Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 19:48:16 GMT -5
Titans of Justice Unlimited Chapter 33 – “Bad Days Only Get Worse”
Written & edited by: Power Guy
***Inked concept by Nightvision
Coast City…
“Give it up, Inked!” ordered Green Lantern as he fired an emerald beam from his power-ring which collided with the villain’s own power-ring beam.
“That’s not going to stop me when I can steal your dad’s abilities, queue-ball!” scoffed Inked. “Thanks to my dad’s special ink and some exploding Ivo technology, I’ve got all of the powers of the satellite-era Justice League at my disposal. All I’ve got to do is touch their corresponding symbol on my body and viola – I’m as strong as Superman or I’ve got a power-ring on my finger!”
“Yeah but you don’t have my dad’s powers, you second rate Paragon,” Black Vulcan said, sarcastically as she emitted a stream of lighting at the walking tattoo parlor.
The villain quickly surrounded himself with a green energy bubbling, holding back both Green Lantern and Black Vulcan’s attack. As the two heroes pressed on, Nightvision and Starman joined in the battle. Nightvision threw a couple of exploding Batarangs at Inked’s bubble while Starman created several bright flashes of light, hoping to destabilize Inked’s concentration. Once the flashes of light disappeared, the heroes noticed that Inked was gone from within the power-bubble.
“What??? Where the heck did he go?” asked a perplexed Starman, looking around.
“I’m right here, you idiot,” Inked said as he raced around with the speed of the Flash and cold-clocked the group of heroes.
“Ring – compensate for Inked’s speed and create a giant mouse-trap to hold him still,” requested Green Lantern. The most powerful weapon in the universe wasted no time in following it’s bearer’s request and formed a giant mouse-trap in Inked’s path.
The villain started to freak as he realized he would soon be caught if he didn’t improvise. Touching the gold “W” symbol right above his waistline, he took to the air and looked down at the heroes gloatingly. A set of magic-bracelets appeared on his wrists while an exact duplicate of the Lasso of Truth appeared in his hands. He quickly threw the magic rope around Green Lantern, completely covering his right hand with it and neutralizing his power-ring, causing the green guardian to fall toe the ground. “Ha! It worked!” he gloated. “My dad told me all about how the color yellow will put a kink in any rookie Green Lantern’s stride and I never believed him but it looks like he was right on the mark about this one!”
Lucky for Green Lantern, Nightvision was swinging by on a Bat-line and was able to catch him. “Let’s get that rope off you,” the new-age Dark Knight said as he descended to the ground.
Starman and Black Vulcan wasted no time in assaulting the villain with their respective energy attacks however, Inked just smirked and deflected them with his Amazonian bracelets. “I’m getting board here so let’s finish this,” he commented as he rubbed the giant red “S” on his chest. As the powers of Superman shot through his body, he felt a rush like never before. Every muscle in his body bulged significantly, he could hear someone drop their keys in Mexico, and he could see microscopic organisms crawling on the ground. “Withdrawal time!” he said as he flew into a bank down below and crashed through it’s vault. “Look at all of this money!!!” he shouted as he picked up several dozen hundred dollar bills. “I’m going to be filthy rich!!!” he said as he stared at his new ‘found’ wealth but then something strange happened, the bills started to catch fire. “My money!!!!!”
“Turn off your heat-vision, punk!” barked Starman as he used his gravity-bands to increase Inked’s mass a thousand times causing him to drop to the ground like a brick being thrown out of a window.
“What the hell did you do to me???” demanded the immobilized villain.
“It’s quite simple really,” smiled the stellar-powered hero. “I used my gravity-bands to increase your mass a thousand times. Strength of Superman or not, you can’t even raise your head right now.”
Before the heroes could celebrate their victory, the Silencer beeped in on Starman’s communicator, “Starman – there’s trouble on your home turf,” informed the nephew of Snapper Carr. “The police think they have that serial killer you’ve been looking for trapped within one of the buildings in downtown Opal. You may want to get down there and see if you can find this guy before he slips away.”
“Dammit!” cursed Scott Stone. “If I leave, Inked’s mass will return to normal within minutes but I’ve got to nab that killer. He’s already killed over a dozen people in Opal.”
“Go – we’ll handle Inked,” assured Nightvision.
“How?” asked Starman feverishly.
“I don’t know yet but I’ll think of something,” promised the son of Dick and Barbara Grayson. He then spoke into his communicator, “Silencer, is there anyone at the Hall that can assist Starman?”
“I can,” answered the Silencer.
“No – I need you watching the monitor board,” insisted Nightvision.
“But…” started the Hall of Justice’s security official.
“No buts, I need you there,” ordered Nightvision. Is there anyone else?”
“Just Phantom Lady, Atmosphere, and Powerstorm,” revealed the Silencer.
“Teleport Phantom Lady and Starman to downtown Opal City right away,” ordered Nightvision. “Send the others here to Coast City. We’re going to need back-up any minute now….”
