Ultimate Heroes (IC)

[AmenRa]

Bifröst[/I] to Spawn.

Kyle pondered over this. "D'you guys use the same emotional spectrum as the Lantern Corps? Red for Rage, Orange for Greed, and so forth? I'm just wondering if I should maybe avoid stepping on the yellow bit."

As they walked up a winding, carved stone stairwell, Thor answered the Green Lantern's question.

"Colors are symbolic to us in many different ways," the Lord of Asgard explained, "but none hold certain value here as to cause any harm to you, my friend."

And Heimdall greeted J'onn as he allowed the Martian to pass onto the bridge. The Martian Manhunter caught up with the group as Thor came to the top of the steps. There, before the Son of Odin, stood a large hall, constructed on the outside of stone and polished wood, and having two great doors. Valkyrie stood on opposing sides of the doors, their winged helms not unlike those of their lord's. They bowed in greeting. Thor placed his hands against these doors and pushed. They swung open, and Thor stepped inside.

There was a statue of Odin immediately inside the doorway, occupying a place at the front of the hall. The statue held a sword between it's hands, the point of the blade resting against a wooden block on the floor. It was a great broadsword, and it's double-edged blade was inscribed with Runes, as was it's crossgaurd. The handle appeared to be wrapped with the same material as Mjolnir. Thor glanced at the statue, and at the sword, and mumbled something in Old Norse, then continued into the great room.

The ceiling of the hall was high and worked with the familiar exposed beam construction. A long table occupied the center of the hall, made of polished wood, and a hearth held a roaring fire. Furs, hides, and pelts covered the floor. There were hallways at both ends of the hall that lead to rooms and rest areas.

Thor removed his helm and stepped to the head of the large table. He placed his helm on the table, but did not sit.

"Bring food and drink," he told one of the many attendants of the hall. These were female, and their clothing was little or none, sheer and see-through where there was any at all.

J'onn placed two great, green hands on the table. "I think it would be best to start with our most recent postulation of suspicion," he began. "A visit to Lex Luthor's building, factories, and businesses may provide some insight to his involvement. This should be done with subtlety and stealth," he added.

Thor nodded. "That counts me not among the party," he stated. "For I am not known for subtlety."

The corner of J'onn's mouth went up in an almost smile. "I will lead the team," he offerred. "Unless there are objections?"

 

[Drakkwall]

"I can do it, my powers can let me sneak past any surveillance, if I cut the power to the building and make it dark I can get even more ways of moving through their hallways. I have done this before, I once threatened an evil guy of a high governmental weapon industry, he trained governmental assassins and had a special group for his own uses, I sneaked past them into the building, and they tried to stop me when discovering some of their friends not responding, all in all I got to the big man, and gave him a little rough treatment, but I didn't kill him, if I killed him ,he would become a hellspawn, and that I couldn't have. And this was me, not caring if i was found or not, it took them an hour to discover I was even in the building. I didn't know how to change my appearance back then either." The hellspawn grabbed a goblet and opened his mask and drained it, while he had no need for food did he like to eat, it reminded him of the mortality he had lost, it was a comfort to eat some food, plus it gave him more energy, he could eat as much junk-food as he wanted and he would remain fit as a trim, one good thing with being a hellspawn, one of the few.

"You must have be a strong warrior to survive being so damaged by fire." Looking up from the goblet Spawn was a bit surprised to see an armored woman, a Valkyrie ,though he didn't know this, stretching his chin the hellspawn wondered just how to respond to a beautiful woman telling him he was strong, in a flirting manner of all things, for having a face that looked like a horror movie gone wrong.

Looking over at the others the hellspawn gave them a very lost and confused look. "Um... how do I respond to that?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Lantern 2814.4, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Captain Cymru, Iron Man.

As they walked up a winding, carved stone stairwell, Thor answered the Green Lantern's question.

"Colors are symbolic to us in many different ways," the Lord of Asgard explained, "but none hold certain value here as to cause any harm to you, my friend."

"Double-sweet," Green Lantern nodded, flashing an 'okay' hand-sign. "Much obliged, your lordship."

Diana tucked her hair back behind her ear as she walked, exposing the red gleam of a star-shaped earring. "Oracle," she intoned into the communicator. "There's been a change of venue. Keep an ear to the ground for all Leaguers, former Avengers, and other heroes seeking to pursue Thor's summons, and make available to them JLA teleportation to my location if need be. Thank you, dear."

"Here's what I don't get," Spider-Man mused. "I read a book, once, and isn't Asgard supposed to be a continent the size of North America? How is it sitting pretty next door to Small Town, USA?"

"There existed a similar conundrum in my world," Cymru murmured. "Asgard occupied a portion of the sky above The American Federation's City of New York, but did not o'ershadow that sky in its entirety. The going theory was that only a part of Asgard actually extended into our physical Universe. Other, more radical thinkers suggested a free-folding tesseract phenomenon."

"Hhf," Tony murmured. "'Bigger on the inside.'"

The Fellowship, if Fellowship be the proper word, proceeded into a Hall that would have seemed not out of place either next door to Hrothgar's Keep in Beowulf, or in Tolkien's Rohan. It was beautiful, almost as beautiful in its own way as the soldier-women guarding it.

Thor removed his helm and stepped to the head of the large table. He placed his helm on the table, but did not sit.

Spider-Man vaulted a chair and sat fully upon it in a crouch, his hands planted neatly between his feet.

Green Lantern twirled a chair and straddled it with his arms crossed upon the back of it. Cymru sat beside him, legs crossed and hands folded in her lap.

Iron Man did not approach the table, as such. He stood nearby, with his arms crossed over his chest, and looked about as uncomfortable as a "mortal in a metal suit" can look.

"Bring food and drink," he told one of the many attendants of the hall. These were female, and their clothing was little or none, sheer and see-through where there was any at all.

Diana arched an eyebrow of her own at these attendants. Ah, patriarchies.

And while she had taught herself to carefully tread the line between standing up for women's rights wherever she went and respecting the cultural distinctiveness of others, she opted to remain standing so long as these attendants were made to also stand.

J'onn placed two great, green hands on the table. "I think it would be best to start with our most recent postulation of suspicion," he began. "A visit to Lex Luthor's building, factories, and businesses may provide some insight to his involvement. This should be done with subtlety and stealth," he added.

Thor nodded. "That counts me not among the party," he stated. "For I am not known for subtlety."

The corner of J'onn's mouth went up in an almost smile. "I will lead the team," he offerred. "Unless there are objections?"

"Invisibility, intangibility, shapeshifting, superspeed," Iron Man counted off on his fingers. "No, no, no objections. Although if The Batman is to be making an appearance, I think his aid should be enlisted first and foremost."

"I can do it, my powers can let me sneak past any surveillance, if I cut the power to the building and make it dark I can get even more ways of moving through their hallways. I have done this before, I once threatened an evil guy of a high governmental weapon industry, he trained governmental assassins and had a special group for his own uses, I sneaked past them into the building, and they tried to stop me when discovering some of their friends not responding, all in all I got to the big man, and gave him a little rough treatment, but I didn't kill him, if I killed him ,he would become a hellspawn, and that I couldn't have. And this was me, not caring if i was found or not, it took them an hour to discover I was even in the building. I didn't know how to change my appearance back then either." The hellspawn grabbed a goblet and opened his mask and drained it, while he had no need for food did he like to eat, it reminded him of the mortality he had lost, it was a comfort to eat some food, plus it gave him more energy, he could eat as much junk-food as he wanted and he would remain fit as a trim, one good thing with being a hellspawn, one of the few.

"I can be Kraven The Reaper's wingman if need be," Spider-Man suggested. "I mean, I'm no Kurt Wagner, but I've gotten pretty good at hiding in shadows over the years, even without my black suit. It's kind of a state of mind sorta thing."

"Captain Cymru can walk softly if she wants to," Kyle suggested, though Rose's expression neither confirmed or denied this, "and I can do a Romulan Cloaking Device thing with The Ring."

"Well," Stark pondered, a bit gruffly, "no need to get too top-heavy on this. I mean, my primary armour has stealth properties, though I can switch to a far more undetectable variant if need be. All the same: J'onn, The Batman, Spawn, and Spider-Man would be sufficient, I think. Which leaves Thor, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Captains and myself twiddling our thumbs."

Diana inclined her head thoughtfully. "Not necessarily. Perhaps Luthor shouldn't be the only one we investigate? As an ambassador to The United Nations, I may be able to secure an audience with Latveria's uncontested ruler under the guise of a diplomatic liaison. Given that SHIELD's peacekeeping is affiliated with The United Nations and Iron Man is, for better or for worse, an integral part of SHIELD these days, he could accompany me in a supervisory role. On the other hand, if Apokolips is involved, perhaps a show of force would be worth an attempt. A wrathful thunder god, The Wrath of the Judeo-Christian God, and The Green Lantern Corps' third in command showing up on his doorstep might put him on his back foot, force him to revise his machinations."

"I'm going with Lantern Rayner," Cymru stated, simply, as though this were beyond contestation.

Kyle arched an eyebrow at her, turnabout being fair play. "You sure? Apokolips is like a Hell-themed theme park spread out over a whole planet. Mucho loco bad mojo."

Rose looked at him like he'd said something immensely stupid. "I'm going with you."

Kyle looked panicked for a moment. "Please don't get killed."

Rose squinted at him. "I'll do my best."

"You must have be a strong warrior to survive being so damaged by fire." Looking up from the goblet Spawn was a bit surprised to see an armored woman, a Valkyrie ,though he didn't know this, stretching his chin the hellspawn wondered just how to respond to a beautiful woman telling him he was strong, in a flirting manner of all things, for having a face that looked like a horror movie gone wrong.

