As far as stakeouts went, this was an ok one. Helena was really good at finding flaws and then exploiting them. But a few surprises appeared that caused Max and her to remain posted, just in case it went sideways.
Giovanni Zatara, Ted Grant (Wildcat), and Alan Scott (Green Lantern) moving in. Letting them take over, Helena and Max just decided to hang back and talk "shop" about things.
"So 14 Aspiring-Champions or Champions to take with you, that is a little really." Helena grumbled. Not enough slots for the current load out of people that were currently contracted by Max. Even worse when it also meant the soul had to be strong enough to qualify for the transition. "A few more if they reach the level of power on their own.. but none of yours have done so safely, so far anyway."
"That is correct." Max said simply. "Demi is the highest I have ever reached as far as I can remember. I have no memory of anyone coming with me to the next place. But then again.. I have had close calls before. Lots of trouble and .. questionable events taking place that might have something to do with it. Their are penalties to failing. Just don't remember them right now."
Helena did not like the sound of that at all. Only solace is that the Pantheons were all in a truce currently. Which she hoped they would keep. A petty deity could cause some serious trouble for them.
Max focused on those down below with his spiritual sense. Picking up the conversations, and whispers with ease. Seeing it in action more, Helena like the fact it was able to pick up different sounds and apply images to a recipient. Creating both a physical manifestation in the mind as well as traces of smell in the surroundings.
'I can not wait till my spiritual sense reaches that level.' Helena was determined to not fall behind in the support area even more so since hearing about the attack at the Academy and Max's worries about the immediate future. 'I need to broaden my Horizons more. Fighting will give me all the experience I need, but I must have more to match what is needed.'
Nothing of note still. Either they were waiting on someone or this was a bit of a bust. Maybe Mr.Bones had better luck with the destination he went to.
"Some of the spots are already taken, and I bet you already know who will take another." Helena wanted to take the gear off of Max's face. To at least see his facial expressions while they talked. But no such luck. "At least tell of one who took up another Aspect spot."
"Oh alright." Max rolled his head about. "Orm has taken a spot. He fits an Aspect of mine perfectly. One to inhabit all it has to offer... in case I die finally anyway."
Helena flinched at that.
"How do you die.. or us for that matter?" Max never talked about permadeath. Only what happens when they die a little. But never anything final. He also didn't celebrate his birthday really. As well as holidays unless someone invited him to go. 'So many odd things about him at times now that I am thinking about it.'
"Titan's can only be imprisoned or eaten by a stronger Titan/Titaness." Max said while he focused a mile off to the east. A small fluctuation of magic happened. But nothing of note once more. Someone used a scrying spell. It did not hit its mark apparently with the way it fizzled out. "God/Goddess can be killed by A Titan, but it is basically eating them. Any other method would just kill them temporarily really. Whether days, weeks, or even years, they will return."
"And if you are both?" Huntress did not like the idea of someone eating her to kill her off. "Like Gaia is?"
"Then you are Eternal. You find a way to come back someway or another. The birth of a Dimension that has your Aspects will return you naturally. Pulling your power from wherever into it. All the scattered fragments, all the scattered pieces that reside in your "contractees" and people." Max's eye shined through the lens of the helmet. Power entered his body from far away. It was odd to say the least, considering the timing. "The children you have sired, and those adopted will contribute as well. Whether they want to or not."
"Is that why some have children so randomly with regular mortals? Why you have so many?" Helena's face scrunched up a little. Remembering about a few different Pantheons mating habits and creating of children begged the question. "Zeus.. is a God though. So that does not fit."
"Huh?!" Max was confused for a moment. "Zeus is the child of a Titan father and an Eternal Mother. Heredity traits. And through his own actions, he earned that power. Study on the children of the Pantheon of Ra, you would be suprised what you find out. Do not even get me started on some of the Celtics. Enough to make my brain hurt. My brother Leo is a lot better at that than I."
"Leo... right. The one that is your first brother." That was a conversation for later. "Speaking of Egypt.." Helena moved closer to Max. Making sure he was ok after that spike of energy settled. As well as making sure their cover was not blown. They were fine considering the ripple traveled only a few inches outward. "Will I have to go through the trials you went through to hit that certain level of power?"
"No." Max shook his head quickly. "Through me, you are protected by that. I already passed a Tribulation a long time ago that made it impossible for my chosen people to go through that ordeal. But that is as long as they are with me. Strike off on your own, nothing I can do about what you go through."
"Not going anywhere. The "Waiting Area" sounds both fun and extremely vexing. I just don't want whatever is there to gives us a look to think we are undeserving of our place." Helena would fight back as hard as they would press her, which was to be expected with her youth. She was still young afterall. "Never thought I would be making places for the afterlife really."
"Not really after." Max refocused his spiritual sense around the area. Still nothing really. "We have no Afterlife ourselves. Well unless you wish for it. Which I do not plan on doing ever. To much to see, to much to do."
"Must get lonely." Helena spoke before thinking. She thought odd she blurted out really. "I mean.. you must have lost a lot right?"
