Chapter 7: Denial

Mount Justice

19:39 | August 19

Rhode Island

Connor and Kaldur circled one another at the Cave's center. They were engaging in a sparring match while M'gann and Artemis watched. Kaldur rushed forth, and Connor reciprocated, trading kicks and punches. "So, you gonna say anything to him?" Artemis crossed her arms, watching the match.

"I don't know," M'gann gripped her arm and looked down. "How about you?" M'gann nudged her head to the other side of the training arena. Tom was bare-chested, doing one-hand push-ups while reading a book before him. M'gann frowned slightly; she had always felt sad looking at his scarred body. She only hoped one day, her chosen brother would trust her and their friends with their stories and the mental scars that must loom beneath the surface. M'gann did not claim to be the best at reading people. But she could feel the emotions bubbling on the surface of Tom's exterior appearance. He projected confidence and carried himself like a warrior. Maybe it was true; perhaps that was him. But something held him back from what she felt he was meant to be.

"I don't know," Artemis sighed and smiled slightly at M'gann. "Guess we're both hoping for a first move."

M'gann sighed, and the two shared a laugh. They were forever hopeless in matters of the heart, it seemed.

"Aagh!" Kaldur slammed against the ground.

Connor smirked, dusting his hands off, "learned that move from Black Canary." Above them, the central part of the room opened up, and Red Tornado flew down in a whirlwind.

Wally rushed in from the kitchen, a hotdog in his mouth. "Hey!" Wally swallowed the hotdog and wiped his mouth. "Got a mission for us?"

"Missions are the Batman's prerogative," Red Tornado walked on.

"Yeah, but he's off doing the dynamic duo thing with the Robin." Wally shrugged. "But you're headed somewhere, right? Hot date, or a mission?" Wally made finger guns at the android.

"I think Wally means if we can help, we're available." Tom walked towards them, wiping the sweat off his body with a towel. Red Tornado looked at the teens before turning and bringing up the Cave's holo display.

An older gentleman with grey hair and silver eyes in a dark suit popped up. "This is Kent Nelson, a charter member of the Justice Society, the predecessor to your Justice League. He is a friend and over a hundred-six years old."

"Doesn't look a day over ninety," Kid Flash whispered, grinning at Artemis.

"Kent has been missing for twenty-seven days." Red Tornado said, and Kent's image switched to a man in a golden helmet, blue body glove, and golden armor and cape.

"Ah, of course, he was Doctor Fate, Earth's Sorcerer supreme!" Kaldur said in wonderment.

"More like Doctor Fake; the guy knows a bit of advanced science. He Dumboldores it up to scare the bad guys and impress the babes." Kid Flash rolled his eyes and smirked at Artemis.

"Kent may be in one of his," Red Tornado thought his words over. "Walkabouts, but he is the keeper of the Helmet of Fate. Such a powerful artifact cannot be left unguarded."

"He's like the great sorcerer priest and priestesses of Mars. I would be honored to help find him." M'gann stepped, bowing slightly with her hand over her heart.

"Me too!" Wally suddenly raised his hand. "So honored, I can barely stand it," Kid Flash made devil horns with his hands. "Magic, uh, rocks." Behind him, Artemis cocked her hip and rolled her eyes at Wally.

"What about you?' Tom walked up to Artemis.

"What do you mean?" Artemis raised a brow.

"How do you feel about magic?" Tom shrugged.

"I," Artemis sighed and crossed her arms. "I don't know, never really seen magic."

"Fair point," Tom shrugged and looked at the display of Kent in his Doctor Fate armor. "Still, magic isn't always about seeing. Sometimes faith is required," Tom put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. Artemis felt her lips pulled up slightly, "I'll try to keep an open mind."

"Take this," Red Tornado produced a golden key with writing on it. "This is the key to the Tower of Fate. You will need it to gain entrance, find Kent if you can, and report your findings to me when possible."

"Understood," Kaldur took the key and pocketed it. "Team, let us go; we will wear civilian clothes to draw less attention." Tom nodded and left to change along with Superboy.

"So, what are the chances of the two of us being true believers?" Kid Flash stepped up next to M'gann, smiling suggestively. M'gann raised a brow but smiled at his antics.

Salem

20:22 | August 19

Massachussetts

"So, Wally, when did you realize your HONEST affinity for sorcery?" Artemis, clad in a white shirt, brown half jacket, and blue jeans and boots, drawled. The Team boarded the Bioship and flew to the coordinates given by Red Tornado.

"Well, I don't mean to brag, but before I became Kid Flash, I seriously considered becoming a wizard." Kid Flash wore a dark brown short-sleeved button-up over a long-sleeved white shirt, with cargo pants and sneakers. He leaned back on his seat, arms crossed behind his head, grinning at M'gann. Artemis rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"World of Warcraft doesn't count Wally," Tom, wore his "civilian armor," as he had come to call it. He wore his black shirt with armor underneath, brown leather jacket, grey combat pants, and boots. He adapted Robin's trademark sunglasses look and wore aviator shades.

"Dude!" Wally glared at Tom, who snickered. "Robin is totally a bad influence on you."

