Part XXXV

Mr. Mind vibrated his wings in a shiver of delight, peering out from an interdimensional perch where he could see all, yet none had thought to look for him.

His Monster Society was performing precisely as anticipated, kicking up chaos across the Magic Lands while keeping the Wizard's second-tier Champions occupied and apart from their Captain and his super-powered pals. Whether the megalomaniacal Monsters prevailed or failed was of no concern to Mind. Only the distraction mattered, their cruel knack for engaging his enemies' eyes, their minds, until he was ready to summon the villains back to the Rock. Back to dislodge the Wizard's half-baked monkeys from their seats of power—

—and claim Magic's Source for himself!

Of course, the Seventh Throne still stood between Mind and absolute control. Sivana had summoned the Wizard's fallen Champion, but Teth-Adam's exile had left him stranded at the far end of the galaxy. Mind was not inclined to wait and find out if this one-time tyrant would serve him as an ally, or join Shazam to claim the Seventh Throne and deny Mind all hope of controlling Magic's Source.

Still, there were options. The Freeman brat and that grim detective had proved entirely unsuitable for his plan to create a seventh member of his Monster Society. But Mind's aim was distraction, demoralization and, after observing Shazam and his precious Justice League in action, the jubilant Hyperfly believed he'd landed on the perfect candidate. No mere mortal, but an 'incorruptible' ally – a shining symbol of all they aspired to be!

But he had to work fast. Shazam and his siblings may be raw and uninformed, but they were learning. If they should unlock their full potential – form a Second Council…

No. The Wizard had doomed his own cause when he recruited children to serve as his heirs. Beyond their gaping ignorance, their sense of identity, of purpose, required time to mature.

Mind would not allow them that time.

The Rock of Eternity trembled and shook as, with the power of his mind, the massive Hyperfly released more demons from their age-long confinement deep in the lower caves. Their wicked thoughts and urges filled him with terrible delight, and Mind rubbed his front legs together in glee, sending them straight to the Earthlands.

"If I know those foolish monkeys, they'll spend so much energy and effort hacking away at these trivial minions, they won't have the bandwidth to challenge me! Hee hee! So much for the Justice League!"

"Hm. Impressive." Constantine ducked a little and craned his neck, staring up, and up, and through the vast, kinetic intricacy of the Wizard's Orrery of Worlds. "What is it you say, Cap: Holy moley?"

"Yeah," Shazam agreed as the apparatus's moving shadows passed over them, his eyes wide with awe. "Seriously though, I feel like an ant next to this thing."

Constantine smirked and cast him a glance. "Right. One of those itty-bitty red ones."

"If you boys are done ogling the machinery…?" Wonder Woman prompted, one hand resting on the gleaming hilt of her sword.

With a shrug, Shazam and Constantine rejoined their group.

The Leaguers had divided into teams back at the Watchtower, with Shazam leading Zatanna, Constantine, Wonder Woman, and Jason Blood back to the Rock of Eternity. From there, they aimed to track down Mind and his Monsters and check in on Shazam's siblings. But, though they'd anticipated resistance from the demons Mind had released, the Rock seemed eerily…empty. Zatanna had assured them she didn't sense another masking shield, and Blood and Constantine backed her up. But, even with the massive Orrery twisting and creaking behind them, the…hollowness…of the place was beginning to make Shazam twitch.

If only he'd thought to ask how to contact his friend Tawky Tawny… Should he call for him? Would that risk waking more demons? Did Mr. Tawny live there, somewhere among the caverns of the Rock, or did he have a home dimension? A world, a family, of his own?

Unaware of Shazam's concerns, Wonder Woman turned her attention back to Zatanna. "You were saying this…Orrery…allows its user access to any place? Any time?"

"Even the Magic Lands are open to it now," the magician told her grimly. "Since Mind and his Monsters broke the Wizard's Seal."

Wonder Woman shook her head. "Surely, this is too much power to come under the purview of one Guardian. Even a Council of Guardians."

"I think so too," Shazam said. "But the Wizard left it in my charge. That means it's up to me – up to us – to make sure Mind doesn't get a grip on it."

Wonder Woman frowned. The swooping, spinning, rotating planetarium with its creaking, squeaking gears was far too vast and complex to take in with one glance, or even several. She watched its sophisticated, interlocking dance for a long moment, then narrowed her eyes and set her jaw.

"I say we destroy it."

Jason Blood quirked an eyebrow. "I say, that's a bit extreme."

"I agree," Zatanna said. "The Orrery of Worlds is one of the key elements of the Rock of Eternity, and its connection to the Source. We should devise a way to protect it, not destroy it."

