Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 0:30:42 GMT -5
Titans East Chapter 60 – “Sick Beginnings”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited by: Power Guy & Marcus Mebes
Black Orchid’s secret lair…
Stellar was jolted awake. He craned his neck trying to see where he was and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get his vision to focus and he was seeing double. He looked down and noticed he had been stripped to the waist, was bare footed, and had been restrained spread-eagled. He was lying on a cold slab and the walls of his prison were green and black with grime. He could hear water dripping, and surmised that the floor was covered with water. He also noticed that his cosmic converter belt was gone, and without it he was just an ordinary teenager.
Despite the cold temperature (he could even see his breath every time he breathed), he was covered in sweat. Every muscle in his body ached and he felt like he had been hit by Superman himself.
As he turned his head, trying to figure out if there was anyone around, he saw a purplish blur and smelled orchids. Before he could react, he felt two hands grab his head and something was being wrapped around his face. “Saran Wrap?” His mind raced and he desperately gasped for air. Within moments his entire head was covered with the wrap and he tried to cry out, but his cries were muffled and he couldn’t breathe. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, he felt a torrent of water hitting him in the face. Stellar was absolutely terrified. Was he being suffocated? Was he drowning? He thrashed his head left to right as the force of the water on the plastic wrap felt like a ton of bricks. Just then he felt a sharp jab in the roof of his mouth, and noticed the warm sensation of blood. He could breathe now, although his mouth was bleeding.
“Don’t pass out so soon, my young friend!” came a voice as the wrap was removed from his head. “You’d better show me a good time or I’ll crucify you like I did my last victim.”
“Bl… Black Orchid!” he stammered, his eyes wide at the woman holding a bloody pocket knife.
“That’s right Star-Sissy! Hahahahahahaha!!!!! I wish you could have seen yourself! Such a panty-waist! Thrashing around like a trapped animal! If you thought that was bad,” the deranged former heroine hissed, “you won’t last the night!”
His wits now about him, he said, “Do your worst,” as blood trickled out of his mouth.
“Oh, I intend to. What would turn you on? Electro-torture? Twenty lashes from a whip? Oh, I know! I could rip off your fingernails and sprinkle salt all over your hands!”
“Bring it on, we’ll party all night!” Stellar said, trying to sound brave. He knew how deadly Black Orchid was and he didn’t know if he would be rescued or not. For all he knew, Black Orchid could have already murdered his teammates.
“That’s the attitude! Maybe you’re more fun than you look!” Black Orchid whispered as she hovered over the young hero. “You’ll be a hell of lot more fun to play with since your fancy belt is gone.”
Hearing her statement made Stellar become concerned. “I need to stall… or at least distract her. Surely someone is coming for me,” he thought. “Why are you doing this? I mean, you kill for no reason. What’s in this for you?” he asked aloud.
Black Orchid glided over to what appeared to be a furnace and started removing something from the fire. “What’s in it for me? Why nothing! I’m simply bored and you are going to entertain me,” she said nonchalantly.
He could see she had removed several red hot coals and placed them in a bowl. She didn’t use prongs or anything—her hands were not burned. “What is she?” Stellar wondered.
Black Orchid drifted like a lavender wraith to the prostrate hero. Whatever she had planned with the hot coals couldn’t be good.
“I’m not afraid of you!” Stellar shouted, trying to convince her as well as himself.
“You aren’t?” Black Orchid yelled as she bent over, her face in front of his. Her teeth were clenched and her eyes were wild. “YOU BETTER BE AFRAID OF ME, BOY!!” she screamed as she placed on of the hot coals on Stellar’s chest.
“AGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!” he screamed.
“You and your almighty teammates in the Justice League of America! Passing judgment on the Titans, and look at you now!” she hissed, her eyes darting around.
The hot coals on Stellar’s chest were unbearable, but he was determined not to cry out again.
“Are you getting cold? We don’t want you to catch a cold, little boy!” Black Orchid whispered into Stellar’s ear as she placed two more red hot coals on his chest.
“ARGGGGHHHH!!! P-please!!” he gasped.
“Now, that I have your attention, I’m going to tell you a bedtime story… my story, and how it all began!” the crazed woman said as she grabbed Stellar by the throat. The three coals were knocked off his chest and fell down his abdomen, leaving trails of burnt flesh in their wake. Thankfully, he was able to move his hips enough to throw them off of himself.
