[12th August 2010]

[St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin]

"Not entirely what I expected for when you informed me I was to be healed by means of magic..." Artemis's mother muttered to me her position lying on the medical bed "...it all looks rather more...mundane...than I'd expected"

I sighed "You were expecting skulls, and bones, and satanic symbols with a side order of blood sacrifice weren't you?"

Now I'll admit the room, the bed, the window, all had a series of magical runes and wards etched into them but they weren't really visible and the whole place looked like a private hospital room for the wealthy than a healer's room. Of course that was in large part due to the fact the Prince of Wales had been temporarily housed here post demonic possession and the affect had been maintained. So I pushed over the little trolley-table with my alchemical requirements while my 'patient' rested on her stomach in a hospital gown, chin resting on her arms as if awaiting a massage.

I expect some might consider the situation indecent seeming, but honestly the briefest glance at scarring, pressure sores, and the signs of other damage on her lower back, buttocks and legs was all rather disturbing to see. Whatever had done the original injury had not be something pleasant, likely some shizo-tech BS, and the damage had just healed crudely around it over the years. This very condition was in part the reason for opting for the ritual option over the rude 'pump and pour' magic method as a mentor of mine had said in a past life. In Faerun non-magical wounds and injuries like this generally wouldn't have festered for a decade; you either could afford to be healed, or you died somewhere along the way from it.

My 'patient' chuckled faintly "Perhaps a little, I had seen such things in my past during the course of my previous...career after all. Though I would admit curiosity as to why you had such mundane things as x-rays and blood tests taken by the staff here when it seems rather unnecessary in context?"

I hummed a moment in thought, pushing the trolley into place beside the bed and sitting unto the chair. Ah, comfy chairs, so much better made in this dimension than on Toril "Hmm...in part because it gives the staff something to compare to after I've done the ritual and your healed, which lets them plan out your physical rehabilitation. May I begin?"

The faintest nod of agreement "Of course, I wouldn't be here otherwise so let's not waste time. I was led to believe I would be fully healed? What would the need for such be?"

I know we'd explained this already, but talking seemed about it seemed to be what she wanted so that's what I did as I used a small thin brush to paint on runes on her spine. Horribly scarred and damaged areas included, albeit more carefully with the broken and ruined skin "The major issue is that your wound is about a decade old, and while I'll be healing you back to full health, your brain and body are going to be out of sync most likely in the aftermath. Or at least I expect you will and best to be prepared for that eventuality..."

Because what I was doing was I liked to call 'causality reversal healing' due to how it worked in my view; the effect essentially coming before the causation itself once the ritual was enacted. And also for the fact I mentally focused the spell-work around undoing the effects of the injury back to the 'point of causation' and literally reversing, or undoing, said injury. Considering all the dead nerves, damaged nerves, and other problems doing a simple regeneration...would be painful to say the least.

And I suspect the grumpy blond girl waiting outside, maybe with a bow, would react negative to her mother screaming unholy hell thanks to me. So that was something to avoid I figured giving drink the woman the prepared draft of easing pain while I finished up the rather annoying process of creating the 'channels' to pour the magic through. In the end I'd always been a far better ritualist mage than a true healer and such was reflected in the preparations as I finished the last careful rune marking.

Power manifested, and I pressed a hand on the small clear gem that I placed on the circle at the base of the spine and...White...flicked for a fraction of a second across my 'arcane vision' as thought of it. I blinked. Hmm...well that was odd. Mrs. Crock, no Nyugen was healed at that moment as the spell effects too place even as I began to circulate the magic itself; one preferred method as you succeed (or failed) before you had even begun in essence. Divine Magic was just cheating at times I found. It was awesome really.

Still despite the effect already being in place, the cause only now began in truth as Artemis's mother grunted in pain and gripped at bed with her hands, legs jerking faintly. She gasped starting to move as a decade of damage was undone...despite already being undone in one of those weird methodologies of magic that still confused me a little at times. Runes glowed bright and fierce with light for a moment, the skin almost glowing as the scars and sores vanished; in their place clean and healthy flesh, muscles giving spasms as the glow vanished along with runes and the gem.