***
Opal City…
Starman soared through the sky heading towards downtown. His eyes darted around the city below, searching for Phantom Lady and the police officials he was supposed to meet. After several minutes, he noticed a small squadron of police cars had surrounded the Mattel toy factory on Anderson Ave. As he lowered himself to the ground, he noticed Phantom Lady standing below talking to one of the officers. “Hello everyone,” he greeted.”
“Starman – it’s good to see you here,” offered the policeman.
“Hey Stars,” smiled Phantom Lady. “The police believe that serial killer you’ve been looking for is holed up here in this toy factory.”
“Why the heck would a killer make their last stand in a toy factory?” Starman asked, a bit dumbfounded.
“Let’s go find out,” suggested Phantom Lady as she headed for the door.
As Starman followed her into the building, he didn’t quite know what to say. First, he had heard from the Arachnid how Phantom Lady had thought he and the bug-themed hero were a couple and second, there was a good chance he was related to the spectral heroine as both heroes legacies started with members of the Knight Family.
After several minutes of awkward silence, Phantom Lady asked, “You know you can talk. He’s got to know that we’re here already.”
“I know….I just wasn’t sure what to say to you,” whispered Starman.
“Why? I’m a very easy-going person,” Phantom Lady whispered back. “I promise I won’t bite.”
“That’s good, I don’t think Aleea would like it very much if I had bite marks on me the next time I see her,” blushed the stellar-powered hero.
“So you’ve got a girlfriend now? Don’t you think you should try and work things out with the ‘bug” before you latch onto someone else,” advised the former member of the Freedom Fighters.
“Ugh…’ huffed Starman, “Listen, about that. The Arachnid and I are not a couple. We’re both straight.”
“You don’t have to hide who you are from me. I love gay people! In fact, some of the best clubs I’ve partied at were gay clubs!” Phantom Lady said, trying to reassure Starman.
Starman quickly grabbed Phantom Lady by the arm, and turned her around so that they were face to face. “I’m serious. I have no desire what-so-ever to sleep with another guy and I’m pretty sure bug-breath feels the same way.”
“Oh my God! You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” gasped Phantom Lady. “But…the Arachnid seems so……dependent on you and the two of you fight like a married couple some times.”
“Yeah…..that’s part of our twisted little relationship,” groaned Starman, “There are some days I want to sit in front of the TV and play video games with him all night and there are other nights where I want to rip his head off. We have a very ‘delicate’ relationship but I promise there’s nothing sexual about it.”
“I guess I still have a lot of learning to do about today’s society,” frowned the former member of the Freedom Fighters as she and Starman walked past an assembly line filled with toy airplanes.
“What do you mean by ‘today’s’ society?” Starman asked curiously.
“Oh….uh….umm…’ Phantom Lady was shaken, realizing she had let it slip that she was more familiar with past times.
“Oh my God, it IS you!” realized Starman. “You’re my great Aunt Sandy – the original Phantom Lady!”
“I guess I really shouldn’t lie to family, should I?” Phantom Lady said, a bit embarrassed. “Yes, I am your Aunt Sandra.”
“I know we’ve never met before our time in the Titans but I’ve been researching our family tree and I believe you died many years ago,” Starman pointed out, not sure what to think of this situation.
“Yes, I did die,” admitted the heroine also known as Sandra Knight, “But a little over a year ago, there was a war in Heaven. Neron had teamed up with the Spirit King who was an old enemy of the Justice Society’s. The two of them had decided to take advantage of the fact that Mordru had captured most of Earth’s mystical community including the Spectre and Zauriel. To make things short, the original Mr. Terrific, Elongated Man, and several other heroes including myself led a resistance to keep the Devil and his partner out of Heaven. We were on the verge of complete failure when you and your friends defeated Mordru and released the Spectre and the others. Upon the Spectre’s arrival within the holy gates, Neron was dealt a quick defeat. I had played a key role in helping bring down the Spirit King and without him, Neron had lost his general. As Neron was crawling back to the pits of hell, he cursed me to walk the earth as a literal phantom.”
“But couldn’t the Spectre do anything about this?” Starman wondered aloud.
“He’s not allowed to walk the earthly plane any more,” revealed Phantom Lady.
“So how are you coping with all of this?” asked Starman as he put his arm around Phantom Lady’s shoulder.
Before the spectral heroine could answer the question, the air was filled with several loud humming noises. Someone had activated the remote controls of the toy airplanes and they had come to life. Within seconds, they filled the air and started swarming all over the place.
“Get down!” shouted Starman as he pulled Phantom Lady to ground alongside himself. Starman promptly rolled over onto his back and started firing blasts from his Cosmic Rod at the planes, blowing them to pieces. While he was making progress with eliminating a few of the planes, there were still almost a dozen left. One of them zipped past his head, slicing his left ear. “Dammit!” he screamed as he clenched his fist around his ear.
“Starman!” gasped Phantom Lady.