***
Several years ago…
Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Jericho made their way to Warrior’s. The mysterious heroine Black Orchid was being honored with a party to celebrate her return to the superhero community. After several heroic adventures and a brief stint with the Suicide Squad, Black Orchid had vanished for the most part. About a week prior, the majority of earth’s superhuman community received invitations from Black Orchid herself, informing them that she was back and was hosting a party to catch up with old friends and celebrate her return.
“Isn’t it exciting! A party with so many of our friends!” Starfire exclaimed.
“Yeah, it’ll be nice to see everyone. I wonder if Donna of any of the others will show up?” Cyborg inquired.
“I spoke to her today. She’s busy on Paradise Island. It’s her nephew’s birthday and Donna couldn’t miss it,” Starfire replied. “What’s wrong with you, Raven?” the buxom alien asked. “You’re even more quiet than usual.”
“I do not know, Koriand’r. Something is amiss. Something about this party,” the empath uttered.
“Oh stop. You probably just miss your baby and husband,” Cyborg chided.
Despite having a family, Raven still found herself along with her husband, Risk, active members of the Titans. Jericho offered her a warm smile, which made her put her bad feelings out of her head. The four Titans entered Warrior’s and the party was in full swing.
Jericho looked around the room and noticed that not many prominent heroes were in attendance. He recognized Gypsy, Thunder, Grace, Halo, General Glory, Beefeater, and Guy Gardner. He noticed the sisters known as Hawk and Dove as well.
“Wow, it’s like the B- and C-listers are having a convention,” Cyborg said under his breath.
“Victor! Don’t say things like that! When I talked to Donna, she told me that the Justice League and Justice Society are on some mission in another dimension. I’m sure they would be here if they could. Let’s have fun!” Starfire said as she made her way though the crowd. “Look, there she is! Black Orchid!”
The heroine of the hour was chatting with Guy Gardner and seemed to be enjoying the lothario’s attention.
“I wonder if she’ll reveal her secrets tonight. You know, they say she’s from Krypton—like Superman! Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if she was his sister!” the wide-eyed alien said with glee.
Raven rolled her eyes at her friend. She couldn’t shake the bad feeling that was overwhelming her. Since the birth of her son, her powers had been a bit off, so she tried to blame her seeming paranoia on them. She prayed that her son would be a normal human baby, but was afraid he had inherited his parents’ powers.
“Titans! I’m so happy you all came!” the Black Orchid said hugging each of them. “You guys came on the scene shortly before I stopped the heroics.”
“Enough with the Teeny Tots, Orchid. Are you up for a little party for just you and me after the bar closes?” Guy Gardner asked as he put his arm around Black Orchid.
He was very drunk and had been hitting on every woman in the bar.
“Do you think you could handle me, Guy?” the violet eyed woman asked as she pressed Guy’s body against hers.
“Uh, guys let’s get a drink and let these two have some privacy,” Cyborg suggested.
“Oh, don’t rush off. Don’t you want to know all of Black Orchid’s secrets!? All will be revealed tonight!” she shouted.
The crowd in the bar quieted down a bit as Black Orchid smiled. “Everyone has had their theories about me over the years and why I went away. Was I an amnesiac Power Girl? Am I from Krypton?” she mused as she stood next to Starfire. She looked at the alien and said, “I adore your hair! So thick and full of volume. How do you do it?”
Raven suddenly was overwhelmed. “Koriand’r… Kory, get away from her!”
Before Starfire could react, the Black Orchid had grabbed Starfire’s luxurious mane and gave it a quick yank. In a flash, the Titan was scalped. Blood poured from Starfire’s head and she dropped to her knees.
The assembled heroes were speechless.
Black Orchid levitated into the air, still holding the bloody pelt of hair. “What am I, you ask? I am your DEATH!!!!!” she laughed as she flew to Jericho, wrapping his arms with Starfire’s hair. He stared into Black Orchid’s eyes, trying to take her over.
“Uh-uh, perm boy,” she said flatly as she plunged her fingers into Jericho’s eyes, gouging them out. The mute hero opened his mouth making an odd gasping noise. She then plunged her fist into his throat, wrapping her fist around his neck bone and pulled it completely out. His head flopped like a ragdoll and she dropped him to the floor.
“You just made a big mistake lady!” Guy Gardner said flying at her with Cyborg right behind.
