[01.39: Inter-Dimensional Peddler]

[I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky...]

"It's creepy, like, super-creepy Callum..." Kara complained to me as we flew along over the city of San Francisco, headed towards a bank and the small gold reserves within "...like they know...stuff, not everything's right, but, ugh, Clark would freak out!"

I gave a snort at that, still not entirely comfortable with flight in this life as in the last while using my flight ring to keep pace with the superior flier of the two of us "Imagine Batman?"

She gave a grunt at that as I continued on "As I warned;- multiverse, and you can be famous, freaked me right the hell out when I read a comic with me in it. I've already given them the talk Kara, twice, so they've been good since the second one yesterday. Their just fans..."

"Creepy, creepy stalker fans who know too much!"

"That is also true, but different worlds, different knowledge, different rules, they didn't know you were real and they look up to you" I agreed sadly as I prized information security and secrets, and I hated the knowledge that was out there...in some reality. Fucking unfortunate, and it was almost good I didn't know my True Name, or that my Patron had magically shield His, as knowledge was power and in some realms True Names were as well. A problem for a later date really, but one I'd have to think about should I run into realms more acquainted with a minor character like 'Tim, The Great and Terrible, The Enchanter' from alternate-DC. Hmmm, better bare that in mind in case I run into Orange Lantern or some like that.

"They've seen me naked Callum!?!"

"Oh, for, feck's, sake, Kara!" I muttered as she almost moved to cover herself while flying "They've seen pictures, fake ones, of you in the buff! I'm almost 99% certain they existed on your Earth as well, as they damn well did have to safe-search my own name ever since that thing with Cheshire and Ra's band of merry eco-terrorists. They'll calm down, just give it a few days, they actually are pretty nice people outside of hero-worshiping you"

"Ra's?" she asked curiously and I shrugged as we slowed, 'standing' in mid-air.

"Yeah, peace conference, him and Luthor were having a spat or something. I got well known in Japan and Rhealasia after that, well the South, I'm not sure if the North has anything beyond Party TV"

"Ugh, that place, it's awful!" she muttered back then blinking "Oh, I was big in Japan too!"

"Yeahhhh...not for the same reasons I imagine" I replied shaking my head "Look, if we can get can our salvage while they work on the base we can finally start proper searches for getting you home"

"Oh? Trying to get rid of the little farmer girl now we know all about her?"

I chuckled back at her amusing tone "If you recall I had Quinn to tell about us about that first, some time ago. And I was reasonably sure you wanted off this crazy adventure and back home away from the crazy duo that is me and Quinn?"

She grinned, nodding "Oh, yeah, you betcha buster, can't wait to be free of the dark wizard and the mad scientist!"

Then she sighed "You know you could stay there Callum? Once you get me home...you and Quinn aren't so bad...and I'd, really, really, really, like someone watching Quinn at all times when he Sciences! Things"

"Oh heavens above, hells below, yes, that's why Faralda is watching him right now, and why I've briefed the three Sunnydalers not to do anything important that Quinn says without first extensively testing it, and coming to one of us about it" I agreed gesturing at the ground "And there's our target locations for the day. Bank and those two factories a few miles east"

Kara shook her head again "And here we are, again;- you having me help you rob banks"

"Salvage Kara, remember - Reclamation and Salvage"

Kara rolled her eyes at that "Yes, and no one around to interrupt all your...salvage this time Dark Lord Callum"

I brought my hands together, doing the whole 'Mr. Burns' impression "Excellent Kara, Excellent. Yes, my wicked plans to collect junk and sell it cannot be thwarted where there is no one to thwart it! Muwhahahaha!"

She looked at me, lips quirking in amusement before shaking her head, long blonde somehow doing that whole unnatural resisting the wind thing of hers "It is super-worrying how good a villain look and laugh you can pull off, you know that, right, Callum?"

I shrugged "I've been told, once or twice...Now, lootin' awaits my dear Kara!"

--

{Jonathan Levinson helps fix some robots}

"This is awesomeness..." Jonathan told Brewster and Rose as the three of them sat around various dissembled robots, weird computers, and technical manuals to make them work "...like we're on an alternate dimension Earth working for a Space Wizard, a Mad Scientist, and Supergirl! While getting to hang out with elf and cat-man wizards and work on AI, actual AI robots!"

"Um, Um! Awesome!" Rose agreed nodding as she looked over a technical manual "And from the future, maybe, you see the dates on some of these books? "

"Yes, but I don't recognise some of the old names...so another dimension maybe as well?" Brewster muttered, barely looking up at them. They could have called her Beverly, but she liked being called Brewster...so that's what they'd call her. Jonathan found he got on better with Rose Martinez since they both had lots in common; they both liked comic books, they both thought Supergirl was the awesome, they both like girls, and also, apparently, working on robots too!

"Probably another dimension, remember what they were saying last night during dinner?" Jonathan replied putting the book down and picking up a processing unit "About some 'realms' moving faster or slower than others? Like those boxes over there are from the Empire of Japan and dated 2090, but these are made in the United States in 2076...but are, like, really old. Really, really, old and in need of repairs"

"Come on Jonathan, we're on a Dead Earth..."

"No Zombie takeover at least, thank God" he muttered interrupting Rose who nodded as well.

"Or vampires either" she answered and they all let out a relieved breath. Sure it supposed to be an Empty Earth or something, but a few months without being on 'the menu' was...something they hadn't realised till they'd gotten a good night's sleep in a wizards magically protected military base "...but, yeah, we're on an Empty Earth while our Boss-man and some elves build a Magic Gate between dimensions and time maybe. I think everything stopped making sense soon as we stepped through the Mirror Portal thing"

"I am going to learn that magic from...after the AI robots of course!" Jonathan told the honestly "Cuz I'm a magic guy!"

'Well...going to be' he told himself remember the lesson of the Paragon fiasco, and the boring way life had gone despite the dangerous nature of Sunnydale. The city was funny that way, terribly dangerous, but somehow finding a way to deny you interesting things unless you took risks. Rose chuckled at that "Sure you are Jonathan, now, see this bit here..."

The sooner they got the machines working, the sooner they would have help doing the heavy lifting and cleaning within the base. Oh, they weren't going to have it done today, the Boss Wizard saying he was going to try 'restoring' one of the machines via magic 'to factory settings' so they'd have a 'live' version to work with as well as the manuals. Jonathan really wanted to impress the Boss man and Supergirl, if for different reasons, as dude could fly with her with magic! Now wouldn't that be an awesome spell to know...just whoosh! Up, up and away!

--

{Onmund looks out at the works of Men}

"It is so...warm here" Onmund muttered having stripped off robes of the college and stood in 't-shirt and long shorts' as they were supposed to be called, feeling somewhat ridiculous if not for Breylna being dressed similarly and J'zargo dozing in the shadows of the wall nearby. He took a drink of the local ale...and Divines would it be good to get some good Nord Mead once again...and let out a sigh "After the lands of Sunny Dale this world is sorrowful to see"

"Oh shush, this one at least is not filled with vampires and dremora Onmund!" his Dunmer friend answered cheerfully, almost bouncing over to him as she took another bottle of ale into hand and clearly enjoying the warmth of the evening here "Nor is it the Dwemer ruins filled with deadly automata and other horrors of the darkness underground!"

"A dead world Men build Breylna!" he huffed back gesturing out over the sunlit bay, hulks of great warships against silent city "Much more to learn in a living one that we just left"

She shook her head "Mayhap, mayhap, but we can learn so much here as well, and by talking to our new friends from that place. Or when we get a way to communicate that lasts more than an hour or two at least. And such a great quest, to restore the people of these lands! Why maybe we can solve the mystery of the Dwemer and find a way to...well...err...I think people might get unhappy if they came back"

Onmund chuckled at that, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she went into her embarrassed 'did not think through' pose "That's an understatement, after all Everyone Loved the Dwemer when they were alive"

An elbow to the chest answered that of course, along with an amused 'Hmph!' as the Dunmer girl sat back against the railings on the overlook "Very true, all the writings indicate that..."

She huffed in annoyance at his grinning 'I know' as she took a gulp of the drink in her hand "You are a big dumb book hating Nord sometimes Onmund!"

"Hey! I loved books, especially for a Nord!" he grumbled back as he saw the rest of their 'brave band' emerge slowly from within the confines of the 'base' to begin this 'barbeque' they had spoken of "But not everyone can be the walking library that you are Breylna! Not that you aren't the best walking library ever, and the prettiest...for a Mer of course"

"Oh, of course...says the big sweaty Man" she retorted in amusement rolling her eyes and waving cheerfully at the approaching figure of the, currently colourfully dressed, Callum and the Nord-like Kara. That'd been a shame to find out, that the fair Kara was...Onmund still wasn't overly sure beyond she looked like a Nord, but was a Kyr-something. And could fly, and was stronger than a troll...and shoot magicka beams of fire from her eyes apparently, all while being famous to those of Sunny Dale somehow. Still a beauty yes, but Onmund preferred to be an equal to any woman he might court, not an inferior by so many leagues it would not be funny.

"Yes, I sweat Brey, some of us suffer in this unnatural heat"

"And some of us enjoy this very natural heath...though, does the sun not feel strange to you?"

Onmund nodded "Oh yes, as Callum and Master Gestor explained it is due to Tamriel generating magicka with the sunlight while these worlds have lesser magicka. It is why were are a bit more tired, and why it takes longer to recover our strength from casting our spells. We...um?...soak it up or something to that effect? Those of Sunny Dale do not have as much magicka in their blood as us...I think"

"Oh, I'm going to ask Callum more indepth about that..." his friend muttered taking another drink from her bottle while touching her chin in that worrying 'Breylna is thinking! Oh-oh!' gesture "...as it would be a truly fascinating thesis on..."

Onmund toned out the next few paragraphs as he smelt pork being put to flames, and generally it was hard to follow the rapid-fire 'Breylna-talk' once she got going. All he had to do now was get drunk, while also managing to babysit an evern worse drunk Telvanni mage with a quest in her head to get information...

--

[01.40: The Inter-Dimensional Peddler]

[Drawing on walls with crayons to map the multi-verse...]

Protection was the name of the game with the Rune Gate as I, we, called it, and overall it was a lot less permanent in nature than the one in the College of Winterhold even if as potent defence wise. A simple metal shutter on rollers formed our door, and to the uninitiated the wall and floor covered in squiggles and lines, on both sides, likely looked like the ravings of a madman. In reality it was a layered set of potent defensive and illusion wards set to ward off incursions during transport, as well as hiding the Gate itself from the sight of anyone not us.

'And it's an emergency escape route for the staff too...in short' I mused taking up the red gem, then putting it back down and scribbling a note into my workbook. Establishing emergency bug-out capacity, or simply a way home, for my staff now that I'd be travelling separate from all of them in the future;- just in case I died or was delayed somewhere else. One-way usage basically on a gem-incantation basis of course, and only two links; to Winterhold, and a return to Sunndydale, just in case they fled to Winterhold and needed to go Sunnydale afterwards. Even Phinis, Master Conjuror that he was, didn't quite get the details of Planeswalking as yet, so right now I was failure point that could trap them all here...

'Well, there's Quinn's device, but I think we'll hold off testing that till we're a little better established' I firmly reminded myself tapping the pencil off the notepad and thinking on the sequence to activate the Gate. Of course Quinn's device was likely going to be very different in navigation, based around 'sliding' from one history to another, so it'd be more 'on the chain' than my own potentially. There was also the concern I had of 'too literal' transport where the portal opened up to a fatal destination where my own magic adjusted for that potential ending.

"How goes the preparations?"

