The Sandman quickly glances through the closet checking to see if there is anything useful. Assuming that he finds nothing, he will race back down stairs and join his companions. "I couldn't find the sprinkler controls" he says as he again blasts the demon.
Flash keeps spraying his extinguisher where he last saw the demon.
Following the pure light of Hourman's thoughts the enigmatic golden helmed sentinel pours more mystic energy into the hero of our time.
"Now is the time Hourman. It is the surce of the steam. Strike where the clouds are thickest."
Well that made everything worse, the Sandman thinks to himself as he races back down the stairs to join his companions. I've no doubt that that flaming fiend can see just fine in this sauna. That's what I get for listening to Fate.
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Hourman, though, feels the demon's sword cut him again , but is able to deliver a satisfying blow to the demon at the same time, bending his pole-staff over the demon's head.
Hourman struggles to get free of the demon's whip. He scans the garage looking for anything useful. "You can't stop all of us, ugly! Why don't you just give up and go home?"
The Sandman will look for something to climb on, hoping to get a better view of the fight. If he finds something, he will hurl the fire extinguisher at the demon. And, if Hourman is out of the way, he will use his grapple gun to try to pierce the extinguisher causing an explosion of flame retardant.
The Sandman will look for something to climb on, hoping to get a better view of the fight. If he finds something, he will hurl the fire extinguisher at the demon. And, if Hourman is out of the way, he will use his grapple gun to try to pierce the extinguisher causing an explosion of flame retardant.
"This may be a trick. Hourman please place that door where the beast was. If it is there but unseen you will feel it.
Flash darts off to collect the basket of evidence he set down earlier.
The extinguishers, depending on when the firehouse was decommisioned, may not be pressurized. The Co2 pressurized extinguisher was only invented in 1924 at the behest of Bell labs. If this place is old enough or was poorly funded, you might be carrying a carbon tetrachloride pump extinguisher. Mind you if it is a CTC extinguisher then there is probably a case of CTC filled glass "fire grenades" around somewhere.
"Dian will never believe any of this. Or even worse, she will–and complain that I never let her meet a demon." The Sandman looks around. "Our mysterious Mr. X seems to be more than a common criminal. I'm glad you decided to appear Dr. Fate. I was worried we'd have to rely on the likes of Sargon the Sorcerer."
Dr. Fate consentrating on the amulet as makes a last sweep of the area, replies to Sandman. Both mysterious heroes still concealed by the thinning mist.
"Mr. X did not call that beast. While it was distracted by the sprinklers and Hourmans attack I was able to use the Amulet of Anubis to pierce its mystic shields and sample its thoughts. Mr. X was given this demon by Wotan. The thought of the two of them working together...."
But come. Tell me what you know of this Mr. X? What has led you to this derelect building?"
The Sandman considers Fate's question, taking a moment to sort out the events of the evening. "Well, as you know Mr. X delivered a letter to the Justice Society, ordering us to shut down our operations or pay the price. One of his henchmen–the Flame Farmer–went on an arson spree. When we finally caught up with him, he yielded up this location as his hideout, indicating that we'd find a note from Mr. X. . . . As far as what we know about Mr. X . . . well, not too much. He has his hands in all sorts of criminal enterprises and that's about it. " The Sandman pauses and then "Glad you showed up Dr. Fate. Demons are a bit out of my league. I think that Hourman uncovered some information that might mean something to you. Something about demons and telephones . . . "
"Hmmmm. Not much that we didn't already know. I think we'd all best get some rest, we'll need to be at full strength if we're to take on Mr X and this 'Wotan'."
"Rest sounds fine to me. Anyone need a lift?" The Sandman suddenly feels the weight of the evening, the burns and bruises.
The four Heroes agree to take an 8-hour break, return to their respective homes, and rest.
The Heroes then agree to contact each other, or to meet at a rendezvous place, and plan out what they intend to do next, either collectively or separately, to either prepare for Mr. X's next move or to track him down.