“The only mistake I made was letting you touch me, you pervert!” Guy flew at her and Black Orchid grabbed his crotch, crushing his most delicate parts. Guy fell to the floor writhing in pain. He aimed his ring at Black Orchid but with the extreme pain shooting through his body, the ring fizzled and she quickly ripped off his finger—ring and all and promptly shoved it down his throat.
“There! Choke on that, stud!” she hissed.
Cyborg had tried to rally the other heroes, but many of them had not been in battle for years and were stunned at the Orchid’s savage behavior. Grace joined Cybog and the duo charged at Black Orchid. Hawk and Dove also charged Black Orchid from behind. Hawk grabbed her around the neck.
“You’d think more of the REAL heroes would have come to my party!” she said, grabbing Hawk by the head and ripping it off. She threw the head at Dove. “Hawk and Dove? Are you boys transvestites now?”
“Holly! Oh no, NO!” Dove screamed. Cyborg and Grace knocked Black Orchid to the ground. She quickly threw them off and sent Grace crashing into a wall.
“You! You don’t deserve to live you inhuman bucket of bolts!” Black Orchid screamed as she punched through the metal half of Cyborg’s head.
“I’m more human than you’ll EVER be!” Victor Stone shouted. “Here—every party needs music!” he said as he used his sound-blaster to release thousands of decibels of white sound. To his astonishment, Black Orchid put her hands over her ears and kicked the sound-blaster off of Cyborg’s arm.
“Maybe I AM from Krypton, boy!” Black Orchid smiled as she ripped Cyborg’s remaining arm and legs off. “And to think, people thought you were ready for the Justice League?” Black Orchid looked down at Cyborg’s limbless torso. “Pathetic.” she muttered as she stomped on Cyborg’s face until she smashed his skull.
“Is there no one to challenge me!?” Black Orchid screamed.
“I challenge you, monster,” Raven said. “Your spree stops here and now.”
“I’m shaking in my boots. Why don’t you send your soul-self after me and see if that works? What’s with you, anyway? Goth is so 1990s and you need a tan, little woman.”
Raven released her soul-self and it enveloped Black Orchid. “Everyone! Be ready if she gets loose. She is crazed and I do not know how long I can hold her!”
Gypsy and General Glory rushed to Raven’s side. Starfire was up as well, although her head was pouring blood.
Just then Black Orchid ripped through the black soul-self and grabbed the already wounded Starfire. Starfire managed to release a starbolt before stumbling to the ground. The bolt sent Black Orchid into the kitchen where all manner of bar food was being deep fried. Halo who was flying after Black Orchid, got trapped under some of the falling debris
“I’ll get her while she’s down!” Gypsy cried.
“No! Gypsy, stop! She’s nuts!” General Glory said, trying to stop the exuberant woman. Gypsy turned invisible and made her way to the kitchen. Black Orchid was lying on the ground passed out.
“I think Starfire took her out. She’s down!” Gypsy shouted.
“Don’t be so sure. Orchids are hardy,” the woman in purple whispered as she grabbed Gypsy’s head and shoved it face-first into a fryer full of hot grease. The former Justice Leaguer’s cries were muffled as the hot grease filled the inside of her mouth. Black Orchid pulled her head out, revealing Gypsy’s horribly disfigured face.
“Hmph, quite an improvement if you ask me,” Black Orchid giggled as she then snapped Gypsy’s neck. She picked up a meat clever and hurled it at General Glory who had entered the kitchen. Her speed was on the level of Superman’s and the cleaver hit the General in the head, lopping the top left side of it off.
Black Orchid howled with laughter as she flew towards Raven and Dove. She grabbed Raven by the neck and punched her other hand through’s Dove’s face. Blood and gore splattered all over Black Orchid and Raven.
“Look at your Titans, you zombie freak! And to think, you all replaced Aqualad, Bumblebee, and Harlequin. You’re not so tough after all. I’m tired of this. Where’s the Justice Society?” the heroine-turned-killer asked. She spied the meat cleaver she used to kill General Glory and picked it up.
“I read about you Raven and I never liked you. You empaths are too dangerous for your own good.”
“Why… why do you want to hurt people?” Raven gasped as Black Orchid tightened her grip.
“Why? Why NOT!? I read that you have a little boy, Raven. Maybe after I finish here, I’ll track him down and kill him too. You think about that as you meet your maker—whoever it is!” was her response as she took the meat clever and proceeded to gut Raven from stem to stern. Hot entrails spilled from the battered Titan’s body.
