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#2

"Behind Door Number One"

by David Marshall

 

"I don't understand," said Zatanna. "One minute I was taking a shower. The next I used a spell to retrieve a towel from the pantry and the whole apartment building came down around me."

"You were lucky no one was injured," said Nightmaster. "Consider that your warning shot."

Enchantress wished the team left Zatanna in San Francisco. Why did everyone coddle her? Just because she was once in the Justice League? Did no one remember how that turned out or had she mind-wiped everyone else too? One thing was certain. If she had messed up as bad as Zatanna every super-powered yahoo in spandex would be breathing down her neck. Maybe it was the fishnets?

"I'm thankful for that as well," Zatanna answered. "I couldn't live with myself if anyone had been hurt."

"Never stopped you before," Enchantress hissed.

"That's enough, Enchantress," said Nightmaster. "We're still coming to terms with the new laws of magic ourselves. And we know little of what really happened with the mind-wipes."

"No, she's right," said Zatanna. "I have to live with my decision the rest of my life. I'm not happy I mind-wiped those villains."

"The way I hear it, you weren't the only one who made that decision," said Blue Devil.

"No one could have made me mind-wipe them if I didn't agree to go along with it," Zatanna replied. "I refuse to make excuses for it."

"As much as I respect your candor, we have bigger fish to fry," said Detective Chimp.

Zatanna nodded. "Yes, we do. Do you have any idea how quickly this could get out of hand?"

"We do," Nightshade answered. She was behind the bar. "Would anyone like a drink?"

"I'll take a gin and tonic on rocks," Detective Chimp replied. "Hold the tonic."

"Your choices are water or a cola," said Nightshade. "The drunken monkey bit is getting old."

"I'm touched," the Chimp replied. "Now get me a damn gin!"

"I'll get it," said Blue Devil.

"Is that wise?" Zatanna asked. "He's a chimp. Alcohol could kill him."

"Precisely," said Blue Devil, grinning wickedly from ear to ear. He eschewed a shot glass and retrieved a beer mug from beneath the bar.

Detective Chimp took a long, slow drag from his pipe. "I'm right here, you know."

Ragman saddled up by Zatanna. "Bet you JLA guys never had a dynamic like this, huh?"

"To put it mildly, no," Zatanna answered. "But whatever works for you guys is fine by me. Now back to our problem. Enchantress and I could probably brainstorm a list all of the known magic users the Spectre didn't slaughter. But what about the ordinary folks with residual powers who don't even realize its magic they wield?"

"And what of the villains who use magic?" Nightmaster asked. "It's one thing to expect Madame Xanadu to act responsibly until this crisis passes, but it's another to believe Felix Faust will cooperate."

"A sobering point," said Zatanna. "But all too true. And how prevalent is the problem? Is it only those who wield raw magic or all those with magic-based powers?"

"Maybe I can help solve one of your problems," said Moses Moses, the blind cabby who drove the group to San Francisco. He seemed to have some kind of ability to see magic.

Enchantress still didn't trust him. It took more than cheap parlor tricks to impress her. "And what do you propose we do?"

"I may be the newest member of this team, but it's like Mama Moses always said..."

"I don't recall voting you into the group," said Enchantress.

"As much as it pains me to admit it, I have to agree with the Wicked Witch on this one," said Detective Chimp. "We hardly know you, sir."

"How well did any of us know one another when we started this group?" Nightshade asked. "Enchantress and I worked together in the Suicide Squad a few years ago, but most of us were complete strangers."

"Enchantress, Ragman, and I worked on what the papers called the Day of Judgement when Hal Jordan became the Spectre," said Blue Devil.

"Don't bring that up again," Enchantress hissed. "I'd rather forget it."

"Is the Spectre always involved when this group gets together?" Zatanna asked.

"I seem to recall you being there too," said Enchantress. She wouldn't give the smarmy witch the satisfaction of looking down on her team. Her team? What the hell was she thinking? As soon as this crisis passed she had every intention of ditching the impromptu band of B-list heroes and wannabes.

"I vote we keep Moses," said Blue Devil as he handed the mug of gin to Detective Chimp. "His power could come in handy tracking down magic users."

"That may be the smartest thing I've ever heard you say, Big Blue," said Nightshade. "I agree."

