Chapter 63 – Denial Pt. 7

August 19, 2010 - The Tower of Fate

The Mind Palace of Connor Clark

21:09:09

“So… is he gonna take the Helmet off now?” Connor asked out of the side of his mouth as both he and Kent Nelson saw the real world out the windows of the hospital room. Connor’s mouth grew dry as he said it, and he watched the slow horror dawn on Walli’s almost still face as she began to realize there was a problem with the ‘new’ Dr. Fate.

“NO.” Boomed a voice that came from all around as the vision of the material world disappeared into impenetrable darkness again, and a shining golden helmet took its place. The Helmet of Fate appeared to hang in the void a few feet outside the window, with nothing at all around it. Connor could feel the weight of its true master’s gaze, even through the empty holes of the eye slits. It was ancient, and heavy, like being crushed by the weight of the pyramids.

“Nabu-” Nelson began, but Connor’s anger spiked and he cut the sorcerer off.

“You can’t do that! I’m not your property!” He shouted, slamming his fist against the window. But to his surprise, the glass didn’t break, or even vibrate. Connor recoiled from the window clutching his hand with a hiss, seeing bruised knuckles. A pit formed in his stomach as he realized he had no power here. They weren’t on Terra, or even in his own mind. He and Nelson were inside of the Helmet.

And here, Nabu was master of all.

Bastard fucking magic lord of magic bastards! He cursed internally as he massaged his hand. He glared at Nelson, who raised a hand for calm before addressing his former ‘partner’.

“Nabu, this is not the right candidate. The boy is not a fit host. He has no magical gifts, his body is the product of science, and his soul belongs to another universe.” Nelson said, not quite pleading. But Connor felt the uncertainty in the old sorcerer, and he feared he knew why. They had no leverage here; Nabu would only release his body if the Lord of Order chose to.

He did not seem inclined to do so.

“TERRA NEEDS DOCTOR FATE. I WILL NOT RELEASE THIS BODY. YOU ABANDONED ME, AND YOUR SACRED CHARGE, KENT NELSON. YOU HID THE HELMET AWAY, FOR DECADES! LET IT SIT ALONE AND USELESS. I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.” Nabu roared, its anger and resentment clear.

Chills crawled down Connor’s spine. Nabu’s anger was obvious and justified, at least in the being’s own view. Nelson hadn’t donned the Helmet in sixty five years, by his own telling. 

I’d be pissed, too. But his beef is with Nelson, not with me! But Nelson doesn’t have a body anymore, so he’s useless to Nabu now…

He racked his brains, trying to remember what he could of Nabu and Dr. Fate. Most of what he’d heard from Nelson so far lined up; Nabu was an ancient mystical being, a Lord of Order. Opposed by beings like Klarion, the Lords of Chaos. He was a shiny, golden example of a good guy not being very nice; order wasn’t the same thing as good. Dr. Fate fought dark magicians and monsters, but as Nabu was demonstrating, he was a long way from understanding the human condition. Nelson had struggled to corral Fate towards a more humanitarian view, but Nabu was essentially concerned with mystical matters beyond ‘petty human concerns’. 

Which might mean I’m in for a permanent costume change…

Nelson gave Connor a considering look out of the corner of his eye, before responding to Nabu’s declaration.

“That won’t happen again. I am sorry I abandoned you, Nabu. But taking your anger out on the boy is not right, and you know it.” Nelson admitted.

“YOU APOLOGIZE NOW ONLY BECAUSE YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP ME LOCKED AWAY, KENT NELSON. THE BOY’S BODY WILL BE A SUITABLE HOST. AT LEAST SUITABLE ENOUGH FOR ME TO RETURN TO MY DUTIES. CHAOS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO REIGN!” Nabu roared again, and this time the entire building of the mind palace shook with its fury.

Nelson looked downcast, his eyes shut, and heaved a long and weary sigh. Connor could feel the weight of duty the old sorcerer exuded, the burden he bore. 

A dead man shouldn’t have to carry that weight anymore, he reflected.

