14

J'onn J'onnzz sat at the main console in the Hall of Justice. It was not strictly necessary, but the optics were supposedly important for the public.

Seeing the heroes hard at work, or something to that effect.

He was currently between duties. M'gann was enjoying spending time with the team, no major crimes were currently in progress

The leader of the Genomorphs, Dubbilex, was currently in communication directly with the spiritual and community leaders of Mars.

As J'onn understood, the talks were going well. His involvement had ended shortly after an introduction and explanation to the Red Priests.

The Genomorphs simply did not have an extended history to discuss, and their presumed sterility had stalled plans for more direct integration.

The last he had heard, the current plans involved offering them an extension to the main city in return for assistance learning to replicate the more novel specializations of their biology. Being able to replicate the bio-electric generating capabilities of the G-Sprites could open new avenues of exploration for his people.

He felt someone coming well before they had entered the building.

It was an... Uncommon, experience. Not incredibly rare, but the majority of Humans were rather closed off in the mental sense.

Quiet, perhaps.

But there were still those who were open, easier to read. To hear. To feel.

By his estimate, it was a bit under two percent of the human population. People in various walks of life who were just... Loud. Many of them did not understand other people very well, and many others seemed to be handicapped in some way or another.

None of them, none that he had encountered at least, were psychic. They were simply open, honest in a way that many others were not.

This one, he recognized. Alchemist had a curious, conflicting blend of being smug, terrified, anxious and confident all at once.

The young man had also been missing for more than a week.

J'onn sent and alert to Batman on the terminal and turned around to watch the door.

He was not kept waiting very long.

Alchemist was, in one word, unkempt. His hair was a mess and clearly burned in places, his eyes were sunken and dull, skin pale and waxy and his clothes... Were pristine, as though they'd come fresh from wherever they'd been manufactured.

"Alchemist." The boy was looking at him, or perhaps through him. "Your presence has been missed. Are you well?"

"I got... I got messages. It was urgent? Batman said to be here." J'onn's neutral expression did not shift as he heard the tired rambling. Internally, however, he was unsettled. Alchemist had seemed to be fairly stable in their past encounters.

Mentally, J'onn probed. Not deeply, not into the boys history, but there was clearly something wrong here.

He saw... It was hard to describe. Room after room with no cieling, but swirling, unfolding magical formulae filling the sky. Of impossible books throwing magical fire, called down lightning and ice. Struggling and failing to master the timing for a spell, a Twisted Wall of Light to deflect attacks aimed at him.

Struggling to sleep in the corners of seemingly safe rooms, only to wake up somewhere else with chemical flasks attacking him instead.

Biting hunger as he ran out of food. Growing fear as his water reserves ran low. Desperation as he struggled to solve puzzles and word games that made little sense.

And relief, spreading through every fiber of his body as he encountered a being that radiated magical power beyond some gods.

It spoke.

"-This Was Not Your Test.-" J'onn could not hear what Alchemist was saying, and the great being was not looking at him. It was looking at the Martian instead. "-And What He Sought From Me, You Shall Not Be Given.-"

"I apologize for intruding." It was rare for him to interact with gods or spirits. Still, he knew to be polite first and foremost. "Alchemist is one of our own. Seeing him in this condition was... Worrisome."

"-He Found What He Was Seeking In My Realm, And Left. Greater Than He Was Before.-" Within the armored faceplate, J'onn could not see the gods eyes. He could feel them boring into him regardless. "-But Even One Who Sees More Than Most Mortals Cannot Gaze Upon The Soul. Your Tresspass Was Borne Of Concern, And Shall Be Forgiven This One Time. Leave, J'onn J'onnzz Of Mars. Unless You Wish To Prove Your Worth As Well.-"

It was not a question, not really, and J'onn knew that.

"I apologize for intruding and thank you for your patience." The mental representation of J'onn J'onnzz bowed, and the images faded away as mist before the sun.

Still, standing before him between the moment before and now, Alchemist was wobbling on his feet.

"Alchemist, I am sure Batman will answer shortly. Perhaps you should use the shower in the gym?" The boy held up one hand, making a circle out of his index finger and thumb.

Beneath the exhaustion, he got a sense of -Agreement-.

As the boy left, J'onn turned back to the computer. Batman had yet to respond, so he began composing an updated message, covering the cliff notes of what he had understood.

He struggled briefly on deciding how to word the situation the boy had found himself in before deciding that, if he needed to explain what he saw in person he would rather do so.

'Alchemist has returned. Appeared to be trapped by a spirit in a magical realm. Details unknown.'

Ah, now, what is it that the human children would say?

Oh, yes.

'Nailed it.'

-----

Karen had been having a rough month.

A very, very rough month.

Difficult, even.

Wine helped. It helped her get to sleep.

It didn't help to keep her from crying.

She looked at the living room when she heard a chime. Putting down her half empty glass, she stumbled out of the kitchen.

On the couch, where she'd been sleeping recently she saw her phone.

One unread message.

She clicked it. She read it. She read it again and she froze.

--Leslie

-I can bring him back. I found a way. I just need time to build it.

She put a hand over her mouth to try and stifle a loud, broken sob.

It was a lie!

That thing in her sons body was just trying to torture her!

It had to be!

Even still, a part of her hoped. A part of her that had woken up in her son's room. A part of her that still cried in agony when it saw the pictures of her son.

Her boy.

Her baby boy.

Buried under despair, the mother in her -Hoped-.