Issue #6 by John Cheese
February 2018
February 2018
“What do you honestly hope to achieve with that?” Flintlock asked, even as she reflexively un-holstered her shotgun and aimed it at Anna, her opponent keeping her own weapon aimed at the five women she had hired. “So you kill me, kill Scorpion with that thing, but how do you plan to take down the women in armour, the uber powerful witch and the huntress with healing powers?” She asked as Stone fired a shot from the wrist mounted blaster of her armour, the bolt knocking Ana’s pistol out of her hand.
“Does it matter, she set us up, used us while working both sides of the mission.” Stone replied as she fired an energy net at Ana, the plasma webbing restraining the Symkarian super spy. “We don’t have demons where I come from, but from the mythology I studied, I seem to recall they are almost all bad.”
“But why would she work with the demon or whatever this thing is?” Scorpion asked as she picked up Ana’s dropped pistol and slipped the safety on before placing it back on the floor.
“Because she’s insane.” Flintlock murmured. “Keep up Jennifer.”
“No, it makes no sense, the demon was powering the villains or something like that, right?” Scorpion suggested as she held her head up to look her teammates in the eye, her fingers tapping the thumb on her left hand in sequence. “But she sent us after them, wanted us to stop them, if she was working with the demon why would she do that?”
“Perhaps answers will come if we release our employer and ask what her connection to the demon is, and more importantly if she knows its name,” Sarah stated as Zawadi walked over to the webbing and pulled it off Ana, before muscling the younger woman into a chair. “Demons by their nature are deceitful, even those who fight their evil nature and inspire to be something better. When you met the architect behind this whole ordeal, did you know his or her true face?”
“No, I knew from my cousin Silvia that demons existed in this world, but I also knew that their entrance into this world was sealed.” Ana explained as she tried to block out the shotgun still levelled at her head. “I had no idea what the creature behind her mask really was.”
“It came in a human guise then.” Sarah concluded. “Likely the demon is bonded with a human avatar, much like Damballa is bonded with me.”
“You have to understand, it was my nineteenth birthday and it was the worst day of my life.” Ana told them as she hung her head in shame. “Silvia had just succeeded in another grand mission, one that was far more important than any celebrations planed for me. I always wanted to be like her, to be the beautiful one, the cool one, the celebrated daughter of Symkaria and not the runt who wastes her time with mathematics, engineering and chemistry. So, I can’t pop a person’s head open with my thighs, but that doesn’t make me useless.”
“I miscounted it’s six broken dolls.” Stone stated as she removed her face-plate, a look of sadness spread across her face.
“Negative emotions on a birthday, no demon would be able to resist.” Sarah sighed as she used her powers to lower Flintlock’s shotgun. “I suspect I know what kind too, a wish demon, you wished to be like your cousin. The question now is what price you paid for such a favour?”
“I paid nothing, she needed her first wish, one to let her know that her powers worked.” Ana replied before putting her head in her hands. “Ironic, without that wish I wouldn’t have known about the attack on the G20, but it would never have happened.”
“You said her, did she tell you her sacred name?” Sarah pressed.
“I got a name, but it sounded human.” Ana sighed. “She called herself Barbie Robb, she was at the party as an entertainer doing minor magic tricks.”
“Are you sure?” Sarah asked, a hint of urgency now in her voice.
“Yeah, she said she was a Dream Weaver, that she was humanity’s fairy godmother.” Ana answered as she put her head back in her hands. “Even without being Silver Sable I should have known that it was a lie.”
“Is this a problem Sarah?” Zawadi asked her colleague as she drifted away from the group.
“Yes, because my partner and I banished her years ago.” Sarah responded as she sent sparks running through her hands until they formed into a spider shaped orb of lightning.
# # # # #
Long Island, New York - 2014
“You ready?” The man in the blue jumpsuit accented with silver asked as he and the woman dressed in forest green camouflage fatigues and air-force helmet stacked up against the door.
“I’m ready.” The woman replied as her partner blasted the hinges off the door with his shotgun before kicking it open. Dashing inside into the apartment they stopped as they saw the comatose body of their client, one Brian Solomon, suspended from gossamer threads from the ceiling. Checking the other rooms quickly, the pair came back to the suspended man, his comatose body unmoving, a smile of complete euphoria spread across his face.
