Titans of Justice Vol. 2 Ch. 16 - “Secret Origins Destroyed Part 2”
Written & edited by: Power Guy


Roll Call: Black Vulcan, Flash, Nucleus, Sargona, Starman, Stellar, Whirlpool, and some very special guests!


The Hall of Justice....

It’s a stormy night. Black Vulcan, the Huntress, and Knightvision are looking up at the Trouble Alert. The high-tech device just sounded it’s signature alarm.

“It looks like Mr. Freeze is up to his old tricks at Star Labs West in Gotham,” observed Knightvision.





“I say we throw him back in the freezer,” suggested the Huntress as she pounded her right fist into her left hand.





“I’ll be happy to give you two a hand,” offered Black Vulcan. “Let’s g....”





But before the daughter of Black Lightning can complete her sentence, the effects of the Legion of Doom’s latest caper takes hold. The time-stream bends and twists for a millisecond as time resets itself.

“What was that???” Black Vulcan asks as she regains her composure.

“What was what?” comes a familiar voice that the electricity-powered heroine hasn’t heard in a long time.

Black Vulcan quickly turns her head to see if her ears are playing tricks on her, “Jem?!?!?!”

“We’re on duty. Call me by my code name,” answers the woman known as Jerrica Benton-Trevor. “Call me Star Sapphire.”





“What? Star Sapphire?” Black Vulcan asks as one of her eyebrows cocks upward.

“Why are you so confused?” comes another familiar voice.

Black Vulcan turns the other way and sees “Wonder Man? I thought you two were in retirement?”





“How can the Star Sapphire of sector 2814 retire? There is still so much work I have to do, answers the pink-garbed heroine.

“And how could I even think of slumping on the couch and watching TV all day while my lovely wife risks her life in battle?” asks Wonder Man.

“But what about your children?” Who’s taking care of them?” Black Vulcan asks curiously. “And what happened to Knightvision and the Huntress?”

“Celeste, that’s not funny. You know Jerrica can’t have children. I’m trusting that you’re simply disoriented and confused right now due to your earlier comments and the fact that I have no idea who this Knightvision or this Huntress is. Do you know them, honey?” Wonder Man asks as he turns to his wife.

“No, I don’t,” answers Star Sapphire.

“Celeste, what’s going on in here? I thought I heard some commotion,” Sargona says as she enters the room. “Good Lord! Jerrica! Scott! You’re back!’





“Back? When did we leave?” Wonder Man asks, just as confused as Sargona.

“I’d better call Vince and Donna. Something’s not right here,” noted the daughter of Sargon and Zatanna.

“Sargona, have you and Black Vulcan lost your minds?” asked Star Sapphire. “You know that both Scott’s Aunt Donna and Vince are dead.”

“Dead?” repeats the raven-haired sorceress. “Trouble Alert, can you confirm?” Sargona asks frantically.

“Star Sapphire’s comments are correct,” answers the high-tech computer. “Thanks to a recent changing of past events by the Legion of Doom, Power Guy and Olympia are no longer alive.”

“Elaborate!” shouts Sargona.

The Trouble Alert speaks up once again, “The Legion of Doom travelled into the past and prevented the deaths of Prince Kufu, Princess Chay-Ara, Thomas & Martha Wayne, and Abin Sur, thus negating the existence of Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Batman, and Green Lantern. Without the existence of Batman, Ras Al Ghul was successfully able to eliminate all of the Kryptonians on Earth. Without Superman’s assistance, Circe overtook Paradise Island during her last assault on Themyscira. Hippolyta, Wonder Woman, Olympia and all of the other Amazons were killed..........with the exception of Wonder Man who was saved by his father. Other superheroes had their histories changed too such as.....”

“Hey guys! It’s Stellar!” shouted the teen hero as he came flying into the room.

“Stellar? What are you doing wearing the Shazam suit?” asks Black Vulcan.

“I dunno.....I was in Fawcett City fighting Ibac when reality seemed to warp and suddenly my Cosmic Converter Belt was gone and I’m wearing this costume,” replied the seemingly current wielder of Shazam’s power. “But listen, there’s a bigger problem!”

“What’s up Freddie?” asked Wonder Man, hoping he could help with the matter at hand and calm the young hero’s nerves.

“The Metrotower is gone! Like it never existed!” explained the astonished hero.

“The Metrotower?” Star Sapphire asked, unsure of what Stellar was talking about. “What on earth are you talking about Captain Marvel Jr.?”

“Jerrica, you know what he’s talking about,” reminded Sargona. “You were a member of the first Titans West.”

“Titans West?” Star Sapphire repeated, even further confused. “I didn’t know we started up a west coast branch.”

Sargona turned to the Trouble Alert once more, “Computer, please verify.”

