Titans East Chapter 42 – “The Harsh Blow of Reality Part 1”

Written by: Power Guy, Marcus Mebes, Nightvision, Scotty2Hotty, & Green Lantern
Editor: Marcus Mebes


The former site of S.T.A.R. Labs, New York, NY…

“This is Lois Kent reporting live from the scene of a major tragedy that occurred earlier today. It seems that six members of the fledging team of heroes known as the Titans of Justice East were killed in an explosion here at S.T.A.R. Labs. While we don’t have all of the details just yet, it is known that Power Guy, Green Lantern, Sonic Boom, Nucleus, the Huntress, and the Flash are among those believed to be dead. While in most murder cases, getting someone to admit to the crime can be difficult, several super-villains have been noted as taking credit for today’s massacre. Those villains include the Weather Wizard, Brainstorm, I.Q., Dr. Polaris, the Sting Ray, the Fearsome Five, the Angle Man, Live Wire, and even the Joker! Sources close to the investigation suggest that out of all of those listed, the Sting Ray is the only one to have a major grudge against these young heroes and is most likely the guilty party,” explained the top-notch reporter. “We’ll be back with more updates as they surface.”

***

The Queen Estate, Star City…

Dark Arrow was making his way into the house after a fierce battle with Slingshot. “Man, that dude was a pain in the butt to take down… but I showed him. Too bad DiDi wasn’t with me. He would have been down ten minutes sooner.” The hero entered the foyer and looked around, noticing his mother, father, older brother Conner, older “sister’ Mia, and his Uncle Roy all sitting down waiting for him. “Uhh… hey guys. I didn’t expect to see all of you here when mom asked me to come home.”.





Dinah and Oliver Queen got up and approached their son.

“Okay, what’s going on here? You all look so serious,” noticed Dark Arrow.

“Robert…” started the former Black Canary. “It’s about DiDi and Dan…”

“DiDi and Dan? Wait a minute… she finally did it didn’t she? She finally told him how she feels and they’re together now, aren’t they?” assumed Robert with a huge grin on his face. “I told her that she should have told him years ago! I’m so happy for her! Where is she?” he asked in excitement.

“Rob, maybe you better sit down,” suggested the former Green Arrow.

“Oh chill out dad, I’m not going to razz her that badly. I just want to congratulate her. That’s all,” replied Dark Arrow as he took off his mask.

Dinah put her hands on the sides of her son’s face, “Robert, look at me. You’ve got this all wrong. Yes, DiDi and Dan are together but not in the way you think. They’re together now, i..in Heaven…” She could not continue, and broke into tears.

Robert gasped, choking on his own breath. “What?!?!?! No! NO!! NO!!!! What happened???”

“Son, please sit down and we’ll explain…” insisted his father.

***

The Fortress of Solitude…

Superman was holding a distraught Power Woman tightly. “Karen, I know how upset you are right now. I felt the same way when Conner died.”

Superwoman, Kara Zor-El, was also present but was speechless. She wanted to say something to comfort her cousin but was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

“Kal… I should have been there to protect him,” replied Power Woman. “He was always looking up to me and modeling himself after me. I feel like I let him down.”

“Karen, it’s not your fault,” Superman said as he pulled Power Woman closer. “Even back in our day, we knew the risks every time we went out alone or with the JLA or the JSA. The super-villains don’t play by the same rules as we do. They’re a vicious lot that keeps multiplying faster than we can catch them.”

“It must be difficult for Lois to be covering the story. The two of you always treated him like family… even though I was the only one who was related to him,” Power Woman said as she wiped her eyes.

“Come on Karen, you know that we’re all family here,” retorted Superman. “You, Kara, Vince, and I all were lucky enough to survive Krypton’s explosion. It doesn’t matter if we share the same blood or not. Vince has always been and will remain part of this family even though he’s now in Rao’s care.”

“Well, we’ve got to find this Sting Ray and make sure she pays for what she’s done,” declared Power Woman.

