Suddenly Somerwhere Else

[planetaryguide]

And then, the world turns, and they are somewhere else. Someplace impossibly old. It's a dizzying spin, even for the mightiest among them, but in an instant, Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, Abdullah El-Amin, Black Adam, Freddy Freeman and Jay Garrick find themselves in the market of an ancient city, its towers reaching high toward the sky, it's buildings opulent and clean ... but empty.

At first, there appears to be no life in the city at all. But then, a cat appears, perched in a window. It is black and sleek, and it regards the visitors curiously, but makes no move to either run nor greet them.

Elijah takes a moment to take stock of the situation. The timely intervention of Shazam (note to self: Not the one he thought it was at first) seems to have quelled the fight between Jakita and Adam. Jakita looks a little banged up, but none the worse for wear. And then there's Abdullah ...

"Mr. Garrick," says Elijah. "It's an honor to meet you in person. I've followed your exploits since the '40s. In fact, I was in Keystone in '43, tracking down the Shade, and saw you two go at it. Quite inspiring."

He had actually interviewed the Shade, afterward, for that year's Planetary Guide. Both encounters caused him to believe that the number of superhumans would only escalate in the years to come. Still ... He shakes off the nostalgia, and turns to Adam.

"Lord Adam," says Elijah, cordially. "I apologize that this whole situation has gotten out of hand. We meant no offense. We were simply trying to make contact with this young man here."

He nods toward Abdullah, who is still wound tense, but seemingly not preparing to attack immediately. 

"Abdullah El-Amin," he says, not making any sudden movement toward the boy. "My name is Elijah Snow. I've been looking for you for a long time now. We have some things in common."

Abdullah regards the man, but it's difficult to read his reactions beneath the mask.

"They call me the Ghost of the Desert, now" he says, levelly. Elijah chuckles, and nods.

"Heh. They call me the Ghost of the Twentieth Century,"  he says. "Maybe they're running out of cute nicknames."

Comments

[planetaryguide]

Elijah's wary of this plan. He's not a superhero, and this isn't what Planetary does. But then he looks at the cat, and sees there are still mysteries to solve.

He looks at his eclectic company, and decides the stakes are too high not to act.

"All right, How about Shazam and I head to Shanghai, Adam and Jakita go to California and Mr. Garrick and Abdullah seek out the magicians. Our third man, The Drummer, is back in the desert. He can arrange us transportation for any who need it."

Abdullah looks angry.

"I'm a child of the century," he says, like these women you've named. I should go look for them with you."

Elijah shakes his head.

"No," he says, if someone's hunting you, I don't want to give him multiple targets just yet. Not until we know what's going on."

And really, he thinks to himself, exposure to Jay's temperament could only be a good example.

[jakita_wagner]

"And it can be helpful to have someone that can move that fast to get you out of trouble."

She's giving Elijah a look, a look that might just burn his head from his shoulders given the chance.

But, she reasons, she can behave, and will have to assume that this Adam character would do the same.

[first_shazam]

Is that a...smirk on Adam's face?

"Then lets get to work.

[planetaryguide]

Jakita will forgive him, eventually, thinks Elijah, and frankly, he wants his own people's eyes on the "Children of the Century" at all times. He trusts Garrick implicitly, but they all have their own agendas. And of course, he has his own, too.

"All right. What we're looking at is two incredibly powerful teenagers. Jenny Quantum is the Spirit of the 21st Century, and that's literal. She can manipulate energy on a quantum level, thus the name. This means she can do practically anything, if she sets her mind to it. Whitney Winters ... there's no real easy way to describe it. She's the Gateway Between the Living and the Dead."

[first_lightning]

"Since I doubt Abdullah will want to be carried along at several times the speed of sound, we will take you up on that offer of transportation - as soon as we know where we need to go. "

He pauses, looking to Abdullah.

"If that's alright with you, young man."

[sixgodstories]

"Following your lead Mister Snow. Just point me at what needs hit." A side glance to Adam, and back an overly heroic pose.

[planetaryguide]

Abdullah gives Garrick a steely, almost-petulant look, but nods affirmative.

Elijah takes a deep breath before speaking, glancing at Bastet, who watches them with interest.

"Assuming we're returned where we started, our third man, The Drummer. will have our plane handy, and the Planetary Foundation has suitable vehicles at its Dubai location, if needed. We can get everybody transported."

Three super-powered teenagers, two honest-to-goodness superheroes, and a monarch who's usually more villain than hero. With him and Jakita in the middle. Yep, this is going to go well.

"Lady Bastet," he says, addressing the cat. "Is there anything else we need to know before we're returned home?"

[nabuhelm]

"Only this," says the cat. "There are monsters, villains governments and gods between you and the safety of the Earth's future, and I cannot tell you which of them is worst. All is in your hands. Do not fail."

And with that, the world begins to spin again, and the city begins to disappear, and within a few moments, everyone is back in the desert.

The Drummer stands outside the Planetary plane, which he's landed. The terrorists are unconscious, and he seems to have secured them.

"Wow," he says. "Looks like you guys had a great time!"

[jakita_wagner]

"It was fantastic, Drums. There's an empty city, I almost got my ass handed to me, and we got to talk to a goddess."

She gives him a quick side hug, glad to see him (even though it might take a miracle... most common than most folks would think... for her to say it out loud).

"Basically business as usual."

[first_shazam]

"We should begin as soon as we are able. If we require rest, I invite you to be my guests at my home for a few hours before we begin our various journeys. I personally require no rest, but I understand if some of you may."

He looks at Jakita. "Kahndaqian transport in LA would be too conspicuous. I imagine you have more covert ways into the city?"

[planetaryguide]

"Whoah," says the Drummer. "I'm both glad and sorry I missed that."

He looks around at the restrained terrorists.

"Uhm," I landed when you guys disappeared. They were already out. I didn't know what else to do, so I tied 'em up."

Elijah rubs his temples and aches for a cigarette.

"Jakita, you can use the car at the Planetary LA branch, but you're actually heading a about 30 minutes north. Coastal town called Sunnyville."