Titans of Justice Unlimited #25 – “Truth AND Consequences Part 5”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited & Maxi-Micros by: Power Guy


Deep within the dark, rocky, and unwelcoming terrain of Tartarus, Illimuna was very uncomfortable. She led the group, her light shining brightly and was flanked by Champion and Corporal Marvel. She noticed the air was very thin in this mystical realm and her skin felt clammy. None of the Titans or the Wonder Family said anything as they made their way through the twisting, turning paths. Wonder Woman cautioned everyone to stick close together. There were cliffs that dropped off to nowhere as well as possible threats around every corner.

Nemesis kept looking at Wonder Man. There he was, his son. His heart ached to tell him who he was, but he knew this was not the time or the place.

Champion trudged on, very angry. She was angry with her mother for lying about Scott all these years. She wondered how her father, Steve Trevor, was. In her mind, she even questioned her own paternity. “If mother lied about this, what else has she kept from us….from me?” she thought as she heard twigs snapping.





She motioned for the group to stop. Green Lantern looked around, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Black Orchid’s eyes widened, looking up at the pitch black sky. All was dead quiet except for thunder crashing as red lightning lit up the ebony sky. Sargona had cast a spell of protection around them, but she doubted how well it would work in this inhuman realm. The group stood still and silent. Moments passed and they heard an inhuman cry. It was the Cheetah! With savage fury, she descended on Green Lantern.

“Now, to finish what I started!!” she screamed.





“Not today, Cheetah! I owe you for you did to my friends!” Green Lantern replied, using his power ring to form a shield from the Cheetah’s razor sharp claws.





Within seconds, The Mask, Queen Clea, Angle Man, and Dr. Poison attacked the group.

Corporal Marvel took to the sky. “Sargona, see if you can do something! Some kind of spell!”, the mature Super Friend asked. Just then a big bolt of red lightning struck his body, changing him back and forth from Corporal Marvel to his civilian identity of Freddie Batson. He crashed into the ground as a giant thorned bush suddenly sprang from the dead ground, covering his body. Despite being able to change back into Corporal Marvel, the supernatural lightning had weakened him, and the thorns slashed at his flesh.





Sargona started to speak an incantation.





“Don’t say anything at all, if you can’t say something nice!” The Mask spat. With lightning speed, she placed a mask with a ball gag over Sargona’s head, stopping her from speaking. Nemesis tried to subdue her, but the Mask leaped from his grasp, kicking him in the face, knocking him backward. She then pistol whipped the sorceress into unconsciousness. “One down.” The Mask smiled.

Queen Clea aimed her trident at Black Orchid.

“It will take more than Storm Surge’s garage sale relics to stop me!” Black Orchid said, lunging at Clea.





“You speak too soon, fool!” Clea laughed, as she released the full might of the trident at Black Orchid. The force sent her hurling into a pool of black tar. Black Orchid struggled to free herself as Illumina ran over to help her. Unfortunately, Illumina was soon caught in the tarry mess. Suddenly, withered, skeletal hands emerged from the pool, pulling the heroines beneath.





Wonder Man started to dive in after them.

“Wonder Man, you don’t look so good!” Angle Man said. He pointed his angle device at Wonder Man and Jem, who had rushed to her husband’s side. Within seconds, their world turned upside down and both of them struggled to stand.





Wonder Woman and Champion rushed to the downed couple. Donna Troy headed towards Green Lantern, who was fighting with Cheetah. Due to the Cheetah’s yellow costume, Green Lantern, despite holding his own, was struggling. As the former Wonder Girl approached, she did not notice a giant fist about to slam into the ground next to her.

BOOOM!!! Giantessa appeared, her fists pummeling the ground, sending Donna Troy over a cliff.

“Donna!” Green Lantern shouted. Nemesis ran over to the edge of the cliff. He could not see anything but blackness.

Just then, Dr. Poison appeared behind Green Lantern. “Here, my good man! This will help you ……..sleep.” she whispered into his ear as she plunged a syringe of a yellow fluid into his shoulder. Green Lantern screamed in pain as the fluid entered his body.

Dr. Poison looked at a digital watch. “Subject is experiencing effects of the drug faster than anticipated. Full body shut down in 15 seconds.”

Green Lantern’s vision blurred as he dropped to his knees. The Cheetah grabbed his head as if she were going to bite part of his face off.

“Hold it Cheetah! No lunch for you just yet!” Clea said, reaching for the Cheetah.

After checking on Wonder Man and Jem, Wonder Woman drew her magic lasso. Champion had drawn a battle axe.

“That is quite enough! If it is me you want, come and get me!” the Amazon queen demanded.





The villains stared at Wonder Woman and her daughter. “Hmph, we’ll see you later.” The Mask smirked. Just then Wonder Woman and Champion looked up at the sky. A legion of Harpies swooped down to attack them both.

