Titans of Justice Unlimited Ch. 67 - "World War Justice Part 5"
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Maxi-micros & Editing by: Power Guy


Helena Wayne sat in her room at Wayne Manor. Her mother had offered a shopping excursion, even a quick trip to Europe, but nothing could bring her out of her sad mood. She sat on her bed looking through a photo album. Her eyes teared up looking at pictures of Christmases past, birthday parties, summers in the Hamptons……she suddenly snapped the book shut and walked over to her window. She jumped as there was a knock on the door.

“Helena, it’s Mom. Can I come in?” came the former Catwoman’s voice.





“Sure.”





Selina Wayne sat on the edge of the bed. “So, are you going to stay in here the rest of your life?” she smiled.

“I’ve thought about it.”

“Come. Sit.” Selina said, taking her daughter’s hand and leading her to two chairs by the window in the room.

“I want you to know how much your father and I love you. It hurts us to see you so torn…so hurt.”

“Mother….I’ve tried to get past this…but I keep feeling like I failed Brendon. If I had been captured, he wouldn’t have stopped until he saved me. Why did this have to happen?”

“It could have happened to anyone. Look at what all happened to your father in the past. To me.” Anyone who chooses to pursue this path knows the risks.”

“I keep telling myself that. I feel like I let the Titans down too.”

“Well, that’s why I never joined a team. I always worked better alone. Except with your father. Don’t worry about what they think. If you believe in your heart you did the right thing, that’s all that matters.”

“I do mother, I do believe I did what was right. We don’t have fancy powers…we just have our wits and training…in the end we’re only human.”

“You’re right. Now, why don’t you come down to the kitchen. I’ll have the cook whip up your favorites or we can drive into town. We’ll even go see Dad at work. How about it?”

Helena thought for a moment. “I think I’d like that.”

***

IADC Headquarters…

Mindy Trevor’s jaw dropped. In the darkened chamber, she saw Corporal Marvel. He had been badly beaten and was strapped into device. His back was flat and his legs were elevated, his feet bare and bleeding. Before she could utter a sound, an IADC agent cracked a leather strap across his feet, tearing the skin and sending blood splattering.

“AGGGGGGHHHH!!!!” Freddie Batson screamed. Both his eyes were swollen shut, a mixture of blood and sweat covered his battered body. A power dampener around his neck prevented him from using his powers and lowered his vulnerability to normal human levels.





“Tell me what I want to know. It’s only going to get worse. Your friends are getting worked over worse than you. Just tell me where the Titans of Justice are hiding and it’ll all be over.” The agent demanded.

“WHACK!” she brought the strap down on the bottoms of his feet again.

“I…..I’ll burn in Sabbac's realm before I tell you anything!” Freddie uttered, trying to catch his breath.

Mindy quickly walked over to the agent. “I’ll take it from here Carla.”





“But, I was told to oversee this personally.” The agent countered.

“Interrogation techniques are my specialty. I’ll make him sing.”

Carla whispered to Mindy, “Thanks, I think he’s Corporal Marvel. He once saved my brother’s plane from crashing. I don’t like doing this, but this order came down from the President himself.

As soon as the agent left the room, Mindy rushed to Freddie’s side.

“Freddie, can you hear me? It’s me. Mindy. Champion.” She whispered.

“Mindy…?” he replied, coughing up blood.

Just then, the door slid open.

“Mr. President!” Mindy gasped. She quickly pressed on a nerve in Freddie’s neck, causing him to pass out.

“I see that you have decided to oversee the interrogation of our guests. I trust you will get the information we need. Your mother had a knack for interrogation. For some reason, prisoners felt the need to tell her the truth. Did you inherit that skill as well?” he asked.

“I did, sir. However this one’s out cold. I’ll be happy to visit the other two.” Mindy said, secretly panicked at what might be happening to her teammates.

“Very well agent. Carry on.” He walked away.

Mindy removed Freddie from the device and summoned a couple of agents to take him to a holding cell.

“But it says on the memo, they aren’t to be fed or given any rest.” One of the agents pointed out.

Thinking quickly, Mindy replied, “This one’s had all he can take. Let him rest, dress his wounds. Perhaps our show of kindness will break him down and make him talk. I’ll start on him again tomorrow.”

The agents placed Freddie Batson on a stretcher and carried him away.