"I'm just doing what he would have wanted if he was here," Tom smirked, pulled down his glasses, and winked at Artemis. Artemis covered a chuckle with her fist.

"We've arrived at Red Tornado's coordinates," M'gann said.

"There's nothing here," Connor glared at a park in the middle of Salem.

"Set us down; we will investigate on foot," Kaldur ordered, and the Bioship exited camouflage mode. The Team disembarked, but unbeknown to them, from an alley across the street from the park, an orange cat with strange, unnatural black markings watched them. Its red eyes glowed in the night of Salem and narrowed at them. The cat hopped off its box and padded silently into the adjacent boarded-up theater. Inside, a boy in a black suit with fine nails, pale skin, and black hair sat on the theater's auditorium's plush front-row seat. The cat padded softly up to the boy and jumped on his lap.

"Prrr," the cat purred on his lap.

"Sshh, quiet Teekl, I'm watching the show." The boy smiled cruelly.

"Take us into the Tower, and I promise to end your suffering. Continue to defy us and," the voice stopped, followed by the painful yell of an older man as he was electrocuted. The villain known as Kadabra had Kent Nelson tied to a chair on the stage. He raised his wand at the old man threateningly.

Kent panted, "my friends are coming to help me," Nelson grunted between pants. "So enjoy this while you can, aagh!" Kent clenched his teeth as Kadabra zapped him again with his wand.

"ahahaha!" the boy stood up, forcing Teekl off his lap. The boy clapped gleefully, "encore, encore!" He demanded with sadistic satisfaction.

"Hisss, Mrreow!" Teekl protested against the boy.

"What?" the boy whined and turned to the cat, annoyed.

"Meow," Teekl sat down, its eyes shifting right to the exit.

"Oooohh," the boy smirked. "Kadabra, let's go."

"Yes, Klarion," Kadabra forced Nelson to stand and shoved him forward.

Outside, Wally slid to a stop before the Team. "Nothing, I checked the whole park. This is more than just camouflage."

"So, what are you thinking?" Artemis put her fists against her hips. "adaptive micro octo-electronics combined with phase shifting?" Artemis raised a brow.

"Absolutely-not!" Kid Flash grinned before correcting himself as M'gann approached from her own fruitless search. "Clearly, it's, uh, mystical powers." Kid Flash grinned at M'gann for approval. Artemis gave him a deadpan look.

Behind them, outside the theater, but cloaked by powerful magic. Klarion, Kadabra, and Nelson watched the Team. Klarion smirked with Teekl in his arms. "Hey Kadabra, isn't that what you're using?"

Kadabra looked away, sighing, "yes," he admitted begrudgingly. Nelson chuckled mockingly, and Kadabra could only glare and fume at the older man. He could not afford to give up their position by zapping Nelson.

Meanwhile, the Team gathered at the park's center. Kaldur reached into his pocket, producing the key given by Red Tornado. "A test of faith then," Kaldur looked at the words on the key that simply said insert. Kaldur walked ahead of the Team. "Stand behind me," he willed it, and he believed it; therefore, the key was 'inserted.' He turned the key, and a loud clank signaled a door opening. Suddenly, a tower of brick materialized before the Team. A wooden door with the key inside had glyphs glow around it before it swung open. "Stick close," Kaldur said, and the Team entered the Tower of Fate.

"Uh, where's the door?" Connor looked behind them to find they were locked in a windowless brick room.

"Hera, mother of mothers, grant me your protection; Zeus, grant me strength to defend my loved ones," Tom muttered with closed eyes.

"Huh, did you say something, Tom?" Artemis, just ahead of him, glanced over his shoulder.

"No," Tom smiled at her, "just talking to myself."

"Greetings," a golden apparition of Kent Nelson appeared before the Team. "You have entered with a key, but the Tower does not recognize you. State your purpose and intent."

Wally glanced over at M'gann before smiling and walking up to the apparition. "We are true believers in search for Doctor Fate." Nelson's apparition made a face of disappointment before fading out of existence.

"That didn't look like a welcoming face," Tom lowered his stance in anticipation. Suddenly, the floor collapsed around them. "wh-aaaahhh!" Tom felt the floor drop, and he fell into a boiling pit of lava beneath. Tom reached into his jacket, pulled a grapple gun, and fired it at the wall. The claw dug into the wall, and He swung, catching Artemis and Kaldur. M'gann and Connor flew up, with M'gann catching Wally in her telekinesis. But, the intense heat weakened her, and she nearly dropped Wally. He fell a few feet before she caught him in her telekinetic grasp again. Connor flew down and grabbed them both. M'gann and Kaldur began to sweat profusely.

"M'gann's Martian physiology and mine are susceptible to extreme heat. We must leave quickly," Kaldur nodded to Tom. He retracted the line, but the surface did not grow closer despite how they climbed, and Connor flew up.

"We can't climb up!" Tom looked and gritted his teeth. Will I have to use it?

"Wait," M'gann lifted her head with great effort. "We never," she gasped, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Answered the question; Red Tornado sent us to ensure Kent Nelson and the helmet are safe!" There was a low rumble, and a floor slid over the fiery lava pit. Connor flew down and gingerly placed M'gann down. He let go of Wally, and he landed on his butt.

