9646/Age of Darkness: Tim is continuing research on Superman.

Age of Darkness: Tim is continuing research on Superman.
Date of Scene:	18 October 2019
Location:	Arboretum, Watchtower
Synopsis:	And the plot thickens.
Cast of Characters:	Red Robin, Zatanna Zatara
Tinyplot:	Age of Darkness

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Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake is up on the Watchtower looking about the place. He has heard rumor that Zatanna maybe around, and he is hoping to catch her. He was given her number recently, but if he can catch her here it makes things easier. He walks into the area scanning the area as he walks around looking for her.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
After her time earlier, Zatanna had teleported up to the Watchtower. She had some other spellwork to do but she also was assigned to Watch Duty. Which meant she had to be present if the alarms went off. Because she could teleport, she didn't have to be in the Monitor Room. If the alarms went off, she would be there instantly.

Instead, she was meditating in the Arboretum. This is the place where it started. Perhaps she would find insight. She was sitting on a bench amongst, a spellbook in her hands.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake will sees she is reding and will softly clear his throat so not to pull a Bruce, and just appear next to her. "Um, I was wondering if you might have a moment to talk. I am trying to do some research and heard you may have some information that maybe of use to me."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The alarm had not sounded so someone being on the station wasn't a reason for alarm. As he cleared his throat, Zatanna looked up from her reading. Her brow furrowed for a moment then she gave a nod. "Red Robin, correct? I would be glad to be of assistance."

She closes the book and sets it on the bench beside her for the moment so as to focus fully on their visitor. "What brings you to me?"

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake looks to her, and says "I am trying to figure out exactly what happened with Superman. I have a few suppositions, starting back to when he was kidnapped, but I believe you know of some magic that was effecting him?'

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
For a long moment, Zatanna considers the costumed figure before her. It was as though she was trying to see through in, inside him to his soul. After long moments of silence, she gave a single nod.

"Superman had been attacked some time ago, taken to the planet Apokolips as part of some nefarious scheme. I was away at the time, unable to assist. Others came here, gave themselves to try to rescue him. They managed to do so and we thought all was well. A short time ago, I sensed something wrong here."

She paused, glancing around at the room they were inside, despite it looking like a garden. "In this very place. There was some kind of magic around Superman. When I looked more closely, I learned he was possessed by Yuga Khan. He is an entity of great power from Apokolips. He was seeking to be reborn through Superman. I managed to contain him, with the help of Flash and the Ghost Rider. Unfortunately, I did not find a way to purge him and then it was too late."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and nods his head a bit to this and says "Yes, we found black lightning energy that was part of the magic that took him. When we found him, he was chained with Kryptonite and Kalibak was over him, seeming to be about to bash his head in. We rescued and got him home. Once here, I noticed he had two puncture wounds on his neck that looked akin to a vampire bite. I was hoping to get samples from around the wound, but did not get a chance. From what I had understood the other magic types, were looking over him while he healed. Do you have any idea how it got past them?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I did not realize you were there. Thank you for helping save him," Zatanna says honestly. She drops her gaze a moment, lost in a memory perhaps. Then she focuses on the man before her.

"I do not. I had returned to this realm and felt something was off here. I didn't know what. I teleported up to investigate. Apparently Yuga Khan had been there all along, tied to Superman somehow and battling him for control. Superman wasn't even aware of the struggle, just that he was finding himself having emotional outbursts and headaches, which are not something Kryptonians would generally suffer from. Perhaps it is because I am closer to him than the other magic users that were here. Perhaps it is because Yuga Khan was getting stronger and had almost taken control by that point."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and nods his head, a bit to this and says "So, you believe you have a way to cleanse the spirit from him when Superman turns back up?" He will ask her. Tim seems convinced that he will be back. "Do you believe that this Yuga may have been tied to an object that had been put inside him?" He will tap his chin in thought at this.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"When Superman...what?" Zatanna looks at him in surprise, shaking her head a bit as she considers the weight of what he said. "Superman is gone. What makes you believe he would come back?" If it were true, it would be wonderful but Zatanna could not imagine it was so.

"I did not sense anything in Superman at the time that was not the entity itself. As for cleansing Superman, I have yet to find something to do that as I don't know what spell was used for the binding in the first place. As such, no, I am not able to verify it can be purged. I stopped working on that problem with his death, instead focusing on others."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake looks to the woman and says "No body was recovered. This most likely means with a last bit of energy he fled away, someone with superspeed got him away or he was teleported. Then someone decided to put something into the tomb, which speaks of a conspiracy. Someone is hiding him, and the thing that makes sense is he is being hid till he has recovered." looks to her, and says "Have you tried to find him?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna blinks. The thoughts of that had never occurred to her. Although the body wasn't found, she had understood Superman to be dead before the body had disappeared. Thus her answer was, "No, I have not. He died. Though the body was gone, it could have been one of his family members trying to protect his body from those who would use it for ill. Or even Flash. If he were alive and one of them took him away for recovery, they would have told us."

She glances to the spellbook, then back to Red Robin. "Why are you so certain he's still alive? Is it because you believe it or you want it to be true?"

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake looks to her, and says "He is Superman, and from what you have said he was enhanced by some Apokoliptic spirit. I know Conner knows nothing of what happened to him, if someone of the Justice League would have recovered him or the body it would be known by those here, even if not to the general public. Tell me, have you tried talking to his spirit? If he is dead, we would still owe it to him to find his body and make sure this Yuga Khan is not imprisoned him in the after life or some such.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I saw no reason to disturb him. He has done enough for this world," Zatanna admits though this young man has her now wondering if she should try. But no, Superman was lost. This is just clinging to hope. They needed to...

