Titans of Justice Unlimited #85 - "Conjura The Great Part 3”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Editing & Maxi-Micros by: Power Guy

The Blue Lama's Lair...

“Blue Llama, do you feel it? More of her contemporaries. They’re here. Searching for her.” Brother Night said.





“Not only do I feel it, I see it. Look!” The Blue Llama smirked as she gestured towards a crystal ball.





“Ah, the junior Justice League of America.” Brother Night laughed.

“Don’t laugh. They’re quite formidable. The Kryptonian harbors deep feelings for Sargona. They all love her as a friend. This is an unforeseen annoyance. Time to step things up and find that ruby. My locater spell is almost ready and I’ve already cast a cloaking spell on these so called Titans of Justice. They won’t find her.” Blue Llama laughed heartily.

***

Back in Lena’s suite...

“You---you’re that girl—Donia from the shelter!” Lena gasped. “What are you doing here?”





“I’m sorry I snuck in your room, but I had to find you. You’re the only one who can help me understand these powers I have…powers I don’t want.” Donia said, her eyes tearing up.

“Lena! What goes on here!” Vladko burst from the bedroom. The hairy chested man was clad in his boxers and holding a lamp in case he had to defend himself.

“WOW!” Donia smiled at the scantily dressed man.

“It’s ok Vladko. You can put the lamp down. She’s harmless.” Lena said. “Donia, I told you I can’t help you. I have enough problems of my own.”

“But we’re so much alike. You can help me master the eye, I know you can!”

“The eye? What is she talking about?” Vladko asked.

Lena explained her encounter with Donia at the shelter.

“Hmmmm. We could work this into the show.” Vladko thought.

“Yes, please help me master my powers. I’m willing to work, to make an honest living. Please, it’s my only chance. After all I’ve endured….I think…I think God sent you to me….”

Lena heard the desperation in the girl’s voice. She certainly understood where she was coming from. “Ok. I’ll try to help you. Maybe this ruby will help unlock some of your secrets.”

“Oh thank you, thank you!” Donia said, running over to hug Lena.

“Here, we’ll fix up the couch for you and figure this all out in the morning.” Lena smiled.

***

Czech Republic...

“I wish we could stay and help with the search. But you’ve got plenty of muscle to back you up.” Scott Trevor said, shaking Power Guy’s hand.





Jerrica hugged him. “I know you’ll find her. I just know you will. I wish we could stay too, but—“

“I understand. Your son and Connor need you guys. Just letting me know what you found is enough. I thank you both….and I hope when I see you again, Sargona will be at my side.





“I hope so Vince. I truly hope so. “ Jerrica said. The Trevors said their goodbyes and made their way to the airport.





“So, what’s our next step?” Corporal Marvel asked.





“I found this. “ Flash said. “Looks like Conjura is about to wind up her tour for now. She’s been all over Europe. I crisscrossed from Russia all the way to England a few minutes ago and no sign.”





“I’m not giving up hope. I know she’s here and we’ll find her.” Power Guy declared, determined.

***

Albania...

Vladko and Lena took a walk after breakfast.

“Can you believe that girl? She’s tough and been through Hell. I can’t believe she made it all the way here to find me.” Lena said.

“Me neither. I’m sure she picked up all kinds of skills to survive on the streets. Of course, I can’t believe the path my life has taken since I met you.” Vladko said, kissing her cheek.

“I’m glad. I think I met you and Branislava for a reason. Even Donia.”

“I do too. And I want you in my life. Forever.” Vladko smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m a nobody. Nobody cares for me except you and your aunt. You’re stuck with me.”

“I want you stuck with me on a more permanent basis.” Vladko said, reaching into his jacket and dropping to one knee.

“Vladko….what…what are you doing?” Lena said, her eyes welling with tears. Vladko opened the box and in it was a beautiful ring.

“Lena, my precious Lena. Will you be my wife? I will love you with all my heart and protect you with my life.”

“I……I……” Lena hesitated for a moment. She felt something….a tug at her heart stopping her from saying yes…..but she said, “Yes! Yes, yes, yes! I’ll marry you!!!”

Vladko lifted her in his muscular arms and spun her around. The two of them kissed as Lena cried happy tears. Moments later they shared their happy news with Branislava and Donia.

“Lena! My sweet girl! And Vladko! My handsome nephew!” Branislava exclaimed. The three of them made a circle and twirled around. Donia joined in.

