[16th December 2010]

[Near Elsner Towers, Liverpool, United Kingdom]

This was one of those less than stellar ideas of course, but sadly it wasn't my choice in the matter so it was just a matter of trying to herd the super-powered cats while I went about my job. Oh, I could understand the whole cooperation things both governments were trying to pull off here, and probably something similar from the Justice League duo, but did my teammates really consider a 'mission' to be some sort of reward when given some time off?

Apparently so it seemed as I strolled through one of the less-than-nice areas of Liverpool with them scattered around the place trying not to stick out like sore thumbs. Training the two ladies from the League were calling it, snooping upon me and SHIELD was what I'd call it, but my bosses wanted it and in truth I liked working with my...now sorta...teammates once again. Seemed they'd had a, not-failed but less than happy, mission 'stolen' off them by the Russians or something and now they wanted to cooperate and stuff.

That and with Constantine called off to London due to a magic induced lunatic apparently, after figuring out there was a problem here at least, it made the difference between me and one other investigating versus having what should be complete overkill hopefully. He was right about he'd reported; this place felt wrong, and it seemed to be the epicentre of whatever was going on in the general area. Six murders of hookers in rapid succession, a sudden rash of suicides in the same geographic area, and the uncomfortable feel of dark magic in the area would have indicated the problem even without the police investigation.

"Okay, guys just to remember; we've a court order to search the towers, but if the murders and suicides are linked my bosses want to keep things quiet. So no breaking and entering, not unless you ask and get approval first..." I stated softly into mike of our communicators with a brushing motion so as not be noticed "...M'gann you're exempt from that strictly speaking but you're to stay invisible and watch for any strange markings or boundary fields and notify us if you do. Those of you on watch, keep an eye on for any activity in your designated areas while we investigate the towers, this evening and tonight is likely a hunting night if this fella keeps to his pattern...oh, and call in on police frequency if you do, extra patrols are out as well. Miss Martian initiate a mental link for those in range, I'll connect by spell momentarily"

Supposedly they were anyway; myself and three of the group had spend three hours with the lead Inspector on the case and his team of detectives discuss just that. Decent enough fellow, but new after the last one was fired for corruption, and still uncertain of the 'whole magic thing' as he'd put it. Though I think Constantine had given him a fairly 'intensive' on the spot training in the few days he'd been here investigating the whole situation. Could have been another few weeks, or even months, honestly if that local magician named, now looking to join SHIELD, Angie Spatchcock hadn't mentioned it to other magicians during the impromptu magical conference.

"Copy/Okay/Copy" echoed back along the line, then the familiar flicker on my wards as the nearby, but invisible to the naked eye, Martian girl did as asked. It was a mild flick of the fingers, like I was swatting away a fly, and a few whispered words for me to connect outside of my psionic defences. Really this situation played to her strengths, compared to Connor and Kid Flash at least, and I thought idly that such things were part of the benefit to showing them such indirect crime fighting skills like Artemis and Robin definitely. That was all Black Canary I imagine, along with trying to psychoanalyse me, or SHIELD, or whatever as she watched us and the area around from a spot on one of the abandoned buildings across the estate.

'And that's John connected!' I heard M'gann announce cheerfully into the link as clicked into place yet still somewhat separate '...moving to the second floor'

'Well focus on the three recent movers to the area, as they all started after their arrival; the Dunbars, Reverend Trestle, and the Wrens, but we'll sweep the towers first just in case. I'm just inside the main entrance...rough looking place ain't it?...and there's a...stench is the best way I can put it in terms for the non magically inclined, Zatanna?'

'Ugh...it's vile' she replied silently walk beside me, wrinkling her nose and having a pinched look on her face. Honestly I was surprised Zatara had allowed her come along to this, however Wonder Woman and Black Canary had done it, even when Constantine was now off in London '...it's like...the air tastes so stall, like the whole place feels sick or in pain'

'Indeed, such skills were not my focus in the Conservatory but this place feels of polluted seas and dead currents' Kaldur agreed from his position ascending the other staircase with the new team addition, and right now confused feeling, Rocket pretending to be a couple inspecting a flat. We should be able to do a sweep of the place in less than an hour, and then canvass if need be; considering our numbers I was confident we could at least figure out the central area of this corruption before the dawn. Once we had that we might be able to figure out was it just indirectly inspiring or death, or was it someone taking a more active approach. Seemed the crazies had started to pop their heads out of the ground now that magic had surged back into the world and some though saw that as a 'grab stupid now' situation.

'Um, I don't feel anything? It just seems really run down and depressing' Oh, so that's what Rocket sounded like mentally.

'Magic sensitivity varies, and trained mages like we are *perceive* the effects differently as you can tell Rocket...this hallway seems clear doesn't it John? Whatever it is...ugh...it seems to be *leaking* down from above, like dirty water flowing over the walls' Zatanna replied sounding faintly disgusted in her thoughts as I resisted frowning. Seemed she had better senses than I in that regards, though my casting seemed to indicate similar even if it took a few moments longer than her and provoked the same terrible *taste* in my mouth in response.

I could 'hear' over the link as Aqualad and Rocket apparently 'discouraged' some local idiot from approaching them without revealing their identities, either as superheroes or investigators, or hurting anyone who probably deserved it for their idiocy. Thankfully I didn't get that trouble, just an elder gentleman who shuffled out of his apartment, along with a younger man who was his son I guessed, and descended down in the elevator while myself and Zatanna took the stairs upwards. Time passed back slowly as we strolled, idle small talk as we ascended another floor, and the faint and occasional beep in our earpieces from Artemis, or Robin, (or Wonder Woman though she was more focused on team control) on some petty crime been committed.