“You’re right, Nabu. I am only saying sorry now… because I have to. Because I can’t avoid you anymore, like I have for decades. That was wrong of me, and I do apologize. I resented the control over my life you represented. The sacred duty you charged me with when I first found the Helmet… I couldn’t bear it anymore. I should have helped you find a new host… but I didn’t. I locked you away so I wouldn’t have to face you and the fact that I wasn’t strong enough to be Kent Nelson and Dr. Fate.” Nelson said, and as he confessed his wrong, Connor could read all of his 106 years in every line and spot on his ancient face. In that moment, the spry centenarian sorcerer looked every day of his true age.

Nabu was silent for a moment, possibly digesting Nelson’s heartfelt words. 

“YOUR APOLOGIES… COME TOO LATE AND ARE ILL TIMED, KENT NELSON.” The Lord of Order replied, but Connor heard something different in its omnipresent voice.

“Yet they come all the same. I cannot hide my truth from you, Nabu, not in this place. You cannot deny the veracity of my words. You know me, old friend, and there are few that have ever known me so well. You know my words are genuine.” Nelson answered, some real affection leaking into his voice.

Connor began to hope again that Nelson was actually getting through to the Lord of Order, and that he wasn’t so doomed as he’d feared. Nelson continued.

“Let the boy go. He will take the Helmet and make sure you’re put to good use. He is here for a purpose.” Nelson said, with a shrug of his shoulder towards Connor, and that damned mischievous smile again.

Connor’s eyes narrowed in confusion, unsure of what Nelson meant. Then he realized this might be his only chance to convince Nabu to let him go.

“Right, yes! A purpose!” He blathered, stalling. He glanced about the room, finding nothing helpful until they landed on the stack of comics again. Connor grinned as he realized what purpose he could serve here.

“I know of a lot of sorcerers. Magicians. Wizards. Magic folks. I can find someone on Terra who would be a good host for you! Way better than me.” Connor nervously suggested, his mind already going through the index of characters who might be a better fit to be the next Dr. Fate.

Zatanna, John Constantine, Raven, Timothy Hunter… who else? There are plenty of others, I just need to go through the rolodex. And then actually find them on Terra, if they exist… but whatever I have to do to get out of this goddamn spitoon.

Connor saw the Helmet turn ever so slightly towards him, and he felt the weight of Nabu’s gaze fall on him a thousand times stronger than before. His knees nearly buckled under the pressure, but he forced himself to remain upright and met the empty gaze of the Helmet of Fate.

“DO YOU SO SWEAR, CONNOR CLARK? DO YOU SWEAR TO FIND FOR ME A NEW HOST, TO BECOME THE NEXT DR. FATE?” Nabu demanded, and this time the hospital shook like it was in an earthquake. Every word felt momentous in a way he had never experienced before, and he shuddered at the feeling. He chose his next words carefully, as he could feel the potentiality of what he was about to say dancing electrically on the tip of his tongue.

Connor realized there was magic in these words. Power. He had no idea what it meant but every part of it felt dire and momentous. He didn’t know what Nabu would do if he welched, but he knew it was Something. Sweat beaded his brow as he considered, but he quickly realized it was no choice at all, not with the stakes and situation being what they were.

“I swear.”

Every syllable felt like being clapped in irons of unfathomable weight, bearing down his wrists like fetters for a moment, but that terrible gravitational force swiftly retreated. Connor looked down at his hands as he turned them over. They looked normal, but for the bruising, but it was like he could feel the absence of the binding chains even more acutely now. Like running his tongue over the socket of a missing tooth. He shuddered at the implications. Connor could not begin to explain what had just happened, but he knew in his heart that he had made a Promise, and it must be Kept.

Nelson gave a sigh of relief, and smiled sadly at Connor again before turning back to Nabu.

“And in the meantime, I’ll stick around, keep you company here.” Nelson offered with a great solemnity, leaning on his cane. Connor’s eyebrows rose, remembering Nelson’s last moments alive.

“Wait. What happened to… reuniting with Inza again?” He asked awkwardly.

Nelson laughed, truly and without any caveats, and wiped a tear from his eye. He clapped Connor on the shoulder.

“You’re alright, son! You wear your heart on your sleeve. Don’t sweat it, kid. Like I said, everyone has to take the next step alone, but that isn’t the end of the journey. Just the beginning. I can spend a few millenia here, catching up with my old friend, and then see Inza.” Nelson said, and took a deep breath and Connor saw the burden melt off of him, and he returned to his dapper and spry self. Nelson withdrew his pocket watch again and gazed fondly at Inza’s portrait one last time.