“For so long, it was just me and Vladko. Now we are 4.” Branislava smiled at Donia. “We’ll have a spring wedding with pretty flowers…”

“Why wait ‘til spring. I say we do it now!” Lena said.

“Now? You don’t want a big church wedding?” Vladko asked.

“I don’t need it. I want something simple and small with my…my family.” Lena said.

Donia chimed in, “I’m on it!” the young girl set out down the street to a government building. Soon she returned. “There’s a little village not far from here. A man will perform the ceremony today! All you have to do is go and sign some papers and you’re all set!”

“Well?” Lena smiled.

“If this is what you want, it is what I want.” Vladko smiled.

***

Corporal Marvel sailed through the air looking for any sign of Sargona. Many women resembled her, dark skin and shiny dark hair, but so far he had no luck. He soon returned to Power Guy and the Flash.

“So far, nothing. Maybe they took the show on the road somewhere else?”

“Travelling in Europe is pretty easy with the railways. No telling where she might have gone.” The Flash said.

“Something’s wrong. She wouldn’t just disappear like that. I wish we could have brought Huntress. She’s the detective of the bunch.” Power Guy said. "If only she wasn't busy tracking down the Earthworm on Earth 2."

“Maybe it’s time we took a different approach.” Flash offered. “Make like detectives and ask some questions.”

The three men split up and set out asking anyone about Conjura’s magic act. Many had seen it, but had no idea where she went after leaving the Czech Republic. Hours later, they reassembled, empty handed.

“It’s like everyone in town knows about her, but doesn’t know where she went next.” Corporal Marvel sighed.

“Don’t give up just yet. I talked to the booking agent at the hotel. Signed some autographs for his kids.” Flash said. “And I got Conjura’s itinerary! She should be in Albania right about now.”

“We can get there in minutes. Come on!” Power Guy said, hopeful at the news.

In the tiny Albanian village, Vladko and Lena emerged from a little cabin as man and wife. Villagers lined up tossing flowers at them and singing. Lena held tight to Vladko’s hand and the sunlight danced on her hair. Vladko kissed her as the crowd cheered.

“I could not have asked for a more special day.” Lena said looking into her husband’s eyes.

“And I could not ask for a more beautiful wife.” Vladko smiled.

“And I could not think of a moment when I wanted to throw up more!” came an evil, male voice.

Descending from the sky, The Blue Llama and Brother Night landed. Lena instinctively grabbed her ruby. Donia could feel the mystical eye manifest underneath her headwrap.

“Demons! A witch!” a woman screamed in Albanian.

“Enough.” Brother Night sneered, glaring at the woman causing her to explode. The crowd ran pell-mell and screamed.

Vladko, Lena, Branislava, and Donia all fled in panic.

“Uh uh uh!” The Blue Llama smiled, sending a bolt of mystical energy, striking Branislava. The elderly woman screamed out as she was consumed by blue flame.

“Vladko---Lena----!” she screamed.

The Blue Llama sent another bolt at the struggling woman, incinerating her.

“NOOOOOO!!!!!” Lena cried, her ruby glowing.

“You…you devil!!!” Donia shouted, her headwrap dropping, exposing the third eye.

“Well, well what have we here? Sargona Jr?” The Blue Llama laughed.

Before she realized it, Donia’s eye sent a golden beam of energy, knocking the Blue Llama over.

WHACK! Brother Knight struck Donia in the back of the head, forcing her to the ground.

“Who are you monsters? What do you want?” Vladko gasped as his aunt’s body burned.

“Why don’t you ask Sargona!” The Blue Llama said, pointing.

“Sargona? That name….I know it somehow.” Lena said.

“All will be revealed soon enough.” The Blue Llama said. She started speaking in a hushed tone and suddenly she, Brother Knight, Donia, Lena, and Vladko disappeared.

Just as they vanished in a burst of energy, Power Guy, Corporal Marvel, and Flash arrived.

“Sargona! That’s her!!” Flash exclaimed, rushing towards the fading Sargona. Sadly he was too late and they were gone.

“Flash, are you sure? You saw her?” Power Guy said, grabbing the Flash’s arms.

“Yes, I’m sure of it.”

“What happened here?” Corporal Marvel asked some of the villagers.

In light of what just happened, the villagers were afraid of the strangely costumed men and ran. Corporal Marvel saw the burning remains of Branislava.

“They killed someone, burned them alive.” He thought.

