The following months went by quickly. The Academy recovered pretty well. No more incidents like the first week. Earth had a relatively peaceful year for the most part. Well as far as concerns for extraterrestrial and magical matters.
Crime in Gotham was at an all-time low. With the Task Force having been disbanded to move to different parts of the city to train people. And weed out corruption from within. The plan was to get ahead of the craziness that was coming to the city.
Whispers of abductions taking place warrant the attention of state officials. But no body no fuss really.
Commionser Gordon did well at this with his policies. Backed by the D.A.'s office, the streets were cleaned up officially and correctly. Slade moved to the Detective route fully. Making great headway with those who thought they could establish what the mob had previously.
The mob had taken a backseat to let things settle. Moving more in the shadows and adapting as needed. Business hurt bad, but not much they could do really. A lot of white collar crime started to get exposed as well.
As for Max's country and its allies, they moved up to a fairly decent political stage. Outside countries took a larger notice of the people and their culture. Khandaq and Bialya meshed well with the transition of moving into the limelight.
But Max made his a closed country. Heavily guarded and regulated entry into the place. Threw up a lot of red flags but not much they could do about it. No proof of wrongdoings.
.
Time to move things-
.
Max and the rest of the team were all in their dress uniforms ready to graduate. In the stands, quite a few of Max's people arrived to see him graduate and Corben. One thing that stood out was the closeness of Maria Kyle and Mr.Vega, Max's spiritual clone. They were very intimate at times.
With Selina at a lower level seating wise with her friends, it was something she missed. Hopefully, Max was just overreacting. His own love life was rocky lately. Ever since the red thread thinned and changed color, he and Le Fey talked less.
"Hey.." Vale elbowed him. ".. stop zoning out. The ceremony is almost over man."
"Right..." Max snapped to and listened to General Sera finish up. Finding out that Ares was going to continue to training cadets and keep the place as a strong foothold of his, was the lease of his worries. Still no trace on the magic flux in the area. "..just want to go home and sleep in my bed again."
"How long until you report to that "place" of yours?" Vale asked. Her eyes completely forward but her mouth partially opened. Normal techniques that did not rely on any magic or spirit energy to communicate. Good old throwing of the voice. "Not to late to change your mind and come with me to California for college."
"A moment. Nothing big I assure you. Still can keep in touch if you need someone to talk with." Max said lowly. Lips moving as he used his spiritual sense to communicate with her.
"Congratulations Cadets, the future is what you make of it." General Sera gave a salute that was returned by the cadets and staff. The cadets were free and ran to the stands. Sending a message to Max to talk later, was the only thing left on the agenda. 'I wonder if I should ruin that surprise they have?'
As Max met up with his people, he was suprised by Claire hugging him. As well as a few others. Not like he was away that long. Maybe he needed to check a few things more.
"Woah! Since when did you get so touchy?" Max returned the hug with a small smile. "Did I miss something?"
"Nope! Just wanted to mess with you." Claire stepped back receiving an evil eye from a few others. "I got the first hug." Harleen gave her an eye roll. One by one, his friends hugged him and gave handshakes.
"I say we head to the penthouse, to party and celebrate. No need to make a spectacle here anyway." Mr.Vega cut in before they started conversing. "A few things to talk about as well."
Not wanting to spend any longer here, Max excused himself and went to talk with a few people. Amanda Waller and her husband greeted him first. Her little ones were proud as can be for their mother. The teen mother did more than well for her self with a little help.
Tanya and Summer Gleeson actually stood back. Talking with Commander Lane about a special program that helped pay for college. Tanya agreed but not Summer. She would go the hard way and make it through with a few student loans. Supringlsy going to the same college as Vicki Vale in California.
The other young members of Chess still hadn't made up their mind. But by the looks of Hal Jordan, he would still enter the airforce.
.
Suprise-
.
Arriving at the penthouse, Max was already removing his uniform before entering the door. But that was an awkward action. Walking into the security of one's home and knowing when someone shouldn't be there was taken for granted. People that were supposed to be there didn't trigger anything for the senses.