The villains all laughed as they collected Green Lantern, Corporal Marvel, and Sargona. Giantessa fished Black Orchid and Illumina out of the tar pool.

“Ugh!” she huffed. “I should have left them in there to rot! That stuff chipped my nail polish.”





Seconds later, the villains had vanished with the unconscious heroes.

Wonder Woman and Champion fought with unbridled fury against the Harpies. As suddenly as they appeared, they were gone.

Donna Troy flew up from where she had toppled over the cliff. Wonder Man and Jem were coming around.

“That was a diversion. Ares is trying to split us up.” Champion said.

“He sure isssssssss!!!!” a voice came from behind them. “I’m here to give the tabloids something to talk about! The Wonder Man/Jem SPLIT!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!” It was Wildcard, bouncing on a pogo stick that was decorated with a string of human skulls.





“You! You son of b----! Where is my son!? I will rip you apart!!” Wonder Man screamed.





“Oh fathers and sons, fathers and sons! You’d be better off asking yourself, ‘Who’s your daddy!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHOOHOOOO!!!!”

Nemesis leaped onto Wildcard. “Wow the paternal instincts are kicking in! A bit late, but better late than never!” he laughed as he fought with the IADC agent. Nemesis was able to knock him off the pogo stick.

Jem picked it up and held it over her former friend.

“Tell me where my son is, or I swear I will crack your skull open!” she demanded.





“Pushy, pushy as always! Well, cupcake, this ain’t Starlight records and you ain’t calling the shots!” Wildcard giggled, flashing his chipped, yellow teeth.

Wonder Man wondered what Wildcard meant with all the ‘daddy’ wisecracks. Wonder Woman was becoming visibly nervous.

“Here. Let me use the lasso. He will have to tell us the truth about my grandson.” She said, looking towards Nemesis.

“Truth! You are one to talk about truth, Amazon.” A voice boomed. Everyone assembled felt an intense dread overcome them.

Champion gasped, “Ares.”

He was still in human form, hair blonde and dressed in black. “You, Diana. Your actions will be your ultimate downfall. All I had to do was sit back and wait for your lies to trap you and your entire family….and some friends as well.”

“Mother, what is he talking about?” Wonder Man asked.

Wonder Woman was silent.

“ Herr Ares!” came a thick German voice. “Why not let the good Colonel tell his family what his wife, the Wonder Woman—the beacon of truth—has done!”





“Fausta!” Wonder Man said. Jem took his hand.

Steve Trevor had been beaten and was shackled. Fausta shoved him forward and he fell to the ground.

“Steve!!” Wonder Woman said. “Dad!” Wonder Man and Champion said in unison.

“I’m ok. It’ll take more than a leftover Nazi wannabe to break me.” Steve said, blood coming from his mouth.





Wonder Woman hugged her husband, and whispered in his ear. “Steve, I love you. I am so, so sorry.”

Ares cut his eyes toward Wonder Man. “You. Hippolyta’s grandson. Wonder Woman’s favored child.” The impact of those words cut Champion like a knife.

“Today is all about you, my boy. Your father and your son! All this orchestrated unwittingly by your mother! I told her I would have my vengeance on her back when she became Wonder Woman and stopped me from unleashing nuclear Armageddon on the world of man. And the best part, I didn’t have to do anything at all! She brought about her own downfall! It is the ultimate Greek tragedy!!”

“What the hell are you talking about? Where is my son!??” Wonder Man shouted.

“You’ll see him soon enough, that is if your mother comes clean about her secret.” Ares smiled as his eyes glowed, burning red. “You know, Wonder Woman interested me at times. That night you and Nemesis were trapped, well that was better than anything on the world of man’s TV! Yes, I kept an eye on you Wonder Woman. Making notes on your indiscretions and waiting for them to serve me. Go on Diana. Tell your son what you did and then we can all have a lovely visit with the baby.”

Wonder Man walked over to his mother. “Mom, what is going on? What is he talking about?”

Today was Wonder Woman’s worst nightmare come true. Donna put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. Steve Trevor looked down at the ground. Nemesis stood back with Jem, trying to restrain Wildcard. Champion was silent.

Tears welled up in Wonder Woman’s eyes.

“Scott, I….I need to tell you….”

“Mom, tell me. It can’t be that bad. You and I have never had any secrets. Will someone please tell me what is going on here? My son needs me! We have to go, have to find him!!” Wonder Man looking at his Aunt Donna and Steve Trevor.

Wonder Woman regained her composure. “Scott, years ago Nemesis was my partner and my friend.”

“Yeah, I remember. So what?”

Wonder Woman told her son about how she and Tom had been trapped and tricked into a night of forbidden passion. “Scott, I Iied to you and Steve.”

Wonder Man had a look of confusion---or was it disgust on his face. Wonder Woman could not tell. Jem moved towards her husband.

