Titans of Justice Unlimited #39 – “Crisis: Omen of the Phoenix Part 5”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited & Maxi-Micros by: Power Guy


Marvel Earth…

Sebastian Shaw exited the portal and stepped into the Hellfire Club’s New York headquarters. Women dressed in lingerie greeted him as he hurried to his inner sanctum, his mind racing. His thoughts raced as he tried to figure a way out of the situation he was placed in. Despera’s creatures were just waiting for him to mess up and start devouring him from the inside out. He sat down at his monitor console. Upon turning it on, he was greeted with a message from Dr. Psycho.

“Remember Sebastian, we’re watching you! Don’t get off the task at hand! We’ll be watching through the dimensional viewer.” The doctor sneered.





“Don’t worry. I’m about to assemble my team. I need assurance from Despera though. When I produce the gems, I want these creatures out of me.”





“Not to worry. You uphold your end of things and I can remove them. It is a simple process.” Despera smiled.





Sebastian Shaw went about his work. Within moments, monitor screens were filled with silhouettes of his associates. He explained what he needed them to do.

“How do we find these gems?” a voice growled.

“Yes, they were hidden years ago. Do you have any idea where they are?” another voice responded.

“I do. In fact I am about to send them to you telepathically. Wait for the psychic message. I will make this worth your while.” Sebastian replied. Several of his associates had inquired about membership into the Hellfire Club and he was using this as leverage to sway them to retrieve the gems.

“Sebastian, dear. Where have you been?” came a female voice.

“Lady Selene. Just who I am looking for. I have need of your telepathy for a little trip to the X-Mansion.”

Ignoring his words, Selene said, “Did you know the Phoenix appeared in California and then disappeared?”





“I do indeed. That is why I have need of you. I need you to tap into Charles Xavier’s mental files. Are you up to it?”

“Of course. He’s been dead for years. Without his mental presence, it will be easy. And knowing you Sebastian, I am sure you are somehow connected to the Phoenix’s arrival.”

“More than you know, my lovely.”

Within seconds, Selene was able to breach Xavier’s files and had located all of the chaos gems. “That was easier than I thought. Everyone seems to have lost interest in the gems. What are you doing going after them?”

“I’ll tell you later. Now, broadcast a mental message to everyone on this list. Quickly.”

“What is wrong with you Sebastian? You’re usually so calm.”

“Just do it, woman!” Sebastian demanded.

Selene took the list and contacted everyone mentally. “There, it’s done. Good luck. But let me warn you. If you ever raise your voice to me like that again, you’ll regret it.”

Sebastian watched the Black Queen turn on her heels and walk away.

***

Back on Earth 1, the Phoenix was erupting into a fiery giant.

“Guys! Look at the monitor!” Corporal Marvel said. “Something’s happening!”





Everyone gathered around the screen and saw the Phoenix morphing.

“This can’t be good.” Isis said.





As soon as it flared up, it stopped.

“Whatever happened to cause the upset must have stopped. It’s all serene and calm again.” Added Marvel Man.


***

Deep within the Phoenix, Lilith punched Frost.

“What is wrong with you!? I felt myself losing control and you kept pressing me! Do you want to die? For this thing to destroy everything?” Lilith demanded. She had been able to regain control of herself, despite wanting to surrender to the Phoenix’s will. It was increasingly becoming more difficult for her to block the Phoenix’s song from her mind.





“I was just having some fun, luv. It’s quite boring in here.”





Lilith huffed. “Why are you such a bastard, Frost?”

“Breeding darling, first class breeding.” Frost smiled.

***

Back at the Hall of Justice, Sargona had opened the portal to the Avengers world.

“I will take the books with me and I should be able to open a portal from their world back to ours.” Sargona said.





“Aunt Donna, Jem, and I will remain here…..just in case.” Wonder Man said.





“I agree. It is best you all remain here. If we fail and the Phoenix starts flaring again, you three will have to coordinate a defense.” Power Guy suggested.





Jem took Wonder Man’s hand. “Scott, I want to go with them.”





“What!”

“Lately I’ve felt useless watching you run off and save the world. I want to be able to tell our son that his mother saved the world a time or two as well. Besides, this mission sounds easy. Just going after some gems and who better to retrieve gems than Jem?”

“I don’t know. If anything happenend…” Scott mumbled.

“It won’t and I promise to be careful.” Jem said, kissing her husband.

“I’ll take good care of her!” Scott Williams added. “Maybe she can give me some tips on how to date a winner rather than the skanks I usually hook up with!”





“I think it will take an army of Jems for that, Wonder Man!” Freedom Falcon laughed.





