Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 2:58:49 GMT -5
Titans of Justice Unlimited #44: “Only a Dream”
Written by: Green Lantern
Editor: Power Guy
Laos
Velocity was having the time of his life on patrol with Junjie Quick and the new Flash. He felt like he had finally been accepted as more than a sidekick since he became a full-fledged member of the Titans of Justice Unlimited. His new position as assistant to the Huntress was the icing on the cake.
“What is that orange substance up ahead in the treetops?” asked the Flash as she raced ahead.
“Definitely a living creature of some type,” noted Junjie. “Let’s check it out.”
“Wait, amigos,” cautioned Velocity, “It could be dangerous –“
Before Velocity could finish his warning both of his “compadres” were captured in lightning nets and struggling for breath. Then sixteen men dressed in orange viper suits dropped out of their hiding places in the trees and prepared to butcher the two entrapped speedsters with Asian swords.
“No!” shouted the Mexican speedster as he shifted into hyper-drive.
[glow=yellow,2,300]ZAP!!! [/glow]
The blue-clad speedster was knocked onto the ground after running face first into an energy grid. He arose slowly and prepared for battle. Then he felt a pain in his chest. His heart began racing as never before. Ignoring the pain he ran toward the gang of Kobra operatives, but with each step his heart pounded harder. His chest cavity felt as if it were constricting tighter and tighter with every breath. He fell to the ground in agony. Looking up he watched as his enemies victoriously raised the decapitated heads of his two companions skyward.
“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” he shouted in horror.
Milan
SMAK!!!!
Scott Trevor picked himself up off the fashion show walk way. His sworn nemesis Fausta had decided to attack him during a fashion show in his civilian form.
“Say good-bye to the sweet privacy of your secret identity, Wonder Man…or should I call you Scott Trevor?” shouted the German villainess.
[glow=red,2,300]KROOOM!!! [/glow]A cloud of smoke appeared around Fausta’s form from the full-force attack of Jemstone.
“Keep away from him,” threatened Jerrica Benton as the smoke dissipated, revealing a nearly unharmed Fausta.
POW!!!
“Jemstone!” shouted world famous super-model Scott Trevor as his girlfriend’s body sailed across the auditorium and crashed into the exit sign. By this point the crowd at the fashion show was in a mass panic and were scrambling over one another to get to safety. Screams filled the room.
“Amateur!” accused Fausta as she placed cuffs and chains on Wonder Man’s wrists and ankles. “The son of Wonder Woman should know better than to take his eyes off of his opponent in battle.”
Before Scott could react, Fausta took out a lighter with Adolf Hitler’s image on it and burned Wonder Man’s left cheek and eye.
“ARRRRGH!” screamed Scott in torment. Then Fausta’s blade ripped through his right cheek and lips. She slashed his massive chest several times before standing and looking down in disgrace at her writhing victim. “Coward!” she said. She spat on him and stomped away in disgust.
Wonder Man dragged his pain-wracked body up to the exit where his girlfriend’s body lay. “Jerrica?” he asked in a lamentable voice.
Jemstone’s eyes fluttered and she screamed in horror at her beau’s deformed face. “Scott, quickly! You have to get to Paradise Island! The ray you told me about –“
“The Purple Healing Ray?” asked Scott.
“Yes, you have to use it. Heal yourself,” answered the rock star.
Depressing the star on his left silver bracelet, Scott said, “Mom, I’m hurt and I can barely move. Can you come pick me up?”
“Scott?” Queen Diana sobbed, “I am so glad you’re alive. The Female Furies attacked Themyscira. Only a few of the Amazons are left. “They have slain so many of our sisters.”
“Oh no!” exclaimed Wonder Man as his heart sank in deep grief. “Can someone help me to Paradise Island? If I can just use the purple healing ray I can avenge them.”
“It was destroyed in battle and the scientists and all of our technology is gone,” said Wonder Woman in despair.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” shouted Wonder Man in horror.
Then Jemstone saw the tiny black box that had fallen from Scott’s cuff. “What’s this?” she asked as she opened it to reveal a massive diamond ring.
“I…I was going to ask you…later after the show I was going to give it to you…” said Scott in grief.
“But…if without the healing ray…” began Jerrica, “Its just that you’re so…so…gruesome. Is there any hope at all for you to recover from these scars?”
“…no…” said the former handsome man in shock, “but I am still me…and I still love you…”
“I’m sorry, Scott,” said Jemstone in tears, “but I just…I just can’t…”
Wonder Man sobbed in grief as his one true love ran out of the auditorium.
The South Pacific Ocean
Stellar was running for his life as a Tyrannosaurus Rex chased him. He couldn’t understand why, but his Cosmic Converter Belt stopped working the moment that he and the Rangers reached Dinosaur Island. Before today he hadn’t even heard of the place.
“Somebody! Anybody! Help me!” the panicked young man screamed into his Hall of Justice communicator.
“This is Wonder Warrior,” squaked the wrist device, “What seems to be the problem, Stellar?”
“My belt isn’t working and a dinosaur is chasing me!”
