DC Infinity - Justice League Issue 10

The graveyard was similar in many respects to others located across the world, except for the presence of two houses on either end of the cemetery. Both homes were older, built a century or more prior. In actual fact, both houses had been in existence for many thousands of years, their forms changing through the ages. Both houses had names, as many old houses did.

On one end, was the House of Mystery.

The other was called the House of Secrets.

The Phantom Stranger and Liandra, the Fallen Angel, stood outside the perimeter of the cemetery near the state line of Kentucky . The night sky was clear, with the stars acting as beacons in the dark. The two beings had faced demonic forces down in the city of Bete Noir , digging up the bones of a man who had imprisoned the son of a God. That son had been named Hypnos; the father, Morpheus of the Endless. Within the skull of Hypnos was a stone of great power, forged by Morpheus himself. The stone gave one power over the dreams of man. Another like it had been made, this one for Morpheus himself. It had been stolen for a time and had fallen into the hands of John Dee, the insane Doctor Destiny, who had faced the Justice League many times over the years. The dream stone eventually fell back into the hands of its true master, but the damage had been done. The world of man was now aware of the power of the Dreaming and its effects on the world.

The Phantom Stranger had been unaware of this particular dream stone, believing the only one to be the original created by Morpheus. He had been told of its existence by an unexpected ally. Realizing there was far more involved in recent events than even he had been aware of, The Stranger had journeyed to Bete Noir and enlisted the aid of the Fallen Angel in recovering the dream stone…and the bones of the man who had possessed it. They had barely escaped the clutches of the demonic shedim , but now they faced potentially a far worse threat in this cemetery.

The Houses each existed in two places at once: on Earth in this graveyard, facing one another as polar opposites…and also in the Dreaming, the world where Morpheus had ruled all. Each House had a permanent resident as well. The House of Mystery was cared for by Cain, the House of Secrets by his brother Abel. They were servants of the ruler of the Dreaming, acting as custodians of nightmares and secrets for those that fell under Dream's purview.

“This is kind of funny considering where I come from,” said Liandra, “But this place creeps me out.”

“As it should,” said the Stranger. “It is here we will face one of the architects of recent events.”

“I've heard of these houses before,” said Liandra. “Which is which? Mystery or Secrets?”

“We seek the House of Secrets,” said the Stranger.

“You know this…how?” asked Liandra.

“I have…friends…residing in the House of Secrets,” said the Stranger. “Powerful friends.”

DC Infinity Presents

Justice League

#10

“Secret Houses & Fallen Angels”

Part 3

By Joshua David Krenz & Mike Hintze

Jason Rusch and Dr. Bruce Gordon sit by the window in old viewing room chairs. The room, now a parlor fully equipped with a casket, has been largely undisturbed as the two gaze out into the imagination beyond. A tray of celery sits on a nearby table, half consumed by Jason. In Dr. Gordon's lap sits an old tome, a book of ancient knowledge. He closes the book and walks over to where the bookshelf was, only to find the bookshelf no longer in the room. With a shrug and sigh Dr. Gordon sets the grimoire on the ground.

“So who lives over there, in that castle?” Jason spat through a giant mouthful of celery.

“The king of Dreams, I already told you that,” Dr. Gordon responded, grasping his hands over his head while returning to his seat. Already he tired of the companionship. Time doesn't work the same in the Dreaming. While some dreams, like nightmares, go on for eternity—others are fleeting moments, gone before they are truly experienced. It was impossible to tell how long the two had been in the room together.

Two more bodies entered the room.

“He used to live there,” the Phantom Stranger added to the conversation. “Now it has a new occupant.”

Dr. Gordon turned around at the voice, noticing the Fallen Angel standing behind the Phantom Stranger. Her red hair flowing out from under the crimson robes. She floats a few inches off the ground, her visage almost completely shadowed by her clothing.

“Who lives there now?”

Walking over to the window, the Phantom Stranger peers out onto the Dreaming. “His name is John Dee, the former Doctor Destiny.”

“The skull-faced guy? Isn't he dead?” asked Jason.