Mindy walked to the next chamber. She could hear gurgled screams. “Starman…..” she thought.

Upon entering the chamber, she saw Scott Stone as well as Aaron Kidd. “Great Hera…” she gasped.

Scott was struggling with an agent trying to submerge his head into a tub of ice cold water. His back had lash marks across it and his face was bruised. She noticed the water was a bloody red.

“SPLOOOOSH!” Scott’s face smashed through the cold water. She noticed his cuffed hands make fists.

Her eyes darted across the room where Aaron was strapped to a table with what appeared to be acupuncture needles were inserted into his body head to toe. He was in so much pain he couldn’t scream.

Scott’s head emerged from the water, gasping for air. Blood poured from his nose and mouth.

“What’s the matter @$$hole? Is that all you got------glubglubglub” he spat as the agent submerged his head again.





“Agent Trevor.” One of the agents said, “Are you taking over? We’ve been at this for hours. They’re pretty tough.”

“That’s why I’m here. They’ll talk.”

“Be careful with the bug guy. He’s mouthy. That needle in his tongue shut him up while we worked on this one.”

“Good work, agent. I’ll take it from here.”

Making sure they were gone, she rushed to Starman’s side. He was bleeding profusely and pale. He struggled to open his swollen eyes.

“an angel….” He gasped. “Am…I…am I dead?”

“That line worked on my mother, not me. And no, you’re not dead.” She whispered.

“Champion…” he mumbled.

“Hold on Scott, I’m getting you out of here. Hold on.” She then rushed to Goldbug carefully removing the needles from his battered body. He appeared to be in state of shock or paralysis.

“Mindy….we didn’t tell…they wanted to know….who the Titans are…” Scott struggled.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get us out of this mess. Somehow.” She said quietly as she cradled her beaten, shivering teammate.

***

Wayne Enterprises…

Selina Wayne chatted with her husband’s employees. Bruce was tied up in a board meeting. From the glassed in conference room, he waved to his daughter. Helena waved back and smiled at her father. Just then she heard a voice. “What’s up Helena?”

“What are you doing here?" Helena greeted the son of Tim Drake also known as the new Red Robin.

"I saw your car in the lot and thought I'd come see how you were doing?. You've been kind of distant since you got back from the Universe of Evil."






Helena was proud of the new Red Robin for keeping a lid on Gotham while she was gone. He even recently aided the Titans with Magenta and did well. The two of them made their way to a window overlooking the city.

“Your training has been going great.” Helena smiled, recalling the training had distracted her from her own problems.

“Thanks for offering to help me. It’s been fun, plus helping the Titans was a blast. Wish I could do more to help them.”

Suddenly Helena got a twinkle in her eye. “You know, I think you just might be able to.”

Later that night, Helena Wayne watched from the shadows.

Daniel Jordan and Didi queen got into a car and headed into the country.

“Where are they going?” she wondered, hopping on a motorcycle and following them.

Inside the car, the duo talked.

“I still can’t believe how all this went down.” Didi said. “My brother turned on us, even Mom and Dad.”





“Your parents didn’t turn on you. They just have a different opinion.” Daniel offered.





“It certainly feels that way. My dad was always so liberal. Now…now it’s like I don’t even know him.”

“Definitely strange. I haven’t changed into Green Lantern for days now. Every time I turn on the news, the Titans of Authority have captured some villain or saved the world yet again. Did you see that commercial with Superboy? Pushing that whey protein. He’s certainly becoming Wonder Man’s son. Maybe it’s time we hung it up…thought about the future.”

“Maybe so.” Didi frowned. Soon, they parked their car in a wooded area and started walking.

The Huntress pulled in behind. “Titans Lair?” she smiled at her teammates hide-out. She climbed a tree and followed the duo quietly, leaping from tree to tree.

Soon, Didi and Daniel were greeted by Power Guy and the Flash.

“Just us four tonight.” Power Guy said, shaking Green Lantern’s hand.


ffffffffffffffffffffffff


“And we have bad news.” The Flash said.





“What now? My brother running for President?” Sonic Boom scoffed.

“No, it’s really bad. Mindy got a message out to me earlier today. Starman, Goldbug, and Corporal Marvel are all captives of the IADC. “They’ve been….tortured. It’s bad.”

Sonic Boom sat down.

