Titans of Justice Unlimited Ch. 68 - "World War Justice Pt. 6"
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Editing & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


Sharon Tracy was excited to be having lunch with her old roommate, Donna Troy. Both women had been busy and had fallen out of touch, but finally they were able to schedule time to catch up. Sharon looked very stylish with her chic blonde haircut, turning more than a few heads as she strolled down the Beverly Hills sidewalk.

Out of nowhere, a mugger leapt from an alley, snatching her purse.

“Hey!” Sharon exclaimed. She took off running, but the mugger was too fast for her. “d**n heels. If I had been in flats, I could’ve totally taken that jerk.”

Apotheosis watched the mugger duck into another alley, behind a dumpster. He gracefully jumped from his perch and landed in front of the mugger. “That purse really isn’t your color.” Apotheosis said, grimly.





“Oh yeah, what are you gonna do about it?” the thug laughed.

Apotheosis shook his head and before the mugger knew what was happening, the Titan of Authority had him in a headlock.

“Drop it! Drop the bag!” Apotheosis commanded.

The mugger gasped for air. He dropped the bag.

“I dropped it, I dropped it!” he gurgled.

“I ought to snap your neck! Terrorizing the streets like that. You deserve to die!” Apotheosis growled as the mugger’s knees buckled. Apotheosis regained his composure and dropped the mugger. He collected the contents the mugger had dropped and placed them back in the purse. After securing the man, Apotheosis emerged from the alley and caught up with Sharon.

“Here you go ma’am.” He smiled.

“Why thank you kind sir!” Sharon said looking the muscular hero up and down. Within seconds he disappeared into the alley and left with the purse thief.

“Was that Apotheosis?” Donna Troy asked as she happened upon her former roommate.





“I do believe it was Ms. Troy.” Sharon smiled, embracing her friend. “You simply must introduce me to him sometime so I can thank him properly.”

Back in the alley, Apotheosis stared down at the defeated man. “I could kill him…it would be so easy but he robbery doesn't exactly fit my code.” He paced around for a few seconds. He picked up his communicator and summoned the police to pick the man up. With that, he turned and disappeared into the summer afternoon.

***

Titans Lair…

“Why can’t I go with you? I planned this out after all!” Red Robin demanded.





“I promised the Huntress we’d keep you safe. We have no idea what’s going to happen at the IADC. We may not make it out.” Sonic Boom replied.





“But I helped take down Magenta. I can handle whatever they throw at me. The Huntress trained me after all.”

“True, but we promised her you’d stay safe. Besides, we need you here to coordinate things and keep us in the know. With your computer skills, you play a big role in getting us in and out of the IADC with our friends. So, in a way you will be going with us.” Green Lantern offered.





“I guess so. But, I want in on the action sometime. Sometime soon.” Red Robin smiled.

“We’ll see what we can do.” Power Guy replied.





“Plus if we don’t make it out…..we need you to coordinate Supergirl, Hawk Warrior, Black Vulcan, and Magno with a back-up plan.

“Ok, ok. Point taken. Are you guys ready?” Red Robin asked.

“Ready as we’re going to be.” Green Lantern looked at his friends. Soon, they were on their way to Washington D.C.

***

IADC Headquarters…

Mindy Trevor entered Freddie Batson’s cell. She carried a tray of food. She sat the tray down and walked over to her sleeping friend. She gasped at how swollen his face was. She examined his feet and they were bruised and still bleeding. One foot was so twisted and swollen, it barely looked like a foot at all. She kissed his forehead and made her way to the next cell.





Scott Stone was awake, but barely. “Here, take this.” She whispered. “It’s a pain pill.”





“I think I need an entire bottle.” He said, trying to gently sit up. His back was still bleeding from the flogging he had endured and the sheets on his bed were a bloody mess. As he sat up, the wounds that had sealed, ripped open. He gasped in pain. He quickly swallowed the pill and tried to roll over onto his stomach. “Can’t get comfortable…..”





“I know. Listen, I’m trying to keep everyone occupied and the attention off you guys. Tom’s trying to help too.”

“Hitler Jr?”

“He’s not like that. He’s not on board with all this. In fact, he’s spent all morning trying to uncover what’s going on. There’s a team of agents at the Hall of Justice right now that he didn’t know about. Something’s not right.”

“I’ll say.” Starman said, drifting off to sleep.

Mindy made her way to Goldbug’s cell. His body was riddled with lacerations where the needles had been injected. He sat in the corner of the room, not moving but staring into space.

“Aaron? Aaron, do you hear me?”

The young man didn’t reply. He just kept staring. Mindy exited the room and shut the door. She leaned against the wall and her mind raced. “They’ll kill them if I don’t get them out of here. Maybe I should just turn into Champion and take my chances.”





Just then Lilith approached her. “You’re more help to them as Mindy.”





“You know, I’m sick and tired of you reading my mind.” Mindy replied, curtly.

“No mind-reading. I could just tell by your body language and expression. Tom told me what was going on. Something’s wrong. The entire vibe of this place has been changing in the past few days.”

