Titans of Justice Unlimited #97 - “Trust Undone Part 1”
Written, Edited, & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


The Bat-Cave, Earth 2…

The Huntress had been working diligently through the day trying to put clues together to help her solve the mystery of who had killed so many members of the Earth 1 Batman Family several weeks back. She had come to Earth 2 to help separate herself from the overwhelming grief and sorrow that was clouding her mind on Earth 1. At first, the Huntress had assumed that Punchline had killed her associates due to the Joker Venom being the cause of death but Champion’s Lasso of Truth proved otherwise. Since then, she had retraced the known steps of the crime, triple checked every bit of evidence she had, and stayed up several nights researching clues. Still, she was no closer to solving this mystery than when she started. As she examined the few DNA samples left at the scene of the crime, Robin walked in.

“It’s almost dinner time. Would you like to go out for Thai food?” asked the former sidekick of the deceased Batman.





“Oh, Dick, I’d like to but I’ve got to try and crack this case,” replied the daughter of the Dark Knight and Catwoman.





“Helena, Alfred said you’ve been down here all day………you’re going to run out of fuel soon. Why not take a short break and start fresh when we’re done eating? I’ll tell you what, I’ll even go over the evidence with you to see if I can spot something you missed.”

“Alright, you’ve got a deal………….but only if you can convince Alfred to come with. He’s in his eighties and still waiting on us like we’re kids.”

“I think I can manage that,” smiled the former circus acrobat.

***

The rooftop of the Kane Building, Earth 1…

Kitty Kat sharpened her golden claws in the moonlight. Her time in the Titans of Authority was really boosting her spirits lately. For years, she was little more than a top-notch cat burglar but since Knightvision died, she had come to see a new light and take a turn for the better. She had come to value life and the lives of others much more and while she still snatched an occasional jewel here and there, she was set on helping the world to become a better place. She gazed down upon the city, wondering if now that Punchline was in custody, if the morale of the city would improve? Suddenly, she was pulled around and pulled into a deep kiss by Red Robin.

After a few seconds, she recoiled a bit and said, “I didn’t even hear you coming….”





“You weren't supposed to,” smirked the former Knightvision. “Plus, I thought you could use a little excitement on this utterly boring night.”





“It has been quieter in the city since Punchline was captured but we’ve still got to catch whoever killed the members of your family several weeks back,” pointed out Kitty Kat.

“The Huntress has gone over the evidence several times and found no clues as to who did it. I hate to say it but I think this one might go unsolved for a while if it’s not a total dead end,” offered Red Robin.

“Well, we can just stop searching for clues……what if this person decides to do a round two and tries to kill you? I already lost you once………………..I won’t go through that again!”

“You know I’m grateful for you giving me my life back but you’ve been dodging the question of how you pulled it off for months. I think it’s time you told me how my resurrection came about,” insisted Red Robin.

“I’m sorry for being so coy. It’s just that when the Legion of Doom killed you, it was like a dagger through my own heart. I could barely contain myself to slip in and snatch up your remains while the Legion fought with the Titans of Justice.” began Kitty Kat. My grief over losing you consumed me, so much that I signed on with Nemesis’ Titans of Authority in exchange for the location of one of the Lazarus Pits in hopes of using it to bring you back. Nemesis said that once I completed ten missions, he’d give me the location of one of the pits but then, fate took a different turn. Somehow, your mother found out that I had your remains and contacted me. She was a total wreck after losing her baby boy. It turns out, she had the same idea as I did about bringing you back with one of the pits. She knew of several of them and took me to one. Together, we submerged your remains in the pit. We were both nervous and scared because if you keep someone in the pit for too long, they can come out corrupt and evil. Luckily for you, the only change seems to be that you’re about 5 years younger than before you died and maybe a slight bit more aggressive…..” smiled the black and gold clad vigilante as she pulled Red Robin into another kiss.

After a few seconds, Kitty Kat continued with “From there, you pretty much know the rest. Your mother and I figured that with the exception of the Huntress, the Titans wouldn’t understand what your mother and I had done so we worked out a deal with Tim Drake to pass you off as his son and the new Red Robin.”

“I appreciate what you both did and I plan on taking every opportunity this new lease on life has given me.”

“What do you have in mind?” asked Kitty Kat.

“Let’s just say that the Legion of Doom will get what’s coming to them,” replied the red and black clad sidekick of the Huntress. “Now, I need to leave. I have a Super Friends meeting to attend.” Instantly, Red Robin shot his Bat-grapple into towards another rooftop and disappeared into the night.

As Kitty Kat watched Red Robin depart, she thought to herself, “He couldn’t possibly be thinking of killing could he? No, Brendon would never take it that far, no matter what they did to him……”


***

Later that evening at the Hall of Justice…

The transporter tube glowed intensely as the Huntress stepped out. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. I was on Earth 2 going over some clues from my family’s murder. What seems to be the emergency?” she asked? She noticed that besides the Titans of Justice, the Super Friends and the Titans of Authority were present.

Starman wasted no time in speaking up, “We got a call from the planet Kromolan. They’re experiencing a global emergency. Their sun is spewing out solar flares. We need to leave immediately if we’re going to help save their planet. I’ve called the Titans of Authority in to help and they so graciously agreed.”





“We’re going to another planet? How awesome!” cheered Constellation.





“Actually, no,” denied the cosmic crime-fighter. “You Super Friends will stay here for your training session. Corporal Marvel and Totem will remain in charge until we get back.”

