Chapter 20
February 5th 2010
"So when am I going to get to meet these infamous Kandorians?" Zatanna asked as she twirled her index finger through the hair on Harry's chest.
The two lovers had just finished magically sparring followed by a more intimate type of sparring.
"It will probably be a while longer yet. They are just getting used to life on Earth. The arcane side of things might throw them for a loop," Harry pointed out.
Harry had been helping the Kandorians get settled on Earth for a little longer than two months now. He had told Zatanna about those efforts.
"Whenever you are ready I suppose," Zatanna said. Just then Harry looked up towards the distance.
"Chloe is in trouble," Harry said.
"Do you want my help?" Zatanna asked.
Harry glanced to his lover and decided she could help. He nodded. He summoned their clothing onto them and then teleported them. Harry and Zatanna appeared in a dark alleyway. Two men Harry didn't recognize were locked in a struggle. It appeared the one man Sylvester Pemberton had a staff that could control light. Pemberton was fighting an assassin named Icicle. Harry's surface telepathy picked up at least this much. As Harry and Zatanna arrived Icicle shot an icy dagger through Pemberton's left thigh followed by bludgeoning Pemberton on the back of the head by a club made of ice. The aptly named Icicle had ice powers.
"I think you're ready to take on someone like him," Harry suggested as he located Chloe.
Zatanna hurled a massive fireball at Icicle which sent him flying back into the nearby wall. Harry kept an eye on Zatanna as he rushed forward and stopped the bleeding in Pemberton's leg. Zatanna and Icicle engaged each other briefly. Harry watched as Icicle managed to grow a wall of sharp icicle spears behind Zatanna which he intended to back her into.
"I don't think so. The only one that will be doing any type of impaling of Zatanna is me," Harry thought to himself as he glanced up and activated his Kryptonian heat vision.
Harry disintegrated the icicle wall. Seeing this, Icicle chose to flee. Harry had managed to make sure Pemberton wouldn't die but Alice's preliminary scan revealed Pemberton would be in a coma for some time.
"He wasn't so tough," Zatanna said as she panted with fatigue and came over to Harry.
Harry didn't say anything as he projected an illusion which showed a replay of the scene with the ice spear wall she had missed.
"Thanks for the save," Chloe said as Harry helped her out of the dumpster. "Will Sylvester live?"
"Yes. But he'll be in a coma. Let's get him to the hospital. I'll keep an eye out for him because that hitter was obviously gunning for Pemberton," Harry said.
Hospital, Later
"Sylvester," Courtney Whitmore said as she rushed into his hospital room and examined her hurt friend.
Harry had a cloaked probe in the corner of the room near the ceiling watching all of this ready to summon him at a moment's notice. Courtney didn't say much else as she visited her friend.
"We'll get who did this to you, Sylvester," Courtney said before she left. "I'll get them."
Home of Wesley Dodds
Harry watched silently and cloaked as Icicle killed the man named Wesley Dodds. Dodds was dressed in a costume of sorts incorporating a gas mask. In reality Icicle simply killed a life-like golem that wasn't really alive. The real Wesley Dodds had taken a vacation in Tahiti with a simple telepathic command convincing him to do so. When Alice had examined the situation this was the course of action she recommended Harry take. She hadn't told him why. But now he understood. Dodds had been the last person Pemberton had called. Icicle was on a killing spree. A cloaked probe would follow Icicle back to wherever he laid his head at night to rest and monitor the killer.
JSA Headquarters
Harry walked into the building where Carter Hall was registered as living. The door had been open. Carter Hall was someone Sylvester Pemberton had called frequently over the past several days. As such, Hall was likely the next target for an attack by Icicle. Harry took a look around. The décor was old fashioned yet rich wooden walls. The furniture was covered in drop clothes as if the building hadn't seen use in some time.
"The museum is closed," Carter Hall said as he walked in the doorway behind Harry.
"This structure was registered as a museum at one point but has since been closed down," Alice reported.
Harry turned and faced the newcomer. The person who walked in the door was dressed casually in jeans, boots, and a jacket. His face had a light beard on it but Harry recognized the man. Standing before Harry was Daniel Jackson, or at least this universe's version of the man.
"Permanently," Carter added as he got a look at his visitor.
"The door was open. I apologize if I am intruding," Harry said.
"It wasn't supposed to be. Why are you here?" Carter asked a little suspiciously.
"If you are Mr. Hall then I am here to see you. My name is Clark Kent. I am from the Daily Planet. I am here because of one of my stories but also to make sure you are safe," Harry explained.
"Safe from what?" Carter asked.
"My investigation involves two of your acquaintances. I'm sorry to tell you this but Sylvester Pemberton was attacked and is in a coma in the hospital. Another person he knew Wesley Dodds was just recently murdered," Harry explained before pausing to let Carter digest this news.
Carter didn't outwardly show much grief but Harry's empathic abilities picked up how truly hard this news hit Carter Hall. Harry turned as he heard another voice in the building. He was surprised his empathy hadn't picked up this person.
