[08th January 2011]
[Saint Columba's College, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland]
I followed behind the others through the place that had once been De Salle College till it was abandoned a few decades ago. You wouldn't think so now as the place smelled new, walls having being rebuilt and painted, and new everything put into place over the past few months for what was going to be the solution to the issue of magic being made apparent to the general public; ie. an actual school to teach magic for those skilled. Oh, I was sure this had been intended for much later but we were where we were after all; and thankfully the government were reacting well.
'Course, there's gonna be an election later this year from the looks of it and this should go down well in both the constituency, and in the country at large, now that the panic over alien invasions and such has passed' I mused to myself studying the faint enchantments placed behind the painted walls. Doctor Fate's work that; seemed he...it really as there was a female Doctor Fate amongst his team of hosts...had been a busy, busy, being order between helping create the secret headquarters in Tropico and all the other work in SHIELD. Then again being active without tiredness for twenty four hours a day, and vast quantities of magical power, did allow one some freedom to focus on tasks one want.
And something like this place was something a being of Order such as Doctor Fate was wanted just as much as someone like myself. There were plans for another such establishment to open up in the United Kingdom, but right now this place would open in the next few weeks; in my county at that. Though, sadly that had to remain a silent secret as official I was from a county much further up the country than within less than an hour's driving distance from here. Whatever the case Gemma and Cassandra following behind me with their respective parents would have somewhere to get a proper education alongside learning magic. None of the Hogwarts idiocy in this dimension thank you very much; modern technology was best made use of after all, and this place was an effort to do just that.
"It seems a rather more mundane establishment than I'd original envisioned..." Helena Sandsmark said beside me, though as much to Gemma's mother and father than myself I imagined, while my shadowy bodgyguard Paula took up the rear "...but perhaps that's a good thing to alongside all the magical strangeness I've encountered of late. I was almost half-afraid when they first told me about the idea that wouldn't be teaching science in a magic school, and here I find a top of the line computer lab, let alone the ones for science"
"Hey now, I like modern amenities and technology thank you very much..." I replied with an equally amused tone of voice "...so no moving back to the middle ages or ancient times here. So I've been all for the idea that teaching magic and its abilities alongside children getting a regular, proper, education. Sure I've got magic powers and what not, but I plan on getting a degree as well I'll let you know"
"Oh, in what?" Cheryl Master's asked curiously. After events of the past year or so, where magic and aliens had been forced into her 'if I ignore it, it'll go away' approach to such things, she'd gone from opposing Gemma learning anything magical related to being encouraging of it. Now the original decision to send her to school in Dublin had been more informed by her daughter going from a rather rough Liverpool school where he ex-boyfriend warlock attended, to a respectable private one across the sea where he did not. One near me so as to teach her magic by my hand...so that her Uncle John did not basically; that and the Irish government were paying for said education and accommodation for both adult Masters in Dublin.
"Mechanical Engineering is what I'm thinking, that or Computers with an eye to manufacturing processes..." I admitted looking at the rather nice paintings of various landscapes placed upon the walls as we passed. A couple had wards behind them, and I'd have to put in some work in the months to come to join my efforts to that of the golden helmet and other mages who'd helped him so far "...focused on getting my Leaving Cert done so I could get a job with magic, but it's not the be all and end all. Probably going to do an online or distance learning course if can't find the time. Would like to do medicine, but that's alot more time and effort in conjunction with my healing spells"
'And the fact it'll be much later in life, assuming I live that long, before something that time consuming and subject to coming technological changes, will be put on the plate. Right now weapon and armour creation is top priority to enhance my skills' I left unsaid. Healing Red Arrow after all was beyond current medical science, but I had him lined up in St. Bricins Military Hospital within the next week to try and restore his arm. Studying modern medicine would take alot of time better spent on sorting through further tomes of ancient knowledge.That and I wanted an Ironman suit at some stage in future; because that would be both awesome, and ensure a backup plan in case someone knocked out my magic. Why limit oneself after all, especially when the capacity to create such a thing was gradually coming together?
