The Titans of Justice Chapter 27 “New Beginnings”

Written by: Scotty2Hotty & Power Guy
Editor: Marcus Mebes


An imposing blonde woman strolled down the sidewalk, glancing through her sunglasses at passersby. She could tell by their facial features, bone structure, and hair color who was “pure” and who was not. She was not used to the way things were in Austria--these times of racial acceptance were strange to Fausta. After the Paradise Island fiasco, she had made her way back to the second country she called home. The Cheetah had betrayed her and she could have let him drown, but decided to bring him with her--so she could exact her own revenge and conduct experiments on him. Fausta’s intelligence was heightened due to her pagan gifts and she was quick to learn the internet. She had educated herself on these modern times. No one noticed her--not when there were several tall blondes all over the Austrian city where she had established a new home. She climbed the steps to her stronghold and turned on her television-- another modern device she was still becoming accustomed to. Nothing on caught her interest. “Ah, I will see the cat-man. Perhaps he can entertain me,” she said to herself with a twisted smirk on her face.

In the dungeon below, Michael Rich, the latest version of the Cheetah, was hung in chains that were bolted to the ceiling. Michael had never endured such pain in his entire life. The last thing he remembered was things going horribly wrong on Paradise Island and finally, his grandmother’s voice being silenced. His next memories are of pain. Fausta was not happy to learn of his deception and she had made it clear he would pay for using her. First she started out with lashes from a cat o’ nine tails. Then it was on to electro torture. No matter how he tried he couldn’t transform into the Cheetah. Today was the 3rd day the stricken man had been hanging from the basement ceiling. He couldn’t feel his arms and wished he could die.

“Grandmother…please come back…t..tell me what to do….” he pleaded in a haze. The voice of Priscilla Rich was silent.

The door to the dungeon swung open. “Hello mein kleine katschen!” Fausta said as she walked over to Michael. “I thought I would find you dead, but you still survive. How the Fuhrer would have loved to experiment on you… You can take more pain than anyone I have encountered. Do you know how your suffering could have helped the Reich?”
Changing the subject a bit, she then asked, “How can one so handsome find pleasure in the company of other men? Do you know what we did with your kind in the camps? Your kind was even lower than the gypsies.”

Michael could not even raise his head to look at her. The sweat pouring off his head was falling into his eyes and stinging them. His body was wracked with pain.

“What shall we do today? I found these in town and thought you would enjoy them, my pet.” Fausta produced a set of razor sharp claws that fit onto her hands like a glove. “I wonder how many suffered from your claws, cat-man? How many died in one of your fits of rage?” Fausta said circling her victim.

Michael felt like he was going to throw up--as if that were possible. He hadn’t eaten in days and he was severely dehydrated. The sounds of Fausta’s boots hitting the concrete floor echoed through his head.

“Go…go to Hell…” he managed to utter.

“Oh, my little tabby cat has a smart tongue!” Fausta said as she clawed Michael’s cheek. “Let us see if my new toy can tame your smart mouth, hahahah!!!”

He tried not to scream as a mixture of sweat and blood rolled down his face.

“Let’s play kitty!” the madwoman shouted with a laugh as she began scratching Michael’s chest with the razor sharp claws. He felt rage stemming from his frustration brewing. He could feel the Cheetah transformation finally begin and he snapped his teeth at Fausta.

She promptly gut punched him and the transformation ceased. “Now how did that happen, kit-kat? I injected you with a serum that would keep you human. It must be wearing off….and how dare you snap those teeth at me?”

Michael started to cry, partly from anger, as Fausta walked over to a table containing many of her torture instruments. She walked back to him, a pair of pliers in hand.
“Now open wide, my pet. I have to make sure you don’t try to bite me again!” Fausta said as she grabbed the back of Michael’s head forcing his mouth open. The Nazi then proceeded to use the pliers to remove a couple of Michael’s teeth as he screamed and writhed.

***

Meanwhile across the globe at the Hall of Justice…

In front of the Trouble Alert stood Nightvision, the Huntress, Green Lantern, and Celsius.

“Any luck, mates?” Celsius asked his teammates.

“Unfortunately no,” replied Nightvision. “The three of us combed just about every inch of the Slab, but Sinestro and company didn’t leave a single trace. They played it careful this time.”

“Just about every inch?” the Huntress said with a smirk. “Don’t be so modest. There was no ‘just about.’ We covered EVERY inch of that place.”

“She’s right, Celsius,” agreed Green Lantern. “I even used my ring to try and find a trail but nothing.”

