6.4

Location: A sinking ship.

Time: Two days after receiving notice of a Constantine visit. Late June, 1989

Urgh… this is taking a fair bit out of me. I managed to respond to the SOS in time to find a passenger ship floundering and sinking rapidly from a tear in the hull. Fixing the damage isn't hard, however the whole vessel is shoddy, to put it mildly. The vessel was Italian and apparently hadn't had proper maintenance for a long time. I doubted if it had ever. Added to this was the fact it was over burdened and only barely afloat it was a miracle I arrived in time.

Yet instead of help, the crew all just take a step back and leave it to me to solve all their problems. I want to rip that incompetent of a captain's head off. So I not only have the herculean task of keeping them above water, I also have to empty the flooded section as I lift the ship's bow to compensate for the flooding.

In the middle of a particularly stormy night. I had to actually ask to be allowed on the damn bridge.

As the damn Captain kept explaining how this was just an accident and that it could have happened to anyone. Yeah, anyone in a fifty year old rusted out tub. They didn't even have a working pump to siphon out the water.

You know what? I'm done with this shit detail.

We are still miles out to sea and this weather isn't going to end. I crack open a window and yell.

"Hey, Superman! A little help when you can spare it, please?"

The captain looked at me like I was nuts.

I glanced back at him sourly. "I'm only doing this because your ship is held together with nothing besides lies, fake maintenance reports and rust. I can't keep it afloat indefinitely."

A few minutes later Supes drifted down to land on the deck. I went out to meet him.

"Thanks for coming, this is just a little too much for me to carry. Can you push us into port? I'll try to keep the rust bucket in one piece for you." I asked.

"Sure. Glad to help, I had a few spare minutes." He replied with a smile.

He pulled away from the deck and flew to the back of the ship. The shove he gave the stern propelling us into a steady speed, many times what it should be able to handle. But thanks to his tactile telekinesis, the ship held together under the strain of what should have torn it to pieces.

The captain babbled and panicked, since he knew this speed combined with the violent weather would be fatal to his ship under normal circumstances. I didn't correct his mistake, I don't like the man.

Barely any time afterwards we were on the docks with the crew and passengers off the vessel. Supes floated beside me and the captain came to congratulate us.

"I wouldn't speak too soon, the only thing holding it out of the water is me. And I've only been struggling so hard because of the people on board." I remarked, grinning as his face turned to fury.

The vessel gave a groan and mere moments later it was under the waves. I may have helped it along, slightly...

"I guess you'll need to catch a plane or a bus? Hopefully they don't scrimp on maintenance either, eh?" It pleased me how the captain burst into expletives. "Be glad, you got away from this disaster with your life, captain."

Superman looked at me strangely. "Did you have to antagonise him so much?"

"His ship wasn't in the least seaworthy and as a result nearly dragged everyone on board to their deaths. No, I think I wasn't harsh enough." I replied to my friend. "I'll see if I can't have the people responsible arrested for gross negligence. But enough about that. So I see you've learned how to use high altitude flight to fly faster over long distances."

"Sure have. It really has boosted my response times." He replied conversationally.

"I'm glad. You were on the slow side." I smirked.

"Very funny, mister." He remarked with a good natured tone and with an elbow poke to my ribs. "Before I forget, the League is having its first official meeting after that invasion mess. We'll be using the Battleship and the teleporters until we can get the Zeta beams online. So we'll meet around one in the afternoon, that would be seven PM in France."

I nodded. This was most likely to allow me to take part, because they could have pushed it later and as a result had it during the night for me.

"Okay, but I can just set an alarm if you want to meet at a more appropriate time for those of you with a regular nine to five job." I pointed out.

He nodded. "I'll bring it up, but we didn't want to alienate you. Besides you're a growing boy, you need your rest."

"I forget that half the time, but I suppose it is true." I replied. "So anything interesting happening with you? Luthor tried to irradiate you yet?"

"No, I don't see much of him. Too busy for me, it seems." Kal El said with a bit of good cheer.

"Wow, I don't suppose he is obsessed with me now? I sure hope not. I don't want to have our genetically engineered teen-aged baby foisted on me, the one made from our mixed DNA he created in secret." Superman looked at me strangely. "Yes, he does get that obsessive about you at times." He recoiled with a look of disgust, I couldn't help but agree with. "But the kid is innocent, so it isn't his fault. He just had a crappy, bald gene donor."

"There has been a woman with electricity powers around, causing trouble." He admitted. "Black Lightning is quite concerned about her making him look bad."

"Livewire, huh? She's a consistent pain the ass." I shrugged. "I have a Constantine problem, that he knows I exist and is trying to get close to me or the school of magic I'm running. It can only end in tears."

"You might be right, but perhaps you should take the chance and see if it really is as bad as you fear?" Superman responded, actually taking Constantine's side. Ugh.

"Fine. I'll hear him out. But if this gets me killed due to his curse, I am going to haunt you." I retorted.

"Sure you will." He replied, laughing.

"Not joking." I deadpanned.

"This curse business is that serious?" Supes asked in slight astonishment.

I nodded. "Uh huh. He can't help leaving destruction in his wake. I've tried to minimise the damage as much as I can, but it is fate driven bullshit." I sighed. "Aside from that I have robot spies running around thinking they are human and fishmen preparing to start a war with the surface. They apparently attacked some fishing vessels off shore last night."

"It would be a good topic to bring up with Aquaman at the meeting." Kal El pointed out.

"Different civilisation, I believe. But I suppose he might know where they are coming from." I admit. "They aren't particularly dangerous from what I've seen, but they have magic which might be a problem. Having Atlantis' magic experience on call can't hurt."

"We also have several new prospective members, including the woman, Black Canary you mentioned." Supes adds.

"How about Batman? Any trouble with him?" I asked, sort of expecting the worst. His city is a train wreck, one where everything goes horribly wrong, but you just can't look away because it is so spectacular.

"Some psychopath leaving a playing card as a signature." He shrugged.

"Joker." I hissed.

"No, Ace of Clubs actually." He replied.