“Not dead,” the Stranger responded, “simply incapacitated. His body is fragile, but his mind—while insane—is still very powerful. Years ago the Dream-King stripped him of the Dreamstone—a powerful ruby used in controlling people's dreams. John Dee didn't have the control or the power to use the stone properly, and could only affect a small range.”

“Right,” Dr. Gordon added, “but he was returned to Arkham. He's been more than a nuisance to the League, but as long as he's sedated his powers are too limited to affect anyone.”

“So we thought, but it appears that Dee has been holding out, his powers appeared limited because he was focusing on something else entirely. He was waiting for a doorway, and it appears as though he has found it.”

“The Dreaming?”

The Stranger nodded. “Still, he cannot replace Morpheus entirely. He does not posses the powers of Dream, only the ability to manipulate what a dreamer sees. When he made his way into the Dreaming, Dee was able to see and manipulate all dreams, everywhere.”

“So he knows everything?”

“Potentially, but Dee does not simply seek control. He desires control.”

Fallen Angel's head shot upright, for the first time being visible since entering the room. “The skull! He wants Hypnos' skull!”

“It's the only way he can put everyone to sleep at once,” the Phantom Stranger added. “He wants to use Dream's forgotten son, the god of sleep, to put the entire world to sleep—then he could control everything.”

“So where is Dream? Couldn't he stop all of this?”

“He is gone,” answered the Stranger, “Trapped by Dee himself.”

“Looks simple to me!” hollered Jason, “we storm the castle and take out Dee !”

“No,” responded Dr. Gordon, “if we fully enter the Dreaming we are fully under Dee 's control. We need to find his body on earth. One of us, however, can enter the Dreaming…or I should say, two of us.” He looked at Jason and Bruce.

“Huh?” said Jason.

“Rather,” said the Stranger, “Firestorm can.”

“I don't understand,” said Bruce. “You just said we'd fall under Destiny's control.”

“Trust me,” said the Stranger. “Liandra and I will head to Earth. You must meet someone who will guide you to your destination.”

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“Um…Bruce?”

Jason was standing in the main foyer of the House of Secrets, the Stranger and Fallen Angel having left the House. Jason was looking away from him, down the dark hallway. This house had a way of shifting, with new rooms being created while old ones disappeared. Hallways and corridors came and went. But now though…now there was something different.

“Look,” said Jason. He pointed at the end of the hallway.

“My God,” said Gordon. In the time the two of them had been here in the House of Secrets, hidden away by the Phantom Stranger, the House had offered them no obstacles as they explored and moved about…except for being able to leave the House. Every attempt had left them right back where they had started. Now, though…

…the front door was open. A small man stood there, a little fat man with a small golden creature on his shoulder. The man wore a goatee and had his hair slicked back. Jason thought he was the most non-threatening man he had ever seen.

“Who is that?” asked Jason.

“Abel,” said Gordon. “The caretaker of the House of Secrets. I've been wondering what happened to him.”

Abel motioned at the two men, beckoning them to come with him. He was silent, yet his face had a look of panic, as if he might be discovered doing something he shouldn't.

“Do we follow him?” asked Jason.

“Not us,” said Gordon. Something bothered him about Abel's urgency. “Firestorm.”

“Gotcha,” said Jason. He concentrated, and the two men disappeared in a flash of atomic light. In their place stood Firestorm, the Nuclear Man.

Firestorm walked towards Abel, who didn't seem surprised at all by what he had just seen.

“Where are we going?” asked Firestorm. His eyes flashed with his impatience.

“We—we must go quickly,” said Abel. “You are needed…there is troubles in the Dreaming and you are needed…but we must go now!”

I trust him , said Gordon from within the mental gestalt that was Firestorm. Let's follow…but we wary. The Dreaming is not like anyplace you have been in before, Jason.

“All right then,” said Firestorm. “Lead on, Abel.”

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The door creaked open as the Phantom Stranger and Fallen Angel stepped through to Earth. The cemetery was still dark as night…not much time had passed since their arrival in the Dreaming. It was always hard to tell the passage of time between otherworldly realms and the ‘real' world.

“Where now?” asked Liandra.

“The first place,” said the Stranger, “Is Arkham Asylum. Dee has been committed there for some time now. Be wary, his power in this world may be grave indeed.”

