Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 8:20:45 GMT -5
Titans of Justice Unlimited Chapter 82 - “Future Fixation Part 5”
Written & edited by: Power Guy
In the skies over a desert in Western, New Mexico…
The five Titans of Vengeance along with Elongated Lad, Nucleus, and Whirlpool streaked through the sky. The three Titans of Justice were being carried aloft via green power-bubble created by the Apostle.
“Boy, it sure is warm for it being February,” commented the Elongated Lad.
“Dude, we’re in New Mexico. I don’t think it ever snows here no matter what month of the year,” Whirlpool said while taking in the scenery.
“They get flurries once in a while but not much else,” Nucleus said, setting the matter.
“Look at all of that desert down there. How can anyone live here?” Whirlpool asked in disgust.
“Some might ask how you could live under water,” smirked the Elongated Lad.
“Well, I hope the Apostle’s ring doesn’t run out of charge any time soon. I’d hate to get stuck here,” Whirlpool said, hoping to get out of the desert as quickly as possible.
Outside of the bubble, Suprema and the other Titans of Vengeance were deep in conversation.
“So everyone is aware of the plan?” asked the adult Supergirl.
“We’ve gone over it three times already,” grumbled Mr. Wonderful.
“It’s important that we get it right,” snapped Nightmare. “When we find the Titans West, we’ll use those simpletons in the Apostle’s bubble to help thin their ranks and then we’ll dump them somewhere so we can kill the Titans West.”
“Hey, watch how you talk about Arin and the others. They were our friends once,” chided Dark Flash as she raced along the ground below.
“And what happened when we took our new stance? They all turned on us,” reminded Nightmare.
“Nightmare is right, we need to let go of our fond memories and concentrate on this mission,” advised the Apostle.
Before the conversation could continue, the Titans of Vengeance struck gold early. A short ways ahead, Wonder Warrior and the rest of the reformed Titans West team were flying through the sky, obviously headed for Phoenix.
“Well, look here! We didn’t even have to fly all the way to Phoenix to catch those little weasels!” gloated Suprema as she fired off her heat-vision at the unsuspecting Wonder Warrior.
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!” screamed Wonder Warrior as he plummeted to the ground in agony.
“Chris!” cried out Queen Bee as she flew after him, followed by Palome’.
Kid Comet turned around only to see his worst nightmare come true. “Guys! It’s the Titans - both groups!” he said, sending out a telepathic message to all of his teammates.
“Crap! I’d better land this thing before they blow it up!” grumbled Ice Warrior as he lowered the Javelyn towards the ground.
Meanwhile, Suprema slammed into Kid Comet with the force of a semi-truck, “No more of your mental mind games, Dave!” she said as she knocked him out of the sky.
“Whoa! Did you see what Suprema did to Kid Comet?” the Elongated Lad asked his two teammates.
“Yeah, she seems to be playing a little rough,” noticed Nucleus.
“Well, you know those Kryptonians. Sometimes they don’t know their own strength,” Whirlpool said, giving Suprema the benefit of the doubt.
“Vince never seems to have a problem keeping things in check,” argued Nucleus as the Apostle lowered his power-bubble to the ground in preparation for battle.
Just then, the Javelyn door burst open and Ice Warrior opened “fire” with a barrage of ice pellets aimed towards the on-coming Dark Flash, The female speedstress lost her footing and went sliding into a nearby sand-hill.
“Ha! One future-freak down, four more to go!” gloated Ice Warrior as he began scoping around for his next target until he was bashed in the back of his head by a metal staff, being carried by Nightmare who stepped out of the shadows created by the Javelyn. Blood gushed from Ice Warrior’s head as he dropped to the ground.
“You arrogant little….” spat Nightmare as he continued to beat upon Ice Warrior.
“Suprema wasn’t the only one playing rough!” observed Whirlpool as he pointed at Nightmare. Just then, the bubble he and his two teammates were in landed on the ground and dissipated.
“We’ve got to stop Nightmare before he loses control and kills Ice Warrior!” shouted Whirlpool. But as he was about to dash off, he got shocking surprise in form of his estranged brother, Ceridian.
The Atlantean powerhouse exited the Javelyn and noticed his little brother right away. “Arin! What are you doing here with these butchers?” demanded the elder prince of Atlantis.
“I could ask you the same about the outlaws you’re running with!” countered the Super Friend.
“Leave now - before you get yourself hurt!” ordered Ceridian.
“I’m not leaving until we take your pals in and sort out this mess,” Whirlpool said, standing firm.
“Arin, maybe you should…” started Elongated Lad.