"Ow, dude!" Wally glared at Connor.

"You know what you did," Connor shrugged, unphased.

M'gann sighed, collapsing on the floor. "I was so hot," she blew air out her puckered lips one last time.

"You sure are babe," Wally smiled, glad to be alive.

"Wally!" Artemis protested when Tom got them down.

"Hey, I was inches from a hot lava bath, I'm entitled to speak my mind!" Wally crossed his arms.

"Strange," Kaldur gasped one last time before crouching. "This surface should be scalding hot. But it is cool to the touch," Kaldur pressed his hand against the floor.

"I got you, Megan-licious," Wally helped M'gann to her feet, putting his arm around her shoulder. M'gann smiled at him, thankful for the help.

"Enough!" Artemis walked up to Wally and pushed him off her. "Your little impress, M'gann, at all cost, nearly got us all barbequed!"

"When did this become my fault!" Wally shouted back.

"I'd say lying to the glowy Nelson ghost," Tom shrugged.

"Exactly!" Artemis jabbed her finger into Wally's chest. "You lied to that,"

"ghost," Connor echoed Tom, making him cackle to himself.

"Whatever it was!" Artemis threw her hands out.

"Wally, you don't believe?" M'gann's brow knitted together, genuinely surprised.

Wally looked at his friends and then threw his hands up. "Fine! I lied about believing in magic, but magic is the real lie; it's a load of blow!"

"Wally, I studied for years at the Sorcery Conservatory in Atlantis. It is the magic I use to power my water bearers." Kaldur propped himself on a knee and looked at his oldest friend.

"Dude, have you ever heard of bioelectricity?" Wally frowned and crossed his arms. "Hey, in primitive cultures, fire was also considered magic. Today, it's all just a bunch of tricks." Wally turned his head away and rested his hands on his hips.

"You're pretty closed-minded for a guy who can break the sound barrier in his sneakers." Artemis cocked her hip and crossed her arms, glaring at Wally.

"That's science," Wally shrugged. "I recreated the Flash's experiment and vua-la. Here I am!" Wally gestured himself from head to toe. "Everything can be explained by science."

Kaldur looked to the floor and noticed a handle that wasn't there previously. "Let us test that theory." He grabbed the handle.

"Wait!" Wally dove on the handle. Kaldur removed his hand as Wally gripped it with both of his. "the backdraft of the lava will roast us alive!"

"Wally," Tom knelt before Wally and put his hand over his. "Do you trust me?"

"What?" Wally blinked before shaking his head. "That's not the point here!"

"Do. You. Trust me," Tom removed his shades and looked into Wally's green eyes.

"Dude, you're like family to me. You know I do." Wally relaxed his grip on the handle.

"Then believe in me; you don't have to believe in magic." Tom smiled at his redheaded friend.

Wally sighed, "If we get roasted, I'm making sure you don't make it to the pearly gates." Wally let go of the handle and stood up.

Tom smirked, "duly noted." He grabbed the handle and pulled. Wally prepared for blistering heat and instead received a howling cold wind. Snow blew into the room, and Tom stepped back from the opening. "Come on, let's keep going."

Outside the Tower, Klarion dissolved the spell keeping him and his playthings hidden. Kadabra pushed Nelson toward the Tower, and the symbol of Fate, a hieroglyph Ankh, appeared on the Tower's door. The door opened to a completely different place from the Team's. Kadabra pushed Nelson in, and Klarion followed, petting Teekl as he did. "The Tower may not respond kindly to uninvited guests," Nelson warned.

"Mute," Kadabra aimed his wand at Nelson, and a collar materialized and clamped around his neck tightly. A bulb on the center of the collar ignited red; it squeezed whenever Nelson tried to talk. The door behind them closed, and they were suddenly in a hall with stairs leading up. The duo and their prisoner climbed up towards a sitting room with a fireplace. Above the mantle was the picture of a redheaded woman smiling into the room. The apparition of Nelson appeared before them.

"Kent, it is so rarer to see you bring guests, much less ones with such potent mystical energy." The apparition eyed Klarion and Teekl. The witch boy smirked, his ego stroked by the apparition.

Kadabra pointed the wand at Nelson's collar. The collar recreated a mimicry of Nelson's voice. "My friends, come to help me." Nelson gritted his teeth as he tried to protest, but the words were choked out of his mouth.

The apparition smirked and disappeared. The fireplace and the wall behind it pulled apart like interconnected puzzle pieces.

With the Team, they hopped into a snowy realm, and the hatch closed behind them, disappearing. Artemis pulled her half jacket closer and smirked in Wally's direction. "Do you ever get tired of being wrong?"

"Ever hear of string theory? We're in a pocket dimension." Wally explained and walked past Artemis.

"augh!" Artemis glowered, utterly perturbed by Wally's stubbornness to accept their situation.

"Huh, a cane," Tom said at the head of the Team. Sure enough, a cane floated just before them.

