Chapter 59: Ta-er Al-Sahfer(2/2)
Alsiyada was a Philippians woman that stood at 5'6” with green eyes, and black hair. She wore skin tight black leather pants, and black boots. Then she had a half leather top that showed off her lower back, and abdomen. The leather top had an open chest to reveal her bouncing breasts, had no sleeves, but had a choke collar one. A golden chain came down from her collar that rested between her breasts. Her black hair was cut short to just above her shoulders, her front portions had been braided and tied back to keep the rest of her hair out of her face. She pulled on a waist length leather jacket with an assortment of knives, and a concealed side arm. She sprayed a bit of perfume on and smiled at Nyssa.
“You ready to meet the giant lizard that not even two armies could kill?” Alsiyada asked.
“Yes, hopefully this night will go as planned.” Nyssa replied.
Both seductive and extremely dangerous women left the League of Shadows safe house and had their chosen driver take them to Verdant. The drive over was simple enough until they reached about a mile from the club. There a long line of cars had parked along the entire street, and crowds a plenty had choked the whole way through. Music blared even across the way as a variety of lights shot into the night air. The club was a mile away, but they both felt like they had stopped at the front door. Traffic was dead locked so Nyssa and Alsiyada stepped out of the car. They told the driver to park nearby and wait for orders. They complied with out question and pulled away.
The women walked towards the club as the music vibrated the entire city block. Hundreds of people danced and drank to their hearts content. Nyssa was confused as to why this was happening, Verdant wasn't this big. Was there a city fair happening. As they walked towards the club a crowd of people moved aside for some one...No something! A reptilian lizard man walked through the crowd. It was 6'6” with hard leather that covered it from neck, to its wrists, ankles, and part of its massive tail. It had a bony skull crest adorned with gold and silver jewelry. The creature turned towards Nyssa and Alsiyada, it let out a crow call into the air.
“I thought the alien Wraith was bigger, and covered in smoke and shadow?” Alsiyada asked.
“That's not him...” Nyssa replied. As three more Saurus Warriors walked from the crowd towards them, and two more behind them. Nyssa ground her teeth, then the head warrior spoke.
“...Daughter of the Demon...... Huntress of the Shadows. Our master....... welcomes you, please follow us...... we'll take you to him.” The Saurus Warrior said in its animal voice, it had to try and squeeze the words out properly as it's vocal cords didn't seem to work that way.
Nyssa swallowed her saliva and nodded at them. Alsiyada clenched her hands into fists and walked next to her. Soon the two women were escorted through the crowds by six different warriors. The crowds seem to naturally move around them, though they were not invisible plenty of people took pictures of two women being escorted to the club by the lizardfolk. They soon came to Verdant, it had a huge stage built at the front of it as massive speakers that had been spread out for over a mile pumped music out. The DJ, the bartenders, the staff, the security were all human-lizard hybrids. Some of them looked almost human with only a few lizard features like eyes, or claws.
Nyssa and Alsiyada eyes were wide in shock! The female lizard DJ swapped the music and massive bass drum beat vibrated through out the whole area. The lights turned into a mutli colored battle as transparent ships flew into the air and had a miniature space battle. The ships flew over the crowds and people cheered! The women were broken out of their gawking as the lizard warriors prodded them on. Near the stage was a large staging area for tables, booths, and private boxes. Everyone near the stage had arm bands on their wrists, before they could go any further the warriors handed them the VIP bands. They walked passed the rope, only one warrior remained with them as the rest walked off to help with security.
There at the top of the stage like a king over looking their kingdom sat a ten by twenty foot Saurian Wraith. His smoke and shadow shroud swallowed the entire upper stage and part of the next floor. There were dance floors between each sitting area. Nyssa ground her teeth in anger... Its a fucking a power play! Next to Saurian sat Sara who looked directly at them both.
Sara had a black skin tight outfit on that showed off her athletic figure and left very little to the imagination. The dress went her mid thigh so it showed a lot of leg. She had spike heels on with fishnet stockings, her right arm was sleeveless while her left was covered in scaled soft leather. Her dress top wrapped around her neck and her lower back as her upper back was exposed so the dress is all that kept her breasts supported. Her long blond hair was brushed back out of her face, both of her earlobes were covered in gold and silver earrings. She sat comfortable across what looked...No that was Saurian's tail. She turned sideways as she admired Nyssa walk up towards them.