Seemed you could take the crime-fighters out of Gotham, but they'd revert to habit even her along with Kid Flash, though they were at least keeping hidden while doing so; and ringing the responses apparently as the minutes ticked by and moon rose ever higher outside. I grumbled my frustration to my companion "Bloody stairs, my eternal nemesis I say"

She gave a bemused but almost forced smile, letting out a breath and clearly struggling with feeling of death and decay in the air "Oh, yes, truly the most wicked of villains are they not?"

"I'll say...you feeling alright to keep going?"

Zatanna took a breath, nodding "It's okay, just...not used to something like this"

I reached over and gave her a shoulder a squeeze of support. Truth be told situations like this often weren't generally directly dangerous, at least not in the direct 'laser gun' to the face, or Terror Twins punching stuff, kind of danger. Instead it was insidious, the seedier side of magic as Constantine would put it, where dangers might be weak but had a dreadful effect, or there was a real monster behind it like that monstrous mess in the Caligula Club. Now I was fairly sure that level of debauched horror wasn't prevalent here, even if the effect was more like a bad smell pervading the place it didn't seem 'supervillain' or demon level strong...

'Hey Guys!' Miss Martian cut in across the link 'I've found these...squiggles, all over a doorway and I...I...' confusion in her tone now, almost questioning '...I don't want to enter? That would be wrong?'

Zatanna glanced at me and I gave a silent nod 'M'gann where are you? It should be the Wrens right?'

'Yes...it's the Wrens, it so calm here outside. They must be nice people'

'Ah, is that so Miss Martian?' Rocket asked in confusion before Aqualad came on just before I could project my thoughts 'Miss Martian, withdraw a short distance from that room and hold in place'

'Oh...okay...is everything alright?' she sounded fine, but it sounded like somebody had put up -distraction- wards to me from the fact M'gann, who'd never really think of not sticking her head through the wall to check things out seemingly never had it enter her mind her. Not even when she had explicit permission to do so just to make sure everything was safe, nor did she try 'feel' with her psionics if anyone was in the room. Maybe it was nothing, but it was a lead at least.

Seeing the coast was clear I subtly tapped the comms "Potential issue, Black Canary can you see into the Wrens apartment?"

"One moment...it should have a window view on the fifty floor of the tower you and Zatanna are in...Relocating"

"Understood, on the way" I whispered back motioning at the stairs after noting which door we had last 'scanned' with our senses and projected up to M'gann 'Miss Martian, we're on way and we'll have a look; notify if us if any change in your location'

The voice spoke in my ear again "Hmm...not much activity, somebody sitting on a couch...records would indicate as Mrs. Wren, pensioner, moved up from London with her two sons"

'Now we see if she is a local witch just living in a crappy area, or is she the source of it' I noted to the others as we ascended the stairs to where M'gann hovered invisible, at least to eyes that couldn't see through it, outside the door as myself and Zatanna came into view '...so I'm going official. Just a knock on the door and an interview for now, Miss Martian hold where you are; Aqualad, Rocket you okay to continue searching but ready to come us if needed'

'Of course my friend / Ya, I'll be ready fly out the window over there to you if ya'll need saving!'

I plastered on a friendly smile as I came up to the door, knocking once, then again as it seemed the buzzer was long since broken. Ah, and I could feel the 'calm' try to come on me along with the urge to be quick about my business perhaps "Hello? Mrs. Wren? Sorry to bother, but I'm here from the government"

Footsteps echoed out from inside, the clicking and clink of small chains from the door before it creaked open and an elder woman's face appeared "Oh...hello?"

Keep up the friendly smile, and don't drop my own concealing spells and hold up the ID given to me in its little wallet "Sorry to bother Mrs. Wren, I understand it's late in the evening but we're doing a series of interviews with the tenants of the apartments, what with all the unpleasantness of late, and having a quick check of the building itself. Can we come in? Here is my ID, and written authorisation from the owner of the tower complex...my junior Miss Zabinski"

"Oh, oh, yes such unfortunate things happened for some reason the neighbours say, but I'm not sure how I could ever help?" she frowned back before unlocking the door after a moment's hesitation "...but come in, come in, not polite to leave you standing outside like that"

I walked over the doorway, glancing at the sigils and runes for emphasis as she stepped back "That's some interesting spell-work you've done there Mrs. Wren if I may say so?"

She freezes, the gentle old lady look falling away for a moment, a glance at me, then at Zatanna as those eyes of hers narrowed as our reactions to the magic straining to be hidden here "Yes, it is...now who might you be?"

"John Fortune, Agent of SHIELD, and as I said we're here to investigate certain events that have occurred of late. I have a warrant to search these premises, and...to be frank, I can feel even from here that this is the source of the magical pollution effecting this area Mrs. Wren"

"You'll not prove anything, nary a judge will believe ya"

The snarl, the hands tensing and fingers moving indicted our suspicions were correct "I'm afraid you're incorrect Mrs. Wren, people have died from the effects of the casting here, and this place will be thoroughly inspec..."

Magic flared, hands moving up...matched by my own as my shield flared against the attempt to restrain or harm me, a feminine voice behind me speaking quickly "Pots!"

"That would count as assaulting an officer of the law Mrs. Wren, I can assure you whatever you have been doing here will be gotten to the bottom of" I told the paralysed old witch looking around for where to seat, and restrain, her till the others could arrive as activated my communicator and Miss Martian moved to psionically lift the old woman...

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