Titans of Justice Unlimited Chapter 8 – “The Generations Saga Part 3 of 6: The Search for Solomon Grundy”

Written by: Power Guy
Cards by: Green Lantern
Art by: The Stranger
Edited by: Green Lantern


The outskirts of Slaughter Swamp….

The Vigilante’s motorcycle came to an abrupt halt, “Ok, there’s no way I’m running my bike through all of that mud. I reckon it’ll clog up my engine. I hate to say it Wonder Woman, but we’re gonna have to go on foot from here.”

“Understandable,” replied Hippolyta, “I have braved far worse conditions in my many years of battle.”

Sargona and Zatanna (who were riding aboard Sargona’s magic-carpet) descended to join their friends. Sun Boy quickly followed to two beautiful mages.

”With all of the trees in this area, I’m afraid my carpet would get snagged on one of them so it looks like Zatanna and I will be going on foot too,” informed Sargona as she rolled up her carpet and tucked it in her cape-pouch.

“I could use the wind to fly but I’m afraid all of the noise would signal our approach,” advised Zatanna.

“Not to worry,” commented Sun Boy, “You four cover the ground, I’ll keep scouting from the air,” he said, flying off.

“Sounds like a plan,” confirmed Sargona as she and the other heroes ventured off.

As the heroes made their way through the murky swamp, Hippolyta asked the Vigilante, “So you are the grandson of Greg Sanders?”

“Yes ma’am,” answered the Vigilante as he pushed some dead vines out of his way. “And you’re the mother of the Justice League’s Wonder Woman, right?”

“Yes...she was...is my daughter,” started Hippolyta, “but she was killed by a demon named Neron.”

“So you wear her costume as a tribute?” asked the Vigilante.

“As a tribute and a penance,” revealed Hippolyta. “You see I am not originally from the time period that my Justice Society friends and I were taken from to join you on this mission. In the time that I originally came from, I did some things out of worry and concern that eventually led to my daughter being killed in battle. This is a burden I will have to carry for the rest of my life.”

“Sounds like you have a heavy heart,” revealed the Vigilante, looking upon Hippolyta with compassion. “Surely you have to know that you are not directly responsible for your daughter’s death. No mother would willingly kill her own child.”

“Still I am not without blame,” Hippolyta said as she used her sword to cut through a large amount of foliage in her way.

“She’s feeling so much guilt. I almost want to tell her that her daughter will come back to her but that could totally screw up the time-stream,” Sargona thought to herself. “I wonder how Dan is doing? He’s looked pale as a ghost since he found out that Di Di was captured. I guess it was the right thing to do to set him free even though it sucks not being able to hold him anymore.”

Zatanna noticed that Sargona had been quite quiet for the past several minutes. Though she didn’t know the young sorceress very well, she could tell something was eating away at her. “Penny for your thoughts, Sargona.”

Sargona turned and smiled at Zatanna, “Oh, I’m just worried about Sonic Boom.”

“Really? The look on your face spells a broken heart,” Zatanna said quietly.

“I thought I was teaming up with Zatanna, not Madame Xanadu,” smiled Sargona.

“I don’t have to be a sorceress to know the look of love,” advised Zatanna. “Something tells me you and I have more in common than just our magic.”

Sargona looked curiously at the daughter of Zatara, “What do you mean by that?”

“What if I told you that I was in love with one of my teammates?” started Zatanna. “What if I also told you that this teammate was already taken? Something tells me you could relate.”

“Maybe I could, but only if you go first…” teased Sargona.

Zatanna made sure both Hippolyta and the Vigilante were far enough ahead of her so that they couldn’t hear what she was saying. “It’s the Elongated Man. He and I have worked together for years. We’ve fought countless of battles together and we always seem to have each other’s backs. It seems that after just about every battle, he always seems to know what to say to lift my sprits. Sometimes, he even finishes my sentences for me. His humor and light-heartedness are something you don’t find in a lot of men, especially in the superhero business. For a while now, he’s had my heart even though he’s a married man. About six months ago, I was about to tell him how I felt but then, one of our old foes, Dr. Light did something horrible to Ralph’s wife Sue… something that no woman should ever have to experience. I was there when Ralph found out. His heart sank. His world was shattered when he saw how Sue was violated. Watching the agony he was going through made me realize how much in love Ralph was with Sue and that was something that shouldn’t be messed with. I’m now doing my best to remind myself that Ralph and I are good friends but we can’t be anything more.”

“Oh boy, I’m so sorry Zatanna,” offered Sargona looking deep into the daughter of Zatara’s eyes. “I can totally relate to how you’re feeling. I guess, it’s my turn now, huh?”

“That’s up to you.” Zatanna said, warmly. “No pressure.”

“It’s my team’s Green Lantern. He and I are like opposite ends of a coin,” revealed Sargona. “That’s what drew me to him in the first place. He’s so structured and good-hearted. Always keeps his commitments. He’s perfect for a slightly dysfunctional girl like me. We dated for quite a while but that’s when the trouble started brewing.”