Looking over at the others the hellspawn gave them a very lost and confused look. "Um... how do I respond to that?"

Spider-Man could not have been grinning wider if he were Venom. "Hey, makes sense to me, battlefield angels of death, you look like a battlefield dead guy, you must be the catch of the day to her. Point of advice, though: you should start by saying 'thank you,' that usually helps. Also, return the compliment. Tell her she looks like she can really put boot to ass, or tell her she's punctual or something."

 

[Lunaramblings]

The Spectre followed the others through the portal to Bifrost.

"Heimdall, Guardian of thy realm, I come forth not in my role of Vengeance, but in my role of Avenger. With your permission, I wish to pass."

Heimdall looked hard at the figure before him. "You are not unfamiliar to me, in either of your forms. Your countenance has been enough to bring many to their knees, your power and might has shaken worlds. Spectre, I know thou asketh to pass only as an honor, for even my might would be tested in denying you. I respect this. More so, I respect thy host. Pass in peace and goodwill my brother." Heimdall never looks from The Spectre as he speaks. To do so would be a show of disrespect.

"Heimdall, I can not change that which my other half hath done. But I assure you, The Spectre is reborn. I now am the bearer of this mantle, and I intend to wear it with all the pride I once wore the stars and stripes. Fear not the hand of God, for thou are righteous."

The Spectre follows the rest. Listening as J'onn lays his plans bare. And as the Hellspawn befouls with his mere presence.

"Hellspawn, your ignorance and brashness to this gathering is not unnoticed. Know this boy, if not for my presence in this form, The Spectre would have already torn you asunder. I recommend you show some respect, or I may just let him have his fun. Further, your "skills" are questionable. The Manhunter has proven his worth, his capability and his status in more ways than your pathetic mind could ever hope to fathom. Tread lightly bastard of Hell. Or I will gladly send you home. Or at least parts of you." The Spectre's voice is as a booming thunder. His star pulses as the obvious irritation grows. His eyes fixed on Spawn. "J'onn, you have my full confidence. Direct me where thy will. I believe it Mr. Luther is owed some Vengeance... but perhaps that is best suited for a later time."

The Spectre listened to the others so gathered.

"I would be more than glad to accompany a contingent to Apokolips."

 

[camerindrake]

The line hit the top of the building as he felt the wind kick up Batman was not a happy man his armaments arrived as he had jumped into his new car. He grabbed one full utility belt and the suit for the Spider he had developed. Grayson had laughed his butt off for the one time that Bruce was going to be late.

He retracted his line carrying him onto the building and he glided into the portal as it was about to close his landing more that of a tailspin before the guardian of the bridge Bifröst, Still carrying the suit for Spider-man he stood up his cape falling over his armoured shoulders.

He stopped in front of Heimdall saying. "I am the Dark Knight, Gotham's protector. I seek audience with the God of Thunder and Lightning, Thor"

Heimdall steps to the side responding with, "Enter in."

He walks the bridge to the gates of the hall and looks up to the statue of Thor and passes through the large entrance.

He looks to the group gathered and walks up to Parker placing the black armour beside him. Though black in color with the white spider markings the armour carried the Teflon covered underlay and light ceramic seperated plates The guantlets themselves prove hollow to allow for the web shooters if required.The palms and undersides of the feet are a lighter cloth.

He says but with but a light smirk, "Begin where we last ended, with a handshake." Then he offers his hand to the wall crawler and continues, "You may feel you are safe enough with only spandex but I thought you would be safer with a little protection. It's not nearly as armoured as mine but it will allow for you to use all of your agility."

He follows by looking at Rayner and the new captain a strange twinge of familiarity comes over him from her and he gives Rayner a nod and to the captain he says, "Introductions later."

He then walks over to the Manhunter from Mars and offers his hand asking, "What did I miss old friend?"

He gives the Thunder God a respectful nod.

He looks over to Starks and his eyes narrow his tightly controlled will wanting to unravel especially after his quest to return from the ancient past allowed him to unleash its full fury.

He then gets a shock and his hard exterior collapses as he sees the one thing he never wished to see. "Steve."

 

[Drakkwall]

"...well that's very kind of you, I am sure it is a pleasure to know that you are currently being rude and threatening a guy who has been hunted by self declared crusaders like you for over five years, after spending five years in a burning torture in hell's circles, I don't care if you think of me as hell's boy toy, but if you let you mouth fly by like that I won't take it like a jailbitch. so up yours and get stuffed you undead excuse of a badly made fake martian playboy paladin." Turning away from the jerk who just ruined his good mood spawn turned towards the Valkyrie with an apologizing look on his face.

"Terribly sorry about that, he got something out for me as I am apparently the son of satan for being tortured in hell after getting killed by my best friend. now let me tel lyou how I got this face." The hellspawn was feeling very cheerful, it was good to know there were some people who didn't spit on him for having the face of a zombie, it was even better to know that there were women who might even get to know him better, he had been without it for ten years, so give the guy a break. "I was in a scouting mission with my commanding officer, bastard who betrayed me, we had just waded through an oil spilled lake to evade being spotted, I was looking out for air planes sent to scout the area for spies, like us, when I suddenly feel a hand pushing me in the back and I tumble down a landslide until I land square in a mine field, I didn't die at once, I lost my left leg and a good chunk of my shoulder , right side and my eyes, but what really put me down was how I got ignited by the sparks from he mines, my body being covered in oil as it was, was very flammable. I burned for about an hour before I finally died, a burned out husk, but I did managed to throw a grenade before I submitted to my wounds, heh I got that bastard's left hand, later on when I returned from hell I drove him insane by some personal mind torture, death was too good for him. I went like this-" As the hellspawn described it all, even going further then intended, he didn't notice how he began to gather a crowd of listeners, many Valkyries and warriors, listening to the tales of the hell warrior, the Valkyrie he had his warm around the waist was blushing for some reason, and he had no idea she was even blushing, too much into his story telling.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Parker, Rayner, Prince, Llewellyn, and Stark.

Perhaps predictably, Spawn and The Spectre did not see quite eye-to-eye.

"Don't you hate it when the parents fight?" he murmured, leaning over to murmur at Kyle.

Kyle made a motormouth motion with his hand. "Bicker bicker bicker bitch bitch bitch."

Parker chuckled.

But after issuing a retort in the face of--

Uhhhh...

Spectre-Cap, Cap-Spectre, Steve Spectre, Spectre Steve?

Respect The Spectre, don't fear The Reaper?

I got a number of options here. Still need work. I'll save 'em for later.

--Cap, Spawn proceeded to describe a course of action he'd taken that kind of made Cletus "Carnage" Kasady look like a poster child for rational behaviour.

So self-absorbed was he that he didn't notice the looks of revulsion on the faces and body language of some of his fellow heroes, though apparently that counted as a turn-on for Asgardian Warrior Princesses?

Maybe they're just humouring him.

At least Brunnhilde would have better taste than that. I'd hope.

Diana stared evenly at Spawn. "Well. Perhaps you'd be at home in Tartarus after all? Or Apokolips, whichever would take you. I would argue that your sadism to your enemies is less an honourable mark than would be a shred of mercy. Vengeance of that sort is a cycle difficult to break, evil begetting evil."

Kyle looked just about as green as his uniform. "So, hey, subject change? Anyone? How 'bout that local sports franchise?"

"The Vikings?" Spider-Man supplied immediately. "(No, wait, Oklahoma, not Minnesota.)"

Right about then, Batman walked in.

Rose sat up a little straighter. This one looks interesting.

Spider-Man waved to him cheerfully. "Bats! Fashionably late, for once. (You're not gonna believe me when I say this, but I think your gloomy mug'll actually brighten the party for a change.)"

He looks to the group gathered and walks up to Parker placing the black armour beside him. Though black in color with the white spider markings the armour carried the Teflon covered underlay and light ceramic seperated plates The guantlets themselves prove hollow to allow for the web shooters if required.The palms and undersides of the feet are a lighter cloth.

Spider-Man blinked. Usually when someone offered him a new outfit, be it symbiotic and organic or shapeshifty Stark IronTech, it eventually wound up becoming a pitched battle for his heart and soul.

But this one struck him as being different. Mostly because it came from Batman, and Batman was easily in the Top Three most honourable guys Spider-Man had ever met. (So far.)

"Uh," he mumbled, holding up the mask of the new outfit. "Where do I--?"

He says but with but a light smirk, "Begin where we last ended, with a handshake." Then he offers his hand to the wall crawler and continues, "You may feel you are safe enough with only spandex but I thought you would be safer with a little protection. It's not nearly as armoured as mine but it will allow for you to use all of your agility."

Even as he shook that hand, Spider-Man balked a bit. "This is so not Spandex!"

But then he glanced down again at the uniform. "All the same, tho', Bats. Mahalo plenty. (I'll hafta ask the wife if it makes my butt look too big). Thanks for this. Thanks for everything."

He follows by looking at Rayner and the new captain a strange twinge of familiarity comes over him from her and he gives Rayner a nod and to the captain he says, "Introductions later."

Green Lantern saluted Batman. "Yeah, hey, you bet."

Cymru regarded Batman with a quiet scrutiny. There was no counterpart for this man on her world that she knew of, but he moved and talked like a cross between Moon Knight and The Daredevil, with a confidence matched by few save Shang-Chi.

...interesting.

He looks over to Starks and his eyes narrow his tightly controlled will wanting to unravel especially after his quest to return from the ancient past allowed him to unleash its full fury.

Those eyes narrowed and inside his helmet Stark's lip curled.

[Adamantium underlay detected. EMP hardening detected. Arc reactor technology detected.]

Patent infringement.

