[09th January 2011]

[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island, United States of America]

The footage was...problematic in what it revealed I found watching what Artemis was transmitting from inside the Star City magical bubble. Now that I'd gotten the usual shitty time travel of coming from Dublin to Mount Justice out of the way after a muddled hour or two from taking the original call, to getting setup here with video-phone connections to the main computer. Green Arrows too, but for some reason the magical warded communicator available to the multi-millionaire was just voice only.

Course seemed somebody had cast a city-wide technology suppression spell...and weren't that a doozy to consider, targeting electricity most likely...and it wasn't as if magical protections on technology were all that common in this day and age. Or for more permanent wards like I used were anything more than a subset of that small number. Another feed from just outside Star City, outside a great silver dome that had proven Superman and Doctor Fate proof in the past two hours, showed the figures of both, alongside that of Batman and Captain Atom.

"So, any luck getting past the barrier guys?" Artemis's voice came across the screen as she panned her camera-phone slowly from east to west and showing the near pitch black streets of Green Arrow's home city. There were a few fires here and there, a crude circle of torches and burning barrels around a barricade with people behind it...and here and there on the roofs and streets were what looked like demons. Looked like being the operative words, because they weren't acting especially demonic considering they'd invade and sort of already conquered a city of mortals. Instead of...well murder, rapine, and general horror, the damned things appeared to be enforcing the law "...Mayor and Chief of Police have been unto Green Arrow"

Unfortunately they were doing it to the letter, and punishment being in the good old fashioned ways of 'break law, be maimed or die depending on severity' my past life remembered well. Between that behaviour, and what Doctor Fate had reported from his attempts to breach the 'Dome' over the city, indicated this could either be a Contact with Lawful Devils, or a possible summoning of Law Enforcing Elementals or Servitors from some extreme Order based faction considering the Order based nature of the magic present.

Even more unfortunately that had forced Green Arrow, Artemis, and the Star City Police into a defensive stance as any violence led to magical monsters attempting to maim the hand holding the weapon doing the threatening. Especially if the weapons were of 'modern' manufacture such guns, grenades, or heavier ordinance available to SWAT, or wealthier criminal elements. Of course Americans weren't too enamored with the idea of giving up their guns, legal or illegal, and that had caused resistance...which woke others, who armed themselves; there'd be a number dead already I imagined even at this late hour of the night over there. Once the morning came, but darkness, lack of electricity, and demons remained...

"Not as yet, the Air Force tested a missile against the Dome only a few minutes, and it had no visible effect as happened with Superman's and Doctor Fate's efforts..." Batman's voice echoed over the video conference, and I could hear the faint groans on the other end of the line "...but all efforts are continuing to breach it and relieve Star City"

"I think we have to consider the fact..." I found my voice as the exchanged and looked up from watching the number of creatures pass by as the video from the top of town hall brought more into focus "...that this might not be intended as an invasion situation, but maybe someone bungled up a summoning royally"

"Indeed? Your concern is the nature of creatures, and of the barrier they have erected?" Doctor Fate's feminine version voice echoed over the computer's speakers where the Team had assembled with Black Canary and Red Tornado also in attendance. Zatara would probably have been here, Zatanna was after all, but like myself he'd felt the surging in the ley-lines from whatever the hell had been done; some idiot had rung a bell loud and clear across dimensions, and now something had answered.

"Yes, they're not...being demonic really, instead their enforcing the law as they see it"

"They've killed people Skulls..." Artemis tired voice came back over the speaker, not being critical but merely pointing out the facts as she saw them "...that seems pretty bad guy demon-like when it goes with the fiery skin, and horns their sporting"

"And when you first sent the images I agreed, but..." I motioned at various streams playing that Artemis had managed to send since the crisis had started "...the behaviour is weird for that, it's costing energy to act like they are, and for no benefit I can see as yet. When combined with Doctor Fate's report of the Order and Law nature of the barrier...well, I'm wondering have we got a screwed up ritual here, or someone trying to use a faction like the Mercykillers to clean up the city as they see it. Extreme Lawful Neutral type maybe? Enforcers summoned to the Letter of the Law?"