“I hate this Mike, we’ve dealt with some disgusting things, but this is the worst.” The woman stated, as Mike removed a survival knife from his belt and began to slash at the threads.
“That’s why we’re doing this one pro-bono Sarah.” Mike replied as Sarah scanned the area as a faint scratching sound could be heard from the corner of the living room.
“It’s still here.” Sarah whispered as Mike moved his knife to his off hand, his pistol held in the other. “Or something is anyway?” She added, as the pair of them advanced on the sound, ready for action. Reaching the corner, a flash of light shot out, and a shape grew from a tiny speck into a hulking man-sized blot of legs and fangs. As the light faded, the intruder was revealed as a massive tarantula, its pink knees standing out against the long black hairs, its fangs leaking venom.
“Oh crap.” Mike swore as the tarantula stumbled forward, before collapsing onto the floor.
“Poor thing, it’s not meant to be like this.” Sarah cooed as she walked over to the spider and placed her hand on its knee. “It’s as much a victim as all the others were, including us.” She added, as the spider shrunk down and a scream of rage sounded before a blast of green energy struck Sarah, the discharge burning the sleeves of her jacket and leaving stinging welts on her skin.
“You couldn’t leave well enough alone!” A female voice snapped as a woman dressed in a green dress walked in, her unnaturally pink hair swept up by the invisible wind that seemed to accompany powerful spellcasters. “I give them euphoria, I gave you happiness beyond what you deserve and you…you monsters rejected my kindness!!”
“Draining the life out of your victims is not kindness.” Mike replied coldly as he opened fire, the bullets blinking out of existence as they flew towards their target. Cursing under his breath, he threw his knife at the woman, only to see her shift to the side with astounding speed, grab the weapon in mid-air and throw it back at him. Not bothering to dodge, Mike felt the thud of his knife bounce off his costume as he charged the woman.
“You and your lay witchling know nothing about my power!” The woman snapped as she repulsed Mike with a flick of her wrist, before turning to Sarah as she came up silently behind her. “So much power all governed by fear, the elements shackled by a scared child!” She sighed before levitating Sarah up to the ceiling before slamming her down hard.
“Now that’s just being nasty.” Sarah groaned as the tarantula, unseen scuttled up to the woman, and crawled up to her hand. “Elmer would agree, you are not a very nice owner…Barbara!!”
“What!!” The woman gasped. “How!!”
“I’m just a lay witchling, I have to be sneaky were others are strong, but as all magic users know, words are more powerful than the spells they summon.” Sarah responded coyly. “Your pet doesn’t appreciate being used as an engine of destruction, it’s been crying out in pain all this time about what you’re doing.”
“Wait the spider told you this?” Mike asked, as he helped Sarah up to her feet. Screaming in anger Barbra went to crush the spider, only for the arachnid to sink its fangs into her hand. Spitting and hissing she swiped at her one-time pet, the blow knocking the invertebrate to the floor its body shattering.
“Horrible beast!” Barbara snorted, as Mike handed Sarah a bullet, her eyes closed and her lips trembling as she muttered something under her breath. “You what are you scheming!!” She snarled as she fired a bolt of energy at Sarah, only for the discharge to arc round to Mike, “No!! You…you are her spell guard!!” She gasped in surprise as Mike shook himself and advanced on her, knife in hand.
“Seems like it Barbara.” Mike replied as Barbra summoned up an athame formed of crystal. “As for my partner, I wouldn’t worry about what she’s doing.” He added as Barbara lunged towards Mike, her strength enhanced mystically beyond what it should be, her opponent blocking and then repulsing her, before delivering a smack to the back of her head. Lying at Sarah’s feet, Barbara tried to grab her, only for her target to drop a vial of blue sand on her.
“Barbara Robb, pawn of darkness with authority I banish you.” Sarah stated as a mystical chain snapped round Barbara’s leg. “By the Judges of the Dead I sentence you to your fate. Let your feet never fall on our soil again, let your power over dreams by null and let your print be cleansed.” She finished as the chain began to withdraw towards its point of origin as Barbara desperately tried to cling onto her freedom, scratch marks left on the floor as she was dragged backwards.
