[02nd April 2011]
[I'll see you in my Dreams. Or the Grave]
"Well, this looks all nostalgic" I muttered looking around the beautiful library as the sunlight streamed in through the stain-glass windows "I'm not dead am I?"
"No, you're not, not again, or yet, anyway..." the orcish figured clad in a shroud of shadows told me coming out of the shadows of the shelves nearby to tower over me "...but certain matters are somewhat concerning, or at least growing so, and we have a mystery to solve. So I decided to consult with my High Priest on this merry plane of reality"
I groaned "Oh crap, that's me"
"Yeah, oh crap, that's you..." my patron rumbled back as I followed along beside him down the sunlit rows and benches of The Library, past an arcane soul sitting reading, before she flickered and the spectral image was gone to another instance "...so here you are, while praying slash sleeping. See, as I was saying, certain things are concerning about ye old dimensional portal. As if this whole hell dimension wasn't bad enough. So, yes, portal to another Earth, filled with more superheroes, and...
We were in Orrery suddenly, globes of gold and silver in movement amidst the darkness of endless space around me. The tall shrouded figured waved a shadowy hand, a single globe breaking off and shimmering into life as coloured globe of greens, whites, and blue that showed and earth; then a single figure appeared. A golden man in white robes, taken from memories of a another worlds reports, and likely that of others too "...whatever the hells this thing is"
I frowned "Isn't that...I dunno, other earths golden super-duperman, like Superman, except with brain damage maybe?"
"Sadly no, one does not know exactly know what it is, but one, and others, do lean towards the Avatar of an Outsider Power, or the Empowered Champion of one. Also, bad news, we do know something of this realm, thought little in total sadly"
"Ugh...okay, sooo?" I spread my arms apart helplessly "What you want me to do Boss? What do I know?"
"Let's go with setting; depressing cosmic horror"
I groaned "Aw, crap, beyond that?"
My patron waved a hand at me "That's for you to find out, as one would ideally like to avoid starting a needless battle with Elder Things, but that world...well, its empty, unclaimed, virgin territory let's call it. But something's wrong with it, the others...aren't sure, and we ourselves aren't powerful enough to bother investigate, yet at least. Not when one is establishing here, risking a confrontation with Elder Gods would be bad, not blind to their nature at least. So find out what's going on, and make an Accord, or Pact, if the opportunity presents"
"Uh-huh, that sounds hard to achieve Boss"
"It usually is, nor is it something of a matter of days, but in the times to come alongside your other duties. The Lord of Order, and the Bard, will likewise investigate, but you are my Agent, as are the others, so the Door must be made secure"
I nodded, nothing much else I could do really "Need to know?"
"Yes, for now, no portents of doom are needed. Not with these Great Beasts to cause concern, or the strange fact of these...Tinkers, yes, Tinkers. One suspect Elder Things at work there, knowledge without effort, too much, too soon, with no understanding..." my patron rumbled unhappily "..it is a perversion of things. Enough to stop a civilization advancing, to halt order and knowledge with poison apples, ones that cause suffering, yet cannot be understood by the wielder. Unacceptable"
He turned to me, the staff tapping me on the head "Now...Wake. Up"
--
[02nd April 2011]
[SHIELD Portal Security Zone, Gotham, New Jersey, United States of America, Earth-16]
The construction site that was the Portal Security site continued to expand, or be assembled more accurately I found as watched another round of press interviews take place down below. It certainly was a nice view, and a sunny day with a clear blue sky...save for those spots of fog here and there within the city that persisted, likely due to the nature of the Hellmouth here. Cursed ground always seemed to be like that I found resting my arms on the, and generally you could only work on mitigating around it, or sanctifying 'small' areas like this site was getting.
"On the lookout for vampires perhaps?"
I gave a snort of amusement at that, resting my elbow on the thick railing while sipping my coffee with my free hand "Well, not unless you're counting the press corps as such, then no. Though it would be convenient for us for them to commit suicide by having a nice daylight stroll along the beach, or trying to get a tan, now wouldn't it?"
Jason Blood gave an amused chuckle as he approached to my right "Perhaps they are, in their own environment they can be quite the bother I've found from experience, and they certainly can turn up in force during the daylight hours"
"Heh, a sign of our recent victories maybe?" I replied shaking my head, enjoying the faint morning breeze after a disturbed sleep "Making the streets clear for all the paparazzi to come back?"