"You know how I feel," said Enchantress.

Detective Chimp took a swig from the gin and wiped his mouth with the back of his hairy hand. "May hell take my soul but I side with Sybil."

Enchantress shot Detective Chimp a nasty look.

"Ragman?" Blue Devil asked.

"I say he stays, but Jim's the leader," Ragman answered.

All eyes turned to Jim Rook, the Nightmaster. Enchantress couldn't help but wonder how Rook became the group's leader. Sure, he owned the Oblivion Bar but what experience did he have in leading a group? She and Nightshade or even Blue Devil were the most tenured with the group dynamic.

"He stays," said Nightmaster. "Don't forget the lot of us have powers that are magic-based as well. Someone like Moses would not only help us track other magic users but perhaps he could prove valuable in helping us adjust our powers in this New Age of Magic."

Enchantress rolled her eyes. Of course Rook caved! Damn him!

"As you were saying Moses?" Zatanna asked.

"Magic exists as a force," Moses explained. "I see it as a net reaching from the heavens to the earth below. When a magic user invokes this force I see the initial spark of phantasmagoric energy travel up the net from the user to infinity and then it returns to the wielder of the magic. Magic wielders possess a glow, even at rest, that ties them into this net. I can track them by their energy signatures, much like a GPS system."

"That's amazing," said Zatanna. "Madame Xanadu and Doctor Fate have mentioned the net before but only as an abstract notion. I've never met anyone who can physically see the structure of magic itself."

"Fascinating," said Enchantress. "Now we can track the guy who always catches the green light."

"You really don't get it, do you?" Zatanna asked.

Enchantress didn't care who Zatanna was, she wouldn't allow anyone to speak to her in such a manner. A burst of arcane energy leaped from her fingertips toward the Justice League's homo magi.

"reappasid tlob cigaM," Zatanna commanded. The bolt fizzled out.

Everyone turned to Moses.

"No bolts from heaven on this one folks," said Moses.

"What's that stunt gonna cost?" Blue Devil asked.

"I don't care what it cost," said Enchantress. "That witch will learn to speak to me with proper respect."

Zatanna approached Enchantress slowly but confidently. "You are powerful, June Moone, but the last thing you want to do is to swap magic with me."

"Ladies!" Nightmaster yelled. "Enough! Enchantress, you will exercise self-control during this situation and not put this team in danger needlessly. Do I make myself clear?"

Enchantress felt everyone's eyes peering through her. Even the freak, Moses seemed to look through her. She would not give them the satisfaction of an answer.

"June?" Nightshade asked. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Enchantress replied. "I'm not doing anything."

"You're fading away," said Detective Chimp. "Proof perhaps that there is a god after all."

A strange sensation began in Enchantress's feet and worked its way up her body. It was as if she was slipping into another world. The lower half of her body was already missing! "Someone help me!"

"Wait!" said Nightmaster. "The cost!"

"Damn the cost," Zatanna answered. "!reappaer ssertnahcnE"

Enchantress waited for Zatanna's magic to take hold. For a brief moment her body made contact with reality once more. Or were those phantom feelings? There was a mystic tug of war between Zatanna's magic and the mysterious fade. It felt like she was being ripped apart. Then the fade spread and consumed her torso at a frightening rate. She reached for someone - anyone- to anchor her to the world to which she belonged, but knew deep down the effort was fruitless.

Ragman grabbed her hand. "Stay with us, June! I've got you."

"It's no use," said Enchantress. "Let me go. The effect may spread to you as well."

"I'll take my chances," Ragman replied.

"Oh god!" Nightshade screamed. "Now Zatanna is fading too!"

Scant minutes before, Enchantress would have given anything for Zatanna to disappear to hell or wherever, but she wouldn't wish the agony she felt on anyone, even Zatanna.

"I have an idea," said Ragman. "June's other persona has caused enough problems in the past that I should be able to pull this off."

Ragman's suit took hold of Enchantress. She felt like a feeder fish staring down the jaws of a Great White shark. Whatever force powered the Tatterdemalion it was stronger than the force ripping at her physical being. The tug of war continued between Ragman's tatters and the fading sensation. Would she end up trapped in the Purgatory of Ragman's suit or fading from reality altogether? Some choice!

