The Mightiest

[Doctor Fate]

"It has awoken...it has awoken..."

The words kept resonating in Kent's mind as he slept. A restless night it was for him. No dreams, no nightmares. Just those three words, over and over again.

"It has awoken...it has awoken..."

He wondered, for a moment, if Inza could hear the voice. He couldn't tell, unfortunately. Sleep was the time his spirit left him and travelled to the etherial plane. Once there, it was impossible to get back unless he willed it, so there was no quick awakening to check on Inza. As he walked through the lush forest that made up the sleep part of the plane, he kept hearing the words, as if the trees themselves were talking to him.

"It has awoken...it has awoken..."

But the trees didn't talk to him in that voice. It was different, yet familiar...like Nabu's voice. That slow, deep voice that he was so accustomed to, mixed with some other voice. It was hard to pick out, but it sounded like an old man's voice. The two voices were mashed together in a strange amalgamation, and all the while growing louder.

"It has awoken...it has awoken...it has awoken...IT HAS AWOKEN..."

Kent squeezed his eyes tight shut and the forest disappeared from view. When he opened his eyes, he was sitting upright in his bed, with a pair of familiar arms wrapped around him. Inza was also awake.

"Morning." She smiled and got out of bed. "Another working day, I'm afraid."

"How dull." Kent replied sarcastically as he got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, right past the helmet.
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Kent came down the stairs in a full light grey suit, lacking the tie. "Who's on our appointment list?"

"Not too many today." Inza picked up a clipboard and scanned it with her eyes. "A couple of people from upper Metropolis who have a poltergeist problem, someone all the way from Gotham, and other than that, no-one else. Of course, we'll have our usual non-scheduled appointments."

"Yes, I suppose we will." Kent said. He had taken the helmet down with him and placed it on the coffee table in the living room.

[Mary Bromfield - Lady Marvel]

Do other people that have shown up in costumes lately fidget or is it just me?

Lady Marvel muttered to herself as she posed the question, trying to ignore that odd stares she received periodically from the cab driver in his rear view mirror. She couldn't fault him really. After all it's not every day a checker cab gets a passenger with the Strength of Hercules at their fingertips. Or would have had it at her fingertips if she had the gauntlets on. Lady Marvel was wearing every portion of her costume except the gauntlets. Those rested in her purse. The need to keep them charged to 100% maximum was important so the good doctor could get a perfect read on what made the fool things tick.

She bypassed the limousine and her personal car, wanting to keep the lowest profile possible. And keeping the Gauntlets at maximum power meant no flying so the cab it was. Odd as it felt when she checked every thirty seconds to make sure her cowl was still firmly in place. This whole scenario felt weird and she still hadn't completely made up her mind about whether this whole caped crimefighter schtick was her bag but she'd already made her debut. That didn't mean however she couldn't fade into the background as easily as she'd shown up. It all hinged on what the Doctor had to say about her gauntlets and if necessary, the scrolls. She brought those too just in case.

For a woman that was supposed to be invulnerable and impervious to pain she certainly felt a collection of butterflies manifesting in her stomach when she exited the cab much to the delight of the driver who shot her a dirty look and let her in no uncertain terms the she could go die now or he hoped he never saw her again. Something like that.

A quick series of knocks on the door before it finally opened and she stood there drawing deep breaths and exhaling before she addressed the woman that greeted her. Hello, I need to see the Doctor called Fate. I know I don't have an appointment but this is really important."

[Doctor Fate]

"Just a minute. He's quite busy." Inza smiled. "Come in, make yourself at home." She stepped back to let the strangely dressed woman in. "Kent, there's someone here to see you."

Kent stepped into the hall, still clutching the cup of coffee. "Ah, welcome to our home. I'm Doctor Fate." There didn't seem to be anything off about her at face value. A quick and surreptitious scan of her aura, on the other hand, told him differently. The slight gold indicated she had been in contact with some powerful magic, and it was still nearby. "Come, take a seat." he said, indicating the living room. Inza brought out a small, steaming cup of green liquid and placed it on the table. Kent took a seat on a plush red armchair. "Now, what can I help you with?"