Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 16:16:34 GMT -5
The Titans of Justice Chapter 24 “Mordru – Victorious”
Written by: Power Guy
Co-conspirator: Scotty2Hotty
Editor: Marcus Mebes
The Hall of Justice…
Nightvision, the Huntress, Sargona, and the Stranger all gazed upon the unfamiliar faces that stood in front of them. Nightvision and the Huntress were both poised for battle due to their suspicious nature.
“I’m only going to ask you one more time,” threatened Nightvision. “Identify yourselves or we’re throwing you out of here!”
“Nightvision relax,” admonished the Stranger. “I sense these are all good people… though I’m not sure where they are from.”
The man wearing the silver bracelets then asked, “Did you say Nightvision?” He then took a closer look around the room. “Great Rhea!” he uttered incredulously. “This is the Hall of Justice, isn’t it?”
“Yes, you’re in the Hall of Justice,” responded the Huntress. “I’m the Huntress, this is Nightvision, and standing on my left are Sargona and the Stranger.”
“Bloody crocs! You guys are from the original team!” exclaimed the Arachnid, dressed in blue and black. “Guys, I think we took a little trip through time when we went through that warp a few minutes ago.”
“Comet – can you confirm if they’re being honest with us?” asked the young man in the red and black starfield costume: Wonder Warrior.
The one he addressed, Kid Comet, concentrated for a few seconds as he fired up his telepathy. He reached out into the minds of the four heroes standing across the room. After a quick mental sweep he concluded: “Yep, they’re the real deal.”
Wonder Warrior, the apparent leader of the group of newcomers, addressed the black-haired teen in the turquoise and black outfit. “Polomé, can you back that up?”
The youth shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “They seem cool to me,” he said. “I don’t sense and maliciousness, but they do aim to kick y’all’s asses if they decide y’all deserve it.” He bowed, still grinning, and shuffled backwards. “They’re the real deal. And they could do it, too. I’ll just step back and avoid any hostilities, if y’all don’t mind. Ma’am,” he added, nodding his head politely at Sargona.
“Did you just read our thoughts?” demanded Nightvision.
“I did,” admitted Kid Comet. “Just your surface thoughts though. I didn’t pry into anything if that’s what your thinking.”
“I don’t care,” barked Nightvision. “Don’t let it happen again. Now tell us who you guys are.”
At a reassuring nod from the one he called Palomé, Wonder Warrior addressed the group. “I’m Wonder Warrior, the son of Troia and the Green Lantern Kyle Rayner. The telepath is Kid Comet. He’s the son of the original Captain Comet and the third Star Sapphire…”
“But I’m nothing like her,” Kid Comet was swift to interject with a smile.
Wonder Warrior then continued, “That guy skulking in the corner is Polomé. He’s the son of the Teen Titans Raven and Risk. The kid with the bug on his belt is the Arachnid, the current heir to the Blue Beetle legacy.”
Sargona then chimed in, “Beetles aren’t part of the arachnid family.”
“No and the Reverse Flash doesn’t run backwards either,” argued the Arachnid. “Besides, calling myself The Insect wouldn’t pack the same punch.”
“If I may continue,” interrupted Wonder Warrior, “the lady with the wings is Bee Sting, the daughter of Vox and Bumblebee. Where we come from, we’re known as Titans West.”
“So who makes up Titans East?” asked the Huntress.
“That’s just it, there is no Titans East. All of the other Titans were killed a few years before we got together in a battle to save the world from the sorcerer Mordru.”
“No!!!” screamed Sargona. “This can’t be true!”
“He’s being honest with you lady,” spoke up Bee Sting. “Where we come from, you all died in battle.”
“Sargona, do not panic,” said the Stranger trying to comfort his friend. “My magic has allowed me to sense that these individuals are from a possible future five years ahead of our time. It is still possible to change the outcome of the battle with Mordru.”
“Well that explains how you’re Troia’s son as our Troia only had one child who died many years ago,” revealed Nightvision.
