I killed two dogs?"
"That was a different life Joshua. That was Walter's life and his world."
"I keep on hearing and saying that, I know this isn't the same, but with those memories I just like feel I committed them."
"You didn't, Walter did."
"And I was once Walter."
"Once.", Josh sighed "Perhaps your right, I need to focus on getting my magic sorted out. Thanks for coming, I really needed to get that issue dealt with."
"I always love seeing you Josh, and I hate seeing you so sad."
"How do you think I feel when I see you remembering your family, then getting angry over those who killed them?"
"Am I that obvious?"
"When you look up at the two dog constellations to mutter a prayer to Cynhund and Cynefrith, and then your expression changes to anger usually."
"I just…"
"Didn't want that to happen? It's okay to morn, but some point we have to let go of the past, and baring grudges rarely turns out good, usually it creates a cycle, someone kills those you love, you take revenge on that person, someone they love takes it out on you and so on, it can get messy. My alternate future version went into Task Force X because of revenge, and what happened? He gets his leg shot and every year he's no closer to getting his revenge, and closer to become the original Rorschach."
"Then how do I remember my family?"
"You just do and you live, you live with the happy thought that you are alive, a little miracle in the universe."
"What do you mean?"
"Doctor Manhattan realised this. With the vast number of possible combinations of DNA from you parents, the millions of other children that could have possibly been born you were the one that emerged, multiple that by the millions of generations and against the odds of any of your ancestors surviving, meeting and birth that son or daughter. For you to be born against so much improbability, it makes you a miracle."
"But you could say that about anyone."
"Yes Sasu," he stood up and walked to her "we're all miracles in the universe." He leant down and kissed her on the forehead, "Let your anger go, and remember them, by surviving you've stopped the Dyreus from committing genocide, but now that you survive here on Earth, you need to start living."
Tears formed in her eyes, wrapped her arms around him tightly and kissed him full on the mouth, taking him by shock, but soon he started to kiss her too.
They broke off and looked into each other's eyes, hoping they conveyed the emotions they held for each other, Josh spoke first "Sasu, I really think I love you."
"Josh, you really think so, cause, I," she kissed him again, Josh understood.
She broke off and spoke "So, can I help with getting your magic back?"