The Campbell Chronicles Part Two
Chapter 19
Amanda Waller stepped out of the boom tube, her silver soldiers forming a protective ring around her.
The scent of burning made her cough. The air was warmer than the earth, and it felt heavy in her lungs.
Blocky buildings of red stone stretched as far as the eye could see.
People in rags peeked out of doorless openings, their eyes full of fear as they gazed upon the newcomers.
Iron braziers lined the streets, belching black smoke into a blood-red sky.
Large flames licked the heavens and the distance, casting an orange glow across the world's red backdrop.
People began whispering as Amanda stepped forward, the voices tinged with curiosity and fear.
Young children peeked out of alleyways between buildings, their faces smudged with dirt as they gazed upon the newcomers.
Guilt stabbed into Amanda's heart as she saw them, but she pushed it down; it may be distasteful, but she would do what needed to be done to create her perfect world. "Spread out, and begin the conversions. Once it is done, have the people transform back to normal and go about their daily lives until told otherwise."
650 silver blurs disappeared, screams and gasps rent the air as people gagged and fell.
Tears dripped onto the ground as children tried to run, only for them to be gripped by the back of the neck and hoisted into the air.
They stiffened as silver veins spread across their bodies, their fingers twisting into claws as the muscles contracted.
Joseph looked away as the first body fell and rose as a featureless metal humanoid before shifting back into the dirty woman it once was. He glanced at Amanda. 'Was this even the woman he married anymore? Was she always capable of this darkness, or did his death drive her down this path?'
Either way, he couldn't watch this anymore. Slowly, he drifted into the air. With a force of will, he soared through the sky.
More blocky buildings stretched into the distance, forming a concentric ring around a nicer neighborhood. People in rags pushed carts, flinching as hunched creatures with jutting jaws filled with jagged teeth that dripped drool whipped them.
The creature's skin was the color of leather, and it was covered in a dark green bodysuit with some kind of golden pack on its back.
Red eyes burned like hot coals and stared at the people they abused with apathy.
Joseph could feel the fear and despair radiating off these people, and a part of him wanted to help them, but instincts told him to stay away lest he be caught in a worse fate. Clenching his fist, he floated forward, soaring over the inner ring.
This part of the planet was nicer, metal buildings that grew into three connected spires punched the sky. People in black bodysuits that were covered in metal armor stomped the streets, their boots echoing off the stone.
Swords were strapped to their backs, and futuristic guns hung from their waists.
The streets were clean, but despite the better conditions, people walked around with tense shoulders, as if preparing to be attacked at any moment.
People in bodysuits lined with circuitry rode or marched beside what looked like a futuristic army tank that hovered off the ground.
The strange leather-like creatures soared to the sky on what looked like futuristic bat wings, rifles clutched in their clawed hands, their red eyes scanning.
Joseph frowned. Should he try to possess one of these individuals and gather information for Amanda? He didn't like what she was doing, but the people of this world were suffering. Maybe if she took over this world, things would be better.
With a sigh, Joseph shot down, his body glowing as he slipped into what he assumed was a soldier.
–XX –
Silence reigned after Nicholas's statement.
Finally, Wonder Woman opened her mouth to say something, but Cyborg cut her off, his eyes widening.
"A report has just been filed that the death row wing of Iron Heights prison in Central City is empty. 650 inmates have disappeared."
Nicholas folded his arms behind his back. "Well, it appears Amanda Waller has begun building her…"
"We can't jump to conclusions," Batman growled.
Nicholas inclined his head, "Fair enough, but it is kind of ironic that Martian Manhunter and Hazel," he gestured at the two, "revealed the possibility about conversion, and then a death row wing of a prison suddenly becomes empty."
"Using death row inmates does follow Amanda Waller's MO," Superman began, "she would view them as expendable."
"At least it was inmates, she could've used the sick, dying, or children."
The heroes turned to look at him, and Nicholas could feel their judgment of his words.
Just as the silence began becoming uncomfortable, Wonder Woman spoke, "Either way, this incident needs to be investigated. She focused on Cyborg, "Can you teleport us to the death row wing of Iron Heights?"
Cyborg closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them and nodded, "I can." With a gesture, a cylindrical portal appeared stretching to a point, and surrounded by a wireframe cone.
Nicholas moved forward with Superman and Wonder Woman, only for Batman to whirl on him. "You are not coming with us, this entire situation is your fault. It was one of your people who merged Amanda Waller with the android."
Unfolding his arms behind his back, Nicholas allowed them to fall loose at his side as he narrowed his eyes on Batman, "I can either walk through that boom tube with you, or I can fly to Iron Heights on my own. Either way, I'm going to see what that monster is up to."
"If Jinks is responsible for Amanda Waller's actions, does that make you responsible for the Joker's. You keep putting him in prison, he escapes and murders hundreds, if not thousands, that wouldn't happen if you would end it."
Superman stepped forward, "We are not above the law, we do not take the law into our own hands."
"Now you're splitting hairs, because all of you operate outside it."
Martian man Hunter stepped forward, "Enough of this debate, right now we need to find out exactly what happened at Iron Heights, and discover what Amanda Waller's plan is."
"Agreed," Nicholas said, "to that end, I would suggest summoning Joseph Waller and questioning him about Amanda Waller's actions."
Wonder Woman brushed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Do you believe Joseph would betray his wife?"
Nicholas flicked his hands into his pockets. "From what I understand, Joseph Waller was a good man, even if he died in the commission of a felony. He was trying to stop the monster that hurt his daughter after the Court System failed him. I don't think he likes what Amanda is doing, but if he doesn't want to tell us, there are other ways to make him talk."
"The justice league does not torture people," Superman reprimanded, his voice hard.