“So, uh,” started Palomé, “that means there aren’t kiddy versions of us running around in this time? I mean, I did some stupid stuff when I was thirteen, and I’d kill to give myself some advice.”
“Messing with the time stream is a no-no,” said Bee Sting, slapping him upside the head. “Don’t you remember what Anthro told us?”
The Stranger then countered with, “Nightvision, do not mistake my words. These people are not from an alternate reality, only an alternate future. When they arrived here, they replaced their present day selves who are all very much a part of our world.”
“Dang!” swore Palomé, snapping his fingers. “There goes my chance. But that means my comic books are probably still buried under the trailer,” he added hopefully.
“But that’s impossible,” argued Nightvision. “Donna Troy and Kyle don’t have any children.”
“Look pal, I know who my mother is!” Wonder Warrior retorted.
“Let’s not argue. There is a more pressing issue at hand,” advised the Stranger. “We brought you people here to help us defeat Mordru. He has captured the rest of the Titans of Justice and has taken control of Gemworld. With you help us in our efforts?”
“Give us a few minutes to discuss this,” requested Wonder Warrior, motioning his teammates to join him as he retreated to the other side of the room.
“Be our guests,” sighed Nightvision, waving his hand as they retreated.
The five members of Titans West got together in a huddle to discuss the situation.
“Guys, I know we’re in an awkward situation but this is our chance to change history and save a lot of lives,” suggested Wonder Warrior to the others. “What do you think?”
“I think we should just go back to our time and do our best to deal with what we got,” stated Arachnid “You know what they say about messing with the past.”
“Don’t be so self-centered,” scolded Bee Sting. “I know that you’re the youngest member of our group but try to look at the big picture here.”
“Okay, okay… I’ll shut up,” Arachnid said, backing down and shaking his head. “I’m just real freaked out. This is real creepy to me.”
Polomé then contributed his two cents. “Dude,” he said to Arachnid, “we’re all a little shaken up by the situation but I think we can do a lot of good here. I’m all for us helping out.”
“Same here,” agreed Kid Comet.
“Ok, it’s settled then,” concluded Wonder Warrior. He turned to face the Stranger and the rest of the Titans of Justice. “Folks– we’re in.”
“And when we’re done, you’ll send us back home right?” added a nervous Arachnid.
“I will work on a spell to send you home but be advised that someone tampered with my original spell… which is how you wound up here,” replied the Stranger. “I can make no guarantees.”
The Titans West just stood silent for a moment, all of them a bit fearful that they may never be able to return home.
“But seriously, y’all,” suggested Palomé, reading the feelings of the others. “What’ve we got to go home to anyway?”
“Well, just do your best Stranger,” requested Wonder Warrior, ignoring his teammate. “The only thing I’m worried about is: what if we run into our present-day selves?”
“Duh!” interjected Palomé, rolling his eyes backward. “Don’t you pay any attention?”
“There is no need to worry about that. As you were told earlier, when one time-travels, you merge with your present-day self,” explained the Stranger. “The same thing happened to the Legion of Doom when they arrived here from the past.” The Stranger then turned to Sargona, “I will need your help to augment my teleportational abilities so that we can all journey to Gemworld.”
“If you need assistance with teleportation, I can help,” revealed Polomé. “I inherited my mother’s teleportation powers. Though I don’t think I could teleport a group this big on my own.” He scratched at his goatee. “But if we combine our abilities, we may be able to transport the whole group.”
“Indeed,” agreed the Stranger. “Let us join hands…”
“Wait,” requested Nightvision. “With the Hall so badly damaged, I’d like to ask the Huntress to stay here and keep watch.”
“Oh sure, keep me away from all of the fun,” the Huntress said with smirk. She was obviously disappointed but knew Nightvision’s request was justified. “No big deal. I’ve wanted some time to go through the crime files anyway.”
“Thanks Huntress,” said a grateful Nightvision. “If you need any help, just contact Oracle and she’ll be happy to round up the JLA or the JSA from mothballs.”
“Sure thing,” responded the Huntress. “Good luck!”