After a long pause Wonder Warrior responded with a muffled laugh, “Good one, Stellar. You almost had me going there for a moment!”
“I’m serious!” shouted the star-spangled young man. “I need help.’
“Yeah, right,” replied Christophe sarcastically. “Happy early April Fool’s.”
“It’s going to kill me!” screamed Stellar in tears as he found safety in a small cave.”
“Okay, if you need help so badly, why didn’t you just ask the others on the mission to Dinosaur Island for help?’
“I got separated from them,” said the teen as he panted heavily with exhaustion.
“Remind me who was on your team?” said Wonder Warrior a little more seriously.
“Vigilante, Scorpion, Aura, Mirage, and Atmosphere…and that other guy…Tatau,” answered Stellar.
“Transporting…Wait a moment…” instructed the Amazonian prince.
Then Nucleus flew out of Stellar’s communicator.
“I didn’t know you could do that!” exclaimed Stellar.
“Yeah, and I can do phones and computers too!” said the world’s smartest super-hero. “Hold on, I’ll save you, buddy.”
Then Jason Hardwick used the controls on his belt to make himself sixty feet tall. Stellar watched in amazement as Nucleus rared back and pounded the T-Rex with both his fists. The giant lizard turned and ran away in pain. Nucleus then shrunk down to six inches and said, “It’s safe, you can come out now.”
Stellar looked to the right and left to double-check for safety. Then a pterodactyl swooped out of nowhere and swallowed Nucleus whole.
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!” screamed Stellar as he watched the winged dinosaur fly away. Then he noticed two other savage lizards viciously fighting over Atmosphere’s blood stained cape.
Metropolis, USA
White Wraith paced outside the Hall of Justice meeting room as some of the original members discussed his continued membership with the Titans of Justice.
“I don’t see what he has to offer the team now that he has been completely depowered,” said Nightvision.
“He never really had anything to offer when he DID have powers,” added Black Vulcan.
“Remind me again how he lost his abilities,” said Power Guy with a sigh.
“He was abusing his powers and killed several civilians,” Nightvision.
“I think we should push for capital punishment,” said Sargona conclusively.
“You make a very good point,” concurred the Kryptonian powerhouse.
“Let’s vote him out of the Titans of Justice first and then I’ll take care of the death sentence details,” pushed Black Vulcan.
“All in favor of terminating White Wraith’s Titans of Justice membership…” said Nightvision authoritatively.
“AYE!” shouted the quartet of heroes.
“Can we give him the news?” asked Jayna with Zan and Gleek at her side.
“Sure!” said Sargona cheerily.
The Wonder Twins raced to the opened doorway of the meeting room. “You’re outta here!” said Zan to the White Wraith.
“But don’t leave yet,” added Jayna, “Celeste is contacting Amanda Waller about getting you the death penalty!”
“Gleek! Gleek!” shouted the blue space monkey as he jumped up and down.
The White Wraith was speechless and shocked. He hung his head in shame.
San Francisco Hospital
The Arachnid woke up feeling more tired than ever before. For some reason his body was shaking. “What happened to me?” he thought as he tried to focus. Everything seemed so dim and blurry.
“…but are you sure that euthanasia is the answer?” asked the Phantom Lady.
“I like the guy, but he’s just so old that he’s of no use to anyone anymore,” answered Firebrand.
“I could put him out of his misery,” Black Adam. “Don’t worry, I will make it quick and painless.”
“No, my love,” pleaded Isis, “Let me try to heal him. Maybe I could restore his youth.”
“But at what cost?” replied her husband. “Trying such a feat could take away your youth, and we aren’t even sure it would work anyway!”
“But euthanasia seems so…so final,” interjected the Black Orchid.
“What is this Youth-in-Asia they keep talking about?” thought the Arachnid.
“Perhaps I could find a spell that would simply negate his existence,” suggested Dr. Fate.
“Look, he is in misery,” explained Danette Reilley, “We would be doing him a favor by…putting him to sleep. Think of it like sending a faithful dog to rest. He would agree if his mental capacities were still functioning.”
“They are going to kill me?” thought the Arachnid in horror. Then he noticed the age spots covering his bony hand. He tried to sit up, but couldn’t. “WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!!??!!!!” he thought.
“Bluuuhhh…Nnnnnnnnn….” He tried to shout out, but he couldn’t formulate his words properly.
“You see,” said Black Adam, “The poor guy is begging for us to end his pain.”
“You’re right,” agreed Sandra Knight as she dabbed the tears in her eyes with a Kleenex.
“I say we do it!” exclaimed the Black Orchid.
“What do you think, Isis?” asked Firebrand.
“I can see it too,” answered the heroine of peace and healing. “Just do it as quickly and painlessly as possible, my love.”
Black Adam rolled up his sleeves and walked toward the Arachnid with an evil grin on his face.
“NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!” thought the Australian hero in panic…but the words just wouldn’t come out.
Metropolis: The Home of Sidney Wannamaker
Sidney Wannamaker had really turned his life around since his days of irritating the Super Powers team as Captain Mystery. He was married to the most beautiful woman in the world and they lived in a luxurious home. His inventions had done much to help science, medicine, and super-heroes. Sidney’s greatest accomplishment was in raising his son. “Ali is the kind of kid that other parents only dream of raising,” thought the father proudly as he walked down hallway to his son’s room.