“We will Karen, we will…” agreed Superman.

***

A small church in a rural community in Colorado…

Ryand'r had not been back to earth in many years. After his stint in the Omega Men was over as far as he was concerned, he wanted to settle down, but it was impossible. He had no home left to go to. Earth was where the last remaining member of his family (who counted, anyway, to him) had lived and died, so Earth was his closest place to home.

During her life, his sister Koriand'r--Starfire--was especially close with Raven. As such, when Raven married Cody Driscoll, the Titan formerly known as Risk, Kory was her maid of honor. When Raven's son Lukas was born, Kory was his godmother. When Raven and Starfire were killed, thankfully Toni Monetti, the Titan called Argent, stepped in as a surrogate mom... though she left the parenting to his father mostly.

So Ryand'r considered that the last remaining vestiges of his family were Lukas and Cody Driscoll, if you stretched the reasoning. And it was Cody that he found when he returned to Earth. Converting to Christianity, accepting Christ as his savior, all that was easy. X'Hal had been eradicated, and faith helped him cope. When he found out that the adolescent Lukas had been replaced with an adult future version of himself, a costumed hero with his parents' abilities no less, it was curious but he could accept it. After all, he himself had been a "superhero" of sorts in his time.

"Shame," he said, shaking his head. He looked about at the faces around him inside the small, rural Colorado church. Pastor Driscoll was holding hands with Toni Monetti and his son Palomé. A few members of the congregation also joined them, and they spoke a communal prayer for the victims of the S.T.A.R. Labs explosion. Ryand'r smiled, knowing he was part of a bigger family now, and shared in that family's joys and its sorrows as well.

***

The Planet Oa…

“Brothers, have you discovered anything regarding the recent disturbances in Sector 2814?” Ganthet asked.

In an image in the center of the room, the Guardians watched the image of S.T.A.R. Labs exploding with an image of Daniel.

“What?” asked Ganthet II. “Did Sinestro finally kill a Green Lantern from Sector 2814?”

“Did Star Sapphire have a role in this? They have had increased activity on Earth again recently,” another Guardian asked.

“Why didn’t the ring protect Daniel? Is there a force out there that can outwill the ring and kill a Green Lantern?” asked the younger Guardian

“Brothers, your concerns are indeed noted; however, we need to remember the fallen Daniel. There are disturbances on Earth that threaten the whole universe and the fate of the Earth’s heroes. It appears that the source of this disturbance is known, yet Daniel was not aware of the attack that killed him. He was being a leader and team member for the Titans of Justice. A villain named Sting Ray came and took his love and left. Daniel sensed the trap, but was unable to escape in time. The ring does not appear to have faulted, yet it is a concern why the ring did not protect him.”

“Doesn’t Earth have enough Green Lanterns?” asked Ganthet II. “Will more Green Lanterns need to be assigned to Sector 2814 and Earth?” continued the young Guardian.

“Earth does not have enough Green Lanterns with the loss of Daniel. In case those other sectors need the expertise of an Earth Green Lantern, we need to replace Daniel. No the Green Lanterns in Sector 2814 as well as the eligible candidates to replace Daniel will be enough to defend Earth. If not, we need to fortify a defense in order to protect other Space Sectors and Oa,” Ganthet explained. “Yet there will never be a true person that can fill the role Daniel gave to the Titans of Justice and the Earth. His willingness to help others was demonstrated until the last breath left his body. He may not have been the greatest in our eyes, but he was important to Earth none the less.”

“Agreed,” said the rest of the Guardians in unison.

“Brothers, we need to pay our respects in the Memorial Garden.” Ganthet said.

The Guardians exited the Central Battery and went to the Memorial Gardens of Oa. The garden was beautiful with exotic plants, however it was also home to the fallen Green Lanterns of the past. The Guardians found a spot to make a statue for Daniel. They focused their energies and constructed the statue. Once it was completed, the Guardians bowed their heads for a moment of silence.