Black Orchid surveyed the room. She saw Starfire writhing on the floor.
“I forgot you. How rude of me.”
She dragged the dazed golden skinned woman to the meat locker. She spied a meathook and lifted Starfire into the air.
Realizing what was about to happen to her, Starfire started struggling. The blood from her wound was in her eyes and made it difficult for her to see clearly and she couldn’t concentrate.
SPLAT!!!!! Starfire cried out as the meat hook dug into her back, ripping bone and tendon.
“Don’t you look pretty hanging there! Like my own little rag doll!” Black Orchid said as she proceeded to break Starfire’s legs. By now, Starfire was totally in shock. Her assailant picked up a large knife and slashed her throat, leaving her to finally bleed to death.
Black Orchid made her way through the bar. A small group of heroes she didn’t recognize had assembled to fight her. She merely laughed and flew up through the ceiling. The hero known as Beefeater glanced at Thunder and told her to get out quick, but it was too late. Black Orchid slammed full force into the building, causing it to collapse, killing the remaining heroes.
The murderess made her way to the street where paramedics and police were assembled.
Grace had pulled herself up, despite being wounded.
The police had pulled their guns and a S.W.A.T team had been positioned.
“Get back! Don’t go near her!” Grace shouted.
“I grow tired of this. YOU!! The fake Amazon!” Black Orchid cried as she attacked the former Outsider. Grace was pummeled by what felt like a thousand fists at once. She then cried out as Black Orchid punched her in the ribcage, shattering her sternum.
“Oh shut up! It’s much easier if you accept death’s icy grip rather than fighting it!”
Grace still screamed as Black Orchid grabbed her chin and gave it a sharp jerk to the right, dislocating it. Grace garbled something and was able to land a punch to Black Orchid’s forehead.
“You b_tch!! That actually hurt! I was going to let you live, but not now!” Black Orchid howled as she proceeded to grab Grace’s already hanging jaw and ripped it completely from her face.
“Oh my Lord” shouted one of the police. “FIRE!” he shouted.
A hail of bullets bounced of the Black Orchid’s petite frame and she laughed.
“Let this be a warning to you. I am unstoppable! Warn earth’s so-called heroes. If they dare cross my path I’ll kill them. I’ll find their families and they will suffer. Do you hear me! DO YOU!!!!
” she laughed maniacally and took to the air.
The EMT workers headed to the rubble of Warrior’s to see if there were any survivors. Just then Superman, Zatanna, Aquaman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, and Black Canary arrived at the scene. Black Canary saw Grace’s mutilated body lying on the asphault. “Oh no… what happened here.?” the pretty blonde asked.
An EMT worker told the Justice League of America what had happened as workers sifted through the remains of the bar. To their shock, they found Halo alive, still trapped under some debris. “Ma’am, are you ok?” one of the workers asked.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” Halo kept saying, traumatized by the day’s events.
“I’ve scanned the area, Black Orchid is either gone or she’s shape-shifted into someone else,” explained the Martian known as J’onn J’onzz. “Her shape-changing abilities are so great that she can alter her mind to mimic the thought-patterns of the person she replaces.”
“They searched for me, my little star, but they never found me. I made sure of that,” Black Orchid said as she stared at the captive Stellar.
“You’re sick...” the weakening young man gasped.
His chest was terribly burned from the hot coals and he couldn’t tell if he was going to pass out or throw up.
“Yes, yes I am sick. Sick of self-righteous ‘heroes’ like you, and your constant belly-aching! Now, I need to send something to your teammates. Something letting them know I mean business. Hmmmmm. Should I send an arm or a leg? I know what! I let you decide!” Black Orchid said as she picked up a butcher knife. “It’s a bit dull, but this should only take a minute.”
“No! No!!!” Stellar pleaded. Black Orchid licked the tip of the knife with her tongue. “Wait. Where did you disappear to for all of those years?”
“Oh boo… boo hoo. Trying to stall. You’re going to have to wait for the rest of the story until next time!” she said mockingly. “Shhh, don’t cry. Don’t cry. It’ll all be over in a jiffy,” she said as she plunged the knife into Stellar’s knee, slicing through delicate muscle and ligaments. Lucky for Stellar, before she could continue, something else caught her attention. “Stay pumped, I’ll be right back!” she said, exiting the chamber.