“I live in Bete Noir,” said Liandra. “Arkham doesn't scare me.”

“I stand corrected,” said the Stranger.

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Firestorm walked out into a grassy meadow, with fantastic creatures the likes of which he had never imagined. In the distance was the castle he had seen before, its gates empty and foreboding. The land felt like something was…missing. That was the only word that could describe it.

“Now what?” asked Firestorm.

Abel cowered as he led the Nuclear Man farther from the House of Secrets. “We must hurry,” he said. “We must be in place before he comes.”

“Who's he?” asked Firestorm.

Abel motioned him onwards. “Him! The one that has subjugated the Master! This way!”

They ran down the paved trail further, until Abel hid behind a large stone obelisk. He waved for Firestorm to hide with him. He knelt down beside Abel and peered out from beside the obelisk. He was shocked at what lay in his view.

A skinny man with a pumpkin for a head was hanging from a tree by the neck, rotting in the breeze. What looked like a white raven was nailed to the tree as well.

“Oh, dear,” said Abel, “He got Mervyn and Tethys…oh, dear, oh dear!”

“Destiny?” asked Firestorm.

“The evil one,” said Abel. “He who is the antithesis of the Dreaming.”

“That doesn't help me any,” said Firestorm. “Now what—“

Abel screamed as he flew up into the air. Firestorm whirled around and saw an impossibly tall man, naked and emaciated with a skeletal face holding Abel in his hand. Somehow, that grotesque skeletal face began to smile.

“Hello, Abel. I wondered where you had gotten off to. I wouldn't have expected you and Cain to be the ones to escape, but you have proved to be a pesky one to watch, I'll give you that.”

“Hey!” yelled Firestorm, “Let him go!” The nuclear man flew into the air and charged the giant.

“Let's see what kind of tortures we can come up for you, shall we?” said the giant. “I'm interested to see what I can dream up that Cain himself hasn't already done to you.” The giant walked away, ignoring the Nuclear Man.

Firestorm flew at the giant and fired a blast of energy at him. The blast made contact with the giant but he continued on as if nothing had happened. Perplexed, Firestorm flew around to the front of the giant and floated at eye level, preparing to fire another blast. The giant walked right past Firestorm, with the Nuclear Man passing through the form of the giant as if he wasn't there. As the giant walked, he shrunk down until he reached the castle gates and was able to enter them unimpeded, dragging Abel behind as he walked.

Firestorm followed the man, confused at how the man didn't seem to realize he was there. He fired another blast that hit the man, but did nothing. Abel was screaming as he was dragged into a reception hall.

The hall was devoid of any furniture or accoutrements save a throne made of bone and a murky crystal sphere on a dais off to the side. The man tossed Abel to the side where chains appeared to bind the fat man. Firestorm continued to walk up to the skeletal man firing nuclear energy, but the blasts did nothing. Firestorm seemed not to exist to this man.

He can't see us , said Gordon from within Firestorm's mind. It must be something to do with the Firestorm Matrix that shields us from his sight.

Whatever it is , thought Jason, We can't seem to affect him either .

YOU ARE UNIQUE, came a voice in their heads. It drowned out all other thought. YOUR MINDS MERGED AS THEY ARE MAKE YOU INVISIBLE TO HIM. DEE CANNOT SEE YOU NOR ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE IN THE DREAMING.

“Who the hell was that?” said Firestorm.

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The dark walls of Arkham Asylum drew down even on the Phantom Stranger's spirit. The lighting was dimmed as the inmates slept…or at least were encouraged to sleep. Screams and yells echoed through the halls. This was not a place of rest or recovery, no matter how much it tried to be. This was a house of the damned.

They walked past cells that had nameplates of famous villains that had faced the Batman over the years. Mr. Freeze, Tweedledum & Tweedledee, Clayface…the list went on. The Stranger stopped at the cell marked as the Joker's. Not a sound came from the dark cell.

The Stranger looked into the dim plexiglass walling the cell and saw the Joker, lying on a hospital bed. The Clown Prince of Crime was wearing a body cast on the majority of his body, a result of his being broken by Prometheus in his guise as Batman. The Joker was lying there, eyes closed but an insane grin on his pasty face. The Stranger heard a keen high pitched sound and realized it was the Joker giggling.

