Max and crazy enough Grail were on an assignment. Chess was working with the Amazon nation closely as they integrated more and more with Man's World as they still called it. Grail was done with space after a shitty mission that she refused to talk about.
Max's team were in the next phase of training which allowed him to do a lot of operations some were not ready for. This was one of them. They were on the hunt for the "Homo Magi" Deimos officially.
Max was in the persona of the Watcher. With Grail going by the name Wonder Woman, they were an odd pair.
Deimos was a nut job from back in the day and early editions of D.C comics. Appearing in the 1st Issue Special # 8 around November or so. The good news, he was the shitstain from the new 52 continuity.
The 2nd mission the two were assigned with, was the retrieval of a Lt. Colonel Travis Morgan. Who oddly enough was a fighter pilot who went down in the region years ago. Thanks to his daughter, a young millionaire by the name of Jennifer Morgan who paid a lot of money to request aid in tracking her father's remains or the fighter was insistent she come along.
A friend of the father by the name of Prof.George Lakley had surfaced and told her he was alive. Mr.Bones of Chess told her it was highly doubtful he lived still. Especially after tracking the fighter location a little.
"This will not end well, will it?" Grail asked Max. Moving through a portal was bad enough into this pocket dimension called Skartaris, but the fact a few people couldn't help wandering off to study the prehistoric place did not bode well. "Even after receiving injuries, they are determined to press further."
"Can not fix stupid." Max gave a shrug. Besides Grail and himself, the others were exhausted and looked worse for wear. "At least the team got the critically injured out. And with all their limbs."
Max and Grail moved up the rear to keep the remaining people covered. The assault rifle Grail carried covered a good distance and had no trouble piercing the hide of most of the beasts present. Max didn't fire a single round yet from his SMGs or the rifle he carried.
"I think it best we set up camp soon." Jennifer came up to the two during a small break. To say she caused one to become hot was an understatement. Grail licked her lips quite a few times while staring at the blonde. Max was not immune either. Never had he seen someone rock cargo pants so nicely. "The signal for my father's fighter is not to far away. I am sure we can make it by noon tomorrow."
"Sounds good." Max pulled a sensor stick from his side. Stabbing it into the ground he moved to set a few more. Everyone was briefed on how they worked already, he would not explain them again. "Not to late to head back still Ms.Morgan."
"I will not." Jennifer shook her head determined to press on. "I have staked so much on this. Not only is this an astonishing discovery but I must find my father. At all cost."
"Very well." Max stabbed another sensor down and activated it. He moved further out as his senses spread out. Finally adjusting to the weird atmosphere, it would be pretty hard to sneak up on them now. "How do you think the outside world will react to this place?"
The small talk was just to get the woman to calm down some. She was composed well enough but her heart was beating rapidly the entire time. It was good the communicators still worked, would suck for them if they couldn't communicate.
Grail was annoyed with a little of the whining the others displayed with their laptops shutting down briefly. A good thing Atlas could fix theirs after linking them into the Chess network.
"They will be amazed. Just hope it does not go wrong." Ms.Morgan was very aware that a few of the things they found could be exploited by people. Let alone the governing bodies this place fell under. "Russia, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, the United States of America, Sweden, Finland, and Khandaq all have a weird treaty over the Arctic Circle. So anyone of them could try something."
"What are you going to do about the natives that it will affect?" Max placed a few more sensors waiting for her to answer. With a few taps, it was all good to go. The scientists would know when something was moving in the vicinity. "I mean the whole not messing up an ecosystem with other things and all that."
"I don't know. That is more for a higher authority. I honestly just want to see my father again. And ask why he didn't return home." Jennifer looked pretty fragile all of a sudden. Much to Max's surprise. "I am sure you can understand Mr.Watcher."
"Yes, I can." Max walked back to the camp with Jennifer in tow. He could feel the woman staring at his collar trying to see any bit of him. But his coat covered everything to well. So did the mask. "I am not going to take any of this off. No matter how hard you stare at me."
"We are in a jungle and the humidity alone should drive you insane. Let alone that Wonder Woman with you." Jennifer scrunched up her face annoyed. Besides his obvious male voice, she knew nothing about Watcher personally. It was annoying. "You have to at least consume water. Or are you a robot in disguise from Lexcorp?"
"Not a robot." Max checked in with Grail who was antsy to go on a patrol. Once she received the go-ahead, she shot off like an animal on the hunt. "Do not get into trouble!" He yelled but knew that would not happen. "You were saying something?"
"Not a robot, a normal man would have lost it under all of this. What is your secret?"
"Lot's of training. God awful training. Devil training that breaks the soul. Besides, just because you do not see me drinking water or eating, that does not mean I am not doing so." Max sat down and pulled out a laptop. A quick check on those on the outside world and business while speaking with the young woman. "What will you do if what you find is not what you are looking for?"
"I am not thinking of that at all. I will find something." Denying any other outcome was dangerous but it was her decision. Not wanting to go down that line of thought, Jennifer opted to change the conversation to a different avenue. "So Watcher can not be your name, why not share your real one?"
"Codename keeps people safe. Never know who is listening. Even in a displaced magical jungle."
"Magic, surely you do not believe in that?"