"And done" I stated suddenly exhausted, then reaching over and grabbing my own potion and downing it happily as my patient groaned and panted from the sudden onset of sensations from healed legs. The combination of magical energy that now was coursing through her body with the now mended bones, nerves, and flesh on back and leg proving temporarily overwhelming to her mind. With the tiredness and momentary weakness banished I grabbed the now trashing legs.

"Relax Mrs. Nyugen, it's done, but you need to calm down. Breathe, in, out, in out. Breathe" I commanded firmly as I pinned them down before she threw herself off the table in her sudden frantic movements. Something that took her a few moments of random kicking unfortunately, one of which nearly knocked the wind out me as a knee whammed into my side.

Yep...healing successful...I noted with a grunt of pain. I'd very much believe that this woman had been a deadly dangerous international assassin. Even random spasming and trashing of freshly healed legs was more awkward than I'd expected within my non-magical abilities. Thankfully that seemed to snap her back into some measure of control, as she stopped trashing about with a look of wonder on upon her face as I stepped back to allow her push herself up into a sitting position. Then...kicking her legs out and giggling like a teenager...

'Oh, oh yeah...shoulda thought of that now shouldn't I?' I thought to myself with a sigh at my now humming patient as she gazed at her feet as she twisted them this way and that. Overwhelmed with sensation was the likely culprit, her body was restored to full health and now had a mass of positive energy circulating through her veins...which was all rather like being drunk it seemed. I sighed "Don't try and stand please..." because you'll likely fall till you get used to your balance again I left unsaid as didn't seem to be listening much as I moved towards the doorway "...and I'll just go get Artemis. Once we get you mobile we'll run a few scans with the good Doctors"

And annoy them as usual. It was fun sometimes trolling the more 'this isn't possible' science doctors I'd found, and it'd give me a better idea of the level of rejuvenation and judging the knock on restoration that'd continue over the next few days. I'd kept the direct healing to the affected areas, but considering the time gap...it seemed prudent to back that up with a generalised regeneration spell that would linger for several hours, or the rest of the day. Opening the door I was almost shoved out of the way by my blonde haired teammate in her haste to get inside the moment after I stated that my healing was done...

--

[19th August 2010]

[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island]

I relaxed back into the sofa and enjoyed my relaxation as I flicked on RTE, ah wasn't it grand that to all those channels on it and be able to watch the match. Course I was stuck with John for a few days upon my return to this side of the ocean, but one couldn't get everything they wanted I figured drinking the can of Zesti Cola in my hand. Mildly addictive stuff I'd discovered from my new role as El Presidente, but thankfully my neutralise poison charms served to handle that. Bunch of assholes to negotiate with I'd discovered, even if the El Presidente than had negotiated with them was me El Presidente. Because for now El Presidente was a rotating cast of people under an illusion or polymorph due to my limited schedule.

'Ah to the joys of delegation, and government black ops support!' I mentally toasted as the others did their things around me; Aqualad and Superboy sparring with Kid Flash watching, while Artemis chatted with M'gann. I hummed at the comfy couch beneath me – it had been a busy few days all in all. Healing Artemis mother strictly speaking hadn't been overly time consuming in itself, but the rest of the day had been consumed with questions, and planning, and then helping her relearn her balance with happy/grumpy Artemis in the background.

Evidently I was now her favourite teammate, which was nice. Then had come the training with Gemma, paperwork, Brendan and John, and all the other jobs of getting what I wanted while also showing bow-girl around Dublin before she returned home...without her mother. Long term plans on what she was doing up in the air since Mrs. Crock nee Nyugen had decided to take me on my (well SHIELD's, albeit she wasn't aware of it yet till we got a geas in place) payroll of sorts. Given a few weeks and the woman would be back at her peak physical condition once again...though her original Huntress outfit had to go I'd decided. Yes it was all very 'sexy and attractive' but afforded no real protection at all; my minions would wear proper armour, with enchantments and protections, which covered the body like my own did.