You must have had your Mister Wizard friend reverse-engineer it somehow. Even improve the designs, combine it with microextraction hydrogen fuel cell storage reservoirs?

I'm less than impressed, Batman. You know I guard my secrets jealously, after that debacle with Spymaster stealing my designs...

I may be paranoid, but I have my reasons. Good, good, goddamned reasons.

Mark my words, 'Bats,' I catch one whiff of you misusing that technology, I will be slapping a negator pack on you before you can spell 'antidisestablishmentarianism.'

Outwardly, though, he simply harrumphed. "Batman."

He then gets a shock and his hard exterior collapses as he sees the one thing he never wished to see. "Steve."

Spider-Man grinned. "If I've seen it once, I've seen it a thousand times, you come back from the dead only to turn into a conversation killer? Same thing happens when you change your old look, everyone stops and stares. Spectre-Cap here did both in one swell foop, no wonder Bats is speechless."

 

[AmenRa]

J'onn nodded at Captain America's words. J'onn knew he was among allies, and he counted himself fortunate. He was never one to boast, or brag about his methods, his ideals, or his powers. He did not need to. He was J'onn J'onzz, and to be that meant as much to him as it did to others he connected with. There was no doubt in his mind those gathered, even the mighty thunder god, would follow him to their deaths if need be, so long as his cause was righteous. J'onn knew The Spectre, knew him well, as he had known Steve Rogers. And, for that simple thing, to know someone, to call someone a friend, J'onn smiled.

And J'onn J'onzz knew nothing other than righteous. The centuries of his life had been dedicated to the ideals of justice, honor, courage, and compassion. He sought to lead by example, and he knew full well others followed his lead, shaping themselves to embody the principles for which he stood. For which he was.

He did not consider himself the leader of this group, but he knew to not offer his guidance would have been amiss.

And then, one of his closest and oldest friends entered the Great Hall.

He then walks over to the Manhunter from Mars and offers his hand asking, "What did I miss old friend?"

J'onn returns the handshake. "Nothing, really. Talk of the apocolypse, the End of All Things. Just the usual stuff," he answered. And then, with a serious tone, "Kal-El has never faced enemies so powerful. Prepare yourself." And then the Martian Manhunter closed his eyes and sent the mental image of Superman lying asleep in the Fortress of Solitude to the Batman's consciousness.

He gives the Thunder God a respectful nod.

Thor bowed his head in 'solemn greeting'. He then stepped close to The Batman. Here was a warrior worthy of all in Asgard. Bruce Wayne had his darkness, as did all living beings, but Thor had only found a few others who's heart was as pure. And, it was no coincidence, that those few others resided within the Great Hall with him now.

Thor placed a hand on the Dark Knight's shoulder. "Welcome to Asgard," he said. "Welcome to my home." Thor gestured to the window. "Dawn breaks in but a few hours," he noted.

The Martian Manhunter lifted his left wrist to his mouth. There was a tiny, transparent JLA communicator strapped to his wrist. "Oracle," he said, "this is Martian Manhunter."

"Go ahead, J'onn."

And then a thought occurred to him. "Stand by," he said to her. And then to the group, "Is it possible to link the databases of the Batcave with Iron Man's resident AI? In planning to infiltrate Lex Luthor's offices and warehouses, it would speed up the data and intel gathering exponentially."

The Martian Manhunter then filled Bruce in on the plans to infiltrate Luthor's businesses to see if there was any connection to Doom and Darkseid's use of Kryptonite against Superman.

 

[ChasNicollette]

GL, Kim, Spidey, Wondy, and Shellhead.

Thor bowed his head in 'solemn greeting'.

(Kyle Rayner punched the sky at this. Rose Llewellyn cracked the faintest of faint smiles: "Nerd.")

He then stepped close to The Batman.

Thor placed a hand on the Dark Knight's shoulder. "Welcome to Asgard," he said. "Welcome to my home." Thor gestured to the window. "Dawn breaks in but a few hours," he noted.

Rose pondered this, and murmured quietly to Kyle. "Is the time significant?"

Rayner chuckled softly. "Yeah. Bats is kind of a 'nite-owl.'"

Parker held up the new black mask on his hand, using it as a puppet, doing a bit of a gravelly-voiced impression of The Bat Himself: "'I do my best work in the dark, Captain.'"

Wonder Woman shushed them, but she couldn't stifle her grin.

The Martian Manhunter lifted his left wrist to his mouth. There was a tiny, transparent JLA communicator strapped to his wrist. "Oracle," he said, "this is Martian Manhunter."

"Go ahead, J'onn."

And then a thought occurred to him. "Stand by," he said to her. And then to the group, "Is it possible to link the databases of the Batcave with Iron Man's resident AI? In planning to infiltrate Lex Luthor's offices and warehouses, it would speed up the data and intel gathering exponentially."

Stark stared blankly at J'onn, and looked, though he'd thought this impossible, pointedly more uncomfortable. "Not to be... counterproductive, Manhunter, but I don't think so. As paranoid as I'm mocked for being, Batman upgrades paranoia to an art form. I'm not having my systems invaded by whatever version of The Thinker Virus his Crays are using as a defence mechanism these days, and I'm sure he doesn't want me peering about to see what skeletons he might have in closets."

Diana frowned at Stark. "Iron Man, surely we can be professional about this?"

Iron Man glared back at Diana. "Given that the topic at hand, if you'll forgive me, is corporate espionage, I think professionalism is going to take a backseat to pet peeves."

The Martian Manhunter then filled Bruce in on the plans to infiltrate Luthor's businesses to see if there was any connection to Doom and Darkseid's use of Kryptonite against Superman.

 

[AmenRa]

Martian Manhunter - Thor

Iron Man had effectively halted J'onn's progress into intelligence gathering.

But, not to be bothered with obstacles (he was, after all, able to become intangible to the point where he could pass through solid objects), J'onn purposed another thought to explain his tactics.

"It is obvious we are going to infiltrate Luthor's offices in Metropolis," he told them, "but we need hard data as to the locations of other possible data repositories. A fertiliser plant in Smallville? A chemical plant in Chicago? Where else should we look? If either Iron Man or Batman could provide likely targets, it would make things easier. It would also make sense to split our team. Spiderman and I can examine one location, then move to another if needed. While we are doing that, the Batman and Spawn can be checking elsewhere."

Thor nodded his head. "And we should consider My Lady's notion of visiting Apokolyps. That is, of course, if the Martian's findings tell us Darkseid is still here and has not returned to his homeworld after the attack on Kal-El."

The Mighty Thor moved to stand beside Diana, signalling his commitment to the quest. He knew full well a trip to Darkseid's homeworld meant a battle with the forces of Apokolyps. Battle. Indeed, such was what warriors were for. The warrior's purpose, according to the Allfather, was simple:

'To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women'.

Thor had spent much time bringing Asgard from the old ways, from the old rule of Odin, but some things still carried true.

The only difference now being was the 'lamentation of their women' part. Thor had no desire to hear any lamentation from anything on Apokolyps. Besides, standing next to Hippolyta's daughter, he found himself much unable to consider any other.

 

[camerindrake]

Batman thought a moment before speaking, "Integration of our computers with that of Oracle's would be wiser. If Ironman would go for that idea." He then looks to Starks saying, "You could keep Pepper or War Machine watching your network if you think it prudent, Ironman.

He then places a hand on the table, "Another possibility would be The church of Darksied or better known as Intergang. If you want to pursue that avenue I know an agent who has went against them before that I can contact."

He then looks to the Manhunter from Mars saying, "And we cannot take for granted New Krypton or Zod. I would think Diana should speak with Mon-El if you think it is wise."

 

[AmenRa]

Batman thought a moment before speaking, "Integration of our computers with that of Oracle's would be wiser. If Ironman would go for that idea." He then looks to Starks saying, "You could keep Pepper or War Machine watching your network if you think it prudent, Ironman.

He then places a hand on the table, "Another possibility would be The church of Darksied or better known as Intergang. If you want to pursue that avenue I know an agent who has went against them before that I can contact."

He then looks to the Manhunter from Mars saying, "And we cannot take for granted New Krypton or Zod. I would think Diana should speak with Mon-El if you think it is wise."

J'onn removed a snack pack of Oreo cookies from a pocket in the rear of his uniform. He offerred one to the group. Thor took a cookie from J'onn with a nod. The thunder god then proceeded to peel apart the chocolate halves of the cookie, and then he licked off the creamy icing from one half. He was conscious of scrutiny from the Martian Manhunter, to which he returned a raised eyebrow.

J'onn did not quite expect The Mighty Thor to eat an Oreo in such a way, but he simply offerred Thor another cookie. He then answered The Batman.

"I have no wish to involve Intergang, but if everyone agrees it is prudent, then of course we will pursue that avenue," he responded. "As for Zod, I can assure you he is safely contained within the Phantom Zone. Contacting Mon-El would be at Diana's descretion, and I think it a wise move."

The Martian cupped his chin for a moment. "Integrating the computer systems in question with those of Watchtower is the most logical course of action. I must remind each of you," and he fixed them all with his red glowing-eyed gaze, "that although we each have certain eccentricities, we must all agree to work together completely. This alliance is for nothing without our complete allegience to one another, and more importantly, to the fate of this planet we call our home."

Respect between J'onn and Bruce was forged deeply, and as hard as any Uru metal conjured from Asgard's keep. There had been occassions when J'onn had had to reign the Dark Knight in a bit, and there had also been those when the only words of wisdom J'onn had heard had been spoken with the growling whispers of the man behind the Cowl. There were no secrets between the two, just as with J'onn and Kal-El and Diana, and their alliance in itself was the stuff of legend.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, Captain Cymru, and Green Lantern 2814.4.