“Don’t worry about me, Rick. Ceridian may have immense strength but he doesn’t have any other powers. I’ve got the strike from a distance advantage over him!” advised Whirlpool as his hands began to glow.
Just then, Ceridian gave Whirlpool the shock of his life and launched a huge fireball towards the Super Friend. Whirlpool panicked and shoved both Nucleus and the Elongated Lad out the way, taking the full brunt of the ball. “ARRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHH!!!” he screamed as he dropped to his knees in agony. The fire not only burn his chest but dehydrated him of the precious water he needed to feel his best.
“This is getting way out of hand,” noticed Nucleus as he shot up to fifty feet tall. His immense fist scooped up Ceridian within seconds. “All right, that’s enough! Arin is your brother for Christ’s sake!”
“You don’t have to remind me,” barked Ceridian as he strained his muscles and burst free from Nucleus’s fist and fell to the ground, unharmed.
“You’re strong…” commented Nucleus as he rubbed his sore hand a bit.
“Arin didn’t tell you? I’m the strongest Atlantean in history. I even beat my Uncle Arthur in arm-wrestling a few weeks ago,” explained Ceridian as he lifted up Nucleus’ foot and tipped him backwards, sending him crashing into the ground.
“All right, that’s enough out of you Brutus!” declared the Elongated Lad as he wrapped his elastic limbs around the Atlantean powerhouse and then pressed his fingers against his temples, trying to knock him out.
As Ceridian struggled to shake his attacker off of him, he began to super-heat his body. “Let me go you stupid rubber-panzy!”
“Not until you calm……………..OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” shrieked the Elongated Lad as he felt his skin beginning to burn. He instantly withdrew his limbs from around Ceridian, shaking them frantically, trying to cool himself off.
Meanwhile, Suprema and the other Titans of Vengeance were making short work of the Titans West. Suprema had gotten the upper hand on Wonder Warrior, beating him senseless. Both of his eyes were blackened and his nose was broken.
Dark Flash had stripped Queen Bee of her exotic devices and spun her around so many times that he was projectile vomiting uncontrollably.
Nightmare came prepared to take down Kid Comet by wearing a device that shielded him from the young telepath’s powers. Luring him into a false sense of security by making Kid Comet think his powers were working on the vengeful Dark Knight, a few quick jabs in the right places temporarily paralyzed the son of Captain Comet and the third Star Sapphire. With his body shut down, Kid Comet could not focus enough to use his telepathic abilities.
Mr. Wonderful was having a field day with the Arachnid. His superior strength and speed allowed him to fend off anything the Arachnid had managed to throw at him. Currently, Mr. Wonderful had his magic-lasso around the Arachnid’s neck and had him hanging over one of the wings of the Javelyn. “I HATE annoying little teenage nuisances like yourself. Always so cocky and rude. Shooting off your mouths and dressing like you just crawled out of bed. Not so cocky now, are you?” he smirked.
The Arachnid was trying to pull the lariat from around his neck. It was becoming more and more difficult for him to breathe as Mr. Wonderful kept pulling on his lasso harder and harder. “God……..you can’t let it end like this. I didn’t get a chance to apologize to Spaceman…” pleaded the bug-themed hero.
As Whirlpool shook off the effects of his brother’s attack, he looked up and became quite alarmed as he witnessed what the Titans of Vegeance were doing to the Titans West. “Dear God!!!” he cried out. Ceridian, Nucleus, and the Elongated Lad turned to see what all of the fuss was about and were equally horrified.
“Oh my God! That’s it! I’m calling in the others,’ Nucleus said as he began to panic and pulled out his Titans of Justice communicator.
***
Across the country in Orlando, FL…
“I’ve searched the entire building. The Titans West aren’t hiding anywhere inside,” the Flash said as she stopped in front of the rest of the her teammates.
“We’re either early or they picked the Phoenix location,” presumed Nightvision.
“Well, whatever happens, I want to make one thing clear,” requested Wonder Man as he addressed the team in an unusual tone for the typically light-hearted, fun-loving super-model. “When we do find the Titans West, I want a chance to talk to my cousin before any fireworks start.”
“So they use that opportunity to strike first? NO WAY!” declined Nightvision.
“Nightvision, think about this,” began Power Guy, “They know we’re on to them. They know we’re not going to fall for the same trick twice.”
“I agree with Power Guy,” interjected Green Lantern. “Fighting and intimidation isn’t always the way to solve things.”
“Hmmphh….” grumbled Nightvision as he turned his back towards the rest of the group.
“That man is so tense. I think he needs a nice woman to show him a good time….” Infierna Verde whispered to Sargona.