Power Guy took a deep breath. “Ok, ok. We came this far.” He paced. “They just disappeared. Magic’s involved. We can still find her, still save her.”

“I’ll see if I can pick up on a residual magic trail, I can feel the energy all around us. Be right back.” Flash said.

Corporal Marvel walked over to Power Guy. “Hey, it’s going to be ok. We got this close. We’ll find her.”

Power Guy looked at his young friend. “I hope so, but I’m worried. Who took her? What if the Syndicate of Terror is here, trying to use her to help take over our Earth.”

Across the miles, Flash followed a residual energy trail. “That mountain…” he spied. He raced back to his friends and explained that he thought he might have a lead to Sargona.

Deep within the mountain lair of the Blue Llama and Brother Night, Vladko wrapped his arm around Lena. Lena held Donia close.

“Give me the ruby and I promise you a quick death. Well, maybe those two but you Sargona, you will suffer for your father’s transgressions!” The Blue Llama hissed.

“Why are you calling me that? Take the stupid ruby, I don’t want it!” Lena said, confused.

“Easier than I thought.” Brother Night smiled as the Blue Llama approached the trio. Lena held the ruby in her hand and extended it to the blue hued woman. Just as she tried to pluck it from Lena’s hand, energy backlashed across her, knocking her backwards.

“You snip! Your stupid parlor tricks will cost you dearly!” The Blue Llama gestured to Brother Night. He walked over to Donia and said, “Sleep.” Donia collapsed as the Blue Llama levitated her towards a stone table that was covered in dried blood.

“I’m not helpless!” Lena said, feeling a new found confidence. She gestured towards the Blue Llama and sent an mystical bolt of energy towards her.

“You’re only making me even more angry.” Blue Llama said as her diamond glowed and deflected the beam back at Lena, knocking her out.

Blue Llama walked over to Vladko. She noticed his wedding band. “So you and little Sargona are married. Perhaps seeing you in agony will make her release the ruby, she cackled.

“Why are you calling her Sargona? Her name is Lena.” He protested.

“Why are the good looking ones always so stupid?” the Blue Llama growled as she secured Vladko to a whipping post and ripped away his shirt.

***

Flash rushed back to Power Guy and Corporal Marvel. “I think I know where they are. Follow me!” The three of them sped away towards the mountain.

“Her friends are coming.” Brother Night said. “I’ll keep them away.” He then gestured his hands and formed a dome around the mountain. Blue Llama walked over to Lena and slapped her until she was awake.

“I assure you I have….less primitive methods. But we’ll start light and work our way to the top.” She smiled as she cracked a whip across Vladko’s bare back. He tried not to sceam, but after several lashes he couldn’t stop himself.

“Please! Please stop! Just take the ruby!” Lena shouted.

“Take the spell of it! You’ve enchanted it somehow! Somehow it’s connected to you and I want it!”

CRACK!!! The whip dug into Vladko’s flesh.

“If I knew how, I would give it to you! Please stop hurting him! Why are you doing this to us?” Lena cried.

Brother Night walked over to the unconscious form of Donia. “Yes, lots of power from this one. Where’s my ceremonial dagger? I must have all this power at once!”

Suddenly Donia’s mystical eye popped open, sending a powerful at Brother Night’s face. Before he could step away, the beam burned one side of his face.

“You little pig!” he screamed.

“You really don’t know do you?” Blue Llama said, licking the blood from the whip. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! This is better than anything I could ever come up with! You poor little fool. The daughter of two of the greatest mystics and no idea who she is! I love it!”

Outside, Power Guy, Corporal Marvel, and Flash arrived. “Might be tougher than we thought.” The Flash said, studying the dome.

Power Guy touched it and energy snapped at him. “No way to smash through it. It’s of magical origins.”

“I wonder if my hammer could smash it? It’s of mystical origin too.” Corporal Marvel said.

“It’s worth a shot. Go for it.” Power Guy replied.

Corporal Marvel smiled and raised the hammer above his head. He brought it smashing down and the dome started to crack, soon is splintered and gave way. ‘We’re in.” he smiled.

Back in the lair, The Blue Lllama said, “ She really isn’t commanding the ruby to stop us. Must be a subliminal message the ruby is picking up on and defending her. Curious. I wonder if we kill her---if we can even do that—will the ruby surrender to us?”

Just then the wall crumbled. Heat-vision sparked from Power Guy’s eyes. “You try to kill her and I will personally rip you limb from limb.”


TO BE CONCLUDED!