"Greetings, does the Order, not like my gifts? It is a just a small one." Max's voice boomed out. It was masked of course. "John Constantine plays a very large roll in a few years. It affects most of your lives. Those that live anyway. If you start to pry into me again, I will start coming for you. It will not be pretty. I like most of you.. but I have killed those I like once before. It gives a very twisted pleasure that I so miss."
"Are you threatening us?" The Trident voice boomed. "You have the arrogance of a surface dweller."
"Pathetic little insect." Max did not want to make it difficult right now, but certain things would not slide. "Shall I boil the "Eight seas" or freeze it colder than the darkest pits of hell? Either way, the "races" that call us above "surface dwellers" will all die. No need for "threats" like a child. I will do what I say. Little traitors to the human race deserve their deaths anyway. Forgetting you are human.." Max's voice was mocking and full of hatred all of a sudden. "..just nothing but a mutated "sub-race" into a "small amount" subspecies at that."
The voice of Trident went quiet. The mirror started to warble and distort a little. He was angry to say the least. On the other hand, the Peacock mirror shook from jubilation. A sense of understanding passed by.
"Every one just take a small breath before we say things we will regret." Peacock's voice said. The group was surprised she was diplomatic at the time. Usually the most aggressive of them all. "The next time we talk, everyone should remember the roles we play."
*Ding!* The mirror shattered from Peacock forcefully closing it. The others followed suit right after. Only the Gold helmet remained with Giovanni and Max.
"Well, that was something. Now Nabu.. release Kent Nelson before I become truly angry. His wife Inza needs a little time with him. Those few things you are "Perceiving" can wait. Well, you go by Dr.Fate now. Guess I could call you that."
"And why would you care?" Nabu said. No longer concealing himself, the mirror turned into an athletic male dressed in a blue cloth. A gold cape behind him that fluttered despite no wind. "Ahhh, I see." An Egyptian gold Ankh in front of his chest floating. Twisting as it looked into the outcome of what he spoke. In the greater scheme of things, those people would die anyway. But if he relaxes just enough, they may survive from their own actions.
Sometimes a guiding hand could cause more of a problem.
*Woom!* The helmet floated off giving control back to Kent Nelson. The man was happy for the break. Max noted it was a Young Man in his 30's or so. Marking out the one from Young Justice and from Justice Society of America mostly.
*Woom!* Behind him, a woman appeared from a gateway. He was able to finally piece togethor she was the Inza from Justice League the animated series. As well as feel the scenario end that tied them togethor.
For some reason, Inza was related to Max, via his mother and technically the spiritual clone Mr.Vega. A deeper prod let him know she was his descendant. No need to mess with that headache of things just yet. Dimensional travel has a way of making things weird.
(Inza is now aware of who you are. She will not speak of it to Kent. Nabu or the Order as well as Chaos, can not pry it from her. It must be given willingly.)
"Inza!" Kent grabbed his wife and twirled her in the air. The intense look he gave her was quite something. "It has been so long."
"A year for me, but thousands for you." Inza had a tear wiped away before it fully formed. "How long do we have?" Kent shook his head unsure. He turned towards Max's mirror. Max did not want the man to ask questions just yet about him.
"Enough. Nabu will have to do with 8 hours a day. Like a regular 9 to 5 job." Max's voice commanded out. "It is time "it" trains more for the future, not just steal someone else. Despite the weakness, it will present the Greater good. Nabu, contact the wizard Shazamo, it is time he pays for his arrogance. Teth-Adam (Black Adam) hurling through space has gone on long enough."
"That is..." Nabu paused. "Do you mean to say he will act as my host in the other hours of the day?"
"Yes, consider it a learning experience for him. A good way for him to understand more. If he agrees of course. He needs to be humbled and his strength will be needed for the future." Max intoned. Voice a little more softly now. His eyes bore into Giovanni that started to mumble a slight spell. "Fool. I will know longer help your wife and daughter now. Good luck training John Constantine."
*Ping!* Giovanni shattered and ended up back in his shop. He was caught trying to imprint Max's silhouette into his mind. As well as the voice. Even masked, he knew a few spells, given time that could pick it out if he heard it. Magic tends to leave a trail.
"You can not throw him to the wolves like that." Kent said. The influence of Nabu was quite strong in the man. He was not the coward version of himself, or the male gigolo version either. "I will help him, with Inza's help of course." Inza gave a nod. Kent was counting on the small connection she shared with the creature (Max) to help. 'To do all this for us, their has to be more.'
"Do what you will. Just learn to live a little more." Max intoned. "Do not forget to tell them Nabu. Villians of old will help defend Earth, it must be protected. As for the greater Cosmo's .. they can fend for themselves for now. Over 70% is not worth a damn."
*Ping!* Max's mirror shattered. He left a small signature for it to form the next time they each gathered.