Finally she slipped from dissemination into reality once again. For a brief moment everything felt like it was going to be ok. "Get those damn rags away from me!"

The Tatterdemalion would not be denied.

"I'm sorry, June!" said Ragman.

Sickness like Enchantress never knew overwhelmed her. Then she was surrounded by the blackest darkness she'd ever known. With the darkness came complete and utter fear. She wasn't sure what was so frightening, but knew that something awful was about to happen. Her scream seemed to echo forever as the unmistakable feeling of falling rushed through her.

It felt like she fell forever before she finally landed abruptly. She expected to find herself alone, locked in some hell of her own devise. Instead she was surprised when Zatanna landed beside her moments later.

"You too, huh?" Enchantress asked.

"Where are we?" Zatanna asked.

"We're inside Ragman's suit of rags," Enchantress replied.

"How do we get out?" Zatanna asked.

"To the best of my understanding, we don't," Enchantress answered. "I thought Ragman's suit would only consume absolutely wicked souls. What are you doing here?"

Zatanna dropped her head. "We went through this minutes ago."

Enchantress shook Zatanna. "Hello? Surely you don't believe mind-wiping a group of villains to keep them from killing everyone you love ranks up there with murder, rape, and incest do you?"

"Rape is an interesting word," said Zatanna. " I violated their minds. What's the difference?"

"Sorry I went off on you," said Enchantress. "I appreciate you trying to save me."

"You would have done the same for me," Zatanna replied.

It was Enchantress's turn to drop her head. "No, I wouldn't have."

"What now?" Zatanna asked.

"We find a way out," said Enchantress.

"I feel weird," said Zatanna. "Like we're being watched."

"Now that you mention it, so do I," Enchantress replied.

A brute of a man stepped from the darkness and appeared before them. "Oh my! What have we here?"

Another hulking man joined him. "Looks like fresh meat to me."

"Hello, girls! Welcome to your worst nightmare!" said a dwarfish man with childlike features. "The stay's not so bad, but the initiation's hell!"

The Oblivion Bar

"Okay now bring them back," said Blue Devil.

Ragman shrugged his shoulders. "It's a one-way trip, sorry."

"What do you mean a one-way trip?" Nightshade asked. "Come on, Rags! There has to be something you can do."

"I'm afraid not," said Ragman. "The Tatterdemalion gathers evil. It doesn't release it."

"This is freakin' great," said Blue Devil. "Behind door number one, we have hell. Or if you prefer door number two, we have - Say! Look at that! It's hell also!"

"I said I'm sorry!" Ragman yelled.

"There has to be some way to rescue Zatanna," said Detective Chimp.

Nightshade cleared her throat and glared at Detective Chimp.

"What?" Detective Chimp asked.

"What about Enchantress?" Nightshade asked.

Detective Chimp looked thoughtful. "There has to be some way to rescue Zatanna."

"You're impossible," Nightshade huffed.

Blue Devil pulled her away from the Simian Wonder. "Come on, D.C. Not funny."

"I don't recall billing myself as a comedian," Detective Chimp replied.

"Enough!" cried Nightmaster. He approached Ragman. "Why in god's name did you add the girls to your tatters if you have no way of bringing them back?"

"They were fading! As in I-can-see-right-through-you!" Ragman answered. "It... seemed like the thing to do at the time. Look, I know it wasn't my brightest idea but there's good news too."

"And that would be?" Blue Devil asked.

"A new reality series called Who Wants to Join a B-list Superhero Team?" Detective Chimp interrupted. "I heard there's a spot open for a bitchy sorceress."

"D.C!" Nightmaster yelled. "When you have something productive to add to this conversation you can open your mouth. And not a moment before! Do I make myself clear?"

"Suits me," Detective Chimp answered. "I'll be drinking my gin."

"You said there was good news?" Nightmaster asked Ragman.

"They're still on this plane of existence," Ragman replied. "Who knows where they would have ended up if they had faded."

"He has a point," said Blue Devil. "At least we know where they are."

"I have an idea," said Moses.

All eyes turned toward the team's newest member.

"Nightshade can teleport, right?" Moses asked.

"I can," Nightshade replied. "But I don't see..."

"Can you teleport us inside the rags?" Moses asked.

"Dude, that sounds like a seriously bad idea," said Blue Devil.

