Titans of Justice Unlimited Vol. 2 18 – “A Different Kind of Doom Pt. 4”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


The Titans of Justice Satellite…

Totem flipped through the pages of a fashion magazine. She had been so busy lately that she hadn’t had time to return any of her agent’s calls for some modeling work.

“Penny for your thoughts.” smiled Corporal Marvel as he walked into the monitor room.





“Hi Freddy.” Totem replied. “Glad you are here. It has been the most boring evening. Not even a cat stuck in a tree.” Totem loved being a super hero but hated monitor duty.

“Yeah, I thought I would swing by here and see what you guys were up too. Everyone seems to be out.”

“Not everyone.” Apothesis pointed out as he entered the monitor room. Being the team’s newest recruit, Totem and Corporal Marvel didn’t know much about him.

The three of them made small talk as Starman arrived from Earth-2.
Totem ran over and hugged him.

“What brings you here, Scott?” she asked.

“Vince told me he got an invitation from Jerrica to some big party. Figured if Scott Trevor was there, single models would be there too and I could crash the party and find the Arachnid a girlfriend so Supergirl and I can actually have a night alone once in a while, haha!” Starman said as he shook hands with Corporal Marvel and Apothesis.





“That’s strange. Usually I get invited to those things too. I haven’t heard anything from Scott or Jerrica in weeks.” Totem’s curiosity piqued, she decided to give the married super couple a call.

Apothesis didn’t know much about Wonder Man and Jem--except that Scott seemed to be on every cover at the magazine stand and he liked most of Jem’s songs.

Totem reached the Trevors. As she spoke with them via their ToJ communicators, she learned neither of them knew anything about a gala or party that night.

“Now, that is odd….and sad for me. No models tonight!” Starman said. “Guess I’m stuck with Aaron The Anchor, for a while longer.”

“Even more strange, why did Power Guy tell you he was going to some event honoring Jem. Something isn’t right.” Apothesis offered.

Just then, the Stranger appeared. Totem and Starman both knew something serious must be happening for him to show up.

“My friends, there is evil is in the air. The Legion of Doom is up to something. We must travel to the Hall of Doom right now before it is too late.” he uttered.





Apothesis was taken aback at the Stranger. “We don’t know where the Hall of Doom is. How can we get there?”

Suddenly, the Stranger got a little woozy and mumbled, “I must rest first….something is interfering with my powers. I need to meditate….then I can take us to them….” and with that he fell into a trance leaving the other Titans both bewildered and panicked.

***

Back at the Hall of Doom, Batgirl clutched her throat as blood spewed all over.





“Scream Queen, I think you hit a major artery!” The Riddler laughed.





“That is what I was aiming for!” she cackled.





Knightvision struggled to free himself. He screamed out in agony and horror. The love of his life was crawling towards him gasping for air. She reached towards his feet and collapsed, her arms reaching towards him.

“ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!” Knightvision screamed as he ripped his hands free, sending blood and torn flesh flying.





Power Guy had seen enough. “All those dumb yoga…classes….Wonder Man made me take….paid off….” he thought as he balanced himself to a point where he felt as if he could get loose. Suddenly his foot slipped and he fell, stopping short when the kryptonite noose tightened around his neck.





Green Lantern had managed to pry the coffin door open slightly.

“One more push, Daniel.” he thought. Seeing his friends in jeopardy had reinforced his will as the door sprung open. Away from the yellow coffin, his ring began to glow. He didn’t know where to go first. Batgirl was bleeding out, but Power Guy was struggling as the noose tightened. He went for Power Guy first, thinking if he could get the kryptonite away from him, he could help. In his panic to save his teammates, he didn’t realize Power Guy had been shot multiple times with kryptonite bullets as well as not noticing Sir Simian Sinister coming at him, mouth wide open and golden fangs flashing.





“AAGGGGGHHHH!!!” Green Lantern cried out as golden, razor sharp fangs clamped down on his hand. Blood spurted everywhere. Before he could recover, Bizarbra punched him, sending him flying.

“Here, Green Lantern! You like Dr. Natas’s yellow dust! He not make just now for Sinestro. It make you feel better!” she mumbled as she blew a yellow dust all over Green Lantern’s ring. “Now, you take nice stay-awake!” she growled as she punched Green Lantern into unconsciousness.