“Actually, that’s what got him into his current frame of mind,” revealed Sargona. “Whatever you do, don’t ask him about someone named Kitty Kat.”
“Aye carumba! The notorious jewel-thief???” replied the liaison to the Global Guardians. “Well then, maybe he needs to stay away from women all together if can’t stay away from trouble like her.”
Just then, the team was interrupted by Nucleus calling in. “Power Guy! Green Lantern! Wonder Man! Someone come in!!!”
“We’re here!” Power Guy said as he pulled his communicator out of his pocket at super-speed and replied. “What’s the situation? Did you find the Titans West?”
“Yes and those future versions of Wonder Man and the others are trying to kill them! You and the Flash have to get here right away!!!” requested the size-changing Titan. “Wait a minute! Oh no!! I don’t think even you two can get here in time!!” Nucleus said as he watch a horror start to unfold before him.
Palome’s had tried to cool the Apostle’s anger but his attempt, only provoked a different kind of reaction: condemnation. “Daniel, your once pure soul has been corrupted by loss and grief. I am going to cleanse you of your bitterness and resentment,” Palome’ said as he released his Soul-self.
“You dare try to use your demonic powers to defeat me?!?!?!” screamed the Apostle as a powerful blast from his ring shattered Palome’s Soul-self into a million pieces. Then, without warning, Palome’ found himself strapped to a green crucifix. “You are more sick and perverse than I thought you were. For that, I shall make an example out of you.”
“Wha….what are you doing???” Palome’ asked in shock as the Apostle formed a large green sword and took it in his hands.
“In the church, when we find out that someone has a demon inside of them, we exorcise them. The problem with you, is that the demon is not in your head but in your blood,” the Apostle pointed out as he advanced closer. “Therefore, I need to make sure your blood stops flowing!” he said as he raised his sword above Palome’s head.
The seconds passed like hours while Palome’ began to tremble as he knew that if the Apostle succeeded, there would be no resurrection for him this time. For the last few days, his mind had run through a thousand scenarios of what he would do with his second life but out of all of these scenarios, missing one of them would haunt him the most: making things right between him and the Black Orchid formerly known as Venus.
As the Apostle brought his sword down for the kill, a smile of pride appeared on his face until suddenly, he was stopped in mid-motion and unable to move.
A loud thundering voice was heard as the Apostle stiffened up, “STOP THIS MADNESS AT ONCE!!!!!”
Palome’ let out a sigh of relief, not knowing what happened, still he was thankful for whoever or whatever had intervened. Looking around, he noticed the other Titans of Vengeance were paralyzed just like the Apostle. Then, it became apparent to him who his savior was: The Stranger.
The newly christened Lord of Order was hovering high above the ground. His form glistened due to the vast power he now possessed. As he lowered himself to the ground, even those who knew him well felt a bit nervous as they had never seen him so serious before and wondered what he was going to do next.
“Stranger! What are you doing here?” asked Nucleus. “We all thought you’d retired after the Crisis.”
“Retired, no. Needed some time away, yes,” confirmed the protégé of the Phantom Stranger. “As for what I am doing here, before I explain, there are some others that need to bare witness,” he said as he waived his hand. A moment later, the Titans of Justice who had journeyed to Orlando Florida and Starman appeared besides their friends.
“Whe….where are we?” asked Jemstone.
“New Mexico,” answered the Stranger.
“How did I get here??” demanded an angry Starman.
“I brought you here, Scott Stone,” replied the Stranger. “It is about time you all learned the truth about the futurists and their pursuers.”
Starman scurried around looking for one person in particular, “YOU!!!” he said as his eyes locked on the recovering Arachnid. He lunged at the bug-themed hero and began punching him in the face repeatedly, You miserable %*$*@!!! Sucker-punch me, will you???”
Immediately, Power Guy and Wonder Man pulled the seemingly former best-friends off of one another.
“Scott! Now’s NOT the time,” ordered Power Guy sternly, as he restrained his teammate.
“I’ve waited long enough,” argued Starman as he struggled to get free of Power Guy’s grasp but to no avail.
“I SAID - now’s NOT the time,” repeated Power Guy even more sternly than before. “Now cool it or you can clean out your room when we get back to the Hall.”
“It’s about time he reminds them who‘s in charge,” observed Nightvision who remained quiet.
It was then and there that Black Orchid saw what seemed to be impossible: Palome’ was alive and well. “LUCAS!!!!!!” she screamed as she raced over to the son of Raven and Risk and embraced him tightly. “You’re alive! Thank God!! Thank God!!!!” she said as tears of joy gushed out of her eyes and ran down her face.