“He's coming,” said the Joker, his eyes flashing open and intent on the Stranger's own. “You think you know what you're doing…but you don't.” He cackled loudly. “And I do.”

“That freak always creeped me out,” said Liandra.

“You two have met?” asked the Stranger.

“Hey, girlfriend,” said the Joker, “It's been a while! Can't say I approve of the company you're keeping these days, though.”

“Shut your mouth, maniac,” said Liandra, “Before I shut it for you.”

“Ignore him,” said the Stranger. “Our quarry is ahead.”

“Later, chicky,” said the Joker. “Soon as I'm all healed up I'll be outta here…might even look you up, show you a good time…Bowchickawow-wow!”

The Stranger grabbed Liandra's arm and pulled her away from retaliating. She resisted at first, but then acquiesced. They continued down the winding hall, until they came to a cell that was separate from the others. The nameplate nearby said “Dee, John”.

Without a word, the Stranger waved his hand and the plexiglass wall rippled and opened to allow them into the cell. On a bed similar to the Joker's lay an emaciated man with a heart monitor, breathing machine and intravenous drip attached to him. His face looked more like a skull than a human face. His eyes were recessed deep in the hollows of his eyesockets; somehow there was enough skin to allow the lids to be closed. The chest rose slowly and then fell, a rattle heard from congested phlegm.

“All right,” said Liandra, raising her fist, “Time to end this.”

The Stranger grabbed her hand. Liandra was held cold, not able to move her arm an inch. “Something is wrong,” he said. “Something is…missing.”

“What?” asked an impatient Liandra.

The Stranger rested a hand on Dee 's forehead. “He is no longer tied to his Earthly body. I would have thought this impossible, but it seems Dee has found a way to leave his mortal shell behind completely. This…body…has no link to Dee anymore. It is a biological machine…nothing more.”

“In that case,” said Liandra as she walked over to the wall, “There's no reason not to do this.” She pulled the electrical plug from the wall. The equipment quietly whined as it shut down, Dee 's chest stopping its rhythmic rising and falling. An alarm went off alerting medical staff of the situation.

“We need to be away,” said the Stranger. “Everything depends on what happens in the Dreaming now.”

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I AM CALLED MANY NAMES, said the voice, DREAM IS ONE…DANIEL IS ANOTHER.

Firestorm realized that there was someone within the sphere, a man with pale hair and even paler skin. His eyes were dark grey and seemed to penetrate Firestorm's very being.

JOHN DEE HAS TAPPED INTO THE POWER OF A DREAM STONE AND USED IT TO IMPRISON ME. HE HAS BASTARDIZED THE BASIS OF THE DREAMING…PERVERTED IT INTO A FORCE OF SUBJUGATION AND CONQUEST…FOR HIS MASTER.

Master ? Thought Gordon, Who is the Master?

THE TYRANT SUN….SOLARIS. HE COMES AND STRIKES ON TWO FRONTS. HE MEANS TO SUBJUGATE THE DREAMING AND SIMPLY WALK IN AND TAKE OVER THE WAKING WORLD.

How do we stop him? If he can't see us, that has to be to our advantage, right? thought Jason.

IN THE DREAMING YOUR MIND IS UNIQUE…YOU CAN MANIPULATE THE STUFF OF THIS PLANE THE SAME AS HE CAN. YOU MUST CONCENTRATE AND FOCUS ON DESTROYING HIM…BEFORE HE BECOMES AWARE OF YOU AND MAKES IT SO HE CAN SEE YOU.

It's just that easy, huh ? thought Jason.

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The Phantom Stranger and Fallen Angel stood before the bodies of the raven and pumpkin man. The Stranger was usually grim, but was even more so now.

“He has gone too far,” said the Stranger. “I knew he was powerful here…but this is worse than I had expected.”

“What the hell did you expect?” said Liandra. “You're telling me John Dee, aka Dr. Destiny, one of the Justice League's most horrific foes, has gained control of the Dreaming and you think he's gone too far?”