“Ali,” he called, “time for dinner!” Hearing no response he knocked on his son’s door and went into the room. “Ali?”
The middle-aged man scanned his son’s quarters in shock. The room was filled with pornography. Even more disturbing was the realization that his son had been stealing his inventions.
Ali then stepped out of the shower in a towel. His face grew pail when he realized that he had been busted. “Dad? I can explain…”
“What is THIS!!?!!” shouted Mr. Wannamaker holding up Power Lad’s Hall of Justice communicator in his hand.
“Oh, that’s nothing, dad,” he said sheepishly. “Just a toy.”
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep! [/glow]“Who in the heck is this!?!” answered the former Captain Mystery angrily into the communicator.
“Ali, this is Lieutenant Atom. We need you. Power Guy is down and you are the only other Kryptonian on the team.”
“My son is NOT a Kryptonian,” said Sidney in anger. “You will have to just make do. Do not try to contact my boy again!”
“WHAT!?!” exclaimed Lieutenant Atom. “My deepest apologies, sir. I will inform the rest of the team as soon as possible. We were under the impression that Hardcore Power Lad was a Kryptonian.”
“YOU’RE HARDCORE POWER LAD!!?!!” shouted Sidney with mounting horror.
“No, dad…it’s all a mistake,” said Ali with a quivering lip.
Then Mr. Wannamaker clutched his arm and fell down in pain.
“Dad!” sobbed Ali as he rushed to his father’s side as his eyes closed and his body went limp. “No, dad, I’m sorry! Don’t leave me, dad! NOT YET!!!!!!!!”
Atlantis: Just Outside the National Limits
Arin gazed upon the underwater city dome perplexed as to what action he should take in the new crisis. The dome of the city had somehow been jammed. No one could enter or exit. He tried mentally contacting his sister to no avail. He didn’t even know if this were an act of sabotage or just a freak accident.
The young hero placed his fingers gently on his temples, closed his eyes and concentrated, but his call for help was ignored. “The sea creatures…they aren’t responding!” thought the teen heart-throb in alarm. “What is going on here?”
He depressed the emergency signal on his Hall of Justice communicator and within moments three forms appeared at his side.
“Would you accept the help of a Stranger?” asked the Stranger.
“Absolutely,” replied Whirlpool in relief.
“What seems to be the problem?” asked the Sixty Minute Soldier.
“Everything!” exclaimed the ocean wonder. The people of Atlantis are trapped inside the Aquadome and I seem to have lost my ability to communicate with sea creatures.”
“You talk to fish?” snickered the Sixty Minute Soldier.
“Let me give it a try,” suggested Kid Comet as he began mentally commanding fish to draw near.
“Wait! Something’s wrong,” shouted Whirlpool. “Stop!”
But it was too late. Before the Atlantean wonder could act, two dozen double-headed sharks appeared from the dark ocean depths. Arin watched in horror as the aquatic monsters feasted on his three teammates.
KA-BOOOOM! Whirlpool turned in horror as his home city blew up.
“Tuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!” he screamed in horror.
Midway City, Michigan
Shayera Hol contemplated her difficult circumstances on her perch within the privacy of her secret aviary in the Midway City Museum. She was thankful for her job as assistant curator. She decided to move as far away from St. Roch as possible in order to prevent Strato Hawk and her other Titans of Justice teammates from finding out the truth about her immigration to planet earth. The weighty secret of running from her mandatory duty in the Thanagarian Youth Corps made it difficult for her to adjust to earth customs. She watched in envy as a pair of doves flew carelessly in the distance.
SMASH!!!! Hawkgirl looked up in alarm as Strato Hawk came bursting through the windows of her private aviary. She turned again at the strange sound of a boom tube behind her.
“Your secret is out, Hawkgirl!” announced Argos in a commanding voice. “It’s time to make your decision.”
“Christian, let me explain…” said the Thanagarian teen.
“Your grandmother has already told us everything, you little liar!” said Strato Hawk with his mace raised above his shoulder. “Its time to make your stand. You can’t hide here on earth any longer.”
“You met my grandmother?” asked Shayera in alarm. The winged warrior felt a tapping on her shoulder and turned around to see the frightening countenance of Queen Hyathis. “Grandma?” asked Hawkgirl.
“What will it be, granddaughter?” asked the villainess. “Will you join your grandmother and attack New Genesis?”
“Or will you stand against her and avoid the wrath of Sturmer?” asked Argos as his faithful pet licked his chops.
“Choose wisely,” said Strato Hawk, “because now that I know that you have been lying about your reason for coming to Earth you can turn your Titans of Justice membership good-bye. You are no longer welcome here.”
Shayera’s eyes widened in horror at her plight.