The Trouble Alert fired up once more, “Star Sapphire’s memory has been altered due to the Legion of Doom’s plan. The only reason you, Black Vulcan, Stellar, and the other active member of the team remember the way things used to be is due to the chronal technology installed in your signal devices by Rip Hunter. They allow you to be unaffected by any changes in time for twenty-four hours after the change. The same is true for my memory banks. The Legion of Doom only intended to erase Batman, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, and Green Lantern from history thus negating the existence of Knightvision, Huntress, Hawk Warrior, Hawkgirl, and Blue Lantern from ever being members of the Titans of Justice.”

“But what about Titans West and the Metrotower?” asked Black Vulcan.

“With the changed history, there is no Metrotower and there never was a Titans West,” answered the Trouble Alert.

“Good grief! All of our friends on the West team except for Stellar are gone!” gasped Sargona.

“Correction,” interrupted the Trouble Alert.

“Some of us are fine,” came another voice.

Sargona turned to see Starman, Whirlpool, and Nuclues enter the room.

“Scott! Jason! Arin! Thank God!” exclaimed a somewhat relieved Sargona.

“We’re all fine even though the Metrotower and the rest of the West team aren’t,” reported Whirlpool. “Who’s responsible for what’s happened to Shayera and the others?”





“The damnable Legion of Doom!” replied Sargona. “Trouble Alert, what about the other East team members?”

Just then the Flash whizzed into the room, “Don’t bother accounting for me Trouble Alert. I was just busy putting Weather Witch back behind bars but what about Argos and the others?”





“Due to Superman’s death, New Genensis has had to put all of their efforts into keeping Darkseid’s forces at bay. Argos is otherwise detained. Another casualty of Superman’s death was the Martian Manhunter. Without Superman around, J’onn J’onzz fell before the combined forces of Despero and Mongul when they destroyed the Watchtower. That in turn, caused Ms. Mars to never be born. Without Superman sponsoring Firestorm for the Justice League, he never received the proper training to ready him for the superhero world. He was killed early on in his career by Killer Frost. Because of this, Powerstorm never came to be. Infierna Verde and Elongated Lad were killed last year in raid on Jihad headquarters. Dark Arrow and Sonic Boom were also never born. Without Batman around to stop Promethius’ initial assault on the Justice League, Promethius was able to hold the League at bay while he destroyed several prominent cities across America, Star City being one of them. Green Arrow and Black Canary were in Star City when it was obliterated.”

“So, out of the sixteen of you, only three are left,” calculated Nucleus. “Computer, what about the remaining Titans West members, not including Supergirl of course.”





“Hermes was killed during the Black Orchid Massacre. Shortly afterwards, Lt. Atom killed Black Orchid and himself in a last ditch effort to stop her murderous rampage,” explained the Trouble Alert.

“Oh no! With the universe’s changed history, it looks like the Floronic Man was never exposed for pulling Black Orchid’s strings and because of that, she paid the price for his crimes,” concluded Starman.





The Trouble Alert then continued it’s explanation, “With no earthly Green Lantern, Vixen retired early in her career having never joined the Justice League of America. Totem simply never came to be. With the heroes’ reduced numbers, Phantom Lady was killed during the event known as the Crisis On Infinite Earths. With Supergirl, Knightvision, and Green Lantern out of the picture, the Dark Titans never came to be which prevented Gold Bug and his team of future Titans from ever coming back to the present.”

“That’s everyone on our team,” noted Whirlpool. “I don’t think I even want to know what happened to Tula and the other Super Friends.”

“Me either,” sighed Stellar as he thought about his beloved Sherry, Girl of Two Thousand Gimmicks. Stellar then though privately to himself, “They’re need to pay for what they did to Sherry and the others and now I’ve got the power to make sure that happens. He then glanced down at the symbol of Shazam on his chest.

“So what can we do to make all of this right?” Black Vulcan pondered aloud.

“It’s simple,” pointed out Nucleus. We journey back into the past and stop the Legion before they enact their twisted plan.”

“Anybody got a time machine handy?” asked Whirlpool.

The team all turned to the Flash.

“Oh boy, you guys are going to hate me,” sighed the fastest woman alive. “As many of you know, my Uncle Barry came out of his coma a few weeks ago and his first priority of business was tinkering with our Cosmic Treadmill. It’s been in pieces for the last week and I don’t think he’ll be able to put it together again for another two weeks.”

“You don’t need the treadmill, Willma,” countered Nuclues.

One of the Flash’s eyebrows cocked upward in confusion, “But Jason, I’m not fast enough yet to do time-travel on my own.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” revealed the protege’ of the Atom. “Remember those tests we did on you last Monday? I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get back to you with the results before now but my readings show that you are now fast enough to do time-travel in limited amounts. You should have the energy and speed to be able to send a group of Titans into the past one time and that should be more than enough for us to thwart the Legion’s plans.”