“You bitch! I curse you with my last breath. May you never know peace…guh.” Barbara screamed before being coshed on the back of the head as she passed Mike.
“No more words from you.” Mike told her as the chain coiled round her before a gunshot sounded as Sarah fired the bullet Mike had given here, the impact opening up a fiery red void that sucked the chained Barbara inside before closing in a hiss of releasing steam.
“It’s done.” Sarah wheezed as she sat down on the floor, blood dripping from her nose and mouth. “No more spells today I think.” She coughed as Mike handed her a box of tissues.
“Excuse me.” A voice above them snapped, as Mr Solomon came around from his coma. “But what the bloody hell are you doing in my house!”
# # # # #
Silver Shadow Ranch, Colorado
Zawadi watched as Stone flipped through the settings of the holographic map table, searching for any corresponding frequency to the readings her sensors were recording from Ana. She would have asked Sarah for her assistance, but the sorceress was busy readying herself for a spirit journey to consult with the Judges of Death about the fate of Barbara Robb after her banishment from Earth.
"Zawadi can I speak with you?" Jennifer asked from the doorway. "In private."
"Of course." Zawadi answered as she gave Stone a nod to continue without her, before walking into the corridor where her teammate was waiting for her. Silently Jennifer led her into a supply closet, locked the door and stroked the neck of her blouse, her clothing flickering as they were replaced by a sleek silver set of armour. "Well now you look like a Silver Scorpion." Zawadi commented as Jennifer's fingers begun to twitch.
"The sonic bafflers should keep Ana from listening in if the room is bugged." Jennifer announced quietly as she looked down at her feet. "She's..." She stopped as an awkwardness creeped into her gestures and voices.
"She's the one you wanted to talk about." Zawadi guessed as she folded her arms. "What's the matter Jennifer?"
"She slipped up." Jennifer answered quietly. "I think she knew about the Dreamweaver's powers before she made her wish."
"Enlighten me please." Zawadi ordered, a worried smile turning into a frown of concern at this sudden revelation.
"She said she needed to test her powers." Jennifer replied. "That suggests that Dreamweaver didn't know if her powers worked, also that she told Ana what they were before she wished her wish." She added as she chanced a look at Zawadi, the Wakandan looking worried about this theory. "I may be wrong..."
"No, it's a good catch Jennifer." Zawadi sighed. "Can you do me a favour and keep an eye on Ana, she's not the most dangerous enemy on the field, but I get the feeling that she isn't a friend like she claims." She stated as Jennifer transformed her costume back into the clothes she was wearing and unlocked the door.
"Thanks for listening." Jennifer announced as left the closet.
"Thanks for bringing this to my attention." Zawadi replied as she headed for the stairs down to the gymnasium where Sarah was making her final preparations. Stalking through the door she could see the sorceress already sitting in a mystical circle, candles floating around her, their wicks glowing a cold blue. Off to one side Flintlock was testing the weight of an arquebus, the antique weapon seemingly pristine save for the metal plate mounted under the long barrel.
"Are you ready?" Sarah asked.
"Change of plan, I need to stay here, but if you need a secondary then perhaps Rachel would oblige?" Zawadi asked as Flintlock put her weapon down on the table.
"I'd rather not use Rachel." Sarah sighed as Flintlock walked over to the mystical circle and put her hands on her hips. "While she has a lay knowledge of magic, something I don't mean as an insult, I still feel some bitterness, even hate towards her, that may affect the spell."
"Can you do it alone?" Zawadi asked.
"Not easily." Sarah replied as she looked up at Flintlock. "You may have noticed collaborations between magic users and those who are not. Doctor Strange and Wong for example, or Druid and the Shadow Woman, even the Enchantress and her Executioner..."
"Or Zombie Master and her Enforcer." Flintlock added sadly.
"...As you can see assistance is required for complicated spells." Sarah finished as she allowed herself a small smile at the interpretation. "Perhaps Stone or Jennifer could...no of course, I understand." She sighed as she looked over at Flintlock. "Hmm I can see the benefits of taking Flintlock, but I will state that this was not my first choice for said partnership."
"I'll try my best." Flintlock snorted as Zawadi smiled slightly at such an odd pairing. "Is there anything I need to bring?" She asked as she sat down in the circle.