“This deeply concerns me,” commented a worried Celsius. “Now we have Sinestro, Giganta, Kid Zoom, Star Sapphire, Bizarro, and Black Manta all working together. It sounds like the stranded members of the Legion of Doom are putting together a new team.”

“They’ll turn up,” added Nightvision. “They always do.”

“Maybe we should have someone check on Grodd at Gorilla City. He’s been held there since we defeated the Legion,” suggested Celsius.

“We’re one step ahead of you,” revealed the Huntress. “I asked Junjie Quick to go there and see if he can get anything out of Grodd.”

“Let me try getting a hold of Junjie to see if he’s found anything out,” offered Green Lanternn. With that, Green Lantern turned on the Hall’s communication system and beeped Junjie’s signal device.

***

Deep in the jungles of Africa inside of Gorilla City’s prison facility…

“d**n it. The others aren’t going to like this when they find out,” muttered the obsidian speedster to his teammate.

“Looks Grodd pulled a fast one on Gorilla City,” stated Rapido shaking his head in disgust. The second speedster had accompanied Quick on the journey.

“He sure did,” agreed Junjie Quick. “This android duplicate of him has been sitting here for God knows how long while the real Grodd is on the loose.” Before Junjie could utter anything else, his Titans of Justice signal device went off.

“This is Junjie, go ahead,” he spoke into the transmitter.

“Junjie, it’s GL,” responded the green guardian. “Did you get anything out of Grodd?”

“Yeah, a bunch of nuts and bolts,” Junjie informed his teammate. “It turns out that Grodd switched places with an android duplicate at some point and has been running free ever since.”

“Not good. I’ll let Celsius and the others know,” replied Green Lantern. “Hey, who’s that?” he asked, noting the figure standing behind Junjie as he viewed the image on the communicator.

“Rapido,” Junjie answered quickly. “He’s my uhh…new sidekick.”

“Hello there!” shouted Rapido from the background.

“Hello Rapdio. Nice to meet you.,” commented Green Lantern. “All right. Have a safe trip back,” Green Lantern finished, signing off.

“Okay Rapido, let’s get back to Keystone City, there’s nothing more we can do here,” said a disappointed Junjie Quick. “Thanks, Nnamdi, for your cooperation.”

“Anytime Junjie,” offered the leader of Gorilla City as the two speedsters raced back to the United States.

***

Back in the Hall of Justice…

On the other side of the monitor room, Sargona and Sonic Boom were chatting over coffee. “Is Wonder Man always so full of himself?” Sonic Boom asked. “I mean, anytime the papers ask for a picture, he makes sure he is up front--and the way he is all over Venus…it’s disgusting!” said one of the newest members of the team.

“I think he just likes to put on. He’s deeper than most of the Titans give him credit for,” Sargona replied.

“I guess. I just don’t see what about Venus has all the guys all worked up. She’s pretty, but she seems like a hussy. I heard a rumor that she’s already slept with Wonder Man, plus... did you see the way she was looking at Celsius during the Mordru case? And now, she’s been following that freak Palomé around like a lost puppy,” Sonic Boom replied.

***

Outside in the Halls’ garden…

Wonder Man and Venus strolled about, looking at all the exotic flowers.

“What are these? I’ve never seen flowers like them before,” Venus asked.

“Oh, these are very rare. They’re from the planet Tamaran, where Starfire was from. She gave them to my mother as a gift a long time ago and my mom still grows them on Paradise Island,” Wonder Man explained. “We have samples from Krypton as well.”

The two heroes continued to walk around, stopping to look and smell the various flora from all over the world and other planets.

Venus suddenly let out a squeal of delight. “Scott, these are my very favorite!” she shouted as she bent down to look at the orchids.

“Yeah, they are really pretty. Fragrant too. I wish what happened didn’t ruin looking at orchids for me though,” he commented.

“What do you mean?” Venus asked.

“Well, several years ago there was a heroine called the Black Orchid. No one knew much about her, but she always showed up when something major was going on. One day she just flipped out and killed a bunch of super heroes. Some of my Aunt Donna’s closest friends--like Starfire--died that day. I was really young, but I remember it so clearly. Poor Kory--Black Orchid ripped her head off.”

“Oh Scott--that’s awful. Whatever happened to this Black Orchid person?”

“No one knows. Not even Superman or the Martian Manhunter could find her. I remember my aunt telling me that Black Orchid might have been from Krypton and fled to outer space. I wonder what made her snap like that,” Wonder Man said as he shook his head. “There’s a memorial to the fallen heroes in Metropolis if you’d like to go see it sometime.”

“That would be great. I’d like to pay my respects to those that have gone before,” Venus said. She looked up at Wonder Man with a tear in her eye.