I glanced back at Faralda, closing the small notepad with one hand as I turned to face her, nodding at the temporary Rune Gate "Nearly there I think, I'll have to discuss with Phinis, but I expect two days from now we'll initiate a link between the two Gates and we can confirm our findings with Archmage. Eager to return already?"

The elf woman chuckled "Only temporarily, there is so much to report, and your...donation...shall we call it has ensured the College will be secure in coin for many decades to come"

"I prefer to see it as an investment and show of good faith..." I answered with a smile, holding back from voicing any concerns at efforts to take this place from me. Letting them in voluntarily seemed the best method, mutual self-interest at work hopefully, to ensure cooperation rather than conflict, as well as support into the future "...though, it is perhaps more excavating ruins than true trade I suppose"

She chuckled "Perhaps, perhaps, but this empty world is merely the tip of the berg midst the frigid seas I am wont to believe. Truly we are blessed by the Divines in discovering such knowledge...now if they would bless us further in keeping it secret for a time I would be most grateful too"

"Well, sadly I can't help with that, but I'll do what I can with your research and other searches for knowledge, along with acquisition of any rare items I can that might be required by the College"

"That I believe" she replied with amusement "...though the life of the merchant was, nor is, one I would not much desire to follow, magical or not. I have seen the automatons at work, they are impressive"

I nodded rubbing my forehead "Honestly what's impressive is that they managed to do it as quickly as they did to get three of those bots working as well as they did. I'm still learning the basics of the design myself to tell the truth. Quinn, Kara, and the trio are just that good I guess. Now we can get this place into proper order with the robots help"

In part it had been the restoration of the original Mr. Handy that had allowed a 'breakthrough' as the designers seemed to have installed basic repair functions into the line. At least once we, well Quinn, Kara, and the others, had pulled out the technical manuals and started to activate said protocols. Now we had three functional Mr. Handys, though personalities were still 'under construction' from factory safety defaults, and other should hopefully be done by tomorrow or the day after. It was pretty good work for two weeks time and effort; a Rune Gate as well as a maintenance and salvage team.

"That is true, strange automata compared to those of Dwemer design, and they talk...though perhaps more advanced ones of the Dwemer did in times past..." the elf murmured almost to herself before shaking her head and humming faintly a moment "...but that is for those who have study such things in greater depth. For now my goals are merely to ensure the safety of my charges, and Phinis of course, though that task amusing enough currently consists of ensuring a supply of mead and snowberries"

I smiled at that "Not enjoying the heat?"

The elf, wearing a light dress shook her head "I would not have thought I would miss the frozen wastes and snow, but it seems I had grown used to them. Not enough to desire an immediate expended return when so much to learn is in place here, that and there are luxuries here I have grown to enjoy to my surprise. Though I do very much look forward to telling Nirya of my adventures, ones she has been denied...especially after that little going away party of hers I was told of. Simply not being dead shall amuse me when I see her face..."

'Okay, office politics' I thought, trying to listen to the grumbling about some other elf teacher as my stomach grumbled itself to indicate it was time for me to get something to eat. So I put away my notepad in my pocket and tried to convince the elf to complain elsewhere...

--

[Trader's Journal: Day: 280]

[Current Dimension]

Quinn's Home Earth

[Current Location]

Home Base (formerly Benedict Arnold Naval Base), San Francisco, California, former United States of America

[Current Cash Reserves]

500 US Silver Dollars [Quinn's Earth[High Quality]

100 US Silver Dollars [Fallout, United States[High Quality]

480 United States Dollars [Buffy-verse]

1,628 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government, Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled Earth]

[Recent Trades]

None, since we're here and it's been basically salvage and living on reserves – no sales, but gave College of Winterhold 100 Gold Bars.

Returned from Winterhold with:-

6 X Crates of Nord Mead

6 X Crates of Assorted Fresh Vegetables

2 X Small Boxes various herbs, spices, and alchemical agents

1 X Crate of Salted Boar Meat

6 X White Soul Gems

5 X Spell Books [School of Alteration]

[Diary Entry]

Well a surprisingly brief trip back to Winterhold to confirm that, yes, I wasn't bullshitting about what I'd told Savos Aren and Mirabelle Ervine, and the five mages confirmed everything to him. All five been eager to return, and all in secrecy too as they are supposed to 'away on a dig' near Markarth or something. So I think the Archmage was as eager to get them gone, though he happily accepted my 'gift' along with handing over more supplies than I'd asked for. Now that I've proved my sincerity, and ability, we'll be going for a more 'regular' run every month for various trades and reports for the 'scholars on the dig' so I've finished an 'unlock' crystal for just that purpose to activate the spell for short periods should be absent.

It's my, our, first 'active' trade route even if we are keeping very secret about it. Makes monitoring our magic fridge business a little harder, but hardly the end of the world that. But it's good to see as things are finally starting to come together between the robots, the Gate link, and of course an actual routine for our 'staff' here on base. For the moment the excitement of an empty world, along with a few local computer games and simple history has kept Jonathan, Rose, and Brewster enthusiastic but I've also got the training facilities cleaned and reactivated so they can run or play sports as well. Yes, yes, not the sporting types I know, but I think I need to ensure everyone has the ability to stay fit, healthy, and entertained. I'm returning to Sunnydale in three days with one of them, none of them want to go yet so they'll draw straws, to prove my good intentions on that side as well.

Considering it and Mundus are my current recruiting grounds, options to do so at least, proving good intentions and being honourable are vital for an honest merchant like me. I might try the Fallout realm as well, but not right now as between the Mr. Handys up and running, five mages, and three techies, myself, Kara and Quinn have a functioning base right now. Salvage operations have started, on an organised basis, and we've got a rota up for who does what chores when and where. I'll need a lot more to improve things, but for the moment we're still at the design and material listing stage, as well as where to locate our actual base, so I'm moving unto the next stage of operations;

- Finding Kara's home dimension

Or, well, at least trying to make efforts towards finding it as I'm very doubtful it'll be an easy route to find just like that. Quinn's people are after that, but right now establishing a computational database and thorough analysis of what exactly happened is the first step. I should probably consider it a sign of him 'learning' that he's at least willing to listen, though he could be just distracted by the fact the computers and Protectrons are next on the agenda. Basically he finds them fascinating, along with the Dwemer, and that's a 'side-hobby' that takes his mind off the whole banished my world disaster.

With that in mind I'm going to have sit down in a day or so with everyone and work out a plan that takes into account me and Kara 'exploring' forward a little. I'd bring Quinn too, but it's her world and, frankly, I need to keep the base building happening as well – and Quinn, for all his faults, is very, very, smart. Not 'management' inclined, but I can trust Faralda to 'run' the 'ship' so to speak for a short time, and ensure certain restrictions are applied to our resident Mad Scientist. I've started using the Celestial Etherscope to look for a 'path' to a prospective world, and tomorrow we'll fill our packs with trade goods, weapons, supplies and the like and see what we can do. For now I must rest, long, long, few days just past.

--

End; Chapter 01 – The Inter-Dimensional Peddler

Next: Chapter 02 – A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada

--

[02.01: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Taking a stroll down an alley with a broken streetlight in the multi-verse...]

Probing forward from my magically bunkered self within the Rune Gate I found the paths towards where I thought Kara's 'worlds' might be. Something difficult since I didn't exactly know where the DC-verse was due to...well, memory based on agreement with Other-Me and Doctor Fate. Still I probed forward towards a 'superhero' verse as my mind thought of it, carefully following the 'paths' and 'waves' as guided by the Celestial Etherscope and my Amulet of the Planes. I'd spent time doing similar the past two days, and I'd narrowed down the 'bad' results to the current 'less bad' seeming path and now I 'probed' at the cracks in an 'active' verse.

Active in the multi-versal sense, but it was strange too; it seemed a normal, Prime, Earth as I once more invisibly 'gazed' at exit spots as my mortal mind subconsciously sought to minimise the threats and dangers upon step through. The key was not power here, but subtly;- sliding through without notice, 'illusion' and 'silence' the goal as I chose a location in an alley in some city, a mildly well off, but camera-less one. In America I suspected 'feeling' the whispers on the wind as the connect 'oozed' through the cracks in reality, offering no threat, no great display of power.

Gently, 'inch' by metaphorical 'inch', the Door 'opened' as my magic silently crept through the void between dimensions an 'clicked' into place as I opened my eyes. I was still sitting in a meditative pose within the ritual circle before the Rune Gate, and the others were sitting around either looking bored or monitoring me with they own arcane abilities. Before me the arcane and divine sigils 'findings' of Etherscope and my spell casting were display for my senses, though it was hardly the best results; it seemed to be 'Prime' material plane Earth, a regular 20th Century one similar to Quinn's that were on...

...but it was magical active, as much as Other-Me's home dimension had been after the Great Rituals, all meaning someone was using magic on higher levels relatively recently. On the positive it was a realm leaning towards Order, towards Lawful, in alignment terms, though 'conceptually' it was verging towards 'Evil' or the lower planes as the Etherscope 'felt' it. Not good, as in 'Colour' terms of the Planes it was a Darkening Plane, once White, now Dark Gray, slowly turning to Black alongside Red and Blue. A Masquerade world potentially, and I hated those, but, and it was a big but, it was a way through on a 'safer' path than a few other choices as best I could tell.

"Connection made" I informed the others as I struggled up to stand and stretched tired muscles after all the time sitting "So, moving shortly Kara"

"About time, we've been sitting here waiting for ages Callum"

I shrugged at her response glancing at the clock and noting she was right as she put away the book she was reading and stood up "So, what's on the other side?"

Now I sighed giving her a serious look as the others milled about around us "What looks to be a regular Earth, but it's like Sunnydale, or worse, as there is an active magic field, so users, or something big happened. So, we need to stay quiet, investigate around very carefully, and we'll try blend in for a few days and move onto the next Dimension"

"Plans shall continue as intended?" Faralda queried calmly "Though your tone indicates less than joy over the location?"

I took my walking-cane in hand and nodded to her after a moment "Aye, it's a hidden world potential, and I am wary of those..." as several were literal cosmic horrors and eldritch entity level of danger "...I will admit. For now I think myself and Kara will do a quick last minute check on our gear, and then we'll head through. Everyone is clear on emergency procedures should we get delayed or encounter any problems?"

"Yes" was the chorus of agreement from the assembled 'staff' and I smile faintly as I took a bottle of water in hand and took a drink to remove the dryness from my mouth. The spell would last an hour unless I ended it, so I gestured at Kara to do whatever she needed to do so I could cast my Greater Invisibility on us in ten minutes. It was always best to get things done before going through, even just going to the bathroom, as you never know what awaited you within a mile or more of the Door exit. So I followed my own advice, quickly getting to that room and relieving myself before washing up and return to eat a quick sandwich as I probed once more through the Door with a Scry...

--

{A little while after entering through the Magic Mirror}

'Late twentieth century, close to what...well...several lifetimes ago now...would recognise, and close enough to Buffy-land to fit in' I noted as I made sure to come of our invisibility away from people, away from cameras, while casting a 'Detect Thoughts' spell. Only surface thoughts at best, passive, but it was distracting when myself and Kara had manoeuvred out onto the slowly darkening evening street after leaving the pawnbroker with several hundred dollars in local dollars. Certainly enough for a decent hotel room like the one we were now in, along with a dinner downstairs in little while; now that I'd gotten my defences prepared for our short stay here.

"You're not happy about something..." Kara murmured from her bed as I used the Celestrial Etherscope and some very careful scrying to study the local environment "...and you done yet?"

