Paying a call on Fate

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

Did someone just knock on the door? Her meltdown had ceased...just stopped, and she looked around quizically.

Did the phone ring? She got up from the table and wandered through the house. No. No messages and the front porch was empty. But she could have sworn something caught her attention and she was feeling an urge to go out. Someplace in specific but she didn't know where. That was enough for her.

She hurried upstairs to change her clothes, hesitating for a moment as something prompted her to dust off the costume. Odd...definately odd but she listened. Then it was a quick note to tell John she'd gone out to follow her nose, follow if he could...all assuming he came back before she did...and left the note taped to his carton of silk cuts in the fridge.

Double checking that she had her JLA comm and her cell phone tucked safely away she made her way back into the library and the wall she'd been using more often as a doorway. She squares herself in front of the wall then takes a deep breath.

"esaelp, meht ot latrop a nepO .em sllac enoemoS."

The portal flashes to life and she steps through...to the base of Dr. Fate's tower? What the...

She knocks...if there's a door to knock on.

Comments

[doctorfatejsa.livejournal.com]

Fate crosses the threshold of his tower, inviting the others (even Zard) to follow.

"Gemma!" he shouts, concerned.

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She followed quickly enough then staggered to a halt inside to look around with open awe sketched across her face, arms falling limp to her sides.

"....wow...."

[gemma-masters.livejournal.com]

"I'm here Hector." she came running into the room with a concerned look, damn he looked rough.

"You burned the brownies again."

[doctorfatejsa.livejournal.com]

He takes off the helmet, and relief is stretched across his face.

"We were displaced in time. It was only a few minutes from my perspective, but I had no idea how it was effecting things here."

[gemma-masters.livejournal.com]

"Bit more of a journey on my end." She looks over at Occult, "'Bout fifty some odd years wasn't it?"

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

"Sixty-three," says Occult, stepping forward. "You're just as I remember you. Fascinating."

[gemma-masters.livejournal.com]

"Foul mouth an all." She points at Uncle John.

"I'm assumin' you actually know him an all now. You can blame him for the way I talk, Mum always did." There's a moment of shadow in her eyes as always talking about her mum.

"Did yo win whatever it was you were working on back then?"

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She wasn't this just a nice family reunion. And no that wasn't a question.

Growing even more uncomfortable, she hangs back a bit, unable to resist looking around now and then, but still focused on what's going on...and just where Zard is lurking.

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

"Yes, foul mouth and all," says Occult, smiling. "Although I dare say Green Lantern has 'lightend up' some since the war."

Occult stops and contempaltes the assemblage.

"Yes. I'm beginning to understand. As I noted 60 years ago, the tower responds to Ms. Masters. When it perceived that she was in danger and that Fate was unavailable, it reached out to those inclined to protect her..."

He nods to John and Zatanna.

"...and to one with a vested interest in seeing Wotan's plot foiled."

He points to Zard.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"Hard t'believe you could be useful." He smirks slightly in Zard's direction.

[jla-villains.livejournal.com]

"Bah, you sniveling con man," says Zard. "I did Wotan in the first time, and I escaped his surprise assault this time."

Defensive much?

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

Dr. Occult, gently positions himself between Zard and Constantine, before one takes a swing at the other.

"I see. And I imagine it was the current Wotan who clawed at me in '43, when I sought out Kent Nelson. A series of lightning strikes then, not so much as to take out enemies, but to let them know he was back. He wants us to challenge him."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He rolls his eyes.

"Right...because of course it could never have been somethin' Wotan wanted you t'do." Which actually gets John to thinking, if Wotan had attacked him by surprise and with all his power how had Zard got away?

[doctorfatejsa.livejournal.com]

Judging by the sideways glance Hector shoots the Wizard, it's obvious he's got a few suspicions, too.

"Well, however it happened, I'm just thankful you all made it here. I've spent far too much time trapped between realities lately. It's getting old."

He takes down a couple coffee mugs, and gestures if anyone wants some. Even between dimensions, the autotimer seems to have worked. Go figure.

"We need to find out what Wotan's plan is," he says, sipping his coffee.

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She rolls her eyes at John and Zard, glad Occult decided to be the buffer and she didn't have to. She knew John wouldn't bowl her over...Zard on the other hand...

She takes Hector up on the cup of coffee though, almost wishing there were Baily's to put in it but settles for copious amounts of sugar instead.

"Would it be any different than last time? Psychopaths, mystic or otherwise, tend to have a one track mind."

[gemma-masters.livejournal.com]

"Seein' as how I don't know what he wanted the last time I'm not going to be much help. But people who are crazy do tend to keep trying things over and over expecting a different outcome each time. Just ask that crazy bird lady in London."

She notices Hector is drinking his 'mystical mystery' flavor and smiles.

"Maybe we should ask him, loony sorts like t'brag and tell what their plan is don't they?"

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

Dr. Occult smiles.

"Not a bad idea, actually, Ms. Masters. Last time around, Wotan was trying to seize control of magic itself. Indeed, he succeeded after a fashion, causing the Nazi villain Degaton to travel back in time to undo his victory, preventing Wotan from decimating the United States and Germany, and taking over the world. It, err, got a bit complicated."

He takes a mug of coffee and sips.

"Hmm. Jamaican Blue. My compliments, Hector."

[jla-villains.livejournal.com]

"I swear, the difference between a collection of sorcerors and a coffee klatch gets thinner every day," says Zard.

"He struck at Fate and myself, the two who, along with Captain Nazi, were the ones who actually finished him off. He wanted to rattle us, let us knowhe was back, and that he was coming for us. He'll probably go for the others that were there, that are still alive."

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She turns that smile on the group of them as she pushes up her sleeves, her hat tilting a bit on her head again.

"Just tell me where you want to go, gentlemen. I'll open a portal there in two shakes of the fishnets."

[doctorfatejsa.livejournal.com]

"We should warn the Justice Society. Let them know that they're in danger. Alan and Jay were there. And Shining Knight and a few of the others are still around, too."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"Right, lets give em a heads up before they get monologued t'death by Wotan." He looks thoughtful.

"I should prob'ly be th'one t'get him t'spill the secrets. People like t'brag t'me for some reason." maybe because he pissed them off till they told him to shut him up. He'd better feed Midnight at some point too.

"You should get Tefe, I think she'll be a secret weapon for our side since normally the elemental doesn't get all knickers deep in the shit."

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

"I can contact Oracle, have her give the Justice Society a head's up."

She's surprised by John's suggestion and blinks for a moment then shrugs. "Any idea where she is? I haven't seen her since we pissed off Blood."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"I can find her." It's all he says because he doesn't trust Zard, but blood calls to blood.

[doctorfatejsa.livejournal.com]

"Good," says Hector, donning the helmet. "You contact the elemental, we'll contact the Justice Society, and we will reconvene when we know more."

[jla-villains.livejournal.com]

Zard crosses his arms.

"You expect me to walk into the arms of my greatest enemies?"