Titans of Justice Unlimited Chapter 101: “Just The Beginning “
Written & edited by: Power Guy


A subway train in Paris, France…

“It was nice to get away like this. Sure I could have used my power-ring to travel around the city but there’s something to be said about doing things the old-fashioned way once in a while,” Daniel Jordan thought to himself. “Monique really seems to be making progress in her treatment. Hopefully, the doctors here can help her break her bond with the Star Sapphire so she can resume a normal life.

Meanwhile, in the subway switching center, a technician begins to panic, “Oh no! My control panel has shorted out! Train number seven is out of control!”

Aboard train number seven, the conductor notices a change in course, “Oh no! We have been switched to the wrong track! We’re headed right for an oncoming train!”

On Daniel Jordan’s train, the passengers see the light of the runaway train heading towards them, sending all of the people aboard into a state of hysteria. Daniel quickly finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. “This looks like a job for Green Lantern but I can’t let these people see who I am.”

Scoping out the crowd, he notices their attention is turned to the oncoming train which he uses to his full advantage. Using his power-ring, he turns himself invisible and then transports himself out of the train, dressed in his Green Lantern uniform. “I’ve only got seconds to stop the trains before they collide!” As the trains inched closer and closer to one another, a familiar face appeared on the scene.





“Great galaxies! Sultanna!” exclaimed the green guardian.

“That’s right, my green friend,’ acknowledged the daughter of Sinestro. “I hear there’s some trouble in this subway…” she began.





“That’s right!” spat Green Lantern, becoming frustrated with Sultanna’s sudden arrival along with the looming disaster at hand. “And I’ll see to it that you don’t cause any more!” he said, aiming his ring at the alien beauty.

Sultanna’s face took on a serious appearance, “There’s no time for quarrels! A disaster needs preventing! My power-crystal will handle it!”

As the two trains headed for imminent doom, the two conductors had their feet pressed on their respective trains break-peddles but that would not be enough to stop them from crashing.

Suddenly, Sultanna created a giant foam spring in between the two trains, causing them two stop safely, without colliding.

The passengers had witnessed Sultanna’s act of apparent kindness and rushed out their trains to thank her while Green Lantern stood by, in complete shock over the seemingly former villainess’ change of heart.

After a few minutes of responding to those whose lives she had saved, Sultanna called over to Green Lantern, “I’ve got other jobs to take care of, Green Lantern! See you later!”

***

Later, in downtown Gotham City…

Two thugs rushed out of Gotham City Bank, bags of cash in each hand. “There’s millions here! This’ll be our last draw!” one crook said to the other.

“I’ll make sure of that!” Nightvision said as he and Bat-Girl seemingly appeared out of nowhere..





“Nightvision! Bat-Girl!” exclaimed the other crooked, becoming a bit scared as he started to run faster. The two crooked piled into their get away car and put the peddle to the metal.

“They’re getting away, Bat-Girl! Let’s go!” directed Nightvision,

“The Batmobile’s just around the corner. They won’t get far,” advised Bat-Girl as she and her partner turned to head towards their vehicle.

“That won’t be necessary, Bat-Girl,” came the high-pitched voice of the new Toyman.





“Toyman! What are you doing here? Looking for sloppy seconds?” demanded Nightvision.

“You’ve got me wrong, Dark Knight. I’ve come to capture those no good bank robbers,” the whimsical villain said, pulling a toy motorcycle out of his backpack. He immediately wound up the device and set it in motion. “I’ll teach them to toy around with the Toyman!”

Within seconds, the speedy motorcycle caught up with the cook’s car. Right before it made contact with one of the car’s tires, a sharp blade expelled itself from the front of the cycle and punctured one of the car’s tires causing it to come to a sudden halt. Unfortunately for the crooks, a cop car arrived on the scene and two offices exited promptly, pistols drawn. The crooks realized there was no chance of escape and immediately surrendered.

As the astonished Dynamic Duo looked on at the unexpected outcome of today’s events, the Toyman offered, “Just call me if you need me again,” he said, ready to leave.

“Wait a minute, Toyman!” Nightvision said, grabbing the arch-nemesis of Supergirl and the Hawks by the arm. “Where do you think you’re going. You’re still a wanted criminal yourself!”

“Ah, ah, ah, not any more,” smiled the Toyman. “Take a look at these!” he said, presenting the son of Dick and Barbara Grayson some papers.