“Lilith, can’t you tell what’s going on here? Aren’t you picking up anything at all?”

“Something’s scrambling my ESP. It’s likes someone is blocking my powers. I get faint images, but then it just stops.”

“Curiouser and curiouser.” Mindy mused.

Nemesis joined the two ladies. “Good news. 3 of my agents that I trust are going to watch over Starman, Goldbug, and Corporal Marvel today. Mindy, I need you to help me decipher some coding I found. Lilith, your ESP may be of some help too.” The three of them headed off to Tom’s office.





Miles beneath the IADC headquarters, Power Guy, Sonic Boom, Green Lantern, and the Flash continued on their mission.

“This thing is incredible.” The Flash said.





“My mother worked on it with Superman years ago. It was rumored that there was a deposit of Kryptonite buried near the Canadian border. They were working on this to be able to burrow underground to collect and dispose of it. Leadlined, almost undetectable.” Power Guy explained as the vehicle moved earth out of the way with rapid speed.

“Good thing none of us are claustrophobic.” Sonic Boom replied. She noticed through the windows all she could see was dirt and rock.

“You guys are right on course. Another 15 miles or so and you’ll be under the IADC headquarters. There’s a wall in one of the sub-basements that isn’t as reinforced. It looks like it once led to an underground river and they simply sealed it off. That’s your way in. I’ve already hacked into their security cameras and there’s nothing down there. You should be able to get in undetected. Once you hit one of the main floors, all bets are off.” Red Robin said.

“Thanks for the tip Red Robin, you’re doing great.” Power Guy replied.

“I’ll do what I can from here to buy you guys some time. Have you contacted Champion?” Red Robin asked. “I’ve tried, but I can’t reach her.”

“I doubt we can from way down here but we’ll try.” Power Guy said. Sonic Boom tried contacting Champion, but all she got was static.

The vehicle continued on until it burrowed through a wall and dropped into the underground river. The four Titans waded through the water and reached a dock.

“Creepy down here.” The Flash said. “I wonder what this was used for.”

“Looks like something from World War II.” Green Lantern said, noticing what appeared to be some old newspapers and 1940s era jeeps and other vehicles.

“Power Guy, go to your right about 5 feet or so. That’s the thinnest part of the wall. You should be able to punch your way through. Doesn’t look like anything’s going on in the surrounding areas. Once you guys make it in, I’ll guide you to the others cells.” Came Red Robin’s voice through the Titans’ communicators.

Power Guy struck the wall, revealing an opening. He and his teammates cautiously entered.

Red Robin typed on his laptop. On his screen, he could see multiple security cameras. Not much to see, just day to day IADC activities. A few keystokes later and he had found a camera in Goldbug’s cell.

“Guys, I’ve found Goldbug. He looks catatonic. He’s in bad shape.” Red Robin said. “Guys? Do you hear me?” he said, noticing his screen turning into static.

“So, this is what the Titans have resorted to? A child guiding them around? They’re even more foolish that I thought.” Came a haughty voice.

Red Robin was stunned. “Who are you? How did you---AGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” he screamed as an electric bolt manifested from the laptop and his headset, shocking the young man uncounscious.

“One more down…..” came the voice on the laptop.

“Red Robin?” Flash said.

“I can’t get him either.” Green Lantern said.

“All I hear is static.” Sonic Boom added.

“Either they know we’re here or we’ve lost the signal.” Power Guy said. “We’ve come this far. We won’t leave without our friends.” The Titans continued on. They came to a corridor with 8 halls leading off it. The floor was shiny gray and the halls were lined with circuitry. Power Guy noticed sensors lighting up and computer gears whirring.

“Can’t see a thing with my X-ray vision. The floors, the walls, and ceiling all lead lined.”

“Maybe I can do some recon. I should be able to vibrate through all this undetected.” Flash offered.

“Go for it but be careful.” Power Guy said.

The Flash vibrated his molecules and appeared in another corridor. IADC agents walked around about their day and he continued vibrating to not be detected. He positioned himself in a corridor and watched. He spoke into his communicator quietly. “I’m on a main floor. This place is crawling with IADC agents.”

“See if you can pick up where the others are.” Power Guy said.

The Flash continued vibrating through walls, plants, whatever was in his path. “I wonder what’s in there.” He then moved in the direction of a sealed off wing. He noticed there were two guards at the door and the walls were reinforced. “Certainly looks like a holding area to me.” He vibrated into a cell and almost lost his concentration when he saw Corporal Marvel. “Oh..oh God…” he gasped.

“What? What is it? Flash, are you ok?” Power Guy asked just as The Flash vibrated through the wall and rejoined his teammates. He was pale and shaking.

“I found them. It’s a wonder their alive. It’s bad.” The Flash said, trying to compose himself.

Power Guy knew it was bad as the Flash wasn’t easily rattled. “Can you guide us back there?”

“I can…just need a minute….” The Flash replied.

“I can vibrate my molecules almost as fast as you. If Green Lantern can aid us with his ring, we should be able to bypass any security and arrive at their cells.” Power Guy said.