Honestly on that note her daughter could do with a wardrobe upgrade as well; yes it all very nice to show her midriff, my teenage body not complainin' too much on that, and arms but she wasn't Superboy or Wonder Woman. Tank missiles wearing nothing but her birthday suit she could not after all. Her older sister, Ninja-Kitty Jade, at least had understood the benefit of body armour. Then again...Robin ran around in pretty lacking protective gear despite Batman's efforts seemingly, and the others relied a little too much on their natural toughness. Hmm...considering Superboy's weakness to Kryptonite maybe a suit of enchanted plate? Might be good to break the Superman symbol fixation...

"Do you have a mission for us?" from various voices, followed by the sounds of Red Tornado arriving, was soon followed by a shout for me to get up and join them across the room. Ah dammit...I had to get up off my comfy seat. Which I did, pushing myself up and walking towards the very excitable bunch that were my teammates as they crowded around Red Tornado who'd brought up an image of an old man. Wait wasn't that Kent Nelson? I'd looked up...

"...Kent was a charter member of the Justice Society a precursor to your mentors Justice League..."

Oh...that's Doctor Fate. Something, something reports in New Orleans. This can't be good. I stayed quiet, giving a small wave to the others as I arrived beside them, as our robotic babysitter explained some rather interesting things that had taken me months to find out about three years ago...

...wait is he talking about us, well maybe just them, looking for a 105 year wizard and his Sanctum?

Oh I don't like this enthuasism that the others are showing. So much so that Constantine, who'd been smoking outside, had wandered back in and was looking with interest at the scene. No I didn't like how this storyline was developing. No...

My hand went up "Okay...wait please. Are you sayin' the former Doctor Fate has gone missing, and you're going to send the Team to have a look for him and his probably heavily magically defended home?"

"Dude, it's a mission!" Kid Flash protested, as did Miss Martian and Superboy at negative tone of my voice. Aqualad glanced at me curiously, as did Artemis. The first I hoped because he had magical training of his own, and Artemis because I was the resident magical expert on the team after basically allowing her Ma to walk again. Red Tornado...was hard to judge as usual as he glanced at me and that monotone voice came back in reply.

"You foresee some difficulty in such an endeavour. Kent was very careful in usage of power, and may only have left on one of his excursions as has occurred over the years"

"He's the former Sorcerer Supreme as Aqualad just said just a moment ago..." I glanced at Aqualad and he nodded with a curious look on his face "...and his sanctum will warded to the high heavens to keep out intruders, friends or otherwise. I'm sixteen and my Sanctum is warded as best it can with traps...and most wizards think like that; because a mage is most dangerous within his home. It'd be like trying to break into the Batcave because we couldn't find Batman for a few weeks! Aqualad back me up on this could you?"

He frowned slightly "Hmm...I did not consider such, within Atlantis only the most important of locations would possess as such. But here on the surface...yes John would be correct I fear. It would be like attempting to enter the Royal Palace without permission..." he glanced at me seriously "...but if something has occurred it is our duty to investigate I fear. For one powerful such Doctor Fate to be missing would be concerning. Perhaps your own mentor could aid us in this endeavour?"

From across the room echoed the voice of the fucking disaster "Yeah that'd be fine! Haven't been to New Orlin's in ages, have some mates down there..." as my own "NO!" snapped out of my own mouth.

The others stared at me. John huffed as I motioned at him with both arms "He's a fucking disaster! Please no!"

"Mate, it'll count as yer trainin'...sooner ye do it, sooner ah' can go on a proper piss up!" he informed me cheerfully. Oh I'd fucked up now. He was full well and determined to fuck with me the trench-coated troll that the bastard was...

I sighed in defeat. I had a troll and a team giving me puppy dog eyes, or glares. Worse case they'd do this without me and get themselves into worse shit on their own "Right, fine...look get Zatara..." I'd rather not but, well "...or Wonder Woman since she on the Justice Society right?"

"Wonder Woman is currently on deployment and is unavailable outside of an emergency situation..." Red Tornado montone replied "...and Zatara had wished to be allowed rest today. It is doubtful he would have the time free from his situation"

"Tell him John Constantine is taking the Team on a field trip"

"I fail to see..." the robotman started to reply as I mentally counted.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seve...

The sound of the Zeta Tube activating could be heard and a accented voice echo out frantically "NO! YOU MUST NOT!"

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