“My sweet Venus,” Palome’ said as he held Black Orchid close to him. “I am so sorry for the way I treated you after the Floronic Man’s presence was discovered inside of you. I was still mourning my father’s death and I’m sorry for taking it out on you. I want you to know that I do not hold you responsible.”
“It’s ok……..it’s ok,” responded Black Orchid as she looked deep into Palome’s eyes, tears still dripping down her cheeks. “I’ve been so lost without you….”
“I have felt the same but today marks a new day for us,” smiled the empathic healer. “We can move past what happened before.”
“Palome’, I’m glad to see you back and I hate to interrupt yours and Black Orchid’s reunion but I’d like the Stranger to tell us what’s going on here,” requested Green Lantern. “Why are the future versions of ourselves being held in stasis?”
“Because they were trying to kill the futurists,” revealed the Lord of Order. “I think it’s about time Wonder Warrior did some explaining,” he said, looking at the son of Donna Troy.
Wonder Warrior looked upon Power Guy and the others with grief in his eyes. He knew that all of his former friends were very upset with him. Some probably even hated him at this point. This was going to be the hardest conversation he would ever have. As he struggled to speak, a million thoughts raced though his mind on how to explain the situation, “Ok, here goes. During the Crisis we recently experienced, Power Guy was supposed to stay dead. In the future where we came from, Nucleus never made the decision to bring Vince back after the Anti-Monitor had killed him. From there, everything seemed to topple downward. When Dr. Light got his upgrade from Neron and took on the Titans, he made quick work of the team without Power Guy by your side. Both Wonder Man and Green Lantern were hospitalized during the initial encounter with Dr. Light and Jemstone, Sargona, Illumina, Sonic Boom, Trickshot, and the Huntress were all kidnapped, raped, and killed by Dr. Light. With Wonder Man being in the hospital, Lilith never got called in on the case so you guys had to find Dr. Light the old fashioned way which is was allowed him the time to kill the ladies. That’s when everything spiraled out of control. Nightvision, Supergirl, and the Flash were the first to arrive on the scene right after Dr. Light had finished killing the Huntress. Nightvision snapped and started beating Dr. Light to death with Supergirl and the Flash holding that crooked old pervert down. After that, the team was torn in half. After Wonder Man and Green Lantern recovered, they took Nightvision’s side and the team could not come to an agreement as to how things should be handled from there on out. With many of the founding members being at each others’ throats, the Titans of Justice was disbanded but shortly after, Nightvision and those who sided with him formed a new team called the Titans of Vengeance. Changing their code-names and costumes, they took a harsher stance on super-villains, torturing and killing them when they saw fit. That didn’t stand for long with the hero community. Many people rose up against them and paid the ultimate price for their defiance. The five us took a long-shot gamble and decided to come back to the past to try and stop the Titans of Vengeance before they got started. Stranger, I know you’re probably upset right now as you realize that your spell didn’t summon us here years ago. We researched the history books and found a time when the Titans of Justice were in utter need of assistance so we traveled back in time to the exact moment you enacted your spell in hopes of making you think that you summoned us from the future. I know we’ve had to lie and deceive a lot of you in the time that we’ve been here and all I can say is that I’m sorry. As you all know with time-travel, you can’t tell anyone in the past what is going to happen in the future or you risk another catastrophe all together,” he finished with a frown.
“I should have known your arrival was way to convenient to be real,” the Stranger said, disgusted with himself. “But recently, I became aware of your deception which is why I am here today. Since becoming a Lord of Order, I have access to many more resources than in the past and there is little one could keep from me at this point. Still, you played me for a fool and for that, I am embarrassed.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Stranger. You were in the middle of a desperate situation,” offered Wonder Warrior. “Now, if you guys will let us go to Star Labs and use their time machine, we’re willing to go home and put this whole mess behind us.”
“There will be no need for that,” revealed the Stranger. “Since becoming a Lord of Order, I have mastered my abilities over time-travel and can send you back home if that’s what you’d like.”
“Wait a minute!” shouted Nucleus. “I’d like to have a moment with Queen Bee in private before she leaves.”
“Same goes for me with the Arachnid,” added an angry Starman.
“And Chris, if you think you’re leaving without a few words with your cousin here, you’re lost every ounce of wisdom that Aphrodite has granted you,” Wonder Man said firmly as he stepped forward. “Green Lantern, could you please provide those of us who need to speak with one another with a little bit of privacy?”
“Of course,” replied the green guardian as he used his power-ring to create three meeting rooms.