After Nightvision had a few seconds to look over the papers, Bat-Girl asked, “What do they say?”

“It’s paperwork from the Metropolis court system granting the Toyman a full pardon as part of Lance Luthor’s rehabilitation program.”

“That’s right! Be seeing you around,” said the Toyman as he loosened himself from Nightvision’s grasp and took off.

***

In the skies above downtown Metropolis…

A blimp sails along the skyline, allowing tourists inside to take in the city in a matter of minutes. Suddenly, the blimp operator notices the winds picking up. “Oh boy, that was a powerful gust. I’d better set this thing down before things get worse.” As the blimp begins it’s decent, another strong gust comes along and pushes the craft onto the top of a pointed skyscraper, snagging the blimp. “Oh no! We’re stuck and any minute now the blimp will be punctured completely and we’ll drop like a rock! I’ve got to radio for help!” While the blimp operator calls for assistance, his theory becomes half-true. The top of the pointed skyscraper slowly pierces the blimp’s skin but luckily for the people aboard, the hole is small and only slowly starts leaking the helium gas that keeps it aloft.

Seconds later, help arrives in the form of Wonder Man and Hawk Warrior. Using the radio aboard his Invisible Jet, the male Amazon messaged the son of Carter and Sheira Hall to devise a plan, “The air-ship is dead ahead Hawk Warrior! You help calm the passengers while I seal the leak!”





In what seemed like a split second, Hawk Warrior was aboard the blimp, trying to assure everyone aboard that they would live to see another day. “Everyone stay calm. Wonder Man is doing his best to seal the leak.”





Outside the blimp, Wonder Man quickly located the hole within the blimp. Grabbing both sides of the ripped substance, he used his Olympian strength to try and pull them back together in hopes of sowing up the hole with his magic-lasso. “I’ve got to stop………..the leaking gas!”” he said, straining his muscles until…………….the deflating blimp began to bend slightly, causing an eruption of gas from the hole that Wonder Man was trying to seal. The force of the eruption was so powerful that it knocked Wonder Man off the blimp, leaving him completely dazed and disoriented. As the male Amazon plummeted to the ground, he feared he never see his beloved wife again, “Zeus, please watch over Jerrica,” he began to pray until out of the blue, someone came swinging through the air, catching the son of Wonder Woman in mid-air. As Scott Trevor looked up at his savior, he was shocked to see, “Sir Sinister Simian! I don’t believe it!”





The son of Gorilla Grodd looked down with a welcoming smile on his face, “Is that a way to thank someone who just saved your life?” he challenged as set Wonder Man on the ground.

As Wonder Man began to steady himself, he noticed Bizarbara was standing next to them. “Not her too…” he thought to himself.

The backwards duplicate of Power Guy took to the air announcing, “Me take care of blimp!” Within minutes, the visitor from Bizarro World had recovered the blimp and set it down safely, allowing all of it’s passengers to feel a sensation of relief.





As Hawk Warrior exited the blimp, he got in the former criminal from Gorilla City’s face and demanded, “Alright Sir Sinister, what’s going on?!?!?!”

The oversized ape continued smiling away and replied, “Nothing Hawk Warrior, We’re just tired of continually fighting the Titans of Justice and losing.”

Bizarbara then interrupted with “We change! We villains band together as Legion of Hope!”

Wonder Man and Hawk Warrior looked at each other not quite knowing what to say as Bizarbara and Sir Sinister Simian made their exit.

***

About fifty knots north of the Bermuda Triangle….

Sargona is seen flying along via her magic-carpet while Whirlpool cruises along the top of the ocean via the Aqua-scooter.

“I’ll hope those pirates that are robbing that cruise ship ahead have no idea that the crew triggered the silent alarm,” Sargona, worried aloud.





“Don’t be so paranoid. We’ll work it out……..even if they do know we’re coming!” promised Whirlpool.





As the duo of heroes neared closer to the ship, they saw a familiar sight parked next to it. “That’s the Manta ship!” cried out Whirlpool, already suspicious. “The Sting Ray must be the one robbing the ship as Devil Ray is still locked in an Atlantean dungeon with his father.”

“I knew Luthor was pulling my leg when he said he set the Sting Ray straight,” presumed the daughter of Zatanna and Sargon The Sorcerer. “Ah well, I could use some stress relief today,” she said, cracking her knuckles.

