"OH MY FUCKING GAWD!" hollered Oberon tossing his coffee cup at the three heroes as they stepped through the portal.
"OBERON!" shouted Kendra as her top was covered in cold brew coffee.
"You scared the freak out of me." Gasps Oberon clutching his chest, "Am I to expect people walking into the hall through whatever the hell that is." Oberon gestures at the slowly fading portal.
"Sorry Oberon." Apologized Carter holding his stomach, "some people urged haste over tried-and-true methods."
"This coffee will never get out of this." Groans Kendra trying to scrub off the coffee.
"I am so sorry." Urges Zatanna, "I can fix all of this." She waves her wand, "gnihtyreve xif" Pieces of broken coffee mug flies into Oberon's palm and reforms. The coffee stain disappears, and Oberon's mug is refilled with his cold brew.
"Ooh, I like this new girl." Says Oberon putting down his cup and offers his hand to Zatanna. "The names Oberon, I'm the leader of the Justice League."
Zatanna smiles as she takes Oberon's hand, "Zatanna mistress of illusions and master of backwards magic."
"Aw, so you're Hawkman's magical friend." Oberon said. At the mention of 'friend' sadness seemed to wash over Carter.
"Are we the only one's back?" Carter asked.
Oberon shook his head, "No, John and the flash have been back for about two hours now, been helping me with my research."
"Any luck?" asked Hawkgirl.
"No we basically have our heads in the dirt." Oberon said.
"Well good thing you got us now, Obbie." Said a British voice from behind.
"Oh God no." muttered Oberon as Green Arrow and John Constantine entered the room.
"I should've known your friend would be this British wack." Growls Oberon stomping out of the room.
John ignored Oberon's comment and focused on Zatanna, "Well who do we have here?"
Hawkman stepped in front of Zatanna, "A broken jaw and if you don't keep your crude mouth in check."
John raises his hands. "Just trying to be friendly."
"You're never friendly, John." Hawkgirl said.
Zatanna steps around Hawkman and offers her hand. "Zatanna Zatara." Constantine takes and kisses the back of her hand. "Charmed." He spoke.
"Alright now that we got the pleasantries out of the way how should we go about finding the one responsible?" Green Arrow asked moving to the round table and taking his seat.
"Well I could try a scrying spell."
"If this is magic, we don't have anything to go on but coincidences." John interceded.
"That's why scrying would be best." Zatanna said.
"Ok babe how are you gonna discern between the thousands of spells that are cast a day, the demon hopping realities, and a bunch of wackadoo shit that magic allows to happen." John said. "No offense to your friends, but they seem to have brought in an amateur."
Zatanna crossed her arms. "And what's your goal Mr. incredible?"
"Easy this is god level magic, so we go knock on some god doors and see who's mucking about." John smirked.
Zatanna laughs, "The gods, are you serious?"
"What's wrong with that plan?" Green Arrow asked.
"Oh just three things." Starts Zatanna flipping up one finger, "One: Gods are narcissistic parasites, we'd be getting neon signs, grand display, and a moronic monologue broadcasts through all planes of reality." Zatanna flips a second finger. "Second: Gods rely on Human thoughts, more humans think about them the stronger they are."
"And now a days majority of the gods would be out of commissioned then." Answers Flash as he and John Stewart entered the room.
"Correct." Zatanna flips a third finger, "Finally last time I check there's one god of dreams."
"That just makes our job that much easier to kick his ass then." Shrugs John as he proceeds to pull out a cigarette and light it.
Zatanna almost growled. "Our best action is to scry, it be almost impossible to hide such a level of power, there'd be residual traces, omens in the area."
"Omens?" asked Stewart.
"Oh you know your typical crop failures, electric storms, cattle mutilations, sightings of giant black dogs, the good stuff."
"Then I think we just narrowed the search radius at least." Stewart said as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Every tree in New Jersey was caught on fire."
"That's awesome, Green Lantern we're already a step closer to finding the orchestrator." Zatanna said. The Flash gave John Stewart a fist bump.
Constantine shook his head, "You're still looking for a pin in a haystack."
"Can't you offer any positive solutions instead of pointing out the holes of the plan?" asked Hawkgirl.
"Fine, if you really wanted this scrying spell to work, we'd need some residual or item connected to the source." John said as he put out his cigarette.
The Flash's hand shot up like a kid in school. "I was one of the people infected by this dream stuff last night."
"Well damn this scrying thing might actually work," John turned to Green Arrow, "Why didn't you tell me one of your blokes was infected Oliver."
Green Arrow deadpans, "seriously Constantine, secret identity."
Zatanna bows her head a bit, "I can keep a secret."
"Chill Greenie, its not like I said your last name is queen." John places his feet onto the table and leans back in his chair.
Zatanna giggles, any animosity built during their argument had died.
"Constantine you're the only person I'd go back to killing for." Green Arrow said knocking John's feet from the table. "What do you need for your scrying spell?"
"Stuff that I already have back at my hotel." Zatanna says standing up. "I can get the spell up in running in about an hour."
"Constantine maybe you can whip up some magical defenses or a plan to contain the perpetrator." Hawkgirl suggested.
Constantine shrugged before lighting his cigarette. "Oh sure leave me with the heavy lifting."
Zatanna raised an eyebrow "you were ready to go toe to toe with a god and now you got nothing. Sounds like you talk a big game but you're just another big mouth fake magician."
Constantine straightened up in his chair, "Listen doll, I can talk big and back it up. Just give me an hour but some of the stuff we need will take a while to gather up."
Stewart waved his hand, "give me a list and I'm sure the ring can find it."
"Ooh that's a pretty trinket." Constantine eyed the green ring. "How much did it cost you?" Stewart raised an eyebrow but ignored the question.
Everyone dispersed for their respective tasks. Barry was barely in the hall as his earpiece sparked to life.
"Barry, Barry its… Iris."
Barry stopped midtrack. "Uh…Arrow, Oberon, I need a moment." Green Arrow and Oberon acknowledged and continued their trek to the monitor room.
"Iris." Barry responded when they were out of earshot. "Listen what happened last night…"
"I know Barry, the news has been talking non-stop about a global waking nightmare. Hell I've been covering at least a dozen stories about violent waking nightmares. Is that…what happened to you?"
"Yeah…it was." Barry answered leaning against the wall. "Wally?"
"He was scared, and he really wants to apologize."
"There's no need, he acted correctly in that situation, no ones to blame just the bastard who did this." Barry said. Only one being had ever entered his mind and that was Grodd but even Grodd with his animalistic cruelty had never forced Barry to harm the ones he loved.
"You guys found them or at least know who they are?" Iris asked.
"No but we're close to finding him using magic to trace the monster." Barry explained.
"You mind if I quote you on that?" Barry heard the clicking of a pen and scribbling.
Barry groaned, "Iris." But the smile spread, he was glad that despite last night, Iris would always be Iris. "If you want but Oberon will be making a press release more than likely after we solve this case."
"Either way, it be nice if the Flash would on the record give me some juicy tidbits." Barry rolled his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes, Barry." He smiled.
"Fine on the record, we deduced its magical in nature and we're using our magical contacts to trace the source, using someone whose been infected by this phenomenon " Barry said in one breath.
"Is the person being used, you?" Iris asked.
Barry nodded his head.
"Barry we're on the phone, I don't know if you're nodding or shaking your head." Iris said with a faux laugh to cover her concern.
"Yes, it's me."
"Please be safe." Iris said. He nodded his head again and remembered, "Uh yes, always, no matter what I'm coming back to you Iris."
"Like a boomerang." Iris said.
"That is not our romantic metaphor but sure like a boomerang but a hundred times faster."
"I trust you Bar, so go save the world for like the seventh time." Iris said before hanging up.
Constantine picked his fingernails as Stewart used his ring to suspend the dozen and a half odd and gross materials for the upcoming fight.
"Can I ask you something?" Stewart asked as he dropped the materials onto the table.
"My comment about your ring?" Constantine asked as he began to pick through the materials.
"What? No, I thought you were being an asshole." Stewart said.
"Fine… then what about?" Constantine picked up a dirty jar and peered into it. A purple tentacle smacked the glass and Constantine almost dropped it.
Stewart pointed at the jar, "What the hell is a draconian squid and why? How did you get it and have it."
"Oh I traded my Hand of glory for it." Constantine said simply as he pulled fish food out of his waist pocket and sprinkled it into the small holes on the top.
"I- never mind." Stewart focused his eyes on a green oil lantern. "Where did you get this?"
"Look familiar?" Constantine teased.
Stewart glared. "Fine some college frat was cleaning out his dad's attic and decided to sell it on eBay, I thought it might be related to the star heart." Constantine motioned for Stewart to use it.
Stewart scrunched up his face and placed his ring on the lantern, "In brightest day, in blackest night, let no evil escape my sight, let all who worships evil's might, beware my power green lantern's light." The lantern did nothing.
"Hmph, I guess not." Constantine shrugged and began to mess with the other items on the table.
"Is this why you asked that ridiculous question earlier?"
"Yep. You see there were whispers that back in the sixties and seventies there was a fellow who had a green lamp or other that was forged from the Star Heart and used it to hero about and shit."
"You think there was another human lantern before me and my partner."
"I mean sure, after I met Hal on the island, I thought maybe the story was true and did some more and more research and found that hunk of metal." Stewart studied the lantern it was peculiar; the glass globe seem to be in the shape of the green lantern symbol. There was no burner or wick inside of it, making it a useless lantern. Ventilation cap was not on top but seem to surround the glass globe like bars of a prison. It was also missing a fuel tank making it impossible to light the lantern. Age had made no mark on the lantern.
Stewart wouldn't tell Constantine, but his ring had reacted when in the vicinity of the lantern as if its million years of history recognized the object. That there might have been a bond decade or hundreds of years ago.
"Alright I think I can upgrade you guys into God Killers." Constantine interrupted John's thoughts.
"Good because I think Zatanna will be ready for us in a few minutes."
"What do you think of Zatanna?" Constantine asked.
"I don't know, I guess she's a good person since she's helping." Stewart said.
"Yeah, but do you fancy her mate."
"I'm married, John." Stewart shrugged.
"Bugger off, married, engaged, courting you can still notice that other girls are attractive. But good to know I don't have to contend with you for her."
Stewart shook his head, "whatever let's leave it at that then."
"Alright Greenie." Constantine started but stopped when he looked between Stewart and Green Arrow. "My favorite Greenie." Constantine handed Arrow a bundle of arrows, "This should help you puncture some defenses the bastard might have up his sleeve."
"Only some." Arrow said.
"What I only had an arrow, and a very morale person tagging along for my shopping." Constantine shook his head at Stewart.
Zatanna giggled. Constantine turned and winked at her. She stopped giggling and went back to guiding Barry through the scrying.
"For the Hawks." Constantine said turning to Hawkgirl and Hawkman and handed them their maces.
"What did you do to them?" Hawkman asked.
"Nothing." Constantine said and turned away but stopped and turned back. "I did put a hole in the wall somewhere though."
"Constantine, why…" started Hawkgirl.
"Well they're Nth Metal, they don't need the magical enchantments. But these…" Constantine went to the table and pulled a half dozen goggles covered in black goop. "Will be very helpful."
"Gross." Zatanna said eyeing the questionable eyewear.
"Obviously this man can drag out our worst fears or greatest aspirations, these should help us see the truth or be more aware of it." Everyone reluctantly took one.
"Ew!" squeaked out Hawkgirl as she felt the moist molasses slide slowly down her cheek. She almost took them off. "I hate this." She hissed with through clenched teeth.
"Why does it smell like fish feet." Gagged Flash.
Constantine began to speak but shook his head instead.
With the grossness ignored. Zatanna began her spell. The lights dimmed before exploding.
"Fuck!" cursed Arrow and Constantine. Zatanna offered the group an apologetic look as she continued the spell.
Barry groaned uncomfortably as a red light began to peek through his scalp into the air. The red light grew until it consumed his entire top half of his head. Blurry ghost of Barry pulled up out of the head and into the air.
The group watched Barry's memories of that night seeing the nightmare of Zoom and Reverse Flash killing his parents and then zoom being in the room with a missing Iris.
"Is this what 3D movies are supposed to be like?" Constantine asked as he avoided an errant blue lightning bolt. A new anger burned within the league at seeing the horror that Barry had to live through and terror that he almost replicated it himself with Iris.
Finally the scene closed like a book before shooting through the open ceiling and disappearing from sight. And in that same instant striking the map on the table.
Zatanna collapsed exhausted but was caught by Constantine, "easy there darling."
"He's in a 24-hour diner in Mayhew, Mississippi." Zatanna said as she pulls away from Constantine arm's.
"Alright let's get to the javelin." Hawkman ordered.
"No." grumbled Flash as he falls out of the chair, "we need to get there now!" Flash cupped his hands over his eyes, "I – I saw him at the diner and those people are in danger."
"Then we'll get there now," Zatanna said extending her hands out. Before anyone could ask how, she shouts, "ippississim wehyam renid ot su tropelet!" A great purple and blue light engulfs the group.
The group opens their eyes to see they were in a greasy old diner.
"Well that's a nice surprise." Said a weak wet voice that sent shivers up their spines. The group turned to the speaker to see a naked man entrapped in a trench coat stare at them, holding a giant spiked ruby. "New toys."
"Oh fuck!" said Hawkgirl as a barrage of new memories bombarded her.