Titans of Justice Unlimited #108 - “The Ankh”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty & Power Guy
Edited, & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


The Hall of Justice…

“Go on, try again.” Sargona urged in a calm, confident voice.





Beads of sweat popped out on Conjura’s forehead. She had been working with Sargona for weeks, practicing and honing her magical skills as well as learning how to control the mystical third eye she possessed. Conjura raised her arms in a v-shape and started speaking an incantation.

“Wow…look at Donia go!” Corporal Marvel whispered.





The Huntress gave him a look to be quiet as to not break Conjura’s concentration.

Conjura’s eyes started to glow and the seated members of the Super Friends felt their chairs levitate into the air. Conjura took a deep breath and soon the chairs were spinning, much like a carousel ride. Seconds later, she lowered her teammates to the ground and they promptly erupted into cheers.

“I….I did it…” the young Egyptian woman gasped.





“You sure did!” Sargona smiled, hugging the young woman.

“Hmph, a silly parlor trick. I am not impressed.” Blue Dolphin smirked.





“Oh come off it. I saw you smile while we were going round and round.” Bulletboy chided.





“You did really well! You should be proud of yourself.” The Huntress said, patting Conjura on the back.





“Th—thank you. Sargona’s really been helpful. She’s given me all kinds of exercises to maintain my focus and I’m beginning to feel at one with the eye. Oh, I’m so happy here!!” she exclaimed running over to Bullet Boy and hugging him. He smiled ear to ear.

The Huntress spoke up, “I think you all have been training really hard and deserve a break. In fact, I’ve arranged a pizza party for you all—that is if Conjura can magically teleport you there. Our former teammate Jem has invested in a pizza chain on the west coast and the party is ready and waiting.”

“Donia, are you up to this? We’ve practiced this spell all week and I know you can nail it.” Sargona said with confidence.

Conjura took a deep breath. “Everyone go change and meet me back here in 15 minutes.”

Bullet Boy, Constellation, and Corporal Marvel all rushed to get changed. Blue Dolphin took out her phone. She shot Conjura a very dirty look. “I don’t eat pizza. So bad for a girl’s complexion….and her waist line.” She said, looking Conjura up and down. “Something you obviously care nothing about.”

Sargona started to say something, but decided to see how Conjura would handle the situation.

“Suit yourself.” Conjura said as Blue Dolphin rolled her eyes, turned, and walked away. She then caused the eye to manifest and sent a small ray at Blue Dolphin, tripping her.

“You…you witch! You did that on purpose!” Blue Dolphin screamed, fists clenched.

“You got something to say to me, say it! I’m sick of you being a bully to everyone! If you think the Super Friends are so lame, why don’t you quit?” Conjura shot back. Sargona smiled.

“Ok girls, that’s quite enough.” The Huntress said, getting between them. “Blue Dolphin, you’re excused. Conjura, you just earned a demerit.”

Blue Dolphin smirked and walked away.

“A demerit? What the heck, Huntress?” Sargona demanded.

The Huntress ignored Sargona and looked at Conjura. “Blue Dolphin is your teammate and we don’t use our powers against our teammates. That was immature of you and I’m disappointed.”

“But she—“

“No buts. You may attend the pizza party, but be ready for physical training drills at 5AM.”

“5AM!!!?”

“Ok, make it 4:30 AM. Care to go for 4?” challenged the daughter of the Dark Knight.

“No, Huntress. I’ll be ready at 4:30 AM.” Conjura said, using a spell to change into street clothes. The others joined her and within seconds, she had transported them to the pizza party.

“Well, that was harsh—and unwarranted!” Sargona said, angrily. “I don’t see you punishing Blue Dolphin! She’s the one that needs to learn about teamwork!”

“I’ll handle Blue Dolphin. One thing I will not tolerate is these kids using their powers frivolously.”

“Of course not, you’re all business all the time aren’t you! You know what you are, Huntress? B-O-R-I-N-G!” Sargona said, walking away.