“Don’t worry about me, get rid of those d**n planes!” directed Starman as he swung his Cosmic Rod like a bat and smashed another of the miniature jet fighters.
Phantom Lady wasted no time in following Starman’s orders and fired several laser-blasts from her Black-light bracelet. She made three direct hits but there were still more planes headed towards the heroic duo. “This is taking way too long,” sighed the spectral heroine. She then switched the dial on her bracelet and a small “black hole” appeared in front of the planes, taking them all inside.
“What did you do?” inquired a confused Starman, still holding on to his bleeding ear.
“I teleported them into the river a few blocks down,” smiled Phantom Lady as she pulled Starman’s arm away from his ear. “Nasty cut you’ve got there. Hold still and find something to bite on.”
“Why?” asked Starman.
“Just do it,” insisted the yellow and green clad heroine.
Starman promptly put his Cosmic Rod in between his teeth and bit down.
Seconds later, he felt a burning pain in his left ear where it had been cut. Sweat dripped from his forehead as the procedure continued. After what seemed like a lifetime, it was finally over.
“There! I used my laser to cauterize your wound,” Phantom Lady said, helping Starman up on his feet.
“I think we should split up and search,” proposed Starman. “The killer knows we’re here. Hopefully at least one of us can take him by surprise. Go into your invisible-mode and see what you can find.”
“Good idea,” Phantom Lady agreed as she used her Black-light bracelet to make herself invisible.
“Hey wait – if you’re a true phantom now, why do you need your bracelet to turn yourself invisible?” asked the wielder of the Cosmic Rob.
“It’s for old times sake – keeps me feeling young,” the voice of Phantom Lady asnswered.
***
Back in Coast City…
Inked had both Green Lantern and Black Vulcan by their throats. “And you thought you guys were about to celebrate victory. Get ready because I’m about to slam your skulls together until they crack open.”
“Drop them!” commanded Nightvision.
“Who are you kidding,” countered Inked. “The power of Superman is flowing through my veins right now. I don’t have to take orders from anyone.”
“It sounds like you need a quick lesson on respect,” Nightvision said as he pulled an item out of his utility-belt. It was Batman’s Green Kryptonite ring.
Pain quickly surged through Inked’s body. He dropped Green Lantern and Black Vulcan without hesitation.
“You son of a….” cursed the pain-stricken villain.
“That’s right, you take on Superman’s powers, you also get his weakness in the deal,” gloated Black Vulcan.
Green Lantern formed an emerald cage around the villain who was now lying on the ground in the fetal position wishing he was dead.
Just then, Atmosphere and Powerstorm arrived on the scene.
“Well, well, it looks like you guys didn’t need us after all,” smirked Atmosphere.
“Leave it to Nightvision to have the trump card,” smiled Green Lantern.
“Well, let’s get back to Hall of Justice, shall we?” proposed Powerstorm.
Then, without warning, Inked burst free from his prison.
“The Kryptonite…” began Black Vulcan.
“Isn’t working any more,” revealed Inked. “My borrowed powers only last a half-hour and Superman’s just ran out but I’m sure Martian Manhunter’s will be enough to kill you all!”
“Powerstorm,” prompted Atmosphere.
The son of Firestorm and Power Girl quickly took Atmosphere’s queue and surrounded Inked with a circle of flames.
“Ahhhhhhhh!!!!” screamed the villain. “I’ve got to get out of here,” he thought to himself as he touched Black Canary’s symbol on his left thigh. Before the heroes knew what was happening, he let out an ear-piercing sonic attack.
The quintet of Titans all covered their ears in hopes of preventing any permanent damage to their hearing as Inked started to run off.
“I’ve had enough of these crazy powers today,” huffed the villain as he smashed the window on a blue PT Cruiser parked on the street next to him. After messing with the wires for a few minutes, he hot-wired the car and took off. He was only a few blocks from where he started when he looked in his rear-view mirror and noticed that the Titans were already hot on his tail. “#&@&!!! Those losers are right on my tail!!!” Frantically, he went to hit the brakes so he could turn the corner and accidentally hit the Atom’s symbol on his left food, causing him to shrink down to six inches tall. Immediately, the car was out of control and was headed for a crowded hotel. He floated upward and landed on the steering wheel and noticed his soon to be fate, “Oh $#(%!!! I’m gonna die!!!” Then suddenly, the car stopped…
Atmosphere had used his powers to lift the out of control automobile into the air until it’s acceleration ran out. As he lowered the car to the ground he smiled an asked, “You didn’t think we were going to let you get off that easy, did you?”