A few minutes later after Sargona and Whirlpool had boarded the ship, they found a half-conscious member of the crew lying on the deck. Sargona tried to jar him awake, “Sir, wake up! Wake up! We need to know where the pirates are.”

The semi-lethargic man looked up at Sargona, his head wobbling back and forth, “They…..they’re in the captain’s quarters…” he mumbled.

“Don’t you worry. I’m going to put and end to this………and her,” vowed Sargona as she and Whirlpool raced to the captain’s quarters.

“It’s been a while since we’ve gone a few rounds with her,” mentioned Whirlpool as they approached the captain’s chamber.

“Yes, too long as far as I’m concerned,” replied the raven-haired beauty. “I’m gonna clean her clock good this time,” she declared, kicking open the door. “Alright Stink-Ray, show’s over!”

The Sting Ray appeared to be locked in a gun-fight with some of the crew members but upon hearing a familiar voice, she turned to see her old sparring partners, Sargona and Whirlpool.

“This should put an end to your sinister plans,” Sargona said, touching an anchor, sending it through the air, and causing it’s chain to wrap around the Sting Ray, rendering her immobile.

“What are you doing???” demanded the daughter of Black Manta.

One of the crew members began to approach the two Titans of Justice, “Thanks for the save lady…….too bad there’s no-one here to save you!” he said, blasting Sargona with his gun.

“What the heck is going on here?” demanded Whirlpool as he caught the injured Sargona.

Suddenly, the captain spoke up, “Those men dressed as my crew! They’re the pirates in disguise! The Sting Ray was trying to save us!”

“Oh really?” responded the son of Tempest as he set Sargona down on the ground gently and leapt into action. Having a recent “recharge” from the ocean, Whirlpool was at his prime, as strong and fast as ever. The faux crewmen fired their laser-guns at him but the prince of Atlantis dodged them with ease. He punched one of the pirates in the face while kicking another in his kneecap, busting it upon impact. Another pirate ran up to Whirlpool and punched him in the back of the head. To the fiend’s surprise, he broke his hand. Whirlpool promptly turned around and clocked him in the face, knocking him out.

A few minutes later, after the Sting Ray had been released and Sargona had recovered, the captain approached the three of them. “Thank you all for saving us, especially you, Sting Ray. If you hadn’t come along when you did, they were about to make me walk the plank!”

“It’s nothing sir,” replied the ex-wife of Hawk Warrior. “That’s what the Legion of Hope is here for.”

“Who are you kidding with this act?” demanded Sargona, putting her face in the Sting Ray’s. “A cold-hearted killer such as yourself isn’t fooling anyone.”

“Now you just wait a minute young lady,” chastised the captain. “I know this woman has a shady past but she’s trying to make up for it and I won’t have you bad-mouthing her on my ship. While I’m grateful for your assistance, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“But…but…” began Sargona until Whirlpool grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Come on, Sar,” he urged. “We’ll take care of this some other time. We have to respect the captain’s wishes. This is his vessel.”

“This isn’t over!” hissed Sargona glaring at the Sting Ray as Whirlpool dragged out of the room.

***

A ski-resort in northern Minnesota…

Nucleus had been sent to aid a stranded cable-car caught in the middle of a fierce snowstorm. He glided through the air at pint-size, riding the strong wind-currents. “Looks like I got here just in time. The cable that car is riding is about to snap. Time to shoot up to giant-size and get the passengers off before they fall to their deaths. As the man otherwise known as Jason Hardwick began to grow, a powerful gust of wind came along and knocked his enlarged body into the cable-car, causing the line it was hanging on to SNAP! Both Nucleus and the car full of people began to plummet downward towards the deep ravine below.





“Good Lord! We’re all going to die!” Nucleus feared, eyes growing wide until, suddenly, he and the cable car were caught by two giant-sized hands belonging to none other than….

“Giantessa!” exclaimed Nucleus, not quite knowing what to think.

“In the flesh, honey,” replied the daughter of Giganta as she set Nucleus and the cable car down on solid ground.





As the passengers exited and began thanking Giantessa for rescuing them, she made one thing clear, “Alright people, autographs are ten dollars each. I need you all to form a single line and get your checkbooks out.”

Nucleus barged in front to the front of the line, “What do you think you’re doing???”

Giantessa was ignoring him while she replied to a text-message on her phone

“Look at me!” Nucleus growled, grabbing her arm.