"Yes, considering all the time I imagine there will be separating the diamonds from the coal in terms of magical tomes of the past I can understand it would be a struggle to take on studying to be a doctor as well..." Cassie's mother murmured in thought "...though your healing magic renders some more conventional medicines rather obsolete I imagine"
I shrugged "Merely enhances really, because it's...less teachable than I'd like, really. Maybe in time, ah well, what can ya do sometimes? But yeah, even developing an organised curriculum is going to be a work in progress for years I imagine, but it's better than the bits and pieces people are picking upon here and there right now"
"And are you going to be a teacher here or wot? You've been pretty toit lipped about it?" Gemma asked as Cassie shoved forward to dash on ahead a bit to her mother's irritation. Thankfully this place was fairly secure, a large part of the point of its existence after all, and we were coming into the auditorium area that had been built where a significant number of parents and future students were going to be. Most of whom would actually live here on the campus in the boarding school; it still a rather muddled affair of primary and secondary school mixed together, but it seemed to be expanded enough to handle the task for the time being.
"Eh, teaching assistant appears to be the immediate plan, though yes you and Cassie get to continue being super special snowflakes as my apprentices, awesome super mage that I am, heh heh heh" I chuckled as I dodged out of the way of her mock punch. Arranging transport for those not staying was a bit more difficult, what with ZetaTubes not being available to the public...or anyone beyond the Justice League right now, and would require creating a system of portals or teleportation doors between spots. Not that this was entirely a bad thing as it would serve as a test bed for ideas, and practices, for developing something beyond the existing 'teleportation team' and 'personal transport' spell systems SHIELD had created. For now though it was time to listen to presentation by the Minister of Education, and more importantly, Doctor Fate in relation to our new School of Magic's soon to open date...
--
[08th January 2011]
[Star City, California, United States of America]
Oliver Queen found the cold night air exhilarating, or perhaps just the thing to take his mind off all the problems that seemed to have blown up over the past year. Even the fact of Artemis, in her fancy new gear at that, being on patrol with him, and them having friendly interactions like a team was a further relief. He'd damned near screwed up there, just like he'd done with Roy, and it had taken a lot of talking to even get her back patrolling Star City with him for a few nights.
Not Gotham anymore thankfully, the Bats didn't like others intruding on his turf, and enabling her getting a Zeta Tube here helped things immensely. Part of him idly wondered if part of it was due to her planned move to Ireland; things seemed to be getting much more official over there nowadays as best he could tell, and for now at least Artemis still wanted to learn with him without being an actual cop. For now anyway, and he could do with the help of late as crime had picked up since the Starro invasion with people moving into the State from more impoverished and damaged areas.
It wasn't near as bad as the west coast of course, but a number of the bigger and better organised criminal groups had begun trying to expand their power into the Golden State. Something the local criminals had a mind to object too, all while somebody was going around stealing items of occult value in the cities nearby to Star City itself. What was worse was that the Riddler had resurfaced again, after everyone had assumed being killed by the Starro or the Army shooting Starro controlled villains, and decided his city was the place to start back into his Gotham 'Notice Me Batman Sempai! Notice Meeeeee!' insanity.
'And now I'm stuck dealing with him and his special brand of crazy' he groaned silently as they came to rest on after jumping building to building a time; staring now down the chaos on the street below. Right now crazy question mark man had barricaded himself with some goons inside the city museum, and a riddle that suggested he was going to blow up a number of buildings at midnight. Which...was only half an hour away at this stage Oliver thought to himself with the swiftest of glances at the combo watch-communicator on his wrist; it was enough to make him give a frustrated sigh as he turned to study the terrain for the best entry point.
"This is a trap, gotta be" Artemis muttered beside him as she knelt down and looked for the best entry points just like he was. Personally he liked her new outfit, good solid light body-armour that was Bats certified and had those neat little 'holding pockets' he had to get himself a hold of somehow; even better the outfit was still largely greens, with a cowl over her head that somehow stopped bullets despite just looking like thick cloth with something stitched in underneath.