Hope.

She flashes back to the moment of hope she felt during the Celebration of Life for Superman, when she had cast a spell. What if there was hope?

"I will consider though. One or the other." Maybe both but she isn't mentioning that. "If nothing else, a locator for Yuga Khan. Just to be certain."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake says, "By any chance do you know what they put in the crypt?" he will ask of the woman. "If we know what is in there it may help as well." He looks to her, and says "There has to be a way this was hidden from the others. I am wondering if our saving him was totally set up. He looks to her, and says "I would like to work with you while you figure this out. If your right and he is dead, then we can recover the body, if I am right, we need to find him save him, and cleanse him of this spirit. I want to complete what Batman started."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I don't know. I didn't ask." Zatanna says simply. For her, it didn't matter. She was one of the pallbearers but she knew the body of Superman wasn't in the casket. Only, she had no idea what might have been. It may have been empty for all she knew.

"I can inquire and yes, when I do my seance to try to reach the spirit, I will be certain you are present. The search for the body may be more difficult. I'll have to look at some books and get back with you."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake looks to her, and says "Any idea who would know what was put in the coffin? It could be important to know." He will seem in thought about this. "Also do you know who the black lightning energy maybe a sign of magic wise? We might be able to get information from that as well.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I can check with his next of kin. I assumed it was empty," Zatanna answers with a faint shrug. The young man had a lot of very good questions. It was a reminder not to take everything at face value.

A negative shake of the head is her response to the second question. "I am not familiar with that signature myself but I can look into it further. Even reach out to some other practitioners to see if they know it."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and nods his head a bit to this "Any information you can get me would be greatly appreciated, I am looking into a few other paths to find information. If I find out more, I will contact you, and ask if you do, you contact me as well.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"How should I contact you? Normal path or my way?" Zatanna wiggles her fingers in the air a bit, indicating that she's talking about hocus pocus. A spell should be able to reach out to Red Robin should she choose to do so. But she knows that the Bat Family are not really that strong into the magic side of things and thus, maybe he would prefer more technical means.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and says "Might be best to try a phone, not sure how well magic will get in and out of my home, I have been working on getting some wards placed there that will help keep things secretive.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
That gets a smirk and a roll of the eyes. "Like mentor, like student. You really shouldn't block all of us out completely. At least leave a back door for those who are trustworthy. If your hideout comes to life and traps you inside, it might be nice to have a bit of magic on your side." She draws her phone out of a pocket, unlocks the screen then slides through the contacts to My Number. She turns it for him to see.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake smiles and says "Well I will not turn down a little help main thing I was putting up warding was for people trying to see or listen in, had actually talked about one back door but that was mostly to keep the warding from being shattered.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I'm guessing you already have someone working on this? Or are you asking for mine? " Zatanna asks curiously as she thinks of something, pulling the spellbook into her lap and flipping through pages rapidly.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake says, "Kaelyn has helped me a bit with it, even offered to try to teach me a bit about how to do it myself, but I don't really think I have the knack for that type of thing to be honest."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Kaelyn? Not familiar with her at all. But I'm sure she will do fine if you trust her. If not, you now have my number," Zatanna puts her phone back in her pocket. "Just dial it with whatever number you prefer to use. I know you probably would prefer a burner phone of some type instead of your real one. No tracing," she adds with a mischievious smile.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake smiles and says "The number that will show up will get you to me, it runs through a few different relays but will get to me, and should be pretty hard for anyone to trace if they are looking through your phone calls." He does offer her a smile and says Speaking of magic types, I am working on a team of my own, do you know any magic types looking for a team of young folks, but a bit older than the titans group?

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I know of one. She's been apprenticing under an old friend of mine but haven't seen them in a while. I can send her your way if she's interested. I know the Titans recently approached my cousin about joining so I think he falls in the younger group," Zatanna observes as she considers. "Most of the people I know are my age or older."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake nods, and says "Yea, he gave me a number to contact you and is who helped set me on the path of finding you. May I ask who this other is, maybe I know them already.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Willow Rosenberg. I'm not certain where she hails from but she was apprenticing under John Constantine. She was one of the magic users who helped when Superman had been kidnapped initially, to the planet Apokolips," Zatanna offers.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and gives Willow's basic description. "Red hair, yea tall, pretty girl, seems a bit unsure of herself?

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna tilts her head a bit to the side and gives a slow nod. "That sounds like her, yes. I only met her a couple of times. Seems to have a lot of potential, which I assume is why John was training her. To be certain she stays on the side of the angels."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and nods his head and says "I will have to see if I can catch up with her, having a bit of magic on the team would probably be a good thing. I have another I am trying to keep on the side of the angels so maybe it will work out. And you do realize I am looking around 20 or so, you said earlier like your a lot past that, and that I doubt.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Good answer. Always tell a woman she looks younger and you will never go wrong," Zatanna tells him with a bright smile. She spellbook is settled back in her lap, arms resting atop it as she regards him. "I wish you luck in both endeavors. To get your team together and to keep your people on the side of the angels. Particularly with magic, otherwise it could endanger their very souls."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake nods, and says "Thank you, well I should get back down to Gotham, make sure two face aint trying to rob the double bubble gum payroll or something." He will offer her a smile "Thanks and if I find out anything I will let you know."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I will look into your questions and the information you shared. I will be in touch as soon as I get something back," Zatanna promises as she cracks open the spellbook to the last spell she had searche for.