Donna Troy and Scott Trevor watched their teammates step into the portal and it closed. He walked over to a window and hung his head.

“Scott, you have to admit that you’ve been quite active lately. I guess Jerrica just wants to prove she still has it. Besides, she is quite formidable even without the Amazon training you gave her.” Donna tried to reassure her nephew.





“You’re right. Now I know how she feels every time I’ve gone on a mission lately. It sucks!”

Soon, the Titans and Avengers were standing in Avengers headquarters. The Titans were a bit disoriented making the jump between dimensions. Green Lantern noticed his ring seemed to be having trouble acclimating to the new place.

“Hope that’s just a temporary side effect.” He thought.





The group made their way to the meeting room. Marvel Man had retrieved the gauntlet and presented it to his friends.

“That old thing is the key to….everything?” Corporal Marvel gasped.

“It is. Wait till you see it in action.” Wolverine replied. Wolverine sat down at a screen and quickly accessed the files at his school. “Whoa.” He whispered. “We’ve been compromised. Someone’s been in here looking for the same things we are. We may be in for a fight.”





He quickly retrieved the location of the gems.

“We need to divide up and work quickly to get the gems.” Magneto said. “Anyone have a preference?”





“I would prefer not to go after the yellow one.” Green Lantern said.

Marvel Man replied, “How about going with me after the green one then?” Green Lantern agreed.

Soon the teams were decided. Marvel Man and Green Lantern would go in search of the green gem. Sargona, Red Hammer, and Kid Comet would retrieve the purple gem. Magneto and Jem were off to find the blue gem. The yellow gem would be the responsibility of Freedom Falcon, Isis, and Corporal Marvel. Wolverine, Wonder Man, and the Flash would go after the red gem.

“I guess that leaves me solo for the orange gem.” Power Guy sighed.

“Not so fast, handsome.” A female voice echoed.

“Spider Girl! When did you get in?” Magneto greeted his teammate.

“I finished my solo mission and I heard about the Phoenix. Came straight here. What’s going on?”





The daughter of Spider Woman was brought up to speed and agreed to accompany Power Guy. Sargona looked her up and down and wasn’t sure she approved of her boyfriend teaming up with the sassy Spider Girl.

“Come on Power Man.” She said taking his arm. “Tell me all about your world. Is everyone there as handsome as you?”

Feeling embarrassed by her display in front of Sargona, Power Guy blushed and replied, “Uh, its actually Power Guy….”

“And he’s taken!” Sargona huffed, staring at Spider Girl.

“I see.” Said Spider Girl. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him out of my sight.”

“Why you……” Sargona muttered just as Kid Comet took her by the arm.

“Calm down Sargona. Focus on the mission at hand.” Kid Comet said as Red Hammer escorted them towards an exit.





With that, all the teams departed on their missions.

Marvel Man and Green Lantern were on their way to The Savage Land, where the green gem had been buried by Ka-Zar and Shanna the She Devil years ago.

“A pastor?” that is certainly a different vocation. I don’t think I have ever encountered a hero whose real life job was one such as that.” Marvel Man said, flying alongside Green Lantern.

“I think my faith keeps me strong. With the things I’ve seen over the years, I would have lost my mind if I didn’t know God was still in control. “ Green Lantern added.

“I know what you mean.” Marvel Man agreed. “Uh oh!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Up ahead, where the coordinates for the green gem are. Trouble.”

Green Lantern could see a woman with long hair and a figure shrouded in green, both furiously digging.

‘”That’s Doom and Sedusa. Keep away from her, attack long range if you can. That hair of hers is all-powerful. It can lift a sky scraper from its foundation. I wish some of the girls were on this mission. They would stand a better chance against her. She unleashes a pheromone that men can’t resist. Even men of the cloth. Sorry GL!”

“Noted. What about Doom?”

“Kristoff Vernard, an adopted heir of one of our greatest villains. He had the potential to become a great hero, but embraced an evil path instead. He is an iron-fisted dictator, merciless. Most of his powers come from his costume, but he is a master at wielding them.”

On the ground, Doom saw the heroes coming at them. “Right on time. Are you ready fair Sedusa?” came an electronic voice.





“Always ready Doom!” Sedusa smiled, sending her hair upward. Before he could dodge it, Green Lantern was ensnarled.





“I’ll be fine, go!” Green Lantern urged Marvel Man. Marvel Man then flew full force at Doom, knocking him down.

Sedusa drew Green Lantern too her. His ring was malfunctioning from the dimensional journey he surmised.

“Aren’t you a handsome one with your shiny head!” Sedusa whispered. “Do you like my hair?”