Nyssa and Alsiyada passed the last dance area under the direction of the Saurus Warrior. Once they walked across the threshold it was like they had walked pass a field or shield. The music became muffled, the vibration in the ground silenced, and the air stopped being full of party atmosphere. The warrior stepped off to the side and waited at full attention. Alsiyada was three steps behind, and three steps to Nyssa's left. In reach but far enough away to not interfere...If there was anything to interfere with.
“I am Nyssa Raatko, daughter to Ra's Al Ghul. This is my second, Alsiyada. We have come to speak to you Wraith to return Ta-er Al-Sahfer.” Nyssa said with as much determination and etiquette as she could muster given the situation.
“....No.... You are here to release Ta-er Al-Sahfer. And this is why you will release her.” Saurian's deep bass voice rumbled from his chest. The sound felt like a monster was grinding its teeth next to ones ear. The Saurus Warrior walked over and present a simple box. Nyssa opened the box and her eyes went wide.
The League of Shadows fell under an odd line in the super-natural world. Ra's Al Ghul was a pseudo-mundane. Pseudo-mundane's were aware of the mystical and super-natural world around them but was not part of the super-natural communities and councils. Ra's was an Occultist, he had access to magic thanks artifacts, the League of Shadows would preform rituals combined with materials to perform odd spells, and abilities. To the mundanes their power was with out limit. To the Super-Natural community they looked like baby mages practicing rudimentary spells. So the Council kept an eye on them, like a parent does while a child who is learning how to finger paint. It is because of this that Ra's did not know that Wraith was a Warden for the Council.
“Where did you get this?” Nyssa said as she looked at the box. Alsiyada to her credit did not look over her shoulder.
“The League of Shadows helped Bialya attack me while I traveled on my tech summit. I didn't look for reprisal, even when I could have easily asked Superman to destroy Nanda Parbat along with the pit that resides there. You will take this token to Ra's Al Ghul, Sara Lance will be allowed to leave the League with full honors. There is no discussion or negotiation. This will happen, understood?” Saurian used Commanding Presence, Nyssa despite her clear reluctance closed the small box and handed it to Alsiyada who put it in her inner pocket.
“Ta-er Al-Sahfer in the name of Ra's Al Ghul. I release you. You are Sara Lance once more.” Nyssa said in a clear but bitter voice.
Sara who had not moved from Saurian's tail stood up and walked over to Nyssa. She gave her a sad smile, pulled her into her arms and kissed her. Nyssa started to cry, but she wrapped her arms around her beloved and kissed her back. Sara pulled Nyssa off the stage towards a private area that Saurian had made ahead of time. Sara had questioned the reason behind it at first but was glad to have it now. She wanted to say goodbye. Alsiyada looked at their departing figures then looked up at Saurian. He looked back at her then gestured towards a table at the foot of his 'throne' Alsiyada took the hint. She sat down, crossed her legs and looked at the giant.
“A token of reprisal. That is what is contained with in the box. The Demon's head broke a rule, the token shows that he will not be punished for it. That is why Sara has been released.” Saurian said down to her. Alsiyada's eyes went wide as her hands went to her coat pocket.
Alsiyada looked at her pocket then back at Saurian. Why did an Alien have a token of reprisal that could stop Ra's Al Ghul? What rule did he break? She felt like she had stepped into the shadow of something far greater then herself. That was saying something given who she worked for. The Saurus Warrior came over with several different types of drinks. Alsiyada sipped on one and found it to her liking. Saurian didn't make any more to continue the conversation, and Alsiyada didn't know what to talk about. They stayed that way for two hours, Alsiyada had turned her chair sideways so she could watch the scifi ship battle that took place above the club. A capitol ship exploded and sent cosmic debris across the crowds who all cheered at the spectacle.