"I'm done, magic defences up..." I replied looking up from my meditation stance. Twice in one day, albeit on different dimensions "...and yeah, something's...off...about this place, just not sure what it is. Anyway, it's a nice enough room, considering paid in cash at the last minute?"

She nodded where she sat on her bed, the local global news networks, CGN apparently it's name I saw with a glance, talking about rising crime rates on the US East Coast "Yes, now you say it...it's certainly better than a tent in the wilderness and snows!"

"Very true, and all the modern amenities too..." I agreed getting back up "...anything interesting on the news since I started? Wasn't really listening when I started focusing on the ritual-work"

"Is...are, well, our home dimensions that odd ones?" she asked curiously gesturing at the television "Without, like, heroes?"

"The cape thing?" I answered and she nodded as I kept going with a shrug "Depends, I'd say yes to the superhero-supervillain setup being the exception to normality...or what counts for normality. This, I'm pretty sure anyway, is a hidden world situation of some sort. Meaning there are powers, or people with powers, about but it's kept hidden"

"Why?"

I shrugged again "Can any number of reasons, but usually it's because you don't want to provoke humanity into fight to the death mode, but in some it's because humanity actively stomps down on such things. Hence why no heroic theatrics if we can avoid it"

She held up her arms, dressed in casual clothes, with illusion brown hair and glasses, all 'nerd look' and made an annoyed huff at me "See, all normal, helpless, civilian, Kara Marshall...and why'd you choose that, oh Callum Harper?"

"Occupational surnames, checked a phone book to be sure..." I answered looking at myself, illusionary me overlaided over my actual me more-so "...and, usually, easier to fall-back on. Smith is a bit too noticeable, but others are not. That and I've fake ID's with those names that easier to adjust to match the local ones, thanks to the fact they have an internet"

'Albeit a less advanced one than the century ahead, and heavily modified, now arcano-tech laptop oh mine I'd got in Cali-world' I mused going over to the window and looking out at the streets as darkness fell, stars hidden by streetlights "Basically, less likely to stand out like a sore thumb in a basic western based civilization environment, though our rings sort of adjust..." I held up my hand "...in other cultures, or for non-human ones with a bit of effort"

"So, what's the plan?"

I pulled the curtains and turned back towards her "Food, then drink in the immediate term, then after a good night's rest we'll do some buying and selling ideally before I start the process of finding the next marker along the trail in some location that isn't here. Oh, and you protect me of course"

Kara gave a very un-girlish snort at that, rolling her eyes "You're perfectly capable of protecting yourself, it's the poor, helpless, villains I have to protect when you go all dark wizard on them"

"Well, that too mayhap..." I replied with a chuckle "...but you're at full strength Kara, so physical goddess"

"Of beauty and super-awesome wit too, and well you remember that magic man!" she told me jokingly, wagging a finger at me "Don't think to be trying anything while sharing a room with a pretty girl like me! Taking advantage of helpless little me!"

"Oh, however shall I resist your charms Girl of Steel?" I replied in a flat tone shaking my head "Ignoring the whole laser eyes and super-strength thing, and invulnerability...why, your practically a helpless damsel in distress. Now, we getting food or what? Since you were hustling me to move only a few minutes ago"

--

[02.02: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Trying to trade in the land of thieves and murderers is less successful than desired]

"It's for Jonathan and the others, have to keep the staff entertained as they say" I said to Kara as she gave me a look as I started loading up the shopping trolley with some local gaming machines along with a few games to go with them. I couldn't exactly buy in bulk, but I didn't need too, and technology seemed to be on better path than had been the case on Other-Me's Earth. Maybe on Kara's too, even if hers had been two or three years ahead 'calendar-wise' than here, and they were cheap; seemed this place the US-China trade thing in place.

"Not for you?"

I shook my head as we pushed along our rapidly filling trolleys. Unloading them into our Trader's Packs would be the hard part, but I'd located a hole in the security cameras in the Mall car-park and some minor illusion over a car should hand that "Nah, I've my entertainments on that Californian laptop oh'mine as you well know. Anyway, I prefer my studying, reading, and science with horizons broadened than games these days"

Kara nodded in thought "Yes...I guess, your setting me up on one of the spare ones"

"Is that a request or a statement?"

I sighed at the glare "Fine, fine, we'll pull out one from the storage later, when we've time, and we'll start setting it up. Why the sudden interest anyway?"

She gestured around the store with one hand "Not magical land, or frozen lands, nor empty buildings...and you've got one, and Quinn. Didn't think about it in Sunnydale, but, Mister Net-surfing reminded me last night of it"

"That is true I'll admit, just...time, security, the usual first" I replied as we approached the bored looking salesperson, who should be a lot more excited at our purchases I felt "Well, Hello my good Sir, and I've several discounts to claim on the..."

Sure it wasted a few minutes, but I did get something knocked off the price with it, after the manager came over and I chatted away in a friendly manner while Kara fake smiled in her 'nerd' persona as she called it. It was a pleasant enough mall, not too large, not too small, but with what looked to be a decent cross-section of local goods. Even if it had required getting a rental car, and a fake driver's licence, to get around; idly I made a mental note to try for a place where that transport wasn't needed, or there was public transport was an option instead.

Pushing the full trolleys out through the Mall, then out into the carpark, we headed over towards the, cheap, rental car waited. I didn't like using mental magics, but subtle pushes were needed sometimes, like now, and I'd certainly given a decent sized deposit just in case...things happened, and the fact the tracking device had been temporarily removed and left at a car-park location miles from here It also served as a nice 'false front' for loading the Trader's Packs as I placed mine into the car's booth as I expanded it out with a word-lock before casting a simple illusion that we were loading the booth, rather than the goods going into the car itself.

'Small things after all, that can be the trouble sometimes' I thought as I closed down the booth with a slam, the Trader's Pack back on back almost invisible "And done!"

"Ugh, about time buster..." Kara not so helpfully told me resting back against the side of the car "...you promised we'd get something to eat an hour ago"

"Yeah, I did..." I apologised looking around, then gesturing at a diner not too far away from the car-park "...we can over there? The one you saw when we were parking?"

That seemed to mollify my blonde...well, currently fake brunette...travelling companion and us two 'students' as our illusionary disguises showed off strolled over to the place at a steady pace. It was a pleasant sunny day after all and I could enjoy it, despite the still reined in concerns over the results of magic thing I felt upon entering this world. Then again...paranoia and being constantly on alert was the 'normal' mode to be in while being in a different dimension, so no point in over-thinking the situation beyond having all my spells ready.

It was a franchise of some sort, even if trying for the 'family restaurant' style, but something simple like burger and chips with a milkshake was quite up my alley in the half-full restaurant. Kara was quiet, reading the paper even after the food arrived and I rested back watching the television in the half-full diner as the US military bombed Iraq over something. I was debating getting dessert, the food being very nice, when Kara started making a sniffing sound and making a face.

"Problem?"

"Something smells...ughh...and it's getting closer"

I sniffed the air, not pick up anything beyond the...

"Uhhh, yeah, I get it now...smells like faeces" I muttered with own slightly enhanced senses getting a whiff...of whatever was causing it. Though a minute or two later the question was answered as...

"Well, here comes trouble" I told Kara watching as a bunch of costumed freaks led by what looked like the Red Skull came in through the along a gust of the filth smell. With a guess from the Clayface like dude coming in behind Red Skull, and already my mind was preparing the needed spells as I carefully withdrew my walking cane in case I needed the spells within. Kara had tensed up, clearly understanding the need to keep cover, and also surprised as this place clearly...

'Why do they have goats with them?' popped into my mind, as the walking cane wielding Red Skull and his fellows came in with a bored looking costumed woman leading two goats on leash while a man dressed in crossword boxes led in a Doberman. I'd almost hoped it was just a bunch of cosplayers...with really fucked up tastes...but that thought was sadly disabused as the 'walking stick' slammed into the head of the pretty little thing serving as the greeter, sending her tumbling back over the desk as gasps and a scream filled the air. I grabbed Kara's hand, looking at her with a firm 'wait' look as Red Skull opened his mouth.

"Look at that brave girl! Coming over to serve little old me, even with my skin condition! Such a loving, caring, girl like that just needs a loving, caring, lover to match her..." he announced happily waving around his, then pointing at the snarling Doberman as I knew our cover was about to get broken "...like Bruno here! And an energetic lover too!"

The cane waved over the restaurant as silence had largely fallen beyond the stunned greeter on the ground, and a few crying children "As for everyone else here! Well, you're all going to die screaming, with prizes for whichever of my crew is the most imaginative in your deaths! Now, since I own the cops you all get to make a call to 911! Let's see how that goes"

"Callum" Kara hissed at me and nodded as...panic took place around us, and a glance showed another pair of costumed lunatics were at the back entrance, and likely another at kitchen one. Clayface, or whatever, needed to go down, smelly or not, as shape-shifters were a problem, and I no idea what powers the others had...even as they just stood there, looking intimating and amused as people rang phones...

...and didn't get the response I'd expected as I noted a squad car outside...well, waving away people and clearly seeing Team Freakazoid inside. I sighed, letting go of Kara and igniting a Greater Invisibility on myself, and then an illusion that remained sitting, and talking, as I stood up "I know, a moment"

Then illusionary me stood up, 'dropping' the 'illusion' on myself from student to white-suited and hat-wearing young man with a walking stick "Ah, this seems to be a problem since I'd rather not die here. I couldn't trouble you to...go bother someone else with your smell?"

Confusion, shock, back from the costumes as Real-Me drew out my gun and ignited a Haste spell as Kara stood up behind Illusion-Me. Red Skull though...crimson glasses seemed to stare at Illusion-Me, then started to laugh, and clap hands after sliding his cane under his trench coat clad arm "Ohh...OHHH! What we have we here? Why's it's been koons age as The Future would say! A Hero? Here, for Me? Bit young there sonny, little pretty lady!"

"I'm no hero, just a humble merchant..." Illusion-Me answered as children, and adults, wept and tried to make some escape around 'Me' and the very clear villains-in-charge "...but you've ruined an otherwise rather pleasant day I must say. So, you were saying about killing everyone here?"

"Oh, yes, YES, YES, YES" okay that was creepy Red Skull replied with trembling excitement, taking his cane back into hand, pointing "And a Hero too! Boys! Gett'em!"

BAAANNNG

BAAANNNNNG

The sounds of the revolver barking filled the enclosed room as two bullets went flying from Real-Me as I threw my, still invisible, walking-cane into Clay-face that smelled of shit even as Kara jumped forward to grab at the other three at the door. Even as she slammed into them, driving Red Skull, Crossword-guy, and Purple-dress-chick out the door my walking cane impacted Clayface just as he started to ooze...

[Maximised[Flesh to Stone]

Though technically it was Organic Matter/Life to Stone I still liked to think of it in its orginal name as it just covered what I like to think of it. Thankfully smelly Clayface was clearly alive, albeit not-human or normal, and not very magically resistant as the spell rapidly turned that grey-black mass into a granite gray mass as I moved into the kitchen as the heads of the two villains behind 'Me' exploded. Illusion-Me walked through the open doorway of the kitchen moments after I strode through, hand out and summoning back my cane just as I did, to the scene of a screaming chef's face being shoved towards the grill.

'My' entrance caught the colourfully clad yet half-naked woman in clown getup by surrise, along with a bored looking gun wielder standing by the kitchen door. Though he was only bored, then surprised, for a moment as the rifle came up to fire at Illusion-Me, along with a knife flung at 'Me' by old clown woman. Real-Me ignored that as Illusion-Me dived behind the shelter of the nearby cookers as I saw two kitchen staff 'hiding' in the cold storage room scream out. The chef was screaming as his face burned, so Real-Me slammed my walking cane into the Clown, staggering her as my revolver barked once again and ended the life of the rifleman, before I smashed the back of Clown's head, grabbing the shrieking Chef. Moments later the duo had changed places as the Clown's face slammed head first into the grill as I pulled the Chef out of the way.

