Titans East Chapter 35 – “Fausta Returns Pt. 2”

Written by: Power Guy
Co-conspirator: Scotty2Hotty
Editor: Marcus Mebes

Mount Olympus….

Hippolyta barged into Lord Zeus’chambers in a fury.





Zeus was feasting upon a leg of lamb and was annoyed by this interruption. “What is it my child? Make it quick before my dinner gets cold.” Mortal sacrifice of livestock had grown few and far between, in this day and age when worship of the ancient pantheon was steadily waning. Zeus was pleased with the lamb, and fully intended to enjoy it.

“It’s Fausta, Lord Zeus,” answered Hippolyta. “She’s returned and has a devious plan to destroy my family and take control of the Earth. I know that you denied my previous request to return to the mortal plane but the stakes are too high this time. You MUST send me back at once,” she insisted

“Hippolyta – my mind is made up,” said Zeus firmly. “You will not be going back to earth to meddle in the affairs of these mortals. Sometimes, you must let fate play its hand.”

“But Lord Zeus, show some compassion,” pleaded Hippolyta. “My beloved daughters and my grandson’s lives are at stake…”

“I will hear no more!!!” bellowed Zeus slamming his right fist down on the arm of his throne. “You have had several chances to make things right on the mortal plane and each time, you cause more harm than good. Remember the ‘Amazons Attack’ incident? Or how about when you manipulated things so that Artemis would become the new Wonder Woman? Begone and do not bother me with this request again!”

Hippolyta gritted her teeth as she stormed out of Zeus’s throne room. She made her way out of the palace and sat down by one of the pools of water outside. “How can Zeus be so foolish not realize that I am the only one who understands how Fausta works? I’m the only one with a chance of stopping her and her mistress, the Dark Angel.”

Suddenly, a portal of light opened. Hippolyta’s vision was slightly impaired by the blinding light but she could make out the figure of a man stepping through the portal.

The man called out to her, “Tell me Hippolyta, would you accept the help of a Stranger?”

***

The site of the Spear of Destiny, Brazil…

“The infidels are secure, Fausta,” reported Captain Nazi as he finished binding Apache Chief and Rima in Rima’s unbreakable, mystic vines.

“Good Captain,” complimented Fausta. “As soon as the Cheetah emerges from the hut, we can begin their slow, painful death!” she added, wearing a sadistic grin.

Before the Nazis could continue with their twisted plan, Wonder Man came soaring down from his Invisble Jet. Much to Fausta’s surprise, she was struck in the back of the head by his rock-hard fist.

“Aackk!!” she exclaimed as she spit blood from her mouth.

“It’s over Fausta! Let Apache Chief and Rima go!” ordered Wonder Man as he cracked his knuckles in preparation for further battle.

“Foolish Boy! It is three against one! You have no hope of winning,” taunted Captain Nazi.

“You need your eyes checked. Look above,” retorted Wonder Man as he gestured toward his descending plane.

Wonder Warrior, Starman, and Palomé had flown out of the plane while Venus and Lilith were climbing down the jet’s rope-ladder.

Wonder Warrior crashed into Captain Nazi, knocking him off of his feet. Before the Captain knew what hit him, Wonder Warrior quicly shackled his wrists with chains made from his Lansinar-bracelets.

“Release me you dog,” growled Captain Nazi as he tried to break free from his chains.

Palomé flew down towards the Captain and released his soul-self. “Let’s see where all of this anger and hatred is coming from.” Palomé’s soul-self quickly enveloped the Captain causing him to freeze-up as he was forced to face his inner fears and uncertainties. The young healer settled in the branches of a large tree and watched as his teammates faced the villains. His gaze returned to where his soul-self was delving into Captain Nazi’s psyche, and grinned ruefully. “Hatred and self-loathing aren’t anything I can heal,” he murmured, “but maybe I can do something else…”

Several feel away, Starman and Venus decided to double-team the Baroness. Starman fired several blasts from his Cosmic-rod at the speedy villain but was unable to score a direct hit as she zipped past each blast. “I can’t seem to hit her,” groaned Starman in disappointment.

“I can barely see her,” pointed out Venus, swinging her fists where the Baroness was two seconds ago.

Before the two heroes could launch another attack, the Baroness rammed into them both at super-speed. The impact propelled the two heroes about thirty feet from where they had previously stood.

“Foul swine!” she slurred abrasively. “None are faster than the Baroness!”