"Red white and blue. Too much red. Stars and stripes. Stars and stripes," Kent Nelson muttered to himself as he clutched a canvas bag in his lap. Kent was down another hallway off the main room near another entrance. "Sandman doesn't dream anymore," He declared while shaking his head. "Is Mr. Terrific still terrific? I don't think so."
"Is he ok?" Harry asked.
"Kent Nelson. Dr. Kent Nelson. But the doctor is out. He's gone bowling," Kent added.
"My friend is very sick," Carter replied. "I haven't spoken to Pemberton or Dodds in years. Pemberton may have tried calling me several times but I didn't answer."
Harry felt something was off about this whole situation. He gave into his instincts and reached out with his arcane senses to his surroundings. Harry quickly picked up on two things. Arcane energy was heavily prevalent in both of the other men in the building. Carter Hall felt far older than any mortal man had a right to be. Kent Nelson felt powerful in the arcane energy background but this energy seemed to be centered around whatever was in the bag rather than Nelson himself.
"A magical artifact perhaps," Harry suggested to Alice.
She didn't answer because obviously she knew but wanted to let him find out on his own per his standing order to follow his subconscious desires. What Harry wasn't expecting was the reaction from Carter.
"Who are you?" Carter demanded suddenly turning a lot more suspicious.
"He sensed the brush of my probe," Harry thought to himself, quite impressed.
Sylvester had been keeping tabs on the activities of this Watchtower group that this Clark Kent was a part of. Carter hadn't been interested in reforming up their own group but he knew enough about the Watchtower group from discussions with Sylvester. Or at least he thought he knew enough.
"Sylvester said nothing about any magical senses Clark Kent had. Granted Sylvester didn't know the origins of Clark Kent's powers. And magical senses aren't the type of thing you can discern from observation alone," Carter thought to himself.
"I think we have talked about enough for the time being," Harry said. "Thank you for your time."
Harry then left. But he didn't leave without leaving something behind. The room was now permeated with nanites. Harry went outside the building and moved several blocks away. He tuned into his nanite spies. He was willing to bet that although Hall and Nelson were wise of arcane spying they were not so aware of technological spying.
"The helmet has something to say," Kent Nelson said as he stood while still clutching the bowling bag he was carrying. "He whispers. He whispers. He could help."
"We only help ourselves Nelson," Carter replied. "Like we've always had to," He added as she walked out the door Nelson had been sitting beside.
"Maybe, maybe not," Nelson said.
Harry waited around a while and was rewarded when the two men reentered the museum.
"You shouldn't have dragged Sylvester's sidekick into this Nelson," Carter told Nelson angrily as he faced Courtney Whitmore who held the staff Pemberton had wielded against Icicle.
"I'm not his sidekick," Courtney protested. "I'm his protégé."
"You're a little girl," Carter said as he reached out and took the staff from her. "Your stepfather must be worried sick. Go home."
"I read the report of the attack on Sylvester," Courtney said as she followed him. "There was frostbite around the wounds he suffered. But there was no indication of the weapon. Police mistook them for bullet wounds."
"It's him isn't it," Courtney said.
"Jack Frost nipping at our toes," Nelson said vehemently in the background.
"Oliver Queen said there are two dead?" Courtney said, hoping for some clarification.
Courtney had a little run-in with Oliver after she liberated Pemberton's staff from the police evidence lock-up.
"Wesley Dodds the Sandman," Carter answered.
"We have to do something," Courtney insisted.
Carter turned to face her.
"Look at Kent Nelson, Courtney," Carter said. "He spends most of his days wandering the streets searching for the mysteries of the universe at the bottom of a trash can."
"So Dr. Fate is incapacitated. The Star Spangled Kid is incapacitated. The Sandman is dead. You are their leader," Courtney said. "What's your excuse?" She paused waiting. "Please don't make me ask another team for help."
"Oh the kids out there playing hero are hardly a team," Carter said. "They don't know how to lace up their own boots," He said with disdain.
"Well maybe if you had laced up your boots when Sylvester asked you to he might not be in a coma," Courtney replied.
"Don't waste your breathe," Carter said as he turned and started leaving. "I have enough guilt to last 20 life times."
He was almost out the door when Courtney asked, "What would Shayera have done?"
That made him stop and turn. He walked back the way he came and the other two followed him. After several moments of looking around the room he had entered Carter looked at Nelson.
"We're going to need the doctor, Nelson," Carter said.
"No," Nelson said with apprehension in his tone. He set the bag down. "No, no, no. I'm not good enough."
"My morality might have wavered. Yours never did," Carter said.
"The nanites are able to relay their scans to me without the occupants of the museum sensing them," Alice reported. "Kent Nelson is suffering psionic damage from long term exposure to the mystical object he is carrying. The psionic connection it has forged with him was not meant to be established for as long as it has."
"Can he be healed?" Harry asked as Carter convinced Nelson to take up the mystical artifact once more.
"I will simulate different healing techniques and come up with an answer," Alice replied.
Harry nodded even though no one else could see him. He watched through the nanites as Nelson put on the golden helmet that was in the bowling bag. Kent Nelson was transformed into a costumed being of impressive magical power that went by the name Dr. Fate. Carter Hall then revealed his own costume complete with a set of wings and a mace. Alice ran scans of the costume and determined the wings were actually functional. There were arcane workings on the wings to make them so. Harry received a call from Chloe just then. He left his probes monitoring those he had been observing to respond to Chloe.