“I…..I love it…” he replied. Sedusa’s pheromones were manipulating the emerald gladiator.

Marvel Man went flying by, crashing into a palm tree, the result of Doom punching back.

“You will not keep us off task, Marvel Man! Do you see a place where you would like to be buried?” Doom laughed.

“Not today metal mouth!” Marvel Man said, flying out of the path of a bolt from Doom’s hands.

Marvel Man flew behind him and lifted him into the air. Doom rotated and punched the son of Ms. Marvel in the mouth and then emitted a beam of light into his face, temporarily blinding him. Doom descended to the ground as Marvel Man flew haphazardly as he could not see.

“Ah! Lunch for you, my winged friend!” Doom laughed. Marvel Man could not see a pterodactyl flying straight at him, mouth open wide. Just as Marvel Man regained his sight, the ancient bird swallowed him whole!

“Well done Doom!” the rogue daughter of Black Bolt and Medusa laughed. “The green one is out of my hair—ha! That’s funny!” She gestured at Green Lantern who was still and quiet, entranced by the strange woman. “Come, let us finish digging and retrieve the green gem that awaits!”

Just then, Marvel Man burst from the pterodactyl’s belly. Covered in entrails, he was not happy. He flew at Sedusa and Doom.

“Oh my goodness! Green man, look! Marvel Man wants to hurt me! You can’t let him do that. Oh help me, help me!” Sedusa commanded.

“Yes…must help…can’t let him….hurt you….” Green Lantern whispered just as the green gem was uncovered. Suddenly the gem and his ring began to glow. Green Lantern felt as if he had just awakened from a fog.

“You! You got in my head!” he screamed. He fired his ring at Sedusa, capturing her hair with a giant pair of green scissors.

“No!!! Not my hair!!!!” she screamed, letting down her guard. Marvel Man landed a punch that sent her flying into a boulder, knocking her out.

“You won’t take me so easily!” Doom shouted. His costume started to glow and emit a multi-colored energy. Green Lantern scooped him up into the air and dropped him over a raging river.

“I can’t swim! My armor….too heavy!!!” Doom screamed.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got you. And that fancy armor should all be shorted out.” Marvel Man smiled.

Green Lantern bound Sedusa and Doom together as he examined the green gem.

“Curious. I wonder if the green gem is somehow connected to my ring.”

“Could be! Nice teamwork by the way.”

“I agree. Wish we could have teamed up under different circumstances. We’d better warn our teammates they might encounter some hostile characters during their search.”

Soon Marvel Man had radioed to the others. “Let’s get these losers to a S.H.I.E.L. D. facility, one with a shower!” he grimaced as he tried to brush off the remnants of the pterodactyl.

Deep within the Canadian wilderness, Freedom Falcon, Isis, and Corporal Marvel followed a tracking beacon that would hopefully lead them to the yellow gem. Freedom Falcon had brought her falcon, Espirita along. Isis enjoyed the bird’s company and was mentally chatting with her.

“I wish I could have brought my tiger.” Corporal Marvel said.

“I don’t know Freddy, I think he would make Espirita nervous.” Isis said, stroking the bird’s feathers.

“Something’s making me nervous. It’s too quiet here. I feel like we’re being watched.” Freedom Falcon whispered.

Isis noticed it as well. “The air…it’s disturbed. Be on guard my friends…..evil thoughts surround us.”

“Righteous thoughts are more like it!” said a terrifying looking man. His face resembled a skull, a red one. A giant swastika was emblazoned on his bare chest. “Foreigners, unclean!” It will be my pleasure to kill you all!”





“Isis! Corporal! That’s the Red Skull watch o—“ before she could finish her sentence, the Red Skull jumped from a tree and landed feet first on Freedom Falcon’s face.

“This will be my pleasure killing you two dirty women! And you!” he said pointing at Corporal Marvel, “a child? They sent a child against me!? HAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!”

“Let me help you Red Skull.” Corporal Marvel noticed what was the sweetest, kindest voice he had ever heard. “The Blob will take care of the child. People like him have teased me my entire life!”





BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Corporal Marvel went sailing through the trees, knocking them down left and right. He finally stopped about 10 miles away when crashed into the side of a mountain, knocking him out.

“Well done Blob!” Red Skull laughed.

The beautiful, young, slender girl smiled but wouldn’t make eye contact with the Red Skull.

“Is that the best you can do! Bullying a pretty girl by calling her names?” Isis said as she summoned lightning.

“HE ISN’T CALLING ME NAMES! I’m fat…disgusting! And I know it! It’s girls like you two that are the two bullies!” The Blob replied, stomping her feet causing an earthquake. The earth cracked open under Isis’s feet and she plummeted downward. Being disoriented, she struggled to summon winds to carry her to safety.