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited by: Power Guy & Marcus Mebes
Black Orchid’s secret lair…
Stellar was jolted awake. He craned his neck trying to see where he was and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get his vision to focus and he was seeing double. He looked down and noticed he had been stripped to the waist, was bare footed, and had been restrained spread-eagled. He was lying on a cold slab and the walls of his prison were green and black with grime. He could hear water dripping, and surmised that the floor was covered with water. He also noticed that his cosmic converter belt was gone, and without it he was just an ordinary teenager.
Despite the cold temperature (he could even see his breath every time he breathed), he was covered in sweat. Every muscle in his body ached and he felt like he had been hit by Superman himself.
As he turned his head, trying to figure out if there was anyone around, he saw a purplish blur and smelled orchids. Before he could react, he felt two hands grab his head and something was being wrapped around his face. “Saran Wrap?” His mind raced and he desperately gasped for air. Within moments his entire head was covered with the wrap and he tried to cry out, but his cries were muffled and he couldn’t breathe. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, he felt a torrent of water hitting him in the face. Stellar was absolutely terrified. Was he being suffocated? Was he drowning? He thrashed his head left to right as the force of the water on the plastic wrap felt like a ton of bricks. Just then he felt a sharp jab in the roof of his mouth, and noticed the warm sensation of blood. He could breathe now, although his mouth was bleeding.
“Don’t pass out so soon, my young friend!” came a voice as the wrap was removed from his head. “You’d better show me a good time or I’ll crucify you like I did my last victim.”
“Bl… Black Orchid!” he stammered, his eyes wide at the woman holding a bloody pocket knife.
“That’s right Star-Sissy! Hahahahahahaha!!!!! I wish you could have seen yourself! Such a panty-waist! Thrashing around like a trapped animal! If you thought that was bad,” the deranged former heroine hissed, “you won’t last the night!”
His wits now about him, he said, “Do your worst,” as blood trickled out of his mouth.
“Oh, I intend to. What would turn you on? Electro-torture? Twenty lashes from a whip? Oh, I know! I could rip off your fingernails and sprinkle salt all over your hands!”
“Bring it on, we’ll party all night!” Stellar said, trying to sound brave. He knew how deadly Black Orchid was and he didn’t know if he would be rescued or not. For all he knew, Black Orchid could have already murdered his teammates.
“That’s the attitude! Maybe you’re more fun than you look!” Black Orchid whispered as she hovered over the young hero. “You’ll be a hell of lot more fun to play with since your fancy belt is gone.”
Hearing her statement made Stellar become concerned. “I need to stall… or at least distract her. Surely someone is coming for me,” he thought. “Why are you doing this? I mean, you kill for no reason. What’s in this for you?” he asked aloud.
Black Orchid glided over to what appeared to be a furnace and started removing something from the fire. “What’s in it for me? Why nothing! I’m simply bored and you are going to entertain me,” she said nonchalantly.
He could see she had removed several red hot coals and placed them in a bowl. She didn’t use prongs or anything—her hands were not burned. “What is she?” Stellar wondered.
Black Orchid drifted like a lavender wraith to the prostrate hero. Whatever she had planned with the hot coals couldn’t be good.
“I’m not afraid of you!” Stellar shouted, trying to convince her as well as himself.
“You aren’t?” Black Orchid yelled as she bent over, her face in front of his. Her teeth were clenched and her eyes were wild. “YOU BETTER BE AFRAID OF ME, BOY!!” she screamed as she placed on of the hot coals on Stellar’s chest.
“AGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!” he screamed.
“You and your almighty teammates in the Justice League of America! Passing judgment on the Titans, and look at you now!” she hissed, her eyes darting around.
The hot coals on Stellar’s chest were unbearable, but he was determined not to cry out again.
“Are you getting cold? We don’t want you to catch a cold, little boy!” Black Orchid whispered into Stellar’s ear as she placed two more red hot coals on his chest.
“ARGGGGHHHH!!! P-please!!” he gasped.
“Now, that I have your attention, I’m going to tell you a bedtime story… my story, and how it all began!” the crazed woman said as she grabbed Stellar by the throat. The three coals were knocked off his chest and fell down his abdomen, leaving trails of burnt flesh in their wake. Thankfully, he was able to move his hips enough to throw them off of himself.