“Sweet! I couldn’t be happier to be the wrench thrown in their works,” smiled the daughter of Wally West.

“Let’s all divide up into three teams and tackle the three points in history where the Legion of Doom struck,” directed Starman.

Before he could complete his sentence however, the Trouble Alert’s alarm went off.

“Great Zeus!” exclaimed Wonder Man as he looked at the report coming in. “It’s the Legion of Doom. Their present day selves are attacking the White House. It must be their first stop in their plans for world domination now that our ranks are reduced.”

“That’s not a problem,” assured Starman. “Three Titans should be enough to go back into the past and stop the Legion’s time-twisting plot. Flash - start stretching your legs. You’re about to take Whirlpool, Sargona, and Wonder Man back into the past. Whirlpool - you get the Toyman. Sargona - Sultana is all yours. Wonder Man - take down Scream Queen. The rest of us will get to Washington D.C. and stop the present day Legion in their tracks or possibly die trying.”

***

Minutes later...

“Ok, the rest of the team is off to Washington D.C. Time for me to get running and send the three of you back into the past,” stated the daughter of Wally West as she began running circles around Whirlpool, Sargona, and Wonder Man.

“Pour it on, Wilma,” directed Nucleus. “You have to get each of their bodies to the right vibrational frequency in order to send them back into the past. One miscalculation could send them could send them so far back that the earth wouldn’t exist!”

“Got it, chief!” confirmed the Flash as she ran faster and faster. “This is excruciatingly painful!” she thought to herself. “Still, I’ve got to keep this up long enough for these three to set things right!” Then, within a millisecond, the three heroes vanished into the past.

***

The secret lair of Hath Set, ancient Egypt...

“Great Neptune!” exclaimed Whirlpool as he noticed his surroundings. “I’m inside a pyramid! No time to sightsee though, there’s the Toyman up ahead! Good thing I went for a long swim before our meeting as this desert heat is going to sap my strength much quicker than normal.” Whilrpool gracefully races ahead and happens upon Toyman right before he is about to release his airplane army on Hath Set in order to stop him from killing Kufu and Chay-Ara. The Atlantean prince grabs the jester-themed villain before he even notices Whirlpool and throws him up against the wall beside him. He then whispers sternly, “Alright Toy-boy, this gig is up!”

“Aww.....Whirlpool, I’ll bet you miss your sweet, fire-haired Hawkgirl, don’t you?” teased the Toyman. “Well, in order to get her back, you’ll have to stop me from preventing Hawkman and Hawkwoman from experiencing a brutal and very painful death! So, go ahead. Take me out,” taunted the whimsical villain.





***

Just outside Coast City, California...

A crimson blur appeared with Sargona stepping out. “Lucky me, getting to save Dan’s sorry @$$,” huffed the raven-haired sorceress. “Now, where’s Sultana?” the daugher of Sargon The Sorcerer and Zatanna asked herself as she scanned the skies. After about forty-five seconds, “There she is!” she said as she tensed up and unrolled her flying carpet. Boarding the rug, she took to the air in hot pursuit.

A short while later, Sargona caught up with the daughter of SInestro and uttered one of her backwards incantations, “sdniw tpure! Pnepsus ym oef!”

Instantly, a miniature tornado appeared and engulfed Sultana. “What in the seventh galaxy is this?!?!?!” screeched the crimson-skinned alien.





“THIS is the end of the line for you,” shouted Sargona, dead serious.

“Well, well, well....” teased Sultana. “If it isn’t the wicked witch of the east. I take it you’re unhappy that I made sure Blue Lantern is no longer a member of your team?”


“Actually, we made sure of that about a week ago ourselves but that’s another story for another time,” countered Sargona, “Part of me is grateful to her for getting Jo Jo Gardner off the team but he’s not the only one who’s been affected besides Dan. “Give it up, Sultana. Your pretty rock is no match for mine!”

“Perhaps but I don’t think you really want to stop me,” Sultana said manipulatively, “Because if you do, you’ll be ensuring the great Abin Sur dies a extremely horrific death and what would your dear Blue Lantern say about that?”

***

A few decades earlier in Crime Alley, Gotham City...

Wonder Man sped out of the time portal provided by the Fastest Woman Alive. “Wow, she’s fast. Not even the speed of Mercury allows me to travel through time. Wilma was certainly given a blessing. Ah well, there’s no time to contemplate that now, there’s Scream Queen up ahead and right on schedule!” thought the Themysciran prince eyeing up his prey. He quickly swirled his magic-lasso in the air and then looped it around the daughter of the Scarecrow. “Freakshow’s over, Scream Queen. You won’t be doing any haunting tonight!”