“We will break the hold he has over the Dreaming,” said the Stranger. “ Dee works for another. He is a vanguard for something far worse. I have planted someone here that can win this for us…but we must destroy the Dream Stone. Only here in the Dreaming can that be done.”

“Ok then,” said Liandra, “Let's destroy it.” She grabbed the stone from the Stranger and tried to crush it in her hands. Moments passed, but the stone was undamaged.

“Only one being can destroy it,” said the Stranger. “Dream must be freed from his prison. Only he can destroy it.”

“Then let's free him,” said Liandra.

“We are not powerful enough, not here,” said the Stranger. “Dee's Master knew one being could stop the conquering of the Dreaming. That being was Firestorm. That Master tried to control Firestorm, then kill him. Only through my intervention was that not possible. Now, I have placed Firestorm here. He must do what must be done. He must prepare the way.”

“I hope your boy knows what he's doing,” said Liandra.

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Firestorm concentrated, ignoring the screams of Abel as John Dee tortured him. Daniel had reassured him all would be repaired once Dee was dealt with. For now, he had to concentrate.

The Dreaming was his clay to mold. His mind, within the Firestorm Matrix, was capable of great things here. He focused, making his thoughts a sharp spear point in this dimension.

“What have we here?” said John Dee as he paused in his work, blood and gore covering his hands. Firestorm opened his eyes….and Dee was facing him, looking him right in the eye. “Another plaything to mold and twist.” He walked towards Firestorm…and walked through him, continuing on as if he wasn't there.

Firestorm turned and saw the Phantom Stranger and Liandra facing Dee . “You will be stopped,” said the Stranger. “So say I!” White light coruscated out of the Stranger's body and blasted Dee . “Jason! Bruce! Keep concentrating!”

Dee laughed at the onslaught. “Here, I am God. Here, I am All.” The ground transformed into shapeless demons of darkness. Liandra realized they were shedim.

The demons surrounded the two. They fought against the evil, but this was far more than what they had encountered in Bete Noir. They were not winning. Death was close at hand…and in the Dreaming, Death took on a whole new meaning for immortals.

Dee laughed as the onslaught brought the two immortals down, tearing at them. The laugh seemed to reverberate through the entirety of the Dreaming.

Then it stopped.

Dee began to choke, grabbing his throat as he coughed and hacked. Dark viscous liquid came spurting from his mouth as his body convulsed. At the same time, the shedim disappeared, leaving the Stranger and Fallen Angel alive but wearing the marks of their fight.

Behind Dee 's dying body stood Daniel. Behind Daniel stood a shattered crystal globe. Firestorm stood beside the globe, his hands bloodied from shattering it. “I got tired of concentrating,” said the Nuclear Man.

The Stranger smiled. “Nicely done.”

Dee 's body was a shell of what it had been. Daniel stood over his body impassively. “MY PREDECESSOR WAS FAR MORE LENIENT WITH YOU THAN I WILL BE. YOU ARE FAR TOO MUCH OF A THREAT TO BE ALLOWED TO LIVE. I CAST YOU TO HELL, JOHN DEE.” Daniel reached out and took the Dream Stone from the Stranger. It was crushed to dust, which Daniel replaced within his bag of dreamsand. “AWAY WITH YOU. YOU WILL NOT ENTER HERE OR THE WAKING WORLD AGAIN.” Flames erupted from the floor and incinerated Dee , leaving nothing behind, not even ash.

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“I OWE YOU THANKS,” said Daniel. “WITHOUT YOUR AID THIS PRONG OF SOLARIS' INVASION WOULD HAVE SUCCEEDED. FOR THAT, YOU HAVE MY GRATITUDE.”

“This is but one front we have secured,” said the Stranger. “The true battle yet comes.”

“Finally,” said Firestorm. “Does that mean we can finally leave here? I don't wanna go back to that creepy House.”

“We will be leaving,” said the Stranger. “But do not think things will be easier.”

“You mean--?” asked Firestorm.

“Yes,” said the Stranger. “It's time to assemble the Justice League.”

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Next: It FINALLY begins! SOLARIS STRIKES – PART ONE!

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