“Huh…..oh….I’m getting read to sign autographs. What does it look like I’m doing?” she questioned, smacking the gum inside her mouth.

“No, I mean last time I saw you, you tried to bust up Wonder Man and Jem’s wedding. After you and the rest of you buddies failed miserably, Ares took you into custody so what are you doing here and why are you helping us?”

“Oh…….that,” Giantessa replied, finally figuring out what Nucleus had been referring to. “Well, you see…fancy Lancey made a deal with big, bad Ares to get him to release me in order to join the Legion of Hope, so here I am in all my heroic glory! I did a pretty good job on my first time out as a hero, didn’t I?” she said, smiling wide.

Nucleus did his best to keep his emotions in check, feeling that Giantessa was feeding him a line. “You’d better play it straight or the Titans will shut you down before you can blink.”

“Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight……………..,” Giantessa said, rolling her eyes. She then turned to the crowd. “Ok, party-people, who’s first?”

***

A dark alley in Opal City…

As an elderly lady made her way home from her church’s bingo night, a few muggers stopped her, intent on taking her valuables.

“Ok lady, do yourself a favor and hand over your purse and pearls and you just might not get hurt,” ordered one of the muggers, pointing a gun in the lady’s face.

The lady was trembling and shaking. She had taken this way home for years and years and never ran into any trouble before tonight though the rise in the city’s crime-rate could have predicted that her good luck would eventually change. “Y…y……..you can have my purse but please, not the pearls. My dead husband gave them to me….”

“Well, if you don’t hand them over, you’re going join him in the graveyard,” the mugger replied, coldly.

“That’s no way to treat an old lady,” came the voice of Phantom Lady as she exited one of her warp-holes and punched one of the muggers in the side of the head.





The other mugger immediately turned around and starting duking it out with the World War Two heroine. “You picked the wrong crime to try and stop, lady!” he spat as he aimed his gun at the woman otherwise known as Sandra Knight.

The common thug began to become preoccupied with the ‘window’ in Phantom Lady’s blouse causing him to fail to notice the searing laser-blast from Phantom Lady’s Black-light Bracelet which quickly relieved the mugger of his gun, taking him by surprise and allowing Phantom Lady the opportunity to punch him dead between the eyes, knocking him out cold. As she was about to declare yet another win, she heard the click of a gun.

The other mugger had recovered sooner than expected and held his gun right at the back of Phantom Lady’s head. “You’re quick lady. Too bad you don’t have eyes in the back of your head,” gloated the mugger. “Now say your prayers as you only have about five seconds left on God’s green…..green………..greeeee…” Suddenly, the mugger started slurring his speech. He became quite dizzy and felt like he was going to vomit. He quickly collapsed to the ground and passed out.

Phantom Lady looked down at mugger and then noticed the new Riddler approaching her. “Riddler!” she called out.

“I hope he didn’t cause you too much trouble, Phantom Lady,” the clue-obsessed man offered while looking down at his victim. “My distortion cane took him down pretty clean and quick, huh?” he said presenting his question-mark shaped cane to the former Freedom Fighter.





“Why did you save me?” questioned Phantom Lady, completely suspicious.

“What do you mean ‘why’?” queried the Riddler. “That’s just what the Legion of Hope does.”

“I don’t know who you think you’re playing Riddler but I’ve been around long enough to know that old dogs aren’t able to learn new tricks,” Phantom Lady replied in a firm tone.

“But sometimes when you change the question, you get the answer that you’re looking for,” teased the Riddler as he ventured off.

Phantom Lady remained quiet while she cocked one of her eyebrows as the Riddler ventured off.

***

A barren tundra over northern Russia…

After three nuclear missiles were released by accident, the Russian government had contacted the Titans of Justice for immediate assistance. Starman, the Arachnid, and Supergirl answered the call as they had just finished taking on Dr. Polaris in Hungary.

“There’s the missiles!” shouted the Arachnid as he and his two teammates flew through the air. “Let’s blow those things out of the sky!”





“Are you dumb or just plain stupid?” Starman asked, a bit amazed by the Arachnid’s naivety. “If you so much as put the slightest amount of pressure on any of those missiles, you’ll nuke half of the country below us you idiot!”





“Oh………right,” the Arachnid mumbled softly.