"Maybe." Max shrugged. Long since done with certain things like that. Well, after awhile during reflection. "Sometimes it creeps on yah if you are not careful. That is why you have people to be close to. Or something to remind you of why you do it."
"I don't want the others to end up like that." Helena looked extremely sad all of a sudden. As if an enormous weight pressed down on her for a moment. A purple light shined for a moment before she shook it off. "We need to always be there for each other. That is what makes a good Pantheon."
"YEah.. that is what I hear." Max gave her a long glance before looking away. "You are a lot better than I was at this state. Much better at adjusting." Helena chuckled a little. "Glad to amuse you."
"It is because you are an old fool at times." Helena wouldn't tell Max he reminded her of a Grandfather. Which technically he was soul wise anyway. Turning serious, she went for the throat. "I wish to know your Darkest Secret."
*Frizzle!* Max's body shifted through reality for a moment. Spells that sealed information was shattered. Helena had met conditions to know certain things about Max. How she reached that level, was on Max's mind.
After his head stopped ringing anyway. It was a good thing nothing was happening down below. As Max and Helena were pulled into a memory of his, both missed the shining of a light around Helena.
It formed into an image of Noveria. The little Goddess, had been hiding in Helena since her confrontation with Max previously. Helena had done a lot of work of the years meeting up with the other pieces of the former A.I. in other people.
"Sorry about this girlie." Noveria caressed Helena's face for a moment. A genuine look of regret on her face before turning to Max. "But I have to do this." She floated over to her ex-husband towards his forehead. Right as she touched the center, she was pulled inside into the prison inside him. "What!?"
.
Max's Prison Tartarus-
.
Deep inside where Max had Lala placed, Noveria appeared in an instant. It had been a long time since she been inside his soul. Nostaglia and a sense of being home passed by in an instant. Replaced by regret for falling into a trap.
But Max was currently to weak to keep her here long.
"Noveria!" A voice cried out. Noveria froze hearing the voice of her friend Lala. Full sized, she was still knocked over by Lala. "Where the hell am I!? Where have you been?! Where the hell is Max?! Where is everyone else!?"
"Well... it is a long story." Noveria said carefully. Deciding at the moment not to lie to her friend but not tell her everything that happened. Especially considering the woman should still be fragile right now. So redirecting her question with her own was the better course of action. "How have you recovered so quickly?"
"So quickly?" Lala looked at her oddly. Their had been nothing quick about her recovery. At least as far as she was concerned. "It has taken at least 40 years to move around like this." Gesturing at the surroundings, she pointed at the lush environment. "If not for the bountiful spirit and magical energy in the air, it would have taken much longer. This is the best place ever!"
The current location was the medicine garden inside Max. Considering the current state of most of his forces and his body itself, the herbs were to powerful for anyone under the Demi state. A lot of the fruit would reach full maturity soon.
"With all of this inside.. Max can defintely reach the next realm. But why hasn't he used it?" Noveria was confused. Getting up, she looked around spreading her senses in every direction. The number of seals and array protection in the place was crazy. More guarded then Max's penthouse and safe houses. "Why is this so guarded?"
"I have no idea, but it is so comfortable in here I forget I am trapped at times. But my little ones keep me company." Lala placed her hands on her hips looking around with her old friend. Cultivators were used to long periods of being alone but that didnt mean all of them like it. "But they are all sleeping in the Ice Water."
"Trapped?" Noveria only heard the first part. Pushing against the edges, she found herself incapable of penetrating it. A shock look on her face scared even Lala. That means she had no way of getting out of here either. "Why the hell did he makes this like this!?"
"Who made it like this?" Lala got in front of her. Now feeling the energy from Noveria. "Hey! You made it to the rank of Goddess! Congratulations! I bet Max was super happy about it!" Then it dawned on the woman, where was Max. And why didn't any of the design of the methods to help her work currently? "Where is Max? Or Maria or Caldabog?"
"I... will not say." Noveria looked away. Not wanting to speak of what she believes happened to the others. "Max is alive for now. but soon he will die if he does not wise up." As someone who knew a lot about Max, Noveria walked to the center of the place. A method of escape or a method to weaken the place should be there at least. "We are getting out of here somehow, follow me."
"Ok." Lala just shrugged as she moved along. She searched a long time and their was no exit so the sooner Noveria realized it, the sooner they could work towards another method. Her eyes caught on to some things however as she followed. 'She seems incomplete. Is she missing some of her Soul?'
Lala had brushed up her techniques as she recovered once awakening. Besides her beguiling arts kicking up to another level, she was able to look deeper into one's soul. Even without trying. And Noveria soul was smaller than what it should be. With a little frazzling around the edges. AS if something was eating away at it as well.
.
Max & Helena-
.
The information was enough to cause Helena pause on a few things she planned. But helped solidify her desire to follow Max to another Dimension. The same as with others who made certain wishes through the contract, Max was only privy to a little bit of the info.
Helena promised to tell him once things settled down in the future. Right now, it would just do harm to those around him. Max let it be since that was for the best. What did remember was that he did this to himself after a stupid decision.