"It is obvious we are going to infiltrate Luthor's offices in Metropolis," he told them, "but we need hard data as to the locations of other possible data repositories. A fertiliser plant in Smallville? A chemical plant in Chicago? Where else should we look? If either Iron Man or Batman could provide likely targets, it would make things easier. It would also make sense to split our team. Spiderman and I can examine one location, then move to another if needed. While we are doing that, the Batman and Spawn can be checking elsewhere."

Spider-Man's curiously expressive mask took on the appearance of an arched eyebrow, and he held an index finger aloft. "Dooooon't think I can't hear you dropping the hyphen there, J'onny. Respect the hyphen. Sheesh, I expect that sort of dis from Electro, not from you, and it's not like I leave out all your apostrophes. (Otherwise, good plan.)"

Iron Man's posture, on the other hand, was pretty much approximating a scowl as he reassessed the possibility of data loss.

Thor nodded his head. "And we should consider My Lady's notion of visiting Apokolyps. That is, of course, if the Martian's findings tell us Darkseid is still here and has not returned to his homeworld after the attack on Kal-El."

The Mighty Thor moved to stand beside Diana, signalling his commitment to the quest.

Wonder Woman smiled faintly. "Even if he had returned home, the reminder that Thor's hammer enables him to visit himself upon Apokolips without the benefit of a Boom Tube should surely give pause to even the darkest of The New Gods. But I understand the tactical merit of making one's mark whilst your host's back is turned. Not for nothing am I a Greek who has borne gifts."

Iron Man harrumphed. "Funny you should mention Trojan horses."

Batman thought a moment before speaking, "Integration of our computers with that of Oracle's would be wiser. If Ironman would go for that idea." He then looks to Starks saying, "You could keep Pepper or War Machine watching your network if you think it prudent, Ironman.

Iron Man stared at Batman for a moment.

[Voice stress analysis inconclusive.]

...of course it is.

He shook his head briefly. "Rescue and War Machine are both engaged in a UN peacekeeping mission regarding a border dispute between Zandia and Symkaria and as such are... indisposed. But I have a solution in work."

Maximum encryption on link to Stark Dataspine.

[...working.]

[...encrypted.]

Isolate Server 7B in Flushing, Queens. Display file list...

[...working.]

But Batman had more on his cowled mind.

He then places a hand on the table, "Another possibility would be The church of Darksied or better known as Intergang. If you want to pursue that avenue I know an agent who has went against them before that I can contact."

He then looks to the Manhunter from Mars saying, "And we cannot take for granted New Krypton or Zod. I would think Diana should speak with Mon-El if you think it is wise."

Frowning, Captain Cymru regarded Green Lantern. "'New Krypton?'"

Green Lantern nodded. "Does your world have a Counter-Earth?"

Cymru pondered this. "Yes. Ours was given over to Magneto when rule of a mere island nation proved not enough for his ambition."

Green Lantern grunted. "Yeah, sounds like him. Anyhoodle, 'our' Counter-Earth got restructured by a combination of Kryptonian and Brainiac technology into a new world for the survivors of The Bottle City of Kandor. Right now it's being led by General Zod which, as far as evil conquering dudes go, just about as scary as Magneto."

J'onn removed a snack pack of Oreo cookies from a pocket in the rear of his uniform. He offerred one to the group. Thor took a cookie from J'onn with a nod. The thunder god then proceeded to peel apart the chocolate halves of the cookie, and then he licked off the creamy icing from one half. He was conscious of scrutiny from the Martian Manhunter, to which he returned a raised eyebrow.

J'onn did not quite expect The Mighty Thor to eat an Oreo in such a way, but he simply offerred Thor another cookie. He then answered The Batman.

"I have no wish to involve Intergang, but if everyone agrees it is prudent, then of course we will pursue that avenue," he responded. "As for Zod, I can assure you he is safely contained within the Phantom Zone. Contacting Mon-El would be at Diana's descretion, and I think it a wise move."

Diana pondered this, taking her own cookie and nibbling it demurely, and making no judgement on the relative barbarism of Thor's approach. He had a charm to him that far surpassed the lack of "civilisation" generally attributed to him. Besides, was there any wrong way to eat an Oreo?

"The Dark Side Club," Diana admitted, "and Intergang, each represent factions of Apokolips on Earth, which Darkseid could use to his advantage. These should not be ignored, especially given that their terrestrial holdings could overlap with those of the aforementioned Lexcorp. With regards to Mon-El, yes, there is wisdom in this. Metropolis specifically and The Earth in general will be considered vulnerable without Kal to keep an eye on things, and Mon-El has served as a 'backup Superman' before. I'll also have Cassie prompt Kon-El to a higher state of alertness."

The Martian cupped his chin for a moment. "Integrating the computer systems in question with those of Watchtower is the most logical course of action. I must remind each of you," and he fixed them all with his red glowing-eyed gaze, "that although we each have certain eccentricities, we must all agree to work together completely. This alliance is for nothing without our complete allegience to one another, and more importantly, to the fate of this planet we call our home."

Diana smiled softly. "Amen."

Kyle nodded easily, and Rose narrowed her eyes approvingly: "Well said."

Spider-Man toasted J'onn with an Oreo before rolling his mask up above his mouth and nomming the cookie.

Iron Man grunted. "Far be it from me to defy the quorum's consensus. I've isolated a listing of Lexcorp holdings on file in a server in Stark Industries' complex in Flushing. As I speak--" and he did so "--I'm pinging Oracle's systems with the concordant IP address, which she can peruse with impunity. Oracle herself is above reproach, no doubt about that, but I have national and international security concerns to consider parallel to my own. I hope this is sufficient a display of my... 'allegiance' for all parties."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Most religions have a concept of "Heaven" and "Hell". If you follow their teachings, do what is required of you, then you are rewarded. Disobey, and an eternity of torment awaits you.

What most don't realize is there are those who go to neither place. Those souls go somewhere in between. Outside the light or the dark.

They reside in Shadow.

As do I. This is my home.

I am Kyle Alec Greystone, known as Azrakel, Lord of the High Reaches, Warlord of the Dark March, and Commander of Shadows armies in the war between Heaven and Hell. That is how I am known among the denizens of this realm.

But on Earth, my birthplace, I am known as Wraith.

In the tallest tower of Ravenholme is a chamber that only one man may enter. Glyphs line the walls, and a circle of power was carved into the floor, lines in silver, mithril and iron. In the center of the circle a man sat. Someone looking in would see a young man. Fair skinned with white hair falling down to his shoulders and down over his face.

Inside the protective circle the man once known as Kyle Alec Greystone meditated, and came as close as he could to dreaming. History flashed by in his head, only the rapid movement of his closed eyes gave notice that he was reliving times long gone

* A manor house. Old, with ivy climbing up the walls. A young woman standing on the porch by an older man. Both waving.*

*Men in Union blues marching down a road. An officer rode by on his horse, saber at his side. A young man looking over and grinning.*

*The flash and smoke of the camera as we were photographed before our first battle against the rebs.*

*Smitty's head exploding as a ball took him in the head. The stench of blood and worse permeating the air*

*Digging in. Gettysburg behind us, the rebels ahead. Fighting, the eternal fighting. Death.*

*The full moon overhead, red and swollen on the blood soaking the ground. Figures moving, men screaming. The Lieutenant going down, a reb riding him down, blood pouring out of his ravaged throat. Soldiers coming for us, faces covered in blood, teeth like a wolf's, sharp and hungry*

*The power of Shadow filling me for the first time. Armored and clawed hands ripping out vampire throats, tearing undead hearts from their chests. Night answering my anger and tearing them apart. Screams of fear from human and undead alike. Shadow taking me from the hell that was Gettysburg and bringing me to it's home.*

*Training in Shadow. Battles, wars, the struggle between Heaven and Hell spilling over into our realm. Demons and angels both trying to destroy me, both falling.*

*A cave in Africa. Iron swastikas over an alter with a womans body draped over it, her chest carved open, her charred heart in a plate at her head. A man in robes of blood red with a swastika inside a pentagram on his back disappearing before I get to him*

*The rain forest of the Amazon. The man in the trenchcoat lighting a cigarette as I hand him the spearhead. The body in the red robes looking up at the moon above with dead eyes, smoke still streaming out of his open mouth.*

*More battles in shadow. Years blending into decades, wars never seeming to end*

The reverie ended when the knock echoed across the chamber.

"Enter." I said and the door creaked open as a page opened the door but did not cross the threshold.

"A summons Sire. The lady requires you."

I stood and shadows wrapped around me in their cold embrace, draping me with the armor of a Scion of Shadow. "I leave now.Guard well my lands until I return." Darkness enfolded me and spit me out in a hall of obsidian polished to a high gloss. My footsteps echoed throughout the palace until I came to a throne, where I knelt before her.

Llandra, Queen of Shadow, Ruler of that between Heaven and Hell, and my Liege.

"Rise my Knight. I have a task for you." She said. The sound of her voice like velvet covering a sharpened blade.

"I hear and obey, my Liege."

"Once again a threat comes to the Waking world, and you are tasked to keep the world whole. Go to Asgard and seek out the God of Storms. He gathers together a force, both mortal and immortal to challenge this foe. Go as my champion. Do not fail me."

I nodded my head and turned, then once again looked upon the face of the goddess. "This time though, I am sending the bills to you if there are any brawls. You know how Norsemen love to fight, and it can get a bit rowdy up there."

"As I was told, was you that started it Kyle." she answered back, that twinkle in her eye. Over the years, we had grown to have a genuine friendship with each other. Then proprieties had been met, so we were free now to just speak.

"My Lady! I am shocked! You know how even tempered I am. I shall return to thee once my task is completed. Now, I am off to Asgard."