Nyssa and Sara soon returned with their clothing put back into place...Mostly. Nyssa looked back at Saurian who looked down at her. She gave him the briefest of nods then turned on her heel and walked down the steps, Alsiyada bowed slightly then joined her. The Saurus Warrior escorted them back to their vehicle. The three of them soon faded into the crowd. Saurian watched Sara as she walked over and curled up onto his lap. She rested her head on his chest and tucked herself between his chest and arm. Sara began to cry, she buried her face into Saurian's chest. He carefully wrapped his massive arm around her.
Four o'clock in the morning arrived and the music slowly died down. The massive crowd cheered and chanted Wraith's name until he stood on the DJ's stage and said good morning to everyone! People laughed, most cheered, and said good morning in return. Little by little the crowd dispersed, Saurian had created a sound barrier around the area so the blaring music didn't keep the local Glades awake. They gathered up all the trash and used Decomposition, then the hundred or so drug addicts that he used Sooth on to pull the crap out of their system. Then he collapsed the entire set up in about ten minutes, and returned it to ambient magic.
Saurian sat in Verdant with Oliver, Roy, Thea, Diggle, Felicity, and the newly released Sara. Sara was currently telling the team how the whole event went. Saurian lay across a fabricated coach, Sara sat at the edge of the coach against his tail. Everyone had coffee in hand as they talked about the party along with whether or not the League would really leave just like that? Saurian said he could always ask Superman to destroy their HQ if they tried anything more. The boy scout would jump at the chance to destroy an 'evil' assassin guild. Diggle, Roy, Felicity, and Thea went home. Leaving Saurian, Oliver, and Sara. They moved down to the Arrow 'club house' that Saurian had called it. Oliver frowned while Sara cracked up laughing.
“Not that I am complaining. But I expected a fight.” Oliver said as he sat in one of the Arrow club house chairs.
Saurian had deconstructed the coach and reconstructed it in the club house. He lay across it as he looked at Oliver, he had pulled his Wraith disguise off so Oliver and Sara could see the massive armored creature. Oliver knew he was in trouble when seeing such a monster in his base of operations didn't bother him. Sara sat in a chair next to Oliver and was just as surprised that she wasn't surprised anymore.
“The token released Sara. It didn't get rid of Slade Wilson. So a fight will still come, just remember the Justice League is here to help if something big happens. Just like you all did with Gotham. Oh! Sara, you are no longer dead!” Saurian produced a Phantasm computer screen it showed Sara Lance legal file had been recovered, social security, birth certificate, etc. Shield and Sword to the rescue!
“Thanks Wraith, makes finding an apartment easier.” Sara said with a smile.
The three of them talked for awhile but Saurian soon left the club house. But not before he produced five hundred thousand dollars for Sara to start her life up again. A giant fucking dinosaur? No problem! A giant rave party made in less then an hour, no worries! Recreation of the entire Arrow club house...Little odd but ok? But a half a million dollars dropped in a organized pile in front of Oliver and Sara...Nope! They both threw their hands into the air and said they were done with reality. Sara went to her room in the barracks, Oliver went home.
Saurian created a sign and staked it into the ground with a Decomposition delayed spell on it. The said read, 'Agent Wraith thanks Starling City for his Mini-Vacation. But he is off to Coast City, CA. For work!' Saurian got a Warden transportation vehicle and went to Captain Lance's precinct. It was Sunday so Lance wasn't there. Saurian walked in and spoke to the desk Sergeant who nearly had a heart attack when they saw Wraith. Saurian created a meta-human holding cell, along with several meta-human restraints for transportation. He left a huge manual on how each worked with the desk sergeant, along with an ARGUS contact number and left before the Chief of Police showed up. He jumped through a tree to Starling's Warden HQ. Then went to Coast City, California. Why? John Stewart the Green Lantern worked from there.
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John Stewart came back from his run he had done eight miles easily and felt like he could go for another ten. He had his power ring on but didn't have it active as he was trying to test his 'new' limits ever since he had connected to everyone through that pack thing J'onn had explained to him. He came up to his home that he shared with his wife Katma Tui, and his sister Lynn.