As the Stranger and Polomé joined hands, a sphere of light started to surround them and their teammates. Palomé’s soul-self emerged from his body, encompassing the illuminated group, and within a few minutes, the team had vanished into thin air.
***
Gemworld…
The captured Titans of Justice were still in shock over Mordru’s brutal murder of Vibe. A full day had gone by since the tragic event. Many of the team were scared, depressed, or filled with anger.
“We’ve got to figure a way out of here,” Green Lantern said, struggling to break free of his chains. “My ring hasn’t been able to put a scratch in these mystic chains.”
“None of us can break free from our chains,” insisted a weary Icemanling, “and with a full day going by, your ring probably won’t work any more.”
“Actually, it does,” Green Lantern said surprising his teammates. “Time must flow differently here.”
“We may not need Green Lantern’s ring to get us out of here,” suggested Venus.
The team was intrigued by her statement. “Girl, if you’ve got a way to get us out of here, make it happen,” insisted Black Vulcan II.
“Agreed,” commented Celsius. “What do you have in mind?”
Before Venus could tell the others of her plan, the door to their cell burst open. Mordru, Flaw, and the Child made their way into the room.
“Perfect timing…” whispered Venus.
Mordru had and ice-cold look upon his face as he gazed upon his captives. “I trust you all remember your lesson from yesterday?”
“You’ll pay for what you’ve done,” threatened Strato Hawk, straining futilely at his restraints.
“Really?” questioned Mordru. “And how are you going to make me pay when you can’t even touch me, Christian? Or should I say Hector?”
Mordru’s statement took Strato Hawk by surprise. He wondered if Mordru was implying that he was Hector Hall, the deceased son of Hawkman. “Quit with the games Mordru, I know who I am.”
“Really?” inquired Mordru. “The Hall family has a long history of reincarnation. Are you aware that you were born the very same day that Hector Hall ceased to exist?”
Strato Hawk just glared at Mordru, wondering if he was telling the truth or just messing with his head. “I don’t have time for your lies so give it a rest.”
“Oh, I’m not lying this time Hector,” insisted Mordru. “When you were Dr. Fate, you were one of my greatest enemies. That is why I had the Arkham Asylum guard release Dr. Phosphorus a few months ago. It was my intention that he could finish the job of killing your father that he started some twenty years prior. Sadly, you and your friend Nightvision pulled down the curtain before the drama could play out.”
“So you were behind Dr. Phosphorus’ escape!” concluded Strato Hawk. “You misterable bastard! Do you know much destruction that man caused?!”
“Yes, and I enjoyed every second of it!” Mordru replied with a devilish grin. “Well, I must be going. I have other matters to attend to. Flaw keep watch over our young friends here for a while. Child, come with me. We are going to go torment the earth’s mystics for a bit…”
“Earth’s mystics? What have you done to them?” demanded Power Guy.
“Oh, I lured them all to the Rock of Eternity and sealed it up tight!” gloated Mordru. “Dr. Fate, Zatanna, the Phantom Stranger, even the Black Marvel Family.”
As Mordru left the room, Strato Hawk pondered if he could really be Hector Hall or not. His age certainly fell in line with the year that Hector died and how old he would be had he been reborn but he still had his doubts.
After Mordru shut the door behind him, Flaw looked around the room and folded his arms across his chest. “Try something stupid, Titans. I dare you.” He knew full well that they could not, but he enjoyed taunting them.
Just then, Venus let out an extremely strong sneeze. “Ahh-chooo!” Her hair flung forward just about covering her face. After a few seconds, she called out to their jailer. “Flaw dear, could you come over here and push my hair back? I can’t see very well.”
Flaw gazed upon Venus for a few moments before responding to her request. “So I am to serve you, foolish woman? Heh,” he laughed. “I’ll do it if only to see a face of a woman to be killed,” commented an arrogant Flaw. He walked over to Venus and put his finger beneath her chin to violently toss her head back. “Mordru will not mind if I have some fun, with you.” Little did he realize that the moment he approached her, she emitted a stream of her pheromones at him.
