Titans of Justice Unlimited #55 – “Titans Lost – Again Part 7”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited & Maxi-Micros by: Power Guy


The Hall of Evil(The Universe of Evil)….

Samurai gazed intently on Green Lantern’s power ring while Hawkwoman worked away at the ring trying to unlock its secrets.

“I don’t know Samurai. I think the ring will only work for that heroic Green Lantern.” Hawkwoman said, holding the ring up to the light and examining it closely.





“Not that he has any use for it now.” Robin laughed, remembering how Samurai had sliced Green Lantern’s hand off.





“And here it is, the newest addition for our trophy case.” Superman smiled as he presented Green Lantern’s bloodied hand sealed in a case.





“Yummy.” Lilith smiled, licking her lips.





“I don’t care if the ring works for me or not. It will still make a lovely trinket.” Samurai smiled. He often took a memento from his victims after murdering them. Hawkwoman handed him the ring.





“I wonder if I can melt it down….” Samurai said as the ring suddenly glowed, bathing the hall in a green light.

“What the--?” Superman demanded.

The ring levitated into the air and spoke. “Unauthorized ring bearer detected. Recalibrating. Searching. Searching. Locating Daniel Jordan.” The ring then smashed through one of the Hall’s massive windows in search of its true owner.

“Dammit!” Samurai huffed. I should have cut that fool’s head off as well. Killed him when I had the chance.”

“Don’t worry my friend. I have a feeling you will be adding Green Lantern’s head to our trophy case soon enough.” Superman laughed.

***

Thousands of miles away, the battered Titans of Justice and the Sportsmaster trudged through a blizzard.

“Are you sure this is the way to Ares?” Power Guy asked.





“I’m positive. I’ve been collecting intel on Wonder Woman for months and everything indicates that the Olympian deities reside near here.” Sportsmaster replied.





Sargona noticed Green Lantern’s stump was bleeding and left a trail of blood on the blindingly white snow.

“Dan…” she started.





“I’m ok. Ok as I can be….” He weakly replied. Sargona had managed a spell that had helped his injury a little, but her spells weren’t always working correctly in this universe. Were the physics different or perhaps she was still recovering from the evil El Dorado’s attack on her mind.





Sonic Boom steadied herself as Green Lantern leaned on her. The snow was now up their knees.

“This is insane. I’m beginning to think my brother was right.” Sonic Boom lamented.





“Don’t count us out yet.” Champion said, carrying the still form of Druscilla. “My mother told me stories of the Amazons. Just when they thought all was lost, they rallied. They rose above. You all are just as capable as they were.”





“I don’t see how we can do that.” Flash replied. “Look at us. Green Lantern and I are in bad shape. Champion, you’re injured. Power Guy’s beat up.”





“Don’t give up Flash.” Black Vulcan urged. “If we give up, we’re sure to lose. Maybe if we can find Ares, he can heal Green Lantern’s hand.”





The Huntress had been quiet through all this. She wondered what was going on back on Earth-1. What was Tom and the Titans of Authority up to? How was Barbara Gordon doing? How was her new protégé, Red Robin, coming along? “You shouldn’t have come here Helena. You had business to care of back home but at the same time, you promised Dark Arrow that you’d keep your team safe.” She thought, feeling as though she had already broken her commitment.

“I..I need to stop…just for a minute.” Green Lantern gasped. The thin air plus the loss of blood was getting to him.

“Oh Dan!” Sargona said, wishing she could do more to help him.

“Stay back!” Sonic Boom snapped. “Give him room.”

“I only wanted to try another spell..” Sargona tersely replied.

“Sar, give them some space.” Power Guy said, taking his girlfriend’s arm. Power Guy was questioning whether coming the Universe of Evil was a bad decision. He was injured along with half the team. “What if I’ve lead them all here, only to die…never to return home…” he doubted himself, which was a rarity.

The group continued trudging along. “Hold up…something’s not right.” The Huntress said.





“I feel it too….the ground….” Sportsmaster said.

Suddenly snow and ice erupted all around them. Freakish creatures—beasts from nightmares arose from the biting cold.

“I think we’re in the right place. These things must be here to protect Ares!” Champion said. “They look similar to the creatures our Ares’ keeps in his domain.”

Sonic Boom unleashed her scream, shattering an ice creature into smithereens. Champion deflected the shards with her bracelets.