Metropolis General Hospital
Harry followed Chloe into the hospital to check up on a lead she had uncovered. The criminal that had attacked Pemberton had a father currently in the hospital. Ironically the Icicle's father had also gone by that name and he was currently in a coma. Chloe went up and checked the chart outside the room.
"This is a dead end. The Icicle has been in a vegetative state for the last decade," Chloe reported.
"We still have to check," Harry said.
Just then a golden glow emerged from beneath the door. "What the hell?" Chloe said.
Harry went in first. They found Dr. Fate standing over Icicle the elder with glowing tendrils of energy extending from Dr. Fate's left hand into the Icicle's face. Harry reached out and grabbed Fate's arm while pulling him back and away. Harry felt the wave of arcane energy wash over him from Fate. He saw possible futures with countless universes. He saw eternity. When the vision broke Fate's eyes were wide with shock.
"Your destiny is beyond anything I have ever seen," Fate declared. "Your value is incalculable." "You are a seer," Harry mused. "Or some variation of it."
"Let me show you what I am," Fate said.
Fate raised his hand again and a rune glowed in brilliant gold on his gloved palm. Harry felt the teleportation spell kick in and let it take him. He could have stopped it if he had wanted. But Harry knew enough of Dr. Fate at this point to know he didn't mean any harm. Harry was teleported back to a section of the museum where he had encountered Carter Hall and Kent Nelson once before. Fate intended to leave Harry unconscious but Harry didn't play ball.
"You going somewhere?" Harry asked curiously as he sat up.
Dr. Fate had turned his back thinking Harry was unconscious. Just then Zatanna teleported into the room summoned by Harry's telepathic message. Fate's gaze turned to Zatanna. He seemed to be inspecting her deeply. Harry saw his eyes flicker to Zatanna's abdomen for a second. Then he glanced back at Harry.
"You alter the fates of those around you. If you hadn't come here her fate would have been greater than the average mortal's. But with you here she will bear and raise children that could rival the gods of old," Dr. Fate told Harry.
Zatanna glanced between Fate and Harry with raised eyebrows.
"This is news to me," Zatanna thought to herself. Harry called this man a seer. She knew what that term meant in a magical sense. She decided to see what information she could garner. "Any idea how many?" Zatanna questioned out loud.
Fate glanced back to her and said, "Three. But you won't be the only one. There are three more that will do so in this universe. I cannot see beyond that."
Zatanna turned to Harry with one raised eyebrow.
"He did say there would be others," Zatanna thought to herself. "I guess I should be glad there
are only four of us in this universe."
Harry cleared his throat while studiously avoiding more on that subject with Zatanna.
"You brought me here to show me who you are," Harry said. "I'm guessing it has to do with what is in this room."
Harry raised his hand and caused the drop-cloths covering everything in the room to vanish. He found a table that had the writing Justice Society of America inscribed on it in the center of the room. There was a portrait on the wall which portrayed a group of superheroes sitting around that very table.
"So this JSA was a group that used to be around," Zatanna said as she also examined the portraits.
"Indeed," Dr. Fate confirmed.
At that moment Carter Hall dressed in his Hawk Man persona landed in the room through a skylight.
"Dr. Fate thinks you are a big deal," Hawk Man said. "I'm not sure I see it."
"Trust in what I say," Dr. Fate asserted.
Courtney Whitmore also appeared in the room using the light powers of her staff to cloak her presence until she wanted to be seen.
"Sylvester had a dream. He wanted to bring together a new Justice Society comprising the surviving members and us new kids," Courtney said. "That was why he has been monitoring your members."
"It wouldn't have worked Courtney. Society never learns. This generation will make the same mistakes the last did like the one before that," Carter asserted.
"Jaded much. I get that you are far older than you appear. But you are majorly jaded," Harry said. "None of us here are the criminals despite what your records may say."
"How can you be so sure, Clark?" Oliver said as he walked into the room. "The winged one here threw me through a window." Harry could sense Chloe in the next room. "And their records are pretty long."
"Yes I am sure," Harry said. "You two need to let go of the hostility." "I hope I didn't make you cry," Carter said, unable to let it go.
"Drop the mace Conan," Oliver rebutted.
"I will...on your head," Carter answered.
The two went at each other. In a blur of super-speed Harry was between them. Faster than either could move Harry had them in choke-holds.
"I said...let it go," Harry declared while channeling calming charms into the two men.
They stopped struggling thanks to the arcane.
"Effective," Dr. Fate said appreciatively as Harry released a calmer Oliver and Carter.
At that moment John Jones chose to make his presence known along with Chloe. In this universe John had lost his powers saving Clark's life.
"These are our friends John and Chloe," Harry introduced.
"Why are they all coming here? This is our fight. Our friends are the ones being killed," Carter said as he rejoined Courtney and Dr. Fate on the other side of the table.
"Why can't we work together?" Harry asked. "We have a team but that doesn't mean we can't expand it."
"The JSA didn't last," Carter insisted.