"What about another seal?" Shazam suggested. "Like the one the Wizard had. Would that be possible?"

"That kind of magic is far beyond me, mate," Constantine said, and gestured with his thumb to Zatanna and Blood. "Them too, I'd wager. Though, you're welcome to try."

Shazam's jaw dropped. "Me? I don't know how—" he started, then sighed and admitted, "Look, I don't even really know what the Wizard's Seal was, let alone how it worked. How am I supposed to make a new one? Let alone one that can stand up to that monster, Mr. Mind?"

Blood furrowed his brow. "Surely your Wizard had a library."

Shazam looked a little helpless. "If he did, I haven't found it."

"Then, I suggest we look," the occultist said, and headed for the recessed stairway.

"A library?" Wonder Woman frowned again. "You think this is the time for study?"

"As our friend Batman is fond of reminding us," Blood spoke over his shoulder, "knowledge is power. We cannot expect to be effective against this enemy if we draw our plans from a position of ignorance."

"The ol' knight makes a good point," Constantine said. "Mind surely knows more about the Rock an' its secrets than any of us. I don't expect we can catch up in so short a time, but we might find something we can use against the creep. Something he wouldn't expect."

"I can accept that," Wonder Woman said. "But we shouldn't all go. I suggest someone keep watch here, and in the Throne Room." She cast her wary eyes along the shadowed walls and corridors, her hand still resting against her sword. "I do not trust this silence."

"I know!" Shazam rubbed his arms. "It's totally been creeping me out! I wish we could find Tawky Tawny and—"

The tiger growled from the shadows and Constantine backed into Zatanna.

"Oop! Zee!" He gasped a startled apology and pulled her behind him. "Keep back, love. That tiger there is not what it seems."

"Of course he's not, John," Zatanna told him, though her eyes held a sparkle of appreciative affection for his instinctively caring gesture. "He's an ifrit. A shapeshifter."

"And, one of my oldest friends," Shazam said, opening his arms to the big cat just as the ifrit shifted to his human form. "Mr. Tawky Tawny."

Blood quirked both eyebrows.

"Captain!" Tawny grabbed the larger man's shoulders, his voice a little hoarse from all the roaring and demon chasing. "Oh, Captain, thank goodness! When I saw you trapped in that Suspendium bubble, I…I truly feared you—"

"It's all right," Shazam assured him. "I'm all right. Superman and Green Lantern were able to get me out. But what's been going on here?"

Mr. Tawny pursed his lips beneath his white goatee, his large, cat-like eyes pinched with worry.

"I'm sorry, Cap, but nothing good. With the Wizard's Seal broken, the demons have been escaping to other worlds, other realms. I've been rounding up all I can – confining them below, in the caves. But it's the Wizard and the old Council who sealed them in the rock. And that miscreant Mind, he's been freeing more and more and sending them who knows where—"

"I know you've been doing your best," Shazam told him, his own eyes deeply troubled. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone like this."

"No, no, my boy. Don't trouble yourself with distractions," Tawny said. "Your top concern is containing Mind before he grows too large to trap."

"Yes, but how?" Shazam asked him. "And how can I seal off this Orrery so he, and the demons, can't use it?"

Tawny's head twitched. "You mean, replace the Seal?" He stroked his goatee, his eyes starting to brighten. "There could be a way… Follow me!"

The spry old man headed toward the staircase in the shadowed alcove. Blood followed, asking, "Where are we going?"

"To the Wizard's library, of course," Tawny told them.

Blood nodded and shot Shazam a wink.

Wonder Woman planted her feet. "Perhaps I should say here."

"The more eyes in the library, the faster we can search," Tawny pointed out, already half way up the stairs with the others close behind. "You can't stop all the demons by yourself. Believe me, I've tried!"

Wonder Woman squeezed her sword's hilt, then grunted darkly and followed the others up the stairs.

"I don't like this," Superman said, pacing back and forth behind Batman as the detective tapped his gloved hands over the controls of the Batcave's advanced computer system. "I understand Shazam, Zatanna, and the rest all have powers steeped in magic. But still, I feel like we should have gone with them. Back to the Rock of Eternity."

"There's nothing you or I can do there," Batman stated. "With Mind on the loose, our first priority must be—"

"Preparing Earth's defenses," Superman finished. "Yes, I know. I just… I hate feeling so…so…"

"Powerless," Batman deadpanned.

Superman scowled and peered over his friend's cowled shoulder at the busy screens filling the computer's vast monitor. "Any word from Lantern?"