Venus looked up at Flaw with emotive eyes. “Your touch is so strong… but gentle Flaw. Never have I felt something so powerful…”
As the pheromones started to affect Flaw, he became enchanted by Venus. Narrowing his crystalline eyes, he glared at her. “You have done something to me woman,” he started, hesitating. He felt somewhat dizzy, but maintained his stance.
“How about you let me out of here and we go somewhere special?” she asked him, hoping her abilities would have an affect on a creature such as he.
The giant crystalline behemoth pondered on the idea for a minute. He knew Mordru would be furious if he let Venus out. But her pheromones were starting to affect him just enough for him to allow the amusing notion to toy with her further. “I may let you out. And we will see if you enjoy my… company. You will be silent.”
“Oh, I won’t make a sound,” agreed Venus.
Flaw, being a golem magically animated by the forces of chaos, needed no keys to remove the shackles from her wrists. He simply snapped the chains from the walls and gently crushed the shackles from her wrists.
Venus rubbed her sore wrists for a few seconds as she regained her composure. Flaw put his hands on her shoulders. “And now that you are free, let us see how much you are capable of enduring. This may be painful for you. Come.” He roughly pulled her forward toward him.
“Let’s… let’s stay here rather than going out. Let’s show my friends what a man you are,” teased Venus. “How about your close your eyes and I’ll give you a little surprise?”
The hulking monster was fully aware that the captive was attempting to escape, and had used some power upon him to make him do her bidding. He felt that he, being aware of her efforts, was in control, and played along with her. “You are pretty, little female. And you have no qualms of your fellows seeing you in the altogether? Let’s show them, shall we?” He cupped her face in his massive hand, and closed his eyes in amusement.
Venus wasted no time and promptly put all of her weight and strength into a swift right-hook, planting in right between Flaw’s eyes and sending the massive villain flying backwards into the door of their cell. The door cracked open from the impact of Flaw’s body slamming against it.
“Way to go Venus!” cheered Wonder Man and Celsius.
Venus ran over to Junjie Quick and pulled his chains from the wall as Flaw was shaking off the sting of her punch. Once Quick was released, Venus asked the obsidian speedster to help get the rest of their teammates free. “Now that you’re loose, use your speed to get the others free before Flaw picks himself up.” At a questioning look from Quick, she added, “Just stick your fingers into the locks and vibrate them. They will come loose.” She did not know where the knowledge came from, but her confidence was all Quick needed. Within a fraction of a second, Junjie had raced around the room freeing his captive teammates.
In the midst of the commotion, Flaw had recovered from Venus’ attack and picked himself up off of the ground. He surveyed the freed captives and laughed derisively. “I suppose this means you ALL would like to… experience… me?”
“I gave you what you deserve and now you’re going to get some more of it,” promised Venus as she lunged towards the villain. She punched Flaw in the face a few more times. He, in turn, found himself a victim of her pheromones, and though he knew he should resist, he allowed her to continue pummeling him. As she continued to punch the monster, her blows became more and more intense. It was apparent that her super-strength had kicked in as chunks of Flaw’s body started to chip off and fly around the room. After a few minutes, he was nothing more than a pile of rubble. Venus looked down at her defeated foe and at her reddened, swollen knuckles. “Boy that felt good! GL – would you mind doing the honors?”
Green Lantern quickly took the cue and used his ring to collect the pieces of Flaw and shoot them out a window in the room; scattering the pieces all across the countryside.
“Well, that was interesting…” stated an amazed Starman. “Boy is it good to be free!”
Celsius looked around the room at his team. He knew several of them were still shaken from Vibe’s death. This was his make-it-or-break-it point as a leader. He knew his team was riled and unfocused yet they had to find and free Jemstone and then face the near impossible task of taking down Mordru. “Okay mates, I know we’ve all been put through the wringer but we have to tell ourselves to stay focused. Jemstone and the people of this world need our help. Plus if we can’t stop Mordru, I’m betting Earth will be next on his list.”
“You’re probably right,” agreed Green Lantern. “I suggest we figure out a plan on the way to finding Jemstone.”
With that, Green Lantern collected all of his non-flying teammates in a giant power-bubble for transport. He and the fliers took to the air in search of their teammate.