A quick healing spell, and unconsciousness, ended the screams of the chef, and the Clown bitch was either dead or out cold as I turned around and moved quickly out to help Kara. I couldn't exactly afford to linger, and both Real and Illusion 'Me' came out of the doorway to find Kara knock out...oh, a Poison Ivy like power...the purple clad women with the other two knocked out at her feet. People were running screaming out of the restaurant...I shot the Doberman and the Red Skull wannabe as I walked by to ensure the peoples safety before coming up to Kara.

"Grab her, and I'll grab him..."

"Callum you killed them, him, he was...we could..."

I ignored her shocked shout as I grabbed Crossword-guy "Grab her, we're leaving and need questions answered!"

She glared at 'Me' before doing just as 'I' asked "Don't think this is over Buster!"

I again ignored her righteous anger, wiping off the filth from the end of my walking-cane and then teleporting us to an abandoned warehouse several miles from here...

--

[02.03: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Winner takes all...including all the problems of that winning...]

'Now, such a strange combination of emotions; happiness, rage, and concern all rolled into one' Solomon Seltzer, The Professor, considered looking down at the corpse, the headless, horrible burned, corpse of Mr. Rictus then around the currently blocked off car-park of the shopping mall frowning. It was excellent news in so many ways, that freak was dead, but...yet again Rictus had managed to sneak into his territory without him noticing in the run up to a Meeting, and worse, been killed by parties unknown on his territory.

"Inside?"

Brain-Box, clad in an illusion of a normal human being replied to his query, voice still unnecessarily robotic despite all the years to learn how to speak like a human being "Johnny Two-Dicks, The Frightener and The Mad March Hare all eliminated with similar unknown projective weaponary. Shithead currently quantum locked in rock substrata, presumed eliminated. Striperella currently unconscious, critical condition, currently suffering from multiple severe burns, lacerations, and broken bones. The Puzzler and Deadly Nightshade also present during confrontation, believed captured and taken to unknown location, for unknown reasons"

Solomon nodded gesturing at the android "Continue your observations, prepare a detailed report..." then at the The Imp "...Imp? Thoughts?"

"Magic Sollie-boy! Magic, ooohhh I can feel it!" the powerful little horror replied running around 'driving' a tiny little child's car "Know No More, Dark and Shiny, but gone and hidden. Won't come out to play, not like me!"

"You may go then, thank you for your help Imp" he replied politely the trans-dimensional dwarf and his 'car' dashed forward, beeping before vanishing off into...a school from the looks of it. Thankfully Imp was more pranks, albeit occasionally fatal ones, but ever since they'd taken down Fallout and the Justice Alliance all those years ago the creature was positively mellow in his behaviour. So, a magic-user most likely and another with super-strength and durability...

"Hard to believe he's dead" Fox muttered to his side, and Solomon nodded, hand coming to his chin as he fell into a thinking pose as he thought of it. Young Wesley, Killer 2.0 waited nearby along Fuckwit, like himself all dressed nice and formal in case any footage leaked. Yes they had The Cover maintained, but he'd made sure Costumes weren't worn outside of Events for the simple reason of not having to spend a small fortune on covering up everyone's fuckups. Such as Rictus's 'fun little jaunts' as he'd called them when he'd try get in unescorted into North America...and now end up dead in some middle of nowhere mall dinner of all places.

"Yes my dear Fox, it is..." Solomon replied calmly, in a jovial tone "...not that we shall weep over it much, but he was a member of the Five, and we swore not to turn upon one another. And to do it in my territory? I wonder who would be so bold"

Fox blinked then smirked "Don't think it were a hero like on the cameras?"

Solomon shook his head "Hardly, Rictus always got such delusions that one would return if he just kept repeating the orphan thing, and this just set him off. No, this was someone's legacy out and about and ran into trouble, or, worse, a planned hit...though that is debateable as this was likely a random choice of Rictus, correct?"

"That's how he was Boss..." the woman answered with a shrug "...could decide hit a mall, hit a bank, hit a...nursery...on the flip of a coin, or just the sight of dog. You...never knew what he'd do next, and setting up inside like this? Don't seem right, tell ya the truth"

"Yes, unfortunately" Solomon replied with a sigh, unhappy how this was going to destabilise everything within the Fraternity, with Rictus's former assets and territory up for grabs and gang in the wind. Not only that but the suspicion would fall on himself of course, especially with The Emperor increasingly siding with the mad...formerly mad now, secret ruler of Australia. Things looked ever so convenient with his recruitment of Killer's legacy, and now the fall of his main rival...this was take so much time way from his scientific studies now wasn't it?

He flipped open a secure phone, and two button presses brought up the required desk "This is Seltzer, I want a full SIU team deployed to my location immediately. I want Special Agent Tiberius as Case lead, expect unknown magic-user, most likely demonic support or influence based on analysis of bodies. It's one of the Five, I want everything documented and ready for presentation to me and the others yesterday. Utmost secrecy is to be maintained"

"Saint? Ugh, really?" came from Fox as he clicked the phone shut after an immediate confirmation from the head of Special Investigation Unit of the FBI "Why not..."

"Keep it quiet?" he gave her a look of mild reproach "Now, Fox, its Rictus, and we have precious few actual detectives and investigators, especially of the magical variety. This needs to be done, even if only to avoid outright conflict with the other Families by providing a fig-leaf of our innocence. Even if we are innocent surprisingly enough, to my deep displeasure...and Tiberius, for all his faults, won't exactly sugar-coat whatever he finds and he'll do as his told as well. After all we can hardly restore the memories of your old friend Detective Dark and have him investigate the case now can we?"

'It is why we keep alive some incorruptible police detectives in the Enclaves, but you're all too stupid to see that at times' he didn't say, though Saint Tiberius was far from incorruptible, or even a proper police officer before the Revolution. Technically Agent Tiberius been a 'Hero', though that was only if one ignored the body count and stretched the term rather significantly, but he, like a handful of others given the chance before everything changed, had been too useful to not keep around.

After all, they taken over the world and Solomon certainly wasn't going to lose it to demons or other such in the aftermath, and the Special Agent had dealt with Yondan quite successfully when that idiot calling himself a sorcerer had tried to summon Trigon to their realm. All for the low-low cost of handing over Mystichick, Mistress of Magic...or, well, the woman who'd once been Mystichick and was now merely an actual stage magician...to the Scottish magical menace. Such affection was a weakness, and he'd served as an effective warden to the mind-wiped Justice Alliance magician for near two decades now as well, early fears aside.

Fox left out a huff "Fine, fine, you're the Boss, Professor"

"Yes, I do believe I am Fox" he replied drolly "Now, I do believe our agents should be collecting all the civilians from the incident, so I want you to ensure that they are all given hallucinogens..."

She pouted at him and he merely looked at her coldly "Alive, and drugged Fox, not dead. Yes, you enjoy your murder I know, but it takes up too much time to cover up. I'm still rather irked over that Police station that young Wesley massacred and all the paperwork that resulted. These people all ate contaminated food, and are possibly infectious according to the new reports tonight. Till we know more, we say nothing on this, if you and our Killer want to let off some steam there are some gangs over by the Bay that need some reminding of margins they owe"

"Yes Boss!" she 'saluted' back and strutted off while Solomon returned to dealing with the fallout of this situation and how to gather up the remains of Rictus's operations without appearing to confirm suspicions of eliminating the lunatic. This was just going to take away so much time from his science time was the primary thought in his mind though...

--

{Meanwhile, in a warehouse many miles away...}

"Sleep" I commanded and empty eyed woman calling herself 'The Deadly Nightshade' feel back into unconsciousness inside the binding circle. Her companion 'The Puzzler' was likewise bound and unconscious, along with fitted with ad-hoc bomb collars I'd kludged together with some grenades and California-world remote. Kara looked mildly sick...or more so about to throw up, and I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small canteen and took a slug of the whiskey inside, then offered it to Kara "Drink?"

She shook her head furiously, staring at the ground as she sat on the plastic folding chair and I sighed after taking another slug, before putting the metal flask away "Yeah, that's about my reaction to this whole fucked up situation. Huzzah! We've discovered a supervillain run world and I'm after off one of the head honchos...oh, and they've got multi-versal technology as well. Joy, just...joy"

"What do we do now?"

I rest back against the wall near her as she looked at me "We can't allow this! We need to do...something!"

"Well..." I replied jerking my thumb at the demonic duo current bound and unconscious "...first things first I plan to get everything I can out of those two, and then execute them and dump their bodies in a dumpster somewhere, then relocate somewhere not here"

Kara let out a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose "Callum...you can't just execute the bad guys! I'm...look the fight, I...understand, maybe, but, their...like...prisoners and..."

I let out a loud sigh point at the supervillains, the old, in power, supervillains "I can't hold them indefinitely Kara, and, apparently, they run the government so we're the criminals right. We're the ones going to have to hide from The Law till I can be fully sure they can't track us planeswalking out of here. I am not talking about doing this for shits and giggles...Kara, you heard them..."

She wasn't looking at me, looking at the dirty floor again, voice a whisper "Yeah...yeah...they, God their sick...I never thought...but we have too...try Callum"

I frowned, nodding as I folded arms across my chest and gazed at the two enemies needing to be dealt within an hour or two at most "Aye, I know, but...I dunno what. I can let them go, and they'll kill, and get no punishment...I know you want to stop me but...Shrouded Lord above Kara I dunno, I really don't"

"You can...mind wipey them?" she replied wiggling her fingers "Do your magic thing? It's not like they know anything? Please Callum...please, for me"

I let out a shaking breath, closing my eyes...then opening them, bad idea or not. I could scramble their brains well enough, but it wasn't a solution, not really "Fine...I'll do it your way...for now Kara, but you have to understand..."

"I do, I really do" she answered taking a breath "...and I...understand, what happened I mean. Now, we need to grab some heroes, local ones, and plan our next move. Ones they wouldn't notice, not for a while"

"And how do we do that?" I asked spreading my hands and Kara gestured at the deathly duo as she stood up, looking at me in the eye now.

"We ask them, then we find out if you can free the heroes with your magic and stuff, and we see what we can do"

'Maybe...it might cause distractions at least, or give us allies or meat-shields I guess' I admitted to myself, before giving a tight nod. Information was the key now, even if likely deeply flawed and out of date "They lost before and it's...been a long time from the sounds of it"

The Superhero Genocide they called it...

'Though let's be honest they seemed to have kept most alive strangely enough and kept them somewhat off-limits too...I wonder why?'

I mused trying to understand the details of a global level magic and science-based reality re-write. Frankly, it was impressive...and also a very good, solid, sign that 'Fight the System' was not an option despite what Kara seemed to half-think. This world had a larger Justice League than my own, with multiple 'side-kick' and 'associate' teams...and they'd gone done when the villains had rallied together as the 'Justice Alliance' got too successful and the criminals seemingly use prison time to organise a mass counter-strike when they all got out.

'Lesson Learned; don't lock them up together and allow them plotting time. Also, kill the most dangerous ones like Waller wanted' I thought further as Kara reached out a hand to me and I took it, allowing her to pull out of my slouching posture and look back at the idiot monsters. Right, need to get the name, or names, of former heroes that either weren't under watch, or would just be easily missed...then I was going to strip these two down, scramble their memories, cover'em in booze, and throw them into a bed somewhere together. That'd certainly get them into trouble with their bosses without me...directly...killing them wouldn't it?