Shadows engulfed me and left me standing on a bridge of colored light. I walked over to the guardian and stopped. "Azrakel, Lord of Shadow, requests permission to enter Asgard to meet with the Son of Thunder."

 

[Lunaramblings]

"It is obvious we are going to infiltrate Luthor's offices in Metropolis," he told them, "but we need hard data as to the locations of other possible data repositories. A fertiliser plant in Smallville? A chemical plant in Chicago? Where else should we look? If either Iron Man or Batman could provide likely targets, it would make things easier. It would also make sense to split our team. Spiderman and I can examine one location, then move to another if needed. While we are doing that, the Batman and Spawn can be checking elsewhere."

Spider-Man's curiously expressive mask took on the appearance of an arched eyebrow, and he held an index finger aloft. "Dooooon't think I can't hear you dropping the hyphen there, J'onny. Respect the hyphen. Sheesh, I expect that sort of dis from Electro, not from you, and it's not like I leave out all your apostrophes. (Otherwise, good plan.)"

Iron Man's posture, on the other hand, was pretty much approximating a scowl as he reassessed the possibility of data loss.

Thor nodded his head. "And we should consider My Lady's notion of visiting Apokolyps. That is, of course, if the Martian's findings tell us Darkseid is still here and has not returned to his homeworld after the attack on Kal-El."

"I would gladly challenge this... "New" God. Honor not false prophets as they say."

The Mighty Thor moved to stand beside Diana, signalling his commitment to the quest.

Wonder Woman smiled faintly. "Even if he had returned home, the reminder that Thor's hammer enables him to visit himself upon Apokolips without the benefit of a Boom Tube should surely give pause to even the darkest of The New Gods. But I understand the tactical merit of making one's mark whilst your host's back is turned. Not for nothing am I a Greek who has borne gifts."

Iron Man harrumphed. "Funny you should mention Trojan horses."

The Spectre arches one eyebrow, slowing looking toward Iron Man.

Batman thought a moment before speaking, "Integration of our computers with that of Oracle's would be wiser. If Ironman would go for that idea." He then looks to Starks saying, "You could keep Pepper or War Machine watching your network if you think it prudent, Ironman.

Iron Man stared at Batman for a moment.

[Voice stress analysis inconclusive.]

...of course it is.

He shook his head briefly. "Rescue and War Machine are both engaged in a UN peacekeeping mission regarding a border dispute between Zandia and Symkaria and as such are... indisposed. But I have a solution in work."

Maximum encryption on link to Stark Dataspine.

[...working.]

[...encrypted.]

Isolate Server 7B in Flushing, Queens. Display file list...

[...working.]

But Batman had more on his cowled mind.

He then places a hand on the table, "Another possibility would be The church of Darksied or better known as Intergang. If you want to pursue that avenue I know an agent who has went against them before that I can contact."

He then looks to the Manhunter from Mars saying, "And we cannot take for granted New Krypton or Zod. I would think Diana should speak with Mon-El if you think it is wise."

Frowning, Captain Cymru regarded Green Lantern. "'New Krypton?'"

Green Lantern nodded. "Does your world have a Counter-Earth?"

Cymru pondered this. "Yes. Ours was given over to Magneto when rule of a mere island nation proved not enough for his ambition."

Green Lantern grunted. "Yeah, sounds like him. Anyhoodle, 'our' Counter-Earth got restructured by a combination of Kryptonian and Brainiac technology into a new world for the survivors of The Bottle City of Kandor. Right now it's being led by General Zod which, as far as evil conquering dudes go, just about as scary as Magneto."

J'onn removed a snack pack of Oreo cookies from a pocket in the rear of his uniform. He offerred one to the group. Thor took a cookie from J'onn with a nod. The thunder god then proceeded to peel apart the chocolate halves of the cookie, and then he licked off the creamy icing from one half. He was conscious of scrutiny from the Martian Manhunter, to which he returned a raised eyebrow.

J'onn did not quite expect The Mighty Thor to eat an Oreo in such a way, but he simply offerred Thor another cookie. He then answered The Batman.

"I have no wish to involve Intergang, but if everyone agrees it is prudent, then of course we will pursue that avenue," he responded. "As for Zod, I can assure you he is safely contained within the Phantom Zone. Contacting Mon-El would be at Diana's descretion, and I think it a wise move."

Diana pondered this, taking her own cookie and nibbling it demurely, and making no judgement on the relative barbarism of Thor's approach. He had a charm to him that far surpassed the lack of "civilisation" generally attributed to him. Besides, was there any wrong way to eat an Oreo?

"The Dark Side Club," Diana admitted, "and Intergang, each represent factions of Apokolips on Earth, which Darkseid could use to his advantage. These should not be ignored, especially given that their terrestrial holdings could overlap with those of the aforementioned Lexcorp. With regards to Mon-El, yes, there is wisdom in this. Metropolis specifically and The Earth in general will be considered vulnerable without Kal to keep an eye on things, and Mon-El has served as a 'backup Superman' before. I'll also have Cassie prompt Kon-El to a higher state of alertness."


"Perhaps this congregation needs to be looked upon. Faith, even in a usurper, can be a devastatingly powerful weapon." The Spectre continues to listen to the conversation, but his eyes never leave Iron Man.

The Martian cupped his chin for a moment. "Integrating the computer systems in question with those of Watchtower is the most logical course of action. I must remind each of you," and he fixed them all with his red glowing-eyed gaze, "that although we each have certain eccentricities, we must all agree to work together completely. This alliance is for nothing without our complete allegience to one another, and more importantly, to the fate of this planet we call our home."

Diana smiled softly. "Amen."

Kyle nodded easily, and Rose narrowed her eyes approvingly: "Well said."

Spider-Man toasted J'onn with an Oreo before rolling his mask up above his mouth and nomming the cookie.

Iron Man grunted. "Far be it from me to defy the quorum's consensus. I've isolated a listing of Lexcorp holdings on file in a server in Stark Industries' complex in Flushing. As I speak--" and he did so "--I'm pinging Oracle's systems with the concordant IP address, which she can peruse with impunity. Oracle herself is above reproach, no doubt about that, but I have national and international security concerns to consider parallel to my own. I hope this is sufficient a display of my... 'allegiance' for all parties."

For a brief second, real fury roiled beneath the calm facade that The Spectre had thus far maintained. "What will it take Tony? You are like a child. Your petty insecurities, your paranoia... has it served you well? Allow me to ask... friend, has it not already cost you enough? Perhaps your greed and lust for control has not quit caused you enough trauma as of yet. Rest assured, it will. Remember well what you have lost Anthony Edward Stark, remember well. Greed and selfishness lead not to a glorious end but to a bitter betrayal. You have proven that enough I believe."

As the Spectre speaks the star on his chest seeps with roiling and churning green light. His expression loses the stoic appearance it once held. His jaw clenched. His fists tightened. If not for the immense willpower and righteousness of the Host, the Spectre would have broken free.

"Batman, old friend. Glad to see you again. I trust all is well in Gotham?"[/COLOR] The serenity that was a moment ago gone returns as the Host reasserts his dominance. The careful balance once more in check. "It has been to long. It has been to long for many of you. You especially Web-head."

 

[Drakkwall]

What happened after he had left the group, is best not to mention before the ears of those who would have either sensitive sense of right and wrong, is disgusted by the terms of some not so nice sexual actions and intercourses, and the general people who wouldn't want to know what happened and just scoop out their eardrums to wash away the knowledge of the mating habits between two supernatural entities, one an officer of hell and one a holy warrior woman of asgard.

Spawn walked over to the others, a wide grin beneath his, once again applied, mask with a lipstick mark on the cheek of mentioned mask. "I LIKE this place! I'd never know there existed women who were so... so... so... kinky! It was awesome!!!" Was what the hellspawn said before he looked around at the others and finally noticed the tense and slightly out of character athmosphere that was going on between the super heroes. "So what did I miss?" He asked as he grabbed a cookie with one of his hellforged chains and stuffed it beneath his mask.

 

[camerindrake]

Batman thinks for a moment and then looks to Diana one more time and says, "Get Mon-El to take Nightwing and Flamebird with him. They need the guidance and someone to watch over them. And with his weakness they can only be a help."

The Dark Knight then looks over to Stark and asks, "Do these national and international security concerns you consider parallel to your own include allowing Norman Osborn to get his hands on the names of every registered powered being in America."

He pauses for only a breath as his hardened exterior cracks, "[/COLOR="Navy"]He has the trust of the president and the majority of both the house and senate. He is also the leader of his own task force that rivals the powers of both S.W.O.R.D. and S.H.I.E.L.D. Spider-man can attest Osborn is a madman! He carries a madness that rivals that of the Joker. Speaking of Spider-man, Stark, Did you know that May Parker was shot shortly after your stunt with having Parker go on camera![/COLOR]"

He speaks more calmly as his eyes go dark "[/COLOR="Navy"]It may have been in the shoulder but if I hadn't received word from Matches Malone just imagine what could have happened. [/COLOR]"

The Caped Crusader closes his eyes regaining the tight control he was known for then looks to the Spectre, "Gotham, most would consider it a lost cause, however, with the ranks growing amongst its protectors, hope grows amongst the people."

As Spawn asks his question Batman looks at him, "You're with me. We make a visit to Luthor Tower at nightfall, I have a few questions for a Ms. Graves about her boss' whereabouts and his personal dealings."

 

[AmenRa]

Thor, Heimdall, J'onn, and anyone else I didn't mention

As a swirl of shadows formed at the beginning of the bridge, the Guardian of Asgard, Heimdall, layed his heavy battle axe across his arms and bellowed in a voice only he could muster.

"Hold! But who now passes into Asgard?"