John walked in towards the kitchen and pulled out a carton of orange juice he gulped it down as he listened to the noise of his home. He heard a discussion upstairs, or maybe a fight. Lynn was fighting with her fiancee again, Jefferson Pierce. Jefferson was a principle at local high school in a bad neighborhood. But he did good work for the community and tried his best to help his kids. But he would often over step and get in trouble with the local gangs. Lynn would beg him not to get involved, but he would refuse and back and forth they would go. John wanted to get involved but the Guardians forbid him from getting tangled in simple problems of his home. Using a Green Lantern for such simple things as gangs would be like using a Nuke on a purse snatcher.
“I assume you are holding that carton because you are going to put it in a glass?” A feminine voice spoke behind him as he felt to arms around him. John turned around with a smile at his beautiful wife.
Katma Tui was a Green Lantern just like him, but unlike him she was not human. She was a Korugaran, she had black hair, blue eyes, and pink skin. Though she used the rings power to change the pigment of her skin so she wouldn't stick out. She wore blue jeans, a t-shirt, and went bare foot around the house. She rolled her eyes at John who tried to charm his way out of getting a glass.
“Of course! Of course!” John said as he poured the half empty carton into a glass. He finished of the rest and sat down at the table with Katma. The argument upstairs settled down at least for now.
“Oh! The information probe came back from Oa. The Archive has no clear mention on who Wraith's people are. There are hundreds of reptile like races in the galaxy. Next time you see him just ask him if you can scan him with your ring.” Katma said to him.
“Really? Ya...Sorry Wraith I need to scan you with my ring cause the Guardians have no idea what you are do you mind?” John did a play act on the situation.
“Only terrains would take offense to that John. I bet he wont he flinch at...” Katma said before she heard... Knock! Knock! At the door. But before she could stand up she heard a shout from the upstairs.
“That's for me! Sorry! Sorry! I'm coming!” Jefferson shouted as he raced down the stairs. He waved at Katma and John. Then opened the door and jumped back with a shout!
“WHAT THE FUCK!?” Jefferson shouted at the top of his lungs. John and Katma were on their feet and in the hallway to find a Wraith creature standing in the door way with its head tilted to one side.
“John! Did I catch you at a bad time?” Wraith's animalistic voice spoke from the shroud.
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Saurian crouched low to the ground and used his massive tail as a sort of chair. His shroud covered nearly half the living room as John, Katma his wife, Lynn John's sister, and Jefferson Lynn's boyfriend looked at him. Katma opened and closed her mouth several times like she wanted to ask him something but decided not to. She repeatedly rubbed her green power ring that surprised Saurian when he first saw it. He had assumed Hal, and John where the only current Green Lanterns. John smiled at Katma who glared at him. Inside joke?
“So...You just came by to check in?” John asked him.
“Yes! Do you know anything about meta-humans?” Saurian asked, his animal voice made Jefferson jump every time.
“Yes, they are standard evolution era on most worlds. Normally they happen naturally, but sometimes through science or others they can happen artificially. The Flash is a meta-human.” John replied. Saurian nodded, then turned to look at Jefferson. Jefferson shrunk his neck in and shook his head back and forth in a clear 'no'. Lynn looked at him with concern.
“I've come to inform you that dark matter has entered Earth's atmosphere. Its in the water, the ground, the air itself. About 98% of Earth will be largely unaffected by it, but its the last 2% we need to watch out for. Earth is sorely ill equipped to handle the sudden change. Jefferson is a great example!” Saurian said bluntly. John, Katma nodded in understanding up until he mentioned Jefferson, he's an example?
“Jefferson, what is he talking about?” Lynn asked, Jefferson went visible pale as he looked at his fiancee Lynn then back at Saurian.
“Jefferson is a meta-human, he has Electrokinesis. I'm confused as to how you didn't know that? The lights in the room have been fritzing out since he walked into the room.” Saurian said nonchalantly. Lynn had her mouth open wide as she looked at Jefferson.
“Aha! So it wasn't bad wiring! I told you it only happened when Jefferson was in the house!” Katma took the opportunity to poke John in the chest with a matter o fact justification. John rolled his eyes at her.
“You....Your Black Lighting aren't you?” Lynn stood up and pointed a finger at Jefferson. Saurian snapped his claws in understanding, that is why Jefferson looked familiar to him.