“Tom Tressor…he is your father. Not Steve. I deceived you both. I…I am sorry. I did it to protect you---to---“

“I think I am going to be sick. This is a lie, some awful lie…..” Wonder Man said.

“Why don’t you use the lasso on your mother, boy! You will see she speaks the truth!” Ares said.

“YOU SHUT UP!” Wonder Man screamed.

“Scott, it’s true.” Donna said. At the hospital, Steve’s blood didn’t match yours.”





“But mine did. I gave you all the blood they would let me donate.” Tom said.





Wonder Man stared at the man he barely knew.

Jem put her arms around her husband. She stared icily at Wonder Woman.

“Enough of this drama!” Fausta demanded. “Let us finish this!”

“If you would all be so kind to follow me. You’ll see your son. Mr. Tressor, I’ll even let you hold your grandson!” Ares offered.

Wildcard got back on his pogo stick. The noise annoyed Jem. She looked at her husband. His face was a blank and his usually olive skin was pale. Wonder Woman approached him.

“Don’t speak to me mother.” He said flatly.

“I…I understand.” She whispered, knowing it was better to leave her son alone.

Fausta led Steve by his chains and the group made their way to Ares’s lair.

Champion’s eyes widened as she saw her teammates trapped in a giant spider web. There was a figure already wrapped in a cocoon. She was relieved that she saw all her teammates. She had not been there to see Kung being trapped by the spider. Green Lantern looked jaundiced. Sargona was struggling with the webbing as well as the mask still bonded to her face. Corporal Marvel had been weakened by the mystical lightning, but was trying his best to free himself. Both Black Orchid and Illumina were not moving at all.

Jem looked around. She heard a baby crying. “Steven!! Mommy is here!” Her eyes widened in horror as she saw her baby in a cage suspended above a pit of giant snakes. The snakes were striking at the cage. She didn’t think of her own safety as she ran towards her son.

“Not so fast.” Ares said gesturing towards her. As he motioned, Jem was swept away and held in mid-air over a fire pit. Ares then gestured at Steve and Tom, placing them over separate fire pits.

The Cheetah was sipping a glass of wine. “Ares! What are you doing? You promised them to me!”

“Wait! He said I could kill Wonder Woman and her damned family!” Minister Blizzard shouted.





“Lies! They are mine to kill!” The Duke of Deception joined in.





“You’re all wrong! I am going to kill them!” Osira said confidently.





All the villains erupted into an argument as Ares then gestured towards Champion, Wonder Woman, and Champion imprisoning them all mid-air above the fire pits, leaving Wonder Man standing alone. He motioned for the baby’s cage to leave the snake pit and hover over the fire as well. Hearing his son’s screams were more than Wonder Man could stand.

“What are you doing Ares! You betrayed us! Tricked us all into helping you capture them!” Dr. Cyber shouted.





“Maybe you should have made me sign a contract, good doctor. When I told you Wonder Woman’s big secret, you were all so enthusiastic to help me!” Ares smiled. He gestured with his other hand and all the wonder-villains, except Fausta and the captive Kung vanished. “Back to your boring lives. I have no need of any of you.” He laughed.

“Now, down to business.” Ares said, staring at Wonder Man. Ares changed in a flash to his blue armor. Fausta joined him, glancing over at the spider web where the Titans struggled to get free.

“Let my family and friends go. You can do whatever you want to me. Have all the revenge you want.” Wonder Man defiantly said.

“Just like your grandmother. Hmph. I have an offer for you…..I’m going to let you go….and let you save ONE of your family. You see, I am going to drop them all into the fire. You have the speed to save one. Who will it be? Your son—or is he your son? Your wife, who probably secretly blames you for this mess? Maybe your little Jem-stone had a dalliance with that handsome Aussie manager of hers? Ha, I bet she’s a liar and a harlot just like your mother!! Tom Tressor? The man who is your father? Steve Trevor—why, he may resent you now! Or maybe you will save your Aunt. You know, she is the only one who has ever really leveled with you. What about your sister? She knows how your mother preferred you, maybe you should let her die and then you really will be the favorite, haha!”

Ares glanced at Wonder Woman. “And then, there’s your adoring, truthful mother. Probably not on good terms with her just about now are you? I would certainly understand not saving her.”

Wonder Woman noticed she was powerless while being held in Ares’s grasp. She surmised that her sister and daughter were powerless as well.

“On with it Ares!” Fausta demanded.

“My little war mongrel is growing impatient, Wonder Man. Who will it be? Who will you save? DECIDE! NOW!”

“I can’t…this is impossible…I….” Wonder Man stammered looking at his family, as rage boiled within him.

“Bah! Enough! The boy is weak!” Fausta said.

“You’re right my dear. Into the pit with them all!” Ares said, waving his hand as the Wonder Family plummeted towards the flames.



To Be Continued!