“Let’s go.” Green Lantern said. Power Guy and Flash vibrated their molecules and carried Sonic Boom and Green Lantern, who used his ring to protect himself and his girlfriend. Soon, they were standing outside their friends cells.

“I don’t like this, they have to know we’re here. When Green Lantern and Sonic Boom touched the ground an alarm had to have sounded.

“Come on! No time to waste, we have to get them out of here!” Sonic Boom said as she started to blast the door of Corporal Marvel’s cell open. Before she could summon her cry, an electrical power grid appeared from nowhere capturing the Titans.

Each of them dropped to the floor as energy pulsated through their bodies. Power Guy struggled to stand. A green bolt of energy knocked him down. The Flash tried to run, despite being disoriented. Out of nowhere a projectile soared through the air and pierced his ankle, bursting through one side and into his other ankle. A clamp emerged, drawing his feet together as blood gushed from the wound. He screamed in agony as he dropped. Within seconds, the struggling heroes were all unconscious.

Back in Tom’s office, Lilith grabbed her head. “Something…something’s happening…can’t make it out…” the pretty psychic stammered.

She sat down and said, “I’m going outside. I need some air.” Lilith walked outside to a courtyard. She wondered why her ESP wasn’t working. “It’s like a barrier or something. It’s a bit better out here. Maybe if I can concentrate…….”

Lilith went into a trance. “Oh God…oh no, no…” she gasped. “I’ve got to get to Tom. I know who’s behind this!”

As Lilith ran, she got a flash of ESP. She turned and saw an IADC agent with a glazed expression on his face.

“Have…have to….stop you.” He muttered, throwing a fist at her.

Lilith reacted quickly and landed a judo chop to his neck. She then grabbed his arm, twisting it, and throwing him over her shoulder.

“It all makes sense now.” She thought to herself. Her thoughts were overwhelming her and she didn’t notice two more IADC agents emerge. Before she could defend herself, she was grabbed and a cloth soaked in chloroform placed over her face. Seconds later, she dropped to the ground.

Back in Tom’s office, a message popped up on his computer. It was the President’s secretary.

“We’ve been summoned to the President’s office.” Tom said.

‘We?” Mindy asked.

“Yes, both of us. Something’s going on. I guess we’re about to find out what.”

About an hour later, Tom and Mindy were ushered into the Oval Office. Mindy had never been this far into the White House and was struck by the influence of her people on the building’s design. The two of them were seated in plush red velvet chairs in front of the President’s desk. He entered the room and took a seat.

“Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.” He smiled. “I wanted to bring you two up to speed on the Authority Initiative. I have a team of agents readying the Hall of Justice. It’s being converted to a prison.”

“A prison?” Mindy asked.

“Yes, it is time to step things up. The interrogations have revealed nothing and I’ve ordered Goldbug, Starman, and Corporal Marvel to be transferred to the Hall of Justice for permanent detainment. We also apprehended Power Guy, Flash, Sonic Boom, and Green Lantern today.”

Mindy became very uncomfortable. Her mind raced at the thoughts of her teammates being captured.

Tom questioned, “I don’t understand. The initiative has changed…seemingly overnight. I never thought one of our goals was to go this far. I mean, the Titans of Authority were simply to be a government sanctioned team to handle the big messes that the Titans of Justice might not be comfortable handling. Turning their headquarters into a prison seems…..”

“Mr. Tressor, are you telling me you wish to be removed from this initiative? I can certainly replace you as the liason for the Titans if you wish.” The President smiled. "Agent Waller is more than willing to take your place."

“I….I can’t do this anymore. It conflicts with what I believe in….with what I stand for, as well as the IADC. We’re here to protect, not round up meta-humans.”

“I thought you’d say something like that.” The President frowned as he pushed a red button. Suddenly clamps emerged from the chairs. Both Tom and Mindy’s wrists and feet were restrained. “It’s a pity you choose not to join me.”

Tom struggled and looked at Mindy. Before she could react, the air sizzled with electricity. Both Mindy and Tom screamed as volts poured through their bodies. Tom slumped forward, blood pouring from his nose. Mindy lifted her head and stuggled to free herself.

“Struggle all you want, Amazon dog.” Those bonds could hold Wonder Woman herself, not to mention your d**n brother.” The President said, getting in her face. He pressed a button on his neck. Nemesis has the best disguises wouldn’t you say. I played around in Tom’s toybox. Assuming the identity of the President was so easy. You’d think someone in such a high office would do more to protect himself.”

Mindy gasped as she realized who her captor was.

“What’s the matter? You don’t like my face?” he sneered. “Your brother and his friends are responsible for my condition you know.”

“My brother had nothing to do with what happened to you. I read the case file. You’re crazy!”

“Ah, it always seems the true geniuses are called crazy. Well, my dear you’re about to find out just how crazy I am.” He laughed, picking up a lamp and bashing Mindy’s head in until she was bleeding and unconscious. The man then walked over to a mirror and looked at himself. He traced the scars on his face and smoothed his jet black hair.

“Ah Celsius, you never looked better.” The former Titan laughed before smashing the mirror with his fist.





TO BE CONTINUED!