***

On the west coast, the kids were greeted at the pizza parlor and ushered to a private room. Jem had asked Selena Gomez to play a set and there was a pizza buffet set up.

“You did all this for us?” Sherry asked.

“I did. I hear you all have been working hard and deserve some fun. Enjoy!” Jerrica Trevor smiled leaving the three Super Friends to their private party as Selena Gomez and her band started playing. She wished she could stay, but had a very important meeting to attend for the restaurant chain.

“She seems so nice.” Donia said.

“I don’t know her very well, but she seems really cool.” Sherry added. “And her music, it’s so awesome!”

“Her music was forbidden in my parents house….I missed out on so much….” Donia mused.

“Hey, it’s ok. You’re with us now. Nothing like being a teenager in the good ol’ USA!” Freddie smiled.

“Freddie’s right. Donia, may I have this dance?” Jared asked, taking her hand.

“I…I don’t know how to dance….” She stammered.

“It’s ok, just feel the music and go with the flow!” Sherry shouted as she and Freddie joined them.





Just then, Donia’s eye manifested and started to glow. Her eyes turned a milky white and then golden.

“Donia….what’s wrong? Are you ok?” Freddie asked.

“I….I don’t know….someone nearby….someone connected to me somehow….outside….” she said, heading for the exit. The others followed her and they were greeted by a man in a gold and yellow costume…..an ankh on his face.

“He wears an ankh….he must be Egyptian….oh no…no…they’ve found me…sent someone to take me back….” Donia cried, her eye pulsating with energy and her clothes transforming into her costume.

“What are you talking about!? Who is this man?” Sherry asked, panicked. Jared ran into an alley and transformed into Bullet Boy as Freddy shouted “SHAZAM!” and became Corporal Marvel.

“The muslims….they harassed my family…we were Christian….when my parents cast me out…thought I was possessed by a devil….the muslims heard about me….tried to kill me…swore they would kill me because I was evil! They’ve sent someone here!”

“Well, they messed with the wrong girl!” Corporal Marvel said, slamming into the man full throttle.

“Wait!” the man commanded, his voice thick with an accent.





“Wait? For what? You think you can waltz in here and take our friend?” Bullet Boy said, sending a barrage of projectiles at the young man. He quickly flipped backwards and twisted his body, the projectiles passing harmlessly by him. By now, Sherry had transformed into Constellation and sent a barrage of her shooting stars at the strange man. They all whizzed past him, but he reached up and caught one with his hands, tossing it back at Constellation. She leapt out of the way as it grazed her boot, cutting it.

“Listen to me! You’ve got this all wrong!” the man struggled to say. Conjura shot a golden beam from her eye, pinning the man to a palm tree.

“Well done Conjura!” Corporal Marvel smiled, flying towards the man with his fists clenched. Corporal Marvel swung at the man, touching nothing but air. “What?” Corporal Marvel gasped as the man faded from sight.

“Over here!” the man smiled. “My illusion casting ability comes in handy from time to time”

The four Super Friends used their powers in unison as the man dodged blast after blast.

“How does he do it!? He’s like the most agile, limber person I’ve ever seen!” Bullet Boy said. Without thinking, Bullet Boy and Constellation were turned around and aimed at each other as the strange man leapt upward. Bullet Boy sent a wave of projectiles at Constellation, slashing her skin.

“Jared…..” she gasped as blood soaked her costume.

“Sherry!!!” Corporal Marvel cried, flying to his girlfriend’s side.

“Now look what you’ve done! If you’d only listened to me!” the man said, walking towards them cautiously.

“F—Freddie….I…” Sherry struggled as she looked at her torn body.

“Sherry!!! Oh God, Sherry! I didn’t mean…..” Jared said, tears streaming from his helmet.

“I know….J..Jared…it’s ok…it’s ok…” Sherry gasped.

“I tried to tell you all, I came to you in peace and you attacked me! And now your friend is gravely injured.” The man said walking towards them.

Conjura’s eye had recessed into her forehead. “But my eye…it detected you…you must be a threat….”