***
At the Mattel Toy Factory…
Starman began walking through the corridors of the toy factory in a haste. His real motivation for separating from Phantom Lady was to get the killer into a false sense of security and have the killer attack him once he saw he was alone. He knew Phantom Lady would be safe in her invisible-mode. As he made his way around the dark factory, he couldn’t help but stop by the action figure department. After a few minutes of searching, he found what he was looking for: The Justice League Unlimited Display Case. His eyes scurried back and forth and he looked the case up and down, searching for one item in particular. Finally, he found what he was looking for – the extremely limited Hal Jordan figure. He thought to himself about how easy it would be to break open the case, take the figure, and say it must have gotten lost in the battle with the killer. Surely he deserved this small reward for helping stop this insane maniac. As he reached toward the case, he thought to himself, “Ugh…..I can’t do it. You know God, sometimes I really hate this halo you put over my head.” He then casually strolled on to the next room. This room was where they kept all of the doll prototypes. Barbie and friends filled the place along with several other types of dolls. “Sigh…..the doll room. What could be more boring? Hopefully the Hot Wheels are next. Well, I’d better hurry along, I have a killer to catch and there’s really nowhere in here for him to hide,” he said to himself as he started to walk faster when suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his right leg. “AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” he howled. He looked down to see a sharp, metal scythe stuck into his leg. While this was alarming in itself, it was nowhere near as alarming to where the scythe had apparently come from. Holding it’s handle was a gruesome looking rag doll with a twisted grin on it’s face.
Finally, Starman had found his serial killer but it wasn’t a man, but a female dressed in an outfit similar to Raggedy Anne’s.
The living "doll" spoke in a raspy whisper, “Die…for what you did to me…” she said as she ripped her scythe from Starman’s leg and raised it into the air to attack again. With no hesitation, the brought down her weapon, ready to kill.
Starman quickly responded by catching the hook of the scythe around his Cosmic Rod, stopping it in mid-air. “Look lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never done anything to you. As far as I know, this is our first meeting and pretty shotty one if I do say so myself!”
“Liar!” accused Rag Doll as she whipped her right leg out and wrapped it around Starman’s left leg, pulling it out from under him, causing him to fall. She jumped on top of him and slammed her scythe down again, just barely missing his face(which he had moved out of the way just in time).
“Ok, that’s it. You’re certifiably nuts!” spat Starman as he threw Rag Doll off of him.
As Rag Doll flew through the air, it was no trouble for her to land on her feet. “Years ago, you ran away like a coward and let those men beat and rape me!!!!” she hissed, running towards the cosmic avenger.
Starman fired several blasts from his Cosmic Rod at the crazed villain but her uncanny agility allowed her to dodge them with ease. She threw her scythe at him with sickening delight on her face. The scythe flew towards him and sliced his forearm, forcing him to drop his Cosmic Rod. Rag Doll then jumped on his back like a mad dog, wrapping her legs around his throat and proceeded to choke the grandnephew of Ted Knight.
“Cough…….ackk……..cough,” Starman could barely breath as Rag Doll continued to try and break his neck. “Got to think of something and fast,” Starman thought to himself as he struggled to get the walking freak-show off of his back. He then flew backwards into the wall behind him, with Rag Doll taking the brunt of the impact. Lucky for the space-faring hero, the villain’s grasp was relaxed and she dropped to the ground behind him.
In the few seconds he had, Starman scrambled to find his Cosmic Rod. “Where is it? Where is it?” he asked himself impatiently. Finally he saw it and raced across to the room towards it. He bent down to grab it and as he was getting back up, he noticed Rag Doll was standing over him, scythe in hand, ready to deliver the killing blow.
“Slice you to ribbons,” she giggled.
Starman almost wet himself as he knew there was no way to dodge Rag Doll’s scythe this time. “God….please take care of Aleea and Aaron.”
Then, strangely, before the hideous living “doll” could act, a portal opened behind her. A hand reached out, grabbed Rag Doll by the back of her dress, and pulled her through.
“Sweet Jesus, what the heck just happened?” Starman asked, totally perplexed. He looked around the room hoping to find something to answer his question. He paused for a second and remembered, “Oh duh…..Phantom Lady. She must have pulled Rag Doll through that warp and is probably beating the snot out of her right now.”
Just then, the heroine also known as Sandra Knight walked into the room and commented, “I take it you found our killer by the way you look.”
“Yeah I did but where did she go?” asked the best friend of the Arachnid.
“How would I know? You’re the one with cuts and scrapes,” countered Phantom Lady.
“Wait – didn’t you just warp in here and pull Rag Doll into your warp?” Starman asked as he clenched the arm that Rag Doll had sliced open.
“No sir,” revealed Phantom Lady. “I was searching the other end of the building and came up empty handed. So someone else was here and pulled this Rag Doll into a warp-hole?”
“Yes and if you didn’t do it, I’m afraid this isn’t the last we’ll see of that lunatic,” advised a concerned Starman. “
***
A secret hideout somewhere…
Rag Doll’s head jerked back and forth, taking in her new surroundings. It appeared that she was in some enormous old mansion of sorts. “You’re not going to hurt me. I’ll kill you all!” she threatened to the people standing in front of her while waiving her scythe frantically in the air.
“Calm yourself my dear. We are going to do nothing but help you,” the Wizard grinned from ear to ear. “I’d like to introduce you to the new Injustice Society….”