The three Fates merge into one as he speaks "Before we part my friends, a small gift from the lords of order."
"Until tomorrow." Need to call Inza, she will kill me for coming to New York with out her...
Cast Invisibility and flight in that order making for a dramatic exit out the ruined door.
"Well, I guess Fate didn't need a ride. Anyone else?" Assuming that no one needs a lift, the Sandman will head home to bed. He'll also spend some time trying to figure out how to hide his burns from Dian.
Everyone winds up getting home (or the closest substitute to home for Dr. Fate, who goes back to the rented hotel banquet hall) on their own.
Dr. Fate picks up the hotel lobby phone while invisible and convinces a nosy switchboard operator to connect him through to Salem, Massachusetts at this late hour. Inza, always a night owl, picks up. "Dr. Fate? You're in New York? I see. Do you need me there, or would you like me to keep an eye on Salem for you in your absence? I could work with that Hawkman fellow for you. He's quite dreamy..."
"Yes if you and the 'dreamy' Hawkman could keep an eye on Salem. I think I may need to be in New York for a few days. Oh, and keep an eye out for Hawkgirl. She should be back from Paris any day now. Call Kent at this hotel If you need me. Good night Inza."
That woman will be the death of me.
Use phantasmal image to hide helm and costume. Book a room as Dr. Kent Nelson. I will carry my own illusory luggage but tip the bellhop anyway.
"Well, it seems still we're back where we started, we still don't have any leads on where we can find Mr X, unless any of you know who 'Wotan' is? Does anyone have any ideas?"
As he speaks, Flash fingers the pill in his pocket, realising he still hasn't had a chance to analyse it yet.
"We could possibly prepare some sort of trap, by leaking a story to the newsies that we'll be at a certain location. Mr X certainly wouldn't show up himself, but we may be able to get more info from whomever he does send..." Flash shrugs, clearly not too enthused by his own idea.
"Well we have some clues. The note to the Flame Farmer came from somewhere. Perhaps it can be traced. We may have contacts among the police who might know something. Also something like that which we battled last night makes waves in the fabric of magic. Other forces will have noticed. It is risky but I might be able to find something. Wotan will have shielded himself from direct discovery but perhaps X has not Wotan's skill in this matter.
To the Flash: "Wotan is a powerful sorcerer. Both the Green Lantern and myself have battled this being. Wotan is capable of mighty feats of science and magic. Indeed I could almost think that X and Wotan are the same person save that Wotan rarely hides behind others." "I last saw Wotan in the City of the Black Stars. I hoped that he would remain trapped there. I was obviously wrong."
"Your trap idea has merit. I am lothe to risk the innocent bystanders who would arrive at an advertised event. Perhaps if word could be dropped to just the criminal classes?"
"A trap sounds like a fine idea . . . turn the tables on our mysterious foes," The Sandman says as he strolls into the room. "I'm not sure what would be a juicy enough target to lure out Mr. X, or one of his lieutenants. Perhaps we could put out a rumor that we are meeting with some turncoat or important snitch. Too bad we already dumped the Flame Farmer on the police."
"That could work. Could you implant the idea in someone telepathically, Dr. Fate? That would save us a bit of trouble. The trick would be to leak it to the right criminal. Unfortunately I don't know one... do you have any underworld contacts, Sandman? " Flash asks.
Suddenly, he seems to note the absence of one of the Heroes. "But where is Hourman? We'd better go check on him. I hate to think it, but if Mr X has found him..."
"That could work. Could you implant the idea in someone telepathically, Dr. Fate? That would save us a bit of trouble. The trick would be to leak it to the right criminal. Unfortunately I don't know one... do you have any underworld contacts, Sandman? " Flash asks.
Suddenly, he seems to note the absence of one of the Heroes. "But where is Hourman? We'd better go check on him. I hate to think it, but if Mr X has found him..."