--

[02.04: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Trying to be a hero, when it's just you and the token evil teammate...]

'Deep breaths Kara, deep breaths' Kara Zor-El told herself watching her companion...stripped the two villains they had captured naked "Callum...what are you doing?"

Callum continued his faint hummed, not even looking up as he pulled off the pants of 'The Puzzler' and Kara looked away, trying not to blush "Well Kara, I am ensuring our two friends here look like they got completely wasted and then...well, let's call it a Victory Celebration, yeah let's go with that...afterwards in a hotel room under fake identities"

'Look at paintings Kara, look at the pretty pictures. La La La, this isn't happening' repeated in her head as mentally noted that this part of the adventure was not getting told to Kal-El, nope, not in the least as Callum moved unto the 'Deadly Nightshade' now the ugly criminal man was...

"But why are they naked?"

"Duh, they got drunk and shagged, get with the programme Kara!" he replied in a 'isn't it obvious?' tone as he tore off the woman's dress "Gods, this one did not age well...anyway, bit of booze, bit of arrangement..."

"This is our room Callum, where we slept!"

Which was all sorts of...ick, making it look like, well, this...

"Yep, that's why we pushed the beds together...and head goes here, so let's have a look at the phone..." he mumbled as he rearranged the snorting 'couple' as Kara turned away trying to hide the fact her face had to...sweet Rao what had she stepped into "...nope, nope...oh yeah, that's the number. Now, my dear we leaving soon as I press 'Fuck you Ex!' so he gets his phone-call, so we're going silent, mind talk, and invisible so you can fly us out the window like we planned"

Kara whirled...then immediately turned around 'Gods sake Callum!' in mind "What?"

The hotel room had been 'cleaned' as Callum called it before he started 'arranging the scene' as he called it, though now it looked like a frat party had hit home, broken mirrors and clothes strewn about carelessly. What the two had told them...was beyond horrifying, beyond any nightmare could have expected. The Villains had Taken Over the world, wiped everyone's memories, and now just went around doing monstrous things with no one to stop them. She...had to stop them...but the how was beyond her right now, but...but...what if that was her, or Kal, or Barbara years in the future?

...someone had to fight, right?

'Can you hear me?' Callum's voiced came...weirdly distorted to her, but she glanced and saw he hadn't spoken, only realising as she started to reply, before cutting off and talking like he was Martian Manhunter.

'You can do that?'

Callum winced coming back over to her 'With effort, and willingly with you. Magic, and now I'm going to make us invisible and well fly out the balcony and I'll Mage Hand a phone call as we do'

She nodded after a moment looking out to the darkening evening beyond the open balcony doors 'We need to move fast I'm guessing?'

'Yeah, I'll cast flight after invisibility and...'

'You're too slow for that Callum' Kara resisted rolling her eyes, instead striding over to him and scooping him up into a bridal carry despite his silent, huffing, protests 'I'll fly us, sooner we get away from the naked people the happier I'll be'

'Put me down!'

'You're too slow-flying, so stop whining, magic-magic, we fly away' she retorted easily overpowering his momentary struggle before he let out an annoyed sigh, muttering whatever his magic words and turned them both invisible, arm going around her neck and shoulders. Unlike a few others, she could name he merely gave her a disgruntled look while allowing her to manhandle him while hovering off the ground, then looked behind her waving his hand in the air as she hovered out the balcony into the air 'Done?'

He nodded 'Done, time to fly'

'Hold on tight then! Just no groping or I drop you...' she told him cheerfully then hurtling forward, though he merely wrapped his arms around her and didn't freak as one or two had with her in the past, or try the whole *cop a feel* that some of those she rescued thought was a good idea with a superpowered girl '...just let the little blonde girl do all the hard work!'

'I can fly myself you know'

She grinned at his mental grumble as miles surged by below in a blink as he gripped her carefully, all respectful like 'Slowly Callum, you want to go fast, then it's this flying girl! Or would you prefer my big musclely cousin? Most boys would love to get a carry with this beauty here ya'know?"

'Shut up and enjoy the flight, eh?'

Kara smirked at the mild irritation in that mental reply, desperately trying to think about anything else other than the state of this horrible, horrible, earth and whatever they had to do next 'Uh-huh, you betcha. Now enjoy your flight on Supergirl Airways, while we rescue one of these heroines and...'

Callum's voice was firm in her head 'No, first we recruit us some minions'

'Minions?' she queried as buildings flew past, dodging a helicopter 'And where are we going to get those now?'

'Oh, I know a place...'

--

{You're in the Army now, oh-ohhhh you're in the Army now...}

'This a morgue Callum' she stated silently as she watched the Coroner fall asleep over his notes as they, invisibly, walked into the large, disinfectant and death smelling room as her friend did something to the computer before him 'Why are we in a morgue?'

'Morgue, recruiting station, po-tato, po-tahto' he responded with coming away from the computers, looking around at the cameras, then back at the computer screen after waving about a cup about, the weird outline of him nodding to himself 'And there's one thing sorted, Mr. Jones and his assitant here were basically dumping the bodies anyway...seems the Fraternity as their called killed some gang members I think. Or at least the whole, ignore and dispose of bodies indicates that...'

'Is there nothing in this world decent and right' Kara thought back, biting down a growl '...and how they be allowed to let it stand! Why do people put up with it?'

Callum shrugged as they hovered silently into the morgue, him looking around and waving a hand about for some reason as she X-Ray looked for any hidden cameras or recording devices 'It's a pretty well run Earth by and large, once you ignore the occasional horror show. So I'd assume good information control, since we've heard nothing about our little stunt, along with most people not caring as long as they, themselves, are left alone by them. Truth be told their shocking competent and disciplined, staying hidden like this I mean, for super-villains. This Rictus and crew wanting to go GrimDerp aside'

...and that was the truly terrible and horrifying part to Kara, to Supergirl. The villains had won...and then somehow made the work *work* despite being monstrous villains, and that was the worst part, even after what they'd do to Heroes, heroes like her. She always believed that Good would out, that people wouldn't put up with such Evil...but they had...

'You don't think we can win do you Callum?'

He looked back at her sadly, and then shrugged 'Overthrow a global shadow government made up of super-powered criminals? Very unlikely Kara let's be honest, and very likely it'd make things worse I'd imagine, but we need to leave to here, and I don't know the extent of their Planes-walking tech...so we need to figure that out, and then do some damage. Right now...we're the Supervillians, hiding out from the Law and Rightful Authority, but we have to fight, so fight we shall'

The air grew cold around...wrong...

'And to fight a war we need soldiers...' he continued as Kara saw unnerving symbols, black and silver, shuddering the air as he raised his hand, scrolls unfurling from both, before catching fire in black flame as sot, menacing words she didn't understand fell out of his mouth "...and soldiers we shall have! Rise now my servants! Rise and come forth to strike down my foes! Rise and walk once again! Rise and Rage Against those that killed you! RISE!'

'Yes Kara, you're totally the Good Guys when you raise undead minions and talk about making war on the government'

'I can totally hear you ya'know?' came back moments later into her mind after she'd apparently thought that thought at her dead-raising friend as the metal boxes containing the bodies clicked opened, the air growing chill and oppressive as the nearest body, a Latino boy that the coroner had been working on sat up on his slab. Merely the first as soft, guttural, groans filled the air as dead men and women began to claw and crawl their way out off their gurneys 'And, Kara, to tell the truth were the Gray in the Gray versus Black right now'

'You're only missing the supervillain evil laugh you know!' she growled back mentally and she heard his laugh, amusement despite the dire circumstances.

'That can be arranged since the room's sound proof!' he teased back, somehow lightening her mood and stress despite worrying her more somehow as he raised his arms, cane in one hand "Rise my minions! Rise! To Rack and Ruin, and this Worlds Ending! Muhahahahahahaha!"

Kara pinched the bridge of her nose "I hate you, you know that, I really, like, super hate you right now!"

"Come Supergirl!" he replied cheerfully as the dead rose, kneeling around them as if they were kings or something to the mindless, horrid smelling, things "We get to cosplay! I'll be Lex, and you be Mercy, and these are our disposable minions who I've body armour and guns to equip with! Let the Games begin!"

'Deep breaths Kara, deep breaths...' she told herself staring '...you are still the heroes. Somehow...Relatively speaking...'

--

[02.05: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Some call it kidnapping, some might call it a rescue...I call it Team Building!]

It'd taken two days, of raiding a morgue, hiding from authorities, and preparing my undead soldiers for the tasks ahead. As much I'd have liked to strike immediately, especially as it seemed chaos had followed in the wake of where we'd left the villainous duo judging by 'mass hallucination outbreak' according to the news. Sadly the secret lair was an old run down warehouse in Detriot, but, eh...better than nothing I reminded myself as I looked through the binoculars, through undead eyes, at the run down old Convent across the way.

Switching my sight to the crows nearby I saw much of the same, and nothing overly suspicious beyond gang crime and a few kids getting drunk or high. Opening my eyes, my real ones, I stood up and stretched a moment as my armed and armoured undead soldiers looked on silently. Kara was playing tech support, laptop plugged into local network through several relays I'd laid out on our flight, all while trying to ignore the undead minions I'd summoned these past two days. It was actually kind of impressive that she was able to block it, and allow me plan out my operations while keeping up the 'superhero' attitude.

"All looks clear from my look around" I announced as she glanced at me from her seat on the second hand leather office chair "How about the cameras?"

"You're all clear, and I can't hear anything either. Going ahead...at long last?"

I gave her a look "It's called planning Kara, we're the Bad Guys now, we have to do that along with casing the joint"

"It's a Convent Callum, filled with maybe six people, hours of plotting seems overkill"

"That's Father Byrne to you my dear" I replied adjusting my clothes and pulling a white band across as the collar to complete the look by shifting my accent a little with a cantrip. Minor illusions and clothes were enough to do things after all, and with the resources available to our enemies I didn't want to give any magical trails to follow "Now, I must go gather a wayward member of my flock"

She just rolled her eyes at me "Do have you have to be so dramatic?"

"Yes, now let me have my fun" I answered with a smile, then returned to my serious 'old priest' look as I fitted the earplug and kept it hidden "Now, keep watch and I'll go claim Sister Magdalena after I complete my little walkabout"

Kara gave me a thumbs up, and I strolled out into the darkness of the abandoned factory, descending into a tunnel that went under the car-park, then a very careful invisible walk into the active car-park several hundred metres down the street. I disliked stealing cars, but we'd needed one, and I'd gotten one, and with a simple spell the licence plate wasn't being looked for so I drove out of the car-park towards the convent at nice, sedate, steady pace. Setting up the scenario hadn't taken too much effort, just some calls to the hospital, a few phone line hacks by my super-powered tech-expert...and boom, making the target come to us.

Despite that all my defences were up, forcing myself to stay calm and focused, as I drove into the driveway of the battered old building, then exiting a quick look through the crows hovering around the neighbourhood. It seemed both the Puzzler and the Deadly Nightshade had been correct that nobody bothered watching the heroes anymore, other than for amusement. At least I hoped so, and why I'd gone for the extra effort of looking up what Sister Magdalena did as routine – and vanishing off to hospital or a hospice for days on end wasn't uncommon.

This had been out of the blue of course, but the old head sister hadn't been surprised in the least it had seemed, nor was the greeting at the door surprised either. Just a simple welcome, almost refusal to let me in beyond the back kitchen I'd entered, as the Target came forward with a small suitcase, dressed in her habit and old fashioned nun's dress. An old-fashioned, dying, Convent really...and bitterly ironic as best I could tell due to the nature of what Sister Magdalena had once been. I wasn't sure it was cruel or brilliant...or just an 'out of sight, out of mind' sort of thing as it'd taken some memory jogging for either of the villains to remember the Crimson Crow of a group calling themselves Justice Friends.