Written & edited by: Power Guy
***Inked concept by Nightvision
Coast City…
“Give it up, Inked!” ordered Green Lantern as he fired an emerald beam from his power-ring which collided with the villain’s own power-ring beam.
“That’s not going to stop me when I can steal your dad’s abilities, queue-ball!” scoffed Inked. “Thanks to my dad’s special ink and some exploding Ivo technology, I’ve got all of the powers of the satellite-era Justice League at my disposal. All I’ve got to do is touch their corresponding symbol on my body and viola – I’m as strong as Superman or I’ve got a power-ring on my finger!”
“Yeah but you don’t have my dad’s powers, you second rate Paragon,” Black Vulcan said, sarcastically as she emitted a stream of lighting at the walking tattoo parlor.
The villain quickly surrounded himself with a green energy bubbling, holding back both Green Lantern and Black Vulcan’s attack. As the two heroes pressed on, Nightvision and Starman joined in the battle. Nightvision threw a couple of exploding Batarangs at Inked’s bubble while Starman created several bright flashes of light, hoping to destabilize Inked’s concentration. Once the flashes of light disappeared, the heroes noticed that Inked was gone from within the power-bubble.
“What??? Where the heck did he go?” asked a perplexed Starman, looking around.
“I’m right here, you idiot,” Inked said as he raced around with the speed of the Flash and cold-clocked the group of heroes.
“Ring – compensate for Inked’s speed and create a giant mouse-trap to hold him still,” requested Green Lantern. The most powerful weapon in the universe wasted no time in following it’s bearer’s request and formed a giant mouse-trap in Inked’s path.
The villain started to freak as he realized he would soon be caught if he didn’t improvise. Touching the gold “W” symbol right above his waistline, he took to the air and looked down at the heroes gloatingly. A set of magic-bracelets appeared on his wrists while an exact duplicate of the Lasso of Truth appeared in his hands. He quickly threw the magic rope around Green Lantern, completely covering his right hand with it and neutralizing his power-ring, causing the green guardian to fall toe the ground. “Ha! It worked!” he gloated. “My dad told me all about how the color yellow will put a kink in any rookie Green Lantern’s stride and I never believed him but it looks like he was right on the mark about this one!”
Lucky for Green Lantern, Nightvision was swinging by on a Bat-line and was able to catch him. “Let’s get that rope off you,” the new-age Dark Knight said as he descended to the ground.
Starman and Black Vulcan wasted no time in assaulting the villain with their respective energy attacks however, Inked just smirked and deflected them with his Amazonian bracelets. “I’m getting board here so let’s finish this,” he commented as he rubbed the giant red “S” on his chest. As the powers of Superman shot through his body, he felt a rush like never before. Every muscle in his body bulged significantly, he could hear someone drop their keys in Mexico, and he could see microscopic organisms crawling on the ground. “Withdrawal time!” he said as he flew into a bank down below and crashed through it’s vault. “Look at all of this money!!!” he shouted as he picked up several dozen hundred dollar bills. “I’m going to be filthy rich!!!” he said as he stared at his new ‘found’ wealth but then something strange happened, the bills started to catch fire. “My money!!!!!”
“Turn off your heat-vision, punk!” barked Starman as he used his gravity-bands to increase Inked’s mass a thousand times causing him to drop to the ground like a brick being thrown out of a window.
“What the hell did you do to me???” demanded the immobilized villain.
“It’s quite simple really,” smiled the stellar-powered hero. “I used my gravity-bands to increase your mass a thousand times. Strength of Superman or not, you can’t even raise your head right now.”
Before the heroes could celebrate their victory, the Silencer beeped in on Starman’s communicator, “Starman – there’s trouble on your home turf,” informed the nephew of Snapper Carr. “The police think they have that serial killer you’ve been looking for trapped within one of the buildings in downtown Opal. You may want to get down there and see if you can find this guy before he slips away.”
“Dammit!” cursed Scott Stone. “If I leave, Inked’s mass will return to normal within minutes but I’ve got to nab that killer. He’s already killed over a dozen people in Opal.”
“Go – we’ll handle Inked,” assured Nightvision.
“How?” asked Starman feverishly.
“I don’t know yet but I’ll think of something,” promised the son of Dick and Barbara Grayson. He then spoke into his communicator, “Silencer, is there anyone at the Hall that can assist Starman?”
“I can,” answered the Silencer.
“No – I need you watching the monitor board,” insisted Nightvision.
“But…” started the Hall of Justice’s security official.
“No buts, I need you there,” ordered Nightvision. Is there anyone else?”
“Just Phantom Lady, Atmosphere, and Powerstorm,” revealed the Silencer.
“Teleport Phantom Lady and Starman to downtown Opal City right away,” ordered Nightvision. “Send the others here to Coast City. We’re going to need back-up any minute now….”