"I'm not talking about torture," Nicholas turned to Hazel, "there are certain spells that can force a spirit to speak."
Hazel's eyes flared with power. "I am contacting Wanda now."
"No! I will have Zatanna meet us at Iron Heights." Batman countered.
Nicholas moved towards the boom tube, "Zatanna and Wanda know one another, is there reason they can't work together?"
–XX –
The Justice League, Hazel, and Nicholas emerged from the Boom Tube into a long, concrete building. Bare concrete rooms stretched the length of the building, and spiraled up winding staircases to three other floors.
A rectangular skylight in the ceiling cast angular patterns in the center of the room as the group spread out. Nicholas knelt with his eyes closed and his fingers pressed into the floor. He sent out a pulse of power.
With his eyes still closed, he began to speak, "All organic traces and any metal have been removed from this wing of the building. The only thing left is the pipes in the walls, and some of them look chewed on."
Standing up, he turned to stare at Hazel. "Do you sense anything?"
Hazel closed her eyes, and a pulse of power washed throughout the building. As it spread, the power gathered in the empty rooms and formed simulacra of their previous inhabitants.
The group watched as prisoners milled around their cells and guards paced back and forth during the rounds, periodically peeking in each cell. Suddenly, a guard fell, slumping to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Some of his equipment rolled from his person and fell to the balcony below with a clatter. Guards turned at the sound, but before they could react, each of them fell to the floor. Inmates began moving around their cells, seeing this as an opportunity for escape.
Before they could act, an inmate on a lower floor collapsed, convulsing as dark veins spread throughout his body. Before they could see what happened, he winked out, disappearing from his cell.
One by one, the other 649 inmates in the room fell convulsing before disappearing.
"What happened?" Batman asked as the images faded.
"Their minds," Hazel began as she began walking across the room, "cease to be at least in a way that I could sense."
Wonder Woman's blue eyes scanned each of the empty cells, "So, their dead, all of them?"
Hazel stopped at a back corner and looked over her shoulder, "If they're not dead, the sense of self has been destroyed." Turning back to the corner, she pointed at the wall, "Amanda Waller stood here."
Batman moved over to her, removing a square rectangular device from his bronze utility belt and scanning the space with a pale blue light. At first, he found nothing, but when he hit the floor, high-heeled footprints were revealed. "How do you know this is her?"
"Because, despite what happened to her, a part of Amanda Waller is still human, and in the time she spent here, she felt heightened emotions. Which leaves an imprint on an area," Hazel gestured around her, "it was how I was able to show you what happened to the inmates in their last moments."
With a growl, Batman slipped the device back into his belt. "So, we know nothing."
"That's why I believe it would be prudent to summon the spirit of Joseph Waller and ask him what Amanda Waller has been doing and what her plans are."
"Do you think he would tell us anything?" Wonder Woman asked, "he would be betraying his wife."
"It depends on what he thinks of Amanda Waller's actions, but given what Cradle was able to find out about him, I don't think he will agree with them. I think he would tell us something, even if it's just to protect his children from the fallout of Amanda Waller's actions."
Superman shook his head, "I don't like it. The man's eternal rest has already been disturbed, but at the moment, we have no other choice. She killed 650 people." He focused on Batman, "When will Zatanna…"
The man of steel was cut off as a white and red flash appeared in the center of the space, less than a foot apart. Wanda Nelson emerged from the red energy, while Zatanna Zatara emerged from the white.
The two women stared at each other, and tension began to fill the room.
"Wanda," Zatanna greeted.
"Zatanna," Wanda answered.
"Is there going to be a problem here?" Nicholas asked as he moved to stand beside Wanda.
Zatanna stared at Wonda for a long moment before shaking her head, "No, of course not." She moved over to the Justice League without looking back.
"What was that about?" Nicholas asked as Zatanna walked away.
Wanda sighed, "You know my magic is classified as Chaos magic."
Nicholas nodded.
"Well, while chaos magic is used by other practitioners, it is used sparingly because it is hard to control and can have unforeseen side effects on the body, due to the circumstances of my birth, I am immune to the mutations that chaos magic can cause and have much more control over it then a normal practitioner."
Nicholas moved forward and wrapped his arms around her. "So, they view you as a threat."
Wanda wrapped her arms around Nicholas and nodded into his chest, "Yes, it's why Nabu refused to allow me to be his vessel and become the next Dr. Fate."
Nicholas rested his chin atop her head, "I'm kinda glad that happened, if it didn't, you and I wouldn't have met, and I wouldn't have discovered what an amazing woman you are."
Wanda looked up at him, "That is sweet, but I wanted to continue my father's legacy."
Nicholas leaned down, "You don't need a golden helmet to do that."
For a brief moment, their lips met and they forgot about the rest of the world.
Batman cleared his throat, breaking the moment.
Nicholas and Wanda broke apart, but linked their arms together and walked over to the rest of the group.
Hazel nodded to the auburn-haired woman, "Wanda."
Wanda smiled, "Hazel, it's good to see you."
"You as well, I just wish it was under better circumstances."
Wanda's smile faded, and she glanced around the room, her green eyes reflecting the light of the skylight. "What happened here? I sense death, but not in the normal way."
"It's almost like undeath," Zatanna commented, "but it's not Necromancy."
The Justice League looked at one another, each of them asking who wanted to speak.
Batman opened his mouth, but Hazel stepped forward.
"Amanda Waller converted the 650 inmates of this wing into something else. She then took them through a boom tube, we need you," she glanced between Zatanna and Wanda, "to summon the spirit of Joseph Waller and question him on her activities."
Zatanna and Wanda shared a look.
"To do that," Zatanna began, "we either need to find something that belonged to him, or…"
"We need to exhume his body," Wanda finished.