"He's still on Oa," Batman reported. "I'm sure the Corps will join us. But it remains to be seen whether the Green Lanterns can provide as effective a shield against Mind as Shazam hopes."

Superman crossed his arms over his broad chest. "If only we knew for sure where that Monster-Fly was hiding. I—" He paused and looked up as the secret door connecting the Batcave to Bruce's mansion slid open.

"Hey, guys," Nightwing greeted as he and Robin headed down the stairs to join them on the cave's main platform. "Canary and Green Arrow report they got Rosa and Victor home safely. They said they're heading to the Hall of Justice now, along with Flash and Aquaman. But Stargirl and Booster Gold will be staying in Philly to keep an eye on the Vasquez house in case any of the kids – or Monsters – should show up. Oh – and Martian Manhunter's managing the League's orbiting defense satellites from the Watchtower. How's Star Labs taking all this?"

"They're still having a little trouble wrapping their heads around a magical pan-dimensional Hyperfly that thrives on mind control." Superman gave a slight, wry smirk. "Can't say I really blame them."

"I guess." Robin smirked back. "But, is this Mr. Mind really that much weirder than, say, a giant intergalactic starfish that hacks people's minds by latching mini-space-starfish onto their faces?"

"Starro threatened planets," Batman's grim voice cut through any attempt at lightening the mood. "Mr. Mind is a threat to reality itself."

Robin and Nightwing shared a look. "OK," Robin acknowledged. "So, what can we do to help?"

Superman furrowed his brow. "So far, the brunt of Mind's threat seems to be focused on the Magic Lands the Shazam family were summoned to champion. Unfortunately—"

"Unfortunately," Batman broke in, "our Earth is included on that list." He pulled up the map of the Magic Lands on his giant screen, zooming in on the satellite-like image at the bottom corner. "We can expect an attack at any time. The question is, what form will that attack take?"

He spun his chair around and stood, leaning back against the console with his arms crossed over his armored chest.

"Judging from our recent clash at the Rock of Eternity, Mind prefers to use others to fight his battles. Minions, pawns, puppets. Even after the worm 'leveled up' to his adult form, he kept back until directly provoked. In addition, Shazam's physical assault on the massive fly indicates Mind's attention can be sidetracked, potentially disrupting his mind control powers. All this implies, if we do manage an attack of our own, Mind, himself, will only engage as a last resort."

The detective pressed a fist to his chin, his frown deepening.

"He knows, until the Second Council can form, our Justice League is the biggest threat to his goals. He'll want to keep us busy, overwhelmed – to fracture our focus so we can't gather the unified strength necessary to confront him head-on. With his Monster Society currently engaged against Shazam's siblings, I anticipate he'll recruit the demons of the Rock to attack us here, on our own world. I sent my report to Static Shock at the Hall of Justice. He and his team are alerting local and international leaders and, according to the newsfeeds, many have already called a state of emergency."

He poked the keypad and multiple new screens popped up, each showing a different news channel. All across the world, whether daylight or dusk, reporters stood on windy streets, speaking earnestly to the cameras as store owners pulled down their shop-front shutters and pedestrians rushed to reach their homes before their city's emergency curfew.

"Yeah, but that's big picture stuff," Robin said, looking from one grim adult face to another. "And, it still doesn't answer my question. Demons aren't like mobsters or terrorists you can scare with a few flash bombs and a batarang. So, what's our strategy here? I mean," he turned to Batman, "you have to have a contingency for this, right? If these Rock demons start popping up, and we don't have magic—"

"Refreshments, anyone?"

Bruce Wayne's prim, white-haired butler, Alfred Pennyworth, held out a silver tray stocked with neat, crustless sandwiches and steaming coffee mugs. Batman's team looked startled and even Superman furrowed his brow.

"Alfred?" Nightwing said. "Where did you come from?"

"I didn't hear him come in," Superman spoke low in his throat, "and I'm sure no one opened the door."

Batman's glare darkened.

"Alfred," he said firmly. "You know we have refreshments at tea time. Not before."

The older man took a step back, his head tilted as if confused.

"Yeah," Nightwing added, catching on. "When the clock upstairs strikes thirteen."

The older man seemed to shudder. For a moment, Nightwing caught himself wondering if smoke would start pouring from his ears. Then, a cruel smile spread across the butler's narrow face and his eyes gleamed an alarming red.

"Demons," Nightwing snarled, and reached behind his back to grab his retractable, electrified escrima sticks.

Robin reached for a nearby practice bo, but Batman spread his arms.