"Relax Sister, a drink? It is long drive"

"Thank you Father...I've needed the chance to rest..." the nervous woman in her early thirties, Sister Magdalena, murmured to me as we drove out and I handed her a bottle of water and she took a sip "...and I feared...that...it might be much longer before they would let me attend another session"

"Do not fear Sister, have you been troubled these past days?"

She shook her head after taking a drink, resealing the lid and placing it on the ground as I started to drive out of the driveway "No more than usual Father, thank you for asking. The aches never quite fade, neither here nor at Saint Augustus's...punishment for my misspent young I know...but it sorrows me that I cannot help the others more due to my frail health"

'Well, that would-be the effect of putting a tiefling sorceress, cambion I think, in a Convent dedicated to all the things her past self opposed' I thought but did not say as she stifled a little yawn and I nodded "I understand Sister, I'm sure He will forgive you, being as He is. Tired?"

"Yes...I..."

I smiled gently as she yawned again, and I nodded to her "It is perfectly find, just sit back and rest Sister, as I said it is a long journey after all"

Almost drunkenly she nodded, eyes closing as he yawned again, head falling back again at the headrest of the seat she sat in "Oh...yes...thank...you...I..."

Then she was out like a light, head lolling to the side as the drug took effect and I drove around the block to confirm I wasn't followed before parking the car at another carpark from where I'd started. Puppeteering her unconscious body was a little more awkward, almost like two drunks walking home according to the simple illusion I cast over us, but into an alleyway 'to make out' as it looked like...before after about five minutes we melted into the shadows and were teleported back into the chalk ritual circle within mine and Kara's 'villain lair'.

"Still clear?"

Kara nodded looking at the computer screens covered with boxes filled with camera-feeds "We're still clear, and I don't hear anything beyond the normal"

"Good, I'll get her secured and try dispel the...whatever I can feel on her...then wake her up"

My friend shook her head as I brought the unconscious woman over to a heavy wooden chair within a larger ritual circle and started to bind her too it "I still don't see why your tying her up...she's a hero Callum!"

"Was a hero, emphasis on the Was" I replied firmly taking out a shock collar and placing it under the habit against the woman's neck "Whose been through the Boss only knows what suffering since being defeated...seventeen years ago? I think? Maybe twenty...and we don't know how she'll react when she wakes up to that fact she just lived another life...also magic-user, best to be safe than sorry in case she send up a flare by accident and out enemies come looking for us"

Kara was too optimistic about all this I could tell...just undo the spell and 'Bang! Hero!' while I very much suspected it'd be far from that easy. Lashing out in anger or fear was the likely result, at the very best, and magic-user lashing out...would be bad. So every precaution was to be taken, and this one of our best options for finding out what happened all those years ago on this world...along with some more information on enemy weaknesses.

Ideally she'd be able to add her strength to ours, but right now I needed to pin down how to access the enemy, then damage, the enemy's multi-versal transport tech. That and...it wasn't a simple snap my fingers and the spell was undone. Whatever the Fraternity, as they called themselves, had done was...honestly quite beautiful as a fusion of the arcane, psionics, and science that worked on multiple levels. So allowed my disguise to drop and began to carefully probe the casting...starting with cutting her off...well, the circle...from the 'dimension' itself...

'Well, well, well...isn't that fascinating' I noted feeling...a sudden flare, almost a faint shimmer of light around the woman the second the magic circle activated and acted like a magical faraday cage. For a moment her body...her aura...seemed brighter...yet darker...

'Demon blood, duh, inactive for so long' I reminded myself as the nun's breathing quickened, body shaking and shuddering as I undid the 'straps' and 'binds' that existed on her mind and soul. Carefully I pushed forward with my arcane senses, Kara looking on with concern as the former heroine turned nun shuddered and shook, skin starting to go almost snow...or chalk...white in colour, and unnatural shade as she gasped, unconscious eyes opening and flaring a blood red. Then she woke, still the same...yet different, the aura burning as her body shimmer brighter against the dull, dreariness of this world somehow. For a moment she came to rest, blinking at me, then at Kara as her face scrunched up in confusion...then realisation. That wasn't good now was it?

No, not just that. Horror. Pain. Shock...

The Crimson Crow as the teenage sorceress had been known once, and Sister Magdalena as she had been known till lately, reared back in her bonds and screamed...

'And that's why we're soundproofed' I thought with a wince as the wail of despair went on and on, like the howl of an animal in agony. Thankfully she wasn't reaching out with her magic, and I gestured at Kara to stay where she sat as I carefully approached the bawling and wailing woman, bringing my hands to rest on her shoulders "Hey, hey...can you hear me?"

The wail died, though the shaking didn't, nor the tears streaming down that pale unnaturally white face...bright crimson eyes locking unto me as whimpering sobs came out instead of words from her mouth. I squeezed gently locking my eyes unto hers, trying to be commanding and calming without pressing in my magic "I am Callum, you are..."

"I'm...I'm...ohhh...God what they did...oh...I'm...I'm...how could they? I..." came back she a shudder went through the woman as she stared at me "...I...I...am...Deborah..." it was almost like she was fighting something, gritting her teeth as words were forced out "...Dephi...Sister Magdalena...the Crimson Crow...I AM DEBORAH DELPHI, THE CRIMSON CROW!"

I nodded gently rubbing her shoulders as she stared at me, tears streaming almost imploring me and I nodded kindly, smiling back and taking on a kind tone as best I could "Yes, yes you are. It is a pleasure to meet you Deborah, even if the circumstances are less than desired. Now, would like to make those who did this to you suffer? Would you like to make a deal?"

--

[02.06: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Building a crack team of the mentally damaged and broken to Fight da Powah!]

Deborah Delphi sat in the meditation circle, legs aching at the unfamiliar hovering lotus position...a tear sliding down her cheek that such a thing was the case. Every day she'd done this when she was with the Justice Youth Brigade...every day, and now her everything protested at it, like hazy memories floating away on a sea of misery and horror. Of what they'd done to her when they'd taken her down...the hands, the faces...her screams...oh Father in Heaven her own screams...

'NO!' she commanded herself, drawing upon long forgotten strength. She had not been a Christian, NEVER been, till they had rewritten her life into the antithesis of what she had been, of what she had wanted to be as...a youth...

All those years taken away, gone...like that...lived in a cruel mirage, one that part of her, even now, feared abandoning and returning to what she had been. Or even returning to a shadow of the girl she had once been, of the hero that she striven to be with her friends...friends...

Now that had been the bitterest part now, to know...to see what they had become, what been *done* to them, one and all. Kid Raven, goddess he'd been so brave, so...she'd been jealous of Stellar Flare ending up with him, even if she'd hidden it so well...and now, now they'd been separated forever. Barry was a washed up actor, and S'tella...she held back the tears, the pain. Putting such a warm, kind, girl as her in a mental asylum? Bastards...absolute, utter, bastards who were going to get *EXACTLY* what *THEY HAD COMING* when she was through with them.

'Calm, I am the Eye of the Storm. I Master my Emotions, they Do Not Master Me' repeated the almost forgotten manta forcing herself calm, and carefully...despite the ache, the need to just wield them...gathering magic to her hands, forming it into a ball of darkness. Just to prove she *could* control it, that she was still the Crimson Crow, that what they had done to her...would be punished, would be made right...not break her, not drive her into a grovelling whimpering ball of terror. Power was hers to wield, and she would prove that here and now, altering her clothes in ones she had once called hers, head hooded with crimson eyes opening and gazing at the Man in White.

"Well...you are sane, and you're in control, all positives" her new...Ally?...Controller?...murmured as he sat in his seat, undead minions standing off at the edge of her awareness. The blond girl, Kara, with super strength and durability most likely looking on awkwardly from nearby...both were so...so young. So very young, like she'd been when the blows had knocked her down, knocked her out...and she'd woken up another girl, locked away and powerless while her old foes mocked and tormented her without her ever realising. But the boy...man...had dangerous eyes, cold ones, and his words were what she wanted to hear. Blood for blood, vengeance for what had been taken...

Deborah let out a steadying breath "Yes, thank you Sir..." Goddess she couldn't help but grovel, dammit "...I am handling it as best I can. I thank you, sincerely, from the very depths of my soul, for restoring me, for giving back my memories. Whatever you command I shall obey but...but..."

She let out the breath "...I fear not all will be so able upon recovery, even now I struggle with myself, with my memories. Nor will breaking the Binding be as easy I fear with those not of cursed or magical bloodlines. I...imagine...my...freedom was due to this?"

The white suited boy smiled gently at her, then nodded "A little I admit, though another part was avoiding the notice of The Fraternity based on interrogating two of their members. Having seen the spell-work...breaking the Enchantment on a global level is beyond me, beyond a group of me, outside of an individual. I suspect..."

"My friends you mean..." she managed to get out seeing what came next, voice hoarse and dry from all the weeping that first hour "...I...I..."

God...NO! NO!...Goddess it was so hard. Breathe Deborah, breathe "I understand that rescuing them is impossible as matters stand. Nor...beyond S'tella, she needs rescue, and her power would be of use I swear, and...would not be noticed absent the asylum you have stated she is in"

Strange, here she was arguing for S'tella after all these years. The more things change, the more they stay the same she supposed...

White Suit, Callum he'd told her his name was, sighed, then nodded "I'll admit she was one I had considered as an alternate to you at first..."

"Callum, stop being so callous to her!" the girl, Kara, dressed in odd looking armour hissed at her friend and giving Deborah an apologetic look "I'm sorry...he, well, gets like this"

Deborah shook her head "It is...okay, in...what, such horrors can ever be...O-Kay. Time will be against us...who you should recruit...Mystichick or Professor Providence?"

Her new ally...master...shook his head "The Professor is long banished apparently, and Mystichick is watched and guarded at all times by a Saint Tiberius"

She blinked at that "Tiberius, but he was...not a villain...he wouldn't...she and he were..."

The boy in the suit shrugged "I don't know, apparently he was recruited, possibly one or two others, so, yeah, we're hiding from him along with the rest of the evil villain world running conspiracy's super-powered members. So no going after his wife if we want to stay hidden, No, honestly I want a teleporter ideally, speedster maybe too, and very much people we can use on a hit and run strategy, your friend, abilities?"

"Flight, super-strength, a personal force-field, energy blasts fuelled by emotion..." it was strange how it was easier to fall back into old routines that have to think, to see S'tella as she as had been, to pretend the boy before her was Kid Ravem, or even Detective Dark. If the scary scowling Justice Alliance hero had bathed in bleach and turned his clothes from black to white "...she...would be a useful addition, and is unwatched as you say. I would further suggest Kid Blur, he...he..."

Focus Deborah, you are the Crimson Crow, Stoic and Sarcastic, Snarky and Sexy, as Animal Boy would have called it...oh, what had become of him? She had to...

'No, calm, strong, weep later' she hammered down, controlling herself "He would a fast, a speedster as you call it, and pershap...James...yes, James Karden...he's probably forty or fifty by now..."

"Who? Powers?"

She shook her head, trying to clear her head, images of better times, of laughter and teasing, and man who'd tried to be good teacher, who'd saved her life...for what it was worth...a few days before The End "He was...a teacher, but he...Teleporter, he had Teleport powers, never a hero, but was always...friends, he was our friend and our teacher. Click his fingers, and he could go take himself and one or two others across the world...if he saw the place, or a picture"

"Sold" the boy replied glancing at the girl "Assuming we can locate him, and he...isn't watched, or dead after all this time. The speedsters a good idea too, I've got plans and if he's sane then that'd be a big, big, help in pulling off an op or two"

"You aren't going to tell me the details are you?"