"Suprise! Happy Birthday, Maxmillion!" The gathering of people said togethor. Max felt his ears ring a little before he composed himself. A mix of metahumans, cultivators, and magic people yelling togethor was quite painful.
"Well... damn." Max rubbed his ears to stop the ringing. The fact they wanted to celebrate it was something. Only a few new his actual birthday. As in his actual one and not the one on paper most times due to certain situations. "Who idea was this?"
"Ours." Helena said as she pointed at herself, Harleen, Claire, and Jonah Hex. "Since you don't celebrate it enough, we thought at least this time would be a good chance."
"Well thank you." Max genuinely smiled. The cake had 18 candles on it but also the infinity symbol in the corners. A nice nod to his age being a ridiculous number. Blowing them out, he had to ask what kind it was. "What kind of cake?"
"Well.." Edward was about to say what it was before Harleen covered his mouth.
"He has to cut and try it. What is the point if you blab it?" Her blue eyes daring the young man to blab after he was released. "Just take a bite Max."
"Umm ok." Max arched an eyebrow before taking a bite. "Umm angel food cake. Good choice."
"Pay up." Orm gestured to Rose. She gave him a 20 reluctantly. The young teen grinned from ear to ear. "We still have the other bets to look forward to." She gave a smile at that. "Couldn't really get presents for one who has what they want. Or who can buy it anyway."
"Right." Rose mumbled out. Still a little upset about Max having killed the man that killed her mother. She was adapting well to it after Slade talked her through intensly. She neer thought in her wildest dreams she would get sick of her over concerned father. 'It was proof he cared though. Just need to let all this go and move on with my life. He did say a suprise was waiting for me soon.'
Orm eyed his friend in the corner of his eye. Wathing as fresh mental energy circled around her. It was peaceful and relxed. Something Rose defintely needed. A smile crept up on his own face. The stronger her mind at this age, the better she would be to talk with and help figure things out in the future.
"We need to get a slice before they eat it all." Barbara muttered. Seeing the adults all taking slices made her a little miff. "I swear they are just so greedy!" Her little brother nodding as he held her hand. "Save some for us!"
The party turned full swing at that point. A mish mash of people from different places and ideoliges all gather togthor. In the mix were a few Deities in disguise. Talking with the potential champions and current champions.
But things couldn't end really with out an issue.
.
Showing a Scenario-
.
Edward had gotten it in his head to convince a few others to get Max to show a Scenario that was stopped. To let them see how things would have played out if he would not have changed things and chose a different option.
Atlas wanting to test its power agreed. Using Max as a medium to to push his spirtual sense out guided towards them each.Reality peeled back showing some of them what they witnessed once before but a few changes in it.
William Hand devloped a strong Mental Cultivation that held find twisting things in one's soul. Max made sure he understood it intricate detail. Enough that he would either be a boon or a curse in the future. This scenario view helped him greatly.
Reality peeled away as the surroundings changed. The few dieities mixed in looked on with a curious eye at a few ties to the mortals. Despite the trouble that would unfold, quite a few good things would come from this.
"Wait stop! How much of my life has been changed!?" Claire asked looking at Max who shook his head no when he didnt want to say something. Hand raised up to stop her. But the fire little teen would not stop. "I want to know Max!"
"It is not good Claire. Please let it go." His voice was flat and didn't have anything else but the desire not to speak about it. Gaia spoke to him gently. Her voice urging him to stop shielding them. 'Why do you want this to happen so soon?'
'They need to be tested. Something is coming to Earth. I rather you stop it strong and undistracted. It should not have been able to slip past certain areas in space.' Gaia spoke strongly to his soul. 'Someone in space messed up. And when you are done taking care of it, you need to pay them a killing. Evidence suggests it may have been on purpose.'
Claire started to get heated. Heat vapors enveloping the room. Her hair turning firey. Spirit energy leaving from her pulling on the contract with her and Max. Her soul speaking to activate a clause in the contract before her mouth could voice it.
"I wish to know!" Claire said frustrated. Her cultivation broke freely and wildly. It happened in an instant and she fainted. A few spells activated around her sealing away into a micro space right as she started to go supernova.