***
Opal City…
Starman soared through the sky heading towards downtown. His eyes darted around the city below, searching for Phantom Lady and the police officials he was supposed to meet. After several minutes, he noticed a small squadron of police cars had surrounded the Mattel toy factory on Anderson Ave. As he lowered himself to the ground, he noticed Phantom Lady standing below talking to one of the officers. “Hello everyone,” he greeted.”
“Starman – it’s good to see you here,” offered the policeman.
“Hey Stars,” smiled Phantom Lady. “The police believe that serial killer you’ve been looking for is holed up here in this toy factory.”
“Why the heck would a killer make their last stand in a toy factory?” Starman asked, a bit dumbfounded.
“Let’s go find out,” suggested Phantom Lady as she headed for the door.
As Starman followed her into the building, he didn’t quite know what to say. First, he had heard from the Arachnid how Phantom Lady had thought he and the bug-themed hero were a couple and second, there was a good chance he was related to the spectral heroine as both heroes legacies started with members of the Knight Family.
After several minutes of awkward silence, Phantom Lady asked, “You know you can talk. He’s got to know that we’re here already.”
“I know….I just wasn’t sure what to say to you,” whispered Starman.
“Why? I’m a very easy-going person,” Phantom Lady whispered back. “I promise I won’t bite.”
“That’s good, I don’t think Aleea would like it very much if I had bite marks on me the next time I see her,” blushed the stellar-powered hero.
“So you’ve got a girlfriend now? Don’t you think you should try and work things out with the ‘bug” before you latch onto someone else,” advised the former member of the Freedom Fighters.
“Ugh…’ huffed Starman, “Listen, about that. The Arachnid and I are not a couple. We’re both straight.”
“You don’t have to hide who you are from me. I love gay people! In fact, some of the best clubs I’ve partied at were gay clubs!” Phantom Lady said, trying to reassure Starman.
Starman quickly grabbed Phantom Lady by the arm, and turned her around so that they were face to face. “I’m serious. I have no desire what-so-ever to sleep with another guy and I’m pretty sure bug-breath feels the same way.”
“Oh my God! You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” gasped Phantom Lady. “But…the Arachnid seems so……dependent on you and the two of you fight like a married couple some times.”
“Yeah…..that’s part of our twisted little relationship,” groaned Starman, “There are some days I want to sit in front of the TV and play video games with him all night and there are other nights where I want to rip his head off. We have a very ‘delicate’ relationship but I promise there’s nothing sexual about it.”
“I guess I still have a lot of learning to do about today’s society,” frowned the former member of the Freedom Fighters as she and Starman walked past an assembly line filled with toy airplanes.
“What do you mean by ‘today’s’ society?” Starman asked curiously.
“Oh….uh….umm…’ Phantom Lady was shaken, realizing she had let it slip that she was more familiar with past times.
“Oh my God, it IS you!” realized Starman. “You’re my great Aunt Sandy – the original Phantom Lady!”
“I guess I really shouldn’t lie to family, should I?” Phantom Lady said, a bit embarrassed. “Yes, I am your Aunt Sandra.”
“I know we’ve never met before our time in the Titans but I’ve been researching our family tree and I believe you died many years ago,” Starman pointed out, not sure what to think of this situation.
“Yes, I did die,” admitted the heroine also known as Sandra Knight, “But a little over a year ago, there was a war in Heaven. Neron had teamed up with the Spirit King who was an old enemy of the Justice Society’s. The two of them had decided to take advantage of the fact that Mordru had captured most of Earth’s mystical community including the Spectre and Zauriel. To make things short, the original Mr. Terrific, Elongated Man, and several other heroes including myself led a resistance to keep the Devil and his partner out of Heaven. We were on the verge of complete failure when you and your friends defeated Mordru and released the Spectre and the others. Upon the Spectre’s arrival within the holy gates, Neron was dealt a quick defeat. I had played a key role in helping bring down the Spirit King and without him, Neron had lost his general. As Neron was crawling back to the pits of hell, he cursed me to walk the earth as a literal phantom.”
“But couldn’t the Spectre do anything about this?” Starman wondered aloud.
“He’s not allowed to walk the earthly plane any more,” revealed Phantom Lady.
“So how are you coping with all of this?” asked Starman as he put his arm around Phantom Lady’s shoulder.
Before the spectral heroine could answer the question, the air was filled with several loud humming noises. Someone had activated the remote controls of the toy airplanes and they had come to life. Within seconds, they filled the air and started swarming all over the place.
“Get down!” shouted Starman as he pulled Phantom Lady to ground alongside himself. Starman promptly rolled over onto his back and started firing blasts from his Cosmic Rod at the planes, blowing them to pieces. While he was making progress with eliminating a few of the planes, there were still almost a dozen left. One of them zipped past his head, slicing his left ear. “Dammit!” he screamed as he clenched his fist around his ear.
“Starman!” gasped Phantom Lady.
“Don’t worry about me, get rid of those d**n planes!” directed Starman as he swung his Cosmic Rod like a bat and smashed another of the miniature jet fighters.
