Titans of Justice Classified Chapter 24 – “Truly Outrageous Part 5”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited by: Power Guy


Jemstone tried to open her eyes and focus. Everything was dark and hazy, but she could hear music being played? The Misfits? She strained and opened her eyes and could see Pizzazz dancing and singing along with an old Misfits CD.

“ERIC!!!! ERRRIIIICCCCCC!” Pizzazz screamed looking up at Jemstone.

“What!? What is it now!?” Eric Raymond said, clearly annoyed with his female friend.

“Look! She’s awake. Can I kill her now?” Pizzazz said as she narrowed her eyes.

Eric Raymond ignored Pizzazz and walked over to Jemstone. She was captive in some sort of device. Her hands were restrained at her side and her legs were in shackles. She was hanging at an angle and her abs were killing her.

“Rio…Rio did this to me.” she thought. She looked to her right and there was Rio just sitting on a stool, staring up at her. He seemed quiet and wasn’t acting like Wildcard at all.

“It’s been a long time, Jerrica. Somehow I always knew you and Jem were one and the same.” Eric Raymond said coolly as he looked up at the bruised pop star.

“It hasn’t been long enough for me. I see you and Pizzazz are as thick as ever.” she said flatly.

“Thick as thieves, pinky.” Pizzazz said as she walked by Eric and smacked his behind.
Rio was still staring at Jemstone making her even more uncomfortable.

“You…you did this to Rio.” Jemstone said as Rio looked into her eyes.

“Ha, yeah! Rio’s been more help to me than I ever dreamed. He was always such an idiot.” Eric said as he lit a cigar.

“No he wasn’t! Rio was a good friend and a decent man. What did you do to him?” Jemstone demanded.

“Oh my, I guess I can tell you since you won’t be leaving here anytime soon. I think what I did to Rio was a big improvement. Get comfy sparkles, I’ll tell you everything! In fact, I’m going to enjoy sharing all of this with you. I always wanted control of Starlight Records. It was my right. Your father was a horrible businessman and leaving you--a silly young girl in charge of the company was not smart. All of that wasted money on charities, that damned Starlight house for those delinquent youths. God, you make me want to puke.”

“I helped lots of people--something you know nothing about!” Jemstone shouted, her anger brewing. “I’ve heard enough of this garbage!” she said as she let loose with her powers. She could see the different blasts of light leaving her body and stopping--they were coming back at her!

“AGHHHHHHHH!” she screamed as the full force of her light and sound powers slammed into her already battered form.

“I guess I forgot to tell you--if you try to use your powers, that wonderful machine will let you release them, but it redirects them back at you. It must have slipped my mind.”

Jerrica could feel blood dripping from her nose and ears.

“Thank Techrat here for that! He’s behind Rio’s amazing transformation too.” Eric said as he gestured up to a control booth where Techrat was sitting. Techrat had been one of Eric’s right hand men back in the old days, coming up with all kinds of technological gizmos.

“Hi Jerrica. Nice to see you again.” came Techrat’s voice over the loudspeaker.

Eric continued, “Techrat was working for S.T.A.R. Labs when we re-connected. All of these wonderful gadgets are courtesy of him. I think his crowing achievement was Rio.”

In another part of Eric Raymond’s compound, Pizzazz made her way through the dark corridors of the basement. It was dimly lit (there were overhead lights that could have been turned on, bur Eric said this created more atmosphere) and Pizzazz didn’t care for the lack of light. She arrived at her destination and said, “I’ll take it from here Zipper. Go upstairs and say hello to Jerrica. Be sure and remind her how you burned down the original Starlight House! Hahaha!”

“She’s here? How about that?” Zipper muttered. Where Techrat was the brains behind Eric’s plans, Zipper was the brawn. He wasn’t known for his intelligence, but he was really strong and as long as Eric kept him on the payroll, he could put up with the constant cracks about his low I.Q.

“I strung him up, just like you asked.” He said as he walked away.

“Yes, you did.” Pizzazz smiled as she looked at the unconscious Wonder Man. He was facing the wall and his arms were suspended in v shape above his head. Chains had been welded to his gauntlets.

“Hmmm. Even better looking than in the magazines.” Pizzazz smirked.

Wonder Man began to stir. “My head is splitting. How many beers did I funnel?” he moaned.

His head was throbbing and every muscle in his body ached. He looked up saw he was being held captive. Wonder Man strained at his bonds.

“Hahahahahahaha! You look so pitiful! I almost feel sorry for you!” Pizzazz laughed.

Wonder Man turned his head as far as he could to see who was taunting him. “d**n. Did I land in 1984?” he mused.

“Shut up! I am the height of retro fashion!” the green haired woman screamed, jumping up and down. “First Eric makes a smart-alek comment about my nails and now you! I was going to be nice to you .”

“Sorry to ruin your 80s prom, but I’ve got to find my friend.” Wonder Man was still straining at his bonds, wondering why he hadn’t shattered them yet.