Opal City
Jared Messen woke up feeling a little sore. He rubbed his shoulder as he contemplated the direction of his super-hero career. While optimistic about his budding friendships with Opal heroes Stellar and Sherry, The Girl of Two Thousand Gimmicks, he was having doubts about joining the Super Friends. No one had really even noticed him at the first meeting. Some of the other heroes seemed a little wrapped up in themselves. There were more than one loose cannon on the team. A couple of the Super Friends seemed downright dangerous.
“I need to go out and think,” said the teen as he finished putting on his costume and leaped into the sky. Then he realized that something was horribly wrong. There were blue-skinned people everywhere and they had seemingly taken over Opal. Bullet Boy flew higher for a better look at the situation. Rotting corpses filled the streets. He could hear cries of terror emanating from all directions. Humans were being beaten and forced to bow down to the invaders.
“They look like that alien guy on the Super Friends team,” thought Bullet Boy. “What was his name? Cairo.”
Bang! Bang!
Tink! The newest member of the Super Friends was sent flying skyward when his bullet suit was hit by the Venutian technology.
“Oh NO!” he thought as he flew spaceward. “I have lost control of my powers!”
The young lad was surprised that he was still able to breathe in space. “This can’t be real,” he thought as he tried unsuccessfully to wake himself. “This is only a dream.”
It wasn’t difficult for the science buff to figure out that the planet he was approaching at such a great speed was Venus. His eyes widened as he realized that there was a great civilization on the planet. His suit began to power down and prepare for landing of its own volition. There were millions of people bowing down at a magnificent open-air auditorium.
“What is this place?” asked the brilliant hero. “Some kind of palace or church?”
Then he looked up and noticed two humans and a Venutian at the altar.
“What are YOU doing here!?!” demanded a crowned man.
“Cairo?” asked Bullet Boy
“That’s King Kai-ro of planets Venus and Earth to you! How dare you interrupt my wedding?”
Bullet Boy gasped as the bride turned around revealing herself to be Helena Wayne. Looking beyond her, the Opal hero noticed that Green Lantern was the officiating minister. Several blue men with terrifyingly large alien weaponry then took Bullet Boy into custody. The young hero struggled to regain control of his powers to no avail.
“Why can’t I wake up!?!” thought Jared in panic as he was dragged toward a seventy foot tall furnace.
Space
“Woah!” shouted Air Wave as he maneuvered quickly in order to avoid the golden beam bursting forth from Sinestro’s ring.
“Watch it, guys, “it only takes one direct hit to finish us out here in space,” warned the new Green Lantern.
“Ah, we can handle ourselves,” said Powerstorm confidently as he shot a blast of pure energy towards Star Sapphire. The lovely villainess avoided his attack with ease and circled around the trio of heroes.
“By the way,” began Air Wave, “Why did you choose to wear your Green Lantern uniform for this mission?
“Because I am the Green Lantern of this sector now,” answered Scott Stone. “I have been ever since your cousin and the other Titans died at the S.T.A.R. Labs Tower accident.”
“…What are you talking about?” asked the younger Daniel Jordan.
[glow=red,2,300]ZZZZZT!!!!!!!!!!!! [/glow]“Air Wave! Look OUT!” shouted Powerstorm as he zoomed in front of his teammate. “AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGH!”
Both Sinestro and Star Sapphire concentrated all of their energies on finishing Powerstorm off.
“Oh, NO!” exclaimed Air Wave as he watched in horror as Powerstorm burned alive.
“You filthy wretches are going pay for this!” shouted Green Lantern Scott Stone.
“You should have brought your Star Rod, you bumbling idiot,” said Sinestro as a barrage of circular saws burst forth from his ring and flew towards the former Starman.
“You make a pathetic Green Lantern,” added Star Sapphire as she blasted him from behind and pushed him helplessly into the sharp teeth of the saws.
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!” shouted Scott Stone as he died in agony.
“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” shouted Air Wave in horror as he depressed his Hall of Justice communicator. “Mayday! Mayday! This is Air Wave! We need immediate assistance.”
“What is it now?” asked Wonder Warrior as he rolled his eyes back at the Hall of Justice.
“Green Lantern and Powerstorm are both down…I think they are dead,” said Daniel Jordan in shock. “Can you send my cousin?”
“You almost had me there for a minute, Air Wave,” said Christophe. “Your cousin is dead and you know it.”
“But --“ began Air Wave.
“Stay still for transport,” instructed Wonder Warrior, “I need you for another mission.
Air Wave wiped a tear as his body dematerialized from outerspace and rematerialized on a tropical island on planet earth.
“Where am I?” asked Air Wave.
“Welcome to my nightmare on Dinosaur Island,” answered Stellar. “The Rangers and Nucleus are all gone.
“I just watched Starman and Powerstorm die in space,” said Air Wave. “This cannot be real."
“Yeah, I knew something was up the moment I saw you appear,” added Stellar.
“Ah! I wondered which of you Super-babies’ dreams would cross over first,” said Dr. Destiny as he appeared. Both Air Wave and Stellar prepared for an attack.