“Hal Jordan will find a rightful replacement for young Daniel. The sector 2814 corps needs to be at full power for the impending chaos on Earth. The new Lantern will need to become one without fear and can represent the honor of the Corps,” Ganthet said.

As the rest of the Guardians left, Ganthet forged a plaque for Daniel’s statue. The plaque read “Daniel—A hero died too young. His legend and influences live forever.” Ganthet joined his brethren to determine who would be the next ring bearer.

***

Paradise Island…

Despite the beautiful sunshine and the tropical warmth, the mood on Paradise Island was somber. Queen Diana had informed her nation that several of the prince’s allies had been killed in a horrible accident. The queen looked favorably on the Titans of Justice, especially since they had been instrumental in defending the island from Fausta. Queen Diana had declared that a memorial service be held in honor of the fallen warriors. The former Wonder Woman had spoken to her son, who was quite upset. He was going to fly home sometime in the next few days and Diana had hoped the incident would make him realize how fragile life is regardless of how powerful one had become.

In the island reformatory, several of the Amazons were making their way to the memorial service. Two Amazons spoke briefly as a tall blonde imposing woman glared at them.

“Bonda, I wish you could attend the service, but I know someone must stay here and watch over the reformatory.

“Do not let it trouble you, Mala. I feel I am paying tribute to the fallen by staying here and watching over our charges,” the pretty brunette known as Bonda replied.

Mala left for the memorial as the woman behind bars stared at Bonda.

“Tell me, Fausta: What are you thinking right now?” Bonda inquired





“What am I thinking? Do you really want to know? I am thinking how pleased I am that those dogs are dead. I only wish I had been there to see them burn and pray for deliverance from their agony as they took their last breaths. Perhaps they would have seen me through the smoke and thought I was an angel to save them. I would have poured fuel on them as they burned, if only I was there! Can you picture it? Gasping for air as dust and rubble fill your mouth and lungs… perhaps a limb or two severed in the blast… thinking of your loved ones as you writhe and suffer. It is sweet!!!!”

“Fausta… you… you are inhuman! How can you say such things! Why is your heart so hard… why do you resist Aphrodite’s message of love?” Bonda stammered.

“My heart and soul are consumed with hate for those that have crossed me! My only regret is that Hippolyta’s schwein grandsons didn’t perish with the rest. When I get out of here… and I will… what has befallen the Titans will be nothing compared to what I have in store for Wonder Woman’s family!”

Bonda backed away as Fausta shook the bars that held her captive. Fausta’s laugh filled the halls with an eerie foreboding that made Bonda wish she had attended the memorial.

***

The Home of Power Lad…

Power Lad stepped out of the jaccuzi and toweled himself dry on the new carpet in his parent’s private bedroom. Ali loved it when his parents were away on business. He put on a pair of shorts, sat on his dad’s new pillow and attacked another slice of pepperoni pizza. “Mmmm…” he thought as he placed the control device to his old man’s newest invention on his wrist. He depressed a button and his image changed into that of Vince Starr, Power-Puff Guy. “Cool!” he said aloud as he activated the control again, taking on the sultry form of Sonic Boom, the blonde bombshell. Ali flipped a small lever and adjusted a dial before speaking with a sensual and feminine voice, “I’m Sonic Babe… the hottest chick in the whole solar system.” He stood on the bed, placed one hand on his hip and stroked his hair with the other hand. “CRUD!” he exclaimed as his pizza slice fell topside-down on his dad’s imported pillowcase. Then he saw Sonic Babe’s picture on his parents’ 22 inch flat screen television and unmuted the volume.





“…only one of six heroes reported to have died in the S.T.A.R. Labs Tower explosion earlier. More news at eleven!”

Power Lad froze. He could not believe what he just heard. “No, it can’t be! Sonic Babe can’t be gone!” Ali changed the channel several times until he found another station offering more news. “Oh, man! It’s that Jack Ryder idiot!”