Shadows engulfed me and left me standing on a bridge of colored light. I walked over to the guardian and stopped. "Azrakel, Lord of Shadow, requests permission to enter Asgard to meet with the Son of Thunder."

Heimdall perused the Wraith with galactic eyes. "Thou art known to this place," he told Azrakel, "and known thou art to my lord Thor. Possesseth do thee the heart of a warrior, and passeth thou shalt where only a warrior may enter. Walk then with virtue into Asgard, brave soul, for surely thou hast earned the right to trod into Valhalla, where the brave live forever!"

Just then, two Valkyrie formed up beside Wraith, and led him to the Great Hall where Thor and the others met.

But Heimdall would shout to Thor of Wraith's coming.

"My Lord!" Heimdall boomed.

J'onn J'onzz, however, was more interested in the exchange of words between The Batman, Iron Man, and The Spectre. He fixed them all with his red-eyed Martian gaze, pointedly looking from one to the other. "We will maintain contact with Oracle throughout the missions, then." His voice then became low and dangerous. "I have heard all of the bickering that I care for. Settle your differences, gentlemen. Settle them now."

J'onn, of course, wasn't one to assert his seemingly endless power over any other individual. He did, however, have a low tolerance for some things. He respected each of them, and knew they respected him equally.

Thor, upon hearing Heimdall, moved from the table where the others gathered to a balcony area beyond one of the hall's tall, framed side windows. "What is it Mighty Heimdall?" Thor responded. "What dost thou see?"

"The Scion of Shadow cometh!" Heimdall replied.

"Well, then," Thor said as he turned and walked back to the others, "we shall make this official."

J'onn turned a curious eye to the Thunder God. "Wraith," he stated quietly.

Thor turned his back to the group and faced the stone wall at the end of the Great Hall.

He pulled Mjolnir from its carrier on his back and held it aloft. His voice was quiet, solemn, magical.

"'Lo, there do I see my father.
'Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers.
'Lo, there do I see the line of my people...
Back to the beginning.
'Lo, they do call to me.
They bid me take my place among them.
In the halls of Valhalla...
Where the brave may live...
...forever."

The stone wall seperated and pulled apart as a door opening. Beyond this, the floor was polished stone and led to a stepped dias of gleaming stone set with wood and pelts. Upon this dias was a large, wooden chair, carved with Runes and inlaid with gilded strips. Two Valkyrie stood beside the chair, on either side. There was a wooden frame of sorts over the chair, the beams heavy and ancient, and upon them were carved images of battles, of Midgard, a Great Serpent, and more Runes. The wall beyond the chair shimmered in a manner of frosted glass, or crystal, and there appeared to be images beyond this. Looking closer, looking deeper, it could be seen that through this window of sorts one could discern a rolling yet craggy landscape with fertile fields, deer and boar to hunt, and great halls and keeps.

"Valhalla," J'onn said in quiet awe.

Thor turned to the Martian and nodded his head. He then walked to the chair and sat. He called to the others. "When I had left this place in body, I wandered the Wastes of Shadow, hearing no voices, knowing no one at all. This was before I brought Asgard back to your realm, before I returned my brothers and sisters to their living, breathing selves. It was in the Wastes of Shadow where I battled demons and creatures that were images of myself, images of forgotten wars, both of the flesh and of the heart. There was, though, one voice that I heard, one soul that called to me and allowed me to find the inner peace I needed to rise out of shadow and sorrow. He helped me to connect once again with my mortal brother, Blake, and out of Shadow I lived again. And now, he has come to aid us all."

J'onn turned to Spider-Man. "Come, Spider-hyphen-Man," he said with a hint of a smile, "if you haven't met Wraith, you are going to love this."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Wraith

"A noble heart and courage are a beacon in even the darkest gloom of Shadow, though the rather impressive pile of reavers you had left in your wake were a dead giveaway too my friend." I said as I walked up to the blond Asguardian and met his hand with mine in a warriors greeting. I met his blue eyes with mine of glowing lavender, then stepped back and spoke loud enough to reach the others.

"Greetings. I am Azrakel, Scion of Shadow, but since that is a mouthful and if followed by the words 'Watch Out', usually uttered too late, please call me by the name that those of Midguard gave me, Wraith. I have been sent to assist you in the task you are on, but that is all the information that I have been given." I looked over at the Specter. The form was different, but the power was unmistakable. "I know your presence Specter, though you wear a different face, and I recognize you also Manhunter. I also recognize an Amazonian, but the golem and the others are unknown to me. Well met, one and all."

Lady, what have you gotten me into this time?

 

[ChasNicollette]

Diana, Tony, Peter, Kyle, and Rose.

Batman thinks for a moment and then looks to Diana one more time and says, "Get Mon-El to take Nightwing and Flamebird with him. They need the guidance and someone to watch over them. And with his weakness they can only be a help."

Diana nodded easily. "I presume you mean the Kryptonians that use those names, rather than the humans? Of course, I shall do my best to enlist their aid. Mon-El, Superboy, Nightwing and Flamebird... Metropolis will be in good hands indeed."

For a brief second, real fury roiled beneath the calm facade that The Spectre had thus far maintained. "What will it take Tony? You are like a child. Your petty insecurities, your paranoia... has it served you well? Allow me to ask... friend, has it not already cost you enough? Perhaps your greed and lust for control has not quit caused you enough trauma as of yet. Rest assured, it will. Remember well what you have lost Anthony Edward Stark, remember well. Greed and selfishness lead not to a glorious end but to a bitter betrayal. You have proven that enough I believe."

As the Spectre speaks the star on his chest seeps with roiling and churning green light. His expression loses the stoic appearance it once held. His jaw clenched. His fists tightened. If not for the immense willpower and righteousness of the Host, the Spectre would have broken free.

Even without a faceplate that could show expressions, Iron Man seemed slackjawed, utterly cut to the quick. He could not immediately respond, his mind raced as the star on The Spectre's chest glowed brighter even than his arc-reactor powered uni-beam.

His hands curled into fists at his sides. But he stood tall. Bitter. Unrepentant. A man committed to his standards, his personal code. If you could say nothing else for Iron Man, he never broke his own rules, not even in the face of God's Own Wrath.

"It's been said that we should never keep all our eggs in one basket," Iron Man intoned. "But Mark Twain said, 'Keep all your eggs in one basket and watch the basket.' The only thing I'm guilty of is not watching close enough."

The Dark Knight then looks over to Stark and asks, "Do these national and international security concerns you consider parallel to your own include allowing Norman Osborn to get his hands on the names of every registered powered being in America."

Iron Man's gaze swung around hard to lock onto Batman. Should have expected this. Should have expected a dogpile. Captain America and Batman in the same room. The Dreamer and The Detective. Should have just passed on Thor's message and kept my head down. Idiot.

Again, Iron Man reflected that he could use a drink. And that he should probably go to a meeting of a different kind once his session as whipping-boy was over with.

He pauses for only a breath as his hardened exterior cracks, "He has the trust of the president and the majority of both the house and senate. He is also the leader of his own task force that rivals the powers of both S.W.O.R.D. and S.H.I.E.L.D. Spider-man can attest Osborn is a madman! He carries a madness that rivals that of the Joker. Speaking of Spider-man, Stark, Did you know that May Parker was shot shortly after your stunt with having Parker go on camera!"

He speaks more calmly as his eyes go dark "It may have been in the shoulder but if I hadn't received word from Matches Malone just imagine what could have happened."

"Uh," Spider-Man sunk down in his chair, wincing visibly with his entire body, almost trying to slink away under the table, indicating the continued presence of unfamiliar parties. "Bats. Not that I don't appreciate your help with all that, but, uh. Ixnay on the ecret-identity-say..."

Iron Man stomped closer to Batman, the servos in his armour causing the stone of the floor to tremble. He was hardly the most powerful man in the room, and Batman's own armour might even rival his own in raw strength the way only John Henry Irons' armours had ever managed to do, but Tony Stark'd be damned to the same Hell as Spawn before letting Batman play this card unchecked.

"Spider-Man," he seethed, getting up in Batman's grille, "was perfectly safe, sheltered in the harbour of that aforementioned international security, until he went off the reservation and turned against my initiatives. At that point, I could do nothing further for him, and the cat, as they say, was out of the bag. While your own alliances are questionable enough, I should make some remark here about 'playing with Matches,' if I were not undermined by various vigilante wild-cards everything would have worked perfectly. If you'd all walked the line instead of trying to shoot me down, everything would have worked. Including keeping the families of heroes safe under expanded Secret Service protection."

(Green Lantern covered his face with one hand. Captain Cymru stared blankly, running to catch up with regard to backstory. Wonder Woman steepled her fingers imperiously and was not amused.)

Spider-Man shook his head. "There's good and bad to both sides, here. Yeah, we've got a right to bear arms, but we need licences for those firearms, maybe superpowers should work the same? But y'know, a Superhuman Registration Act is way way too close to a Mutant Registration Act, and some of my best friends are mutants. Plus, dude, you're ignoring Bats' point about Normie Osborne. That guy has a whole new case of baskets of crazy on top of his old-school original Green Gobliny crazy, and they put him in the driver's seat of a helicarrier? You can't tell me that system's working."

Iron Man harrumphed. "I would rather have supervillains under the supervision of the government than otherwise. But, again, if certain parties had chosen to work with me rather than against me, The Pentagon would not have seen fit to expand their Suicide Squad and Thunderbolts programmes, eclipsing SAFE and creating HAMMER. I would have watched the watchmen. I would have done it right."

He swung his gaze back to Batman. "Besides. I'm not the only one whose best-laid plans have ended up in the hands of the enemy. Or are we deciding not to remember this week that your files on stopping The JLA in its collective tracks were used against The League by none other than Ra's al Ghul?"