“And you…you have lots to learn….” He said coldly. He kneeled beside Constellation and clasped her hands. A warm glow surrounded her. Corporal Marvel’s eyes widened as her wounds healed. Within seconds, Constellation was standing, good as new.

“How did you do that?” Corporal Marvel demanded.

“Thank you….whoever you are.” Constellation said, steadying herself.

“I’m sorry I attacked you…but the eye….well, sometimes I don’t quite understand what it says to me. I thought you were an enemy.” Conjura said.

“I understand. My name is Jonas…Jonas Stevens. You may know my parents better….Jared Stevens and Cynthia Reynolds.” The man said.

“Wait…he was Fate years ago and your mom…she was Gypsy from the old Justice League Detroit.” Corporal Marvel realized.

“Yes…and I thought now was the time to reveal myself to the world. I heard of the recent troubles with Celsius and the Titans feud.”

“You’d have to had been under a rock to have missed all that.” Bullet Boy added.

“I might as well have been. After my father was murdered, my mother went into hiding fearing his enemies would discover me….and kill us both. She reached out to Martian Manhunter and he offered to give us sanctuary. He had left the Justice Leauge by then and was living quietly in the Himalayas. It was there I was born. Soon my powers manifested, but I was trained in martial arts by my mother as well as honing my other abilities with Dr. Fate. I can cast illusions as well as renewing life energies….like I did with Constellation.”

“He’s telling the truth…the eye says it is so.” Conjura said.

“I’ve been making my way here to the United States, with my mother’s blessing….but your ways…are so new to me….your exuberance…it’s overwhelming….”

“No use in being a wall-flower! Come on, there are others who would want to meet you!” Bullet Boy said, taking the young man’s arm. Jared noticed that the young man flinched. “If you’re going to super hero route, you need a code name!”

“I call myself The Ankh, after my birthmark.” He lowered his hood and revealed an ankh birthmark on his face. “The mark somehow allows me my gift of healing.”

“Your birthmark…it must have been what Conjura’s eye detected, making her think you both are connected.” Corporal Marvel said.

“This is awesome! We’re going to have so much fun!!” Conjura smiled, taking his other arm.

“Wait…I didn’t come all this way seeking glory….I want to help people, but not get involved too deeply….my father’s enemies…they are still out there…..you all could get hurt. This was a mistake…I should never have come here.” The Ankh backflipped away from Bullet Boy and Conjura. He leaped upwards into a palm tree and somersaulted atop a bus and disappeared into the moving traffic.

“Well, that was certainly strange.” Corporal Marvel said.

“We should inform the Huntress about his appearance.” Constellation said sensibly.

“After the eye calmed down, I sensed an inner peace conflicted with turmoil about the Ankh…almost like he sought our friendship…but wanted to keep his distance at the same time.”

“Well, growing up with Martian Manhunter was no party I’m sure. I met him once a long time ago…..0 personality. But I read in our files he does like cookies. Maybe we should have offered Ankh some Oreos?” Corporal Marvel said.

“I do know this. Our pizza is getting cold.” Conjura smiled as they made their way back to the restaurant.

Once inside, they saw Blue Dolphin.

“I thought you didn’t like pizza.” Conjura huffed.

“I don’t….but I do like Selena Gomez.” She smirked as the band started playing again. The Super Friends enjoyed their evening and wondered if they would encounter The Ankh again.

Far away…..The Ankh thought about the day. He really liked the heroes he had met, but preferred to keep his distance at the moment. “Maybe I’ll stick around…help if they really need me.” Joining a team wasn’t his style, or least he seemed to think that for now. Time would tell if the Ankh would encounter the Super Friends again……..

***

Meanwhile in a secret lair…

The Sportsmaster sat in front of a monitor screen. Using a baseball shaped video surveillance device, he had been spying on the Super Friends’ exploits that day. “So, my half-brother has revealed himself to the junior members of the Titans of Justice. I think we are long overdue for a face to face meeting as well but not until after Green Lantern’s TWIN children are born.”





THE END!