[09th January 2011]

[Star City, California, United States of America]

M'gann M'orzz was embarrassed...she...she didn't think she should be this happy and joyful as they were just about to get into a big fight. One with big scary monsters from by dark sorcery, that had killed and maimed innocent people, and almost seemed to burn to her eyes with previously unnerving fire beneath their dark tough hides. But the fear and doubts had vanished as the Link formed, a Song without words, with two hands clasped together and the feeling of Home ringing in her ears and mind. Home without the faint taste of distaste or contempt in the Mind-Song of strangers now friends, to help guide the Link even...

It was...a moment of the just simple joy of unity even if the purpose was to fight. For a moment she was home again, voices always there at the edge of her mind, her friends, her allies, all there; whispers of feelings, shadows of thoughts, yet all together as one focus, all towards one goal. Yes it was...more savage, more primal and merciless, than anything she had felt before; but it a joyous savagery, a focused and controlled one as the guns snarled and monsters fell. But still...it was a Link of her and many others, strength of community and solidarity bolstering her confidence and hopes.

She smiled as he allowed her control of their movements, fingers entwining, four feet rising off the ground as, just a few inches as they hovered forward in the midst of their Link. There was little talk either, just thought...dozens upon dozens of thoughts, and senses, and movement as each was separate yet part of a greater whole. The night, or was it day?, was filled with sound and smell filled their minds as everyone moved, eyes tracking and attempting to give 360 degree coverage of their formation as the monsters suddenly reacted to their presence; or more accurately in response to their attack upon them for blocking access to the mansion ahead of M'gann's group.

...Connor smashed back one of the creatures that charged forward after taking a number of bullets, then Kaldur's water whips slamming into the airborne monster and hurling it into another charging foe. It had taken the things a few moments to realise that they couldn't teleport in on top them like they'd been doing in the city earlier; no more sudden jumps to destroy guns and limbs with sudden strikes that most humans were trained to react to as best M'gann could tell. Weird blade weapon things were wielded at her allies, fiery magic filled the air in bolts and balls that were blocked by Kaldur, or by Wonder Woman...Black Canary stepping out from behind the shield block moments later to unleash a sonic scream that hurtled back the creature, and its comrades, and disorder their ranks...

[They see the threat, they are reacting] she knew, or maybe heard John's mind to hers, as did the others as the warning passed along in an instant as four of the creatures, in unison, switched to holding their sword-spear-things from melee weapons to throwing javelins. Quicker than expected something, someone, thought as the four behind and in their blind-spot raised their sort-of-javelins, heaved back their arms and then released before gunfire took down two in a hail of bullets. Unfortunately they had released their throws, just like other two that were taken down by simultaneous arrow strikes by Artemis and Green Arrow, and without looking back M'gann slammed down on them with a blast of telekinetic power. Guided by Artemis's eager eyes mostly, but also a dozen others, as the blast impact and the four weapons clattered harmlessly off the ground moments later.

...more creatures began arriving as their group moved forward, charging out of the mansion, and coming out from inside the city further away. But the Link's Song was as harsh and merciless as anything she had felt before; a Song of War and Battle like she had felt with John when they had confronted the Injustice League in the swamp. There was no hesitancy this time though as surged into the Link as much as John would allow, what with his mind barricaded as much as ever, and then out to all their comrades almost like she was a Sorcerer Priestess herself. Step by Step forward, up the slope with 'Heavies' in the shape of Superboy and Wonder Woman...

[Clear Engagement Zone Wonder Woman / Superboy – Black Canary Scream-Disorientate-Focus Forward Rifle Fire-Section Clear-Advance-Shift Fire to Flanks as Wonder Woman / Superboy Advance-Zatanna Spell Against Order into Doorway Ahead of Them]

...it was less orders than just...knowing...the constant buzzing in her mind of surface thoughts and feelings, a guiding hand of sorts; coordinating, helping, reducing pain and fear and the strange hum of magic in her ears as she guided her free hand and John's upward. Upward and pointing at the solidly built door of the mansion and wrenching it off its hinges before Zatanna's voice echoed out loud and strong and magic slammed through into the faces of the creatures beyond. Kid Flash, well, moved about like a flash on the open ground around their formation; disarming creatures, upsetting their balance, and occasionally dropping grenades he'd grab by dashing in and out of their own formation...