Black Vulcan took to the sky and fired off blasts of lightning, destroying the creatures left and right.

Green Lantern sat sidelined, with Druscilla. She seemed to stir for a moment.

Power Guy’s fist smashed into a snow creature as he used his heat vision to blast another. Normally, he could probably take down all of the creatures himself but the evil Lilith’s Kryptonite-bite really did a number on him.

One of the beasts was about to smash its fists into Sargona. She quickly cast a spell, destroying it. Sportsmaster summoned his duplicates, fighting the beasts.

“It’s useless!” The Flash screamed as he ran in a circle, creating a vortex. A creature was sucked into the vortex and shattered. “For every one we defeat, 10 more rise to take its place!”

“Then we must rise to this challenge Flash!” Champion shouted, her sword slicing an icy creature in half. “Nothing will stop us on our quest to ask this boon of Lord Ares! For Druscilla!!!”

Sonic Boom rolled her eyes at Champion’s overly-dramatic statements even though she knew the Amazon had the best of intentions. The stress of her boyfriend bleeding out was getting to her, knowing there was nothing she could do to help him at the moment.

“I saw that Di Di! How can you roll your eyes at a time like this!?” Sargona demanded.

“You know, I’ve just about enough of you eyeing up Dan and I all day.” Sonic Boom replied, clenching her fists.

“Bring it then blondie! You know, I NEVER had any use for you!” Sargona said, mystical energy pouring from her fists.

“Stop it! Both of you!” Black Vulcan demanded, landing between the angry women. “Get ahold of yourselves! This is not the time for in-fighting!” she said as Power Guy went sailing past, punched by an ice demon.

“What is this?” Champion said, noticing the snow and the creatures suddenly disappeared. Green Lantern noticed the air becoming warmer, even fragrant.

“You’re not like them are you?” came a voice.

Power Guy got to his feet. “Who are you? Come out! Show yourself. I swear if you want a fight, you’ve got one.”

“No, you’re not at all like the others. When I saw the one who wields the lightning almost as good as Zeus himself I knew. When she attempted to mediate the arguing ladies.”

Champion surveyed the man standing before them. “The Duke of Deception?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure how you know me, but yes, that is my name. I am a herald of Ares.” The man smiled.





The Titans relaxed a bit, knowing they were on the right track.

“You see, the snow, the ice….even the creatures….all illusions I create to keep Ares safe. The other costumed ones, the ones that the Wonder Woman allies herself with….all have tried to disrupt the Prince of Peace, but to no avail. No matter what evil her band releases into the world, Ares tirelessly works for the side of good.”

“Then you know Druscilla….” Sportsmaster asked.

“I do.” Came a booming, yet calm voice. Before them stood a tan, blonde man dressed in a black suit and tie.





“Lord Ares!” Champion gasped, dropping to her knees.

“Rise, child. I can see you know me….or a version of me. You wear the garb of Wonder Woman, but I sense an inner goodness, a nobility in you. In you and your companions. And I am well aware of the misfortunes of Druscilla.”

Power Guy started, “Lord Ares, we come from an alternate dimension. A place where good prevails. In our world, evil forces befell Druscilla and we desperately need your help to save her.”

“I can tell you have journeyed long and hard for your friend. Admirable.” Ares smiled.

“Please, can you make her whole again?” Flash asked.

“You ask much of a god. If I grant you this boon, what shall you do for me?”

“We would do anything to help our friend.” Power Guy replied. Huntress narrowed her eyes at his words, unsure if Ares could be trusted.

“I can heal her. It would be good to see one who has endured and suffered so at the hands of Wonder Woman to be well again. I will do it.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” Sargona replied, smiling.

“First you must grant my boon. Rid this world of Wonder Woman and her evil companions. They have terrorized and intimidated the good people of this world long enough.”

“But…but we went up against them several times and failed.” Sonic Boom said, gesturing to Green Lantern.

“I see your friend has lost much in your journey so far. However, those are my conditions. I will restore Druscilla as soon as the evil-doers are vanquished. That is my final word.”

Suddenly there was a giant thunder clap and the Titans were returned to Sportsmaster’s safe house.

“Did that really happen?” Sargona asked.

“It did….what are we going to do?” Sonic Boom added.

The group looked to Power Guy. He looked at his team and smiled. “We fight. We fight to the end.”