“Keep it in check boys, we’ve got a job to do,” reminded Supergirl. Flying up to one of the missiles, she grabbed it firmly, holding it as still as she could. “Ok, one of you needs to think of something fast.”





“Hmm…..I’ve got it!” exclaimed the Arachnid. “Nightvision once taught me how to disarm a bomb. This has to be similar right?”

“A bomb isn’t the same thing a missile Captain Grey Matter,” argued Starman.

“Hey, are you insulting my intelligence, Space Cowboy?” barked the Arachnid. “Oh, I get it. You’re trying to show off in front of your new girlfriend here.”

“Ughhh…….whatever,” sighed Starman. “Just give it a shot then why don’t you. We’re probably all going to die anyways. Here, I’ll pull the shell off of the missiles with my gravity powers so you don’t get all frustrated and end up punching the thing and set it off.”

“You’re the one with the temper problem,” countered the bug-themed hero as Starman took action. After a few seconds, the control panel to the missile was exposed and the Arachnid went to work, pushing himself to remember what Nightvision had taught him. “Let’s see…I think I disconnect the red wire first………………or maybe it’s the black wire. No, wait! It’s the yellow wire! Or is it the green?” the Arachnid said, mulling through his choices.

“Will you hurry up already? We’ve only got two minutes before the other two missiles go off,” lectured Starman.

“Umm…..,” the Arachnid felt the pressure was on as his eyes darted back and forth between the four wires in front of him.

“HURRY IT UP ALREADY!” ordered Starman.

“Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!” the Arachnid said, becoming frustrated, Finally he pulled the green wire, then the yellow one, next the black one, and finally the red one. A second later, message appeared on the control panel screen saying the missile was deactivated.

“We’re never going to make it!” Supergirl worried aloud. “We’ve only got thirty second and there are two missiles left!” she said as she and the Spider-Star team flew after the other two missiles. Then out of the sky dropped an alarming sight.

“Great Scott! Brainiac’s starship!” gasped Supergirl. “Just what we need right now!” As the three heroes got closer to the missiles and the starship, Indigo exited the ship. Out of her body came four cybernetic cords, two of each attaching to each missile.

“Indigo! What in the world do you think you’re doing???” demanded Supergirl, angrily.

The third generation Brainaic swiveled her head and replied, “Initiating the deactivation sequence before imminent destruction occurs.” Indigo’s eyes began to glow and a soft humming noise was heard. Before the three Titans of Justice could comprehend what was happening, the two missiles shut down and began to drop from the sky.





“Oh my God!” shouted Starman as he and the Arachnid flew after the two missiles to catching them before they impacted with the ground.

“You sick…” began Supergirl until Indigo interrupted her.

“I can assure you, I am quite well. The missiles no longer pose a threat and your friends are more than capable of securing them before they hit the ground. Thanks to the Legion of Hope, the life-forms below may continue on with their existence.” Supergirl was thrown for a loop by Indigo’s actions and words. The two had battled many a times in the past and each time, Indigo was set on destroying all life on earth. The girl of steel remained quiet in thought as the granddaughter of Brainiac returned to her ship and took off.

***

Kansas City, KS….

Power Guy, Argos, and Sturmer had been called to the scene. A large barge had struck a heavily trafficked bridge, fracturing it’s structure and endangering all of the motorists traveling up on it.

“There’s the bridge down below, Argos,” pointed Power Guy. “You and Sturmer work on evacuating it. I’ll swoop down below and see if I can’t stabilize it, somehow. Do your best to get as many people off this bridge as possible.”

“You can count on it, my friend,“ promised Argos. “Come Sturmer!”





Argos and his faithful hound dropped onto the bridge below. Sturmer scoped out the crowd for young children and allowed several of them to ride on his back, quickly bringing them to the end of the bridge and setting them down on secure ground.

Argos tried to make the most of the precious time he had. He spotted a city bus full of the people on the bridge. Without breaking a sweat, he placed the bus on his back and flew the mass transportation unit to safety. He then called over to the war-dog of New Genesis, “Sturmer! Once all of the children are safe, remove the heaviest crowded vehicles next!”

With a single bark, Sturmer acknowledged his master’s command and followed suit.

Down below. Power Guy was scoping out the damage done to the bridge by the large boat. “One of the pillars is cracked but if I pull the boat free from it, the bridge is likely to collapse before I can repair it with my heat-vision,” he said, thinking he was the only who could hear him speak.