*Bwoop!* She was gone.
"What happened to her?" Harleen asked.
"She is in a pocket dimension that will drain her of her power to make sure she lives. After that she will need a lot of therapy.. maybe. " Max said shaking his head as he watched her through his World Eye. She was screaming in pain at the life that could have happened to her. A look of fear very present in her eyes. "She might not survive this."
"Can you help her?" Selina asked. "You can do something right?" Her voice strained her eyes shifted into tht of a feline for a moment. Claire was her because of her afterall. And this was also happening from making her confront her fears. 'I should never have tried to give cultivation so soon.'
"No. I already did to much. Both you and she had terrible futures laid before you. I honestly can not do much. She has to do it herself."
"I think it best if everyone thinks a little bit harder on what to wish for." Edward said in a mumble. "I don't think knowing certain things will keep us sane. Or safe for that matter."
"That is true." Nyssa said. "But then again, I already knew what was going to happen, to me. So I am free of guilt or worry." She walks forward and kneeled in front of Max. "I wish to lead your Shadow Organization if you have one."
"That wish cannot be granted." Max said as he shook his head. "I cant really grant what is already happening or has happened."
"What!?" Nyssa asked staring at him. "When did it happen?"
"The moment you joined him my lady." Lady Shiva said smirking. "The Intelligence network is the Shadow Organization. It is just all legal and above board. He doesn't want you slinking around in the shadows. It is good for you and us all."
"Ah! So I can wish for something else then?" Nyssa had a mischievous smile on her face as she stood up. Walking to Selina she gave the young woman a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Muah, good luck." Just like that she left the room full of shocked people.
"Well, that was interesting... " Oswald said from the side. "I think it best we continue." Everyone nodded their heads. "How about you miss Mala?"
"Umm, sure. But I dont have anything I need right now." Mala floated on her back and didn't really have much she wanted. "I have the chance to learn whatever I want. Max keeps me in check by always having someone for me to fight. I am allowed to develop strategies and act them in several simulations in case there is war. Or I guess when war comes anyway."
"*Tap, tap!* She floated and stopped in front of Selina. The two shared a look before Mala floated back up in the air. "I give my wishes to Selina. Provided she never gets in the way of what I want."
Selina nodded her head a ball left Mala and entered her. For the next 30 minutes or so the others made a few wishes. Nothing major but a few life-changing ones. Captain Boomerang actually wished to look 60% better to Killer Frost. Only thing happened, his nose shrunk a little.
"Hahahaah!" Selina was the first to laugh followed by everyone else. All except Max and Killer Frost.
"You idiot!" Killer Frost grabbed him by his tie. "I told you that was just a small flaw." She dragged him away.
"Were are we going now?" Captain Boomerang asked as he was dragged across the floor.
"You are going to put a baby in me you stupid aussie. I am not taking no for an answer." Killer Frost said as she continued to drag him. Grumbling the entire way.
"But my condition and your condition?"
"What the hell did you think I wished for? I am not waiting another 3 years. We are starting a family now! And after this, you are going to train with Deathstroke. I will not be a widow!"
"Yes dear." Was all anyone heard from Captain Boomerang as he couldnt say much with the smile he had on his face. "thanks." He mouted to the others.
"That was so sweet. Glad they can get that taken care of now." Harleen said smiling. She was a sucker for happy endings.
"Hmm, poor Boomerang though. She is going to wear him out." Max said chuckling when he thought about the body difference of the two. "He.. oh well. Cold never hurt to much."
"Max, I want to make my wish now." Selina said getting the rest of the others' attention.
"Ok. But think carefully before you do so." Max said unnerved for some reason.
"Right.. before I do. Harley wants to ask you something." She pushed the young woman forward.
"Hey easy on the merchandise. I am one of a kind you know." Harleen said stopping. She looked at Max dead in the eyes though. "Max, you are Catholic right?"
John looked at him first. The never really talked about it but he just assumed the man was Babtist cause he was black. Or a Jehovah witness. Or a follower of the Kuran.