“Well, if it isn’t our M.I.A. Wonder Man,” observed Scream Queen. “Where’ve you been hiding the last few months? Should I feel privileged that you’ve come out of retirement to try and stop me?”





“Oh, I’ll do a lot more than try, Scream Queen. Your little game here is over!” decreed the son of Steve and Diana Trevor.

“Really now? Do you realize that if you do shut me down, you’ll be allowing that petty thug to send several bullets through the bodies of Batman’s parents? Do you really want to become an accessory to murder?” asked the mistress of fear.

***

About ten minutes later at the Hall of Justice...

“Here comes the Flash now with the others from the time-stream,” Nucleus said to himself as he noticed a crimson blur appear in the center of the room. Within seconds, Whirlpool, Sargona, and Wonder Man stepped through the portal created by the woman otherwise known as Wilma West.

“How did it go? Were you guys able to stop the Legion of Doom?” Nucleus asked, anxiously.

“No,” replied Whirlpool. “They’ve put us in a position where we can’t stop them this time. The Legion of Doom has won...”

TO BE CONTINUED!



“The Stranger....The Better Part 2”
Written by: The Stranger
Edited by: Power Guy

The Hall of Justice...

Sargona spoke first, “Stranger? You’ve been gone for almost two years. What happened?”





The others stared for a few moments. The Stranger had been a valuable reserve member of the Titans. A Lord of Order who succeeded the Phantom Stranger as an agent of higher powers. The Stranger had disappeared almost twenty-four months ago after a case with the Titans.

“Sargona, was it? Please help me close the rift that brought him here. I sense something ominous at the other end,” Veleera said.

After a few more minutes, the magical energies within the room began to dwindle. The Stranger stood up for a moment then collapsed. They took him to the medical bay. The bay was very sophisticated. It had technology from Thanagar, Oa, Themyscira, and even had equipment run by a Mother Box as well as a section for more arcane treatments.

Veleera turned to these mighty champions and spoke, “Many apologies for the misunderstanding this morning. He is a very dear friend to me. His well-being was my greatest concern. But, it is comforting to know he has such good friends here. I must take my leave and return home. Please give him a message when he wakes. Tell him, ‘We will always have our day at the faire.’ He will know.”

With that the graceful woman from another dimension faded away in a swirl of blue light.

“The Hall? How did I..? How long have I been gone?” a weak voice sounded from the examination bed.





Power Guy spoke, “Easy there buddy, you’ve had quite a day. Get some rest and we’ll talk when you wake up.”

Stranger fell back asleep. Sargona checked in on him from time to time. But Power Guy had someone else cover his Monitor Duty shift so he could stay with Stranger. He was worried that this type of danger and harm could come to a Lord of Order and land right on his doorstep. He wanted to be the one asking questions when Stranger awoke. A few hours later the man known as The Stranger sat up in his bed.

“Welcome back, my friend. You have been missing for nearly two years. We never knew what had happened to you,” PG said.

Stranger spoke with a little more strength this time, “Two years? That’s all? I spent at least 20 years trying to get back here. It serves me right for trying to better my powers without proper guidance.”

“What does that mean? We recorded the fact that you were only gone for almost two years in our mission logs.” The Leader of the Titans questioned.

Stranger began “Forgive me my friend, let me go back to the last time we spoke….it was not long after our third meeting when I decided to try to hone my abilities further and try to gain more control. I attempted to sidestep to some of the alternate universes that intersect our own. However, I was still a novice in the use of my powers….I travelled in time as well as travelled ‘sideways’ if you will. I travelled to the moment that the Multiverse was reborn.”

“How is that possible?” a voice chimed in from the door to the medical bay, Sargona had entered with Argos on a visit from New Genesis. “You would have been split into infinite pieces.”

“Yes, I know that as well,” Stranger continued, “However I was out of phase with any of the material planes when it happened. So, I randomly travelled to several different realities. I first materialized on a world much like our own. But timelines were reversed, so to speak. The Titans of Justice had appeared in the 1940s and the Justice Society was the premier group in this modern time. Vince my friend …you were that world’s Superman, Knightvision was their Batman, it was such a strange and beautiful place. I stayed and fought beside them for several months before I randomly jumped to a different dimension. There I met a version of my mentor. He instructed me in many things. However, I altered my own past before I became an Agent of Order. I spent four years trying to control my abilities when the next shift in realities happened. There I met a wonderful woman named Veleera.”

“Veleera? She was here. She and I brought you back to us, “ Sargona piped up.

Argos grumbled a bit, “Playing with ‘magic’ no wonder Earth needs protecting.”





Power Guy spoke up, “She said to give you this message ‘We will always have our day at the faire.”’ What does that mean?”

The Stranger suddenly showed a rare smile on his face, “Well that is a story in itself. Veleera herself was born in Gem World. Let me tell you that story.”

To be continued…