Titans of Justice Unlimited #111 - “Poisoned Part 3”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty & Power Guy
Edited, & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


The Hall of Justice…

“How’s the research going?” Starman asked, his ribs wrapped.





"It’s incredible. The mutation Dr. Poison created…unheard of….nearly 70 years in the making. She took a Nazi experiment and took it to an entirely new level.” Nucleus said.





“Can you change them back? Wonder Man asked, growing agitated.





“Give me time, Wonder Man. It’s hard to undo this. It’s very complicated.” Nucleus said, downing a cup of coffee.

Across the room, Power Guy and Sargona sat side by side.

“Where exactly did you send them?” Power Guy asked his girlfriend.





“A place like limbo. Nothing there they can hurt. In fact, they’re in stasis so to speak, resting.” Sargona said, taking his hand.





“Hang in there Scott, it’ll be ok.” Superboy said to Wonder Man.





“Thanks Connor and thanks for the save.”

“Hey, man we models stick together.”

“You got that right.” Wonder Man said, high-fiving Superboy.

Corporal Marvel noticed Connor acted a bit…..snooty while in the company of Wonder Man. “Huntress is going to be ok. She’s being treated for the flu, but should be be back to normal in a week or so.” He reported.





The Flash had arrived and was helping Nucleus sort through Dr. Poison’s notes. “AHA!” the Flash said, his face lighting up. I’ve got it!”





“You just figured out 70 years of research in 20 seconds?” Apotheosis gasped.





“They don’t call me the Flash for nothing. It’s quite simple.” The Flash began speaking in scientific terms and no one seemed to understand except Nucleus.

“Why didn’t I see that? So deceptively simple. I have to hand it to Dr. Poison, she’s a genius. Evil, but a genius,” pointed out the protege’ of the second Atom.

“See what? Can you change them back?” Lilith querried.





“I can!” Nucleus said. “Give me time to make the antidote. Flash and Power Guy, I’ll need you two to collect the ingredients. Sargona, your magic will be needed as well to speed up the process.

Seconds later, both Flash and Power Guy returned from an around the world trip with herbs, leaves, and extracts.

“Now, everyone go away so I can get to work!” Nucleus demanded. “Flash you stay here, Sargona too.”

The Titans exited the lab as Nucleus, Sargona, and Flash got to work.

Hours later, the Flash emerged.

“Did it work? Can you change my sister back?” Wonder Man asked. Jem had joined her husband. She brought Stephen with her and the other Titans were taking turns holding him and watching him play.

“It did…but…” Flash started.

“But what?” Wonder Man demanded.

“Scott, calm down. Let Flash speak.” Jem put her arm around her husband.

“We were able to make the serum that can reverse the toxin….but there was only enough of some of the extracts to make one cure. We only have enough to save Champion or Diamond Jack.” The Flash said.

“Can’t you just go get some more of whatever it is you need?” Apotheosis asked. “Or have Sargona whip it up with her spells?”

“My magic doesn’t quite work that way. And the herb we need is rare….” Sargona said.

“I didn’t realize how rare until we started working.” Flash said. “It won’t grow again for another year.”

“So, just use that cosmic treadmill or something, go to the future and take it.” Superboy said, arrogantly.

“And take a chance of altering the time stream?” Corporal Marvel added, wishing Superboy would act more like the Connor he had come to know.

“Plus, I’m not quite fast enough yet to pull off time-travel with precise accuracy,” revealed the Flash.

“This is impossible. How can we decide someone’s fate?” Starman asked.

“What the Hell are you people standing around for? You all know my sister. Do any of us know much about Diamond Jack? How many times has my sister put herself on the line? You all claim to be her friends and you're standing around debating!? I don’t think there’s any discussion needed about who gets the cure!” Wonder Man demanded.

“Scott, calm down. We’ll figure this out.” Power Guy said to his fellow founder.

“So what do we do? Flip a coin?” Apotheosis asked.

“Enough! I can hear you all arguing all the way in the lab!” Nucleus said. “We use the cure on Champion.”

Wonder Man smiled.

“I believe Diamond Jack’s ring would cause his body to reject the cure. The ring has more than likely adapted to Jack’s new physiology and we don’t know exactly how his ring works. I would rather use the cure on Champion, I am 99.9 percent sure it’ll work on her, rather than taking a risky chance. “

“What are you waiting for then?” Jem asked.