"I'm inclined to agree with Blue Devil," said Nightshade. "I don't see how having the whole team trapped inside Ragman's suit will help anything. I don't even know if what you're asking is possible."

"It would be suicide sending someone into the Tatterdemalion on purpose," Ragman added.

The proclamation garnered serious looks of disgust from the team.

"Okay! It was a bad idea! I get it!" said Ragman.

"You're not following," said Moses. "Your suit is magic-based, right?"

"It's more mystical in nature from what I understand," said Ragman. "But yeah, I suppose it's similar."

"If Nightshade can get us in, I should be able to lead us out by following the residual signature her magic leaves behind. A mystical trail of breadcrumbs."

"Sounds reasonable," said Nightmaster. "It's as good as any plan we've got."

"He's a blind cab driver, Jim!" Nightshade whispered. "Not Dr. Occult!"

"But not a deaf cab driver," said Moses. "I'm offering to go with you. We'll take Blue Devil along for protection as well."

"The hell you say!" said Blue Devil. "I'm not... oof!"

Nightmaster elbowed his former bouncer in the gut. "And me. My sword might come in handy." He glared once more at Ragman. "In case we have to hack our way out!"

Ragman threw his hands up in the air. "I said I'm sorry! What about me and D.C?"

"D.C. will stay behind to keep you company," said Nightmaster.

"Isn't that punishment a bit harsh?" Ragman asked.

"Still in the room!" said Detective Chimp.

"Still can't take a hint," Blue Devil countered.

"Okay everyone keep your eyes closed," said Nightshade. "The Land of the Nightshades isn't a pretty sight."

"What will happen if I keep my eyes open?" Blue Devil asked.

"Bad things," Nightshade replied.

Blue Devil chuckled. "As in I'll turn into a big, blue frog kind of bad things?"

Nightshade shook her head. "As in you'll-see-things-that-made-your-stay-in-hell-seem-like-a-petting-zoo, drive-you-insane kind of bad things."

Blue Devil clenched his eyes tight. "Ladies first."

Inside the Tatterdemalion

"!yawa og srekcattA" Zatanna commanded. Nothing happened.

"I don't believe they heard you," said Enchantress.

The men inched toward them menacingly.

"Hey Joe! The one in fishnets is a foreigner!" said one of the large men to another.

The one named Joe laughed heartily. "Variety is the spice of life, Manu."

"You want spice?" Enchantress asked. "Try this flavor!" She locked her fingers to hurl a mystic bolt. Again, nothing happened.

Manu grabbed Enchantress by the wrist and bit her arm. "Delicious, babe! I'll have another!"

The dwarf's haunting laughter echoed from everywhere at once.

Enchantress cried out as her flesh was mangled between the attacker's teeth. She pushed against him but he was much too strong for her to pull away. She turned to Zatanna. "What's happened to our magic?"

"I don't know," Zatanna replied. She crouched to fend off Joe.

"You want magic baby? Let Big Joe show you some magic," Joe sneered.

"Familiar with magic runes?" Zatanna asked.

"No," Joe replied. "What do you mean?"

Zatanna planted the heel of her boot in Joe's crotch. "Doesn't matter. Looks like you don't have the stones for it anyway!"

Joe doubled over, grabbed his crotch, and cursed Zatanna. "Kill you, witch!"

A second kick caught him under the chin and forced him to the ground. A third kick turned out his lights.

Manu released his grip on Enchantress and turned his attention to Zatanna. He chuckled and clapped his hands in mock approval. "Let's see how well you do with a real man, little girl!"

With Manu's back turned toward her, Enchantress was afforded the luxury of carefully aiming a kick of her own. Her foot passed between the man's legs and found his family jewels. He turned around and laughed. "There's nothing wrong with my stones, little girl. Now which one should I kill first?"

"Let me go!" the dwarf cried. He suddenly slammed into the side of Manu's head and knocked the hulking brute to the ground. Once he fell, Zatanna stood behind him holding the dwarf by the feet. She had swung him like a club and struck the larger man in the head. A boot heel to the man's head made sure both men were out cold.

"That was amazing!" said Enchantress. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Justice League training," Zatanna replied.