[Robin can we Trigger Water Sprinklers?-Zatanna help as requested-Aqualad lift Robin and Combat Team up 2nd Floor Water Spout-Wonder Woman / Superboy encountering opposition- Shotgun and grenade armed SWAT forward please-Clear, Clear, Clear-Redeploy cover entrance, more inbound rear]

...Summoner Located. Her left hand gripped tightly into Johns as she rose them upwards to join their two teammates and five members of the human 'Special Forces' who had smashed through the window and into the room...

[Confirming Summoner Fortune / Zatanna-Human male, chained by Creatures, multiple enemies incoming, reaction further indicates Summoner-Robin unlock chain leash-Kid Flash secure him-Escort Cover fire-Wonder Woman on way, Superboy / Assault Team withdraw back rest group-Re-establishing Kill Zones]

...she knew this was dangerous, and violent, but M'gann couldn't help but smile at the feeling of success humming through that Savage Song of the Link. Power, she felt powerful, that she belonged, and that this just felt right. But not like the Simulation...where everything was wrong, had gone wrong...but here John banked her power, a faint chiding feeling through the Link, and she thought back her agreement at him, curbing her burst of enthusiasm somewhat. No words, just feelings and sensations, as he allowed her greater control of the Link, his mind came more into focus on the man shouting for them to kill him on the floor and as Wonder Woman smashed through the door, hurling a creature back behind her...

--

...Diana blocked with her shield, dropping down to one knee...

...the shotgun blast that went through where she had stood moments ago taking the head off of the beast and throwing the body backwards into the others coming up the steps of the stairway. Then Zatara's young daughter's voice filled the air behind her, furniture hovering, and then moving through the air to block the entranceway as Diana knew was the intended purpose even before the backwards spelt words emerged from the girl's mouth. There was a ballad of fire and battle in her head, a call to war, that almost felt like being faintly in the presence of the Gods somehow.

'Hmm, again, this is an unusual experience I must say' she thought to herself immediately coming out of the crouch, shield coming up her arm to rest across her back, sheathing her blade as she did so. Even when she and the others had linked with J'onn there had never been this odd...buzzing...at the back of her mind, as she just knew and felt what the others were about to do. That and the strange mixture of silence...yet constant noise and talk of their battle; telepathic communication was nothing new to her since becoming a comrade of J'onn, but it seemed his niece was even stronger somehow. Or perhaps it was the interplay between magic and Martian telepathy?

It would be something to discuss at a later meeting of the League once this crisis, and the earthquake in Gotham, had passed. For now though J'onn's niece and the young wizard Fortune continued to hold hands, standing side by side with eyes giving a faint yet eerie glow on both of them, as they dropped out of the hovering they had done as Bruce's and Flash's far too young apprentices stood away from the man bound upon the floor. Mr. Albert Davis it seemed had been the source of the Magical Invasion, and from his shouting, was remorseful of that fact. Or merely suicidal possibly she reminded herself drawing out her Lasso as Fortune, M'gann, and Zatanna converged on their prisoner with her, the masked soldiers taking up guard positions along with Robin, even as Kid Flash dashed back out the window to the fight beyond.

"...ME! YOU HAVE TO! THEIR COMING! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THEIR COMING! KIL ME NOW OR THE CITY'S DOOMED!"

"We hear you Mister Davis, calm yourself if could, please..." she instructed the man taking the Lasso into hand as the creatures attempted to break through the barricade and Zatanna's shield spell thrown into the doorway behind her. Below the rumble of guns and odd shudder of a grenade exploding came through the floor; it was unfortunate, but they could not sweep the entirety of the mansion and hold their current positions here and below. Bound as he was the man hardly noticed her loop the lasso around bound wrists "...it would help, as we need you to answer our questions?"

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! THIS IS MY FAULT! THEY TRICKED ME..."

"Mr. Davis, please be calm, we need to know what you have done..." Diana stated calmly, loud enough to be heard above the sounds of battle "...so, tell us why we must kill you?"