Starman and Venus were both shaken by the attack, both of them still dazed.

The Baroness saw her opponents struggling to regain their senses and decided to finish off her prey. “That last blow wasn’t even at mach-one. Rest assured, this one will be!” She raced towards Starman and Venus in delight.

Starman, while still groggy, noticed the Baroness starting to approach. He knew it was now or never if he wanted to survive this day. With a quick adjustment to his bracelet, the Baroness soon found herself floating one hundred feet up in the air.

“What is this trickery???” she demanded while soaring upward.

“Your speed is no good if can’t touch the ground,” gloated Starman.

“Nice work Starman,” complimented Venus. “For a minute there, I thought I was going to find out what it feels to be hit by a train.”

As Captain Nazi and The Baroness were neutralized, Fausta stood firm in her position.

Wonder Man shouted at her, “Look around you, Fausta. Your little team is falling apart. My grandmother always said the only way for a person to be happy is to show loving submission to authority? I’m not sure I buy into that, but maybe you should.”

“Bah! You repulse me with your words! Your crone of a grandmother was a heretic and a traitor to her own race! Playing hero with the men of the United States…adorning herself in that nation’s flag and emblems! She was a disgusting maggot and I am pleased she is dead and rotting in Hell!” Fausta spat.

“Awww no, Fausta… you’ve really pissed me off now,” Wonder Man said, offended at the slurs about Hippolyta. He faces his erstwhile teammate. “Lilith, get out of here… if I don’t make it, tell my mother and father and my Aunt Donna how much I love them. And you, you were my favorite aunt, next to Aunt Donna of course,” Wonder Man gave her a quick peck on the cheek and then used all of his power to hurtle towards Fausta.

“Scott! No!” Lilith shouted.

Wonder Man slammed into Fausta. He barely knocked her to the ground. “My mother told me to never strike a lady, but I don’t think that applies to you.” He pummeled Fausta with his fists only to have Fausta grab his hand and stop him mid- punch.

“Is this how you treat your lovers, pretty boy? Such sweet little love bites.” Fausta laughed as she brought Wonder Man to his knees. He could feel the bones in his hand begin to break. He thought back to a judo trick Lilith had shown him so many years ago. He kicked out his leg and struck Fausta in her heel, knocking her down.

The Nazi seemed stunned and Wonder Man took full advantage of her surprise.

“Go, Scott GO! Lilith shouted. She could feel her ESP going into full throttle… telling her something about Fausta.

Wonder Man and Fausta were locked in a full-blown knock-down drag-out. He connected a punch to her mouth, knocking several teeth loose.

“Now, boy! Now you are fighting like a real man!” Fausta said. Spitting out a tooth, she licked blood from her lips. The villainess elbowed Wonder Man in his square jaw, snapping his head back. She proceeded to punch him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. She grabbed him by the shirt collar and ripped the shirt to shreds. Fausta liked what she saw.

“Look at you… are you sure you aren’t from Germany? You have a body the Fuhrer would clone for his perfect army.” Fausta landed a gut punch so hard that Wonder Man thought he would throw up.

He fell back and Fausta stood over him, both fists raised in the air. Just then he summoned up the strength to take to the air.

Fausta watched as he rose higher and higher into the sky, until he was gone. “Ha ha ha!! Do you see? The Wonder Man is a coward! He flees from the fight! You… the red haired Norse-looking cow! I shall tear you limb from limb and leave you here for the world to see!” Fausta sneered as she approached Lilith.

“Not today ugly! Don’t you know that your kind went out of style years ago? You should cool it and channel that hate into something productive--like dancing. I hear the Canary Cottage is hiring,” Lilith said with a smile.

“You won’t be so chipper in a few moments, fraulein!” Fausta growled. Her face was distorted with rage and blood was pouring from her nose and mouth. Her neat hair-bun had come undone and Lilith’s ESP warned her that Fausta was about to go berserk.

“5... 4... 3… 2...” Lilith counted aloud.

“Counting down to your demise? How sweet!” Fausta said, her hands going for Lilith’s neck.

“1!” Lilith shouted as she backed away.

Just then a shadow covered them both. Fausta looked up to see Wonder Man flying at her with all the speed and force of a meteor.

“Gott im himmel,” Fausta whispered.

Wonder Man’s fists slammed into her face, knocking her several yards away and leaving a long ditch as she was propelled backwards. She left a dozen broken trees and rocks in her path before she landed, only to have Wonder Man on top of her, fists flying.