As Isis rose, Red Skull grabbed her by the ankle and slammed her into the ground, bloodying her nose. Soon he was on top of her, pinning her to the ground. Espirita flew around and squawked in anger.

Isis noticed Red Skull’s face was tattooed red and black, creating the impression of a skull. He was huge, unnaturally muscular. She noticed Nazi tattoos on his arms and back.

“You see, it isn’t wise to taunt the Blob. She has a body image disorder. No matter how we see her, she sees herself like her father—the original Blob. We see beauty and all she sees is repulsion! Messed up in the head but powerful! My kind of girl! Unlike you…with your dark hair and skin. I can’t wait to get you in my gas chamber!” He grabbed Isis by throat. “Think I’ll have a little fun with you first.”

“Have your fun, Red Skull. I’ll get the gem.” The Blob sighed. “He’ll never notice anyone like me.” She thought. “No matter how I try I can’t lose weight. Red Skull is so fit, so handsome.”

Red Skull noticed her daydreaming. “Blob! Snap out of it! Look out!”

Freedom Falcon had revived. She summoned her torches of Liberty to encircle the Blob.

“It’s always the pretty girls, taunting me…trying to hurt me!” the Blob screamed. She marched through the torches unscathed. “You can join your boyfriend now!” she said, grabbing Freedom Falcon by the hair and twirling her around.

Freedom Falcon screamed as she went hurtling into a river. Espirita followed, tweeting in panic.

Isis struggled to clear her mind. The pain of Red Skull’s punching was making it hard to focus.

WHAM! He punched her again.

“You see, I was a MMA fighter, always losing to foreigners! That’s when I read about the Red Skull. He stood for the Aryans, like me! Cheated out of what was rightfully ours! I will kill you, and then I will find your family and kill them!”

“Osiris, he is a madman! Like the Nazis of old!” Isis thought. She calmed herself and refocused, summoning the lightning again.

Red Skull drew back, fist in the air. The lightning illuminated his face and it frightened Isis. Thankfully the lightning did its job, electrocuting Red Skull. He struggled for a moment before falling to his knees. When he dropped, Corporal Marvel stood behind him. The lightning and a blow from the Corporal’s new golden hammer had defeated him.

“Corporal Marvel, thank the gods you are ok. And thanks for the assist. Red Skull is a deadly adversary.” Isis said, trying to stand. “It troubles me that his kind still walk the earth. “

“Where’s Freedom Falcon?” Corporal Marvel asked.

“She was fighting the girl…the Blob.”

Isis and Corporal Marvel took to the sky and saw Freedom Falcon’s body washed up on the shore.

“She’s ok, just stunned.” Isis said.

“None of you will be ok! I have the gem!” The Blob retorted as she emerged from the woods. In one hand she carried the gem and over her shoulder she carried Red Skull. “You hurt the only boy that was ever nice to me…didn’t show pity just because of the way I look!”

“Now! Espirita!” Isis whispered. The bird flew around the Blob’s face, confusing her. She dropped the gem and the red Skull.

“Stop! Stop! It’s trying to scratch my eyes out!!!!” The Blob screamed. While she struggled, Corporal Marvel picked up a boulder and tossed it at The Blob. It hit her square in the head, knocking her backward. Then Isis caused a crevice to open and the Blob fell into it. Tons of dirt and rock covered the raving girl until she was unconscious.

“I hate using such violence.” Isis said quietly. “But it was the only way to stop her.”

“You did good Isis.” Freedom Falcon said, now awake but sore. “Nothing can stop the Blob short of an atomic bomb. She’s sad. Her mutant power warps the way she sees herself. She finds solace in villains, thinks they are the only ones who truly care for her. When she’s told how beautiful she is, she thinks she is being taunted.

Soon, a SHIELD helicarrier collected Red Skull and Blob.

“We have the gem, let’s rejoin our friends.” Freedom Falcon smiled.

Back at the Hellfire Club, Sebastian Shaw watched in disbelief as 4 of his operatives failed.

“Not good!” Brother Blood shouted through the dimensional viewer. “Shaw, you have failed!”

“No! Wait…there are others! I will go myself and make sure the gems are ours!”

“Too late!” Despera said, smiling wickedly.

“No! Please no!!!!” Sebastian screamed as he felt pain shooting up his back. He felt as if his bones were all snapping at once. “AGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!” he yelled, dropping to his knees and twitching on the floor.

Lady Selene heard his cries and ran into his chambers. She screamed as she saw what was once her ally, now a bloody, mangled mess on the floor.


TO BE CONTINUED!