“Fortunately, no civilians are reported missing or dead, but our hearts go out to the six young heroes who gave their lives earlier in an effort to save more than five hundred scientists and staff at what had been the largest branch of S.T.A.R. Labs. In addition to Titans of Justice East’s leader Green Lantern, other members who died in the explosion include the Flash, Power Guy, the Hunt--”

CRASH! The television imploded upon impact with the marble statue that Power Lad threw.

“No! No! No! Not Power Guy too! No!” shouted the overwhelmed young teen. He covered his eyes and sat on the bed in emotional agony.

After forty-five minutes he knew what he had to do. He changed into his Power Lad uniform and depressed the button on his father’s holographic image device again. He walked up to the mirror and gazed sadly at the reflection of Power Guy. “Good-bye, dude. Your sacrifice won’t be for nothing. The all-new Hardcore Power Guy will see to that.” Then Ali noticed that the remaining four slices of pizza had fallen on his mom’s new carpet. This called for serious measures. Pressing the button on his wristband he turned into the image of Bizarro. He flew out the window, turned around, and flew back into his parent’s bedroom with all of his might. The bedroom wall was destroyed along with several items inside, but at least his parents would not notice the pizza stains. He wouldn’t suspect Ali as having taken the holographic image device either. Ali changed back into Hardcore Power Guy and flew toward the Hall of Justice.

***

Coast City: The Jordan Residence…

Carol Jordan gazed sadly at the dining room table. The turkey dinner was completely untouched. The sink was filled with dishes. A dreadful silence filled the air. Carol had prepared her son’s favorite meal in celebration of acing his finals. As she walked up the staircase she noted the pictures which documented the growth of her only son. He was such a cute little bald baby. His smile always made her smile. She touched his second grade picture. She missed his curly brown locks. Especially the golden forelock. But her boy Daniel was even more handsome without his hair. She wiped away a tear of pride as she looked at his high school graduation picture. He could have been the valedictorian, but he chose to spend the majority of his last two years of high school in the service of God at the local Baptist church. She was so proud of her son. She paused a moment at the door to his room before opening it and entering. Daniel’s Bible was still open and laying on his bed. She read the passage next to his bookmark. It was First Thessalonians 4: 13-18. It brought her comfort and the strength to go on. She walked back downstairs to find her husband still lying on the couch. He had been there for more than four hours now.

“Hal? Would you like me to bring you some turkey or some mashed potatoes?” she asked.

“Not hungry,” he grunted emptily.

She sat down on the edge of the couch and ran her fingers through his hair. “We’ve been through a lot over the years. We’ll make it through this too. It’s what Daniel would want.”

Hal Jordan wiped the tears away from his wife’s cheeks. “I’m going to have to find a temporary substitute.”

“You’re taking time off from the Corps?” asked Carol in hope.

“No! A substitute for… for D-Daniel!” said Hal in exasperation.

There was a brief silence.

“…Don’t you mean… replacement?” Carol asked quietly.

“He’s NOT DEAD! He’s NOT!” shouted Hal. Carol embraced her husband tightly.

“…he’s not, Carol… he’s not dead…” said Hal as tears began to roll down his face and his entire body began quivering.

“…He can’t be dead. He’ll be back.

…he’s not dead…”

***

Later, Malibu CA…

“There’s nothing you could do to save them,” Lilith said to the blond olive skinned man sitting before her.

“I know… but if I had been there maybe I could’ve…” Scott Trevor said to the woman he loved as a surrogate aunt. “Thanks again for agreeing to meet me here,” he added in a choked voice.

“You can run all this through your head so much with should’ve, would’ve, could’ve and the end result will be the same. These things just happen sometimes,” she said, placing her hand on his.

“All my life I’ve been so carefree. I never took things too seriously. I mean; I knew Fausta was a threat to Paradise Island, but the whole time I was fighting her not once did it cross my mind that I wouldn’t defeat her. I joined the Titans mainly to show my mother I could carry on where she left off. I was becoming friends with those people. Hell, I even went out a couple of times with Sonic Boom.” He paused, then corrected himself. “With… with DiDi.”

