[02nd March 2011]
[Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Tokyo, Japan]
'Well, it's nice and private at least' I mused as I dispelled the illusions over myself, Aqualad, and, of course, Batman now that we we're inside the private conference room. Batman would be rather obvious wandering about Tokyo in the broad daylight after all, but it wasn't as if he could wander about in his civilian persona either so a useful compromise. Even if it was a bit of a matroyshka doll will with illusions atop illusions for identities...hard to keep track of sometimes.
Still, Batman wasn't overly happy to be away from Gotham right now according to Robin, not that he ever was, but something in relation to my own bosses had him busy in the city. Probably the vampires I figured, and likely why Robin was regularly in the Mountain rather than patrolling as part of the dynamic duo when wasn't at home or in school. Honestly the fact Gotham had reopened its fancy, security heavy, rich kids school when there were vampires running about...surprised me, but the world was weird like that.
But Batman was the contact point between the masked girl, rising from her position sitting cross-legged on the floor before us with the magic sword across her lap, and us as members of the youth training programme Team; so here he was for the interview itself. And he gave the appropriate bow I guess as we all exchanged a series of polite bows to each other.
"Greetings again Katana, Mr. Watanabe, as discussed this is Kaldur'am and John Fortune from the team we spoke of"
"Greetings Katana, it is an honour to meet a fellow young hero, and too you Mr. Watanabe as representative of your government" Aqualad stated, as did my own less than stellar, but adequate I hoped, bow and followed on in a formal tone.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance"
The masked woman...actually had the Japanese flag as her mask, cool idea...nodded, then turned her head towards the man in a suit beside her "I wish to speak to them alone if that is possible"
In Japanese of course, but through the wonders of a translation spell I could follow as the suited man nodded after a moment, before giving her a short bow "Yes, of course. Summon me if you require anything"
With another bow to ourselves, and a repeat of his words in English, it was soon just the four of us as the swordsgirl sat back down upon the mat she had been sitting on. Resting her sword back across her lap she gestured at other cushioned mats across from her. Room had been done up rather nicely to imitate a shinto style temple inside I guessed "Please, sit"
'Very stiff and formal teenager aren't you?' I thought adopting a meditation pose and resting hands on knees, even as I felt a bit irritated that Batman somehow managed to look completely at ease despite his armour as he sat on my left, between me and Kaldur. Now that I was close to the sheathed sword I could feel its energies; even from here, and with it shielded by the sheath, the dark hunger lingered around the thing. I really needed to research it, and ideally have a look...but that was much further down the line, and I pushed the thought aside for the here and now.
"The Batman has explained much, and it appeals to further grow my skills and more effectively fight evil-doers with others of noble heart. If you would accept my presence as your ally I would look forward to fighting side by side"
I smiled at that, somehow so earnest despite the stoic and almost monotone way it was spoken. Kaldur seemed to agree, then again he was Captain Stoic and formal himself most of the time anyway, giving her a polite nod of his head "Indeed, we are glad to hear this as there is much good we can achieve together. As Batman has stated, I am Kaldur'am, otherwise known as Aqualad, and loyal warrior of my King, and will be your team leader, with John as my second in command, and I see no reason you should not join as our comrade in arms"
'Oh, my turn to speak' I realised after a moments silence, so I gave a smile and a small wave "Hi, yup, I'm John, I'll be your team wizard, sorry one of, and generally the guy you come too for either healing, or looking for magical gear. Nothing like your blade there's level I'm afraid, but it'll help keep you alive in a fight"
"My role? Level of activity?"
I glanced at Kaldur who nodded for me to continue "Whatever you choose in terms of level of time you wish to apply. There is no forcing of issues, and you decide what is best for you after meeting and training with the rest of the team for a probationary period. Largely so you can judge what level suits you best, and how your skills would complement the team on any missions that you deem yourself wanting to be involved in, and reviewed by the Team and the Justice League. Now you'll also be operating under the United Nations Charter, and local legal systems too you understand?"
"Of course, that is acceptable"
"Do you have any questions you wish to ask us?"
"No. I am ready now if you wish me to return with you"
Wow, this girl like giving short and simple answers, and perhaps silence as well as she sat perfectly still across from us. Truth be told I'd expected...alot more being honest, at least more than 'I am agreed, are you agree? Yes, then let us go fight evil together now' really. Not even any small talk as she nodded to Batman, and seemingly getting the affirmative it was time to get up and return to the mountain...