Fate turns his impassive mask towards the Flash. "It could be done. It seems the issue is finding a subject. It would need to be someone well connected and somewhat talkitive so the report will seem normal."
"I suppose I should've worked on developing some contacts among the underworld, cultivated a snitch or two. But perhaps we could divide our forces and try to foster a rumor at some dives that are known criminal hangouts. I think I could also manage to plant a rumor in the DA's office. Maybe something would filter down from there. I know of a bar in Brooklyn and an opium den in Chinatown where criminals like to hang out. And there is always the docks. Perhaps we could split up and seed some rumors. I could take the bar. The opium den sounds like your sort of place, Dr. Fate. And perhaps the Flash could work the docks? I'm not particularly wedded to any locale, though. So if the saltwater makes you break out, I can head down there."
Hourman rushes in, looking as disheveled as a caped crusader can. "Sorry I'm late, My alarm clock didn't go off. What did I miss?" After getting caught up, he tells the other JSA'ers about Dan O'Dell and the warning phone call from the demon.
"And I thought that 'demon' was just an anonymous tipster. Now I'm not so sure..."
"I'd better go home and change into some dock-worker's clothes."
"Does anyone have any ideas for the trap? I'm not sure if there is a best place. Maybe we could use the firehouse or the old carpet warehouse where I fought the Gentleman Gorilla. I imagine it's still unoccupied. Both places are fairly isolated."
"Let's use the carpet warehouse." Flash agrees. "And let's make the meeting time in a few hours, say 1pm? That'll give Mr X less time to prepare."
"Rumor has winged feet but it is not as fast as you Flash. We do not know how far down Mr.X's organization these persons are. I could take time for the news to reach the top.
Fate thinks for a moment
"There is a favorable conjunction with Cassiopeia* at midnight tomorrow. We could let on that I am tracing the demon back to X through a Orphean ritual**. It would explain the need for quiet and space."
"As it would be after nightfall I can use a simple formula I developed with Dr. Mid-Nite*** which will allow us to see in darkness. Not as well as the good doctor but well enough."
"I am familiar with the Blue Lotus. It is run by a small time sorcerer named Mitsuhirato. I suspect he may be doing some spying for imperial Japan on the side. I should be able to slip in and out without too much trouble."
"Hourman, you would be welcome in this venture. What Mitsuhirato lacks in mystic power he may supplement with hoods."
*Mystic techno-babble!
** More!
***See Annals of Mid-Nite #47!
Although Flash chafes a bit at Dr. Fate's timeline, he'll go along with it if that's what everyone wants to do. He figures at least it'll give him some time to analyse the pill after he's spread the rumour around a bit.
"I think it is best to wait until midnight. Both to provide more credence to our deception and to give time to percolate through the underworld. If we have nothing further to discuss, then I shall prepare for my expedition to the underworld bar."
Assuming there isn't anything left to discuss, the Sandman will return home to attempt to fashion a rudimentary disguise–glasses, shabby clothing, the like and then head out to the bar.
Dr. Fate will have to decide if he wants the direct, front-door approach, or find a more stealthy means of egress...
Cast invisibility I. Cast detect magic. Activare Detect thoughts.
Wrapping a plutonic cloak around him Dr. Fate approaches the Blue Lotus.
The helm of Nabu searching for the thoughts of guardians among the lotus eaters while Fates magic probes its mystic defences. Fate creeps along the front, rear and sides of the building, the thin walls of the poorly constructed dive posing little barrier as Fate searches amongst the minds of the lotus habitues seeking the mind of Mitsuhirato or one of his lieutenants.
Once the Sandman arrives at the establishment, he spends a while listening, hoping to pick up any rumors in the air. Assuming he hears nothing, he will order a drink, commenting loudly: "Strange times we live in, huh? I hear that last night the Justice Society, those costumed freaks, had some sort of knock down fight with a demon. Getting so an honest crook can't keep up with that sort of thing."
Flash approaches the grizzled mariners. "Did you hear about Flame Farmer? I heard he got caught..."