“Well, these things happen when you get into this business. Look at the old Titans… so many of them were killed. Look at Hank Hall and me… they thought we were dead, but we came back.” Lilith was trying to sound reassuring. As soon as she said the part about her coming back she wished she hadn’t.

“Do you think they’re really not gone? Has your ESP told you anything about them… anything at all?”

“No, Scott… my ESP doesn’t tell me anything. But if I had to guess, I’d say your friends are… truly gone.”

“I can’t even cry. I just feel empty… and lost. I’m going home to Themiscyra tonight. Maybe Mother is right. I’ll be the ruler of Paradise Island one day. Maybe it’s time I started acting like it.”

“Scott, do you remember Donna and me telling you about Dr. Swenson?”

“Sure, it was right before you all entered Mr. Jupiter’s mentoring program and the Titans met you. You even warned them about the whole thing!”

“True, I did. But your aunt… before the incident she was a bubble headed teeny-bopper. Perhaps she didn’t know how a normal American teenage girl was expected to act. After we entered Mr. Jupiter’s program, Donna really stepped up. I’m not telling you what to do by any means, but perhaps this is a way for you to grow. You know, I think you’ve already learned that being a superhero isn’t always fun and games or having your picture taken. Think of all the good you’ve done… on your own and with the team.”

“I don’t think there is a team anymore. With Power Guy and Green Lantern both gone…”

Lilith interrupted him. “Scott your path is up to you. You need to look deep within yourself and decide what you want. I believe you can be as good as your mom, grandmother, and aunt. Don’t let this tragedy stop you from helping the world. I know you like to act all big and bad, but I also know the real you. You are as comfortable doing for and helping others as you are strutting down the runway. You can’t get much past your Aunt Lilith,” she said, rustling his hair.

Scott Trevor hugged the pretty redhead and left for Paradise Island. He thought about his talk with her and pondered her words.

“Was she trying to tell me something in her cryptic way?” He finally put the conversation out of his head. He couldn’t wait to get home and just be with his family. Maybe he would even call his new cousin. Above all Wonder Man wanted his family on the island and just to enjoy being together.

“Poor kid,” Lilith thought to herself. “I wish there was more I could do to help him. I hope he realizes the world needs its heroes. My ESP has been going crazy since the Titans died… and the world will need Wonder Man more than ever… and soon.”

***

The Hall of Justice…

Venus was about half-way through her second bottle of wine. She was alone in the Hall of Justice as most of the surviving members of the team had left to be with their families… not only for comfort, but to also make sure whoever murdered the other Titans wasn’t targeting their loved ones. Venus had no relatives… at least none she could remember, and was a bit hurt that none of her teammates asked her to accompany them.

She thought Palomé at least would have wanted her to come with him, but perhaps her overwhelming grief along with everyone else's was too much for the young empath to handle.

No matter. The Hall had become her home and she would grieve her own way. She stumbled through the meeting room on her way to the refrigerator and stopped for a moment. She saw a framed photo of the Titans. Wonder Man was in front cheesing it up as usual. Sargona was smirking and trying to make sure Black Vulcan couldn’t be seen in the photo. Power Guy and the others… they were all there too. Venus had never noticed how pretty Sonic Boom was or how Huntress had such piercing eyes. She lamented that she had really not taken the time to get to some of the other women on the team besides Sargona and Black Vulcan.

“Those were such good times… when we were all together. If I had…” she whispered.

Venus began to cry and collapsed into Power Guy’s empty chair at the meeting table. Her mind raced and memories began to flood. The Titans had accepted Venus without any questions. She had felt so safe… so at home with the group of heroes.

“I’m not even sure there will be a Titans anymore. Where does that leave me?” she gasped as she tried to hold back her tears. Venus pulled the picture close to her heart and pulled her knees into her chest. Alone in the massive hall, the mysterious woman called Venus wept and her sorrow filled the hall that had once known camaraderie and laughter.



To Be Continued In Titans West Chapter 9