“Trouble? What kind of trouble?” Zatanna asked compassionately.

“I realized he was in love with someone else,” answered Sargona, humbly. “He’s in love with Sonic Boom. As time passed, it became more and more obvious. At first, I was severely jealous and was ready to put up the fight of my life to hold on to him but then, I took a step back and realized I couldn’t hold on to him if he truly wanted to be with someone else…so I set him free.”

“That’s very commendable of you but from what I’ve noticed, the two of them are together now. Do you regret your decision?” Zatanna wondered aloud.

“I do at times but I realize that I probably would have been more miserable had I hung on to him,” Sargona said as she pulled her cloak around herself. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a spiteful woman. I truly hope they can be happy together if that’s what they both want.”

***


An abandoned house in the middle of the swamp…

Phantom Girl was frozen with fear. This large, white zombie-like creature had been holding her, Lightning Lad, and Colossal Boy prisoner for what seemed like days. It was hard for her to comprehend how these shackles could be restraining her and her teammates especially with their enhanced abilities but then she remembered that this “creature” was working for Chronos who could have easily stolen technology from far past even from the Legion’s future. Every time she tried to phase through her bonds, she received a painful electrical backlash. Not even Lightning Lad could stand it. As the time passed, Phantom Girl wondered all the more what this terrifying creature would do to her and her friends.

“Umm…sir,” she began, “why are you keeping us here?”

“Girl shouldn’t ask questions,” snapped Solomon Grundy, “Girl keep quiet or Grundy get angry,” he said as he got in the future heroine’s face and curled his lip.

“Let us out of her pale-face or I’ll,” threatened Colossal Boy.

Grundy promptly walked over to the tall hero and backhanded him across the face, “Grundy said KEEP QUIET!”

Lightning Lad just stared coldly at the arch-nemesis of Alan Scott. “Just tell us when you’re going to let us out of here and there won’t be any more questions.”

Grundy glared at the electricity-powered hero and answered, “Grundy let you out when clown-face man say to let you out.”

“What is Chronos paying you?” asked Lightning Lad.

“Clown-face man has promised Grundy lots of gold,” replied the oversized zombie.

“All of this for money? Surely you’re kidding,” remarked the brother of Light Lass.

“Grundy said keep quiet!” bellowed the monster as he punched Lightning Lad fiercely in the abdomen.

***

In the air over the swamp…

Sun Boy soared through the sky in a bit of a panic over the fact that he hadn’t found his three teammates yet. “I’ve scoured almost every inch of this swamp and I don’t see any sign of where Solomon Grundy could be holding Colossal Boy and the others..” As he continued to fly on, he finally noticed something. “Wait – down there. It looks like an old house. They’ve got to be in there,” concluded the fiery hero. “I’d better signal the others,” he said as he shot up a bright flare and then landed on the ground.

A few moments later, Zatanna, Sargona, Vigilante, and Hippolyta arrived at Sun Boy’s location.

“What didja find Sun Boy?” asked the Vigilante.

“Look ahead,” directed Sun Boy. “I’ve flown over the entire swamp and that house is the only place my friend could be.”

“That makes sense,” agreed Sargona, “We’ve searched just about everywhere else. Let’s go take a look inside.”

Then from behind the group of heroes, an almost animal-like voice growled, “Flashy clothed man and women won’t take Grundy’s reward away from him. Grundy CRUSH!!!” he said as he lifted a huge boulder over his head, ready to smash the heroes with it.





The five heroes scattered and prepared their various methods of attack.

The Vigilante shot both of his guns at Grundy’s hands in hopes of forcing him to drop the large rock he was holding but the bullets just ricocheted off of his hands.

Grundy proceeded to throw the boulder at Sargona and Zatanna who were standing near each other.

“Uh oh!” shouted Sargona as the large rock zoomed towards her,

“Don’t panic, I’ve got it. Just cover your face with your cape.” advised Zatanna. “Kcor evlossid, emoceb dnas!”

The two magicians covered themselves with their capes as the blast of sand struck them.

“A bit uncomfortable but better than being smashed,” Sargona said as made her way over to a tree.

Up in the air, Sun Boy called down to Grundy, “What have you done with my friends, monster?”

Grundy grabbed another rock and threw it up at the fiery hero.

Sun Boy flew out of the rock’s path with ease, “You’ll have to do better than that but I don’t think I’m going to give you the opportunity,” he said as flames came blazing from his hands and struck Grundy head-on. “Now tell me what you’ve done with my friends or so help me, you WILL burn!”

Though Grundy was engulfed in flames, he was not in pain, only annoyed. His clothes had all but been burned off and he was starting to sweat. Grabbing another rock, he threw it into a near-by moat causing the water to splash up and drench Sun Boy, thereby extinguishing his flames.

As the flames on Grundy dissipated, he advanced towards the rest of the heroes until a voice called out to him.