He shook his head "Sorry, no, I shan't. All I can ask is that you trust me on this. I'll be honest, we wouldn't be able to overthrow The Fraternity, but there are other options that can get others to interfere perhaps. I'm a merchant not a revolutionary after all, nor a superhero either. Escaping to fight another day is probably going to be our only choice you understand?"

Deborah nodded, sadly, painfully "I do, I do..."

Then look him in the eye "Please, practice with me a time? I...need help, and I will help and serve you in recompense"

'And kill them all' she mentally growled 'Kill. Them. All. Let loose your monsters and make them PAY!'

Though that was best left unsaid as her demonic heritage seemed to laugh inside her mind...

--

{The happy suburban life...all a lie, all an illusion...}

"Oh, cooking me dinner Allen?" Lenore Eisold murmured to her husband as she came home from work, giving him a winning smile...or at least what she hoped what was one "What did I do to earn this?"

"Just being your usual wonderful self, plus the kids are asleep early, and we haven't had a romantic dinner in a long time"

She smiled back, resting on the edge of the doorframe as he pulled out the lasagne from the oven, then started gesturing at her to sit down at the table "Go on, go on, get that pretty butt down on that chair!"

"Yes, Boss, Yes on the way! As you command!" she chuckled back allowing the stress of recent days to seep away for a few moments. Things had grown terrible dangerous and stressful in the past week as word came out that Mister Rictus was dead, killed in Seltzer's territory, her Boss's home, by 'assailants unknown' as if anyone believed that. Now there'd been a whole spat of unsanctioned robberies. All after The Imp had nearly gone insane in Baltimore over something...the others weren't sure, just that some of the magic hitters of the family, even the two Outcasts in the FBI's SIU had been called into to clean up the mess.

'God, things are gone frightening again...damn I'm...we're gone soft' she admitted sitting down and filling a glass of wine for her husband, and then for herself. Once upon a time...well, No, they all been scared of Rictus and Seltzer back then, for different reasons even if she'd only been a slip of girl as the other Renegades used to call her "Was work busy, you seem stressed hon?"

Lenore shook her head "No, its fine...just busy, very busy, word come down from head office over some concerns off in Washington. You know how it is? I'm sorry I'm home so late...again"

"It's okay, I understand" and maybe he did, but her own Father had been a worthless wife-beating drunk, and Mother...had taken it out on her. She was supposed to be better than that, to be there for Lenard and Sarah...not hiding away in costume, thinking of days past...or setting nervously in the bar with the other Renegades worried that the crazy elements of the Fraternity would descend on them and tear everything apart. If the Truce between the Five was ended...was it now open season after all these years?

"I'll...do better tomorrow Allen...it's not fair on you, or the..." she began as he placed the wonderful smelling meal on the table...

"Sorry to interrupt your lovely meal..." a voice startled her, and Allen, from their moment as she surged up from the table as a man in a white suit and "...but I'm afraid our meeting just couldn't wait"

"Who.."

She cut off Allen, standing firm, voice cold as her powers as she flashed her Pin "GET OUT! GET OUT NOW! HOW DARE YOU! NONE OF THAT IN MY HOME! WHO SENT YO..."

Then realisation kicked in, the security had to be down...there was no Pin, and she saw movement out in the darkness outside the house from the corner of her eye. Frost formed on the table where her hand rest, but only for a moment as they came up, letting loose as she found her voice "ALLEN, GRAB THE CHILDREN AND RUN!"

Surprise blossomed on the White Suit's face, the face of the assassin as his staff came up and her ice exploded off an invisible shield, answering her unasked question "ALLEN RUN!"

She had to deal with this one fast, as there had to be others, and she kicked the table at him as her Allen staggered backwards shock written on his face. But he was reacting as she jumped forward, using her ice and chill to 'jump' forward into a combat stance "Think you can kill me huh? I'm Colonel fucking Snow you house breaking little bitch, and this is MY HOME!"

Knives of ice extended out from her hands as the table was smashed into splinters by the assassin, who blocked again, first her ice, then her kick with one of his own. The next..too fast...slammed in her stomach, driving the air from her lungs...

"It wasn't you I was after"

...even through the pain, as she dropped to the floor of her kitchen, those words hammered home as she reached out with her hand to her husband, trying to call out to him as...

NoNoNoNoNoNo...

A blonde girl held him firmly in her arms...

"Well this was a right mess..." came from above her as she struggled before pain surged through her back. Then darkness claimed her...

--

[02.07: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[Then I opened my eyes...And the nightmare was me!]

Kara found herself putting her hands on Callum's shoulders as he drank down another of his potions, ending a coughing fit "Are you okay?"

He let out another, gentler, cough as if clearing his throat, then nodded, smiling back at her tiredly "I'm fine, it's just days upon days burning magic at this level, and lack of sleep, is stressful on the body. It'll be all okay, we're nearly there. How are you holding up?"

"Nervous..." she admitted as they had a moment's privacy "...this is all...very strange. Moving place to place, hiding...casing joints as you called it"

"I know Kara, but...not long now, it's nearly time to strike"

Last night had been a disaster as Callum had agreed, with the Hero they'd rescued...well, his family had been a Supervillain, and now they had children and a Supervillain in their hideout. Not only that but they'd had to take turns standing watch, making sleep harder...and Callum looked pale, eyes a little weary, and colder and harder as well somehow. Things weren't exactly as she liked either...as she'd expected as they walked out into the main 'storage area' now 'control centre' of the room where their recruits all waited, dozing, or in the case of 'Colonel Snow' secured physically and magical asleep.

Her husband...her victim...was also still asleep in his chair, though his mind had been restored thanks to Callum and the red dressed magician sitting on a chair near 'Kid Blur' drinking a coffee. The woman was dressed in red hooded robes, and seemed to be trying to be sexy and revealing...but Kara had seen her fidget constantly, tugging at her cleavage, pulling the robes around her, and other things despite those things. It was better than the weeping she'd had the woman break down into every once and a while this past few days since she'd been free; though only with herself and Callum, never with the new rescues.

'Clicker' or James Karden, was in his forties, and a worn down, almost bitter, man who'd been wounded during a shootout at his school who sat now looking with concern over 'Stellar Flare' in the corner. Hard not too as the woman sat, head bumping back and forth against her knees as she sat on the concrete, arms wrapped around her legs, softly muttering and sobbing to herself. Finally there was the final 'recruit' who sat watching over children they'd...kidn...liberated last night, in the shape of the still shocked looking 'professional cynic and myth buster' who'd been another teenage wizard

'Yeah, this...isn't the team I expected' Kara thought sadly as the actually superhero uniformed Deborah stood up, awkwardly as if unused to the way she moved, and bowed to her and Callum "Sir, Ma'am, are we to wake Kid Blur?"

Callum nodded, glancing at the ritual circle around the unconscious man who'd once been a young version the Flash "Yes, and then his lovely wife as well, and once we've gotten information, and an answer, we'll go through the final stages of my plan. We are now on the clock thanks to that abduction a few hours ago, even if what Lenore there said under compulsion indicates we should have two or three days before they notice her absence"

Kara gave the older woman an encouraging smile, getting a little relieved sigh in reply as the woman gave a curt nod and almost danced over to the muttering woman in the corner as Callum gestured for Kara to stand watch for the next little while "S'tella? S'tella? We are waking Allen...Kid Blur..."

"Not real...not real..."

Kara winced at the murmurs from the...what had been a beautiful woman, if not for the wild, half-torn, orange-red hair and hollow-sunk eyes that look out at the world. Crimson Crow, Deborah, knelt down to the mumbling woman, touching her shoulders, voice gentle "S'tella, it's me Deborah, Allen's waking up, I think he'll want a hug"

"Oh!" came back...an almost different voice, younger, more confident "Deborah! Yes, it has been the longest time since we have seen our friend Allen!"

'Oh Rao Callum, I hope you know what you're doing and you're right in having a way to keep them all focused for a fight' she thought to herself, then reminding herself reining in Callum was also going to be thing she had to do now they were playing at the Supervillain end of the pool. Which felt weird...and was far less glamorous than she'd ever imagined for having secret bases, hiding out from the Law, and even planning out their 'crimes' before hand...or building a team for 'a job'.

'Where's Barbara when you need her?' she thought, then feeling down knowing that alternate, horror-world, Barbara 'Girl Detective' was a retired star of...adult films...and Kara had to clamp down on the rage. This place was some twisted horror show!

Allen Eisold was...less troubled than the previous ones they'd woken up. Crimson Crow had wept, Mr. Karden had raged, then used his powers to go across the room and back before starting to punch the wall, Ellie Eleven had gone into shock when she'd summoned fire into her hand and S'tella...well, she seemed to think this was all some delusion when she wasn't murderously angry. In fact it was the villainess who seemed to be having the breakdown, weeping and sobbing once she was woken and saw the state of play, the red robed woman hugging her former teammate.

"Lenny..." the newly reawaken man murmured to the bound woman, angry, confused...then sighing "...God's sake Lenny...what can I say to that..."

"Allen...I'm sorry...please, it wasn't...I didn't...it just..."

"Shut up bitch!" Kara saw the red robed Deborah snarl, eyes burning with unnatural crimson fire as she hugged the former hero "You don't get to talk to him after what you did to us!"

"Debs...Debs, don't...she...S'tella don't hug so hard..." the man wheezed before taking in a shuddering a breath, shaking his head and seeming to firm up his voice "Crow, don't rage at her, I seduced her...technically, unintentionally"

Kara blinked, echoing the red robed girl "What?"

"Hey! They took my memories...and powers, and the Renegades took turns watching me...that makes so much sense now, and I feel dumb for not noticing...and Snow...Lenny...was the girl next door..." 'Kid Blur' stated then glanced over at the sleeping children, before looking to the weeping villainess "...goddamn Lenny, I am so mad at you right now...but, dammit, I still love you. WE SOOOOO having a very long talk about this and your...career choices"

Crimson Crow hissed at him...at the bound woman, arm around his neck "Allen!"

"No, lil'Debbie Downer you leave her be..." Kara resisted a chuckle at the sudden change on the woman's face, on S'tella's face which morphed into a soft giggle, as the woman seemed to de-age as she slipped into a soft, annoyed, smile "...it's my problem to deal with, not...Team Business. Lenny's going to start by telling us everything...and Christ I hope you've a plan, because I'm not putting my kids in danger..."

Kara watched as Callum stepped forward "Indeed Kid Blur, I do have a plan. But first let's see if your lovely wife is interested in a path to redemption with you"

'You are a manipulative villain sometimes Callum' she thought with a huff, poking him in the side and giving him a glare at the way he phrased that. He huffed in irritation at her at that, but smiled at the group "But first you must be hungry, and might want to catch up with old friends first I imagine, so let us allow you such before I launch into plotting your revenge"

--

{Plans get made, and the clock ticks down to D-Day}

Deborah Delphi sat in lotus position across from Ellen 'Ellie' Eleven, allowing the Mage, Callum, to harness their strength as if it was his own just as the other woman did. The boy was a decade younger...a bit more part of her mind objected, but she fought down the pain of her age now...but he was the superior spell-caster amongst them. Ellen had been fourteen when she'd been Rewritten, and Doubt imposed upon her still weakened her just as the years of inactivity and praying had weakened Deborah's own self-control and powers.