“I still don’t understand why I’m not in charge here. What do these two brown-nosers have that I don’t?” huffed Blue Dolphin as she crossed her arms.





“Respect?” Conjura said before she realized what came out of her mouth.





“That’s it Tri-clops! I’ve had it with you!” spat Blue Dolphin as she lunged towards Conjura. Before the spoiled Atlantean socialite could reach her target, Red Robin’s bo-staff came between the two bickering young ladies.

“Cool it, girls.” ordered the modern-age Boy Wonder. “We’re here to learn, not pick fights with one another.”

While the Huntress’ partner was talking, Corporal Marvel restrained Conjura while Storm Surge did the same with Blue Dolphin.

“Red Robin is right girls. I won’t hear of any funny business going on when I get back,” the Huntress said sternly. “You are expected to listen to the Corporal and Totem and give them the exact same amount of respect you show me.”

“Yes, Madame Huntress,” replied Conjura humbly. “I”m sorry for speaking without thinking first.”

Sargona then pulled Conjura aside and whispered to her, “Donia dear, I know that Blue Dolphin gets to you. She gets under a lot of people’s skins. There’s a word for her type of girl in the English language that I’m not going to teach you but I’m sure you’ll eventually figure out what it is. You have a lot of potential. Don’t let your anger towards her cloud that potential in other people’s eyes. You’re still new around here and need to make the best impression possible, especially being my new side-kick,” winked the daughter of Sargon and Zatanna.





“I’m so sorry Esmeralda,” Conjura admitted. “It’s just that Blue Dolphin is so rude sometimes….but I will try to restrain myself around her from now on.”

“I know you can do it, sweetie,” Sargona said as she kissed Conjura on her left cheek and then joined Power Guy and the others in order to depart for Kromolan.

As Green Lanterns Daniel Jordan and Jo Jo Gardner created an emerald spaceship for the team, Hawkgirl turned to Apotheosis and said, “Nice to see you again, Jared. We thought maybe you decided to quit without notifying us.”





“No, I’ve just been real busy as of late,” replied the son of Paragon. “School’s been hectic plus I’ve been doing lots of practicing and training.” He then thought to himself, “In spite of all the good the Mask and I have done over the last few months, the Titans wouldn’t approve of our methods so I can’t let them in on where I’ve been lately. Heck, Nemesis would probably fire me just for talking civilly to the Mask, let alone, dating her!”





Starman then boarded the spaceship with Corporal Marvel and Totem behind him and announced, “The situation on Kromolan has taken a turn for the worse. We’re going to need all the help we can get to save the planet so I’m pulling Corporal Marvel and Totem from the Super Friends’ training session. Huntress - I’ll need you to place someone else in charge of the team while we’re gone.”

“On it!” replied the woman also known as Helena Wayne as she excited the rocket quickly and advised the young heroes, “Team, we need Corporal Marvel and Totem on the mission to Kromolan. Even though Red Robin is new to your group, I went over the training maneuvers with him yesterday so he is the best equipped to instruct the team while Corporal Marvel, Totem, and I are gone. Please listen to him and follow his instructions.”

“Wow…..Huntress, I don’t know what to say,” acknowledged the red and black-clad hero.

“I guess it was a good idea you were so eager to learn the material ahead of time,” pointed out the Huntress. “We’ll be back as soon as we can!”

The Super Friends watched as the green rocket took off. Once the older Titans were out of sight, Red Robin ushered the younger heroes into the training room and asked them to prepare for today’s lesson while he left the room to gather the Huntress’ notes.

Once in his private quarters, Red Robin gathered a few items while thinking to himself. “Those fake distress calls I made from Kromolan and pestering Helena to teach me today’s lesson ahead of time worked out just as I planned. Now, I can put my plan into motion and take care of these hindrances to Helena and the others but first I’ve got to get the Super Friends’ into this training agenda so their hearts are beating fast and their nearly out of breath. That will expedite the intake of the Joker-gas once it comes out of the vents….”

***

A short while later aboard the Green Lantern rocket…

In the midst of Starman going over his plan for the Titans’ rescue efforts of the citizens of Kromolan, the Huntress received a call on her Bat-communicator. Robin of Earth 2’s face appeared on the screen. The former partner of the Batman wasted no time in relaying, “Helena, I’m sorry to bother you but I have bad news. I went over all of the evidence from the crime scene and I can’t find that anyone was there besides trusted police officials and you and Red Robin, of course from when you collected the evidence.”

The Huntress sighed and began to reply with, “It’s alright, Dick. I didn’t find anything either when I….” then she paused as she came to the realization, “Wait a minute……..did you say you found evidence that Red Robin was there?”

“Yes, I found a strand of his hair amongst the evidence,” replied Robin. “What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is that I didn’t take him with me when I went to the scene to investigate,” revealed the daughter of the Dark Knight.

“Dear Lord……..” Robin gasped, knowing exactly what the Huntress was thinking.

Meanwhile, Power Guy made another shocking revelation. “This doesn’t make any sense. We’re finally in range for my telescopic vision to scope out the situation on Kromolan and the planet looks perfectly fine. It’s sun is in perfect shape, in fact.”





“What?” shrieked the Huntress. “Oh no…….no…………………..no……………….guys, we’ve got to turn this ship around immediately.” With the Huntress’ brilliant mind, it didn’t take her long to figure out what Red Robin had done. Now came the hard part about explaining to her friends the lie she had been covering up for Brendon Grayson all these months.

“Helena, what’s going on?” asked a curious Sonic Boom.





TO BE CONTINUED!