"It's a strong possibility compared to the alternatives..." Zatara's voice crackled over the computer along with the sounds pages moving, and magic moving things, in the background "...if it is an invasion it's clear these beings are more focused upon enforcing rules rather than moving to break up organised centres of potential resistance such your current location Green Arrow. If that is the case...it could leave many of our banishment techniques for such beings lacking sufficient effect for the situation at hand"

"I find that hard to believe when these things have occupied an American city and begun killing its population..." the cold and stern voice of General Eiling, and curious why he'd been picked for this as the role of coordinating US military forces moving to surround the Dome, even been flown in from the East Coast, came back in reply "...not after what's happen recently, and the fact not even the vaunted Justice League can break down this barrier"

"And you're right not to discard the possibility General..." I admitted in my official capacity as SHIELD liason to the Justice League, and US State Department. Technically both I and the good General reported to Amanda Waller, or at least to a limited degree, when on US soil and part of their operations "...but I think we're looking at a local Bring Law and Order type's efforts gone horribly, terribly, wrong...or right depending on their point of view I suppose, but unless we can break down that barrier, or find another way to get people in, we're at a disadvantage in knowing for sure"

"There is something that could be attempted that we have not tried..." Zatara stated sounding unhappy in what he was proposing "...young Artemis possesses equipment enchanted by you Mr. Fortune, and by my daughter"

"Yah, it's the stuff Skulls gave me that's working actually"

I could almost see Zatara's nod in response to Artemis's answered as I also heard Green Arrow query something 'of screen' with her "Excellent, now there is the potential to attempt to summon through the barrier if I, Doctor Fate, and Mr. Fortune, were to talk Green Arrow and Artemis through the basics of establishing a summoning circle upon their side"

"Oooff...that's, hmmm...doable, maybe? It'd potential sidestep the barrier, but you're talking me or Z at best from such a tenuous link"

"Yes, yourself I would envision, but if you were to bring ritual tools a number of others, not many I'm afraid but some, through in your wake if it proved successful"

Zatara did...make a good point actually, even if it was somewhat biased by familial attachments. Anyway I would be a better choice than Zatanna for an initial attempt; purely on the fact I was more used too teleportation spells, and had more experience with the darker side of magic. Nabu seemed to agree at least "Indeed, a connection on both sides, if necessary empowered by my host and Zatara, should be sufficient to create a viable, if temporary link, between your location and Star City"

"Hear that Artemis? We get to be wizards! Hey do we get cool robes and get to chant around a bonfire..." I sighed as Green Arrow spoke, only for an annoyed, and worried beneath the veneer I guessed, Black Canary to tell him to butt out and allow something resembling a plan to be hashed out between the wizards, me included, and the glaring forms of Batman and General Eiling. A dimensional door might work between locations, though only briefly, and really would depend on the nature of the enchantment itself; sure it might stop outside attempts to bring in and out, but a mutual link usually could work around such things...

--

[09th January 2011]

[The Cauldron, Gotham City, New Jersey, United States of America]

"Boyz! Boyz, Boyz, Boyz, what're bad young fellas like yourselves doin' a place like this now..." he cheerfully announced jumping down unto the lower rung of the fire escape, uzis up and ready to cover the entire group "...after been warned about what'll happen iff'n ye don't be paying the toll, and don't stop yer sellin' to the childer"

'Ah, I luv it when their stupid' he thought as the three idiots below went for their own guns...

Crackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrack

...only to be scythed down by his already prepared stance. Demon Boyz or something like that; a bit slow on the uptake they were, even if this dealer had figured bringing two bodyguards would help deal with trouble...

Crackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrack

...it didn't he found as the three hit the ground as his guns smoked on the cold misty air. Least for a moment, then he quickly holstered them and hopped down to the alley below and used gloved hands to grab the cash and drugs left behind by his targets for the night. Damn winter fogs seemed to be always coming down at night of late, but it did give good cover to move about in he found as he dashed back up onto the roof above, and the city beyond. Couldn't risk the Bat catching him now could he?

