[16th January 2011]

[Copehill Down, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]

I was bloody well exhausted, had a debriefing to face into, and right now it looked like the Justice League Inquisition had arrived so fun times ahead I noted. Though honestly this was strictly speaking a 'cavalry has arrived, and aren't needed' situation I expected as Doctor Fate, in his Kent Nelson persona, approached them with Richard Swift at his side. The Shade had been our best counter-force option on this side of the should anyone decide to interrupt the ritual setup under Georgina Snow; though sadly one that hardly pleased the likes of Wonder Woman gesticulating in the distance to Doctor Fate and the reformed villain.

'Oh don't complain, her lasso would be a big damned help with confirming if Demon Girl is a Constantine blooded Demon Girl' I told myself firmly as I reached up and removed the helmet from my somewhat sweaty head. Probably why they'd brought Black Canary, who was now stalking towards me after a startled look after removing my helmet and giving a tired wave; though it could equally be due to her just being available, there only being five of them. Five including Donna Troy who wasn't a League member, nor a girl who'd expressed much interest in joining the Team in general like...well Red Arrow, though the clone thing was...

I shoved those thoughts aside, a problem for another day when I wasn't shattered and suffering the after-effects of magical expenditure. Or images running through my head of fecking Hell of all places now that I'd turned off the mental and magic wardings that were strengthening my focus; more insanity to talk to my SHIELD appointed therapist about later I guess. Paula motioned at me silently about the approaching League member and I shook my head indicating she should take the still masked Jade, aka Cheshire, over to get something to eat while I dealt with this.

Seemed Zatara, Captain Marvel, and Lantern Stewart had remained with Doctor Fate and Wonder Woman while I was getting the Team's Den Mother and the Amazon's sidekick. We had attacked Hell after all, and this was a pretty decent strike force assembled in less than thirty minutes of being informed I guess with a glance at my watch. That was fine by me, Billy wasn't ideal to explain this too, and the pale, stricken, and horrified, look on Zatara's face indicated that word of Maria Constantine was been given over; not to best to discussing with then about what just happened. I gave a tired wave at the two approaching me; Black Canary was still somewhat pale looking, fresh out of the medical wing up in the fancy space fortress maybe?

"Hi there, fancy meeting you ladies in a place like this?"

Unhappy looks in return indicated it wasn't overly funny as I rested forward the park bench due to the round shield on my back, pretty good for a fake one in a fake town, holding my helm in one hand and sword belt in the other. That was getting curious looks, and a glance over my not-clad-as-usual armour, from the Amazon's trainee; though mine was more medieval with celtic influences full body than the dressier, more revealing, Amazon bracer with arms uncovered thing she had on. She frowned at me, more in curiosity than anything else it seemed to me from her tone "You look a bit different than last time, did you rob a blacksmith or something since then?"

I'd have shrugged, but I was too tired and weary so I just settled for a sigh "Oh well, needed a change of clothes, killin' demons in hell an' all that...well, seemed a good time to pull out this blast from the past. Sword, shield, stabbing things, etc, etc...sorry, tired"

"And bloody...whatever persuaded you..." Black Canary began arms folded angrily across her chest, looking down at me with glances around at the hustle and bustle of the fake village filled with soldiers, armoured vehicles, and somewhere nearby a demon girl held under guard by a pagan romano-celtic God. She shook her head, sighing loudly "...why would you allow them to send you to such a place young man?"

"Dunno, demons needed killin' an' I was happy to help..." I replied calmly, wearily. Really this whole indulging the Justice League was just irritating when I was tired, and a general feeling of tired elation filled the multi-national military force around us "...weren't like they hadn't tried kill me already, fairs fair I'd return the favour..." I sighed "...that an' they compromised John, too dangerous let'em go, had do something...so I played War Priest to the heavy hitters as we went a wiking, a wiking ve did go"

An intake of breath "Did your mentor put you up too this? He doesn't seem to be anywhere around...Zatara had some concerns..."

I gave a snort of amusement, turning my head in the man's direction...the look on his face "Oh, I'm sure he does. But John ain't here, he is, was, secure somewhere else till we figured out how what the demons did to him, and what they might have learned when they took him. This was all me own idea, stupid an' all as it is..."

Of course much of the Operation was being kept back from the Justice League as I understood it, though we were supposed to be handing over a decent amount of footage in the name of 'cooperation' with them. But this was Nabu's gig, and also in part because we wanted Wonder Woman to be on side to Truth Lasso to confirm what we'd learned from Nergal before his...cessation of existence. Damn but the First of the Fallen was a terrifyingly power being when enraged, and thank the Boss, Nabu and the LOD, for protective wards of Order and Good keeping him out. So I continued to sit and talk to the two in the spirit of cooperation, and me following my bloody orders to be nice...