"Oooh, maybe it's Nelon's magic wand." Wally rushed ahead, grabbing the cane. Just as Artemis did. "I got it," they both said in unison.

"I can't let go!" they chorused together. The cane engulfed them in a golden glow before it flew up with both and disappeared in a flash of brilliant gold.

"Well," Tom sighed, "crap." He looked at the desolate snowy peaks ahead of them.

In another room of the Tower, Nelson led the villains up a staircase interconnected with hundreds of others in a maze of twisting stairs and ledges. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Klarion drawled, boredom consuming his mind.

Kadabra grabbed Nelson's shoulder forcefully and pointed his wand threateningly. "Tell us where the helmet is, old man!"

Nelson lifted a brow and looked down at his collar. Kadabra flicked his wand, and the collar clicked open, dropping to the ground. "Can't I'm having too much fun," Nelson smirked at the villains.

Kadabra bared his teeth and zapped Nelson again with his wand. Nelson fell convulsing in pain, "Gaah!"

"Ahahaha! I am!" Klarion grinned, his mood lifted by Nelson's pained grunts. "Zap him again, Kadabra, or better yet, dump him over one of these stairs so we can watch him splat!" Klarion raised his hands and spread them out, wiggling his fingers for emphasis. Kadabra went with zapping Nelson again, which suited the witch boy's sadistic disposition well enough.

"Mrrow," Teelk meowed into the boy's ear as he languished on his lithe shoulders.

"Oooh, fine, I suppose we might still need him," Klarion said, smiling at Nelson's crumpled form. But, as the two looked down on Nelson. A flash of brilliant gold above them on an upside-down staircase deposited Artemis and Wally.

Nelson rolled onto his back and caught sight of his cane. "Well, would you look at that." Nelson reached out with his mind. The cane glowed gold, and an aura of the same wrapped around Nelson. He channeled the cane's magic and flew past his captures towards Wally and Artemis. He landed by the cane and grabbed it. The bindings around Nelson's wrist melted away, and he raised the cane.

"No, no, no!" Klraion glared at the group.

"This way!" Nelson raised the cane again, and a beam of light shot at the wall connected to their platform. Elevator doors opened, "inside quickly!" Nelson rushed in with Artemis and Wally.

"I want that helmet!" Klarion brought his hands up, red chaotic magic crackling around his fingers. "I want it, I want it, I want it!" Klarion threw his hands out, chaotic bolts of magic shooting out of them. The bolts harmlessly dispersed against the elevator doors.

Back with the Team, they walked on, the frozen tundra before them seemingly endless. M'gann sighed and looked towards Kaldur. "I don't get it; it's almost like Wally needs to believe magic isn't real."

"Wally uses science to control what he cannot comprehend," Kaldur explained. "to acknowledge the existence of magic would mean relinquishing the last vestiges of that control."

M'gann looked down, thinking about Wally's situation. For Martians, magic and technology weren't mutually exclusive. Each played a part in Martian society. Still, she tried to see it from Wally's perspective to understand her friend further.

"Hey, look!" Tom stopped and pointed to his left. On a mountainside, an opening with stairs leading into another room appeared. "Come on, hopefully, we can reunite with Artemis and Wally." The Team nodded and rushed for the opening and wherever it may lead.

Inside the elevator, Nelson watched the numbers go up. He looked back to his new teen companions and grinned. "I am Kent Nelson, by the way."

"No duh," Wally deadpanned before Artemis elbowed his ribs.

"I'm Artemis, and miss manners here," Artemis gestured to a glaring Wally. "Is Wally, Red Tornado sent us."

"Ah, remind me to thank that old red humorless cog." Nelson laughed before grimacing from his injuries. "Well, Artemis, we are up against an opponent with considerable mystical powers."

"Abra Kadabra? Please," Kid Flash shrugged. "Flash proved he used advanced technology to simulate magic. Guy's all show and no biz."

"Right you are," Nelson grinned at Wally.

"He is?" Artemis looked at Wally, utterly dumbfounded. The speedster might have been offended had he not been feeling so smug.

"Kadabra is a charlatan," Kent bobbed his cane at Wally. "But that boy with the cat? That's a genuine Lord of Chaos. The natural enemy of a Lord of order like Doctor Fate."

"Right," Wally crossed his arms, looking Nelson over. "You're a Lord of Order."

"Oh," Nelson pressed the cane to his chest. "Not me, I'm just an old coat Fate used to put on." Nelson reached into his coat pocket and drew a pocket watch. He opened it, and a redheaded woman in a picture smiled back at him. "That is until my Enza convinced me there could be more to life." Nelson ran his thumb over the picture, memories of the past filling his mind. "She was a real spitfire," Nelson pocketed the watch. "Anywho," Nelson bounced back. "Klarion is after the Helmet; if he gets his grubby mits on it, he'll turn this planet into his playground of hellish pandemonium."

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Nelson gestured them forward and led them into another room of twisting stairs. At the center of the chaos lay a massive golden bell. Nelson walked up to it. He smiled suddenly and looked back as an upside-down platform above them flashed into an open door. "Whoa!" Tom caught himself into a roll and back onto his feet next to Nelson. Right behind him, Kaldur and Connor fell through, landing hard on the ground. M'gann floated in lastly, landing gently on the ground. Nelson tapped his cane on the ground, and the door closed. "Friends of yours?"