Like the shoot yourself in the foot kind of incident. With your own gun. After someone telling you be careful. Pushing the thoughts away for later, a spike of energy circled Max again.
*Shing!* The Aspect of Endurance pushed up to a higher level. As well as Pride in a small amount. Once again his cultivation fine tuned itself.
Helena asking about his eye since it started to glow a little. The fact she was able to see it was scary in and of itself. So far, only Mercy was able to see it at all times.
And that was a special case Max thought.
"What are you seeing?" Helena was more interested in the ability to see Scenarios than before. The information she just wished for told her it had to do with Destiny in a way. Which was scary but the good kind of scary. 'I honestly thought he was exaggerating with some things. But to fight against Destiny all the time has to be exhausting.'
"Hmm..." Max poured some more spirit energy into his eye to understand a little more. "... Alan Scott.. first Green Lantern. Wields the power of the Starheart which is tied to the Emotional Spectrum. In a "way" to create constructs of light. Has two kids actually, that he knows nothing about currently. A daughter that is doing ok but the son is getting treated like shit in a foster home. Ted Grant, Wildcat is.. a boxer that is currently fighting crime in an attempt to escape.. something. It is distorted and not what it usually.. well different is all I can say."
He didn't mention Giovanni since they knew of him already. The eye not really giving any additional information that Max didn't already know.
"Give me the info and whereabouts and I will go and deal with the daughter." Helena said excitedly. She was pumped to start recruiting people for herself even more so after what just happened. "I won't let you down!"
"You haven't so far.." Max shook his head confused a little. "..wouldn't think you would now. But handle it carefully. She is younger by a good margin and just needs a friend really. The brother has traces of schizo. I will take care of that issue and remove him from that household. By force if necessary."
"Ok." Not wanting to miss the opportunity still, Helena wanted to make some matters clear. "I was serious about before." Max turned giving his full focus over. "I am with Mercy, no matter what happens here in our home Dimension, I am coming with you to the next. I will have the power to go with. I assure you. And make it that we can take a few others along under me."
"Stop looking for the future so much, that you forget to live in the present." Helena gave a curt nod before kicking off into the shadows. "Really wish I could teach you travel through mirrors. But a promise is a promise." Max said with regret. Turning back to the others downbelow, he called for a demon to watch the area. "Only interfere if they are in grave danger. I am counting on you."
*Woosh!* Stepping into a mirror, Max let those words linger in the air. The demon that rose from the ground looked at the location and smiled. Something about Max had changed since the last time it saw him.
"He smells more like us. I wonder why?" The demon mused out loud. Shrugging its shoulders, it focused on the humans down below. "What is so special about these humans anyway? Only one has a pure soul. The other two are just common ones."
.
Inside Max's Prison-
.
Noveria was beside herself with grief. THe center did not have an exit. Just a note of when the Max would visit the garden. Not for another 387 years. Apparently, a time lock was on it for upkeep. The good news is that time moved faster inside the place. THe bad news, it moved faster as long as he grew in strength.
A large portion of the energy Max gathered was sent to the North area of his soul. Noveria and Lala only found that out after a large intake came in. Noveria with her understanding of Max's soul released that was the area used for creating cells.
But the flow was going to one particular one. Exerting her strength to the fullest, she forced her spiritual sense to pierce the formation. THe backlash sent her flying back like a ragdoll. The majority of her spiritual bones broken and her mind a mess.
"Told you it wouldn't work." Lala muttered from the back of an ice phoenix. "Just going have to wait for the time. Shouldn't be that long." She was looking at the small opening that was made. Noveria doing the same. "That is a very large structure."
"It is a prison cell.." Noveria sat up as she recovered. A small spell already activated to fix her mind. "...Max is making a prison cell to hold Deity. And by the looks of it, and extremely powerful one. Just have know idea who."
"So Max is making a prison in this weird dimension. How odd." Lala laid on the head of the ice phoenix. Her feet kicking back and forth behind her. "You plan on telling me how he found this place?"
"I am not telling you nothing. Unless you sign a contract." Noveria was not that trusting to tell her friend this was Max's soul. That would lead to way to many questions she was not prepared to answer. Especially since they were trapped togethor. "What I am going to say will make you mad. And I do not want that."
"You and Max with these contracts, so weird." Lala rolled her eyes as she rolled over to look up. Eyes still marveling at the light up there. "That light is so warm. What is it?" The light was the power from the former Kryptonian Dagger Palak. Or just the Star Blade. "How can it shine so brightly in this place?"
"Light?" Noveria looked up at the "sky" finally. Seeing the light that acted as a sun, she thought it odd the usual light source in the place was gone. "That is not the same one as before. Where is the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword?"
To Noveria the name of the sword had no weight at all. But Lala it made her blood run cold. Enough that made her appear from the Phoenix in an instant. Noveria didn't mind at all about the current state the woman was in. The "loss" of the sword meant something had rooted itself inside of Max. But what, she couldn't fathom.
What Noveria couldn't see was that the Sword was there with the Dagger. Superimposed in a state of flux between dimensions. When Blackest Night tried to reach through Max, the sword struck out through his will. Protecting the Garden as well as the Prison.