Phantom Lady wasted no time in following Starman’s orders and fired several laser-blasts from her Black-light bracelet. She made three direct hits but there were still more planes headed towards the heroic duo. “This is taking way too long,” sighed the spectral heroine. She then switched the dial on her bracelet and a small “black hole” appeared in front of the planes, taking them all inside.
“What did you do?” inquired a confused Starman, still holding on to his bleeding ear.
“I teleported them into the river a few blocks down,” smiled Phantom Lady as she pulled Starman’s arm away from his ear. “Nasty cut you’ve got there. Hold still and find something to bite on.”
“Why?” asked Starman.
“Just do it,” insisted the yellow and green clad heroine.
Starman promptly put his Cosmic Rod in between his teeth and bit down.
Seconds later, he felt a burning pain in his left ear where it had been cut. Sweat dripped from his forehead as the procedure continued. After what seemed like a lifetime, it was finally over.
“There! I used my laser to cauterize your wound,” Phantom Lady said, helping Starman up on his feet.
“I think we should split up and search,” proposed Starman. “The killer knows we’re here. Hopefully at least one of us can take him by surprise. Go into your invisible-mode and see what you can find.”
“Good idea,” Phantom Lady agreed as she used her Black-light bracelet to make herself invisible.
“Hey wait – if you’re a true phantom now, why do you need your bracelet to turn yourself invisible?” asked the wielder of the Cosmic Rob.
“It’s for old times sake – keeps me feeling young,” the voice of Phantom Lady asnswered.
***
Back in Coast City…
Inked had both Green Lantern and Black Vulcan by their throats. “And you thought you guys were about to celebrate victory. Get ready because I’m about to slam your skulls together until they crack open.”
“Drop them!” commanded Nightvision.
“Who are you kidding,” countered Inked. “The power of Superman is flowing through my veins right now. I don’t have to take orders from anyone.”
“It sounds like you need a quick lesson on respect,” Nightvision said as he pulled an item out of his utility-belt. It was Batman’s Green Kryptonite ring.
Pain quickly surged through Inked’s body. He dropped Green Lantern and Black Vulcan without hesitation.
“You son of a….” cursed the pain-stricken villain.
“That’s right, you take on Superman’s powers, you also get his weakness in the deal,” gloated Black Vulcan.
Green Lantern formed an emerald cage around the villain who was now lying on the ground in the fetal position wishing he was dead.
Just then, Atmosphere and Powerstorm arrived on the scene.
“Well, well, it looks like you guys didn’t need us after all,” smirked Atmosphere.
“Leave it to Nightvision to have the trump card,” smiled Green Lantern.
“Well, let’s get back to Hall of Justice, shall we?” proposed Powerstorm.
Then, without warning, Inked burst free from his prison.
“The Kryptonite…” began Black Vulcan.
“Isn’t working any more,” revealed Inked. “My borrowed powers only last a half-hour and Superman’s just ran out but I’m sure Martian Manhunter’s will be enough to kill you all!”
“Powerstorm,” prompted Atmosphere.
The son of Firestorm and Power Girl quickly took Atmosphere’s queue and surrounded Inked with a circle of flames.
“Ahhhhhhhh!!!!” screamed the villain. “I’ve got to get out of here,” he thought to himself as he touched Black Canary’s symbol on his left thigh. Before the heroes knew what was happening, he let out an ear-piercing sonic attack.
The quintet of Titans all covered their ears in hopes of preventing any permanent damage to their hearing as Inked started to run off.
“I’ve had enough of these crazy powers today,” huffed the villain as he smashed the window on a blue PT Cruiser parked on the street next to him. After messing with the wires for a few minutes, he hot-wired the car and took off. He was only a few blocks from where he started when he looked in his rear-view mirror and noticed that the Titans were already hot on his tail. “#&@&!!! Those losers are right on my tail!!!” Frantically, he went to hit the brakes so he could turn the corner and accidentally hit the Atom’s symbol on his left food, causing him to shrink down to six inches tall. Immediately, the car was out of control and was headed for a crowded hotel. He floated upward and landed on the steering wheel and noticed his soon to be fate, “Oh $#(%!!! I’m gonna die!!!” Then suddenly, the car stopped…
Atmosphere had used his powers to lift the out of control automobile into the air until it’s acceleration ran out. As he lowered the car to the ground he smiled an asked, “You didn’t think we were going to let you get off that easy, did you?”