"Look out!" Tom dove, knocking Nelson to the ground. As lightning struck where he once stood.

"Don't suppose those are your friends then?" Tom stood helping Nelson up as well.

"Kadabra!" Connor stood and got into a battle stance. On a platform above them, Klarion and Kadabra had phased in through a dark portal.

"We must move quickly!" Nelson raised his cane and tapped the Bell. The Bell rang, echoing into the expanse of the room. It glowed gold, and Nelson walked through it with Wally behind him. Tom jumped into the Bell, dodging a lighting bolt from Kadabra. However, Klarion, who took to the skies, flew in after them unbeknown to the group.

The rest of the Team was about to follow, but Kadabra fired a lightning bolt between them and the Bell. "Wally and Tom will have to handle it; take down Kadabra!" Kaldur ordered, and the Team dispersed.

Atop the Tower of Fate, Nelson, Wally, and Tom appeared in a flash of light. At the center of the Tower, the Helmet of Fate floated. Nelson rushed to the Helmet, and as his hand reached for it, malevolent energy struck him in the heart, sending him sprawling.

"No!" Wally rushed behind Nelson, catching him before he fell. Tom gritted his teeth and reached into his jacket, throwing three shuriken. Klarion smirked, and with a flick of his finger, the shurikens evaporated into dust. Chaotic magic crackled in his hands, and he fired it.

Tom crossed his arms and braced for the impact. A golden barrier enveloped him before impact. Tom gasped and turned to see Nelson kneeling, supported by his cane. "Mr. Kent!" Tom knelt before the man as he fell, but his cane remained upright.

Nelson gave a strained smile, "not bad for a Doctor Fake, eh kid?" Nelson looked into Wally's eyes. Nelson gripped his chest, reached into his coat with the other, and brought a pocket watch. His trembling hand fumbled to open it, and it fell. Tom caught it before it hit the ground. He opened the watch to the picture of a redhead smiling. "The barrier will hold," Nelson gasped. "You have to do what must be done."

"I," Wally looked at Tom. "I don't know what needs to be done!"

"Believe, Kid, believe in what you can't explain." Nelson smiled one last time before he closed his eyes, breath leaving his breast. Wally gasped and looked at Tom.

"What needs to be done," Tom looked over his shoulder. Klarion was whining and throwing powerful chaotic magic at the barrier. Tom looked at the cane and saw it grow shorter as a flame burned at its base and consumed it. "A test of fate," Tom closed the watch and placed it in Nelson's hand. He wrapped Nelson's hand around the watch and folded the hand over his chest.

"I want it now!" Klarion raised his hands as chaotic magic burst forth. Energy shot out and twisted into crude magical claws. Klarion brought his arms down, and the claws dug into the barrier. The barrier screeched as the claws dug in, and the cane's flame burned brighter, consuming the remains of the cane rapidly. Tom narrowed his eyes at the Helmet, removed his shades, and stuffed them in his jacket. He reached for the Helmet.

"Hey, Kid!" Klarion called out. "I wouldn't put that on if I were you; it might not come off!"

"We'll see about that," Tom grasped the hamlet and slipped over his head as the barrier burst.

"NO!" Klarion brought his hands together and fired a massive blast of malignant magic. The magic, like a torrent of water, smashed against Tom. But, like a stone in the river, the torrent of malignant energy broke around it. Then, a burst of golden magic shone across the Tower, dispersing the torrential magic.

"Not fair!" Klarion stomped his foot indignantly.

"Mrreow!" Teekl hissed, lowering its stance.

"What the?" Tom looked on to an endless expanse of nothing. He looked up to a singular light casting a spotlight above him. He remembered the attack coming for him, but then nothing. "It's not the river sticks; no gondola awaits my passage." Tom flexed his hands; he certainly felt alive.

"Couldn't put it on, could he?" Nelson appeared behind Tom. The young hero spun, surprised, eyes wide. "But no, you're not dead," Nelson grinned. "When you put on the Helmet, it dragged my soul here. Maybe after wearing it for so long, Nabu must have been fond of me." Nelson chuckled, then shrugged.

"We're in the helmet then," Tom surmised.

"You're a sharp one, aren't you?" Nelson laughed. "Yes, Nabu, the real Doctor Fate lives in the Helmet. Right now, he's in control of your body, wanna watch?" Nelson put an arm around Tom's shoulder and looked into the beyond. Tom followed suit, and he once again could see through his eyes. But he had no control of his body. If nothing else, it was a surreal experience.

Wally watched as Tom was transformed before his very eyes. He wore a blue suit and golden armor with a flowing cape. Tom held out his hand, and an Egyptian hieroglyph of an Ankh formed from golden order magic. Klarion threw his magic attacks relentlessly at the shield. "Give it up, Nabu. Order went out of style in the twentieth century!"

"This is pointless. You sought to take the Helmet before it gained a host. But you are too late," Tom's voice and someone else's came from the armored being.

