Salem -- Fate's Watchtower

[doctorfatejsa]

Hector Hall sits alone on a throne of stone in his tower, blood pulsing through his temples. The Helm of Nabu whispers dark things at him, but he pushes the skittering voice aside. He will not fall to chaos. Doing so is unthinkable.

So why don't you just cast off the helm? says the voice. He has no answer. The misery has gripped him since he

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[doctorfatejsa]

"Then it is settled. We will travel to Atlantis at once. Everyone stand close, and remain alert."

Fate gestures, and light emenates around him ... not forming the customary ankh shape, but instead the form of hawk wings. He seems unaware ... or at least indifferent ... to the change.

Colors cascade around the heroes, and reality blurs and spins, until suddenly, they are in a golden orb, underwater ... with the magnificent city of Atlantis before them.

[jla_goldenage]

"Atlantis," says Rose, awe on her lips. "A nation underneath the seas ... the heart of magic in this realm."

[gemma_masters]

"Smashing." Hector's magic is feeling all over the map and she's keeping tied closely into it for now since she doesn't know any water breathing spells.

[jla_goldenage]

A small globe of light emerges in Rose's hands, flitting effortlessly through the barrier.

"This will lead us to the temple, to retrieve the amulet we are in need of."

[doctorfatejsa]

"The sooner the better," growls Fate. "I feel uneasy maintaining this level of power right now."

But with the aid of the other mystics, his capsule holds.

[jay_garrick]

"You'll do it," Jay says surely. "We'll make it."

[jla_goldenage]

"Indeed, Mr. Garrick," says Rose, a serious look on her face. The golden orb floats through the water, drawing their bubble toward it to a shrine on the outskirts of Atlantis ... a stone, coral-covered temple in the shadow of the lost city.

"There," says Rose, her tone of voice clearly disbelieving things would be as easy as that. "The amulet is there, in the shrine where it was placed centuries ago."

But even as she speaks, the waters darken, and a shadow looms over the city.

Above them, a ghastly visage ... a woman in a white veil, her hand extended toward them ... long, gnarled fingernals adorning withered fingers.

"You reach from the past to prevent my future says an icy voice that seems to cut through the water. Fate is mine. You will not take him from me.

[jay_garrick]

"He was never yours to begin with," Jay says matter-of-factly. "And you won't take him as long as he has friends standing by his side."

He's not standing as though he's ready for a fight. If one breaks out, though, he'll be ready in a flash.

[gemma_masters]

"He's not yours!" She'll move between Hector and the visage hovers. Let the hag try something and she'll find out how much of a scrapper Gemma is.

[jla_extras]

The globe is now being buffetted by an underwater maelstrom, waves of water and pure energy bashing against their mystic shields. Which are beginning to crack. The visage cackles.

I saw you, Spy Flash, watching me through the veil. Did you thrill to watch my champion fell the Superman? And you, Gemma Marsters. If you knew what shadows lurked ahead for you, you'd turn over Fat to me yourself."

The storm engulfing the orb grows greater.

"Or did you already?"

[gemma_masters]

"What the hell are you nattering about?" What shadows?

"I'd never give him to you!"

[jla_goldenage]

"She's just trying to rattle you, Gemma," says Rose sharply, her forehead creased and sweating fromt he exertion of lending Fate power to preserve the shield. "Don't listen to her."

Really, Rose Psychic, says the horrid voice. "Tell me then, you know the great evil arises in this era. So who is the Withc Queen?"

"NEVER!" shout Rose, in an uncharacteristic display of losing her cool. Rose lashes back agains the onslaught buffetting them, but it's spititng into a storm compared to the power raining down on them.

[gemma_masters]

She adds her power to Rose's but the seed of doubt has been planted.

"You're not welcome here."

She's never really tested what her limits are, she might be doing that today as she pours her energy into the shield.

[jla_extras]

"Oh, fu...fudge this. Thunderbolt, make the waters surrounding this bubble within a five mile radius immune to the magic that's attacking us."

"I'll give it my best, bud." the Thunderbolt says, and magic pink lightning leaves through the bubble.

[jla_goldenage]

The waters glow pink as the Thunderbolt's power shields the orb, but he's being spread thin, and both The Witch Queen and Rose seem to know it.

"Hector," she says in her clipped, school teacher tone. "If we continue this battle, the storm will reduce Atlantis to rubble. We need to move. Seize the amulet and the battle's won."

[doctorfatejsa]

"I ... dare not relent my will at this time. Soon, she will defeat the Thunderbolt."

Then, he has a plan.

"Jay Garrick. If I lend you protection from the elements, and Rose Psychic guides you to where you need to be, can you seize the amulet?"