Suddenly, another presence made itself known. “Power Guy not worry, Grundy pull boat free while you fix bridge.”





“Great Krypton!” Power Guy exclaimed, turning his head towards the marshland monster. “Why on earth are you offering to help?”

The long-time foe of the hero community replied with, “Grundy tired of fighting heroes throughout his life. Me join Legion of Hope and try to make world a better place,” respond the hulking brute in his somewhat southern slang.

Power Guy’s eyes narrowed as he remained suspicious of Solomon Grundy, “Although every fiber in my being thinks your lying right now, I don’t have time to debate this with you. Just do as you said and pull the boat free while I fix the bridge,” he ordered, racing into action.

Surprisingly, the foe of the original Green Lantern kept his world and pulled the large barge free while Power Guy used a combination of superspeed and heat-vision to repair the fractured bridge pillar. Once he was done, he turned and looked for his frequent adversary but noticed he had disappeared. He then flew upward and joined Argos on the bridge.

“You did it, my friend,” commented the son of Orion.

“Yes, but not without some help,” revealed the Kryptonian powerhouse.

“Help? From who?” Argos asked, inquisitively.

“You’re not going to believe it when I tell you……

***

A government facility in Bludhaven…

A few minutes earlier, the Copperhead twins had broken into the lab and taken out the staff. The two reptilian villains were after a device that converted coal into diamonds at one thousand times the speed of nature.

“With this device, we’re going to make a bundle!” said twin number one.





“You know it!” agreed the other twin. “We’re going to have the diamond market cornered and never have to pull off another job again.”





“Well, you’re right about one thing. This is definitely going to be your last theft,” came a haunting voice.

The twins began to panic, looking all around as the Huntress leapt out of the shadows and drop-kicked the first twin in the chest.

“Oh crap! It’s the Huntress!” the second twin said, freaking out.

“You recognize me? You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not touched,” spat the Huntress she threw a Batarang at the second twin, striking him in the side of the head, dazing him.





Just then, the first twin slammed his prehensile tail into the Huntress’ legs, knocking her to the ground.

As the two snake-themed villain surrounded the daughter of the Batman and Catwoman, she looked up, waiting for the right moment to make her next move.

“I don’t know why you flipped out like that,” commented the first twin to the second as they stepped closer to the Huntress. “She’s only one woman and against two strong men like us, she doesn’t stand a chance! Now, let’s put her down for the count, grab the device, and get the h_ll out of here!”

As the Copperhead Twins were about to attempt to finish off the Huntress, they heard what sounded like a clapping noise coming from the distance. As the seconds passed, it got louder and louder until the person clapping their hands was visible.

“Scream Queen!” shouted the second twin. “Nice of you to join us! Wanna help us finish off Bat-lady here?”

“I have to say I’m impressed, you have the Huntress at quite a disadvantage here,” Scream Queen noted in her dry, raspy voice.





As the twins’ attention was turned to the arrival of the Scarecrow’s daughter, the Huntress kicked out her leg and rammed the heel of her boot into the second twin’s right kneecap, shattering it. “That’s not going to happen, not even on your best day!” she announced while jumping to her feet.

While the second twin dropped to the floor in agony, the first twin became quite angry with what the Huntress had done to his brother. “It’s still two against one, you whore! Come on, Scream Queen. Let’s finish this!”

“That we shall!” agreed Scream Queen as she raised her larger than life scythe into the air. Then in a shocking turn of events, she brought it down on the first twin’s tail, pinning it to the ground.

While the Huntress wasn’t sure what to make of the current situation, she wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass her by. The first twin was in total shock at Scream Queen’s betrayal which allowed the Huntress the chance the punch him the in face several times. As the first twin began to see stars, she grabbed him by the back of the head and bashed his forehead into her left knee, sending him off to dreamland. She then turned her attention towards Scream Queen, “Thanks for the save. Now I suppose you’re going to try to finish me off yourself and try and take the diamond device?”

“Not at all,” responded the mistress of fear. “But I’ll be happy to help you take these two crooks to jail if you’d like?”

“Excuse me?” the Huntress said, firmly.

“I know we’ve had our difference in the past but thanks to Lance Luthor’s Legion of Hope, I’ve seen the light so to speak and have declared a war on crime!” revealed the daughter of the Scarecrow.