“I'm sorry...I...I couldn't run the risk of putting you in danger...” Jefferson mumbled his words, which only earned him a fierce glare from Lynn.
“Danger? So you lied to me to protect me!? My brother is a Green Lantern! He fights criminals on a daily basis...In the open! And you tell me you did it to protect me!?” Lynn shouted at him. Lynn had a good point.
Miss Tui, you look like you have a question you want to ask me?” Saurian turned to look at Katma as if the argument next to him had nothing to do with him. Katma looked back and forth between the fight and Saurian. She squared her shoulders and asked.
“Wraith can we scan you with our power rings, we want see what race you are in the Galactic spectrum?” Katma asked, despite the clear argument that Lynn and Jefferson were about to have they both went quiet at the mention of Wraith's race.
“Sure!” Saurian said in delight. He was reasonably sure what the ring would say.
“See! I told you he wouldn't mind! Ring please identify!” Katma said with a grin at John who rolled his eyes at her in defeat. A neon green construct was created and scanned Saurian from head to toe....
“Identifying..... Identifying...... Identifying..... Can not identify.... Classification unknown.” The ring's automated voice responded... Katma's, and John's face went blank.
“John, Katma, this may be the first time its happened so let me be the first to tell you. The Guardians of Oa don't know everything.” Saurian said with smug satisfaction. Katma opened and closed her mouth several times she didn't know how to respond.
John scanned Saurian as well just to double check, the results were the same. Katma and John asked if they could do a full scan and send the information back to Oa. Saurian agreed on the condition that the Guardians would share what they find with him. After an hour of thorough scanning they sent the information off to Oa. Jefferson and Lynn had taken their discussion back upstairs where shouting continued back and forth. Saurian gave the house a full once over with his magic. Improved insulation, wiring, A/C, windows, etc, etc. Soon the shouting died down not because they had finished but because they couldn't hear them anymore.
“Wow....That is really nice! What this?” John asked when Saurian handed him a paper...
“Its a receipt confirmation for Jefferson's school. It is in desperate need of funding so I transferred one million dollars to it. Under the condition that Jefferson be the one to direct where it's suppose to go. Now, does this city have a major crimes unit precinct? I'm suppose to build a meta-human holding cell.” Saurian asked. John smiled at Saurian for donating money to the high school, a million dollars would help a lot!
Katma offered to give the receipt to Jefferson while John flew over to the station with Saurian. They landed at the station the police had a minor freak out at the sight of Green Lantern who they had seen a few times helping in dire situations, but Agent Wraith of UNWS was another problem all together. Saurian informed the Captain of the MCU about meta-humans, as he built them a holding cell, and hand-cuffs. He gave them a huge manual and a ARGUS contact number.
“Before I leave I wanted to run an idea past you. Do you think the Justice League should have a orbital satellite for a Head Quarters? Or should it be built on the moon?” Saurian asked John who stopped to think.
“I think an orbital satellite would be a good choice. Avoid favoritism with any specific nation, plus it would allow us to move it into specific position if need be for quick response. But I can see the advantages of having it on the moon as well. I'll run the idea past the others, I assume you already have a few designs for it?” John asked with a smile as he shook Saurian's massive hand.
“I do. See you later John, hopefully not to soon!” Saurian said as he jumped into a tree and returned to the local Warden HQ. Next stop was....Las Vegas Nevada to see Zatanna!
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In a grand study room sat someone with no face. Yes, the face was simply blank as the person continued to breath through their nose that wasn't there, they also drank from a glass on the desk though they had no mouth. The person wrote in a larger than life book, with a golden pen. As the person wrote in the book, the book gave words back. The person read the response, then wrote a reply. Then they reached into the desk and drawer pulled out a richly ornate wooden box. They opened the box and contained with in was a black obsidian carved with orichalcum twenty sided dice. They picked it up, rolled it around in their hands and tossed it across the desk. Bounce...Bounce....Roll.... The D20 came to....17. The number 17 glowed brilliantly as the fabric of reality seem to bend around it.
“The games begin....” Said the person with a genderless voice.