Fausta was stunned at the blonde olive-skinned man’s fury.

“Schw…schwein….” she tried to say as Wonder Man raised his fist over his head. He slipped his gauntlet over his fist and struck Fausta on her left temple. She began to convulse violently and lost control of her limbs. After a few moments she lay helpless, although still conscious.

***
Star Labs, Metropolis, U.S.A….

Metallo had tried breaking into Star Labs in hopes of stealing a new metallic alloy to graft to his mechanical body. His plans were stopped short by the heroics of Power Guy, Nightvision, Black Vulcan, and Power Lad.

“Well, that’s a wrap,” Power Guy said dusting off his hands. “By the way Power Lad, you did a great job helping us take down Metallo.”

“Piece of cake,” bragged Power Lad. “That walking garbage-disposal was no match for me… uh, I mean us.”

“Always ready to take your fair share of credit, huh?” chastised Black Vulcan, who was obviously annoyed.

“Hey, I’m earth’s greatest hero in training,” replied a cocky Power Lad. “So when are you guys going to invite me on to the team already???”

Power Guy hesitated for minute before answering Power Lad’s question. “Power Lad… while you did a great job today, you still have a lot to learn. We got lucky today; going up against Metallo, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable subjecting you to these kinds of threats on a regular basis just yet.”

“But my suit gives me super-strength, flight, and heat-vision… plus I can b_tch-slap any villain from here to Hub City!”

Placing his hand on Power Lad’s shoulder, Power Guy looked into the teen’s eyes with compassion. “I’m sorry, you’re just not ready yet. Don’t get upset about this. This is what these training sessions are all about – so you can take over for me once I’m no longer around.”

“Ah… you’ll be around forever…” whined a disappointed Power Lad as he kicked a rock.

“Hey, even I want to retire some day and worst-case scenario, I could die in battle. Either way, my spot on the Titans will be yours,” informed Power Guy, thinking he would have at least twenty years to ready Power Lad for such an achievement.

Black Vulcan interrupted with, “If we’re done here, I need to be going.”

“What’s the rush, Black Vulcan?” asked Nightvision. The dark detective had been keeping to the sidelines once they had subdued Metallo, and felt no need to join the Powers’ conversation. “Need to pick up lunch for Mrs. Waller?”

“Whatever! I don’t have time for this B/S,” groaned Black Vulcan.

Power Guy turned to Black Vulcan and asked, “Seriously Black Vulcan, you’ve been awfully moody lately. Is something bothering you?”

“You wouldn’t be able to sleep either if you were a spy,” interjected Nightvision with uncharacteristic sarcasm.

“That’s it, I’m gone!” shouted Black Vulcan as she started to turn into her energy-form. “I could hear that crap from Sarcasta, but not y’all!”

Power Guy was quick to grab her arm. “Wait! We can help you with whatever is troubling you,”

“Yeah, I’d be glad to help you. I just noticed that you changed your costume and put in that little sneak-peak,” grinned Power Lad, staring at Black Vulcan’s cleavage.

“Why… you… little pervert!!!” yelled Black Vulcan as she slapped Power Lad across the face. She immediately took to the sky and flew off.

Power Guy looked over at Power Lad and shook his head. “Not smart. Not smart.”

“Hey, I was giving her a compliment,” retorted Power Lad. “What can I say? She’s hot. Not as hot as Sonic Babe but still…”

***

New York City: The Home of Sargon the Second…

Sargon sat in front of his television, scanning the channels for something of interest when Sargona entered the house in tears. He immediately stood up and rushed over to his daughter. “What is it, princess? Why are you crying?”





Sargona wrapped her arms around her father as her tears became more frequent. “Oh daddy, I think I’m losing him…” she sobbed.

Sargon looked down inquisitively at his daughter. “Why do say that? Losing who? What happened?”

“He keeps shutting me out and avoiding me,” sobbed Sargona as she continued to cry. She assumed her father knew that she was talking about Green Lantern. “And every time we talk, it’s like he has something or someone else on his mind….”

“I cannot believe he would do something like this!” responded an angry sorcerer and father. “He should treasure you like a princess, like I do. And to think, I thought so highly of him…”

“You did?” asked a confused Sargona. “I thought you didn’t care for him?”