"I am not gonna ask." Kent said quickly. "Let's enjoy our time before anything else happens." Inza hugged him even tighter. Afraid it was just a dream. "Since, it is a 9 to 5, do I get paid now?" He stared at Nabu.
"Kent Nelson.. that creature is powerful. Be careful. As for pay... what is the need for money when you can conjure what you want?" Nabu had a bit of a point. Nevertheless, he dropped some gold in front of Kent and Inza. "Egyptian gold pre-Ramses II death."
*Boop!* The helmet disappeared to go and find the Wizard Shazamo. Or to be precise as he knew him, Shazam. Before his disgrace inflicted upon him, his name was different. Not many creatures knew that. Which meant they were dealing with someone old.
.
-Gotham Jr.Highschool-
.
Max was in eighth grade and used every moment of it to read and relax. Whenever he had enough, he would switch full control to the spiritual clone. It helped him increase his spiritual perception, as well as continuously empty himself out. Thus expanding how much he could hold for in the future.
'Hmm just a bit more.' As he was sitting in class, waiting on the bell to ring, a student came up to him again. Max did not pay attention to his recent breakthrough. His attraction level went up, as well as his body's physique. The slight increase in muscle mass, made his clothes fit a little tighter. Showing off a well fit body.
Max was to use to cultivator clothes he wore. They were his own design, and would always fit a little loose to hide his body away. Fooling unprepared enemy. The blue jeans and long sleeve t-shirt he currently had on, however, did not do that.
"Hey new kid." The slightly large teenager called. Max ignored him as he was cultivating a little bit to finish. This angered the teen. "I am talking to you!"
*Bang!* He smacked the desk to get Max's attention. max didn't even flinch. A few students started laughing. But not all of them did so. A scrawny kid, borderline malnourished even, grumbled out.
"William Hand can not help but try to bully people. It is stupid because he himself is a new kid to Gotham." His mumbling was secondhand to his writing. He did not know he spoke out loud just then. Messing on his design he cursed. "Dammit Edward! Can not get anywhere like this."
Finding a new target, William moved to the scrawny kid. Right as he was about to grab hold, Max came to.
"Oh boy this is something." Max mumbled. He flexed his body to get his spiritual energy under control. To the other students, he was flexing. Noticing the stares he looks back at them, just as shocked. "Why are you staring at me. Is it my hair or something? Never seen someone with a "Fade" or something?"
"Not really man. High tops are making a comeback. You have to be the only brother with a Fade in the area." A light-skinned teen said. He had a smile on his face as he spoke. "This is the most you ever said.. in like ever."
"Never have much to say." Max shrugged. The bully William came up to him. "What do you want sunshine?"
"Sunshine?" William looked at Max incredulously. Ignoring it he confronted Max. "I was talking to you earlier. Did you not hear me? Or did you choose to ignore me?"
"Ehh, most likely both. So what did you want?"
"Heard you are a Wayne. Why the hell are you here in a regular school?"
"Same reason you are here at a regular school. An education of sorts. Well.. not really you. Since you William, bombed the last test so bad. Just because you think the work is to easy, not doing it just means you are actually dumber than the work." Max rembered the results of everyone in the room. It was easy since he constantly used his spirit sense to look over everything.
"Guess you are stupid William!" A female teen added in with an almost snicker.
"Shut up Marlene!" William turned angry and shouted. The simple mockery of the others set the fool off.
"Marlene Simmond, has to have the attention and show up anyone she can. Almost to the point of insanity. Females should be wary when confronting. She might pull a Carrie." Edward mumbled out again.
(Information now settled. The boy is Edward Enigma or Norton??? aka the Riddler in the future. From your memory, he is from Modern Age. Not as sadistic as the one from D.C.'s new 52 line up. Recommend to acquire for future plans.)
"How about I stuff you in a locker Eddy boy!" Marlene snapped at him. Seeing Edward ignore her, she threw a pencil at him.
*Pat* The pencel hit him in the face long ways. Looking around Edward just shrugged. The pencil was kept in his pocket. No sense in wasting it.
"Hehe, what a funny guy." Max chuckled. "And not the funny haha but the funny ha kind." Edward heard everything but kept quiet. Before William could act up again, the bell rang. "Off to your seat William. Go on now, shoo shoo." Waving his hand only made the teen even more upset. But he did go to his seat. 'A.I. cross-reference him specifically with my memory regarding the Silver Age and Crisis on Infinite Earth's.'
(Scanning.... small information found. William Hand does not belong here. Members of several Green Lantern's rogue gallery. Should reside in California. Coast City specifically. Scanning.. change found. William Hand is currently tied to events that lead to Blackest Knight.)
'Woah woah. I do not want to deal with that shit.' Max forgot about or ignored it. 'Ugh, I need to get stronger quicker. That way I can see more of what is happening.'
(Blackest Knight will not happen currently for 25-35 years. Sinestro is still a member of the Green Lantern Corps. However.. heading to space currently will weakend you and set the course back for Bruce Wayne's parents' assination.)