--
[04th March 2011]
[Saint Columba's College, Ballyvourney County Cork, Republic of Ireland]
It was going better than hoped, at least so far, Diana found as the black car passed through the gates and she felt the faintest surge as they passed through a magical barrier as well. Better though merely meant she had been stuck in the back seat with Alexa, who was like a small child asking questions about everything from the moment she'd arrived at the harbour and been hustled into the waiting cars. Two cars sadly, so she got Alexa while her two future guards Mala and Cymone got enjoy their last moments of freedom in the car with a small side bar in it apparently.
'Well, you wished to drive did you not Diana?' she reminded herself as she slowed the vehicle, the gravel grumbling beneath the wheels as she tuned out her passengers hundred questions about the wards we'd just passed through. She settled for sighing, focusing on parking the car rather than looking at Alexa as she took on a kind yet reproving tone "Now, Alexa, patience, we are just arriving and it is impolite to badger them with questions on their defences"
"Oh, yes, sorry Diana" came the embarrassed reply before a pause and more excitedly and questioningly "...and will I be taught how to use these auto-wagons?"
'Not if I can help it, No' Diana thought pulling the vehicle up into the designated spot where young Mr. Fortune stood with Doctor Fate, and the woman Georgina Snow. Considering her talent, or lack thereof, for fighting she could imagine the first crash into a ditch "Perhaps Alexa, but we have more important matters to deal with in the time ahead of us"
"Diana, welcome to this humble place of learning"
She smiled, glad it was Kent beneath the Helmet and perhaps willing to catch up on old times later when he switched with one of the others who had taken up the mantle of Doctor Fate "Thank you Nabu, it is good to see you as well. This is Alexa, come to keep the terms of the pact"
"Grr...eettings Oh Migghhhtttyy Lllo...ord of Orrrr...der, Lllorrddd"
Diana sighed at Alexa's attempt at a greeting "And Alexa, this is Nabu as you have guessed and greeted, and the young man beside him is John Fortune, and to his right Georgina Snow" she nodded towards the other car coming to a stop nearby driven by a local policewoman and with an armed female soldier alongside, switching to look at Nabu "...and now my friend her escort are Cymone and Mala of Themsycira, who are just exiting the vehicle. Their weapons are stored within the luggage compartments of the two vehicles...I felt it best to show our good intention by their not wearing armour and weapons, instead their...civilian wear"
"Glad of the show of trust, but generally not the best country in the world for togas and light-wear, rain being a constant companion despite it merely being overcast today" young Fortune chuckled, offering a hand in greeting to Alexa, which after a moment's hesitation she took and gave it a shake. Diana gave a faint of agreement at that, she herself had dressed in a business suit as Diana Prince to both avoid further attention, as well as to deal with the dreadful weather that often arose here.
"Oh I did offer such a warning, so give them time to adjust. It took great strides for I to do so when I first arrived" she replied memories of awkwardness from decades ago surfacing as she motioned for her two other compatriots to join them. Good, well trained warriors, they merely studied the terrain and those waiting rather than gawking about like some others as she introduced them as she had Alexa...
"...and Cassandra?"
She finished and Fortune smiled, nodding back over his shoulder "Out playing with Swamp Thing's lovely little terror of a daughter, building a tree-house actually...and the tree as well apparently"
"Yes, it is good for young Miss Holland to have positive interactions with humanity, and there are being monitored and kept safe" Nabu further clarified motioning at the buildings behind them "...now let us show our guests the facility and Alexa where she can establish her workshop and study"
"That sounds agreeable to us Nabu" she replied with a smile, a glance at her three sisters earning a nod of acceptance from the two royal guards "...please, lead the way"
She herself had been here before, but it would allow controlled introduction of the other three to both the students and staff. Mother was very concerned and had insisted that Diana, and Donna later today, spend at least a day, perhaps more, to ensure things...went well. Or more truthfully did not result in either violence or some unintentional insult that would lead to violence, or even the Gods themselves punishing the Amazons for breaking terms they had agreed with Nabu as Lord of Order, and head of his mortal allies. Thankfully curious glances and friendly gestures seemed to be the primary response from the children; then again most were 'unusual' themselves so perhaps her sisters did not seem as out of place as they would in a main street.