Brainiac had stopped Power Guy from strangling in the noose.

“Subject must not die until I have opportunity to conduct my experiments.” he said icily, producing a kryptonite filled syringe. Power Guy screamed as Brainiac injected it into his already mutilated shoulder.





Knightvision cradled Batgirl in his arms. She traced his lips with her fingers. Tears fell down his cheek.

“Don’t die…..please don’t die…” he pleaded.

Batgirl took a deep breath, coughing blood and with that, she was gone.

Knightvision let out an inhuman scream. Champion sobbed and Storm Surge strained at his bonds to help his friends.

The son of Nightwing and Oracle came out swinging at the Riddler and Scream Queen. His body was running on pure adrenaline.

“Luthor! Do something!” The Riddler shouted, cowardly as ever.

“Relax, my little leprechaun,” Cheetah smiled as she leapt toward Knightvision. She landed on his back and slashed his chest with her claws, dropping him to his knees. Within seconds, she had subdued him.





Subzero observed, “Even with no powers, he keeps fighting. No weapons, nothing. He never gives up.”





After he had be restrained again on the crucifix, this time the drill bits in his wrists, Luthor decreed Knightvision would be the next to die.

Riddler and Scream Queen moved their chairs in front of the captive hero. “Cheetah, would you be so kind to start skinning him? I always wanted to know what was inside this turkey that made him so tough!” Scream Queen asked.

“My pleasure.” The Cheetah smiled as she ran her claws down Knightvision’s arm flaying flesh and revealing muscle underneath. All the training he ever received did not matter now. His love was murdered and there was no escape. Knightvision screamed.

“Riddle me this, Scream Queen. How is Knightvision like an open book?”

“I don’t know, Riddler. Tell me.”

“Once they’re opened, they’re both red! Hahahahahha! Get it??”

Scream Queen laughed heartily as the Cheetah started skinning Knightvision’s other arm.

***

Back at the Hall of Justice, Totem sat watching the Stranger. Starman, Corporal Marvel, and Apothesis all left searching for signs of Power Guy or the Hall of Doom.

“GASP!!” The Stranger said, emerging from his trance. “We must hurry. One is dead, one is dying….”

“What? What do you mean?” Totem demanded.

“Our friends, captives of the Legion. They…they are going to murder them all….”

Totem alerted her teammates. The Stranger had pinpointed a location and they all made their way to the Hall of Doom. She also sent out an alert to all available members of the team. From what the Stranger said, they would need all the back up they could get.

***

The Hall of Doom…

“AGHHHH!!!!” Knightvision screamed as the Cheetah ripped the skin from his face. Despite going into shock, he still struggled.

Champion screamed for the Legion to stop. They were worked up into such a frenzy, they did not hear her. She noticed Knightvision’s breathing was growing more and more shallow. “Athena save him. It would be better for him to die than endure any more of this. How is he still alive??” she thought as she prayed to the Olympian gods.





Knightvision had been skinned alive. He looked like a medical mannequin that students would use to learn about the muscles of the body.

As if the gods heard Champion’s pleas, Knightvision took his final breath and his head slumped forward. The Cheetah held his bloody scalp in the air as the Hall of Doom erupted with cheers. It would be years before Champion and Storm Surge would be able to not hear Knightvision's screams echoing through their heads.

“This got to be worst day ever.” Bizarbra clapped.

“Spin the wheel! Who’s next!?” demanded Giantessa.





High in the rafters, a sleek female figure watched the carnage below. She cried quietly as Knightvision’s body was taken down and tossed onto the floor. “I’m too late to save you my love….” Just then she heard what sounded like the roof coming off. She retreated into the shadows as she saw several costumed heroes storming the Hall of Doom.

Starman, The Stranger, Apothesis, Corporal Marvel, and Totem all arrived in a fury.

Corporal Marvel saw Batgirl’s dead body and what appeared to be a bloody body he did not recognize. He flew over to Batgirl.

“No pulse!” he shouted to his teammates.

“Murderers! Animals!” Starman shouted as he aimed his Cosmic Rod at Lance Luthor. He fired, but Luthor jumped out of the way.

“Stranger! Help me!” Totem demanded as she made her way to Power Guy, removing the noose. “He’s in bad shape!” she then saw the captive Storm Surge and Champion.