Just then, Green Lantern’s power ring materialized out of thin air.

“My…ring….” Green Lantern gasped.

“Ring reunited with rightful owner. Authenticating Daniel Jordan. Ring bearer injured. Accessing. Solution processed.”

Green Lantern looked down at his bloodied stump and a green, transparent hand appeared.

“Ring must be recharged. Utilized remaining energy to heal Daniel Jordan. Less than 5% power remaining. Searching for power battery. Searching. Searching. Fatal Error.”

“Dan, your hand!” Sonic Boom said.

“It…it feels like my hand…” Green Lantern said, stretching his fingers. “But my ring is about out of juice.”

“Then we’d better hurry.” Sportsmaster said.

***

The Hall of Evil…

Hawkwoman had Hawkboy strapped to her whipping post. Her leather whip cracked across his back as his cries echoed through the Hall.

“Think I’ll go join the fun.” Lilith said as she tussled Superman’s hair.

“Why go downstairs when we could have some fun here.” Superman said, grabbing her by the wrist.

“Oh, aren’t you strong. Do you like it rough?” Lilith smiled, running her tongue down Superman’s neck.

“Keep your Kryptonite teeth away from me!” barked the evil Man of Steel, pushing Lilith backwards.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and the roof of the Hall of Evil came crashing down.

“What in Tartarus?” Wonder Woman screeched. She looked up and saw the Titans of Justice and the Sportsmaster.





“Time for a rematch.” Power Guy smiled.

“About time! Now I can add your other hand to the collection!” Samurai laughed, drawing his sword. Within seconds both teams were engaged in battle. Hawkboy burst free from the whipping post, his back scarred and bloodied.

“Mistress.” He bowed and handed Hawkwoman a giant axe.





“Well done, slave. You shall be rewarded.” She laughed. The duo took to the air and attacked Black Vulcan. They both dodged her lightning blasts.

“I want to see what you look like beneath that pretty mask.” Wonder Woman said, licking her lips and looking at the daughter of the Batman.

“Sorry, you’re not my type!” The Huntress replied, leaping out of Wonder Woman’s way.

Power Guy and Superman crashed through a wall, fighting like crazed animals. Power Guy wasn’t pulling his punches. He hit Superman so hard, his nose broke. Blood gushed.

“Well, they certainly aren’t holding back are they?” Lilith surmised.

“That’s fine. Let them have one last hurrah.” Aquaman laughed, hurling his trident at Sargona. She managed a spell that sent it flying back at him.





Cyborg pointed his fists at Green Lantern.

“Guys, keep it up!” Green Lantern said, his ring glowing. “We might pull this off after all!”

Cyborg opened fire at Green Lantern. He created a green shield, deflecting the blast. Sonic Boom let loose with a scream directed at Cyborg, blowing off one of his arms.

“So, you all found your spunk!” Robin said. “Pathetic!”

“Oh zip it!” Flash said, using his arms to create a vortex, lifting Robin high in the air and then dropping him on Batman.

Huntress shot an arrow at the Super Fiend’s leader that cast a net around him and his partner.

Despite his ring’s warning that the power was rapidly fading, Green Lantern fought on.

“Your hand returned? And it is such a pretty color like your ring.” Samurai smiled, drawing his blade. Guess I will have to take it back again!”

Green Lantern pointed his fist at Samurai. He noticed his ring suddenly stop glowing.

“Power depleted. Recharge immediately.”

“Ha, I knew this wouldn’t last!” Samurai screamed, bringing the blade down across Green Lantern’s hand. The energy-hand was gone and blood gushed.

Sonic Boom heard Green Lantern scream and fall to the ground. She ran to his side.

“Dan…Oh God, not again!” she cried, cradling the bleeding man.

The Titans were all distracted by Green Lantern’s misfortune. One by one they fell, leaving only Sonic Boom and Sargona.

“Sargona, try a spell, do something!” Sonic Boom demanded as the Super Fiends formed a circle around the three of them.

“I….I have to get out of here!” Sargona said, her eyes darting wildly. Suddenly she spoke one of her backwards spells and vanished.

“Sargona? You…you traitor!” Sonic Boom screamed.

“Well, well, well. Looks like your last friend has abandoned you. What will we do with you now?” Wonder Woman teased, grabbing Sonic Boom’s head and smashing it into Green Lantern’s.


TO BE CONTINUED!