"Shut it, ya old fart!" Klarion spread his hands and then raised them. Two pillars rose from the ground and sandwiched Tom with a thunderous crack. The symbol of the Ankh burned on the place where the pillars met before exploding into dust and gravel. Tom stood unharmed, arms spread.

"Brat," Tom spat before he fired a beam shaped like the Ankh at Klarion. Teekl scurried off, and Klarion crossed his arms, screaming. His body exploded into dark whisps. Then he reformed behind Tom and fired crackling chaotic lightning, catching Tom.

"Aagh!" Tom, inside his body, growled and fell to a knee. "Great, he gets to use my body, and I feel the pain?"

"Yes, probably starting to see why I haven't worn the helmet in over sixty years." Nelson shrugged.

"So, what if he loses?" Tom stood back up.

"Well, it is your body," Nelson frowned.

"Yeah, that is not happening," Tom turned around and took a deep breath. "I am not losing my body to anyone or anything." The young hero tapped into his soul and reached forth. What he so vehemently denied now would save him. What sick irony, Tom frowned before clearing his mind.

Nabu would have a word with Kent Nelson when he was done. He crossed his arms, forming a shield of golden magic as Klarion threw a monstrous attack of chaos magic. The attack took the shape of a roaring dragon's head before exploding against the shield. A beam of order magic crashed against Klarion from the smoke before he was again shattered into dark whisps. The witch boy reformed and raised his hands, casting a magic pillar around him. "You're out of practice, Nabu!" He hurled the pillar forward, and it split into beams.

"Tom!" Wally hunched over Nelson's body and braced. An angry, chaotic beam flew towards him.

"Wally!" Tom shouted and disappeared before appearing before Wally and forming a shield.

"Oohhh, is he a friend of yours, Nabu?" Klarion threw his hands out, forming several spheres of energy around him. Klarion made finger guns aimed at Nabu, firing consecutive beams of magic.

Nabu was about to move and gather a powerful strike, but his host disobeyed him. Out of time, he reinforced the shield around them. Klarion's magic smashed against the shield relentlessly. "Who are you, and why do you defy Doctor Fate? The witch boy must be destroyed!"

"What? Dude, Tom, it's me!" Wally raised his head.

"You're in my body, and I'm guessing you can feel my soul right about now," Tom called out to Fate. Nelson watched with keen interest.

"You are indeed gifted, but you are no match for a Lord of Order; surrender your body so that I may do my duty." Nabu pushed the shield out, and it rushed Klarion.

"Hey, no fair!" Klarion clapped his hands, raised his own wall of magic, and sent it against Nabu's. The two collided and sparked into an explosion of mystical energies.

"Tom?" Wally looked at Nabu.

"I am not him; I am Doctor Fate. Now you are in the way." Nabu waved his hand, and Wally and Nelson disappeared from the Tower. "Your friend is safe; now, do not interfere." Doctor Fate asserted his will. Tom fell to a knee, feeling suppressed.

"Something tells me this guy isn't used to being told no," Tom groaned beside Nelson.

"Nabu is not a villain, kid," Nelson sighed. "But he does believe the sacrifice of one is worth maintaining balance." Nelson closed his eyes.

"He's," Tom stood back up. "He's not going to want to give up my body, is he?"

Nelson looked at Tom and then back to the fight. Tom pursed his lips and closed his eyes back to concentrating. "Yeah, didn't think so." Damn him, don't make me tap deep into this!

Nabu flew up and narrowed his eyes at Klarion. A realization hit him; he was so focused on the witch boy he failed to notice the cat with him. He could feel the chaotic energy on it. "Aahh, it is difficult for a Lord of Order and a Lord of Chaos to maintain a presence in the physical realm, isn't it?"

"You're babbling, Nabu!" Klarion glared, unleashing more of his chaotic magic. His features changed to appear more demonic. His ears became pointed, his eyes turned to red glowing beads, and his face became more angular. Even his hair seemed to resemble the horns of a demon.

"Am I?" Nabu brought his hands up, glowing with order magic. He fired a powerful Ankh, and Klarion formed a shield before him. The beam flew past him and struck Teekl, sending the cat sprawling.

Klarion gasped, "How could you strike a defenseless kitten!"

"We both know that is not a cat, and without your familiar, you have no anchor to this plane of existence." Nabu raised his hand; it glowed with potent order magic.

Klarion flickered momentarily out of existence. "Y-you, bully, geezer!" Klarion pointed accusingly. Nabu glared and fired his golden attack.

"Yikes!" Klarion opened a portal behind him and fled into it. He reappeared before Teekl and picked him up. "We're out of here!"

As Klarion left, Fate felt an unwelcome presence was still in his Tower. He reached out to Kadabra with his magic. The villain stood poised to fire a lightning bolt at Connor, the last standing. Everyone else was trapped in electrified energy cages. Kadabra's wand glowed blue, but before he could strike, a gold Ankh appeared behind him, and all his clothes and wand disappeared. He was left in his underwear before an angry Connor. "Shows over, bozo," Connor glared and punched him in the face, knocking Kadabra out. The cages disappeared, and the battle had been won.

