"What the hell is going on in here?" Atlanna asked. A few of the others moved over after feeling all the energy seeped to the surface. Those nearby anyway. "Orm looked at Max burning and was getting upset. Having thought the worse with his mother.
"Really hope this is not an attempt on teacher." Orm conjured water around his arms. ready to fight at a moment's notice. "Heads will roll!"
"Ah.. that is not the case Orm." Max's voice came out of the flames. He stepped out stopping the vortex with ease. "Achoo!" Sneezing, all the scarred tissue broke off as he healed to normal. Clothes forming around him quickly. He was naked after all.
With a pull, Mercy floated over to him with one hand. His other hand went out healing everyone. Max could see the life still leaving Mercy slowly. Enough for him to resent the steps he had to take for Blackest Night more and more.
Slowly, Max reached into her chest. A tight squeeze around her heart as it was pierced. Mercy opened her eyes very quickly at that. Like the others, she had know idea what Max was doing.
"What are you doing Max?" Claire asked.
"Fixing a wrong. She has more than earned it from me." Max had a solemn look as he continued to work her over. "What kind of King.. let a long a Titan would I become if I let my princess die?"
"Huh?!" Morgen was a little startled. But Slade was not. "What is the meaning of that statement?" Max had a long history that she only touched on over the years. Everytime she pushed further in, the more she found. 'How many lives has he lived? No way it is just 7 like he believes it to be.'
"Well, the country is not a Democracy so yeah...." Slade said as he sat down on the floor. "And Mercy is adopted by him. So there is that. A lot of princes and princesses if that is the case. Counting them all you know."
"It tingles." Mercy's face went bright red. Max finally sat her down. "I can feel you. Like you heart and your thoughts. This is really weird Max."
"Just quit your mental thoughts and everything will be ok." Max looked at the others. "So... I guess an explanation is in order. But first.." He stopped on Orm. "I appreciate the loyalty. But remember they are friends and allies. They were doing what was needed."
"I still do not want them attacking you teacher. You still have much to teach me still."
"I know Orm." Max gave him a small smile. "But let's take a small trip to Bialya to pick some things up. You stay here and rest Mercy." She didn't argue as she started falling asleep from the ordeal itself.
Slade and the others not letting a small trip to Biayla from letting them miss out on the info about how he died.
.
Biayla -
.
Hearing about how someone in Space almost brought about the destruction of the Dimension and the Dead coming to life way sooner than normal is just to much for some of them.
The fact that Max died from preventing the process was enough to make them a little angry. Morgen more than ever wanted him to change like before. But once Claire pointed out if he was stronger during it, they would have died was enough for her to zip it.
Grail was excitied. Thinking of the future fighting involved. More determined than ever to stay by Max's side and fight. She couldn't wait to tell her mother and the other amazons.
Valentine remained quiet. Like her brothers and sisters, she was slowly getting to know their sperm donor father. The fact that he could die at any time from his different methods to protect the Dimension, did not sit well with her.
She would talk with them to see what they had to say about the subject. As well as their great whole for their birth. Hera explained a little to them over time, but not everything. To her, they were still children.
Disembarking the plane, Max and Slade went to meet with the queen of Biayla. Everyone else taking in the sights or just relaxing on the plane. A few had to many drinks and could barely move.
"Is that Lex Luthor?" Slade nudged Max.
Lex was walking with members of Biayla. From the looks of it, they were scientists or professors of some kind. Spotting the two, the group went straight to Max.
"Defintely him." Max answered after collecting his thoughts. "Hey Lex. Enjoying summer time I take it?"
"Yes." Lex shook hands with Max and Slade. "Should have let you know. But it was such a spur of the moment thing really. Took the teleporter to get here." Max remembers how previous he was so against it, but look at him now. "Here to meet with the queen?"
"Yeah and check the status of the people." Max nodded his head a little. From what the demons reported and the few members from Nyssa's Shadow Group, things were going fine. But the country still had a way to go still. "Is should be fine other than that."
Lex eyed Max a little. For some reason he looked off. Almost lifeless in a way. Less energy in him. Even Lex could tell his mental energy was low. "You doing ok?"
"I have seen better days." Max shrugged it off. "Never did like summer much. More of a winter kind of guy." The trio talked a little more with the scientist Max found joining in a little.
.
Moving Forward-
.
After the stint in Baliya, Max returned home after a few days. Lex was slightly shaken and had some thinking to do after hearing about the backlash Max suffered. It was the middle of July or so when people started returning home.
Zatanna and John returned after finishing their tasks. John's mother was more than ok now with the arrangement. With Zatanna's mother contacting her daughter after she was assured she was ok from the Homo-Magi group attacking her. Still not returning home out of principal she told them.
Zatanna and John were on a couch getting all comfy. Speaking a few languages to test each other at a spell game. A guest had come over to talk things over with Max. More and more people were coming into their own after realizing the stakes of the future.
"Tch, just gets few fuck buddies man." Big Harv said. He watched as Max grabbed one of his "health drinks" from the wall fridge. It was a health concoction to get him ready for the next breakthrough. "The guys are starting to think you are really.. well odd."
"That is their problem, not mine." Max said before drinking the mix in one gulp. "Ah, taste like crap everytime." Turning, he stared at Big Harv. "What is it now? Something else is bugging you."
"I want to start my own business." Big Harv said getting to the point. "I think I can run things.." He was ready to give a whole speech but was stopped by Max's words.
"Good luck bud." Max tapped his shoulder. "I figure you would wait till you had a bigger power base, but good on ya."
"You aren't mad?"
"Nope. You know I have misgivings only about certain things. Do what you want. Just don't get in my way or my ideals."
"Ughh.. so no drug rackets." Big Harv said scratching his head. "No cop killing and rape or human trafficking..." Seeing Max shake his head he wanted to clarify. "Wait.. what about drugs for adults? If they are 25 on up, do you care?"
"I do. But nothing I can do bout that. Just don't get me involved in that crap and you are fine. I won't help facilitate anything of that nature. I dont have the means to police the World, yet. So nothing I can do really."
"Alright. I will make sure I start up in one of the bad cities. Try my best in fixing the corruption and doing what we do best." Big Harv said slightly disappointed. "I make no promises I can do like you. Money is power and I only have a little of it."
"Your "Aspect" is yours to take my friend." Max held his hand out for a shake. "Today we are still friends, but going on different paths, that might make us enemies. Best to always know when things change."
Looking at his hand, Big Harv was momentarily scared to shake it. This was the first time in his life he felt fear. But the seperation from the regular Harvey Dent all those years ago was worth it.
Doing the handshake he felt something odd happen but kept a firm grip. He felt power radiated in his chest. Max was really ok with what he was doing. He just needed to protect people. In his own way of course.
"I will remember Max. Keep my people happy and fuck everyone else." Letting go, Big Harv went back to the party. 'Not touching drugs period. Just needed to know what would happen. Gun running is a very lucrative business on its own.'
The rest of the party went on for hours. Around 3 in the morning the cabs had taken the majority of the people home. A few remained on the lower floors to sleep. Medical staff on standby for those who pushed themselves to hard.
Quite a few parents were wasted. And their having to act as caregivers for once. The alcohol they consumed ould also remove any overheard words and the sight of Blackfire flying at one point.
Max was in his den with a few of the others. Slade had just given him a report about strange activity in the Congo jungles. It was Copperhead. He finally made an appearance.
"As long as he stays away from what we have there, I don't care. Increase the amount of guards around the towns there as well as security checks."
"The personnel, where will we get them? The locals?" Slade was hoping he says no.
"No. Not even gonna tempt that nonsense. I know you have a bunch of people you would like to add to your security forces." Max looked over at him and smiled. "If they can keep to our tenants you may do so. Of course, the pay will come from operations in that area. I am not doing that crap of them getting paid and taxed based on there home of record."
"Hehe, you got it. I will do what I can to convince them." Slade laughed and grabbed the document. "About the Rusian facility..."
"Slade it is fine, we will talk about it later. Go home to your wife. She is waiting for you." Max said remembering the man had been working twice as hard as of late.
"I.. right. Thank you." Slade pocket the documents and left post haste. "Hope she likes the cake."
"Knock, knock" A voice said imitating actual knocking, it was Selina and a few of the others.
"Huh, what are you all doing here?" Max was generally suprised. Which was rare since everything was usually amusing to him. But lately, he was never on alert. 'I am slipping perhaps? Or is it stress for once?'
"Birthday wish." Pamela said. "We want to cash in on them."
"Hmm alright. Who is going first?" Max eased around turning the chair around and sitting back down. "I will only grant what I can. Same as before."
"I am going first." Makana said stepping forward. "My job here was to help facilitate a peace between a person of power and influence in the world of man. You did just that and then some. I wish to use my accumulated wishes as well as the one the few amazons who have stayed in your home over the years have acquired." Max gave her a nod and she continued. "I wish for peace between your people and the Amazons. I dont want to go to war with your forces Max."
Max had a pensive smile as a small orb flew out of her as well as a few others teleporting in from various locations around the Earth and through out the galaxy. Then furthur to different dimensions. It formed a black contract with golden words forming. It floated over to her. In an instant, she knew the entire contents and what it entailed.
"Ughh, you are a monster. But an honest one." Makana said holding back some bile. "You never planned on going to war with us. Your forces were only there to defend if we attacked."
"Correct." She was referencing some things here and as well to other Dimensions that amazons existed in. The same contract extended to them. Which was signed by the different Amazon leaders. "Always takes time for your king to come around."
"I.. am sorry." Makana sighed as the contract reappeared and it floated to Max. "Never can we be to careful."
"It is what it is." Max pricked his finger and signed in blood. The new amendments needed to be secured by him. The contract turned to motes of light and entered him and Makana both this time.. "Who is next?" The other Amazon received the information slowly.
Makana chanted a spell and disappeared. Most likely back to the island of women to report.
"I am." Blackfire said stepping forward. "I wish to remain at your side as an instrument of war. You can keep me from having to deal with Tamarian law. I am willing to obey if it gives that freedom from them." Her eyes lit up in glee.
"Very well then." The contract was silver this time. The words written black. Blackfire read over it and her eyes went wide before she signed it. Max's signature was already there. It disappeared and entered her. When it did so, she switched over to look like a regular earthling. No diguise needed anymore.
"Thank you." Blackfire smiled and walked away leaving the room happily. "Time for another rock concert!"
Madame Xanadu stepped forward. Despite her sister trying to pull her away. "I am allowed wishes as well right?" She paused and Max nodded. "Good..I wish for my sister to know everything you have planned for her."
"Why you little.. " Max started to grumble but the spell activated. Morgan already was shaking. Her mask disappeared revealing a youthful face once more. "I tried to.."
"Shut up!" Morgan teleported right to him and grabbed his neck. Her fingers curled and left a red line across it. Cheetah was already behind getting ready to snap her neck when the woman teleported away.
*Fwoosh!* Morgan sat back in her seat and stared at her sister angrily.
"It is fine Cheetah." Max said smiling at her. Despite the separation she still cared for him at times. A future headache if things go south. "Relax, she didnt hurt me at all."
"The mark..what is it?" Cheetah moved closer and ran her hands around it. She could feel a powerful curse at work.
"A red thread of fate. Tying us togethor.. something very problematic.. if I was thinking about abandoning her somewhere. This will allow her to find me with a certain ritual." Max said smiling a little. 'It has been a while since I have been collared by someone. Quite amusing.'
"Were you planning on leaving her somewhere horrible?" Selina asked.
"No, somewhere safe. But her sister ruined it. Every now and then, I see certain... scenarios. So I intervene when I can. There was one that would cause great harm to earth. If she was there by my side something terrible would happen to her. So instead I fixed it to happen to me only." Max paused and chose his next words carefully. "It would have left the person stranded and .. changed them a great deal.. well it already has kind of but it will have a second time around."
"Why do it?" Harleen asked. "Why not just avoid it?"
"I will not." Max said shaking his head. "I can take it and survive. I rather not risk her soul." The others eyes went wide for those deep into spell casting.
"I am sorry sister. I just had to know." Madame Xanadu said. "Please forgive me." She came to her sister side and just held her hand. Morgan was still going through the information another time to make sure Max didnt pull anything else.
"So wait... if we ask, you can you tell us your plans?" Claire asked. "The darker ones right?"
"Yes and no. I dont know which ones will be allowed and which won't. It keeps me living. If I know everything that I could tell you, life would lose a good bit of its meaning. I would become bored and that is not good at all." Max sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Anyone else?"