Phil surveyed the mix of ancient tomes and modern occult scholarship amassed on his desk. Idly, he thought about the fight a week ago in Central City. [i]Man, Orbit is such a bad-ass. I wonder if she could teach me some of her moves. I still feel like such a klutz around the rest of these heroes. God, I heard Bast was pretty kick-ass too, and she doesn't even have powers. What am I doing with this thing?[/i]

Gazing at the Helm of Nabu brought his mind back to the present. A day after the fight, Zatanna had asked him to do some research for her. [i]I thought it was strange when she asked. She hasn't even tried to contact me since she dropped me off at this new group. Frankly, I think Zatanna was relieved to get rid of me; she's not exactly the nurturing type. She gave me a couple artifacts to research, but doubtless she's after this enchanted blade. Doubly doubtless it's the same blade that gutted Aquaman. But she's didn't tell me that. "Just a little project to get your feet wet in the local occult culture," she claimed. Does she not trust me? I had to find out about Aquaman from the others. Ironic that Batman trusts his apprentices more than Zatanna trusts me.[/i]

Phil scowled at his reflection in the Helmet of Fate. [i]This research is going no where. Just rumors and myths, like always. All I can find is what we already know: sharp as hell and made by Nabu. I wish I could just ask him about the sword, but I haven't heard from him since the day I put the Helm. Maybe if I--[/i]

Shots rang out, interrupting the thought. Instantly snatching up the Helm, Phil bolted out of his room, only to skid to a stop. [i]The blast doors are down. This must be big. Good thing walls won't stop me.[/i] Phil called up the powers of Nabu, and was gone in a flash of light, instantly teleported across the headquarters. He hadn't thought of a specific place to teleport; he had learned to let Fate decide.

When the world came back into focus, Phil saw two familiar faces: Hellfire and Orbit. "Hey, wait up! What's going on?"