[31st October 2010]
[Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City]
"Agent Gunn, sorry to call you out at this hour but your department..." the NYPD Officer greeted him as the perp was dragged away in handcuffs by three of his fellows. Dale Gunn waved him off tiredly and gave a somewhat forced smile. Night off my ass; seemed every idiot started trouble whenever he managed to get a little bit of free time it seemed Duty would call once again.
"It's no problem Officer...Felps, that's why the watch list was put about after all..." Dale glanced at the bruises on the pasty faced prisoner's scarred face and arms as he was forced in one of the more secure transport vehicles' "...seems like he resisted arrest a bit more than was sensible anyway. Wouldn't want the likes of that getting access to anything dangerous now anyway"
Officer Felps seemed a little embarrassed by that, making a faint face and rubbing behind his head "Eh...sorry about that Sir, he was shouting and raving about the sword, an' talkin' bout hisself in the third person, so we figured he was high on something and had to taze him a few times. And break out the nightsticks when that didn't work"
Dale merely nodded. Seemed replacing the Sword of Beowulf with a replica had been a wise move, and kept it out of the hands of yet another raving lunatic. Damned if he knew how someone made a Sword that'd give you superpowers, but seemed they had even if nobody could use it according to his Bosses. Still this nutso seemed to think he could make it work judging from trying to steal it, so seemed sensible to Dale to not even allow him the chance to test his suitability for it.
"Good work Officer Felps, good work, I'll ride with you while we bring him down to lockup and we can get the paperwork sorted..."
--
[31st October 2010]
[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island]
All the ladies were focusing on Connor of course, though the blushing Zatanna was patting me on the shoulder in seeming thanks. Artemis was the first to speak "So...themed costumes are a great idea, yes they are. Isn't that right M'gann?"
"Hmph? Hmph?" M'gann 'asked' in confusion her focus seeming to be elsewhere...or right before her...as Zatanna voiced a "Yes, best idea ever. Yes"
Wally huffed at us, folding arms across his chest and glaring at me "Dude! Say something! He's soaking up all the awesome!"
I shrugged, glanced at Connor as he awkwardly picked up the sword, then back at Wallace "Sorry, but he has won that competition fair and square I'm afraid. Didn't think this far ahead...and letting M'gann choose the theme"
"Yes theme...good theme. M'gann best..." Artemis mumbled gazing at Connor, then glancing at me, before alternating between glances in either direction "...hehehehe, best theme yeah"
Both Wallace and I sighed as Connor merely looked around confused "What? Is there something wrong with my costume?"
"No!" was the seemingly unanimous response from the three ladies, along with giggles. Wally grumbled again.
"I coulda gone as a werewolf"
"You still look like one so we can pretend you are if you want?" I replied with amusement before deciding to end the little brand of objectification my female former teammates, and maybe new member, were making of my Kyrptonian comrade- in-arms. On that note I raised my staff and banged it off the floor "I SHALL HAVE MY VENGENCE ON YOU HE-MAN! NEYH HEH HEH HEH!!"
Nobody clapped sadly and sighed as the others just looked at me. I motioned at Connor "Oh come on, you're supposed to say by the Power of Grayskull!" I glanced at Zatanna "Isn't that right Evil-Lyn?"
At least in the sense of getting some level stress out of the Team...and myself honestly after my few days of panicking...this whole event was a rather good thing to have. A nice simple school Halloween dance would be good for everybody's spirits, and it did allow Artemis and Connor to warm up to Zatanna more now that I'd be back home in short. While her opinions on magic were...different than mine...she was skilled for her age, and brimming with arcane power behind all that.
The only real shame about the night was Robin's and Aqualad's absence since they weren't overly sold on the holiday, and were off with Batman and Black Canary talking things through. Each to their own after all, and Kaldur seemed to feel more responsible, and I'd assume Batman was being a big help to Robin since Grayson was his adopted son. This in the end left the Happy Harbour students of Artemis Nyugen, Connor Kent, and Megan Morse going with their 'dates' of myself, Wally and Zatanna. Shame poor Billy Batson couldn't attend, as 'Zombie' Captain Marvel seemed pretty enthusiastic about the whole Halloween thing.
Not that I was particularly, Samhain was likely going to result in work in the next few days. All the spirits got active, even if most of it was pretty harmless and merely at the 'document' stage of SHIELD's Investigation portfolio. It would get my mind off the whole possible Apokolis situation while investigations were underway into the threat, and I took some time plan through my actions. Like talking to Kent Nelson and Doctor Fate about certain things, or even the possibility of a planes-walk in times to come; reports on situation dependent really. But for now I pushed those thoughts aside and encouraged our merry band to head out for the night...
--
[2nd November 2010]
[Near Stradbally, County Laois]
It was a cold wet November day, windy too and I hugged my overcoat in against me as I stepped back towards the dirt track where the car awaited. Constantine had already beaten a retreat towards it as the rain started, Paula was already sitting inside while Artemis trudged alongside me at a slower pace. No point in rushing really, just get covered in much doing that, and once we got done we could head on and get something to eat in whatever pub or restaurant that was nearby.
"Kinda boring Skulls, just lots of walking about, and looking at stuff with not enough punching things to go with it" she complained, breath steaming on the air. Good natured complaining true, but still complaining. I gave an amused chuckle at it, since I had warned her before coming that the whole thing would be rather dull most likely.