The Stranger was already tending to Green Lantern.

“My hand…..” Green Lantern uttered.

“It’s ok old friend.” The Stranger said an incantation and Green Lantern’s hand was healed. Despite this it had been 24 hours since he had taken his oath and charged his ring, and the ring had lost its charge. Green Lantern then aided the Stranger and Totem get Power Guy to safety.

Starman, Corporal Marvel, and Apothesis had already engaged the Legion in battle.

Subzero sent a beam of icy daggers towards Apothesis.

“Cannot find records of Apothesis. Searching.” Brainiac said as Apothesis absorbed the icy energy and sent it back at Brainiac and Subzero.

“Put that in your records!” he shouted.

Giantessa had grown to giant size and was battling both Corporal Marvel and Starman.

She swatted Starman away as Corporal Marvel punched Giantessa in her Achilles tendon.

She screamed in agony as she toppled forward crashing through the walls of the Hall of Doom. Swamp water began pouring in. Storm Surge happened to be near the gust of water and within moments he was revived. He quickly freed himself, letting the water rush over him. He then hurried towards Champion and freed her.

“Noooooooo!!!” cried the Cheetah as she charged towards Storm Surge and Champion.

Corporal Marvel flew behind her, scooping her up as her claws slashed.

“Scratch away all you want, you can’t hurt me!” Corporal Marvel said as the Cheetah broke a claw on his hard as steel skin.

Totem and Green Lantern tried to rouse Power Guy. Totem had tossed away the kryptonite noose, but was worried about his shoulder and green complexion.

“He needs to get back to the Hall! It looks like he‘s been shot!” Starman shouted as he wrestled with the Toyman.

No one saw Bizarbra aiming some sort of ray at Totem, Green Lantern, Power Guy, and the Stranger.

“Me not stop you with new toy from Dr. Natas.” she said aiming the ray directly at them.

The Stranger turned around and shoved Totem and Green Lantern out of the way. The ray disintegrated him on contact.

Totem could not believe her eyes.

Champion started towards the remaining Legion members.

“You murdered Batgirl and Knightvision and now the Stranger! This ends NOW!” she shouted.

“Knightvision? Where is he?” Apothesis asked as he absorbed more of Sub-Zero’s powers, sending another icy blast back at him.

Subzero leapt out of the way and said, “HA! You wouldn’t recognize him now!” pointing at Knightvision’s mutilated corpse.

Just then, Huntress and Sargona arrived. They had received the emergency alert and arrived as soon as they could.

“More Super Friends show up!” Solomon Grundy growled.





“Escape plan Z45!”Luthor shouted, “More of them are coming! Let’s get out of here!”





Corporal Marvel tried to grab Sting Ray, but she pressed a button on her glove and vanished as did all the Legion of Doom members. Within seconds, the Hall was quiet.

“What happened here?” Sargona demanded. She put her hands over her mouth in shock as she saw Batgirl’s bloody body.





“Brenda!” the Huntress shouted running towards her.





“Helena, she’s gone.” Green Lantern said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Brendan! Where is he? Was he here too??” The Huntress asked.

Champion walked over to the Huntress. “Helena, they….”

“What? WHAT!?”

“They killed him.”

“No, no…Brendan was the smartest….he was…Oh God, no….” The Huntress sobbed. “Where….where is he?”

“He’s there.” Storm Surge said pointing towards where Knightvision’s body had been. “He….he’s gone!”

“In the confusion, they must have taken his body.” Totem said as she looked at the floor.

“Or he could be alive! He could be alive!” Huntress said as Green Lantern walked over to her. He explained what had been done to the man she loved like a brother. She collapsed into Green Lantern’s arms and sobbed.

“They killed the Stranger too. Like he never even existed.” Corporal Marvel said, picking up the Stranger’s amulet which somehow did not get destroyed.

Champion and Storm Surge sat quietly.

“I know the Titans have had suffered loss before, but this….this was….”

“Inhuman.” Champion finished his sentence.

“We haven’t been on the team that long, Mindy. I have a feeling tracking down the Legion will be our top priority.”

“I agree. I know the Titans follow the law, but I am bound by the laws of Paradise Island. An eye for an eye, my friend.” Champion said as she surveyed her grieving friends.


TO BE CONCLUDED!