“Nonsense. Why would you think that?” countered Sargon. “I guess that Mr. Wonderful is no better than that Green Lantern fellow you used to date.”

Sargona’s eyes nearly popped out of her head at the fact that her father thought she was currently dating Wonder Man. “But Daddy, I’m not…”

Sargon put his index finger over Sargona’s lips and silenced her. “Do not worry, I shall come up with a plan for you to make things right with him. You cannot let this one slip away. After all, he is royalty.”

“But… but…” Sargona tried to say.

“Say no more, I will find away to fix everything. Sit down while I go make you some of that berry-blossom white tea you love so much,” Sargon said as he exited the room, shutting the door behind him.

Sargona buried her face in her hands in disgust. “I really need some turtle cheesecake and a gallon of mint ice-cream right about now.”

***

The site of the Spear of Destiny, Brazil…


Lilith ran to the battered young man’s side and hugged him.

“Agh… I think she broke some ribs,” Wonder Man said as he put his aching arm around the petite redhead.

“Scott! You did it! Fausta is defeated!” she said.

“Thanks to you. Thank the gods for your mental powers,” Wonder Man said, trying to catch his breath.

“When you first attacked her, Fausta’s mind sort of opened up to me. I could see Nazi scientists doing something to her. They installed a failsafe in case she ever was to turn on the Germans. There was a weak spot in her skull that would disable her long enough to subdue her. I knew when you took off that you got my message via my ESP and needed to get enough momentum to knock her off her feet. Donna would be so proud!” Lilith said looking at the shirtless young man. Despite being a bit older, Lilith was still boy-crazy, but knew Donna Troy’s nephew was off limits to her. If only she were younger…and single, she thought.

“Lilith, after this is over, I’m buying you dinner… and I want a judo refresher,” he said, smiling at the pretty psychic.

“Ha ha, sure kiddo!” Lilith said as the two of them stared at the motionless Nazi.

“Now, we’ve got to find the Cheetah,” Wonder Man said looking around.

With coincidental timing, a voice responded, “I’m right here you fool… and I brought a party favor with me!”

Wonder Man and Lilith turned to see the Cheetah holding the Spear of Destiny. Both felt a shiver go down their spines.

Wonder Man called out to his friends. “Titans! Over here! We’ve got trouble!”

Wonder Warrior, Palomé, Starman, and Venus rushed over to see what all of the commotion was about.

“Only five of you?” queried the Cheetah. “I was hoping to take down the whole group in one fell swoop!”

“Drop the spear, furball!” ordered Wonder Man.

“You’re in no position to be giving orders, boy,” countered the Cheetah. “But I am,” he snickered.

The battered and bruised Fausta called out to the Cheetah. “Yes animal-man… use the spear! Take control of these whelps and we can finish them off!”

Wonder Man was quick to call out a familiar battle cry. “Titans together!” he shouted, winking at Lilith.

All of the Titans began to converge on the Cheetah, ready to attack… but it was too late. The Cheetah had already activated the spear and stopped the Titans in mid-motion.

“Halt!!!” he demanded.

All of the Titans were forced to stop and obey the Cheetah’s commands. All except Starman, who decided to play along until the perfect moment presented itself. With Starman not having any super-powers, he was immune to the spear’s affect.

The Baroness and Captain Nazi made their way over to the scene of the latest battle. Captain Nazi helped Fausta back onto her feet. “Are you all right, Paula?”

Fausta did her best to feign recovery. “Unhand me! I am fine Captain.” Approaching the Cheetah, she commended him for her actions. “Good work animal-man. You have turned the tide of our battle. I am most impressed with you today.”

“You are?” wondered the Cheetah aloud while rubbing his hands up and down the shaft of the spear.

“Yes,” confirmed Fausta. “Now give me the spear and we can go out separate ways.”

The Cheetah’s eyes started to squint as he bore a huge grin on his face. “Now why would I do that?”

Fausta became quickly irritated and looked sternly at him. “Because if you don’t, I will carve you up like a turkey,” she said pulling out her machete.

“Ha ha ha,” laughed the Cheetah. “Another person makes demands of me and once again, they are in no position to do so.”

“Get him!” commanded Fausta to her teammates.

As the three Nazis raced towards the Cheetah, but he called out to them, “Stop!”

The three villains soon found themselves in the same predicament as the Titans: helpless and unable to move.

“Now, lets’ see which of you should I play with first?” the Cheetah wondered aloud.

TO BE CONTINUED…