“That’s the great thing about eternity, Connor.” He said, clicking the watch shut again before making eye contact and smiling jovially. “It’s eternal.”

“THE BARGAIN IS ACCEPTABLE.” Nabu’s earth shaking pronouncement came. Around them, a bright light began to fill the room and the void beyond the windows. Connor felt light, as if he were ascending. In that moment, before the white light came to encompass his entire vision, he heard Nelson’s voice in his ear, softly.

“One last piece of free advice, son. You got a lot of love in you. Don’t be afraid to share it with others…”

********

What’s that supposed to mean? Connor pondered, then looked around in surprise as he saw the ruin of the Tower’s battlements and Walli staring at him with relief. He looked up and saw he was holding the Helmet of Fate over his head, its interior like a yawning mouth above him. 

“Gah!” he shouted and hucked it away, and it clanged across the rooftop before rolling to a rest against the battlements.

“Uh… you okay?” Walli asked as she approached, limping and dirty with rock dust.

“Yeah… just… a little freaked out.” Connor stated, feeling his chest for heart palpitations. He kept a wary eye on the Helmet, afraid Nabu might renege on their deal. 

The deal… ugh, what have I gotten myself in to? I don’t suppose you can sue to get out of a mystic pact because it was made under duress?

He shuddered at the thought of being trapped inside the Helmet forever, a passenger in his own body, helpless as Nabu puppeted him. It had been a close thing. 

Connor started as Walli put a hand on his shoulder, tearing his gaze away from the Helmet. It had landed on its side and slowly rolled, ending up with its eye slits facing him. He suppressed a shudder. He met Walli’s viridian eyes, which were filled with concern. She put her other hand on his cheek, gently.

“You’re okay. You’re here.” She said, staring into his eyes. Connor took a breath, centering himself, and released the tension in his body. He had been a coiled spring, ready to flee, and hadn’t realized it. He hugged Walli tightly, eliciting a slight grunt from her, but she patted his back as he evened his breathing. 

“Thank you. That was… terrifying. Fate wasn’t going to let me go. But Mr. Nelson talked Nabu out of it.” He admitted as they separated. She looked shocked and scandalized.

“Oh my goddess! Energy from the thing must have rewrote your brain’s beta waves. It bio-scripted you into becoming Doctor Fate! But you must have weaponized a memetic virus in the form of Mr. Nelson to trick it into trying to bio-scripting the virus instead.” Walli stated, hands on her hips and a self satisfied look on her face.

Connor just stared at her for a moment in puzzlement, then face palmed.

“Right. That’s what happened. Let’s just find the others…” He said resignedly, then trooped over to very carefully scoop up the Helmet of Fate. He held it gingerly, like he was afraid it was going to burn him. Walli followed him as a golden doorway opened up in the floor of the rooftop and they fell through.

This time, their exit doorway retained the same orientation as their entrance, and they dropped down into the same section of the Tower’s interior they had left. There they found the rest of the team, standing around a naked man face down on the floor, next to the giant golden Bell that Nelson had struck to take them to the roof and the Helmet. Both Connor and Walli recoiled slightly at the bizarre scene, though Connor slightly more at the very clear tan lines on the man’s ass.

“Uh… what the hell?” He asked the others, the Helmet tucked under one arm. Connor noted that he had subconsciously set the Helmet facing forward, as if to let Nabu see the proceedings. He suppressed another shudder as Kaldura answered.

“We were battling Abra Cadabra after you three disappeared into the bell, and the other sorcerer pursued. He had a seemingly endless arsenal of future tech, so the battle was hard fought. Until a moment ago, when all of his clothes and equipment… just disappeared.” Kaldura said, doing a much better job than the rest of them of ignoring the awkwardness of having a naked, middle aged man from the future lying at their feet. 

“Huh.” Connor said, looking down at the Helmet, and then at the bare ass of Abra Cadabra before forcing himself to look away. “I guess that’s one way to make sure he didn’t have any more tricks up his sleeve.”