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[17th January 2011]

[Bunker, Beneath the Temple of the Shrouded Lord, Tropico]

"In truth it's probably the most secure place we've got...considering John did alot of the ward and defensive spells on the other locations..." I answered Paula before taking a drink from the pint glass "...that an' she is definitely a Constantine so the strongest protections needed in any jail. Or for when he meets her in the morning...cuz him an' magic, ya know?"

Headquarters beneath Custume Barracks was too small as well to effectively serve as anything other than a command bunker. That Constantine had laid a large chunk of the Wards there along with me and Finn it was felt here was the best containment available due it being built on anchors and pillars of Order rather than risk him, or his child, doing anything magically disastrous. Of course the place was supposed to be secret too, more-so even than here which was a 'joint venture' now with the British, and best kept that way now we were sure our info security hadn't been totally breached.

'Still changing and upgrading all the protections of course, an' damn if that'll be exhausting' I groused internally taking another drinking and eating some salted peanuts. Damn but the day had gone on and on and on between dealing with the meddling of the Justice League, the length mission debriefing, and of course working with the others to ensure Miss Maria Constantine was magically bound. First the Geas, then restraints, and then ensuring the cell she was put in was warded and isolated...

Because...well she was a Constantine, and a Demon, so while she was sleeping off her capture right now one had to ensure she didn't unintentionally lash out as much as intentionally. Leaving a little time before my own proper sleep after a brief nap between briefings and castings earlier on in the very, very, long day...and I got to spend it in a small in an bunker deep underground 'Because this is my life now'

"That and you're not allowed home till your superiors are sure there will be no reprisals"

I sighed at Paula's overly cheerful, if also tired, response "That too yes"

"Aww, the poor widdle wizard haffa be good little boy eh?" the manacled Jade chuckled drinking down yet another cocktail and placing the now empty glass in front of me "...another please oh gworious Masta!"

"You are really milking this for all its worth ain't you?" I queried back at the drunken prisoner-ninja-helper sitting as comfortably as she could with chains on ankles and wrists. Thing is she had done as promised today, and while she was still serving her sentence she'd been allowed tonight to 'indulge' according to me, and my bosses more-so, before being back into her cell. She jerked both her hands forward, pointing at me, and huffing in faux-anger.

"Ah saw hell tanks ta you!" the smirked "...oooh milk, canna get a white rwusian, hadn't hadda'ona them"

"Jade dear, I'd almost say you've had enough"

"Bbbbbutttt mommmmmm..."

I sighed, standing up and taking the glass in hand "She probably has, but invading hell, and she's not exactly doing much tomorrow"

"Well my brave young comrade another drink to celebrate our victory?"

That and it was rare enough that a God made you your drinks I found as I wandered over to the big breaded deity serving as barman to this small gathering deep under the earth. We'd stormed into Hell itself, and that required a stiff drink in nearly everyone's case; including my own "Yes, indeed we do; a White Russian for the drunken ninja. Seems we lived to see another dawn?"

"Ha! Even better one will get to see John's face when word of the young demoness he has sired reaches his ears shall be most glorious to see"

I gave an amused snort, resting my arms on the countertop. You'd hardly even be able to tell you were underground really with the way the place was designed "Well, I'll settle for a nice long sleep truth be told and let you handle that fun, happy, meeting"

"Oh-oh, indeed it shall!" he boomed back as he mixed the cocktail "...for normally it is he who is confounding us with madness than we having the chance to do so to he! And much merriment can be had, for this humble being once more has a worshipper in this day and age"

"Well...punching a Demon Lord in the face does tend to have that effect with people..." I chuckled, as Paula wanted to ask very detailed questions about what a follower of the Shrouded Lord was required to do "...or seeing Christian Hell, and how easy it is to get sent there"

"Yes, still that shellfish sin dooms many" he replied solemnly, or mock solemnity really "...truly there is no greater evil than shellfish and mixed fabrics"

I rolled my eyes "I woulda said ArchDemons or Dark Elder Gods, but hey, what do I know. So, good to be back?"

"Yes young priest, it is indeed. Though one would not have expected my first worshipper in centuries to be a scientist"

"Eh, work hard, party hard?"

"Ha! A good way to live, if perhaps short for mortals a times!" his laughing rumble continued "...one might even follow the example of your patron and seek to make a priestess. Now my young friend, for your drunken servant...now it is my time to drink yonder evil luchador under the table"

"Well have fun then, thank ya kindly my good deity" I replied taking the drink in hand and moving back to where my bodyguard and prisoner waited. Artemis was...likely to be pissed off about this, as would the Team all in all, for not being included but that was for me to explain whenever I was free to head back. Which would be sometime after a long rest, a decision was made on how to handle the Constantine situation, and we got around to planning out what came next in fixing this situation...

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