A Blood Pact would have made the Justice Alliance unhappy...but they were long gone, and trust was in short supply on such short notice. So she smiled gently at Kid Blur;- though it felt strange calling a thirty-seven-year-old man 'Kid' and seeing him all grown up like this. Goddess...she'd lost so much, but she smiled at him as he knicked his hand and placed it against the ritual circle, swearing the words of the Pact willingly. Binding himself to their Oath for just a time...and tears falling down her face The Icy Whore, still bound at the wrists and ankles, was allowed press her hand against the knife and draw blood...Deborah feeling the spell take effect on both of them.

'Redemption? Fuck you, Bitch! If Allen wasn't...still himself...'she started to think before stopping the thoughts in their tracks. At least one of them had some happiness, and...he was right in the end. He did have his children to protect now, even if they were with Little Miss Winterstorm Wannabe...

"And done..." she heard her Commander-in-Chief/Master state as the magic sang softly and they were bound within the Geas "...so I said I'd say, and so I shall"

Deborah spoke to the others, Kid Raven had been team lead, but she'd been second and it was best to offer support to their new Team Leader so everyone stayed sane "Thank you, Sir, I understand overthrowing The Fraternity is impossible, having heard that we have..." she glared at the Ice Whore for a moment "...from all sources available, so your plan takes all this into account, and you have been assembling quite the store of equipment...and those undead you have raised in your service"

The young man nodded "Yes, the Masquerade is too powerful to overcome, at least beyond on a one on one basis as we have done with everyone here who was suffering its bindings. It can be disrupted I believe, but overall it is far too powerful to overcome in the sense of restoring everyone's memories, and...in all honesty I have severe doubts victory could be achieved in that manner anyway. As Colonel Snow here has informed us, which I'd already known from other sources, The Fraternity has access to multi-versal travel-tech, and that will be our primary goal to deal with..."

He gestured at them "Now, to do that though we must distract, and cause chaos to them, to break down their structure and allow us to achieve our primary mission. To do this we shall turn their Masquerade against them, as Lenore has confirmed they invest a great deal of effort into maintaining The Cover as they call it, one that Mister Rictus and The Future supposedly wished to break. So while we cannot restore what was, we can force them react to Breaking the Cover "

"See, that's the problem when you're trying to secretly rule...we have one of the few advantages villains often have over heroes and the authorities – we don't care about maintaining the Status Quo. In fact we want to tear it down, so Tear It Down we shall...or at least we shall make that seem like that is our ultimate mission, along with breaking the Masquerade itself as well. We force them to React to Us, to Our Gameplan, and we will do it by the effective use of undead, illusions, hallucinogens, and rescuing the former major members of the Justice Alliance...before they appear in battle moments later..."

The super-powered blonde, who shone like a bright sun from a lost age to Deborah "I...thought that wouldn't work Callum?"

Deborah watched as he nodded "It won't, we won't have time. Mr. Karden here can teleport in rapid succession, and we've Deborah here and me for arcane teleports. We can hit and recover them, and then..."

He spread his hands, smile cold and predatory "See, the Superbowl is one tomorrow away in this country, and, well...Mister Rictus is going to make an appearance along with the Heroes he broke out of their imprisonment, all while Nazis, Nazi Zombies at that, attack Solomon Seltzer's penthouse suit while you my dear Supergirl do a little network hack..."

--

[02.08: A Merchant's Dimensional long fhada]

[I'm like a dog chasing cars, I wouldn't know what to if I caught one you know, I just do...things]

"So there is trouble in Locus City now?" Solomon Seltzer murmured, containing his anger, allowing it simmer as a mere irritation "What has happened?"

"Colonel Snow and her family are supposed to have gone missing, locals are up in arms..." his black coated magical FBI minion replied now he'd been, finally...and someone would be punished for that later...gotten through to report to him "...canna tell'ya more Boss-man, looks to be their coverin' it up fer now, thinkin' it be one ah yours being behind it"

Solomon nodded at that, an understandable fear on the behalf of the has-beens down in Locus City, even if hadn't the least bit of truth to it "You believe there is more to it?"

"Somethin' odd going on as me reports say. Some odd crimes popped up right around time Imp went' all wacky since he found Puzzler an' Nightshade screwin' or what'ca say..."

'And wasn't that a worrying moment' Solomon reminded himself of that particular incident, and the fact he'd had to temporarily neutralise one of his more useful assets after the god-child started bawling after obliterating the entire hotel...

'It also kills off that lead as to why a) Puzzler and Nightshade were still alive, and b) why they were apparent drunk in a prepaid hotel room afterwards' were the still unanswered questions on Solomon's mind as Agent Tiberius continued his commentary "...an' now one of that lot down in Focus City after one of the Five, ah know Rictus, but those did it are ghosts, right fuckin' ghosts, canna find any trail. Nought here, nor even in the...fringe circles"

Solomon waved that off;- there was little to do about those few who extra-dimensional voyagers or magicians that went to places like the Void Tavern and other odd spots. Any who'd tried to 'restore things' were long dead after all, and they were a useful source of trade and information these days...just like Tiberius here "Keep investigating, nothing about the situation seems to make sense. From the two partying survivors, to our mysterious assassins...to dealing with Rictus's rabble lashing out in some misguided belief that I am responsible. You must ensure the FBI continues to maintain The Cover should there be any more magical incidents"

"Course Boss, but I can only do what'a can do, an' not the impossible iffin we have another Imp situation, or things...get outta hand between the Families. Yer the one Boss-man tha' dinna want us takin sides an' the like when it came to blows..." Tiberius answered with a shrug "...beyond, ya'know, where me loyalties really lie"

"Yes, of course, of course, just keep the messes cleaned up my boy" he responded looking up from his work, waving the magician turned G-man away, waving at Doll-man to come over with whatever seemed so important to interrupt him in the middle of a 'do-not-disturb-me' meeting "What?"

"Apologies Solomon, but we appear to have a problem, a rather serious problem..." his subordinate answered politely holding out a tablet showing feeds from various Fraternity watchers "...our fellows at the White House just sent an...odd report before going silent, and they haven't answered"

Solomon frowned at that, after all, why would anyone bother? He *owned* the President, and the Vice President...and most of Congress "How long ago?"

"No more than a few minutes ago, and I have sent one of our agents to confirm, but more worryingly this image was picked up a minute ago..."

He stared at the image "Rictus!?!"

"Seemingly in the flesh" Doll-man replied politely as the image of his...supposedly very much dead...enemy and colleague within the Five was shown strolling past a television feed...IN BROAD DAYLIGHT...with two of his equally dead posse in tow "The how I cannot understand, and why he is there of all places..."

Solomon startled "Cut the feed from that location immediately"

"Sir it's the Superbowl, it would be, shall we say, somewhat difficult a moment's notice"

'Probably why the lunatic choose it, if it is him' flashed into Solomon's mind as he shook his head "Get them off the air, technical problems or whatever, and get some crews down there immediately...Fox and Wesley should be nearby, I'll have others on the move in a moment..." he instructed tapping his communicator and dialing numbers as the globe in his mind illuminated who was where "...we need to contain him, and get questions answered...yesterday"

With a gesture Saint Tiberius retreated across the room to smoke a cigarette while Doll-man did as ordered, hands moving swiftly over the tablet controls and speaking softly into the communication headpiece as Solomon ordered subordinates into motion. Screens came alive around his workshop, showing various feeds from satellites and television stations across the continent that was his territory...

...Solomon let out a soft snarl...

...And there was Rictus, standing atop a small truck as it was driven into the middle of the football field, cane nonchalantly over his shoulder, band members and entertainers scrambled to get out of the way. Loud K-Pop music played in the background...and he'd found some goats somewhere, the sick, demented and yet dangerous fucker that he was. The voice was his too, that fucked up cackling as he turned on the sound as the truck came to a stop on the screen to the sounds of a screaming audience and confused presenters; why the fuck wasn't this off the air yet?

"...and fuck you Solomon! Now IS MY TIME! You made our world so FUCKING BORING! Well Ol'Rictus knows how to FIX THAT!" the lunatic was screaming out waving his cane about having clearly gotten a mike from somewhere as the doors of the van opened up and...

"Oh fuck...what have you done Rictus?"

...out flew Fallout, fucking FALLOUT AND POWER WOMAN! Not crippled, but clearly them in their customes with Rictus's twisted symbol painted on their chests as Detective Dark and...

"HERE COMES THE INJUSTICE ALLIANCES GHOULS AND GHOULETTES! LET THE SLAUGHTER BEGIN!!!"

The communicator was open, opening comm channels at a speed not repeated since the Revolution "I want people at that location NOW! AND WHY ISN'T THAT FEED CUT????"

His technicians were clearly frantic; as was Doll-man "We're trying! Someone's hacked the feeds and we think there's magic in play..."

"I DON'T CARE! GET IT OFF THE AIR! AND..." he blinked, staring at footage from San Francisco "...what the fuck?"

"CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA..." a booming voice from an armoured figured astride a dragon, a god damned fucking dragon announced on the screen as a news reporter pointed up in the sky "...I AM GALBATORIX! YOUR NEW EMPEROR! KNEEL BEFORE ME!"

"Da fuq?" he muttered blinking, then gesturing at the screen "What the FUCK IS THIS?"

Yet more insanity seemed to come like a drum beat as the minutes ticked by in an eternity. Even as Fuckwit and others arrived to deal with Rictus, and the television feed was FINALLY shut down, other channels popped with other insanity...

"...demand ONE MILLLION DOLLARS! Or I will unleash my WEATHER DEVASTATOR upon you all!"

"...appears to be an...umm...aphrodisiac lined fog. People are advised to remain indoors as Police deal with...uhh...Mighty Whitey Aphrodite..."

All while calls were answered, worrying answers given to him...

"Fallout is GONE Boss! That's probably really him!..."

"...Power Woman ain't where she supposed be man..."

"...Negative Blur just attacked us Boss! The Future's makin' a move!"

They were cutting feeds, and sending out response teams, as fast they could, but the cites were spread across North America, and they'd clearly targeted Events. This was a Statement...this was a very, very, clear effort to break the Veil and tear down everything he and the others had built over the years. They just weren't setup for this kind of rapid response, this...acting like the Justice Alliance and it was clear that someone was making a move with word of one of The Future's speedsters clearly helping out Rictus who'd faked his own death somehow. Not only that but someone had sent fake orders to Police departments as one report, then another, of SWAT teams hitting 'drug dens' that were Fraternity Facilities that should never have gotten notification to actual police...

Then the President of the United States came on the television, their corrupted, bribed, little paedophile in all her smug, yet empty eyed, glory on the Emergency Broadcast System {My fellow Americans, it has come to my attention that a Secret Society of Villains known as The Fraternity has been committing crimes within our glorious nation. Anyone wearing this Pin...}

"SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN!" he started snarling out...

...when the building shook from an explosion...

...once...

...twice...

...a third time...

Security channels brought the sound of screams and shouting, of gunfire and reports of poison gas. Things seemed to blur as he shouted out orders, tried to figure out the chaos as the special generators he'd built kicked in after a momentary cut in the power...

'SIR!" came the snarling, shouting, voice of his building Chief of Security over the sounds of explosions and gunfire "We're under attack by soldiers with swastikas on their uniforms! We're shooting them but they won't go down, and the systems say their dead. They're armed with energy weapons..."

Behind him Solomon heard Saint Tiberius mutter "We're under attack by Nazi zombies with laser guns?"

Solomon growled, loud and cold, a rage he hadn't felt since the days Fallout and his cronies had thwarted his plans one too many times, finding words he hadn't spoken in so very long "GET ME MY BATTLESUIT!"

--