"No! Keep back!" he warned. "They may have possessed Alfred's body!"

"Clever, Batman," a chorus of taunting voices emanated from the butler's twisted mouth. "You wouldn't beat up an old man, now would you."

"Perhaps not," Batman admitted. "But I would do this."

With blink-fast reflexes, the detective pulled a loaded dart gun from his utility belt and fired it – all in a single, smooth motion. The dart hit Alfred's exposed neck, just above the collar, and the demons inside him howled!

"Poison!" they shrieked, causing Alfred's slender body to writhe, distend, and contort as the monstrous fiends forced their way out. Clouds and coils of thick greasy smoke poured from his gaping mouth, his nose, his eyes, and the butler collapsed to the floor with a terrible groan.

"Give him this." Batman pressed a small vial of yellowish liquid into Nightwing's palm, and the younger man rushed to administer it. Alfred's labored breathing smoothed out and he fell into a deep, though restive, sleep.

While Nightwing and Robin lifted the older man to the nearby medical cot the two young men had too often found themselves lying on, Batman strode swiftly down a ramp toward a large safe.

"If they can get in here, they can get anywhere. And they can target any one of us." Batman grunted, tapping in his code, then another for the inner door – this one made entirely of lead. "That means we're all vulnerable, Clark. Especially you. I'm going to need you to… Clark?"

He turned from the keypad to see the tall Kryptonian frozen in place, his eyes wide and unblinking. Batman swore between his teeth and opened the lead door, reaching in to grab the largest of his stash of green kryptonite crystals.

"Too late, detective."

A shimmering mirage appeared near the Batcave's shadowed ceiling, causing the bats there to flutter and squeak. As Batman and his team watched, the shimmer coalesced into a pair of round spectacles, accompanied by the snide, clicking, insectoid voice of the monstrous Mr. Mind.

"The hell—!" Nightwing exclaimed.

"This Kryptonian monkey is mine now," Mind's voice rumbled through the dimly lit cavern. "I control him and all his super strength. Body and mind."

"Not for long," Batman snarled, and held out the glowing kryptonite. A shimmering psychic shield appeared around the statue-like Superman and Mind began to laugh.

Batman grunted, his fist tightening around the ineffective crystal.

"Pathetic," Mind chortled. "You know, if I wanted, I could hold you all in my thrall. You. Your team. Your entire primitive species!"

"Why don't you, then," Robin shouted angrily. Nightwing put a staying hand on his shoulder.

"Because, for the moment, I find you entertaining," Mind sneered, and his glasses shifted toward the Bat Computer. "Oooh, and look! The fun has already begun!"

The reporters looked harried now, some of them running along with their camera staff as demons of all kinds snarled and flew and pounced on swerving cars and screaming pedestrians. Like the Sins, the demons could turn solid or fade into smoke, their terrible eyes glowing like fire.

"Oh." Nightwing grimaced. "This is so not good."

"For you, perhaps," Mind gloated. "As for me, I have what I wanted. All I need do is say the magic word!"

"No." Batman paled beneath his cowl and he charged toward the frozen Superman, tossing the kryptonite to Nightwing. "Clark!" he shouted, his commanding voice actually cracking slightly in his desperation to get through to his friend. "Clark Kent, I know you're in there. I know you're fighting this! Don't let him make you say that name. You have to hear me, Clark. Don't you dare say—"

Batman pressed his hand to Mind's psychic shield, feeling the magical energy tickle through his gloves and muscles and into his bones as he shouted, "SABBAC!"

A blinding plume of infernal flames bloomed around Batman's sinister silhouette. In that moment, Nightwing thought he caught a glimpse of something… Something looming…horrible…

Another blink, and the flames had vanished. Mind's glasses had faded too.

Superman fell to one knee, gasping and coughing. "Where…where's Bruce…?"

Nightwing worked his jaw, clenching and unclenching his fists. Robin kept his eyes fixed on the scorched rock where Batman had last stood.

"I don't know," the teen said, his voice tight. "I'm not sure he is Bruce anymore."

To Be Continued…

References include - Justice League vs. Teen Titans; Justice League: Doom; Justice League: Dark; Justice League/Justice League Unlimited; Justice League Action; Batman: The Animated Series; Batman: The Brave and the Bold; Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons; Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil, by Jeff Smith; The Multiversity, by Grant Morrison; Shazam! (movie); Shazam! Volume 1, by Geoff Johns

Hi, everyone! I'm back with more story! It's getting nearer to the big showdown now, so - who knows - I might even finish it this year!

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