'Ugh figure as much. Giving him additional years was good enough. Remove the protection towards other goals. Hopefully, the training I have given him in the disguise of having fun will help. He is definitely athletic enough. Tch, Blackest Night. Need to think harder on those operatives for that.' Max listened a little to the teacher speak. Mostly stuff he knew already but a few things here and there helped. 'How is everything going with Lex back at the prep school?'
(Lex Luthor still misses his geeky friend. However, your absence has hardened him a little. The emails are still going back and forth. From what has been observed, he has kept training like you said. 10% increase in his respect on campus. Oliver Queen has started to hang out with him more. Scenario says he will still turn into Green Arrow. Lex Luthor will still turn into a Super Villian with ties to global control.)
'Hmm, Green Arrow is fine. However, Lex loses sight on humanity if it goes to far. Switch over to keep him closer in the "Grey" area. I leave it to you to handle explicitly.'
(Thank you for the trust. A scenario is unfolding not to far away. Involves a family heading to a hospital. The daughter has burn wounds.)
'Monitor it. Do not interfere. I am already spread thin and need to replenish.' Max regretted some of the power he spent to deal with the Order. But it had to be done. The return of some of his inventory along with the points helps out a lot. 'Haa, another breakthrough is needed to get access to the sold shop items though. No matter. Switch me over to the Spiritual Clone again.'
*Boop!* A slight pulse of energy as he switched over alert a few students. But they just felt a shiver really. The one with the most interest however, was Edward Enigma. He started writing more in his journal.
'I will die without his help. So will my parents!' Edward could feel the thoughts bubbling to the surface more and more. He was in danger from something that whispered as he slept at night. It was even making him manic in the day time. 'I need to find him!'
On his notepad in the corner, was a drawing Maxlord Vega. Specifically his persona the "Watcher!" Words appeared despite Edward no longer writing. The word salvation at the bottom appeared in red.
.
-Deep Under the Sea-
.
In the chamber of the magus of the Ocean, a man stepped out. He was disgruntled as he moved slowly towards the others that study Ocean Magic. Their teacher was a woman of rich blond hair and amazing magical might.
The queen of Atlantis. Atlanna herself taught them. All in an attempt to bury and distract her from the twisted way her 2nd husband did things.
"What is it, chancellor?" Atlanna asked. The Chancellor remained quiet and eyed the children. Getting the hint, she let it go for later. Soon the class ended and the king, Orvax walked in. Her second-born son Orm right behind. "How are you today my little Orm?"
Her voice was kind enough, but the warmth of a mother was not really there. She hated the child for what he represented. Try as she might, the more he acted as his father, the more it grew.
"Stop babying him already Atlanna!" Orvax said. There was no real respect for her as a queen. The relationship was very toxic as the Chancellor saw. He was sick of it more than anything. "Your presence is needed in the Council room." Seeing Orm swim over to his mother, his face turned into a scowl.
"I will be there in a bit." Atlanna responded. Orvax scowl turned into a frown. "I am the Queen, not you. Now head there at once!" It was a command that he grumbly obeyed. Swimming away a little, he called for Orm to come with as well. "He will be there later. Stop hovering over him!"
"Very well. It seems you forgot your medicine. I will go and prepare another dose." Orvax said darkly. Atlanna shook a little. This did not go unnoticed by the Chancellor or Orm. Swimming away, he thought of ways to fix her to a more pleasant role. 'Need to up the dosage. It is taking to long to weaken her resolve.'
"Your highness, I think it best we talk later." The chancellor said. He watched as she fussed with Orm's hair. 'If something is not done soon, she will be lost to us. We need the actual Queen of old. Not this "thing" he is turning her in to. But how to do it. I must find a way, before Atlantis is doomed.'
"Mother I can not believe father would not let me join in the studies of mysticism. I want to learn magic like you!" Orm said cheerfully. If Max saw this, he would loose his shit. He never really saw a version of Orm like this. He also never saw an Orm this young before. "If I am to be a good king after you retire in the future, I should learn right?"
"Yes, you should." Atlanna nodded. Her smile warm at his eagerness. It was shortlived as she remembers the hate his father kept spewing. The man was crazy and was getting worse. "I will teach you in secret. It will be just between us. So do not tell anyone." Orm nodded happily.
"Hmm." The Chancellor watched as a silhouette of someone passed in the hallway. Someone had been listening in on them. "Your highness, I have a suggestion." The queen listened with Orm. The chancellor was one of her few supporters.
(Scenario established. Atlanna has a piece of Noveria inside her. Applying procedures now...)
The A.I. went to work at once. It did not alert Max since he was already busy with other things.
Max was focused on preparing the threats that came quicker. Such as Darkseid, Brainiac, Gorilla Grodd, Injustice League, Injustice Society, Mongol, and Felix Faust. Some of them were already stalled and deterred just by his existence itself. But the Cosmic event Blackest Night.. not so much. it would happen no matter what.