“Relax, I am not going to harm you,” said the villain in an eerie voice. “We are all going to play a game. As you have probably already figured out, this is only a dream. The rules are simple: Whichever one of you awakens first will survive. The other will be stuck in this nightmare forever…HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Written by: Green Lantern
Editor: Power Guy
Laos
Velocity was having the time of his life on patrol with Junjie Quick and the new Flash. He felt like he had finally been accepted as more than a sidekick since he became a full-fledged member of the Titans of Justice Unlimited. His new position as assistant to the Huntress was the icing on the cake.
“What is that orange substance up ahead in the treetops?” asked the Flash as she raced ahead.
“Definitely a living creature of some type,” noted Junjie. “Let’s check it out.”
“Wait, amigos,” cautioned Velocity, “It could be dangerous –“
Before Velocity could finish his warning both of his “compadres” were captured in lightning nets and struggling for breath. Then sixteen men dressed in orange viper suits dropped out of their hiding places in the trees and prepared to butcher the two entrapped speedsters with Asian swords.
“No!” shouted the Mexican speedster as he shifted into hyper-drive.
[glow=yellow,2,300]ZAP!!! [/glow]
The blue-clad speedster was knocked onto the ground after running face first into an energy grid. He arose slowly and prepared for battle. Then he felt a pain in his chest. His heart began racing as never before. Ignoring the pain he ran toward the gang of Kobra operatives, but with each step his heart pounded harder. His chest cavity felt as if it were constricting tighter and tighter with every breath. He fell to the ground in agony. Looking up he watched as his enemies victoriously raised the decapitated heads of his two companions skyward.
“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” he shouted in horror.
Milan
SMAK!!!!
Scott Trevor picked himself up off the fashion show walk way. His sworn nemesis Fausta had decided to attack him during a fashion show in his civilian form.
“Say good-bye to the sweet privacy of your secret identity, Wonder Man…or should I call you Scott Trevor?” shouted the German villainess.
[glow=red,2,300]KROOOM!!! [/glow]A cloud of smoke appeared around Fausta’s form from the full-force attack of Jemstone.
“Keep away from him,” threatened Jerrica Benton as the smoke dissipated, revealing a nearly unharmed Fausta.
POW!!!
“Jemstone!” shouted world famous super-model Scott Trevor as his girlfriend’s body sailed across the auditorium and crashed into the exit sign. By this point the crowd at the fashion show was in a mass panic and were scrambling over one another to get to safety. Screams filled the room.
“Amateur!” accused Fausta as she placed cuffs and chains on Wonder Man’s wrists and ankles. “The son of Wonder Woman should know better than to take his eyes off of his opponent in battle.”
Before Scott could react, Fausta took out a lighter with Adolf Hitler’s image on it and burned Wonder Man’s left cheek and eye.
“ARRRRGH!” screamed Scott in torment. Then Fausta’s blade ripped through his right cheek and lips. She slashed his massive chest several times before standing and looking down in disgrace at her writhing victim. “Coward!” she said. She spat on him and stomped away in disgust.
Wonder Man dragged his pain-wracked body up to the exit where his girlfriend’s body lay. “Jerrica?” he asked in a lamentable voice.
Jemstone’s eyes fluttered and she screamed in horror at her beau’s deformed face. “Scott, quickly! You have to get to Paradise Island! The ray you told me about –“
“The Purple Healing Ray?” asked Scott.
“Yes, you have to use it. Heal yourself,” answered the rock star.
Depressing the star on his left silver bracelet, Scott said, “Mom, I’m hurt and I can barely move. Can you come pick me up?”
“Scott?” Queen Diana sobbed, “I am so glad you’re alive. The Female Furies attacked Themyscira. Only a few of the Amazons are left. “They have slain so many of our sisters.”
“Oh no!” exclaimed Wonder Man as his heart sank in deep grief. “Can someone help me to Paradise Island? If I can just use the purple healing ray I can avenge them.”
“It was destroyed in battle and the scientists and all of our technology is gone,” said Wonder Woman in despair.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” shouted Wonder Man in horror.
Then Jemstone saw the tiny black box that had fallen from Scott’s cuff. “What’s this?” she asked as she opened it to reveal a massive diamond ring.
“I…I was going to ask you…later after the show I was going to give it to you…” said Scott in grief.
“But…if without the healing ray…” began Jerrica, “Its just that you’re so…so…gruesome. Is there any hope at all for you to recover from these scars?”
“…no…” said the former handsome man in shock, “but I am still me…and I still love you…”
“I’m sorry, Scott,” said Jemstone in tears, “but I just…I just can’t…”
Wonder Man sobbed in grief as his one true love ran out of the auditorium.
The South Pacific Ocean
Stellar was running for his life as a Tyrannosaurus Rex chased him. He couldn’t understand why, but his Cosmic Converter Belt stopped working the moment that he and the Rangers reached Dinosaur Island. Before today he hadn’t even heard of the place.
“Somebody! Anybody! Help me!” the panicked young man screamed into his Hall of Justice communicator.
“This is Wonder Warrior,” squaked the wrist device, “What seems to be the problem, Stellar?”
“My belt isn’t working and a dinosaur is chasing me!”
After a long pause Wonder Warrior responded with a muffled laugh, “Good one, Stellar. You almost had me going there for a moment!”