“Ugh. Terrible.” Apollo stated, ignoring Connor’s stupid grin and holstering his hand crossbow under his jacket. “Once he didn’t have his tricks anymore, I kicked him in the face. Turns out they don’t have a cure for that in future, either.” He said with a smirk.

“Where’s Mr. Nelson?” M’gann asked as she floated over. 

Connor and Walli shared a crestfallen look, then shook their heads at the rest of the team. Kaldura inclined her head, Apollo tsked, and M’gann looked downcast.

“Oh.” She said, inadequately.

“Then let us inform Black Canary and the Guild, and wrap this mission up.” Kaldura instructed, and they all nodded.

********

August 20, 2010 - Happy Harbor, RI

Mt. Justice

03:49:09

Connor entered what Walli had creatively titled ‘the Trophy Room’; excavated bare rock walls were covered up by decorative wood cabinets along one wall, and a series of shelves lined the far wall. He walked over to the shelves and inspected the line of trophies that already graced it.

Kobra’s cloak, Bane’s Kobra-Venom Injector, Toyman’s Clockwork Heart Watch and Apollo’s arrow, Cheshire’s Mask and Rako’s Ionizer Wakizashi…

Connor had advocated for taking one of the Barrel of Monkeys-bots, but had been overruled. Nobody else wanted to get Toyman’s version of laser-eye surgery like he had. Walli had wanted to take Rako’s Katana, but the police who had carted the villains off in Utah had pointed out it was a murder weapon. She had to satisfy herself with swiping the short sword when nobody was looking. He shook his head again at that.

Guess it doesn’t matter. Can’t get busted for stealing evidence when the Utah State Troopers let Reis and Rako escape the same night. They have no idea how Reis escaped, said she just disappeared ‘like a ghost.’ Then she broke Rako out. At least the asshole didn’t get his swords or armor back. Everyone told me that doesn’t happen all the time, the cops underestimated Reis because she’s not a meta-human. I guess I can buy the idea that the Utah staties aren’t prepared to hold an ex-CIA criminal spook.

Connor traced the line on his chest again idly. The scar had already faded to a thin white line, and he’d been assured it would disappear eventually. Another advantage of Kryptonian healing under a yellow sun. Otherwise, Diana had assured him, Superwoman would be as covered in scars as Batwoman was. 

He’d had enough scars for one lifetime.

Connor looked down at the Helmet of Fate he held in his hands, the face plate looking up at him. He swore he could feel the weight of Nabu’s eyes on him, but there had been no activity from the Helmet since he’d taken it off. It seemed that Nabu wouldn’t, or couldn’t, violate the pact they had made. Connor sighed, and put the Helmet on the shelf alongside the others. 

He met the Helmet’s gaze and held it.

“I remember my promise.” He said, not sure if he was talking to himself or to the Lord of Order.

“Ohhh, very cool addition!” Walli said, zipping in and munching on a stick of beef jerky over his shoulder. He snorted at her, and turned around.

“Its a loaner. Its not staying permanently.” He stated, heading for the exit.

“Aww, I wanted to study it so I could PROVE its not really magic!” Walli objected, and Connor just shook his head as she followed him out.

“Is she still on that?” Apollo asked as he caught up to them, and as the archer and speedster continued to bicker, Connor broke off and headed down the corridor to the kitchen. He smiled when he saw who was there, his hearing having proven correct again, but paused outside the doorway.

M’Gann sat at the counter, with a plate of chocolate and vanilla frosting sandwich cookies he recognized, daintily eating them one at a time, along with a glass of milk. Each bite seemed to bring her incomparable joy, and he chuckled as he recognized them.

Chocos, huh… that’s another thing that lines up from the comics.

He watched M’gann as she continued to eat the cookies, and she took her time with each, savoring it. She was wearing a long, faded graphic T-shirt that appeared to be for an 80’s TV show, and yellow sleep shorts. Connor hung back, and admired her ecstatic face and the absolutely earnest joy she took in every bite. Each bit was accompanied with a worried glance down at the vanishing pile of cookies, and an adorable firming of resolve, even as she eyed the half empty package sitting at the other end of the counter. 