"Then let's restructure it. We can talk about that later. Let's focus on the issue at hand," Harry urged.
"Before I work with them I want to know why you think you can trust them," Oliver asserted.
"Will you tell us the story?" Zatanna asked.
Carter slowly nodded.
"We were cleaning up the streets for a long time. We tried to stay out of public awareness. But a government task force found out about us. They wanted us to work for them and unmask. We said no. One by one they uncovered our identities. They had us arrested and institutionalized," Carter explained while glancing to Dr. Fate.
"We were ripped away from our families while trying to protect them," Dr. Fate added. "We fought back for as long as we could."
"Don't sugar coat it," Carter interjected. "We fought back for as long as I could. I wasn't the leader they thought I was. I made too many mistakes."
"It is a new age. We have resources at our disposal that can keep the government at bay," Harry said.
"Spoken with the true confidence of youth," Carter said. "How can you possibly know that?" Harry eyed Carter for several moments as if he was debating what to do.
Harry then telepathically sent into the minds of everyone there, "Because I am FAR more than I appear Carter Hall."
Harry's telepathic message was sent with such power that everyone who experienced it believed what he said. Carter gazed at Harry with an expression of being impressed.
"Perhaps you are right. Time will tell," Carter said.
"The issue of Icicle," Chloe interjected to break the moment. "I have an idea or two of how we can find him. Last night cameras caught Icicle visiting his father at the hospital. If his powers are anything like his father's abilities then he will need to recharge with liquid nitrogen. I've taken the liberty of locating possible liquid nitrogen locations."
"So we need to split up in teams and stake out these locations," Courtney suggested.
The group began organizing the logistics of the teams and who would stake out what location.
The Daily Planet
Harry entered the bull pen and saw Lois sitting at her desk staring at her monitor. She had been doing that a lot lately just thinking. He had respected her privacy and given her the space he had promised her. Despite the fact that Harry hadn't been as initially invested in the relationship with Lois in this universe as he could have been he was still quite interested in her response. Given the fact that Harry already had a Lois Lane as a partner in his previous reality Harry rather thought his lack of focus on the one in this reality was understandable.
"You rang," Harry said as he stepped up next to Lois, startling her out of her thoughts.
Lois jumped a bit in her seat and looked up. She had just sent the text a minute ago requesting that he meet her.
"Of course with him being the Blur it makes sense he could get here so quickly. He doesn't have to hide that from me anymore," Lois thought. "How many times did he have to give me a lame excuse about being nearby when he really could have been much further?" Out loud, Lois said, "Thanks for coming so quickly. Pull up a chair," She said while gesturing towards his desk chair nearby. Harry sat down and waited patiently for Lois to continue. "I wanted more time to think but then this package arrived," She said while pointing to a package on her desk.
The wrapping of the package was a black and white checkered pattern. "How did this package change things?" Harry asked.
"It contains highly classified files that an anonymous source leaked to me. Given their nature I think it involves the Blur's line of work," Lois said.
Harry had Alice scan the contents of the package and summarize things for him. The files were on the Justice Society of America. Harry was surprised someone had leaked this to Lois.
"You're right. They do involve his line of work," Harry confirmed.
"How did he know so quickly?" Lois asked herself. "Must be one of his abilities. He didn't go into too much detail on those things." She continued on, "Then I'll stay out of it." This earned her a surprised look from her companion. "I trust you have things under control. I wanted to talk to you anyway about what we last discussed." She reached out and took his hand. "I want to be with you still. Just tell me...do these other women know about me?"
"Yes," Harry confirmed.
"Ok. That's enough said about that. I haven't decided if I want to meet these other women or know just about anything else about them. If I do decide in the future I will let you know," Lois said.
"Fair enough," Harry agreed and gave Lois a slowly forming smile. She returned the smile and leaned in to kiss him.
"Damn I missed these kisses," Lois told herself. "Dinner tonight?" She questioned. "Sounds like a plan," Harry agreed. "I'll pick you up at 5:30. I've got some stuff I need to
handle first."
"Ok. Stay safe," Lois said before giving him one last kiss.
Liquid Nitrogen Storage Facility
Harry watched invisibly as Dr. Fate and John Jones walked around the facility chatting with each other. Alice had urged Harry to come to this particular location. When the two heroes came upon a dead security guard Harry knew why. Alice would be able to revive guard momentarily.
"It is not your fate to die today Martian," Dr. Fate declared as he summoned all of his magical might.
Arcane energy in such an immensity energy density that even Harry was impressed gathered within Dr. Fate. Dr. Fate then drew back his right arm before thrusting his hand forward towards John Jones. The glowing golden rune that hit John's chest threw him back as a portal temporarily opened in the fabric of spacetime behind him. The portal wouldn't take John anywhere but it allowed Dr. Fate's spell to tap into the essence of Mars. Indeed, the red planet was outlined in the background of the portal. For a moment John was revealed in his birth form. Then the portal closed and he flew back into a stainless steel tank behind him unconscious.