"No way.. you can't be." Almarra said. "Thought you were Greek?"
"What is the big deal if he is?" Oswald asked.
"It means he can only take one wife normally. Under normal circumstances anyway if new testament. But old testament allows him to take in widows and others provided he cares for them as if they were his own. But that i as only if they needed it or to stop a lack of shame in the community. Very weird relgion compred to its modern acceptance." Edward said thinking about the different texts. "But there is much to interpret from that." He looked to Max who was quiet. "Surely in all your lives you couldnt have been with only one woman each time."
Max remains quiet as he waited for Harleen to continue. "So you are. And old testament at that. But you have broken several commandments and acted against God's teaching several times." She started to recite everything she knew Max had done. A few of the others were shocked but then thought better of it to speak out. "In short, you are a sinner. A none repenting one at that."
"That is correct." Max said keeping his face neutral. "I am very ok with that."
"Then you won't take another woman besides your first." Harley said slightly dejected. "I wish I was never sent to Catholic school."
"I can not grant that." Max shook no. John felt a shiver at that. He was rubbed the wrong way byt that some how.
"That can't be right.." Morgan said coming from her trance. "There are ways around it."
"If they choose you.. does that change things?" Edward asked. "Surely it cannot be that easy?" Max just sat there not saying anything.
"Fine then. I wish to have you as husband as well the other women who love you or will in the future!" Harley said on impulse. "Oh crap, I didnt mean.."
A ball of light left Max and splintered into little rings. They shot across the room in and instant.
Selina looked at her finger and saw the ring she wanted to remove it but was scared. It then vanished into her hand. She rubbed it absent mindley.
"That.. was different." Max said. On his hand was a solid black wedding band. It felt like a concentration of his spirit energy. Sympols appearing one by one before stopping. A count down of altered Roman Numerals. "Never had that happen before."
"So what is this?" Mala said flying down. "It won't come off."
Maxima was looking at her hand as well. The ring was over her power glow. She removed the glove and watched as the ring had phased allowing it to do so.
"It feels so warm." Maxima said rubbing it.
"Why does it not show on all of them?" Morgan asked.
"Ha, because they are accepting of what it means. The others not so much." Max said thinking about it. He looked to Mala and started telling her what it meant.
"So we are man and wife now!" Mala picked Max up and swung him around. "So we have secured future warriors now. Excellent. Let us go and do it as they say."
"Stop Mala!" Selina said. Her hand outstrecthed keeping her in place. "The rings just means you can marry him. Does not mean you are .. yet anyway." Seeing the womans sad face Selna felt bad.
"Fine.. then. I will not wait for you all forever." Mala then floated up and just started thinking about something.
"I will return to Almerac." She walked up to Max and gave him a kiss on the lips. "I have secured a husband a powerful one at that. The wedding can wait for the future as I .. work on becoming a better leader. Thank you for your support for the last few years." Looking to the side she activated a boom tube. "Mala come with me. There will be a lot of fighting to be had. A lot of opposition won't like the idea of me having an earth man for a husband."
"Heh, I doubt they will be a problem." Mala floated down. She looked at Selena and the others. "You know what.. I will come. Best way to secure more troops against Darkseid and Mongul."
The two walked through and were gone.
"I cant believe this." Oswald said. "I thought it was a gag that she was an alien. Oh boy I need to study more." Getting up he walked to his room. "Night everyone. More than enough craziness for one day."
"Selina.. you should probably." Edward stopped when he realized it would be pointless to persuade her any furthur.
"Max have we tried before to get you to be with multiple women?"
"Yes..it was weird." Max gave her a strained smile. "It also happens when we all were younger. Different people involved as well. Such an odd occurrence. But then again, their was the time you all tried to get me with multiple men. Then all the aliens and.."
"Nope that is not happening." John said crossing his arms. "Do not want to hear anymore. Lalala!" He left the room annoyed.
Reality peeled to normal as the Scenario faded. A bunch of disgruntled faces on each of them. Orm did not like that he and his mother was not present but those involved were a lot older. So did it mean they parted ways or something worse?