A portal opened in front of the women and Shadowpact poured from it liked someone dumped them on the landscape from a pitcher. All but Nightshade and Moses, who stepped calmly from the swirling black eddy.

"Thank god we found you," said Nightshade.

Nightmaster raised himself to one knee and steadied himself with his sword. "C-cold! So cold!"

Blue Devil's eyes were clenched tight. "Need heat."

Enchantress was happy to see her teammates. "Eve! What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? This is a rescue mission," Nightshade replied.

Zatanna checked on Nightmaster and Blue Devil. "Um... shouldn't the rescuers be a little more..."

"With it?" said Nightshade. "They'll be fine. I warned them to close their eyes. The Land of Nightshades isn't the most scenic tour these days."

"It never has been," said Enchantress, remembering the Suicide Squad's venture into the world where Eve Arden was born a princess. The presence of the Incubus left it a desolate wasteland that would leave even the most strong-willed nearly mad. From what she'd learned in talking with Eve since Shadowpact's formation, it had grown even worse.

"Being blind, I'm naturally invulnerable to its charms," said Moses. "Let's get out of here."

"Great idea," said Zatanna. "The sooner we leave this place the better."

Blue Devil stood but kept his eyes covered. "Did we make it?"

"I take it by the foul smell that we did," Nightmaster answered. "Can we open our eyes?"

"Yes," said Nightshade. "Open your eyes."

Enchantress laughed.

"What's so funny?" Blue Devil asked.

"If my magic worked here, I'd have whipped up the most terrifying illusion you could imagine just to mess with you."

Nightmaster sighed. "I don't know who's worse. You or D.C."

"The boys will need some time to recover before making the return trip," said Nightshade. "What next?"

"We stay put," said Zatanna. "Hard telling what's out there."

"Agreed," said Enchantress. "The welcoming committee wasn't delivering baked goods."

"Let's get going," said Nightmaster. "I don't want to leave Ragman alone with D.C. too long."

"Looks like we have company," Zatanna warned. She pointed into the darkness.

The Shadowpact couldn't see it at first but then the eyes came into view. They glowed like a cat's although the darkness within the tatters reflected little light.

"Whatever it is, it's headed toward us," said Blue Devil. "Why do I get the feeling it's not the coat check guy?"

When the creature finally arrived it stood at least nine feet tall and was huge in proportion, even compared to Blue Devil. It was made of stone or clay. It was hard to tell in the pallid light. There were words written across its forehead but Enchantress couldn't make them out.

"You will follow me for assignment," the creature ordered in a deep voice as rough as its appearance.

"Who are you?" Nightshade asked.

"I am the spirit of the Golem of the Tatters," the creature explained. "It is my task to maintain order in this realm."

"I'm afraid we aren't staying," said Nightmaster. "Ragman absorbed our female friends here into his suit by mistake. The rest of us came to rescue them."

"Impossible," the Golem answered. "You may earn redemption but it is impossible to return to the world of the flesh. Redemption or hell. The choice is yours."

"Yeah about that," said Blue Devil. "I've done one of those already and I guess you can tell by the horns which it was. I'm not sure if the other is even possible for me, so I really need to get back to the good old Oblivion Bar. You have any idea what a mug of gin can do to a chimp?"

"Redemption or hell," said the Golem.

"I thought Golems couldn't speak." said Enchantress.

"Not in your world, but in here I am the physical manifestation of the Tatterdemalion itself, its conscience if you will. You hear me because it is what you can perceive of my will. I sense you're all magic users of some sort. You should make valuable additions to the tatters. And please don't try to escape. It is impossible. Your powers will not work here."

"That's where you're wrong, Golem," said Nightmaster. "Eve! Moses! Get us out of here now!"

"Ready, Jimbo," said Nightshade. "Moses?"

"Bad news, chief!" said Moses.

"You can't see the trail?" Nightmaster asked, his face buried in his hands and shaking his head.

"Blind as a bat," said Moses. "Sorry. It seemed like a good idea."

"Imagine that," Enchantress huffed. "The blind guy can't see. What a revelation!"

Zatanna buried her face in her hands. "Now I know how Princess Leia felt in the garbage compactor!"

"You were saying?" the Golem asked Nightmaster.

Blue Devil fell in behind the Golem. "One shot of redemption, big guy. On the rocks!"