“I’m serious!” shouted the star-spangled young man. “I need help.’
“Yeah, right,” replied Christophe sarcastically. “Happy early April Fool’s.”
“It’s going to kill me!” screamed Stellar in tears as he found safety in a small cave.”
“Okay, if you need help so badly, why didn’t you just ask the others on the mission to Dinosaur Island for help?’
“I got separated from them,” said the teen as he panted heavily with exhaustion.
“Remind me who was on your team?” said Wonder Warrior a little more seriously.
“Vigilante, Scorpion, Aura, Mirage, and Atmosphere…and that other guy…Tatau,” answered Stellar.
“Transporting…Wait a moment…” instructed the Amazonian prince.
Then Nucleus flew out of Stellar’s communicator.
“I didn’t know you could do that!” exclaimed Stellar.
“Yeah, and I can do phones and computers too!” said the world’s smartest super-hero. “Hold on, I’ll save you, buddy.”
Then Jason Hardwick used the controls on his belt to make himself sixty feet tall. Stellar watched in amazement as Nucleus rared back and pounded the T-Rex with both his fists. The giant lizard turned and ran away in pain. Nucleus then shrunk down to six inches and said, “It’s safe, you can come out now.”
Stellar looked to the right and left to double-check for safety. Then a pterodactyl swooped out of nowhere and swallowed Nucleus whole.
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!” screamed Stellar as he watched the winged dinosaur fly away. Then he noticed two other savage lizards viciously fighting over Atmosphere’s blood stained cape.
Metropolis, USA
White Wraith paced outside the Hall of Justice meeting room as some of the original members discussed his continued membership with the Titans of Justice.
“I don’t see what he has to offer the team now that he has been completely depowered,” said Nightvision.
“He never really had anything to offer when he DID have powers,” added Black Vulcan.
“Remind me again how he lost his abilities,” said Power Guy with a sigh.
“He was abusing his powers and killed several civilians,” Nightvision.
“I think we should push for capital punishment,” said Sargona conclusively.
“You make a very good point,” concurred the Kryptonian powerhouse.
“Let’s vote him out of the Titans of Justice first and then I’ll take care of the death sentence details,” pushed Black Vulcan.
“All in favor of terminating White Wraith’s Titans of Justice membership…” said Nightvision authoritatively.
“AYE!” shouted the quartet of heroes.
“Can we give him the news?” asked Jayna with Zan and Gleek at her side.
“Sure!” said Sargona cheerily.
The Wonder Twins raced to the opened doorway of the meeting room. “You’re outta here!” said Zan to the White Wraith.
“But don’t leave yet,” added Jayna, “Celeste is contacting Amanda Waller about getting you the death penalty!”
“Gleek! Gleek!” shouted the blue space monkey as he jumped up and down.
The White Wraith was speechless and shocked. He hung his head in shame.
San Francisco Hospital
The Arachnid woke up feeling more tired than ever before. For some reason his body was shaking. “What happened to me?” he thought as he tried to focus. Everything seemed so dim and blurry.
“…but are you sure that euthanasia is the answer?” asked the Phantom Lady.
“I like the guy, but he’s just so old that he’s of no use to anyone anymore,” answered Firebrand.
“I could put him out of his misery,” Black Adam. “Don’t worry, I will make it quick and painless.”
“No, my love,” pleaded Isis, “Let me try to heal him. Maybe I could restore his youth.”
“But at what cost?” replied her husband. “Trying such a feat could take away your youth, and we aren’t even sure it would work anyway!”
“But euthanasia seems so…so final,” interjected the Black Orchid.
“What is this Youth-in-Asia they keep talking about?” thought the Arachnid.
“Perhaps I could find a spell that would simply negate his existence,” suggested Dr. Fate.
“Look, he is in misery,” explained Danette Reilley, “We would be doing him a favor by…putting him to sleep. Think of it like sending a faithful dog to rest. He would agree if his mental capacities were still functioning.”
“They are going to kill me?” thought the Arachnid in horror. Then he noticed the age spots covering his bony hand. He tried to sit up, but couldn’t. “WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!!??!!!!” he thought.
“Bluuuhhh…Nnnnnnnnn….” He tried to shout out, but he couldn’t formulate his words properly.
“You see,” said Black Adam, “The poor guy is begging for us to end his pain.”
“You’re right,” agreed Sandra Knight as she dabbed the tears in her eyes with a Kleenex.
“I say we do it!” exclaimed the Black Orchid.
“What do you think, Isis?” asked Firebrand.
“I can see it too,” answered the heroine of peace and healing. “Just do it as quickly and painlessly as possible, my love.”
Black Adam rolled up his sleeves and walked toward the Arachnid with an evil grin on his face.
“NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!” thought the Australian hero in panic…but the words just wouldn’t come out.
Metropolis: The Home of Sidney Wannamaker
Sidney Wannamaker had really turned his life around since his days of irritating the Super Powers team as Captain Mystery. He was married to the most beautiful woman in the world and they lived in a luxurious home. His inventions had done much to help science, medicine, and super-heroes. Sidney’s greatest accomplishment was in raising his son. “Ali is the kind of kid that other parents only dream of raising,” thought the father proudly as he walked down hallway to his son’s room.