***
Several years ago…
Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Jericho made their way to Warrior’s. The mysterious heroine Black Orchid was being honored with a party to celebrate her return to the superhero community. After several heroic adventures and a brief stint with the Suicide Squad, Black Orchid had vanished for the most part. About a week prior, the majority of earth’s superhuman community received invitations from Black Orchid herself, informing them that she was back and was hosting a party to catch up with old friends and celebrate her return.
“Isn’t it exciting! A party with so many of our friends!” Starfire exclaimed.
“Yeah, it’ll be nice to see everyone. I wonder if Donna of any of the others will show up?” Cyborg inquired.
“I spoke to her today. She’s busy on Paradise Island. It’s her nephew’s birthday and Donna couldn’t miss it,” Starfire replied. “What’s wrong with you, Raven?” the buxom alien asked. “You’re even more quiet than usual.”
“I do not know, Koriand’r. Something is amiss. Something about this party,” the empath uttered.
“Oh stop. You probably just miss your baby and husband,” Cyborg chided.
Despite having a family, Raven still found herself along with her husband, Risk, active members of the Titans. Jericho offered her a warm smile, which made her put her bad feelings out of her head. The four Titans entered Warrior’s and the party was in full swing.
Jericho looked around the room and noticed that not many prominent heroes were in attendance. He recognized Gypsy, Thunder, Grace, Halo, General Glory, Beefeater, and Guy Gardner. He noticed the sisters known as Hawk and Dove as well.
“Wow, it’s like the B- and C-listers are having a convention,” Cyborg said under his breath.
“Victor! Don’t say things like that! When I talked to Donna, she told me that the Justice League and Justice Society are on some mission in another dimension. I’m sure they would be here if they could. Let’s have fun!” Starfire said as she made her way though the crowd. “Look, there she is! Black Orchid!”
The heroine of the hour was chatting with Guy Gardner and seemed to be enjoying the lothario’s attention.
“I wonder if she’ll reveal her secrets tonight. You know, they say she’s from Krypton—like Superman! Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if she was his sister!” the wide-eyed alien said with glee.
Raven rolled her eyes at her friend. She couldn’t shake the bad feeling that was overwhelming her. Since the birth of her son, her powers had been a bit off, so she tried to blame her seeming paranoia on them. She prayed that her son would be a normal human baby, but was afraid he had inherited his parents’ powers.
“Titans! I’m so happy you all came!” the Black Orchid said hugging each of them. “You guys came on the scene shortly before I stopped the heroics.”
“Enough with the Teeny Tots, Orchid. Are you up for a little party for just you and me after the bar closes?” Guy Gardner asked as he put his arm around Black Orchid.
He was very drunk and had been hitting on every woman in the bar.
“Do you think you could handle me, Guy?” the violet eyed woman asked as she pressed Guy’s body against hers.
“Uh, guys let’s get a drink and let these two have some privacy,” Cyborg suggested.
“Oh, don’t rush off. Don’t you want to know all of Black Orchid’s secrets!? All will be revealed tonight!” she shouted.
The crowd in the bar quieted down a bit as Black Orchid smiled. “Everyone has had their theories about me over the years and why I went away. Was I an amnesiac Power Girl? Am I from Krypton?” she mused as she stood next to Starfire. She looked at the alien and said, “I adore your hair! So thick and full of volume. How do you do it?”
Raven suddenly was overwhelmed. “Koriand’r… Kory, get away from her!”
Before Starfire could react, the Black Orchid had grabbed Starfire’s luxurious mane and gave it a quick yank. In a flash, the Titan was scalped. Blood poured from Starfire’s head and she dropped to her knees.
The assembled heroes were speechless.
Black Orchid levitated into the air, still holding the bloody pelt of hair. “What am I, you ask? I am your DEATH!!!!!” she laughed as she flew to Jericho, wrapping his arms with Starfire’s hair. He stared into Black Orchid’s eyes, trying to take her over.
“Uh-uh, perm boy,” she said flatly as she plunged her fingers into Jericho’s eyes, gouging them out. The mute hero opened his mouth making an odd gasping noise. She then plunged her fist into his throat, wrapping her fist around his neck bone and pulled it completely out. His head flopped like a ragdoll and she dropped him to the floor.
“You just made a big mistake lady!” Guy Gardner said flying at her with Cyborg right behind.