Wonder Woman's voice was as the icy skin of Asgard's native Frost Giants. "Anthony. The fact that even The Batman can make a mistake should be proof positive to you that even your Byzantine operations can have chinks, well, in their armour. 'No battle plan survives contact with the enemy,' Anthony. Not even yours. It is written in the Christian scriptures that 'Pride goeth before a fall.' You were proud, Anthony, and you have fallen. Perhaps it is time to try a little humility instead."

Iron Man didn't know what to say to that. And fell silent. And looked away.

"Batman, old friend. Glad to see you again. I trust all is well in Gotham?" The serenity that was a moment ago gone returns as the Host reasserts his dominance. The careful balance once more in check.

The Caped Crusader closes his eyes regaining the tight control he was known for then looks to the Spectre, "Gotham, most would consider it a lost cause, however, with the ranks growing amongst its protectors, hope grows amongst the people."

"It has been to long. It has been to long for many of you. You especially Web-head."

Spider-Man sat up a little taller. "Hey, yeah, good to see you walking and talking, sir, backatcha. I mean, not to say that one kid's not doing right by you in your absence, but he ain't you."

As Spawn asks his question Batman looks at him, "You're with me. We make a visit to Luthor Tower at nightfall, I have a few questions for a Ms. Graves about her boss' whereabouts and his personal dealings."

J'onn J'onzz, however, was more interested in the exchange of words between The Batman, Iron Man, and The Spectre. He fixed them all with his red-eyed Martian gaze, pointedly looking from one to the other. "We will maintain contact with Oracle throughout the missions, then." His voice then became low and dangerous. "I have heard all of the bickering that I care for. Settle your differences, gentlemen. Settle them now."

Iron Man shrugged his shoulders. "It's hardly that easily dealt with. But you have my word that I'll keep my mind on the mission objectives and not on my own wounded... pride."

Spider-Man held up an okay hand-sign. "I'm copasetic, too. Uh, if anyone cares."

"Cool," Green Lantern nodded. "So we should get on with the thing, huh? I mean, I'm all for a good chit-chat, and all, but if we're going to start putting the hurt on bad guys, sooner rather than later, right?"

Cymru nodded quietly. "Sooner is good."

Wonder Woman opened her mouth to speak, and then paused, and glanced in the direction of Bifröst, looking puzzled. "(I sense something; a presence I've not felt since...)"

But Heimdall would shout to Thor of Wraith's coming.

"My Lord!" Heimdall boomed.

Thor, upon hearing Heimdall, moved from the table where the others gathered to a balcony area beyond one of the hall's tall, framed side windows. "What is it Mighty Heimdall?" Thor responded. "What dost thou see?"

"The Scion of Shadow cometh!" Heimdall replied.

Diana arched an eyebrow. "(This has become. Quite interesting.)"

Cymru regarded her quietly. "(Is this anyone I should know?)"

Diana smirked faintly. "(Just you wait and see.)"

Cymru swung her gaze around to Kyle, who shrugged helplessly. "(Got me swingin'.)"

"Well, then," Thor said as he turned and walked back to the others, "we shall make this official."

J'onn turned a curious eye to the Thunder God. "Wraith," he stated quietly.

Thor turned his back to the group and faced the stone wall at the end of the Great Hall.

He pulled Mjolnir from its carrier on his back and held it aloft. His voice was quiet, solemn, magical.

"'Lo, there do I see my father.
'Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers.
'Lo, there do I see the line of my people...
Back to the beginning.
'Lo, they do call to me.
They bid me take my place among them.
In the halls of Valhalla...
Where the brave may live...
...forever."

The stone wall seperated and pulled apart as a door opening. Beyond this, the floor was polished stone and led to a stepped dias of gleaming stone set with wood and pelts. Upon this dias was a large, wooden chair, carved with Runes and inlaid with gilded strips. Two Valkyrie stood beside the chair, on either side. There was a wooden frame of sorts over the chair, the beams heavy and ancient, and upon them were carved images of battles, of Midgard, a Great Serpent, and more Runes. The wall beyond the chair shimmered in a manner of frosted glass, or crystal, and there appeared to be images beyond this. Looking closer, looking deeper, it could be seen that through this window of sorts one could discern a rolling yet craggy landscape with fertile fields, deer and boar to hunt, and great halls and keeps.

"Valhalla," J'onn said in quiet awe.

Thor turned to the Martian and nodded his head. He then walked to the chair and sat. He called to the others. "When I had left this place in body, I wandered the Wastes of Shadow, hearing no voices, knowing no one at all. This was before I brought Asgard back to your realm, before I returned my brothers and sisters to their living, breathing selves. It was in the Wastes of Shadow where I battled demons and creatures that were images of myself, images of forgotten wars, both of the flesh and of the heart. There was, though, one voice that I heard, one soul that called to me and allowed me to find the inner peace I needed to rise out of shadow and sorrow. He helped me to connect once again with my mortal brother, Blake, and out of Shadow I lived again. And now, he has come to aid us all."

J'onn turned to Spider-Man. "Come, Spider-hyphen-Man," he said with a hint of a smile, "if you haven't met Wraith, you are going to love this."

Spider-Man was, to say the least, awestruck. And that wasn't easy. His adventures had been storied indeed. "Uh. Yeah. J-apostrophe-onny, I, uh, thought I'd done team-ups with just about everyone up to and including Ambush Bug. (My wife was Red Sonja once or twice, funny story.) But I dunno this Wraith guy."

Basking in the glory of Valhalla, Wonder Woman's smile was serenely beatific. To be in the presence of such might and such light. It was like being in Olympus again. It was like coming home.

Green Lantern sat quietly. He remembered going to The 853rd Century and bottling a living supernova alongside The League of a future thousands of years hence. And while he was there, the very same Superman who lay crippled in his Fortress had been alive in that future, nigh-immortal and living in The Sun and possessed of powers far beyond gods, let alone mortal men. And as that Superman, the true Superman Prime, had ascended, he had turned to Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern, and winked at him.

Winked. At him.

This was the same feeling. The very same feeling.

Gazing into Valhalla was like getting winked at by The Last Golden God of Krypton.

And he'd said then to J'onn J'onzz exactly what he was thinking right now: 'Some things you just can't put into words, man.'

Captain Cymru felt that this was not unlike being in the presence of Captain Britain Brian Braddock and his wife, Meggan, as they had bequeathed unto her the duties of Defending The Realm should the worst befall Captain Briton.

This was. Otherworldly. And she kept her own counsel on how that made her feel.

Iron Man felt a quiet pang and looked away. The unquantifiable energies of this place were already off the scale. Now they obliterated the scale. But Iron Man had blasphemed against this place once before by "misusing" Asgardian power in an armour worn in battle against Thor himself. Even if he could bring himself to accept the idea of an afterlife, even if his afterlife were this one, this place would welcome him not.

He was surprised to find himself a little bit heartbroken by that thought.

But then, but then, all such thoughts were come to naught as the so-called Scion of Shadow entered their presence.

"A noble heart and courage are a beacon in even the darkest gloom of Shadow, though the rather impressive pile of reavers you had left in your wake were a dead giveaway too my friend." I said as I walked up to the blond Asguardian and met his hand with mine in a warriors greeting. I met his blue eyes with mine of glowing lavender, then stepped back and spoke loud enough to reach the others.

Green Lantern glanced at Captain Cymru, about to say something, and found her regarding this newcomer intently. Very intently.

Green Lantern blinked, and continued to pay attention to the newcomer.

"Greetings. I am Azrakel, Scion of Shadow, but since that is a mouthful and if followed by the words 'Watch Out', usually uttered too late, please call me by the name that those of Midguard gave me, Wraith. I have been sent to assist you in the task you are on, but that is all the information that I have been given." I looked over at the Specter. The form was different, but the power was unmistakable. "I know your presence Specter, though you wear a different face, and I recognize you also Manhunter. I also recognize an Amazonian, but the golem and the others are unknown to me. Well met, one and all."

Iron Man hesitated. "...golem?"

Spider-Man was grinning his ass off. "I think he means you, dude."

Iron Man blinked. And hesitated again. "I'm not-- I'm not-- I'm called 'Iron Man'--" he took a deep breath, as though attempting to reboot his translation programmes. "--I'm not Jewish. (Don't you have to be Jewish to be a golem?)"

"Don't look at me, bubely," Spider-Man chuckled, "I had an uncle was Jewish, once, but he left it up to me whether to go to Temple with him or not."

Kyle Rayner considered this. "Ben Grimm's Jewish, he's sorta golemy."

Captain Cymru indicated Diana with a gesture. "Isn't a golem supposed to be sculpted from clay and brought to life?"

Diana smirked, and approached this newcomer. "I may not have the word 'emet' inscribed upon my brow, but, yes. Guilty."

She inclined her head to Wraith. "Hail and well met, Scion of Shadow. I do not think you met her personally, but my mother Hippolyta also passed through your realm when she perished defending The Earth from the threat of Imperiex, and Death of The Endless escorted her thence to take my place on Olympus as Goddess of Truth, permitting my return to the role of Wonder Woman. Please, give your Lady my fondest regards."

"Uh," Kyle nodded, standing too and approaching. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Green Lantern. Well. One of them. And the spindly-looking fella is Spider-Man--"

Spider-Man waved, moving up beside the Lantern. "'Sup? Any amigo of Thor's is an amigo of mine."

"--and the lady here is Captain Cymru."

Rose examined Wraith curiously, experiencing her own form of the deja vu shared by Thor, J'onn, and The Batman upon meeting her. "You remind me of someone I've not yet met."

Green Lantern blinked again. "Oh. Kay?"