“Ali,” he called, “time for dinner!” Hearing no response he knocked on his son’s door and went into the room. “Ali?”
The middle-aged man scanned his son’s quarters in shock. The room was filled with pornography. Even more disturbing was the realization that his son had been stealing his inventions.
Ali then stepped out of the shower in a towel. His face grew pail when he realized that he had been busted. “Dad? I can explain…”
“What is THIS!!?!!” shouted Mr. Wannamaker holding up Power Lad’s Hall of Justice communicator in his hand.
“Oh, that’s nothing, dad,” he said sheepishly. “Just a toy.”
[glow=yellow,2,300]Beep! Beep! Beep! [/glow]“Who in the heck is this!?!” answered the former Captain Mystery angrily into the communicator.
“Ali, this is Lieutenant Atom. We need you. Power Guy is down and you are the only other Kryptonian on the team.”
“My son is NOT a Kryptonian,” said Sidney in anger. “You will have to just make do. Do not try to contact my boy again!”
“WHAT!?!” exclaimed Lieutenant Atom. “My deepest apologies, sir. I will inform the rest of the team as soon as possible. We were under the impression that Hardcore Power Lad was a Kryptonian.”
“YOU’RE HARDCORE POWER LAD!!?!!” shouted Sidney with mounting horror.
“No, dad…it’s all a mistake,” said Ali with a quivering lip.
Then Mr. Wannamaker clutched his arm and fell down in pain.
“Dad!” sobbed Ali as he rushed to his father’s side as his eyes closed and his body went limp. “No, dad, I’m sorry! Don’t leave me, dad! NOT YET!!!!!!!!”
Atlantis: Just Outside the National Limits
Arin gazed upon the underwater city dome perplexed as to what action he should take in the new crisis. The dome of the city had somehow been jammed. No one could enter or exit. He tried mentally contacting his sister to no avail. He didn’t even know if this were an act of sabotage or just a freak accident.
The young hero placed his fingers gently on his temples, closed his eyes and concentrated, but his call for help was ignored. “The sea creatures…they aren’t responding!” thought the teen heart-throb in alarm. “What is going on here?”
He depressed the emergency signal on his Hall of Justice communicator and within moments three forms appeared at his side.
“Would you accept the help of a Stranger?” asked the Stranger.
“Absolutely,” replied Whirlpool in relief.
“What seems to be the problem?” asked the Sixty Minute Soldier.
“Everything!” exclaimed the ocean wonder. The people of Atlantis are trapped inside the Aquadome and I seem to have lost my ability to communicate with sea creatures.”
“You talk to fish?” snickered the Sixty Minute Soldier.
“Let me give it a try,” suggested Kid Comet as he began mentally commanding fish to draw near.
“Wait! Something’s wrong,” shouted Whirlpool. “Stop!”
But it was too late. Before the Atlantean wonder could act, two dozen double-headed sharks appeared from the dark ocean depths. Arin watched in horror as the aquatic monsters feasted on his three teammates.
KA-BOOOOM! Whirlpool turned in horror as his home city blew up.
“Tuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!” he screamed in horror.
Midway City, Michigan
Shayera Hol contemplated her difficult circumstances on her perch within the privacy of her secret aviary in the Midway City Museum. She was thankful for her job as assistant curator. She decided to move as far away from St. Roch as possible in order to prevent Strato Hawk and her other Titans of Justice teammates from finding out the truth about her immigration to planet earth. The weighty secret of running from her mandatory duty in the Thanagarian Youth Corps made it difficult for her to adjust to earth customs. She watched in envy as a pair of doves flew carelessly in the distance.
SMASH!!!! Hawkgirl looked up in alarm as Strato Hawk came bursting through the windows of her private aviary. She turned again at the strange sound of a boom tube behind her.
“Your secret is out, Hawkgirl!” announced Argos in a commanding voice. “It’s time to make your decision.”
“Christian, let me explain…” said the Thanagarian teen.
“Your grandmother has already told us everything, you little liar!” said Strato Hawk with his mace raised above his shoulder. “Its time to make your stand. You can’t hide here on earth any longer.”
“You met my grandmother?” asked Shayera in alarm. The winged warrior felt a tapping on her shoulder and turned around to see the frightening countenance of Queen Hyathis. “Grandma?” asked Hawkgirl.
“What will it be, granddaughter?” asked the villainess. “Will you join your grandmother and attack New Genesis?”
“Or will you stand against her and avoid the wrath of Sturmer?” asked Argos as his faithful pet licked his chops.
“Choose wisely,” said Strato Hawk, “because now that I know that you have been lying about your reason for coming to Earth you can turn your Titans of Justice membership good-bye. You are no longer welcome here.”
Shayera’s eyes widened in horror at her plight.
Opal City
Jared Messen woke up feeling a little sore. He rubbed his shoulder as he contemplated the direction of his super-hero career. While optimistic about his budding friendships with Opal heroes Stellar and Sherry, The Girl of Two Thousand Gimmicks, he was having doubts about joining the Super Friends. No one had really even noticed him at the first meeting. Some of the other heroes seemed a little wrapped up in themselves. There were more than one loose cannon on the team. A couple of the Super Friends seemed downright dangerous.