"Just a courteous manner." Sarah told her as coins began falling from the sky, and the room revolved sickeningly, the blur where Zawadi was standing outside the circle fading to smoke along with everything else in the house, until with a sudden lurch the spell was completed and the spinning stopped. Getting to her feet, Flintlock saw that she was standing in a pile of coins on the steps of a Greco Romanesque mausoleum completely naked.
"Okay enough with the hazing Sarah, where are my clothes!" Flintlock yelled as something burrowed out of the pile of coins next to her.
"You can control what your mental avatar looks like." Sarah stated from down near her feet. Looking down Flintlock screamed as a boa - constrictor slithered out of the coins at an alarming rate before turning to look at her. "You know some people would consider it rude to scream at them."
"Why are you a snake!" Flintlock yelled as her body flashed black and an elegant evening gown appeared on her. The snake simply shrugged and headed up the steps, followed by its human companion, her high heels melting away as she started the climb. Heading inside, the pair came to a stop in a marble atrium, a golden helmet sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the room.
"Wha...what is that?" She asked as her eyes were drawn to a mural emblazoned with heroic figures; a muscled man with an S emblazoned on his chest, a woman clad in armour, a boy with lightning lapping at his heels, a figure who keep changing, the ring on their finger being the only constant, a bat like creature lurking in the corners and yet more based on the same designs with bat-girls, old lighting bearers and the like coming to the forefront with each blink. Reaching out to touch the mural Flintlock felt a soft hand stop her and turned to see a beautiful red-haired woman dressed in green standing behind there.
"Careful, that is a portal to a sister universe that this place bridges." Sarah stated as she looked up at the Roman numerals 'DCMM' carved there. "You were close to being lost." She added as a figure comprised of white light and Victorian clothes walked into the room, a scroll in its hand.
"The judge will see the pair of you now." The figure stated in a flat voice. "Lady Valkyrie, Lords Damballa, Peter and Anubis will be hearing you under the head judgeship of King Minos."
"Then lead us away Bailiff." Sarah retorted before turning to Flintlock. "Come the Bailiff of Madness has called us, our hearing is in session." She added as Flintlock shot the mural and helmet one last look, before following her teammate. "Besides its rude to keep a judge waiting, especially since our judges are gods." She finished as the pair of them followed the Bailiff through into the courtroom, the heavy gold doors slamming shut behind them.
“Does it matter, she set us up, used us while working both sides of the mission.” Stone replied as she fired an energy net at Ana, the plasma webbing restraining the Symkarian super spy. “We don’t have demons where I come from, but from the mythology I studied, I seem to recall they are almost all bad.”
“But why would she work with the demon or whatever this thing is?” Scorpion asked as she picked up Ana’s dropped pistol and slipped the safety on before placing it back on the floor.
“Because she’s insane.” Flintlock murmured. “Keep up Jennifer.”
“No, it makes no sense, the demon was powering the villains or something like that, right?” Scorpion suggested as she held her head up to look her teammates in the eye, her fingers tapping the thumb on her left hand in sequence. “But she sent us after them, wanted us to stop them, if she was working with the demon why would she do that?”
“Perhaps answers will come if we release our employer and ask what her connection to the demon is, and more importantly if she knows its name,” Sarah stated as Zawadi walked over to the webbing and pulled it off Ana, before muscling the younger woman into a chair. “Demons by their nature are deceitful, even those who fight their evil nature and inspire to be something better. When you met the architect behind this whole ordeal, did you know his or her true face?”
“No, I knew from my cousin Silvia that demons existed in this world, but I also knew that their entrance into this world was sealed.” Ana explained as she tried to block out the shotgun still levelled at her head. “I had no idea what the creature behind her mask really was.”
“It came in a human guise then.” Sarah concluded. “Likely the demon is bonded with a human avatar, much like Damballa is bonded with me.”
“You have to understand, it was my nineteenth birthday and it was the worst day of my life.” Ana told them as she hung her head in shame. “Silvia had just succeeded in another grand mission, one that was far more important than any celebrations planed for me. I always wanted to be like her, to be the beautiful one, the cool one, the celebrated daughter of Symkaria and not the runt who wastes her time with mathematics, engineering and chemistry. So, I can’t pop a person’s head open with my thighs, but that doesn’t make me useless.”
“I miscounted it’s six broken dolls.” Stone stated as she removed her face-plate, a look of sadness spread across her face.
“Negative emotions on a birthday, no demon would be able to resist.” Sarah sighed as she used her powers to lower Flintlock’s shotgun. “I suspect I know what kind too, a wish demon, you wished to be like your cousin. The question now is what price you paid for such a favour?”
“I paid nothing, she needed her first wish, one to let her know that her powers worked.” Ana replied before putting her head in her hands. “Ironic, without that wish I wouldn’t have known about the attack on the G20, but it would never have happened.”
“You said her, did she tell you her sacred name?” Sarah pressed.
“I got a name, but it sounded human.” Ana sighed. “She called herself Barbie Robb, she was at the party as an entertainer doing minor magic tricks.”
“Are you sure?” Sarah asked, a hint of urgency now in her voice.
“Yeah, she said she was a Dream Weaver, that she was humanity’s fairy godmother.” Ana answered as she put her head back in her hands. “Even without being Silver Sable I should have known that it was a lie.”
“Is this a problem Sarah?” Zawadi asked her colleague as she drifted away from the group.
“Yes, because my partner and I banished her years ago.” Sarah responded as she sent sparks running through her hands until they formed into a spider shaped orb of lightning.
# # # # #
Long Island, New York - 2014
“You ready?” The man in the blue jumpsuit accented with silver asked as he and the woman dressed in forest green camouflage fatigues and air-force helmet stacked up against the door.
“I’m ready.” The woman replied as her partner blasted the hinges off the door with his shotgun before kicking it open. Dashing inside into the apartment they stopped as they saw the comatose body of their client, one Brian Solomon, suspended from gossamer threads from the ceiling. Checking the other rooms quickly, the pair came back to the suspended man, his comatose body unmoving, a smile of complete euphoria spread across his face.
“I hate this Mike, we’ve dealt with some disgusting things, but this is the worst.” The woman stated, as Mike removed a survival knife from his belt and began to slash at the threads.
“That’s why we’re doing this one pro-bono Sarah.” Mike replied as Sarah scanned the area as a faint scratching sound could be heard from the corner of the living room.
“It’s still here.” Sarah whispered as Mike moved his knife to his off hand, his pistol held in the other. “Or something is anyway?” She added, as the pair of them advanced on the sound, ready for action. Reaching the corner, a flash of light shot out, and a shape grew from a tiny speck into a hulking man-sized blot of legs and fangs. As the light faded, the intruder was revealed as a massive tarantula, its pink knees standing out against the long black hairs, its fangs leaking venom.
“Oh crap.” Mike swore as the tarantula stumbled forward, before collapsing onto the floor.
“Poor thing, it’s not meant to be like this.” Sarah cooed as she walked over to the spider and placed her hand on its knee. “It’s as much a victim as all the others were, including us.” She added, as the spider shrunk down and a scream of rage sounded before a blast of green energy struck Sarah, the discharge burning the sleeves of her jacket and leaving stinging welts on her skin.
“You couldn’t leave well enough alone!” A female voice snapped as a woman dressed in a green dress walked in, her unnaturally pink hair swept up by the invisible wind that seemed to accompany powerful spellcasters. “I give them euphoria, I gave you happiness beyond what you deserve and you…you monsters rejected my kindness!!”
“Draining the life out of your victims is not kindness.” Mike replied coldly as he opened fire, the bullets blinking out of existence as they flew towards their target. Cursing under his breath, he threw his knife at the woman, only to see her shift to the side with astounding speed, grab the weapon in mid-air and throw it back at him. Not bothering to dodge, Mike felt the thud of his knife bounce off his costume as he charged the woman.
“You and your lay witchling know nothing about my power!” The woman snapped as she repulsed Mike with a flick of her wrist, before turning to Sarah as she came up silently behind her. “So much power all governed by fear, the elements shackled by a scared child!” She sighed before levitating Sarah up to the ceiling before slamming her down hard.
“Now that’s just being nasty.” Sarah groaned as the tarantula, unseen scuttled up to the woman, and crawled up to her hand. “Elmer would agree, you are not a very nice owner…Barbara!!”
“What!!” The woman gasped. “How!!”
“I’m just a lay witchling, I have to be sneaky were others are strong, but as all magic users know, words are more powerful than the spells they summon.” Sarah responded coyly. “Your pet doesn’t appreciate being used as an engine of destruction, it’s been crying out in pain all this time about what you’re doing.”
“Wait the spider told you this?” Mike asked, as he helped Sarah up to her feet. Screaming in anger Barbra went to crush the spider, only for the arachnid to sink its fangs into her hand. Spitting and hissing she swiped at her one-time pet, the blow knocking the invertebrate to the floor its body shattering.
“Horrible beast!” Barbara snorted, as Mike handed Sarah a bullet, her eyes closed and her lips trembling as she muttered something under her breath. “You what are you scheming!!” She snarled as she fired a bolt of energy at Sarah, only for the discharge to arc round to Mike, “No!! You…you are her spell guard!!” She gasped in surprise as Mike shook himself and advanced on her, knife in hand.
“Seems like it Barbara.” Mike replied as Barbra summoned up an athame formed of crystal. “As for my partner, I wouldn’t worry about what she’s doing.” He added as Barbara lunged towards Mike, her strength enhanced mystically beyond what it should be, her opponent blocking and then repulsing her, before delivering a smack to the back of her head. Lying at Sarah’s feet, Barbara tried to grab her, only for her target to drop a vial of blue sand on her.
“Barbara Robb, pawn of darkness with authority I banish you.” Sarah stated as a mystical chain snapped round Barbara’s leg. “By the Judges of the Dead I sentence you to your fate. Let your feet never fall on our soil again, let your power over dreams by null and let your print be cleansed.” She finished as the chain began to withdraw towards its point of origin as Barbara desperately tried to cling onto her freedom, scratch marks left on the floor as she was dragged backwards.
“You bitch! I curse you with my last breath. May you never know peace…guh.” Barbara screamed before being coshed on the back of the head as she passed Mike.
“No more words from you.” Mike told her as the chain coiled round her before a gunshot sounded as Sarah fired the bullet Mike had given here, the impact opening up a fiery red void that sucked the chained Barbara inside before closing in a hiss of releasing steam.
“It’s done.” Sarah wheezed as she sat down on the floor, blood dripping from her nose and mouth. “No more spells today I think.” She coughed as Mike handed her a box of tissues.
“Excuse me.” A voice above them snapped, as Mr Solomon came around from his coma. “But what the bloody hell are you doing in my house!”
# # # # #
Silver Shadow Ranch, Colorado
Zawadi watched as Stone flipped through the settings of the holographic map table, searching for any corresponding frequency to the readings her sensors were recording from Ana. She would have asked Sarah for her assistance, but the sorceress was busy readying herself for a spirit journey to consult with the Judges of Death about the fate of Barbara Robb after her banishment from Earth.
"Zawadi can I speak with you?" Jennifer asked from the doorway. "In private."
"Of course." Zawadi answered as she gave Stone a nod to continue without her, before walking into the corridor where her teammate was waiting for her. Silently Jennifer led her into a supply closet, locked the door and stroked the neck of her blouse, her clothing flickering as they were replaced by a sleek silver set of armour. "Well now you look like a Silver Scorpion." Zawadi commented as Jennifer's fingers begun to twitch.
"The sonic bafflers should keep Ana from listening in if the room is bugged." Jennifer announced quietly as she looked down at her feet. "She's..." She stopped as an awkwardness creeped into her gestures and voices.
"She's the one you wanted to talk about." Zawadi guessed as she folded her arms. "What's the matter Jennifer?"
"She slipped up." Jennifer answered quietly. "I think she knew about the Dreamweaver's powers before she made her wish."
"Enlighten me please." Zawadi ordered, a worried smile turning into a frown of concern at this sudden revelation.
"She said she needed to test her powers." Jennifer replied. "That suggests that Dreamweaver didn't know if her powers worked, also that she told Ana what they were before she wished her wish." She added as she chanced a look at Zawadi, the Wakandan looking worried about this theory. "I may be wrong..."