 

[Drakkwall]

"It can all be put into three words, Messed Time Travelling, you'd never imagine the things Malbolgia tried to do to me with some of that shit. But at any rate, while it is fun and all to be discussing philisophy, rights and wrongs, chaining people to governments and forcing them to submit their identity that protect their loved once, and evil maniacs who had their dicks up the government's well polished ass, which is daily stuff for me, we have work to do, and we're not doing much just standing here. So I will just change into something more... stealthy." Spawn stated calmly as he warped his cloak around him and emerged out as an average sized white man with an evil like goatie mustache and beard, he had a tuxedo and a cigarette in his hand.

"Let's start with the regular thing, I can do plenty of acting, I have powers in this form as well, though I am not as strong as when I am in my warrior garments. But if this mission will be more... assassin and ninja like then I can do that as well." The body of the devil like business man shifted and a black armoed shinobi like figure emerged, a metal visor over his head, all the metal on his clothes were pitch black, even the weapons, which were a bit of sharp blades and a coule of primitive blow darts, shurikens and the likes, though they didn't seem all that powerful to the clear eye. I nthis shape Spawn looked like a professional assassin, and a small smog of shadows seemed to be floating out from his clothes like dark spores from a flower. "With the power of darkness I can emerge through the night and shadows like a silent whisper, but an echo of a step ,that was never there."

 

[AmenRa]

Thor, Martian Manhunter, other stuff...

And he'd said then to J'onn J'onzz exactly what he was thinking right now: 'Some things you just can't put into words, man.'

Indeed, my friend. Indeed.

As Thor nodded his head in a bit of a smile, remembering his meeting with Wraith, it was J'onn who spoke first.

"The situation is dire," he said to Wraith, as he seemed to glide across the polished stone floor to where Thor and Wraith stood. "Kal-El of Krypton, Superman, has been injured."

The Valkyrie who had stood by the Throne of Asgard walked to the two who had escorted Wraith into the Great Hall. With military precision, a changing of the guard occurred, and the two who had recently entered the hall moved to take their place at the throne. But first, they both stopped beside Wonder Woman. They examined her bracers carefully, then looked at the gilded ones they each wore, they both looked to their lord.

"A warrior princess," he said. "A Valkyrie, but not in name," he answered their unspoken question.

The one on Wonder Woman's left removed the wolf pelt that draped around her shoulders, then looked to Thor, who nodded. At that, she carefully placed it around Diana's shoulders, arranging it with a delicate touch. The Valkyrie both then returned to their perfectly upright, military-straight posture, and marched to take their places at either side of the great chair where Odin himself once sat.

"It was Heimdall who first found him," Thor announced. "He was badly wounded from battle and wandering the prairie beyond Asgard. I took him to his Fortress, for I knew only Kryptonian science could sustain him. There his recovery was set in motion. Kal-El was unable to speak much, as his conscious mind drifted in and away, but I was able to understand he had fought a great battle with Darkseid, Victor Von Doom, and we now believe Lex Luthor. They used the remnants of his homeworld to defeat him."

"And," J'onn continued, "we believe the threat is against all of Earth. The tactics employed are logical: destroy Earth's protector and the planet itself shall soon fall. Which, and I know we are all in understanding of this, means they will surely attack the rest of us to continue their plan to assert dominance over this world."

"And," Thor finished, "it was such that I called this meeting to form an alliance to stop this threat against all that is sacred to us."

Thor backed away from where he had stood in front of the Throne of Valhalla when he greeted Wraith. The Thunder God took a position beside Iron Man, folded his arms across his chest. "You are a stubborn man, Tony Stark," he said quietly, "A trait shared by us, to my own admission as much as I am a god. But, whether we fit each other or not, whether we speak kind words to one another or not, I am pleased that you fight by my side. It is such that warriors often do, and be it that you are mortal, yet we both wear armor, and we are all children of Mjolnir."

Meanwhile, J'onn was speaking to Wraith. "We are currently planning an infiltration into Lex Luthor's facilities to discern his involvement in the production of Kryptonite." J'onn then turned to the Batman. "I am sure this question is pointless, but I must ask it: you have not detected any infiltration into the stores of Kryptonite you are keeping safe at Kal-El's request?"

 

[camerindrake]

Batman looks back to J'onn and says, "The other Batman got infultrated once while i was trapped outside of time. However it was R'as delivering him the cowl to become my heir. He checked the locks in the cave vault. They were not tampered with."

He then looks to the hellspawn and says, "Simmons your with me."

He hits the communicator in his cowl, "Watchtower, Two to Metropolis."

 

[Drakkwall]

"It's Kraven! I am not this Simmons guy!" The hellspawn growled out in frustration, sure he might have been the guy in a past life but he didn't give a fuck, he didn't remember it or his next reincarnation so why should he call himself by that stupid name again? His eyes glowed and he crossed his arms, remaining in the shape of his assassin garments, it was kind of fitting to be dressed in the black outfit, plus he thought he looked quite dashing when dressed as a ninja.

 

[ChasNicollette]

It was, as certain wily trickster web-spinners had already noted, night in The City That Never Sleeps.

And a woman in a long brown coat and a white suit and a white tie and a white blouse and white Chuck Taylors, a woman with shoulder-length hair of a milk-chocolate brown and the very greenest eyes, a woman with her hands in the pockets of that white suit and tie and a squint that pierced the lenses of her tortoise-shell rimmed square glasses, this woman strode into a secondary entrance of Metro General Hospital. The lights were dim.

There stood a female nurse behind the counter, a particularly zaftig creature who gazed solemnly at the woman in the white suit.

They gazed at each other for a moment, the women in white. And then the nurse narrowed her eyes, just a moment, in recognition.

"Go to the room on the right," she instructed.

"Thank you, Linda," the woman replied.

And strode past her. Moving into the hallway. And into the room on the right.

A man lay there, on a bed in the hospital room.

A man with red red hair, and eyes that gazed sightlessly to the ceiling.

He was in a bad way, scars criss-crossed his flesh and bandaged wounds were soaked through with red. A couple of IVs were attached to him.

He tilted his head to the side, as though he were leaning his ear towards her.

His nostrils flared.

"I know you," he murmured, his voice a rasp. "I've met you before. Somewhere."

"Yes, Matthew," she murmured. "You know me. Right now, you know me again, and you'll forget me as soon as I leave the room, and you won't remember me 'till you meet me again which, no offence, I hope doesn't happen for awhile."

She moved towards him and she kept her hands in her pockets and the hairs on his arm twitched in the air and she knew he felt her movement as clearly as he heard it. "What was it this time. The Hand again?"

Matthew smiled grimly, a tremble of a laugh in his trembling tones. "Bit of a tiff with an ex-girlfriend. They drugged me. Ninja poison. I hate ninja."

The woman smiled faintly. "Particularly these ninja. Get their powers from an oath sworn before an ancient demon, don't they? The poison they used on you has a demonic taint."

"Yes," he nodded, just the tiniest twitch of his head. "Medical science is a bit stymied. I asked The Night Nurse to call Strange..."

The woman sat on a stool beside his bed. "Strange has a bit on his plate right now. But it just so happens someone lit a candle for you in a church not so very far from here."

Matthew stiffened a bit. "A candle."

"Her name was Maggie," the woman prompted gently.

Matthew smiled faintly. "Ah."

The woman slid her hand into his. "Take a deep breath. It'll hurt, but you're fairly tough."

Matthew clenched his jaw. And gripped her hand tightly.

He couldn't see the white light that billowed forth from her, but he felt its warmth like an early sunrise. He felt its crawl like fingers made from sunlight, and he drew that breath, it hurt like Hell...

...and as he exhaled, the pain was gone.

It was all gone. The IVs fell away from his hands, their entry points having sealed shut and shoved the needles out.

The cuts that criss-crossed his body were sealed shut, he could feel them gone, a palpable absence of pain and presence of skin and--

--demonic poison was cleansed and the cuts were simply gone--

--she was walking to the door.

He sat up in a hurry, he hadn't felt this good in years, his hurry was pretty fast, he was on his feet. "I know you. I know who you are. But-- but during the-- there was a child. Strange consulted with Mephisto about the child and Mephisto reminded us that--"

She turned to face him. Her hands were in her pockets again and she was smiling softly. "That He Whom you thought the child could be, born again, was not prophesied to be a child at all, but to return in power as a man."

Matthew paused, narrowing his sightless gaze. "...yes."

The woman shook her head. "First of all, Mephisto is a liar and the king of liars. He's not even who he says he is, how would he know who I am? Second of all, the greatest of liars weaves half-truth, and in so far as that goes, he's right. I'm not Him. I can't even hold a candle to Him. He'll be back. I'm just a placeholder."

Matthew tilted his head. "I'm finding all of this a little hard to believe. I've had my faith used to manipulate me before."

"Mm," the woman nodded. "Fortunately, the Sister who lit that candle believes enough for both of you. At least in spirit."

"Hnh," Matthew replied. "And this is your mysterious exit, then? You stroll off into the night and I don't remember you were ever here."

The woman smirked. "I'm like a ninja that way."

"Funny," he harrumphed.

He stood there in red tights and bled-through bandages and he gazed at her with unseeing pale eyes. "...what's your name?"

She arched an eyebrow. "You won't remember that, either."

He shrugged. "Not until I see you again. I'd like to remember your name when the time comes."

She tilted her head at him, and smiled faintly. "Fair enough."

She turned and walked away. "I'm Rose."

He sat down on the bed and listened to her footsteps receding, which took quite some time: he could hear her footsteps a block away.

But once they vanished from his earshot, he paused, and glanced down at himself, and touched the spots where his injuries used to be, and wondered how he was alive.

"...huh."