“I need to go out and think,” said the teen as he finished putting on his costume and leaped into the sky. Then he realized that something was horribly wrong. There were blue-skinned people everywhere and they had seemingly taken over Opal. Bullet Boy flew higher for a better look at the situation. Rotting corpses filled the streets. He could hear cries of terror emanating from all directions. Humans were being beaten and forced to bow down to the invaders.
“They look like that alien guy on the Super Friends team,” thought Bullet Boy. “What was his name? Cairo.”
Bang! Bang!
Tink! The newest member of the Super Friends was sent flying skyward when his bullet suit was hit by the Venutian technology.
“Oh NO!” he thought as he flew spaceward. “I have lost control of my powers!”
The young lad was surprised that he was still able to breathe in space. “This can’t be real,” he thought as he tried unsuccessfully to wake himself. “This is only a dream.”
It wasn’t difficult for the science buff to figure out that the planet he was approaching at such a great speed was Venus. His eyes widened as he realized that there was a great civilization on the planet. His suit began to power down and prepare for landing of its own volition. There were millions of people bowing down at a magnificent open-air auditorium.
“What is this place?” asked the brilliant hero. “Some kind of palace or church?”
Then he looked up and noticed two humans and a Venutian at the altar.
“What are YOU doing here!?!” demanded a crowned man.
“Cairo?” asked Bullet Boy
“That’s King Kai-ro of planets Venus and Earth to you! How dare you interrupt my wedding?”
Bullet Boy gasped as the bride turned around revealing herself to be Helena Wayne. Looking beyond her, the Opal hero noticed that Green Lantern was the officiating minister. Several blue men with terrifyingly large alien weaponry then took Bullet Boy into custody. The young hero struggled to regain control of his powers to no avail.
“Why can’t I wake up!?!” thought Jared in panic as he was dragged toward a seventy foot tall furnace.
Space
“Woah!” shouted Air Wave as he maneuvered quickly in order to avoid the golden beam bursting forth from Sinestro’s ring.
“Watch it, guys, “it only takes one direct hit to finish us out here in space,” warned the new Green Lantern.
“Ah, we can handle ourselves,” said Powerstorm confidently as he shot a blast of pure energy towards Star Sapphire. The lovely villainess avoided his attack with ease and circled around the trio of heroes.
“By the way,” began Air Wave, “Why did you choose to wear your Green Lantern uniform for this mission?
“Because I am the Green Lantern of this sector now,” answered Scott Stone. “I have been ever since your cousin and the other Titans died at the S.T.A.R. Labs Tower accident.”
“…What are you talking about?” asked the younger Daniel Jordan.
[glow=red,2,300]ZZZZZT!!!!!!!!!!!! [/glow]“Air Wave! Look OUT!” shouted Powerstorm as he zoomed in front of his teammate. “AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGH!”
Both Sinestro and Star Sapphire concentrated all of their energies on finishing Powerstorm off.
“Oh, NO!” exclaimed Air Wave as he watched in horror as Powerstorm burned alive.
“You filthy wretches are going pay for this!” shouted Green Lantern Scott Stone.
“You should have brought your Star Rod, you bumbling idiot,” said Sinestro as a barrage of circular saws burst forth from his ring and flew towards the former Starman.
“You make a pathetic Green Lantern,” added Star Sapphire as she blasted him from behind and pushed him helplessly into the sharp teeth of the saws.
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!” shouted Scott Stone as he died in agony.
“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” shouted Air Wave in horror as he depressed his Hall of Justice communicator. “Mayday! Mayday! This is Air Wave! We need immediate assistance.”
“What is it now?” asked Wonder Warrior as he rolled his eyes back at the Hall of Justice.
“Green Lantern and Powerstorm are both down…I think they are dead,” said Daniel Jordan in shock. “Can you send my cousin?”
“You almost had me there for a minute, Air Wave,” said Christophe. “Your cousin is dead and you know it.”
“But --“ began Air Wave.
“Stay still for transport,” instructed Wonder Warrior, “I need you for another mission.
Air Wave wiped a tear as his body dematerialized from outerspace and rematerialized on a tropical island on planet earth.
“Where am I?” asked Air Wave.
“Welcome to my nightmare on Dinosaur Island,” answered Stellar. “The Rangers and Nucleus are all gone.
“I just watched Starman and Powerstorm die in space,” said Air Wave. “This cannot be real."
“Yeah, I knew something was up the moment I saw you appear,” added Stellar.
“Ah! I wondered which of you Super-babies’ dreams would cross over first,” said Dr. Destiny as he appeared. Both Air Wave and Stellar prepared for an attack.
“Relax, I am not going to harm you,” said the villain in an eerie voice. “We are all going to play a game. As you have probably already figured out, this is only a dream. The rules are simple: Whichever one of you awakens first will survive. The other will be stuck in this nightmare forever…HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!”
TO BE CONTINUED…