Written by: Power Guy
Co-conspirator: Scotty2Hotty
Editor: Marcus Mebes
The Hall of Justice…
Nightvision, the Huntress, Sargona, and the Stranger all gazed upon the unfamiliar faces that stood in front of them. Nightvision and the Huntress were both poised for battle due to their suspicious nature.
“I’m only going to ask you one more time,” threatened Nightvision. “Identify yourselves or we’re throwing you out of here!”
“Nightvision relax,” admonished the Stranger. “I sense these are all good people… though I’m not sure where they are from.”
The man wearing the silver bracelets then asked, “Did you say Nightvision?” He then took a closer look around the room. “Great Rhea!” he uttered incredulously. “This is the Hall of Justice, isn’t it?”
“Yes, you’re in the Hall of Justice,” responded the Huntress. “I’m the Huntress, this is Nightvision, and standing on my left are Sargona and the Stranger.”
“Bloody crocs! You guys are from the original team!” exclaimed the Arachnid, dressed in blue and black. “Guys, I think we took a little trip through time when we went through that warp a few minutes ago.”
“Comet – can you confirm if they’re being honest with us?” asked the young man in the red and black starfield costume: Wonder Warrior.
The one he addressed, Kid Comet, concentrated for a few seconds as he fired up his telepathy. He reached out into the minds of the four heroes standing across the room. After a quick mental sweep he concluded: “Yep, they’re the real deal.”
Wonder Warrior, the apparent leader of the group of newcomers, addressed the black-haired teen in the turquoise and black outfit. “Polomé, can you back that up?”
The youth shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “They seem cool to me,” he said. “I don’t sense and maliciousness, but they do aim to kick y’all’s asses if they decide y’all deserve it.” He bowed, still grinning, and shuffled backwards. “They’re the real deal. And they could do it, too. I’ll just step back and avoid any hostilities, if y’all don’t mind. Ma’am,” he added, nodding his head politely at Sargona.
“Did you just read our thoughts?” demanded Nightvision.
“I did,” admitted Kid Comet. “Just your surface thoughts though. I didn’t pry into anything if that’s what your thinking.”
“I don’t care,” barked Nightvision. “Don’t let it happen again. Now tell us who you guys are.”
At a reassuring nod from the one he called Palomé, Wonder Warrior addressed the group. “I’m Wonder Warrior, the son of Troia and the Green Lantern Kyle Rayner. The telepath is Kid Comet. He’s the son of the original Captain Comet and the third Star Sapphire…”
“But I’m nothing like her,” Kid Comet was swift to interject with a smile.
Wonder Warrior then continued, “That guy skulking in the corner is Polomé. He’s the son of the Teen Titans Raven and Risk. The kid with the bug on his belt is the Arachnid, the current heir to the Blue Beetle legacy.”
Sargona then chimed in, “Beetles aren’t part of the arachnid family.”
“No and the Reverse Flash doesn’t run backwards either,” argued the Arachnid. “Besides, calling myself The Insect wouldn’t pack the same punch.”
“If I may continue,” interrupted Wonder Warrior, “the lady with the wings is Bee Sting, the daughter of Vox and Bumblebee. Where we come from, we’re known as Titans West.”
“So who makes up Titans East?” asked the Huntress.
“That’s just it, there is no Titans East. All of the other Titans were killed a few years before we got together in a battle to save the world from the sorcerer Mordru.”
“No!!!” screamed Sargona. “This can’t be true!”
“He’s being honest with you lady,” spoke up Bee Sting. “Where we come from, you all died in battle.”
“Sargona, do not panic,” said the Stranger trying to comfort his friend. “My magic has allowed me to sense that these individuals are from a possible future five years ahead of our time. It is still possible to change the outcome of the battle with Mordru.”
“Well that explains how you’re Troia’s son as our Troia only had one child who died many years ago,” revealed Nightvision.
“So, uh,” started Palomé, “that means there aren’t kiddy versions of us running around in this time? I mean, I did some stupid stuff when I was thirteen, and I’d kill to give myself some advice.”