“How long are we going to let this go on? Ok, they shut us down, they take the Hall, turn our friends against us and now they torture our teammates?” Green Lantern said, an uncharacteristic angry tone in his voice.

“Mindy got to them. She’s got them out of the torture chambers and into holding cells. She got them medical attention too.” Flash replied.

“At least she’s there. We’ve got to get them out somehow.” Sonic Boom added.

“I thought about that.” Power Guy continued. “Mindy was going to try to find us a way in, but her access to certain files have been revoked. “Plus they expect us to go in guns blazing.”

“Maybe I can help.” The 4 of them turned at the female voice.

“Huntress!” Sonic Boom said.

“I…wasn’t sure I should come here.” Huntress said.

“You are always welcome with us.” Power Guy replied.

The Huntress didn’t say anything for a moment. “I want you to know that I’m sorry for what’s happened. I helped Tom and the others and now I’m going to help you.”

“I knew it! I knew you join us!” The Flash smiled.

“No, not quite. I still stand by decision to stay out of this. I never really dealt with my grief. I need…some space, some time.” She said quietly.

‘It’s ok Helena. We understand.” Green Lantern said.

“What kind of help did you have in mind?” Power Guy asked.

“I’ve been working with Red Robin. He even helped with Francis Kane a few weeks back. He’s good. He’s smart. I believe he can provide some tactical planning. I’m hesitant to send him into the field….after what happened to Brendon, if anything happened to him…..” Helena choked.

“Don’t worry. We’ll keep him safe.” Sonic Boom smiled, putting her arm around her friend.

“He can help you get into the IADC, or gather intel. He’s very bright.”

“When can he start?” Green Lantern asked.

“How about right now. You can come out, Red Robin.” Huntress said.

“Hi everyone.” Red Robin smiled. “And thanks.”

The 4 heroes welcomed Red Robin into their midst.

“Helena, thank you---“ Power Guy turned to thank his friend. She had disappeared into the night. He smiled as Red Robin opened his laptop and started sharing information with the team.

***

S.T.A.R. Labs…

“What’s going with her?” Apotheosis asked Illumina.





“I don’t know. Since Circe’s attack, Black Orchid has been wrapped in this cocoon. I’ve ran tests and got some readings, but I’m not sure what’s happening. I assume her connection to the Green is healing her, but we may not have the same Black Orchid once she emerges.” Illumina explained to her teammate. “How are you doing?”





“I’m good. Never better.” Apotheosis smiled. “I feel good that I ended the threat of Circe. I’m sure Scott and Jerrica are sleeping better.”

“You did well, my friend.”

“I’m itching for some action. Things have been quiet lately.” Apotheosis said as the two of them exited the lab, Black Orchid’s cocoon pulsing with light.

“It has been quiet. We’ve done a good job for sure. I’ve got to finish my rounds. See you soon.” She waved.

“Something needs to happen….happen soon….I can’t fight these urges much longer…Circe was a release, but….” Apotheosis thought, his fists shaking.

***

IADC Headquarters…

“Tom!” Mindy said, bursting into Tom’s office.

“I already heard. By the way, you did the right thing. I don’t agree with that kind of interrogation. Something is very wrong here.”





“I’ll say it is. Thank the gods I got them out of there. Still, they’re confined but at least I stopped the torture for now. How long are you going to tolerate this, Tom? What am I going to do tomorrow when they start on them again?”

“Something has derailed with the Titans of Authority Initiative. It didn’t start out as a personal vendetta against the Titans. Somewhere, plans changed here and there and things got out of hand. I’ve been investigating some of the protocols and communiques, but so far I’ve come up with nothing. I think your friends are safe for the time being. I see the President is at the United Nations all day tomorrow, pretty much the rest of the week. By the way, I know you’ve already told your buddies about this. I hope you warned them not to try to bust their friends out or the same thing might happen to them.”

“I did. They’ll keep their distance.”

Titans Lair……

“So you see, all we have to do is tunnel through here and we can easily free the others.” Red Robin said. “I can disarm the security system, bypass the sensors and voila, we’re in.”

“I don’t think it’ll be that easy, but I’m willing to try. Either we free them or we all go down together.” The Flash said, pacing.

“What have we got to lose? If we were captured, Starman would certainly rally the troops to come free us.” Sonic Boom added.

“Then it’s decided. Let’s go rescue our friends.” Power Guy smiled.


TO BE CONTINUED!