Harry had watched as Icicle snuck up behind Dr. Fate. As Icicle prepared to run Dr. Fate through from behind, Harry quickly snap conjured a duplicate of Dr. Fate. The golem wasn't alive but it would appear to be with Harry's arcane abilities controlling it. The real Dr. Fate had been about to pass out in any case. Harry performed a switching spell between the golem and Kent Nelson. The golem was run through.
"You've been out of the game too long Doc," Icicle said as he held the end of the icicle shoved through the golem's chest. "You're way out of practice."
Harry watched as Icicle eyed the Helmet of Naboo that rolled off of the golem's head. Icicle eventually picked it up. Harry set a cloaked probe to tracking the helmet. He would see how things played out.
Kent Nelson woke up. The first thing he noticed was that he was in a warm bed. The second thing he noticed was that he no longer heard the whispers of Naboo in his head. He opened his eyes and found he was in a white room.
"Where am I?" Kent asked as he sat up. "Is this heaven?"
"No," Harry answered as he appeared. "Where you are is less important than what is about to happen."
"Why is that?" Kent asked. "What is about to happen."
"You lost your wife Charlene and your daughter Cassandra years ago correct?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Kent said realizing he was able to remember everything that happen. "The connection with Naboo drove them away. Why can I remember everything now?"
"I've repaired the damage your connection with Naboo did to your mind. I've also helped out in other ways," Harry said as he conjured a mirror.
Kent gasped as he saw that he was a young man again. "How is this possible?" Kent asked.
"Anything is possible in this multiverse we live in," Harry said. "There is a universe that is nearly identical to this one. But in that universe you were killed in your fight. Your wife Charlene was pregnant with your son at the time. Your daughter was already born. But even a year after your death Charlene still hasn't moved on. I can send you to this place."
Kent digested all of this. In his time as Dr. Fate he had seen possible futures. But even that didn't easily prepare him for what Harry was suggesting.
"Why are you helping me?" Kent asked.
"Because I like you. You just sacrificed yourself to save John. You've worked a good portion of your life and sacrificed so much so that others can live safely. I think it is time for a reward...for a second chance. Do you want that?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Kent said wishing for it more than anything.
"Then good luck Kent Nelson. I'll be keeping an eye on you," Harry said.
Harry transported Kent Nelson away to that reality where he had a wife, a son, and a daughter. Harry felt pretty good after that.
Hawk Man took the news of Dr. Fate's fate hard. Harry planned to tell Hawk Man of Kent Nelson's real fate after this mess with Icicle was cleared up.
The Daily Planet
Lois was looking through another box of classified files that had shown up for her when she sensed someone behind her. It was a moment later that a voice confirmed it.
"Those are classified," Amanda Waller said.
Lois turned and said, "I was wondering how they got here and if my source would make their identity known. So who are you and why did you leave these for me?"
"If I'm going to give you a front page story does it matter who I am? As to the reason why I chose you...I've been following your work. You uncover more skeletons than the organization I work for has in its closet. You embrace the truth," Amanda answered. Amanda had closed the distance between herself and Lois. Amanda held out a cell phone. Lois gradually took it. "I'll be in touch," Amanda said before she left.
Meanwhile back at JSA headquarters Hawk Man and Green Arrow were actually bonding as Carter contemplated the best way to kill Icicle. The others were debating the morality of killing Icicle. Harry thought the whole situation was ludicrous.
"For all they know Icicle has murdered two of their members and put a third in a coma. He needs to be put down like the dog he is," Harry thought to Alice.
"But keep in mind that you and Carter have a different perspective. Carter has been cursed to live again and again throughout multiple lives. You have also seen so much, fought in a war. These heroes don't have the warrior mindset. They are fighters but not to that extreme," Alice pointed out.
"All good points. But we'll have to toughen them up a bit," Harry thought.
Harry entered Watch Tower along with Zatanna. Within the span of a few minutes Green Arrow, Hawk Man, Star Girl, and Chloe had also arrived.
"Pairing off was a mistake. We should have stuck together for the beginning. We'll face Icicle together," Hawk Man declared.
"You are about to get your chance," Harry said as he and Zatanna sensed Icicle teleport in moments before the villain did so.
Icicle was wearing Dr. Fate's helmet. Icicle reached out with an icy tendril of magic and wrapped it around Chloe's neck, lifting her off her feet. Harry reached out and cut off the stream of magic from Dr. Fate while Zatanna hit him with a burst of magic similar to a blasting curse. Icicle was thrown back into the nearest wall with a crunching sound. But with the help of the helmet he shrugged it off quickly and stood back up. Harry sent a stream of heat vision at the helmet to distract Icicle. Green Arrow shot an arrow at the helmet. Hawk Man flew down swinging his mace. It was the mace attack from Hawk Man that again threw Icicle to the ground.
Icicle got back up and let out a burst of icy power infused with Fate's magic. Harry and Zatanna were the only two to keep their feet despite the attack. Harry again renewed his heat vision but aimed for Icicle's chest which was less protected than the helmet. Zatanna joined in with a stream of magical fire. Icicle raised his hands and tried to block the power coming at him but he was obviously struggling. John Jones made his presence known by using his intangible state to rip the helmet off of Icicle. Only his fingertips were tangible as he pulled the helmet off, allowing him to avoid the heat being poured on Icicle. Without Fate's helmet Icicle quickly passed out unable to withstand the power being launched against him. Harry was tempted to finish the job. But since Icicle hadn't actually killed any JSA members Harry decided not to kill him for now. Something told Harry that Icicle wouldn't be around for much longer.