"Yes, civilization advancing I have been told..." the red haired demon-knight holder replied "...though unfortunately the true bloodsuckers are perhaps behind my disturbing your morning walk"
I gave a snort at that "Walk? Use the excersise machine and get beaten up by Huntress without my powers, can't even go for a jog around a base. Least I got good coffee I suppose..." I sighed "...so, what's the new development? Things seem to be settling down after all"
"Ah, well, perhaps on our side of the tale of two dreadful cities, but there is some concern that...shall we say someone with the taste for blood may have gone through that portal while it was open"
I frowned "That would be a problem"
Jason Blood nodded "And they wish our side to...help clean up our mess as they put it so succinctly. One of these...think tanks...employed by these officials believe it a valid negotiating tactic of some sort. Rather beyond my area of expertise, but it would seem so to me, a power-play as a prelude to true negotiations"
'Yes, well, that's what you get for letting LexCorp and Wayne Industries get involved' I thought, but merely nodded with a faint groan "All very wise and understandable...and, let me guess, I'm being sent back over there now aren't I?"
"Your name did come up my boy, recent activities with the undead and having travelled over to that fair Earth already. Minimising exposure as they say..." he replied looking out into the Bay "...and as much as the idea of shoving your mentor through the portal, with orders to fix the problem, and then locking the gates forever appeals, it seems many people are interested in trade and such things. Frighteningly fast at that"
"Don't I know it, just feels like everyone's falling over themselves to do so...and it's out of character for the other Earth based on their panic to the Last portal to an alternate earth. Still I'm getting paid well for this..." as is the Irish government apparently, winning me big brownie points to be cashed in later "...so, not for me to argue against actually doing my job I suppose"
'It also ties in nicely to my other marching orders. All so convenient' I thought drinking down the last of the coffee. We'd learned our lesson with the Signal Gate on securing the thing, but for some reason there was a push to open it up;- where over in Scotland we were taking a very slow and cautious approach to the benefits and dangers beyond. Something felt...off about the whole situation, but thems were the breaks sometimes, so I sighed and shook my head "So, when we talking about?"
"Undecided, this is more of an informal notification of the matter on my part, and I wish to discuss with you on some of the texts you requested..."
--
[02nd April 2011]
[SHIELD Portal Security Zone, Gotham, New Jersey, United States of America, Earth-16]
"Good patrol?" I queried of Artemis as she and the others returned after a daylight patrol of the city, earning a quick kiss in response as she came over while dusting herself off.
"Clayface isn't a problem anymore, he's nice and secure and on his way to Belle Reve..." she announced cheerfully "...all thanks to yours truly and the amazing Zee! Now, what's for dinner?"
"Nothing if you don't behave. Don't act you're Kid Flash!" I retorted smacking gently at the hand grabbing for the nearly finished food.
"Hey! And I helped to!"
I ignored the complaint of the young speedster who was deployed to Gotham now only because most areas were cleared of the worst parts of the vampire infestation as Zatanna grinned, giving a victory sign "Sure did, felt good being the heroes, because Gotham's..."
"Gotham basically" Artemis replied with a snort, hopping unto the chair just around the counter from me "God, it reminds me why I'm glad Mom got us to leave here. I didn't think it could get worse and yet, somehow, it did!"
"Yeahhhhhh, I'm not going to defend Gotham..." I answered Zatanna's look with a shrug "...they're paying me to be here, otherwise I'd be in the nice comfy magical school, or my sanctum, studying arcane tomes, or just having a nice quiet drink"
"Heroes aren't supposed to get paid for doing good Skulls!"
"And that's why I'm law enforcement, and you're an unpaid vigilante KF. Beyond the great bounty of Tropico for liberating that glorious land of course. Being financially well off lets you do hero-ing to your heart's content, without...well, being poor and a hero. Too many meta-humans, and magic users to an extent, turn to crime for financial reasons after all. So I work for The Man, while Zee's dad there puts on awesome magic shows to pay the bills"
Zatanna huffed at me "Dad does it because he enjoys doing them! Hey, what are you cooking? Something from your home?"
"Hey, you can enjoy your job you know!" I replied adjust the heat on cooker "And it is the ancient Irish recipe of Chicken Tikka Massala"
I rolled my eyes as the magician girl gave me a pout and Artemis gave a laugh "Ignore Skulls and his love of spicy foods Zee, we kicked the bad guys ass, looked awesome doing it, and Gotham, bad as it is, is starting to look like its normal, miserable, self once again, rather than a war-torn hellscape"
"True, you're doing good, so sorry my enchanting working is running a bit behind, work's busy and I've had to send my backup potions back home to the health service since I'm stuck here. So Zee, me and Gemma going to borrow you tomorrow, your Dad allowing, to help me finish off some gear we might need in the next few days..."
--