'Being a priest turned to be pretty fuckin' awesome now didn't it?' he thought to himself moving swiftly away from the crime scene to store away the weapons in one of his stash points. Lot of heat was starting to come his way even if the local Precinct's detectives were generally happy to turn a blind eye to things in the Cauldron since they'd started laying down ground rules. Neighbourhood Watch ground rules for the dealers and junkies had been simple enough; pay yer fee, keep yer shite away from 'decent' folk, and no selling to the wee childer' either. Most of them had learned right fast, especially once word, and a deal, had been sorted with that bastard Cobblepot over in his fancy, smancy, pub.

'Doin the Lords work as Father Rory used ta' say' he mused with a grin as he changed weapons and moved off again into the night. Of course dear auld departed Father Rory probably wouldn't have approved of the whole pagan priest thing, but fuck him and his opinion anyway; he was dead and wasn't coming back anytime soon, and had been a mean fucker too with that cane of his. That and Tommy was pretty sure God, well that God fella, hadn't given Father Rory superpowers like Father Tommy's 'lesser one' as magic spirit boss had put it, had; and damned did it feel good to have them at times.

"Hey there me pretty ladies, not havin' any trouble ta night I hope?" he asked coming out of the shadows after descending from the room to the street below. Good for info were the street-walkers, even if the classy ones stayed away from the Cauldron, and while they'd sell you out if threatened they at least appreciated the 'cleaning up' of the neighbourhood of late. Course that meant they had less chance of getting nabbed by some loonie like the late, and unlamented, Victor Zsasz so the smarter ones had snagged unto the idea of protection...and, oh, magical healing...old Father Tommy had on tap. Could even be win-win as his New Good Book Says; be pragmatic and don't be a dick – everybody wins, usually anyway. The working girls made more cash safely, Tommy and his mates in the Watch got reduce rates and a few freebies time to time, and all for the cost of bashing in a few heads for fun.

"Heya Tommy..." Apricot, a skinny black woman in a heavy fur coat, one that was open at the front and showing that tatty lingerie beneath, greeted him as she smoked a cigarette away from the other girls on duty tonight with her "...just a few things here and there..." she nodded back towards the alley behind them and a shivering figure huddled up between the trashcans "...oh an' got ye a problem case fer yer little school project. Mia over there's a fuckin' child, and tried sniff for biz where she din' belong...sorry bout the black eye...so figured we'd hand her over to you where ya turned up"

Tommy strode over, looking down at the skinny blonde newcomer "Jaysus, yer skinny little bitch ain't ya? Dirty out as well. Now ye can either shove off out this neighbourhood, girls here don't want ye stealin' business without permission, or ye can come with me and get bit to eat an' then sleep on crappy bedroll with the rest of ye runaways, and children who shouldn't be here..."

Eyes looked up at him, dull almost dead eyes he was well used too after a life like this, and far too young as always for the life she seemed experienced in. Least she was listening, the fact she'd stayed here rather than running off to another spot with its madam or pimp said alot; as did the signs of meth use too. Another problem case for the Shrouded Lord's merry house of future damage limitation he supposed as he reached out a hand, and she took it...

...luckily perhaps as the world seemed to shudder under Tommy's feet; realising moments later it had been the world that was moving and not just him. Arms wrapped around the startled girl, throwing them both out from the not the most structurally sound buildings as he struggled to stand up anymore. She squeaked, then groaned, as he hit the cold hard ground and the noise of grinding, and shouting, and fear reached his ears. Streetlights flickered on and off, darkness and mist seeming to join the shrieks of the city around him, the skies seeming to pulse red a moment in that weird 'sight' thing his Magic Spirit Boss had given him...

...whose shadow form seemed to stand over him as the world appeared to fall apart around him and Mia D-whatever screamed into his chest in fear. Standing over him, the bending over and looking down at him seemingly unaffected by the shaking due to his ghostly spirit-ness or whatever he was "Oi, You, Try Not to Die would you? There'll be work to be done soon, and you'll be doing it. Right, seeya later; again, try not to die!"

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