That was just the nature of mystical shenanigans like this – either utterly dull, or life threateningly dangerous...and I wasn't bringing her on one of those quite yet. Nor did my Bosses want me doing any either, this was down time while we started going through the Omega Protocols and contacting Alec Holland and Doctor Fate in next two or three weeks. Lists were being assembled and if worst came to worst we could start mass calling them with a few minutes warning if need be. Hours to respond was still too slow, but it was better than panicked nothing.
"Hey, hey, government agent here...generally prefer us not punch people...even when their ungrateful, arrogant pricks like that farmer gobshite back there. Look on the bright side, be getting dinner now and that's all on the taxpayers tab..." I answered back with a grunt as I nearly slipped on the wet grass, but catching myself quickly enough to avoid the cow shit "...so we are finished from the day looks like you'll be glad to here"
Course part of the reason she was here was the 'awkwardness' between herself and Connor after the Happy Harbour Highschool Halloween Dance as it was called. Fun night really, bar for her and Superboy when they kissed, hooked up, and then awkwardly decided that they didn't really want to go with each other within an hour for whatever reason. All while Wally pursued M'gann and failed rather dismally at it; I was pretty sure that M'gann enjoyed the attention even if she didn't want the red haired speedster for whatever reason. About the only sensible people there were me and Zatanna who got to play 'running commentary' on all the drama shenanigans going on. Stupid fun and teenage drama all around it seemed.
"Yes I am glad to hear that Skulls, because that man and his wife are awful, awful, people even if they're not criminals..." she hummed back "...but, still was good to learn a few things I guess. Magic an' all that you and Zatanna do, what'ca thinks it was causing all the rotting crops?"
"Puca, pretty sure at least anyway between meself an' other John over there's little explore around the property and the magic going on. Looks like those people back in the farmhouse have gone out of their way to annoy the fairy-horse-spirit-thing..." she looked at me peculiarly "...I'll show you the file on the laptop in a minute if you want. But it won't kill them nor do anything more than ruin their crops till they make amends, or just stop being complete assholes probably. Which I doubt they will till we put some bureaucratic pressure on them to stop doing so"
"Aren't you going to stop it?" she asked more curiously than anything. Really it was hard to feel sympathy for Grumpy Old McInsults who lived here after talking to them, and then to their neighbours. Poisoning the neighbour's dog for 'scarin da sheep' was not a normal response to petty disputes in my view for one part many issues. Deliberately breaking magical protections on a land after everyone had warned them not was stupid, it was even more-so when you did it just to annoy said neighbours. How do you help people like that after all?
"Nope, not our job since it ain't trying to kill or harm them and the damage is limited to their...and only their...crops and livestock. Tell the Department of Agriculture and they'll have them sorted with inspectors by mid next year and then problem will take care of itself..." I answered truthfully. If there was a threat we'd step in, but this kind of nonsense had been happening for millennia and we were not exactly here to solve problems for people who refused to help themselves "...now. What do you feel like for dinner? I'm kinda think of that Indian place we drove by..."
--
[5th November 2010]
[Wizards Sanctum, Off the Quays, Dublin]
My eyes snapped open as every one of my wards seemed to activate at once. Without thinking I rolled out of the bed with a loud thud and looked around frantically. Nothing seemed to actually be trying to breakthrough in my Sanctum as I triggered my own personal contingency and summon my armour as I staggered forward tiredly. I'd only just gone to bloody sleep and now I get attacked!
I shook my head as I managed to stand and stride forward in readiness for someone appearing within the small apartment Sanctum by either magic or via the Kool-Aid man approach to walls. Whatever the case there was this dreadful pressure hammering down on my protections as I grabbed my phone and thumbed the number for the emergency line SHIELD headquarters'.
Very, very, worryingly I found as I came out of my bedroom into the main living room to grab a staff was that nobody was picking up on the emergency line beyond the automated response. Unease building I cancelled that line and began pressing the backups ones. Something was terrible wrong, and the very air seemed to permeate with energy...
'Someone's got an active effect in place' my mind informed me as the fourth attempt failed and I started trying to ring John and Brendan. No response. I pressed the button after thumbing down a line to the 'M' category...and was answered!
"Gemma! You answered, thank the heavens...is your Uncle there..."
"John! John! Something woke me up and there's magic...and Uncle John and Miss Ryan and everybody has just vanished and I can't get Mom on the phone...and...and..." she was hyperventilating from the sounds of it. Okay. Plan B time.
"Gemma, take out that bracelet I gave you and put it on okay? Everythings gonna be fine. I'm gonna bring you here by teleport..." I told her trying to sound calm as I moved quickly towards the teleport circle 'room' here in the Sanctum "...Everything's going to be fine okay? Just put it on and trigger it and you'll be here with me at least"
Someone was going after us, or everyone maybe, by the sheer amount of magic pounding in waves off my mystic defences and my own personal wards. If they'd gotten Constantine, Finn, and SHIELD HQ in the first wave...
'Panic later. Get apprentice first, then see if the Team are okay. Work from there' a part of my instructed me firmly as a bright light flashed for a second in the teleportation circles and the confused, and sobbing form of my pyjama clad apprentice appeared before she dashed forward to engulf me in a hug. It couldn't have been long since I'd awoken, minutes...ten or twenty minutes even?...and the effect was still there pressing in...
--