"We got him," Courtney cheered. "Yes. Yes we did," Hawk Man agreed.
"You wanted to see me?" Carter asked.
Carter was curious. He had gotten a message from Clark saying he wanted to meet here. Carter arrived to find Clark staring up at the portrait of the JSA.
Harry turned and grinned warmly, "I wanted to explain some things to you and give you a gift. Let's start off with the gift."
It was then that a woman appeared in the room facing Carter. "Carter," Shayera said warmly as she stepped forward. "Shayera," Carter responded with surprise and wonder.
The two lovers rushed towards each other and embraced. Harry watched this with interest. It had surprised him to discover the form Shayera's body took in this universe was none other than that of Samantha Carter. Harry found it supremely interesting that the two lovers before him had the bodies of Daniel Jackson and Samantha Carter from his old universe. Harry had always thought that if it hadn't been for Daniel's wife and Harry's own presence that Daniel and Sam would have made a great couple. Maybe this was the multiverse's way of telling Harry he was right.
"I don't understand," Carter said as he drew back. "How is this possible? I already fell in love with you in this life. I didn't expect to see you again until my next life."
"Ask him," Shayera said while pointing to Harry.
"The mechanics of it are quite complex. Suffice it to say that Shayera here experienced something a little different. She experienced you dying instead of her dying this last time. So she has been living without you. I have modified the curse on you two. I didn't remove it completely. Instead of being cursed to fall in love again and again and watching each other die prematurely you will fall in love again and again but live to a ripe old age each time," Harry explained.
In fact this Shayera was from a slightly alternate universe. Harry would take the Shayera from this universe and pair her up with the Carter from the alternate universe once both were reborn. They wouldn't even really notice a difference the universes were that similar. Carter and Shayera were speechless.
"Thank you," Carter said. "You weren't kidding when you said you were more than you seemed."
"There's more," Harry said. "I must tell you of the true fate of Kent Nelson and Sandman."
Harry told him then in general terms how Kent had been healed after faking his death and reunited with his family. He also told them about Sandman's death being faked. Sandman in this universe had never had any family. But Harry gave the man retirement with a new identity.
"You've done so much for us. How can we ever repay you?" Shayera asked.
"You've already repaid the world. You didn't do what you did for payment. But I figure you should get some," Harry said. "Just keep on fighting the good fight and enjoy one another."
"We can do that," Carter said.
Harry left the two lovers to get better reunited after that.
Harry watched the footage from his probes investigating the organization Checkmate as the organization's head Amanda Waller executed Icicle after he completed his mission. Icicle's mission hadn't been to eliminate the JSA but to get it restarted and back in the fighting spirit. In that Icicle had succeeded. Harry also watched footage as Agent Mercer, Tess, came back in from deep cover. Harry would talk to Tess about this at a later date when she was ready to talk.
February 12th 2010
"You're doing a great job," Harry told his lover as he watched her carving one of the runes for the ritual they had come up with into the floor of a room in Metropolis.
Zatanna had slowly been going after objects her father had cursed in his youth during a cursing spree he had gone on. Recently one of those items, the original Warrior Angel comic book, had made its location known. Apparently John Zatara had been friends with the writer who had come up with the original warrior angel idea only for the company that now owned the rights to the comic franchise to steal the idea. John had cursed the initial comic in retribution. But the publishers had never opened the comic and neither had anyone else until recently. The comic had been stolen by a young boy named Alec. Alec had proved elusive. Even after Harry and Zatanna had located the original comic in one of Alec's hideout they still hadn't been able to track him. This was probably aided by the fact that the curse had turned Alec into a superhero.
But Alec wouldn't remain a superhero for long. According to the comic and the curse Alec would be transformed into a villain when he felt betrayed by someone. It was a race to reverse the curse before that happened. Harry could have tracked Alec with the help of Alice much faster. But where was the adventure in that?
"You just like checking out my ass," Zatanna mused as she looked over her shoulder to indeed find her boyfriend's eyes move away from her butt and to her face. She smirked. She so loved to get him turned on. Harry was always hot for her. "Though I don't exactly mind."
"Oh I like looking. But you are doing a great job with the runes," Harry assured.
Harry and Zatanna had managed to come up with a counter-curse ritual that didn't require Alec
to actually be present.
"Thank you. But I had a good teacher who I am learning so much magic from," Zatanna said as she finished the last rune in the power sequence.
As Zatanna climbed back to her feet and turned around waiting for his approval Harry quickly inspected everything.
"It looks great," Harry said before kissing Zatanna.
"Hmm...I like your rewards a lot," Zatanna said.
"Me too. We should be good to go now. You remember what we practiced?" Harry questioned. "Yes," Zatanna assured.
Harry had taken Zatanna through exercises on different ways of manipulating her arcane energy core. Harry had literally reached inside of Zatanna with his own arcane energy and guided her through the movements. It had been a very intimate act. If they hadn't already been lovers it would have been a sexual tension filled experience.