“The only mistake I made was letting you touch me, you pervert!” Guy flew at her and Black Orchid grabbed his crotch, crushing his most delicate parts. Guy fell to the floor writhing in pain. He aimed his ring at Black Orchid but with the extreme pain shooting through his body, the ring fizzled and she quickly ripped off his finger—ring and all and promptly shoved it down his throat.
“There! Choke on that, stud!” she hissed.
Cyborg had tried to rally the other heroes, but many of them had not been in battle for years and were stunned at the Orchid’s savage behavior. Grace joined Cybog and the duo charged at Black Orchid. Hawk and Dove also charged Black Orchid from behind. Hawk grabbed her around the neck.
“You’d think more of the REAL heroes would have come to my party!” she said, grabbing Hawk by the head and ripping it off. She threw the head at Dove. “Hawk and Dove? Are you boys transvestites now?”
“Holly! Oh no, NO!” Dove screamed. Cyborg and Grace knocked Black Orchid to the ground. She quickly threw them off and sent Grace crashing into a wall.
“You! You don’t deserve to live you inhuman bucket of bolts!” Black Orchid screamed as she punched through the metal half of Cyborg’s head.
“I’m more human than you’ll EVER be!” Victor Stone shouted. “Here—every party needs music!” he said as he used his sound-blaster to release thousands of decibels of white sound. To his astonishment, Black Orchid put her hands over her ears and kicked the sound-blaster off of Cyborg’s arm.
“Maybe I AM from Krypton, boy!” Black Orchid smiled as she ripped Cyborg’s remaining arm and legs off. “And to think, people thought you were ready for the Justice League?” Black Orchid looked down at Cyborg’s limbless torso. “Pathetic.” she muttered as she stomped on Cyborg’s face until she smashed his skull.
“Is there no one to challenge me!?” Black Orchid screamed.
“I challenge you, monster,” Raven said. “Your spree stops here and now.”
“I’m shaking in my boots. Why don’t you send your soul-self after me and see if that works? What’s with you, anyway? Goth is so 1990s and you need a tan, little woman.”
Raven released her soul-self and it enveloped Black Orchid. “Everyone! Be ready if she gets loose. She is crazed and I do not know how long I can hold her!”
Gypsy and General Glory rushed to Raven’s side. Starfire was up as well, although her head was pouring blood.
Just then Black Orchid ripped through the black soul-self and grabbed the already wounded Starfire. Starfire managed to release a starbolt before stumbling to the ground. The bolt sent Black Orchid into the kitchen where all manner of bar food was being deep fried. Halo who was flying after Black Orchid, got trapped under some of the falling debris
“I’ll get her while she’s down!” Gypsy cried.
“No! Gypsy, stop! She’s nuts!” General Glory said, trying to stop the exuberant woman. Gypsy turned invisible and made her way to the kitchen. Black Orchid was lying on the ground passed out.
“I think Starfire took her out. She’s down!” Gypsy shouted.
“Don’t be so sure. Orchids are hardy,” the woman in purple whispered as she grabbed Gypsy’s head and shoved it face-first into a fryer full of hot grease. The former Justice Leaguer’s cries were muffled as the hot grease filled the inside of her mouth. Black Orchid pulled her head out, revealing Gypsy’s horribly disfigured face.
“Hmph, quite an improvement if you ask me,” Black Orchid giggled as she then snapped Gypsy’s neck. She picked up a meat clever and hurled it at General Glory who had entered the kitchen. Her speed was on the level of Superman’s and the cleaver hit the General in the head, lopping the top left side of it off.
Black Orchid howled with laughter as she flew towards Raven and Dove. She grabbed Raven by the neck and punched her other hand through’s Dove’s face. Blood and gore splattered all over Black Orchid and Raven.
“Look at your Titans, you zombie freak! And to think, you all replaced Aqualad, Bumblebee, and Harlequin. You’re not so tough after all. I’m tired of this. Where’s the Justice Society?” the heroine-turned-killer asked. She spied the meat cleaver she used to kill General Glory and picked it up.
“I read about you Raven and I never liked you. You empaths are too dangerous for your own good.”
“Why… why do you want to hurt people?” Raven gasped as Black Orchid tightened her grip.
“Why? Why NOT!? I read that you have a little boy, Raven. Maybe after I finish here, I’ll track him down and kill him too. You think about that as you meet your maker—whoever it is!” was her response as she took the meat clever and proceeded to gut Raven from stem to stern. Hot entrails spilled from the battered Titan’s body.