“Messing with the time stream is a no-no,” said Bee Sting, slapping him upside the head. “Don’t you remember what Anthro told us?”
The Stranger then countered with, “Nightvision, do not mistake my words. These people are not from an alternate reality, only an alternate future. When they arrived here, they replaced their present day selves who are all very much a part of our world.”
“Dang!” swore Palomé, snapping his fingers. “There goes my chance. But that means my comic books are probably still buried under the trailer,” he added hopefully.
“But that’s impossible,” argued Nightvision. “Donna Troy and Kyle don’t have any children.”
“Look pal, I know who my mother is!” Wonder Warrior retorted.
“Let’s not argue. There is a more pressing issue at hand,” advised the Stranger. “We brought you people here to help us defeat Mordru. He has captured the rest of the Titans of Justice and has taken control of Gemworld. With you help us in our efforts?”
“Give us a few minutes to discuss this,” requested Wonder Warrior, motioning his teammates to join him as he retreated to the other side of the room.
“Be our guests,” sighed Nightvision, waving his hand as they retreated.
The five members of Titans West got together in a huddle to discuss the situation.
“Guys, I know we’re in an awkward situation but this is our chance to change history and save a lot of lives,” suggested Wonder Warrior to the others. “What do you think?”
“I think we should just go back to our time and do our best to deal with what we got,” stated Arachnid “You know what they say about messing with the past.”
“Don’t be so self-centered,” scolded Bee Sting. “I know that you’re the youngest member of our group but try to look at the big picture here.”
“Okay, okay… I’ll shut up,” Arachnid said, backing down and shaking his head. “I’m just real freaked out. This is real creepy to me.”
Polomé then contributed his two cents. “Dude,” he said to Arachnid, “we’re all a little shaken up by the situation but I think we can do a lot of good here. I’m all for us helping out.”
“Same here,” agreed Kid Comet.
“Ok, it’s settled then,” concluded Wonder Warrior. He turned to face the Stranger and the rest of the Titans of Justice. “Folks– we’re in.”
“And when we’re done, you’ll send us back home right?” added a nervous Arachnid.
“I will work on a spell to send you home but be advised that someone tampered with my original spell… which is how you wound up here,” replied the Stranger. “I can make no guarantees.”
The Titans West just stood silent for a moment, all of them a bit fearful that they may never be able to return home.
“But seriously, y’all,” suggested Palomé, reading the feelings of the others. “What’ve we got to go home to anyway?”
“Well, just do your best Stranger,” requested Wonder Warrior, ignoring his teammate. “The only thing I’m worried about is: what if we run into our present-day selves?”
“Duh!” interjected Palomé, rolling his eyes backward. “Don’t you pay any attention?”
“There is no need to worry about that. As you were told earlier, when one time-travels, you merge with your present-day self,” explained the Stranger. “The same thing happened to the Legion of Doom when they arrived here from the past.” The Stranger then turned to Sargona, “I will need your help to augment my teleportational abilities so that we can all journey to Gemworld.”
“If you need assistance with teleportation, I can help,” revealed Polomé. “I inherited my mother’s teleportation powers. Though I don’t think I could teleport a group this big on my own.” He scratched at his goatee. “But if we combine our abilities, we may be able to transport the whole group.”
“Indeed,” agreed the Stranger. “Let us join hands…”
“Wait,” requested Nightvision. “With the Hall so badly damaged, I’d like to ask the Huntress to stay here and keep watch.”
“Oh sure, keep me away from all of the fun,” the Huntress said with smirk. She was obviously disappointed but knew Nightvision’s request was justified. “No big deal. I’ve wanted some time to go through the crime files anyway.”
“Thanks Huntress,” said a grateful Nightvision. “If you need any help, just contact Oracle and she’ll be happy to round up the JLA or the JSA from mothballs.”
“Sure thing,” responded the Huntress. “Good luck!”
As the Stranger and Polomé joined hands, a sphere of light started to surround them and their teammates. Palomé’s soul-self emerged from his body, encompassing the illuminated group, and within a few minutes, the team had vanished into thin air.
