[16th March 2010]

[Entrance Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington D.C]

I was in a race against time, but one I couldn't rush at, as I strode across the lobby and eliminated another of the gunmen as the black tentacle dragged him back into range so I could use a Sleep spell on him. Just as I watched his friend, and hopefully last of them, take a dive through the glass doors as if he hadn't heard of these magical inventions called door-handles. Once I was sure he, and any other potential hostiles, had been neutralised then I could get healing up any of the weeping injured I could hear as well as regrouping with the others. Who should be almost clear of the building via the secondary exit judging by the brief exchange from the earpiece in my head-mask.

Everything had moved so damned fast I'd found. One moment I was walking out of the conference room and the next I was being utterly terrified by angry men with assault rifles shooting at me and the others with intent to kill. True I'd been trained these past two years for just such a situation...but it didn't take away the shock and fear that had threatened to take hold. Still training and life experience kicked in before inaction could get me killed; well that and the wonderfully glorious prepared defences overlaid on my gear. Thank the Gods for those merry little things. Still time was of the essence, and no traps were in my immediate sight, I picked up my pace to a fast walk towards the door and...

...this could be problem I thought with growing concern as I walked through the doorway and gazed down at the stone steps and street with all that broken glass strewn out before me. At the base of which was the sprawled out form of terrorist number six, blood and glass covered in all his Kevlar clad in-gloriousness as he seemingly wailed about something.

Oh and did I mention the Colourfully Clad forms of the Flash and Wonder Woman in all their Superhero-y glory as they both starred up at me. One with very evident anger or disapproval on her face, while the other fine fellow fellow seemed to have muttered something to his compatriot after glancing at me and then cocking his head to the side as if too figure something out. His voice reached my ears as I desperately hoped that I was presenting a non-threatening stance as I held my staff in one hand with its butt on the ground while holding the other one in a 'hold on' gesture before me.

"Hey there, um...Mister...Skull...Face?" he said giving an awkward wave and a smile. That was a good sign I hoped. "Hope your enjoying the stay here, and doing your...evil dark lord things I guess...ehm...I think we got something of yours?"

Oh, yeah...armour. Ehh...best clear up and misunderstandings before they result in me getting a very painful beating from a demigod and a hilariously dangerous speedster "Firstly; I am totally not a super-villain"

Wonder Woman is frowning and glaring at me at the same time and I rather desperately started reading more powerful spells in my head. Or at least figuring which ones might slow Him, and ones that might stop her punching me (or allowing me to tank her punching me for a bit), while the Flash seemed to chuckle awkwardly and rub the back of his neck "Eeyeahhhh...okay Skully I'm sure well..."

"No I'm seriously not a super-villain, and/or your enemy either. I am totally legit here on official business and helps you as well...if'n you heroes would let me get about my business. There are many innocents that will be harmed if we were to come blows here and now" because right now there were people possibly bleeding to death inside and if I could just get to them now that the authorities (or a sort) had arrived I might be able to save some of them!

"..." Wonder Woman opened her mouth, then closed it as I saw her grip tighten on her still sheathed sword. Though that could just be in annoyance at the wailing criminal that was holding unto her boots for dear life as he cowered from something. This was situation wasn't exactly going as I'd hoped it would, as the red clad man motioned to her with a shushing motion as he spoke to me again.

"Err...look, Skulls-y, can I call you Skulls-y? If you'd just come quietly with us I'm sure this can be all resolved with a nice friendly chat and no need to harm any more people"

No, no...I'd rather not get dragged off by a bunch of super-powered vigilantes right now; lives were at stake after all! Duty Called!

I moved my free arm slowly to indicate I was reaching with my gloved hand for something, not a weapon, on my person as I gave my hopefully friendly sounding reply "Secondly I have Diplomatic Immunity! Papers for which I am reaching for, right now, to show you. So I won't be going anywhere with you while I have vital duties to perform on the scene here"

Important lesson learned from being in the UK on Constantine-minding Duty; Always have Official Papers both secure and easy to hand! Thankfully there was no aggressive reaction from either as they merely watched me carefully as I slowly withdrew the small leather water and fireproof wallet from a pocket on my combat gear and held it out before me like a detective from one of those police shows while keeping firm grip on my staff and...

Holy Fuck he could move fast!

...as suddenly a red blur was moving...then standing in front of me reading, then taking the pro-offered wallet without resistance and blurring back to the ANGRY DEMIGOD standing over a now unconscious terrorist thanks to a tap to his head from her. All I could say was thank the Boss Orc that the Red Clad wonder speedster hadn't slammed into the shield around my body and been repealed. Holy Crap...should I have warned him of that first? No...that'd be bad...wait have papers, problem solved...

"Umm...you, don't look like your photo Skulls-y...did you...lose some hair since then maybe...Tadhg is it?" came the wary question from him. Evidently I wasn't yet on speaking terms with his female companion as yet; probably a good thing as she seemed rather unhappy right now.

"Ahhhh...of course, my apologies, just a moment please!" I replied forcing myself to say everything as politely and calmly as possible. Stupid me, overlooking the fact I wasn't in my disguise right now and therefore the picture on the local papers wasn't the same. I all access the spell from one of the rings under my right hand glove and ordered the illusion to come forth like a shimmering wave over my black armour clad form. Within moments I was a slight bit taller and hopefully far less aggressive seeming, as I stood there in my nice black suit and sunglasses, with my staff appearing as an umbrella. Personally the sunglasses seemed silly to me but all the others had being wearing them so I figured...hey, let's just try fit in ya know?

I smiled pleasantly and in a friendly manner, at least I hope I did, down at them "There we go, all to your satisfaction I hope? Because I really need to get back inside as there are many wounded due to the actions of these would be assassins and terrorists, and they need aid while we await the arrive of the local emergency services or they may perish..." I held out my hand for my papers back and acceptance of my requirement to head back inside to help any potential survivors "...so, may we?"

Holy fuck! Stop doing that!

It was enough to make you jump as the Flash suddenly blurred in front of me again to hand me back the wallet "Here you go Sku...Mr. *Totally Not a Villain* Diplomatic Immunity! So what you waiting for! PeopletosaveandI'lljusthavea..."

And then he was gone like a...Flash.

'Ah fuck brain can't you come up with something better than that?' I thought mutely as the blurred flew through the broken doors and into the hotel. Working on the assumption that Wonder Woman wasn't going to attack me by stabbing me in the back I strode back in myself. That and she had to carry unconscious McStupid Head as well I guessed; he'd be fine and could be healed last if need be. Till the local paramedics arrived all I could do was hope for the best that I hadn't wasted too much time here. And that this wasn't going to be a big a mess as it seemed right now; the only bright side there weren't any news cameras here as yet.

So let's get in and get out I told myself as the voice in my ear-piece told me everyone was clear and to confirm my position. Sigh. No pizza and ice-cream tonight it seemed, just pain, misery and then tons of paperwork to fill out to explain this giant disaster of a mission. Not only had innocent people been murdered by these evil bastards, I'd managed to nearly get the crap beaten out of me by two of the bloody Justice League and all before the government's big shindig tomorrow for Paddy's Day. Oh this was going to go down so well...and I didn't even have that bastard back in Ireland to pin the blame on for the clusterfuck like usual.

Walking back into the lobby showed the true horror of what had happened, now I dashed over to the nearest of the living wounded and started to drawn upon my divine might. Two teenagers hit by the bullets, one nearly dead and the other weeping softly from the pain and fear while staring into nothing; the girl on deaths door got the urgent treatment.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. I'm here to help!"

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