“Ah yes……….Luthor’s Legion of Hope program,” the Huntress said, while stroking her chin. “I don’t buy it for a minute Scream Queen and coming to my rescue today certainly didn’t do anything to change my mind. You and your boss better sleep with one eye open because the minute you slip up, I’ll take you down faster than you can say my name!” threatened the Huntress as she finished tying the two Copperhead Twins to a nearby post, until the police could arrive and take them into custody.

“Fine, think the worst. We’ll prove you wrong, my dear,” countered Scream Queen as she exited promptly.

***

Central City…

The new Six Flags amusement park had opened just months ago. Since then, people from all around came enjoy the new rides an attractions. One of the parks biggest draws was a brand new rollercoaster. They claimed it to be the fasted ever, calling it The Flash in honor of the city’s long time hero. Today, just like every day since the park had opened, people waited for hours to board the speedy craft however, today would be the day the ride’s appeal came to a screeching halt. As the train circled around it’s track, the operator noticed it was not responding to the controls. The train had gone berserk and would not stop. The passengers aboard were freaking out big time, many of them becoming nauseous and vomiting over the side of their train-car. Within minutes of the train operator notifying the authorities, the Flash and Elongated Lad arrived on the scene in hopes of bringing this catastrophe to an end.

“Looks like that train is completely out of control, E.L.,” observed the Flash as she began racing towards the runaway ride. “I’m going to try unloading the passengers one by one. I’ll need you act as a safety net in case anyone falls!”





“You got it, red!” committed the son of Ralph and Sue Dibny as he stretched his elastic limbs into the shape of a giant net.





Instantly, the Flash raced up the train-track and gained on the runaway ride in no time however, as she got closer in proximity to the coaster, she came to a horrible realization. “Great wings of Mercury! The vibrations from the train are causing me to lose my balance!” she said previously mentioned force threw her off the train-track and sent her falling to her doom.

“OH MY GOD!!! FLASH!” cried out the Elongated Lad as he retracted his limbs and then stretched them out again, this time forming a giant catcher’s mitt, cushioning his close friend’s fall.

The Flash took a deep breath in relief, “Thanks. If it wasn’t for you…”

“Think nothing of it,” smiled the Elongated Lad. “But if you want to thank me, then you’d better come up with plan B.”

“How about plan C for cold?” came an all too familiar voice.

The Flash and Elongated Lad turned their heads to see their arch-nemesis Kid Cold standing before them.

“Kid Cold! I’ll see to it that you don’t pull any of your chilly tricks!” the Flash said, ready to pummel the cold themed villain.

“There’s no time for arguing, Flash. Peoples lives are at stake here!” reminded the son of Captain Cold. “We’ve got to work together if we’re going to save those folks!”





“You’re lucky I don’t have time to bash your face in, Cold,. Tell me what’s on your mind and make it FAST!” ordered the daughter of Wally West.

“I’m going to need you to get me up close to the train. I have an idea that should bring this disaster to an end,” advised Kid Cold.

“Alright let’s do it!” the Flash said as she grabbed Kid Cold and started running.

“No tricks, Cold or I promise you’ll feel the world‘s worst rubber-band sting…………..to your groin!” warned the Elongated Lad.

As the Flash once again raced up the track, she advised her long-time enemy, “I can’t get too close or the vibrations will throw us off the track. I hope whatever you have in mind can work from a short distance.”

“It will!” promised Kid Cold as he and his temporary ally neared the train. Then when the Flash was at just the right angle, Kid Cold shot his ice-ray at the front of the train, causing it’s engine to freeze up. Within mere moments, the train started to slow eventually coming to a complete stop.

As the Flash marveled over what Kid Cold had just done, she wasted no time in unloading the passengers from the train so that they could slide down Elongated Lad’s stretched out form, bringing them safely down to the ground below. Once everyone was safe, she turned to the man she had battled against many times and said, “Nice work, Cold. Too bad I know you’ve got an ulterior motive behind it. Let me guess, you want a monetary reward?”

“Not this time. The Legion of Hope doesn’t accept pay-outs. Everything we do is for the benefit of mankind!” he said, as he boarded his Cold-craft and took to the air.

The Flash and Elongated Lad just looked at each other, a bit dumb-founded by Kid Cold’s revelation.

***

Gateway City….

Power Lad and Wonder Girl were flying through the air, headed for the Gateway City division of S.T.A.R. Labs. A prototype security robot was out of control and the Titans of Justice had been called upon to try and stop the rampaging robot.