***
Gemworld…
The captured Titans of Justice were still in shock over Mordru’s brutal murder of Vibe. A full day had gone by since the tragic event. Many of the team were scared, depressed, or filled with anger.
“We’ve got to figure a way out of here,” Green Lantern said, struggling to break free of his chains. “My ring hasn’t been able to put a scratch in these mystic chains.”
“None of us can break free from our chains,” insisted a weary Icemanling, “and with a full day going by, your ring probably won’t work any more.”
“Actually, it does,” Green Lantern said surprising his teammates. “Time must flow differently here.”
“We may not need Green Lantern’s ring to get us out of here,” suggested Venus.
The team was intrigued by her statement. “Girl, if you’ve got a way to get us out of here, make it happen,” insisted Black Vulcan II.
“Agreed,” commented Celsius. “What do you have in mind?”
Before Venus could tell the others of her plan, the door to their cell burst open. Mordru, Flaw, and the Child made their way into the room.
“Perfect timing…” whispered Venus.
Mordru had and ice-cold look upon his face as he gazed upon his captives. “I trust you all remember your lesson from yesterday?”
“You’ll pay for what you’ve done,” threatened Strato Hawk, straining futilely at his restraints.
“Really?” questioned Mordru. “And how are you going to make me pay when you can’t even touch me, Christian? Or should I say Hector?”
Mordru’s statement took Strato Hawk by surprise. He wondered if Mordru was implying that he was Hector Hall, the deceased son of Hawkman. “Quit with the games Mordru, I know who I am.”
“Really?” inquired Mordru. “The Hall family has a long history of reincarnation. Are you aware that you were born the very same day that Hector Hall ceased to exist?”
Strato Hawk just glared at Mordru, wondering if he was telling the truth or just messing with his head. “I don’t have time for your lies so give it a rest.”
“Oh, I’m not lying this time Hector,” insisted Mordru. “When you were Dr. Fate, you were one of my greatest enemies. That is why I had the Arkham Asylum guard release Dr. Phosphorus a few months ago. It was my intention that he could finish the job of killing your father that he started some twenty years prior. Sadly, you and your friend Nightvision pulled down the curtain before the drama could play out.”
“So you were behind Dr. Phosphorus’ escape!” concluded Strato Hawk. “You misterable bastard! Do you know much destruction that man caused?!”
“Yes, and I enjoyed every second of it!” Mordru replied with a devilish grin. “Well, I must be going. I have other matters to attend to. Flaw keep watch over our young friends here for a while. Child, come with me. We are going to go torment the earth’s mystics for a bit…”
“Earth’s mystics? What have you done to them?” demanded Power Guy.
“Oh, I lured them all to the Rock of Eternity and sealed it up tight!” gloated Mordru. “Dr. Fate, Zatanna, the Phantom Stranger, even the Black Marvel Family.”
As Mordru left the room, Strato Hawk pondered if he could really be Hector Hall or not. His age certainly fell in line with the year that Hector died and how old he would be had he been reborn but he still had his doubts.
After Mordru shut the door behind him, Flaw looked around the room and folded his arms across his chest. “Try something stupid, Titans. I dare you.” He knew full well that they could not, but he enjoyed taunting them.
Just then, Venus let out an extremely strong sneeze. “Ahh-chooo!” Her hair flung forward just about covering her face. After a few seconds, she called out to their jailer. “Flaw dear, could you come over here and push my hair back? I can’t see very well.”
Flaw gazed upon Venus for a few moments before responding to her request. “So I am to serve you, foolish woman? Heh,” he laughed. “I’ll do it if only to see a face of a woman to be killed,” commented an arrogant Flaw. He walked over to Venus and put his finger beneath her chin to violently toss her head back. “Mordru will not mind if I have some fun, with you.” Little did he realize that the moment he approached her, she emitted a stream of her pheromones at him.
