*New York City, the Marvel Universe.*

[doctorfatejsa]

Fate leaves the Baxter Building and rises into the air. He doesn't know what it is, exactly, but something about this world has been making him edgy -- maybe it's just the proximity to Doom. The man radiates malevolence

Comments

[jla_extras]

"Have I been gone so long," she says, smirking, "that you no longer recocnize an old ally, servant of Nabu?"

[doctorfatejsa]

"Hippolyta?" says Fate, visibly staggered, which doesn't happen often. "But ... you died in the war. What are you doing here?"

[jla_extras]

"I've come to talk to you, Hector," she says, sitting finding a seat for herself. "It was prophecied -- the heroes of Earth would be tested, each in their turn, and three agents of balance would meet with three Warriors of Paradise Island. And so, here we are."

[doctorfatejsa]

Yes. I am aware of some of this -- The Titans were tested in their Olympics, and Boston Brand spoke with Donna Troy. And then the Justice League's faith in each other was tested, and the Phantom Stranger spoke with your daughter, Diana. And John Constantine had to face madness again.

[jla_extras]

"I honestly don't know," she says flatly. "But you've been dancing around this subject since this first began. Do your allies below even know your connection to Dream?"

She's not chastising him, really. There's too much concern in her voice, but it makes him feel guilty, nonetheless.

"Do they even know why you've been pushing yourself so hard?"

[doctorfatejsa]

"I ... I don't see," he starts to say, and then stops themselves. "Some know. I think..."

[jla_extras]

"Constantine knows," she says. "And you tolerate that because he keeps your secrets as easy as he keeps his own. Some of the other mystics know. Your father. That's about it. So tell me, with all reality about to unravel, why have you kept this information from the people you're investigating with?"

[doctorfatejsa]

"I don't know!" he shouts at the ghost. "I don't know why I can't talk about it. It's too much. It ... "