“Starman, you on board with this?” Power Guy asked.

“I trust Nucleus. Yeah, let’s do it.” Starman said.

Sargona opened the portal to the limbo dimension where Champion and Diamond Jack both drifted harmlessly. Nucleus injected the Amazonian steel syringe into Champion’s neck and within seconds, she was restored to normal.

***
Days later…

“What hit me?” Champion awoke in her hospital room. “Dr. Poison…where is she?”





“Sis, have I got a hell of a story to tell you.” Wonder Man smiled and hugged his sister. Soon, Jerrica Trevor, Donna Troy, Steve and Diana Trevor, Nemesis, and Connor Trevor filled the room with flowers and balloons, wishing Mindy well.

Down the hall, another conversation took place.

“What of Diamond Jack?” Illumina asked.





“It seems inhumane to just leave him floating around in that dimension.” Green Lantern added. “You’re sure there’s nothing that can be done at this time for him?”





“I’m sure.” Nucleus said. "I can keep working, keep trying to find a cure for him. The problem is that black power-ring on his finger. There hasn’t been enough research done on it to know how it would react to the unique formula my cure is made up of.”

“I’ve got an idea.” Corporal Marvel chimed in. “Huntress has us studying old JLA cases and something about this reminds me of a team up with the JLA/JSA. Sandman’s partner Sandy…something similar happened to him….”

“I remember that.” Green Lantern added. “But where could we keep him?”

“I can help you with that.” Wonder Woman said, joining the group. “I understand a sacrifice was made to save my daughter. Diamond Jack can be cared for on Paradise Island. A special cell can be constructed where Diamond Jack can rest and be watched over. Perhaps my chief scientist, Verushka and my other doctors can cure him. I assure you he’ll be cared for.”

Starman thought for a moment and agreed. “I think this is the best option we have. Thank you, Wonder Woman.”

***

Paradise Island…

“Transporting him was a challenge, but the my power ring did the job.” Green Lantern said. "He fought every step of the way, even to point of almost resisting the ring."

“Good work.” Starman added as the two men watched Diamond Jack pound on the walls of his cells. The cell was outfitted with luxurious bedding and other accoutrements.

“Man, it’s like a 5 star hotel room.” Starman added.

“Too bad he can’t truly enjoy it.” Apotheosis said. "I hate leaving him here. It's like watching a wild animal, begging to be freed."

“Gentlemen, I thank you for your assistance. My sisters will take it from here.” The now back on her feet, Champion smiled. She and her friends departed in the Invisible Jet for home.

Verushka instructed her team of Amazon doctors to release the slumber gas into Diamond Jack’s cell. He seemed to be agitated and pounded furiously on the see through walls.

“Verushka, you’re sure he won’t escape?” an Amazon nurse asked.

“I’m sure. Not even the Queen herself could escape those walls. She designed them herself. He'll rest for now and we'll be able to conduct an examination. Perhaps our natural flora will provide a remedy not available in the world of man.”

As Diamond Jack felt the gas causing him to become drowsy, he thought….” Please….please…how can I make them understand…I’m here..aware….the pain makes me crazy….please help me……I don’t want to sleep…how can I tell them….” He muttered something unintelligible and drifted off into a peaceful slumber.





***
Chile…

The young man awoke with a start. He remembered buying drugs from a strange woman outside a night club…and then nothing. He noticed he was cold. Strapped to a table with a tube running into his nose and down his throat. Panic overcame him.

“Shhhhh, shhhhhh.” Dr. Poison whispered as she inserted a tube into her subjects abdomen.





“Beginning experiment # 34C. Subject injected with initial strain of toxin GB7-4. Pulse rate increasing, metabolism increasing. Anticipated muscle mass changes, accelerated heart rate and pulse.”

She walked over to a console and monitored her “patient”.

He gasped, “Please…please help me….”

She ignored his pleas and released a liquid into the tubes running to and from his body.

“Body reaching critical mass, subject cannot contain the energy. Experiment a failure.” She said as one of the young man's eyes popped out of its socket.

Suddenly the young man’s heart exploded, a single tear running down his cheek.

“A pity. If only I had all my notes from my old lab. No bother, plenty of subjects here. And I have plenty of time. All the time in the world.” Dr. Poisons’s teeth flashed as her grotesque smile became even wider. "And when I meet the Titans of Justice again, their suffering will be legendary."


THE END!