'Ah...I had forgot' she complained silently to herself resisting the urge to bring palm to forehead as they stepped inside the library, a rather modest one by Man's World's standards but...
Alexa was smiling "So many scrolls..."
--
[04th March 2011]
[East of the Ruins of the Temple of Marduk, Eastern Desert, Biayla]
"Scorpion-1, Command, we may have a situation here" Captain Hassan Abdel Nour, A Company, Quraci Special Forces spoke softly into the secure radio unit, the cord of which led back to Specialist Wassaf's back "Primary Target located, but we have encountered at least a battalion of mechanised infantry encamped around the ruins Primary and Secondary have entered. Unit insignias indicate former Royal Guard unit, Desert Lions"
Someone was paying a significant amount of money he suspected, or this international assassin and his daughter had messed with the wrong person in the government, but on a rumour alone they'd been dispatched. Sent off into the chaotic mess that was Biayla since the bitch Queen had died to the alien star monsters. International 'peacekeepers' were slowly asserting control over the fringes of the nation, but the multi-faction civil war had only intensified after the initial advance had slowed after...something had happen.
Nobody was sure exactly why the swift advance had turned into a slog, though walking corpses and demons of all things had been reported in actual, official, intelligence briefs. The world, quite simply, had gone mad these past few years he'd found. Whatever it was border patrols had been stepped up to deal with refugees fleeing into his homeland, and any ideas of liberating territory had been rapidly abandoned weeks ago after an initial series of plans to do just that. Then suddenly his unit had been mobilised and sent in pursuit of a ghost, with very strict kill orders for the target, and further orders to recover some old artefacts as a priority.
'Copy Scorpion-1, hold position; maintain surveillance and await further instructions"
Sergeant Al-Kafri carefully edged over towards him, hands holding the binoculars and gesturing slowly towards the distant ruins "Sir, I've got men unloading trucks dressed oddly. Civilians from the way they move and dress, scientists perhaps, and bringing it into the underground"
Hassan frowned, shimmying forward on the sands and rock to study where Al-Kafri was motioning. There they were; two men in strange robes, and another what could be hazmat coat perhaps?
Al-Kafri tapped his shoulder and gestured to the east "Worse news"
He brought the binoculars to gaze that way and grunted softly "Sandstorm"
The sergeant gave the faintest of nods "Distant, fast moving, be here soon"
Hassan grunted softly again, hardly ideal, then retook the radio "Scorpion-1, Command, we have a sandstorm moving in, estimate less than an hour till it hits. Also, report suspicious activity on site, unknown civilians and equipment being deployed"
"Copy Scorpion-1, hold position"
"Copy Command" he confirmed as the minutes drifted by before further orders came through.
"Command, Scorpion-1, Airstrike inbound ETA six minutes, begin lazing target. Eliminate all survivors when bomb run completed"
"Copy Command, Scorpion-1 receives, deploying" he answered calmly, hiding his surprise that the airforce had planes in the air nearby ready to deploy on the mere possibility. How badly did they want this man dead?
Still, orders were orders, and within moments he had deployed as demanded, ready for the targeting as the minutes drifted by. When the radio crackled again he confirmed that readiness, the targeting system purchased from the Russians clicking on and guiding in the former Soviet made fighter-bombers that had likely been assigned to the destruction...
...something confirmed a minute later as two such planes roared in over their heads, low enough to avoid radar he guessed, as they soared up at the last moment and dropped a number of bomblets from beneath them. Too fast for he and his boys to do more than hear and glance up...and too fast for the enemy to react either as they area they had setup their defensive perimeter around exploded in a wave of flame and detonations that shook the earth and sands around him.
"Their shooting at nothing" Sergeant Al-Kafri muttered as they waited in the wake of the detonations, eyes scanning through the binoculars to confirm all the vehicles had been destroyed and the camp above turned into a carnal house. Hassan nodded ever so faintly, watching as the Primary and Secondary emerged, clearly injured, with others...
...shooting behind them into the tunnels?
"Prepare to engage, Nouri, snipe that mercan..." was all he managed to get out before the ground rumbled as if from an earthquake, then again...
"GRRRRRRAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!""
...and he found himself covering his ears as the loudest roaring shriek he had ever heard spilit the air...even as the earth around the ruins exploded upwards...
Out in the desert before him, a dragon, of all things. reared its head and roared to the sky...
--