“Don’t wear yourself out. Those are a S.T.A.R. Labs special. They were made to keep even the strongest captive. They’re treated with a compound that neutralizes your fancy powers. You’re just like the rest of us, tough guy.” Pizzazz said walking up behind him and wrapping her hands around his chest.
“I’m still better looking than most.” Wonder Man commented.
Pizzazz ripped Wonder Man’s shirt.
“Hey, I’m up for some fun, but we barely know each other. Can I get a drink first?” he asked, trying to see what she was doing.
“No, no drinks for you.” the green haired woman laughed as she picked up a flogger.

Eric Raymond paced back and forth in front of Jemstone. “After the Holograms broke up and you closed the records division of the Starlight Foundation, I had nothing to do. I couldn’t touch your philanthropic endeavors. I had to admit you finally got the best of me. The Misfits quit cranking out hits and they disbanded as well.”

Jemstone watched Eric as he spoke. Rio was still sitting looking off into space.

“Pizzazz and I remained….close. We tried several new business ventures, but nothing produced the profits of the record business. I was bored so I decided to come after you. You see, I’ve hated you for a long time and I’ve waited an eternity for this. I heard Rio was looking for work, so I lured him here to Japan. I had some of my other associates front the modeling agency. He thought it was legit and once he signed the contracts, it took every penny he had to move here. It was then I let him know that I was running a porn video and magazine company. It was his job to get the models.”

“You are a pig! How could you take advantage of someone like that!?” Jemstone shouted, agitation in her voice.

“It’s what I do best. You didn’t know this, but Rio had tons of debt. After the Holograms split, he had a hard time getting work in the industry especially with him getting older. With the new music coming out, who was going to hire the man who was in with the goody goody Holograms? He hated every minute of the video business, but he had to pay the bills. I let him work for a while and I had him kidnapped. I shut down the business since it was time to set my plan in motion. I had tracked down Techrat and he was more than eager to move to Japan and have access to the technology I offered him. After you made your big comeback, I decided I needed an agent of my own to ruin you. We tortured Rio for days. Mentally and physically. He was bombarded with Jem and the Holograms videos, music, magazines, etc. I’m really surprised his hearing wasn’t damaged since we played your crappy music so loud. He grew to hate you--the source of his torture. But hey, he got twenty years of his life back thanks to a quick dip in one of the Lazarus Pits.”

Jemstone started to cry.

“Don’t waste your tears! It gets better. We researched Rio’s past and discovered his connection to that freak Duela Dent. Techrat went into Rio’s brain and implanted microchips--a kind of lobotomy--if you will. The chips altered the parts of Rio’s brain that affected his agility and memory. In his mind, he grew up with his Aunt Duela. Every adventure, everything she did--he believes he was there as her sidekick. His true life is erased forever. We removed parts of his brain to ensure that, my pretty pink girl.”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear anymore.” Jemstone pleaded.

“Tragic, isn’t it? Anyway, Rio is loyal to me. In his mind I saved him from you. After some more conditioning we released him to the states, knowing he’d eventually get your attention.”

Jemstone looked at Rio. “Rio! Rio, please snap out of it! I can help you. You don’t belong with Eric!”

Rio just stared blankly at her and then looked at Eric.

“As I said, he is loyal to ME! Rio, go see if Pizzazz needs any help with Mr. GQ.”

“Wonder Man? What have you done to him? Where is he!?” Jemstone demanded.

“You’ll see him soon enough, but what shape he’s in depends on you. Look at the screen.”

Jemstone looked a huge TV screen where Pizzazz was whipping Wonder Man across his back. His back wasn’t bleeding, but was covered in red whelps.

“W…wasn’t that more than 10?” Wonder Man gasped, sweat pouring off his face.

“Eric said give you 10. I gave you 10 more from me.” Pizzazz said walking over to Wonder Man and slapping him across the face.

“He’s lost his powers thanks to Techrat. Now, that you know your buddy is vulnerable. I have a business proposition for you.” Eric said shifting his eyes from the TV screen back to Jemstone.

“Sorry, I don’t do porn. Maybe you should see if Britney Spears is interested.” Jemstone said, her voice full of contempt.

“Such a sense of humor! Not that kind of business. I want what you’ve owed me all along! The record company. You will stop funneling money to your charities and all of your profits will come to me. Every cent from the CDs, dolls, posters. All of your property--everything you own will be mine. Why, I have all the papers right here for you to sign.” Eric gestured for Zipper, who had entered the room. The strong man presented Eric with legal papers and a pen.

“You’re crazy! There’s no way I’d ever do that. The only reason I restarted my music career was to help those in need.” Jemstone fumed.

“I figured you’d say no. Pizzazz, rearrange his face!” Eric said as he looked up at the screen.

Jemstone looked at the screen as well. Pizzazz walked out of the frame and when she re-emerged, she held a scalpel.

“Sorry, champ. You and I could have had some fun.” She then sliced the right side of Wonder Man’s face--from his forehead to his jawbone. “Hope that wasn’t your good side!”

Jemstone shuddered as Wonder Man cried out in pain.

“Phyllis, see if you can cut off an ear.” Eric demanded.

“DON”T CALL ME PHYLLIS!!!!!” Pizzazz shouted.

“Did I make you mad!? Take it out on our friend!” Eric replied.
Pizzazz grinned and grabbed the back of Wonder Man’s head, snapping it back. She held the scalpel to his throat.

‘STOP! Stop…I’ll sign…I’ll sign the papers.” Jemstone said quietly.