"Then have at it," Harry said.
Zatanna nodded and walked to the prepared spot for the ritual to be performed in. The comic book was already in the center of the runic scheme she had created. She began chanting. Harry sensed as she sent out her energy and manipulated it just like he had shown her. The combination of the words she was chanting and the twists she was putting in her energy interacted with the runes. Harry sensed as the ritual reached out into the surrounding space and did its work on Alec. Harry could feel after a little over thirty seconds of chanting as the ritual took effect. Harry had Alice send a golem after Alec to check up on him and make sure the boy was ok. Harry watched as the ritual powered down and Zatanna was left with a wide grin.
"It worked," Zatanna declared. "Yes it did," Harry agreed.
"That gives me such a charge," Zatanna declared happily. "I think we should celebrate," She said suggestively.
"You won't hear any argument from me," Harry said.
Celebrate the two lovers did. Naked parties were the best kind of parties.
February 19th 2010
"What is this?" Zod asked as he took the wrist-band Harry was holding out for him.
Zod examined the simple bracelet that looked like it was made out of silver. There was a small crystal on one part of the surface which was in the shape of Zod's house crest.
"I have one for each of you," Harry said.
The other Kandorians were going about their business in the common room within the compound Harry had set up for them. The compound was on the outskirts of Metropolis and had enough room for all of the Kandorians easily.
"Somehow I think these are more than just pieces of jewelry," Zod said.
"I have reviewed the designs for the solar towers with Saora," Harry explained. Saora was the Kandorian who was most familiar with the types of technology incorporated into the solar towers. None of the Kandorians were particularly good at science. But even with a basic Kryptonian education their science skill was far beyond the humans. "These bracelets will allow a portion of the energy collected to be converted to red star energy and conveyed to you
Kandorians. The bulk of the energy will still go to the humans and they will be none-the-wiser. There will be plenty energy for you to get the abilities you should have had."
Zod appeared surprised and looked intently at Harry.
"I would have thought you would have been like your father who originally stripped us of our powers," Zod said.
"I am my own man. I will reserve judgement for now," Harry said.
Zod was no fool. He was certain that Kal El had a way to stop the technology from working. This would make the Kandorians dependent upon Kal El. But Zod also knew that the other Kandorians had a high opinion of Kal El. And refusing this technology would give Kal El excuse to down the towers. Zod did the only thing he could do for the moment, accept.
"Thank you Kal El. How long will this delay putting the towers into operation?" Zod queried.
"Only a few weeks," Harry assured. "The design modifications were extensive. Saora did a good job but without access to the Kryptonian database she could only go so far."
"It is lucky we have you then," Zod said.
Harry had given the Kryptonians limited access to the Kryptonian database. Some sectors they had full access to. But sensitive areas like military technology was off limits. This was a point of contention between Kal El and the Kandorians. But Kal El's supporters pointed out that he had to come to trust them in time. The two males were silent for some time. Zod eventually decided to change the subject.
"There is another matter we must discuss. Alia came forward last night and revealed to me that she was the one who killed Jor El," Zod announced.
Harry was surprised Zod would come forward. "I see," Harry said. "Did she give a reason?"
"She feared given his views on the cloning project he would use his scientific knowledge to destroy us. He very well could have," Zod explained. "By Kryptonian Law retribution is yours."
Harry knew what he meant. He had studied Kryptonian Law. Harry would be expected to execute Alia. The only thing was that Jor El wasn't dead.
"That will be unnecessary," Harry said. "Jor El lives."
Those simple three words were said with such calm that Zod could almost believe Kal El didn't truly realize the impact they would have.
"How?" Zod asked in a whisper.
"I was able to heal him. I chose to let his death be believed because of the risk to his life. For the very same reason I will keep him safely hidden away," Harry said.
"I see," Zod said. After several moments of thought he asked, "What shall we do with Alia?"
"Tell your people that I have chosen to spare her life for now. With so few of our people alive it is a travesty to shed any more blood. I'll have the systems here keep her confined to this facility. She will not be given one of the red star bracelets," Harry said.
"A wise decision," Zod agreed.
The Kandorian compound contained automated systems meant to make the lives of the occupants easier. Harry and Zod continued to talk on other matters for some time while Zod learned to appreciate the intellect and awareness for politics Kal El possessed.
Luthor Mansion, Tess' Room
"I'm definitely going to have to keep you around, Harry," Tess said as she caught her breathe and recovered from her orgasm.
Tess laid half on top of her lover with the sheet pulled over them. The sex they had just had was only a single case in a series of great sex with him.
"Hmm...that can be arranged," Harry agreed.
Tess was silent for half a minute as she played with his chest hair almost nervously. Harry's empathy picked up on her anxiety. He waited for her to say what she needed.
"Where is this going, Harry?" Tess asked.
Harry was wondering when they would get to this conversation in their relationship. He was content to let Tess set the pace for that. She was a woman who seemed to like to keep things slow emotionally in the relationship while going fast and hard physically.
"Where do you want it to go?" Harry asked.