It was Sargona, standing next to a large tree. “Hey Grundy, you wanted to play catch right?” she teased as she touched the immense tree and sent it flying at the chalk-white behemoth. The impact knocked Grundy several yards back and he soon found himself on his backside.

Hippolyta lunged toward Grundy, with sword in hand. “You carry the stench of Hades, brute. Back to Tartarus with you!” she decreed, as her sword was about to strike Grundy’s neck.

To Hippolyta’s surprise, Grundy was quick enough to grab her hands and stop her in mid-motion. Grundy ripped her sword from her hands and threw it beyond sight.

“Flag-woman no longer have stupid sword. Now Grundy CRUSH!” screamed the arch-enemy of the Golden Age Green Lantern as he punched the queen of the Amazons.

While the blow struck her with the intensity of a hundred sledge-hammers, Hippolyta was not about to give up. “Foolish brute! I do not need a sword to declare victory over you! I am Wonder Woman, queen of the Themyscira!” she said as she counter-attacked with a strong right-hook, knocking Grundy back.

While the two opponents continued pummeling each other relentlessly, the Vigilante and Sargona made their way up to the house that Sun Boy had spotted.

“While Wonder Woman keeps that zombie busy, maybe we can find those heroes from the future that he’s holding prisoner,” presumed the Viglante.

Making their way into the building, the two heroes noticed that quite a bit of wood was rotting and had holes in it.

“Only Grundy could feel at home in a place like this,” Sargona thought to herself. “Hello?” she called out. “Is anyone in here?”

Meanwhile back at the scene of the battle, Sun Boy and Zatanna were attacking Grundy with their various energy attacks. Sun Boy was pouring on the flames with full intensity while Zatanna did the same with her mystical bolts of lightning. The combined power of these two heroes was barely slowing him down, though it wasn’t much of a surprise as this version of Grundy was one of the strongest ever – most likely able to go toe to toe with Superman or Power Guy.

“This is getting ridiculous,” commented a frustrated Zatanna. “We’re barely holding him back! If only my powers hadn't been reduced recently. I could stop him all by myself”

“It’s like he doesn’t feel any pain,” Sun Boy said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Where did Wonder Woman go?” he asked, noticing that the queen of the Amazons was suddenly absent.

“Oh, Grundy’s gonna feel some pain alright,” came a familiar voice.

Sun Boy turned to see Sargona, Vigilante, and the once captive Legionnaires ready to join the fight.

Colossal Boy shot up to seventy feet tall, ready to pummel Grundy for what he did to him and his friends.

Then from about fifty feet away, Hippolyta made her presence known, “Friends, do not waste your time with Grundy. He’s mine. Come and get me, brute!” she teased, waiving at the walking zombie.

“Flag-woman should have stayed in hiding, now Grundy DESTROY!” he said racing towards Hippolyta.

“That oafish form of yours is quite slow monster,” Hippolyta continued to tease, “The sun will set and come back up before you reach me.”

Hippolyta’s snide remarks only infuriated Grundy further and he started to run even faster. Sadly for the zombie, that’s exactly what Hippolyta wanted him to do so he wouldn’t notice the pool of quicksand underneath him. Suddenly, Grundy started to sink downward. “What happening to Grundy???” bellowed the monster in fear. “Ground is sucking Grundy in and won’t let go!! Flag-woman tricked Grundy!!!” he said right before he was sucked completely under.

Hippolyta then leaped over the large pool of quicksand to join her allies.

“Nice work your majesty,” complimented the Vigilante. “If it wasn’t for your quick thinking, we could have been here for another couple of hours battling that over-grown swamp-weed.”

As the ensemble of heroes from various times traveled back to Legion headquarters their minds wandered to their different obligations and interests.

Hippolyta wiped a tear away as she wondered how things might have turned out if she had more faith in her daughter.

The Vigilante mused about how strange it is that he and his beloved ‘Scorpion’ were nearly a thousand years apart. “I wonder if its legal to take my muffin home a souveneer?” he thought.

Zatanna was deep in introspection. She never thought about how wrong her feelings for Ralph Dinby were until she said it out loud. She was ashamed of herself. It was time to cast her eye on someone who was not already spoken for. “I wonder if its too early for Barry Allen to start dating again?”

Sun Boy described to his teammates how strangely Rond Vidar had been acting. “It must be something about this case,” explained the Legionnaire. “He has really gotten bossy and absolutely insisted that all of the Green Lanterns join his team.”

“That doesn’t sound like Rond,” observed Phantom Girl.

“Usually he is much more easy going,” added Lightning Lad.

“Maybe we can ask him about it once this mission is over,” said Colossal Boy.

Sargona said a prayer for both Green Lantern and Sonic Boom. Then her thoughts turned to Robert Queen. She was really looking forward to her spicy date with the handsome millionare. “I wonder if he could be the one?” she thought as the group neared the headquarters of the Legion of Super-heroes.



NEXT CHAPTER: The Search for Fausta

Featuring: Wonder Man! Jemstone! Hawkman! Aquaman! Dream Girl! Dawnstar! Timberwolf! Shadow Lass!