Venus looked up at Flaw with emotive eyes. “Your touch is so strong… but gentle Flaw. Never have I felt something so powerful…”
As the pheromones started to affect Flaw, he became enchanted by Venus. Narrowing his crystalline eyes, he glared at her. “You have done something to me woman,” he started, hesitating. He felt somewhat dizzy, but maintained his stance.
“How about you let me out of here and we go somewhere special?” she asked him, hoping her abilities would have an affect on a creature such as he.
The giant crystalline behemoth pondered on the idea for a minute. He knew Mordru would be furious if he let Venus out. But her pheromones were starting to affect him just enough for him to allow the amusing notion to toy with her further. “I may let you out. And we will see if you enjoy my… company. You will be silent.”
“Oh, I won’t make a sound,” agreed Venus.
Flaw, being a golem magically animated by the forces of chaos, needed no keys to remove the shackles from her wrists. He simply snapped the chains from the walls and gently crushed the shackles from her wrists.
Venus rubbed her sore wrists for a few seconds as she regained her composure. Flaw put his hands on her shoulders. “And now that you are free, let us see how much you are capable of enduring. This may be painful for you. Come.” He roughly pulled her forward toward him.
“Let’s… let’s stay here rather than going out. Let’s show my friends what a man you are,” teased Venus. “How about your close your eyes and I’ll give you a little surprise?”
The hulking monster was fully aware that the captive was attempting to escape, and had used some power upon him to make him do her bidding. He felt that he, being aware of her efforts, was in control, and played along with her. “You are pretty, little female. And you have no qualms of your fellows seeing you in the altogether? Let’s show them, shall we?” He cupped her face in his massive hand, and closed his eyes in amusement.
Venus wasted no time and promptly put all of her weight and strength into a swift right-hook, planting in right between Flaw’s eyes and sending the massive villain flying backwards into the door of their cell. The door cracked open from the impact of Flaw’s body slamming against it.
“Way to go Venus!” cheered Wonder Man and Celsius.
Venus ran over to Junjie Quick and pulled his chains from the wall as Flaw was shaking off the sting of her punch. Once Quick was released, Venus asked the obsidian speedster to help get the rest of their teammates free. “Now that you’re loose, use your speed to get the others free before Flaw picks himself up.” At a questioning look from Quick, she added, “Just stick your fingers into the locks and vibrate them. They will come loose.” She did not know where the knowledge came from, but her confidence was all Quick needed. Within a fraction of a second, Junjie had raced around the room freeing his captive teammates.
In the midst of the commotion, Flaw had recovered from Venus’ attack and picked himself up off of the ground. He surveyed the freed captives and laughed derisively. “I suppose this means you ALL would like to… experience… me?”
“I gave you what you deserve and now you’re going to get some more of it,” promised Venus as she lunged towards the villain. She punched Flaw in the face a few more times. He, in turn, found himself a victim of her pheromones, and though he knew he should resist, he allowed her to continue pummeling him. As she continued to punch the monster, her blows became more and more intense. It was apparent that her super-strength had kicked in as chunks of Flaw’s body started to chip off and fly around the room. After a few minutes, he was nothing more than a pile of rubble. Venus looked down at her defeated foe and at her reddened, swollen knuckles. “Boy that felt good! GL – would you mind doing the honors?”
Green Lantern quickly took the cue and used his ring to collect the pieces of Flaw and shoot them out a window in the room; scattering the pieces all across the countryside.
“Well, that was interesting…” stated an amazed Starman. “Boy is it good to be free!”
Celsius looked around the room at his team. He knew several of them were still shaken from Vibe’s death. This was his make-it-or-break-it point as a leader. He knew his team was riled and unfocused yet they had to find and free Jemstone and then face the near impossible task of taking down Mordru. “Okay mates, I know we’ve all been put through the wringer but we have to tell ourselves to stay focused. Jemstone and the people of this world need our help. Plus if we can’t stop Mordru, I’m betting Earth will be next on his list.”
“You’re probably right,” agreed Green Lantern. “I suggest we figure out a plan on the way to finding Jemstone.”
With that, Green Lantern collected all of his non-flying teammates in a giant power-bubble for transport. He and the fliers took to the air in search of their teammate.