“I bet you’re thrilled that you get to team-up with me, aren’t you?” Power Lad asked, smugly.





“More like sick to my stomach,” replied Wonder Girl, coldly.





“Aww….who are you kidding. I know you like the way I smell,” teased Power Lad.

“You mean the way you STINK?” countered the visitor from the Universe of Evil.

“I bet if I threw that lasso of yours around your waist, you’d be saying something completely different right now.”

“And I bet if I threw my lasso around your neck and hung you from a skyscraper, I’d feel a whole lot better right now….”

Power Lad became quite frustrated with Wonder Girl ignoring his advances and became quiet as the two finally arrived at S.T.A.R. Labs. A security guard was waiting for them outside and led them to the room where the runaway robot was causing havoc. Three scientists were laying on the floor, unconscious and almost everything in the room was completely destroyed.

“I’ll take out that tin-can in no time!” bragged Power Lad as he flew towards the seemingly sinister contraption. The robot quickly noticed, Power Lad’s advance and fired a stun-ray at him, knocking him out of the air and making most of his body feel numb.

“That’s enough, you mechanical menagerie!” commanded Wonder Girl, twirling her lasso in the air. She quickly threw her mystic lariat at the robot only to see the electronic trouble-maker catch her rope. The two started playing a game of tug of war with the rope, neither one ready to give in any time soon. The robot soon came up with another strategy and began firing it’s stun-ray at the younger Donna Troy, forcing her to drop her rope in order to use her bracelets to deflect the oncoming beams.

“Hang on, princess! I’m coming!” advised a recently recovered Power Lad as he flew towards Wonder Girl. As the sidekick of Power Guy neared his long-time crush, the robot threw Wonder Girl’s lasso around the two Super Friends, immobilizing them.

“Oh no! He’s got us bound in my lasso!” cried out the visitor from the Universe of Evil.

As the two heroes struggled in vane to get free from the unbreakable rope, the robot advanced closer, closing in for the kill.

“That’s as far as you go!” ordered the new Cheetah as he burst in the room and tacked the rampaging robot.





The two combatants wrestled around the floor for a while with the robot firing it’s stun-ray all over the place and the Cheetah slashing his claws all over the robot’s frame.

“Awww….no. The Cheetah. Isn’t he gay or something?” asked Power Lad.

“Yeah, why? Are you a homophobic loser besides being a big jerk?” snapped Wonder Girl.

“I just don’t understand why a dude would wanna get with another dude…” explained Power Lad.

“Well, I’m sure if you were the last ‘dude’ on earth, he’d be straight,” smirked Wonder Girl.

As the Cheetah and the robot continued to struggle against one another, the grandson of Priscilla Rich became quite angry and looked for a way to end this tussle. Suddenly, he heard his deceased grandmother, Priscilla, encouraging him, “Don’t let up boy! Turn this mechanical menace into scrap-metal! You can do it!” He then noticed several wires going from the robot’s back up into it’s head. Using his razor-sharp claws, he slashed through the wires with ease, causing the robot to deactivate immediately, thus ending the threat at hand. He didn’t stop there though, his rage had overwhelmed him a bit and he continued tearing the robot apart until all that was left was………………..junk. Giving into his animal side even further, he let out a ferocious roar as a declaration of victory. He then turned his attention to Power Lad and Wonder Girl.

As the Cheetah took to his feet, the bound Power Lad and Wonder Girl were nervous that they would be the Cheetah’s next target.

“I can smell the fear in your sweat,” revealed the Cheetah. “Not to worry, I’m simply going to untie you and be on my way,” he said as he bent down as loosened the magic-lasso.

“Ok………just what exactly are you on, Cheetah?” demanded Wonder Girl as she took her lasso from the Cheetah.

“On?” repeated the feral villain.

“Last time I saw you, you were going for my throat. Now you’re saving my derriere. You’re up to something!” accused the teen Amazon.

“Really…princess, you shouldn’t be so suspicious. Leopards may not be able to change their spots but cheetahs can,” teased the grandson of Priscilla Rich as he turned and raced out of the room.

***

Deep in a abysmal swamp in the headquarters of the Legion of Hope…

Lance Luthor stares up at the monitor screen, his hands on his hips. After watching all of his teammates successes over the last few hours, he comments, “This is perfect. Everything is going just as I hoped….”





NOT THE END