Connor checked his Eye-Phone, seeing the email confirmation, and took a deep breath. He strode into the kitchen, and M’gann made a squeak of surprise and scrambled to cover the plate of cookies from view. She tried to speak but mumbled around a mouthful of Chocos, before covering her mouth in embarrassment. Her green cheeks turned pink, and he smiled at the incongruous coloration of her blush.

“Connor! What are you doing… still up?” She asked awkwardly, in between swallows of sandwich cookie.

“Well, I was just keeping a promise. But I remembered how excited you were to meet Kent Nelson. Because he was like your Martian mages, right?” Connor asked, a flush of anxiety going through him as he had to actually execute his plan.

“Hmm!” M’gann hummed as she levitated the plate behind her back and snagged the last Choco, quickly scarfing it. “Yes! He was just like our Y’ellonn sorcerer-priests, from what Black Canary told us. I was disappointed I didn’t get to actually meet him…” She finished sadly, looking down. 

Connor swallowed. This had seemed much easier when he had thought of it earlier.

“Yeah, its too bad. He was a really… interesting guy. But since you didn’t get to meet him, I thought maybe you’d like to see a magic show tonight…”

“Oh, I’d love to, Connor!” M’gann answered, and butterflies flitted through his stomach.

“Great…” He replied, suddenly lost at what to say next.

I didn’t actually think I’d get this far. I’ve never asked a girl out on a da-

“Oh, a magic show! Count me in.” Walli interjected from the other end of the kitchen island, where she was demolishing her way through the rest of the package of Chocos, to M’gann’s horror.

“My cookies! Walli!” She exclaimed, and levitated the bag out of Walli’s hands, but not before the speedster rapid fire swiped a half dozen more. M’gann gathered the much more depleted package to her chest jealously.

“Ah, come on, M’gann. You can’t hog all the good snacks.” Walli teased, tossing another cookie into the air to catch with her mouth. She was stymied as M’gann caught it telekinetically and levitated it over to herself with a snort.

“But seriously, I’d totally dig a magic show.” Walli continued shamelessly.

Connor’s mouth hung open as he felt a cold flash go through him.

Shit, I meant for this to be just me and M’gann. But I don’t want to tell Walli she can’t come…

“That’s where you ran off to.” Apollo commented as he entered the kitchen as well and helped himself to a glass of lemonade from the fridge.

“I heard the rustle of snack bags, my natural prey.” Walli stated with faux seriousness. “Connor’s taking us to a magic show.”

Apollo snorted as he sipped his drink, staring at Walli over the rim of the glass.

“You don’t even believe in magic, why would you want to go to a magic show after seeing the most impressive magic any of us will probably ever witness?” Apollo derided, leaning against the fridge.

“Because fake magic is real, unlike real magic, which is fake.” Walli informed them all in a superior tone. Apollo and M’gann looked at each other with exasperation.

“Right.” Apollo said with a roll of his eyes.

“Its fun to watch and figure out how the trick is done.” Walli insisted as Apollo gave a duplicitous nod.

“Of course. You must be so fun at parties…” He sniffed with exaggerated sadness.

“Hey, I’m the life of the party!” Walli insisted indignantly. “Tell him, Connor.”

Connor froze as everyone looked at him, and he gave a nervous laugh.

“Yeah, Walli’s tons of fun…” He said awkwardly, to which Apollo scoffed, much to Walli’s annoyance.

“Well, I think a magic show is a great idea.” M’gann said, preventing another round of bickering. “It will be a great team building excursion. Oh, I’m so excited now! I don’t know if I’ll be able to get to bed now.” 

Her excitement warmed Connor’s heart, even as he glanced at Walli and Apollo, who continued to snipe back and forth while M’gann got ready for bed. He bid them all good night and stumbled back to his room, face planting on the bed with a groan. His entrance woke Gizmo up from his nest of pillows and dirty laundry, and the G-Gnome came over and patted his head reassuringly.

“Thanks, lil’ bro. You always know how to cheer me up.” Connor said sardonically into his pillow. “I thought I was working myself up to make a change, like Mr. Nelson wanted me to. Just didn’t expect it to turn into a group thing…”

The G-Gnome regarded him impassively, but reached out and patted his head again. Connor sighed into his pillow and turned out the lights.