"NO! YOU MUST...I.." he was breathing heavily, the power of the Lasso making itself felt as it compelled him to state the details of what she had demanded of him instead of another round of begging for suicide "...I, summoned them, but they tricked me, or whoever wrote the texts did...and I am the Conduit for their presence here. And they will spread, fifty miles within a week, and keep going till the whole world is encompassed and they enforce their version of the law upon it!"

"There has to be a way to reverse it, there has to be, what did the texts say?" the unhappy voice of Zatanna asked, understandable in truth; the girl was nervous of magic such as this, especially now that it had been confirmed as being fuelled by life. Diana nodded "Answer her?"

"I did not wish the spell to be undone, I...it was supposed to Protect Everyone, not...this, so I took precautions that others would not be able to...undo it, the books said and I bound in blood to my soul"

"Are you..." young Fortune started then took a breath "...sorry, need...keep up..." he stopped, his voice echoing in her, and the others, head instead [Is he a trained mage? Can it we cheat it? *Kill* him and then resuscitate? Specifics of the binding? Sorry, hard maintain spells, direct thoughts, and talk specifics]

[Maintaining the spells has priority] she thought back "Is there any other way to undo the spell? If we were to stop your heart a time and then resuscitate you, would it end the spell? Has anyone else aided you in this, a teacher perhaps?"

"There are...are...are..." he was fighting it now, but failed as all others had "...several other ways to undo the spell; the sacrifice of a screaming virginal girl with runes of chaos cut into her flesh, torture of a dozen innocents beneath a full moon for three hours, the violation of..."

"Is there any non-vile and evil ways?" she stated firmly as the list continued its rather disgusting 'counters available being monstrous' theme. Young Zatanna looked...felt, as she stood beside and behind Diana...as if she would throw up "...the other questions, answer them?"

"No, this spell was supposed to be one of the divine, only black magic should be able to oppose it. Killing, and then resuscitating me would only temporarily end the Conduit...it reopen stronger than before the moment I took my next breath. No one else helped me beyond agents such as the Riddler who knew nothing of my plans as these things would punish him I hoped. I am self taught, and followed the directions of the texts and items I had acquired"

"These texts? Where are they now?"

"Destroyed...the creatures do not want the spell undone, please, for all sakes...please, please, kill me and save them all"

[Ma'am, we need to do as he asks if there is no other way] came across rather forcefully from Major Sanchez of the US military's Special Forces team. Part of her could be feel the faint discordance in the 'Song' in their minds, strong objections from a few but all knew what was occurring, and there was an urgency for justice to be done [the situation will not be tenable forever, and if there is no other way we have our orders]

[There has to be a way, please let me try!] Zatanna projected back, Robin in support and Diana could almost feel hear the words from of objection Green Arrow and Black Canary below as they knew, in part, what was going to occur [John, can you too?]

[No, not without dropping the Battle Meditation and spell keeping out their teleporting, I'll support however I can though, so try Z if think it's best, we have a little while]

Diana nodded, ignoring the demands for death from the bound man, and savage battle taking place around and below them [Go ahead, we'll wait]

Sadly...as always...the Lasso had compelled the truth...

...and the bright beautiful sunlight suddenly filled, as the sounds of monsters smashing on doors, and furious battle below ended. Only the lingering echo of a gunshot, the unhappiness of a sobbing girl, and the cheers from men and women of the Star City Police, filling the house and grounds as the 'Mind Song' came to a sudden end and both mage and Martian slumped into the sleep of exhaustion apparently...

Diana could only look sadly at the dead man at her feet, hating herself a moment now the 'Song' had ended and she'd felt a brief sense of relief that the she herself, or one of the children, had not being called upon to do the dark deed. Even just getting them outside had only meant they did not have to see the execution, buffered somewhat by the 'Mind Song' of battle in their ears and minds. What was worse there would be little time for her to rest and think upon it, Gotham was a mess, and in the time they had spent ending this 'magical incursion' as Doctor Fate had called it, other problems had emerged. After seeing the death and destruction caused by Starro, and the world's odd fixation of pretending everything was still 'normal' somehow, she had expect far too many days like this to come. She sighed; first she'd allow the children to catch their breaths, and for those clearly unable for combat, or disaster relief, for the next few hours to rest...

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