Black Orchid surveyed the room. She saw Starfire writhing on the floor.
“I forgot you. How rude of me.”
She dragged the dazed golden skinned woman to the meat locker. She spied a meathook and lifted Starfire into the air.
Realizing what was about to happen to her, Starfire started struggling. The blood from her wound was in her eyes and made it difficult for her to see clearly and she couldn’t concentrate.
SPLAT!!!!! Starfire cried out as the meat hook dug into her back, ripping bone and tendon.
“Don’t you look pretty hanging there! Like my own little rag doll!” Black Orchid said as she proceeded to break Starfire’s legs. By now, Starfire was totally in shock. Her assailant picked up a large knife and slashed her throat, leaving her to finally bleed to death.
Black Orchid made her way through the bar. A small group of heroes she didn’t recognize had assembled to fight her. She merely laughed and flew up through the ceiling. The hero known as Beefeater glanced at Thunder and told her to get out quick, but it was too late. Black Orchid slammed full force into the building, causing it to collapse, killing the remaining heroes.
The murderess made her way to the street where paramedics and police were assembled.
Grace had pulled herself up, despite being wounded.
The police had pulled their guns and a S.W.A.T team had been positioned.
“Get back! Don’t go near her!” Grace shouted.
“I grow tired of this. YOU!! The fake Amazon!” Black Orchid cried as she attacked the former Outsider. Grace was pummeled by what felt like a thousand fists at once. She then cried out as Black Orchid punched her in the ribcage, shattering her sternum.
“Oh shut up! It’s much easier if you accept death’s icy grip rather than fighting it!”
Grace still screamed as Black Orchid grabbed her chin and gave it a sharp jerk to the right, dislocating it. Grace garbled something and was able to land a punch to Black Orchid’s forehead.
“You b_tch!! That actually hurt! I was going to let you live, but not now!” Black Orchid howled as she proceeded to grab Grace’s already hanging jaw and ripped it completely from her face.
“Oh my Lord” shouted one of the police. “FIRE!” he shouted.
A hail of bullets bounced of the Black Orchid’s petite frame and she laughed.
“Let this be a warning to you. I am unstoppable! Warn earth’s so-called heroes. If they dare cross my path I’ll kill them. I’ll find their families and they will suffer. Do you hear me! DO YOU!!!!
” she laughed maniacally and took to the air. The EMT workers headed to the rubble of Warrior’s to see if there were any survivors. Just then Superman, Zatanna, Aquaman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, and Black Canary arrived at the scene. Black Canary saw Grace’s mutilated body lying on the asphault. “Oh no… what happened here.?” the pretty blonde asked.
An EMT worker told the Justice League of America what had happened as workers sifted through the remains of the bar. To their shock, they found Halo alive, still trapped under some debris. “Ma’am, are you ok?” one of the workers asked.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” Halo kept saying, traumatized by the day’s events.
“I’ve scanned the area, Black Orchid is either gone or she’s shape-shifted into someone else,” explained the Martian known as J’onn J’onzz. “Her shape-changing abilities are so great that she can alter her mind to mimic the thought-patterns of the person she replaces.”
“They searched for me, my little star, but they never found me. I made sure of that,” Black Orchid said as she stared at the captive Stellar.
“You’re sick...” the weakening young man gasped.
His chest was terribly burned from the hot coals and he couldn’t tell if he was going to pass out or throw up.
“Yes, yes I am sick. Sick of self-righteous ‘heroes’ like you, and your constant belly-aching! Now, I need to send something to your teammates. Something letting them know I mean business. Hmmmmm. Should I send an arm or a leg? I know what! I let you decide!” Black Orchid said as she picked up a butcher knife. “It’s a bit dull, but this should only take a minute.”
“No! No!!!” Stellar pleaded. Black Orchid licked the tip of the knife with her tongue. “Wait. Where did you disappear to for all of those years?”
“Oh boo… boo hoo. Trying to stall. You’re going to have to wait for the rest of the story until next time!” she said mockingly. “Shhh, don’t cry. Don’t cry. It’ll all be over in a jiffy,” she said as she plunged the knife into Stellar’s knee, slicing through delicate muscle and ligaments. Lucky for Stellar, before she could continue, something else caught her attention. “Stay pumped, I’ll be right back!” she said, exiting the chamber.
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST
