Welcome back to The Injustice Wars! Last time, we had two overlapping stories really. First we got the response to Green Lantern's moral dilemma as he saved Shade from being turned into a Red Lantern. And then Blaze and Doctor Fate nearly duked it out over why Inza would don the Helm of Fate at all, with Blaze believing Nabu forced her to in order to stop the demon Scarecrow is working to unseal. Speaking of Doctor Crane, what is he up to? Today, we find out. Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes back down in The Nameless City, where Scarecrow has been taken down from the wall and is now seated at a table covered in a white tablecloth, with Enchantress, Killer Frost, Raven, and Darkblood joining him in short order, followed by multiple copies of Multiplex in aprons. One of which pours glasses of wine for each of the five guests.)
Darkblood: Do you prefer red or white, Dr. Crane?
Scarecrow: I'm... not a big wine drinker.
Darkblood: Very well, more for the rest of us.
(With the last of the wine poured, another few copies of Multiplex bring in the main course, revealing what looks like a fine chateaubriand steak dinner. Having not eaten in probably the last day or two, Scarecrow heartily digs in, much to the surprise of the others)
Killer Frost: Sheesh Doc, you look like you haven't eaten in days!
Scarecrow: I hate to be rude, but I literally haven't.
Darkblood: Remarkably. That staff has to be what was keeping him alive, at least for the last few days anyways. Speaking of, Raven, Enchantress, what have you been able to find out about that thing?
Enchantress: There is a powerful energy surrounding that scepter.
Raven: Not to mention it seemed... familiar...
Darkblood: (Taking a sip of his wine) Familiar? So you would say it is somehow connected to Trigon?
Raven: Not familiar in that way. But it's someone I recognize, probably from a book somewhere.
Killer Frost: Like that Melchior guy?
Raven: No. It was not Melchior. Last I heard the book he was trapped in was destroyed.
Darkblood: So we really have no idea what we're dealing with here?
Raven: I need more time to consult the ancient scrolls if we're going to know what it is going in.
Scarecrow: I can help you narrow things a bit. He's told me, well, that he's male, obviously, and that he technically is labelled a ghoul.
Raven: A ghoul doesn't help narrow it down much.
Scarecrow: And that he killed Doctor Fate.
Killer Frost: Impossible. Doctor Fate is still galivanting around somewhere.
Enchantress: A Doctor Fate is galivanting around. Not necessarily the same Doctor Fate this ghoul faced.
Darkblood: And that much power could be useful, since Doctor Fate will undoubtedly become a thorn in our side. (Seemingly senses something on the air) And probably sooner than we expected.
Enchantress: Are they near?
Darkblood: No, that sip of wine just went down the wrong pipe.
Scarecrow: Then... what are we going to do?
Darkblood: Well, right now, we're going to finish dinner. Then probably discuss the minutia of the plan over coffee and dessert. Presuming you've an appetite for pavlova.
Scarecrow: Again, haven't eaten in days. Don't really care if I get indigestion from this.
Darkblood: Excellent.
Scarecrow: (Having finally realized what Darkblood said) Wait, does this mean...
Darkblood: Yes, we will aid you, Dr. Crane. (Stands up from the table for a second) But I warn you. If this goes nowhere, I will take your head and put it on a pike in my throne room. Do I make myself clear?
Scarecrow: (Probably having emptied his bladder in his suit) Crystal.
Darkblood: Excellent. Now then, do eat your fill. No use going into a plan on an empty stomach.
(As the villains enjoy their meal, we transition from The Nameless City back to the surface, where Blaze and her team are nearing Darkblood's location)
Constantine: Please tell me we're close. It's freezing out here.
Blaze: Relax, Constantine. We're just about there. We just need to go down from here.
Constantine: Wait, I know where we are. Nobody said Darkblood was hanging out in The Nameless City!
Blaze: You know about the place?
Constantine: Only the stories. A bunch of disciples from Nanda Parbat started practicing dark arts and were banished into the mountains. It was expected that they'd die, but instead they created a city beneath the mountains where they survived and continued practicing their evil shit. Boston Brand told me the tale, I never would have guessed it was real.
Doctor Fate: The Nameless City is very real. And it's where we need to get to.
Constantine: We're going to need some serious force to get down there. I'll call in the big guns. Gone, Gone, The Form Of Man!
(Once again, John Constantine is consumed in flames, only to be replaced with Etrigan as the rhyme is completed)
Etrigan: Rise the Demon, Etrigan!
Blaze: Think you can get us down there quickly, Etrigan?
Etrigan: My claws will leave no stone unturned, to ensure that Darkblood's soul will BURN!
(With no hesitation, Etrigan unleashes a stream of flames upon the rock, supplemented by the fire, lightning, and magic of the rest of the team, as our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good place to end for today. So, it looks like Darkblood has agreed to work with Scarecrow on unleashing the ghoul trapped within the scepter. But hope stands on the horizon, as Blaze and her team have made it onto the scene and are already on their way down. But will they make it in time? I will tell you, next time we catch up with these guys, things are going to get really interesting. How so? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!