Tess looked up at him then and met his eyes. She didn't want to say it but his empathy picked up her feelings. She wanted him, wanted him badly. And Harry could tell it wasn't just physically.
"The time I've spent with you has been the best in my life," Tess admitted. "But I know so little bit about you. I don't even know your last name?"
"Potter," Harry answered. "My birth name is Harry Potter. What else do you need to know?"
"Where do you come from?" Tess asked.
"I am not originally from this universe," Harry admitted.
Tess' gaze was quite obviously shocked. Harry continued his story with a brief overview of his first life and all the subsequent versions of him between universes since then.
"So you travel this multiverse looking for what, women and adventure?" Tess clarified.
"Essentially, yes," Harry admitted. "When I arrived in this universe it was in the body of Clark Kent."
This revelation momentarily distracted Tess from the thought of all the women he had been with. But then she realized other implications regarding women he might currently be with. Tess realized Clark was with Lois Lane and if her reports were to be believed a woman named Zatanna Zatara.
"Wait...what...you're Clark?" Tess asked as she sat up and turned to face Clark with confusion on her features.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "I'm more Harry than Clark. But I'm also Clark in this universe," Harry said before using his metamorphmagus abilities to switch to Clark. Harry then switched back. "I know this is a lot to take in."
"You're damn straight it is," Tess said.
She didn't know how she was feeling. Tess had experimented with women back in college but hadn't really done anything since then. To hear that her boyfriend was sleeping with two other women who were equally as gorgeous as her if not more so gave her mixed feelings. On one hand she was pretty pissed. On another certain memories of her time in college caused her thoughts to go in another direction. Being around Harry's veela allure also enhanced those thoughts unknown to Tess. Harry could suppress the allure as much as possible. But periodically some bits of the allure would slip out. It was just a part of being around Harry. Those bits of allure and the allure Harry had used during their sex to make it better for her had acted on the experimentations Tess had done with women in the past to make the memories more vivid.
Harry just stayed silent and let Tess work through. He could feel the tumult of emotions going through her.
"I wish there was a way to make this easier on her," Harry thought to Alice. Harry felt feelings of sympathy from his A.I. companion.
"Were you planning to tell me?" Tess asked.
"I was waiting for you to bring up our pasts. Our relationship didn't exactly start out from sunshine and daisies Tess. We were pretty physical from the get go," Harry pointed out.
Tess realized she didn't have any leg to stand on. There were dark things from her past she hadn't shared yet either.
"That'strue,"Tessadmitted,wonderingifheknewaboutherhistorywithCheckmate. "I'm sure he does," She thought to herself. Out loud she asked, "Just tell me...how many women are you going to be with in this universe."
"I'm currently with three including you," Harry admitted.
He opened his mouth to try to explain how he didn't know how many others there would be when Alice helped him out. A hologram of Alice's upper body modeled after Harry's god- mother appeared next to the bed floating in the air. This startled Tess quite badly she rolled to the opposite side if the bed behind Harry.
"Greetings Tess. I did not mean to startle you," Alice said. "My name is Alice. I am an artificial intelligence being that has been with Alice every step of his journey that is life since he was young. There are some things that Harry cannot easily tell you. My job is to make his life easier. That is why I'm speaking now. You see, Harry has become powerful enough that he can see probable futures if he wanted. In order to keep life exciting he decided to explore new universes but without that ability to see probable futures come into play consciously. That is where I come in. I see the probable futures and from time to time give him a nudge towards the future which will give him the most happiness."
"Ok," Tess said after processing this information. Such an ability made a being god-like. "Why are you telling me this?"
"In 70% of the futures I can see you are with Harry. In 70% of the futures you are happy. In 70% of the futures he is with 4 women from this universe," Alice explained.
This last bit was information that even Harry didn't know.
"So one more from this universe is what you are suggesting," Tess said.
"Yes," Alice confirmed.
"Thank you Alice for telling me that. Was it you that nudged Harry towards me in the first place?" Tess asked.
"Just a little bit. I saw how happy he could make you. Without Harry you stood a high chance of dying," Alice explained.
Put like that really helped Tess view things from a different perspective.
"I'm going to need some time to digest this," Tess said as Alice's hologram vanished.
"I can go," Harry said.
"No," Tess said as she returned to laying on him. "Please stay. I don't need much time. It will just take some getting used to."
Harry held Tess and they continued to talk.
Checkmate Base, Amanda Waller's Office
The scene in Waller's office would be strange for anyone who could see what was actually going on. Waller was reviewing reports at her desk while a man stood behind her staring down at the back of her head. Anyone who could see Harry Potter would be a very powerful individual indeed. Harry finished modifying Amanda Waller's memories at the same time Alice finished modifying the digital records. Any trace of information regarding the existence of Harry's friends and allies had been removed from Waller and the Checkmate computer. This included Tess. Harry had already done so to all of Waller's operatives. Amanda Waller had been taking too much of an interest in the heroes Harry was allied with. Tess had finally opened up to Harry about her past. Tess had admitted fearing Waller's plans for the future regarding Tess. Harry was here to take care of that. He would still keep an eye on Checkmate. But with his task complete he left Checkmate.