"You would be stupid not to with all that exists in the world. I am a man of science as well as magic." Max said sternly. The first time his tone change since coming on the trip a few days ago. "I am sure you have read the reports about Khandaq, Atlantis, and others over the years."
"I have but not seeing any of those feats my self that they perform leaves doubt." Jennifer did not completely disbelieve but the science community was not that excitied about the coming of magic. "Maybe just feats of science considering the increase in metahumans that are appearing?"
"Hmm, you are right in a way. The Metahuman rise will allow feats that are like magic as well as giving people access to magic." Typing away a few response emails, Max tucked the computer away. "The World is always moving forward. Well.. as long as another doomsday scenario doesn't start up again."
"Doomsday scenario?"
"You watch the news I am sure, if not then you are foolish. Mix in the lies are truths. Quite a few discoveries almost ended parts of the planet. I suggest investing in a satellite or partner with a company that has one." Max had already checked the workings of Jennifer's company. A few patents that they had were dangerous in the wrong hands. 'A few shares of her company has been purchase just in case. It would be bad if she died here though.'
"Are you talking about that meteor shower in Kansas? Or the earthquake in South America?" Jennifer cocked her head to the side trying to remember. "Because both of those situations were handled well. By Vega Industries, Lexcorp, and Swan Industries."
"Perhaps. But do not discount what happened. The shower had military activity the moment it happened. Yes, the rocks that fell were radioactive but a lot of the details were not in the paper. But the locals know." Max was trying to get the woman to think more about the outside world than this place. Memory served she ends up staying here. With her talent for magic, it would be wasted. "As for the earthqua..."
A member of Jennifer's team ran over super excited. Max would not continue considering the topic. After a little discussion, the two left leaving Max by himself. Which was fine as he started talking to Grail on comms.
'You found what exactly?' Max sent to her.
Grail was standing on a tree over a small lake. Her presence was completely hidden as she watched a young woman bathing down below. The only thing the woman still wore was a golden necklace.
'I found a woman who turned from a cat before jumping into the lake for a swim. Only weapon she carried was a spear. No threatening demeanor about her but, she kind of reminds me of Cheetah.' Grail continued to watch the woman. Not only for observation but due to her own desires. 'What do you think? Do I bring her for questioning or follow her?'
A small ripple of energy that Max was very aware of could be felt. It was minuscule compared to the source but it caused him to scour the place quickly. Grail, feeling the strangeness as she felt his senses brush pass her shoulders latched on.
'What is that you sense?'
'Someone that I hope is not the case! Help by channeling your blood energy. The natural affinity you have should help find the target!' The urgency in Max's voice was well-founded. The further the combined effort of the two stretches, the more Grail could feel something was wrong. 'Dammit!'
The young woman bathing in the lake could feel something was unusual but still could not find Grail. Hoping out of the water, she quickly fled the area. Her black hair shining in the light that shone through the trees.
Max and Grail found the target they were looking for. Having never met the person, Grail was suprised she felt a small connection to him. It was a disgusting feeling like that of one squishing a worm but very present.
Out near a mountain was a man dressed in simple robes. He fit in perfectly with the place despite being an outsider. The cruel calculating look on the man faded when he felt a presence around him.
"Who dares spy on me!?" This man was Desaad, the henchman and right-hand man of Darkseid. Why he was here could only be bad. Feeling those who looked at him draw away, the little maniac went back to what he was doing. "Humph! If you get in my way I will kill you!" The statement was more for himself than an actual threat.
A strange black cube was beneath his feet. A very different Mother Box that was used to transport people and things through different dimensions and locations. Something akin to a drill was moving into the ground.
'What do you want to do now? The prey has escaped and this man looks to be up to no good. And what kind of Mother box was beneath him?' Grail was already on her way to meet up with Max. She was still riding a high from feeling Max agitated. 'Do you think we have a fight on our hands besides the locals?'
'I think we do.' Max was contacting Mr.Bones with a priority alert. The problem, however, was that something was preventing him from communicating with the outside. Despite the signal that came through earlier. 'This little dimension is messing with communications a little.'
Atlas: Something has happened on the outside actually. The location to Skartaris is currently moving. This is not a natural occurrence. Raven is leading a few to investigate.
'Coordinate the situation out there and have Mr.Bones send people to this location once it becomes stable. I have a really bad feeling about this.' Max would not inform the search team. Not any business of theirs and would only invite panic to a bad situation. 'Grail, we will proceed as planned with only minor adjustments. If the chance arises, kill Desaad on site. No matter who gets in the way.'
'I understand.' Grail's response was barely that. She was was to giddy in excitement. Her eyes glowing a bright red causing the glasses she wore to shine. 'I get to see an angry Max!' She licked her lips in anticipation.
One of the reasons she behaved was because of Max and what he was trying to accomplish. If she could see him mad, for just a moment, that would make things worthwhile.
'Mother, Darkseid might be making a move on Earth. I wonder what will happen?' Grail's birth was tied to Darkseid after all. Her original purpose was to act as an instrument of war to kill him. 'If Max can not handle this, should I put him in his place?'
Grail's loyalty only stretched as far as the person who was leading her. If Max proved to be weak well, things would have to change. She would make the Amazons turn against him as well.
*Bwoom!* Inside Grail the red lantern energy as well as the contract with Max battled against something that was inside her the entire time. A small part of the Omega force tried to grow.