"No, it's a good catch Jennifer." Zawadi sighed. "Can you do me a favour and keep an eye on Ana, she's not the most dangerous enemy on the field, but I get the feeling that she isn't a friend like she claims." She stated as Jennifer transformed her costume back into the clothes she was wearing and unlocked the door.
"Thanks for listening." Jennifer announced as left the closet.
"Thanks for bringing this to my attention." Zawadi replied as she headed for the stairs down to the gymnasium where Sarah was making her final preparations. Stalking through the door she could see the sorceress already sitting in a mystical circle, candles floating around her, their wicks glowing a cold blue. Off to one side Flintlock was testing the weight of an arquebus, the antique weapon seemingly pristine save for the metal plate mounted under the long barrel.
"Are you ready?" Sarah asked.
"Change of plan, I need to stay here, but if you need a secondary then perhaps Rachel would oblige?" Zawadi asked as Flintlock put her weapon down on the table.
"I'd rather not use Rachel." Sarah sighed as Flintlock walked over to the mystical circle and put her hands on her hips. "While she has a lay knowledge of magic, something I don't mean as an insult, I still feel some bitterness, even hate towards her, that may affect the spell."
"Can you do it alone?" Zawadi asked.
"Not easily." Sarah replied as she looked up at Flintlock. "You may have noticed collaborations between magic users and those who are not. Doctor Strange and Wong for example, or Druid and the Shadow Woman, even the Enchantress and her Executioner..."
"Or Zombie Master and her Enforcer." Flintlock added sadly.
"...As you can see assistance is required for complicated spells." Sarah finished as she allowed herself a small smile at the interpretation. "Perhaps Stone or Jennifer could...no of course, I understand." She sighed as she looked over at Flintlock. "Hmm I can see the benefits of taking Flintlock, but I will state that this was not my first choice for said partnership."
"I'll try my best." Flintlock snorted as Zawadi smiled slightly at such an odd pairing. "Is there anything I need to bring?" She asked as she sat down in the circle.
"Just a courteous manner." Sarah told her as coins began falling from the sky, and the room revolved sickeningly, the blur where Zawadi was standing outside the circle fading to smoke along with everything else in the house, until with a sudden lurch the spell was completed and the spinning stopped. Getting to her feet, Flintlock saw that she was standing in a pile of coins on the steps of a Greco Romanesque mausoleum completely naked.
"Okay enough with the hazing Sarah, where are my clothes!" Flintlock yelled as something burrowed out of the pile of coins next to her.
"You can control what your mental avatar looks like." Sarah stated from down near her feet. Looking down Flintlock screamed as a boa - constrictor slithered out of the coins at an alarming rate before turning to look at her. "You know some people would consider it rude to scream at them."
"Why are you a snake!" Flintlock yelled as her body flashed black and an elegant evening gown appeared on her. The snake simply shrugged and headed up the steps, followed by its human companion, her high heels melting away as she started the climb. Heading inside, the pair came to a stop in a marble atrium, a golden helmet sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the room.
"Wha...what is that?" She asked as her eyes were drawn to a mural emblazoned with heroic figures; a muscled man with an S emblazoned on his chest, a woman clad in armour, a boy with lightning lapping at his heels, a figure who keep changing, the ring on their finger being the only constant, a bat like creature lurking in the corners and yet more based on the same designs with bat-girls, old lighting bearers and the like coming to the forefront with each blink. Reaching out to touch the mural Flintlock felt a soft hand stop her and turned to see a beautiful red-haired woman dressed in green standing behind there.
"Careful, that is a portal to a sister universe that this place bridges." Sarah stated as she looked up at the Roman numerals 'DCMM' carved there. "You were close to being lost." She added as a figure comprised of white light and Victorian clothes walked into the room, a scroll in its hand.
"The judge will see the pair of you now." The figure stated in a flat voice. "Lady Valkyrie, Lords Damballa, Peter and Anubis will be hearing you under the head judgeship of King Minos."
"Then lead us away Bailiff." Sarah retorted before turning to Flintlock. "Come the Bailiff of Madness has called us, our hearing is in session." She added as Flintlock shot the mural and helmet one last look, before following her teammate. "Besides its rude to keep a judge waiting, especially since our judges are gods." She finished as the pair of them followed the Bailiff through into the courtroom, the heavy gold doors slamming shut behind them.