Sonic Boom cleared her throat and the duo turned to face her. “Sorry to interrupt your As The World Turns moment, Wonder Gigolo, but you have a phone call,” she said sarcastically.

“It’s probably my agent. I have a big show next week. You should come, Boomer,” the hero suggested.

“Why? I see you strut your stuff here for free,” the masked blonde said.

With a smirk, Wonder Man strode off a bit and spoke into the phone that Sonic Boom had handed him.

“Scott, thank God!” came the voice.

“Lilith!!! What’s up!?

Lilith Clay-Terzano was one of Donna Troy’s best friends. After being brought back from the dead several years ago, she and Wonder Man had become fast friends as he was fascinated by her uncanny extra sensory perception.

“Scott, it’s important! Donna told me where to find you. I’m in Austria with my husband and my ESP is going crazy. Those people that tried to invade Paradise Island….I think… no, I KNOW they’re here!”

“You mean Villainy Inc?” asked Wonder Man.

“Yes, I believe so,” Lilith replied.

“Do you have any specifics?”

“No but I’ll start checking around,” the static voice informed her friend. “Perhaps in a few days I’ll know more.”

“Okay. Well, keep me posted and make sure you don’t confront them all by yourself,” instructed Wonder Man.

***

Back in the garden….


“Why are you looking at me like that?” Venus asked Sonic Boom.

Sonic Boom wore a huge grin on her face, thinking that she knew what Venus and Wonder Man were up to. “Look, it’s really none of my business but I suggest that you and Wonder Man lock yourselves in your room if you’re going to get all mushy with each other.”

“Oh, that…” the other woman said with a laugh. “You know, Wonder Man and I are really are close friends.”

“I’ll bet…” replied Sonic Boom sarcastically.

“But if you want him, he’s yours,” offered Venus, “I’m interested in someone else.”

“Who would that be?” Sonic Boom inquired.

Before Venus could answer, the newcomer Palomé entered the garden and approached the two ladies.

“Howdy, y’all. Hello Venus, how are you feeling?” asked the young man in the black cloak.

Venus turned to her healer and answered, “Lots better, thanks to you. Celsius told me that if it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead.”

“Well ma’am, I do what I can,” Palomé said as he started to blush. “Can I ask you another question?”

“Sure,” agreed Venus.

“How are you feeling... uhm, mentally?”

“What do you mean?” said a confused Venus.

“Well ma’am, I certainly didn’t mean to pry but when my soul-self was healing you, I could sense a lot of... uh, turmoil in your head,” revealed Palomé.

Sonic Boom interrupted. “She has amnesia. You probably sensed her brain’s desire to remember her past.”

“Hmm… you’re probably right, lil’ lady,” agreed Palomé. Turning back to Venus, “If you’re feeling up to it ma’am, I’d love to take you out to dinner tonight. I reckon it would be good for you to get out.”

“I’d love that,” replied an excited Venus. “Could we leave now? I’m incredibly hungry.”

“Sure, it’s not too early for dinner,” responded the surprised healer. “There’s a great soul-food restaurant downtown that we can go to. At least, I think there is. In my time, they got the best crawfish etouffée this side o’ New Orleans.”

“Excuse me?” interrupted Sonic Boom. “I thought you were from Colorado? What’s with the Southern accent and the ‘soul-food’ junk?”

“Yes, ma’am,” responded the young man, grinning. “Trailer trash, tried and true. But we lived in the Big Easy for a few years, when my Mom wanted to experience some new emotions. My Dad loved it there so much, they decided we should live there a spell. So, I guess you could say... well, nevermind.”

Palomé grabbed Venus’ hand and escorted her out.

“Hmmph... Sexy AND humble. Why can’t I get a hunk like that?” Sonic Boom wondered aloud.

***

Back in Austria…

Michael Rich woke up. He didn’t know how he was still alive. He looked down at his chest and legs, which were a bloody mess. His gums felt like they were on fire and dried blood was caked all over his mouth. How did things go so wrong? He looked down again and noticed black….things all over his body. “She…she put leeches on me…Oh God, please let this end. Let me die…” he said to himself. Just then he heard a woman’s voice. “Fausta, please just kill me….please…” he muttered.

“Oh stop your sniveling, you fool,” ordered the feminine voice.

“Grandmother?” asked a startled Michael.

“Yes, boy. It’s me. How did you mess things up so badly? Oh never mind. I am going to get you out of this, but you have to do exactly as I say or Fausta will continue to torture you. I know what she’s planning and if you want to keep your fingers and toes, listen to your grandmother,” said Priscilla.

“Yes, Grandmother. Thank you... thank you. I knew you hadn’t left me,” Michael whispered.