"Guys," Wally called out, and they all turned to see Nelson lying motionless in his arms. Wally shook his head. Everyone's sudden elation died out; today's victory was a pyrrhic one.

At the top of the Tower, Doctor Fate stood motionless. Inside the Helmet, Tom glared at the Helmet of Fate that appeared before them. "Give me back my body," Tom gritted his teeth.

"No, today has shown me the earth needs Doctor Fate," Nabu broker no quarter.

"Nabu, this boy is an unwilling host whose soul has proven he can resist you," Nelson argued for Tom. "He would not be a suitable host."

"Sacrifices must be made for the good of all mankind; I will lock his soul within me if I have to," Nabu said, unmoved.

"I will not be caged!" Tom stomped his foot. His eyes surged blue with crackling lightning. "I refused to be caged again!" Tom threw his arms out as lightning crackled around his incorporeal body.

"This power!" Nabu shouted, impressed. "Such power combined with mine could only benefit the world!"

"No!" Tom shouted. "I will never be a prisoner again!" the realm of the Helmet crackled with lightning.

"Nabu!" Nelson stepped up. "Something is wrong; the boy's soul is wounded. If he keeps this up, he will burn his soul, and you will lose the host regardless!"

Nabu floated impassively.

"I WILL NOT BE A SLAVE AGAIN!" Tom's body started to lose its human shape. Lighting covered his body, turning into pure energy.

"Nabu! I beg of you, for all the years we were together, stop this!" Nelson beseeched the Lord of Order.

"Enough!" Nabu's Helmet glowed, and Tom's soul was instantly quelled. Tom returned to normal and fell to his hands and knees, gasping. "To go to the lengths of ending yourself, I am not a monster. I will release you, boy, but you must make an accord with me."

Tom gasped, then glared up at the Helmet of Fate. "I will not submit; my body is my own."

"Calm yourself, I could have forced your soul into servitude. But, as I said, I am not a monster. However, I do not appreciate being sealed away for decades at a time…alone." There was a tiny bit of hurt that Tom almost felt his mind made it up.

"That won't happen again, Nabu, I will remain with you until a suitable host can be found." Nelson nodded.

"That is acceptable, but you can no longer find a host for me, Nelson. So, boy, you will take the Helmet and find a suitable host for me. Do this, and I shall release you."

Tom gritted his teeth, "I won't force you on anyone." Tom glared.

"I never said to force anyone; they must be willing to deal with me. Doctor Fate is needed; chaos must not be allowed to reign." Nabu reasoned.

Tom pursed his lips before standing back up and nodding. "Fine," Tom sighed and gathered his thoughts. "Mr. Kent, the woman in your picture, is she?"

"Waiting for me beyond the boundless horizon,' Nelson smiled. "Don't worry, Kid, I'll spend a millennia or two here, then I'll get to see my beloved Enza." Nelson produced his pocket watch and looked at the picture of Enza within. "That's the great thing about eternity, kid; it's always there waiting for you."

"I won't keep you waiting for long; I'll find someone willing to be Doctor Fate." Tom looked at Nabu. "Nabu, before we seal this pact, I want you to promise something else to me."

Nabu was silent, "what do you wish of me."

"Being Doctor Fate, it is essential and a great sacrifice." Tom pursed his lips. "But, you demand everything of that person. Your quest is singular, but there must be a compromise, not with the enemy but the ally. The person I find cannot just be a vessel. They have to be an ally. An ally should be allowed to be someone besides Doctor Fate; I guarantee you will not be left on a shelf to languish if you do that. Promise me to compromise, and I will accept your deal."

Nabu was again silent for a good moment. Nelson broke the silence, "Enza convinced me I could be someone else besides your vessel. But there is no reason Doctor Fate cannot be both."

"Very well, I shall accept and compromise with the vessel," Nabu paused. "Ally, you deem worthy."

Tom smiled despite the anger and indignity he had felt recently. "You are not a monster, Nabu, I see that now."

"The pact is sealed," The realm began to glow brightly.

"See you around Kid, and tell that bullheaded friend he should find himself a spitfire like my Enza. Someone who won't let him get away with anything. Like that Art-" Nelson's voice was drowned out as reality set in. Tom gasped for breath and reached up to remove the Helmet. Tom looked at the desolate top of the Tower. He saw the remains of Nelson's cane and picked it up. Tom sighed and held the Helmet of Fate underneath his arm.

The Team had Kadabra secured when Tom phased out of the Bell. "Tom!" Wally rushed to his friend. "You're okay; what happened?"

"I," Tom began before sighing. He shook his head, "I'll tell you at the Cave." Tom presented Wally with Nelson's cane. "Here, for a souvenir, I think Nelson would have wanted you to have it."

Wally took the cane and smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks," Wally turned to the fallen magician.

"He also said to tell you to find your own spitfire, someone who won't let you get away with anything." Tom chuckled and nudged Wally before walking past him.

"Hey, what's that?" M'gann pointed at Tom.