***
At the Mattel Toy Factory…
Starman began walking through the corridors of the toy factory in a haste. His real motivation for separating from Phantom Lady was to get the killer into a false sense of security and have the killer attack him once he saw he was alone. He knew Phantom Lady would be safe in her invisible-mode. As he made his way around the dark factory, he couldn’t help but stop by the action figure department. After a few minutes of searching, he found what he was looking for: The Justice League Unlimited Display Case. His eyes scurried back and forth and he looked the case up and down, searching for one item in particular. Finally, he found what he was looking for – the extremely limited Hal Jordan figure. He thought to himself about how easy it would be to break open the case, take the figure, and say it must have gotten lost in the battle with the killer. Surely he deserved this small reward for helping stop this insane maniac. As he reached toward the case, he thought to himself, “Ugh…..I can’t do it. You know God, sometimes I really hate this halo you put over my head.” He then casually strolled on to the next room. This room was where they kept all of the doll prototypes. Barbie and friends filled the place along with several other types of dolls. “Sigh…..the doll room. What could be more boring? Hopefully the Hot Wheels are next. Well, I’d better hurry along, I have a killer to catch and there’s really nowhere in here for him to hide,” he said to himself as he started to walk faster when suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his right leg. “AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” he howled. He looked down to see a sharp, metal scythe stuck into his leg. While this was alarming in itself, it was nowhere near as alarming to where the scythe had apparently come from. Holding it’s handle was a gruesome looking rag doll with a twisted grin on it’s face.
Finally, Starman had found his serial killer but it wasn’t a man, but a female dressed in an outfit similar to Raggedy Anne’s.
The living "doll" spoke in a raspy whisper, “Die…for what you did to me…” she said as she ripped her scythe from Starman’s leg and raised it into the air to attack again. With no hesitation, the brought down her weapon, ready to kill.
Starman quickly responded by catching the hook of the scythe around his Cosmic Rod, stopping it in mid-air. “Look lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never done anything to you. As far as I know, this is our first meeting and pretty shotty one if I do say so myself!”
“Liar!” accused Rag Doll as she whipped her right leg out and wrapped it around Starman’s left leg, pulling it out from under him, causing him to fall. She jumped on top of him and slammed her scythe down again, just barely missing his face(which he had moved out of the way just in time).
“Ok, that’s it. You’re certifiably nuts!” spat Starman as he threw Rag Doll off of him.
As Rag Doll flew through the air, it was no trouble for her to land on her feet. “Years ago, you ran away like a coward and let those men beat and rape me!!!!” she hissed, running towards the cosmic avenger.
Starman fired several blasts from his Cosmic Rod at the crazed villain but her uncanny agility allowed her to dodge them with ease. She threw her scythe at him with sickening delight on her face. The scythe flew towards him and sliced his forearm, forcing him to drop his Cosmic Rod. Rag Doll then jumped on his back like a mad dog, wrapping her legs around his throat and proceeded to choke the grandnephew of Ted Knight.
“Cough…….ackk……..cough,” Starman could barely breath as Rag Doll continued to try and break his neck. “Got to think of something and fast,” Starman thought to himself as he struggled to get the walking freak-show off of his back. He then flew backwards into the wall behind him, with Rag Doll taking the brunt of the impact. Lucky for the space-faring hero, the villain’s grasp was relaxed and she dropped to the ground behind him.
In the few seconds he had, Starman scrambled to find his Cosmic Rod. “Where is it? Where is it?” he asked himself impatiently. Finally he saw it and raced across to the room towards it. He bent down to grab it and as he was getting back up, he noticed Rag Doll was standing over him, scythe in hand, ready to deliver the killing blow.
“Slice you to ribbons,” she giggled.
Starman almost wet himself as he knew there was no way to dodge Rag Doll’s scythe this time. “God….please take care of Aleea and Aaron.”
Then, strangely, before the hideous living “doll” could act, a portal opened behind her. A hand reached out, grabbed Rag Doll by the back of her dress, and pulled her through.
“Sweet Jesus, what the heck just happened?” Starman asked, totally perplexed. He looked around the room hoping to find something to answer his question. He paused for a second and remembered, “Oh duh…..Phantom Lady. She must have pulled Rag Doll through that warp and is probably beating the snot out of her right now.”
Just then, the heroine also known as Sandra Knight walked into the room and commented, “I take it you found our killer by the way you look.”
“Yeah I did but where did she go?” asked the best friend of the Arachnid.
“How would I know? You’re the one with cuts and scrapes,” countered Phantom Lady.
“Wait – didn’t you just warp in here and pull Rag Doll into your warp?” Starman asked as he clenched the arm that Rag Doll had sliced open.
“No sir,” revealed Phantom Lady. “I was searching the other end of the building and came up empty handed. So someone else was here and pulled this Rag Doll into a warp-hole?”
“Yes and if you didn’t do it, I’m afraid this isn’t the last we’ll see of that lunatic,” advised a concerned Starman. “
***
A secret hideout somewhere…
Rag Doll’s head jerked back and forth, taking in her new surroundings. It appeared that she was in some enormous old mansion of sorts. “You’re not going to hurt me. I’ll kill you all!” she threatened to the people standing in front of her while waiving her scythe frantically in the air.
“Calm yourself my dear. We are going to do nothing but help you,” the Wizard grinned from ear to ear. “I’d like to introduce you to the new Injustice Society….”