She sort of looked she'd escaped some sci-fi renfair mashup honestly; but did he not understand that Fortune boy in his design choices. Here was a good looking girl, one that liked him, and he clearly attracted to her, and he goes and covers up all the curves she was showing off for him and his teammates with something that only just showed the pretty girl beneath. He felt sorry for Artemis liking such a smart, but also dim, boy...if he was designing his Dinah's outfit...
'Well, I wouldn't change a whole lot' he told himself after the briefest of thoughts; maybe adding bunny ears would do? 'No! Focus Ollie! Save City first!'
"I think so too, Batman's checking financials now...I'd reckon someone's paying to do this..." he replied locating a spot on the roof, motioning at it as he spoke. The police had established a cordon around the museum already, and nearly the entire department was busy searching for the bomb locations to clear them out "...but all we can do is take him down before he sets the bombs off, and the focus on who's putting him to this. Bust one, then we'll find out who the backer is and bust them. Now, let's go in silent as we can. Follow my lead, if we've read the riddle right we're going lose lights in about nine minutes and twenty seconds"
Grappling arrows were the best thing ever he found as they moved to a taller building, then descended on their bows to the roof of the museum. Sure Supes and Wondy could fly, and Bats had his 'oh, look I'm a grappling hookk gun that totally isn't a gun!' thing, but in his view nothing beat a good old bow and arrowed wielded by skilled archer to get things done. That at least he, and Roy...and the other Roys...and Artemis all agreed on; the bow and arrow theme was the best superhero theme; not fancy batarangs like Bats, or young Fortunes inability to meet a gadget idea he didn't want to steal.
No, he and Artemis did things just like he and Speedy had before; silently, with hard work and discipline as they checked for traps...and then boxing glove trick arrows to render the ranting riddling nutjob unconscious. On tv at that he noted as he swung down to secure the detonator as Artemis started to tie up the two Hench-idiots the unconscious Riddler had brought along; local muscle he recognised, and would try get put away for more than a three month sentence this time. Binding the Riddler took only a few moments as he communicated to the Police outside he'd secured the criminal but to be wary of any booby-traps at the entrances still; the madman hadn't killed anyone, but it'd be back to Belle Reve with him by the end of the night...
Crack-thummmmmmmmmmm
...that didn't sound good Oliver founded as a loud crack of thunder, with a bright flash of lightning outside, came through the window. He frowned, that was wrong, the thunder coming before the lightning...as the lights cut out around him and Artemis...
"My communicator just went dead, EMP maybe? Check your gear?" he stated calmly as he saw the electronics on his suit had stopped working just like the lights and camera setup crazy riddling man had been yammering away into. Noise was coming from outside as moved towards the window as he spoke, darkness was the general outline, only the full moon and stars illuminating the ground below where confused police officers milled about "...anything working?"
"Em...some of the stuff, the ones Skulls and Z did their magic on?"
Oliver's eyes scanned the outside, people were moving in response to something, shouts and hands pointing, as he moved his right hand and pulled out a small phone from one of the pockets on his belt. Glancing down as he flipped it open showed the old phone Zatara had given him 'with protective wards' still appeared to be functioning properly...
"P̩̤̺̞̣̘e̺̮̻͢a̘͎̩̪̠c̴̻̣̙̪̭̻e͕͎͇̲̪̝ ͟o͙͓͈̟̫͇̯r̹̦͍̫̫ ̟̗P̟͙̲͙̘̻̳e͞r͚͓͢i̱͉̟̞͖͚s̴̯̯̮͕͕̤ḩ̻̯!̰̼"
...he whirled, just as Artemis did as...something...dropped down to floor of the museum where they had entered from the roof. Something that was big, and black with fiery veins and eyes that screamed demon-monster-thing, even as it waved a big sword at them.
"P̩̤̺̞̣̘e̺̮̻͢a̘͎̩̪̠c̴̻̣̙̪̭̻e͕͎͇̲̪̝ ͟o͙͓͈̟̫͇̯r̹̦͍̫̫ ̟̗P̟͙̲͙̘̻̳e͞r͚͓͢i̱͉̟̞͖͚s̴̯̯̮͕͕̤ḩ̻̯!̰̼"
--
Note:
Before anyone complains, this is an actual Green Arrow storyline from the comics not me borrowing from D or Hellblazer.