"The Helmet?" Tom brought the Helmet of Fate up. That's when he noticed a tattoo of Fate's Ankh on the back of his right hand. Tom raised his hand to his eye level. "The pact is sealed," Tom echoed Nabu.

"Pact?" Kaldur asked.

"Again, I'll tell you all back home." Tom shook his head and looked at Nelson's remains. "We should get out and inform the League." Tom pursed his lips, "and Red Tornado, he did say Nelson was his friend."

"So how do we get out?" M'gann looked at the intricate stairs around them.

Tom raised the Helmet and rotated it to stare into the empty eye holes.

The Tower's yours for now, Kid, just call to it. Nelson's voice echoed in his head.

Tom blinked and looked at M'gann. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" M'ganns brow shot up.

"Ah," Tom smiled and slung the Helmet under his arm again. "Nothing," Tom closed his eyes and reached out with his mind.

A gold apparition of Tom appeared before the Team.

"Whoa," Wally walked up next to Tom.

"Greetings Thomas, how can I help you?"

"The exit," Tom nodded.

"Certainly," Apparation Thomas smiled and disappeared in a flash. Behind him, a wooden door appeared. "Connor," Tom looked to Nelson.

"Yeah," Connor said and gently picked up Nelson's body. The Team walked out and called the League. The sky was darkening, and it looked like rain was coming.

Mount Justice

03:48 | August 20

Rhode Island

Tom entered his room and placed the Helmet of Fate on the counter next to his armor rack. He looked at his reflection on the Helmet's surface. Tom raised his hand and glanced behind him to his still-open door. He looked back and slowly started closing his hand. Just before his fingers touched, a spark of blue lightning flashed. Tom snapped his hand closed and pursed his lips. Damn it all; relying on that stupid power almost cost me my life.

You ought to find a way to let go of that pain, Kid.

Tom jumped and turned around but found himself alone in his room. Tom turned back to the Helmet of Fate and knitted his brow together. "Nelson?"

One and only Kid, your pact with Nabu has given us a connection.

"Nabu?" Tom said uncertainly. There was nothing for a moment, and Tom almost asked again.

It is unnecessary for you to speak aloud, child. Nabu's voice echoed in his mind.

"Right," Tom said, then shook his head. Right then, while our pact stands, I'll talk to both of you. Maybe I can show you the benefits of friendship.

Do not presume to teach me, child; our pact has been made. You do not need to contact me further. If you wish to speak to Nelson. Nabu began.

I want to talk to you because I too understand isolation. Tom pursed his lips and remembered a different Tower. One overlooking the ocean where no one was around, and he spent his days and nights alone. My loneliness may not compare, but I shared it nonetheless.

I like you, Kid; feel free to keep in touch. Nelson laughed before going quiet. Nabu did not speak again, but Tom thought he would at least listen.

A soft knock on his doorframe brought Tom out of his thoughts. Artemis stood leaning on the frame, looking at him with a raised brow. "You okay?"

"Yeah, why?" Tom shrugged.

"Because I heard you talking to yourself when I was walking here." Artemis crossed her arms.

"Oh," Tom smirked, "You're not gonna believe me when I tell you." Tom pocketed his hands and walked out with Artemis. "Come on, how about late-night snacks? We can go to the hangar and open the gates."

"Why?" Artemis shrugged.

Tom paused, then smiled at Artemis. "There was a time when rain outside my window excited me as a kid." Tom gave Artemis a sheepish smile. "I used to think maybe someone was sitting by their window looking at the rain. I liked to think we were both sharing the experience together." Tom sighed, his lips pulling down slightly.

Artemis felt a fuzziness in her chest and inched closer to Tom, walking a bit closer together. "Alright, it's a date."

Tom himself felt something tug at his heart. "Alright, let's grab some snacks." Tom and Artemis walked to the kitchen. As they entered, they saw Wally chase M'gann. "Hey, M'gann, guess who got us tickets to a magick show?"

"He doesn't give up, does he?" Artemis rolled her eyes.

"I'd like to think it's a redeeming quality." Tom chuckled.

Artemis watched Wally round into a hall behind M'gann. "Fine, I'll give him that. But don't you dare tell him I said that!" She pointed a finger at Tom.

"My lips are sealed," Tom made a zipping motion across his lips. Tom and Artemis spent an hour together talking. They talked and laughed and didn't notice as they sat on the floor by the open hangar; Artemis had her hand over Tom's, and Tom absently ran his thumb over her ring finger.

This chapter was a dousy to write! I really like writing Klairon, by the way. He's such an evil ancient being that's still a petulant child. I just love seeing him throw a tamper tantrum haha. Also, Tom becomes the temporary keeper of the Helmet of Fate. Will he be able to soften Nabu's heart? Stay tuned and see how that goes.

In the following chapters, I will introduce a new character. The character was called by you in the reviews already, hah. Also, the following two chapters will happen simultaneously, by the way. Just in case some of you get confused. This will also mark another significant departing point from the original show. There will also be an update on a little organization I introduced earlier. Stay tuned, and keep those reviews coming!

I enjoyed hearing all your feedback. I hope you paid close attention to this chapter. The interactions with Tom and Artemis, in particular, near the end. The devil is in the details.