A few minutes later in the first room, Nucleus was eyeing up Queen Bee thinking about how to start things off. For over a year, Jason Hardwick had devoted his time and energy to this woman standing before him. It had started by them exchanging notes while they were in the lab. Then it progressed to them bouncing ideas off of each other as they conducted experiments and built new devices. Soon it was candlelight dinners and after-hours activities which lead to both of them getting little sleep many nights of the week. Jason had grown to care deeply about this woman and now, it was apparent that it was all a lie.
Queen Bee just stood in front of the world’s smartest scientist looking all nonchalantly with her arms crossed. As the minutes of silence passed, she began tapping her finger on her arm in frustration and huffed a few times. “Go ahead…..scream and yell. But before you do, just know that this was nothing personal. You were merely the means to an end. A tool to help build a car. A bridge across the water. I can take it. Go ahead. Tell me what a b)$ I am………..”
That was all it took, Jason snapped like a stretched-out rubber-band. A single slap came across Queen Bee’s face which stung more so than the built-in stingers in her costume could ever have. This was mostly because over the course of their relationship, she had become the dominant one and felt as though Jason was spineless and wrapped around her finger. This display of aggressiveness had her shaking a bit and completely speechless as she cupped her stinging cheek.
Wearing a scowl on his face, Jason simply said, “Cold and calculating until the very end. You make me sick!” as he exited the room.
In the next room over, Wonder Man and Wonder Warrior were deep in discussion.
“All I can say is that I’m sorry, Scott,” offered Wonder Warrior, trying to be sincere.
“Chris, you should have trusted me. We’re family,” pointed out Wonder Man. “I know we didn’t get a long the best at first but I thought we’d come a long way since then.”
“We have……but you’ve got to understand that I was afraid of causing a calamity had I shared my knowledge of the future with you,” Wonder Warrior said, trying to defend his position.
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. You could have confided in me without giving me the exact details. I would have stood by your side, no questions asked. Not just because Amazon law demands it but also because you’re my cousin,” frowned Wonder Man.
“I’m sorry. I really am. I had no idea things would turn out this way,” continued Wonder Warrior as he started to become desperate.
“Chris, what you did to Supergirl is almost inhuman,” chastised Wonder Man. “What if she would have ended up going completely off the edge and killed someone or herself?”
“You’ve got to understand, she wasn’t supposed to have the Kryptonite as long as she did,” explained Wonder Warrior. “She was just supposed to hang on to it long enough for the rest of you guys to think she was unstable and shut her down. That was our plan, to make sure the five of you who became the Titans of Vengeance were neutralized before you got the chance to take the dark paths you went down.”
“Oh really? Then what in Hera’s name was your plan for me?!?!?!” demanded Wonder Man, becoming angry.
There was a short silence as Wonder Warrior looked dead into Wonder Man’s eyes. Finally he revealed his plan, “To make sure you and Jerrica got married.”
“So you figured that if Jerrica and I got married, I’d never become that horrific Mr. Wonderful?” asked Wonder Man.
“Yes, I figured once you two became husband and wife, you’d make sure Jerrica hung up her costume so that you wouldn’t have to worry about her risking her life every day therefore keeping her out harm’s way,” advised Wonder Warrior. “I really do want to see you two happy.”
“Then I hope you’ll be at our wedding but for now, I need some space,” declared Wonder Man as he left to rejoin his teammates.
Meanwhile in the last room created by Green Lantern, Starman and the Arachnid were having it out.
“You’re nothing but a miserable, lying, manipulative son of a b($^#!” spat Starman getting in the Arachnid’s face.
“Hey! Who are you calling manipulative! You know I’m not that smart,” countered the Arachnid. “I was simply following the plan.”
“So sucking up to me for the last year and making me think I could trust you was the script, huh???” growled Starman as he clocked the Arachnid in the jaw. Then in the stomach. Then in the chest. Then in the forehead. As Starman continued to knock the Arachnid around like a rag-doll, he finally noticed, “You’re not fighting back, you weasil!”
The Arachnid simply frowned under his mask and replied, “Why would I? I deserve this.”
“Damn right you do!!” cursed Starman as he punched the Arachnid in the stomach again. “For months and months you kept playing me like a deck of cards. How the hell did you sleep at night?!?!?!?!”
“I didn’t have a choice,” mumbled the Arachnid as he dropped to his knees and held his sore stomach.
Starman quickly grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him into the air, “Didn’t have a choice??? Why the hell not?”
“Be….because. If I…..I had let the Titans of Vengeance come to pass, you would have been the first one they would have killed…” revealed the Arachnid, softly.
The Arachnid’s words hit like a hammer. Instantly Starman’s anger faded at this colossal revelation. His body went limp as he set the Arachnid back on the ground. He began to tremble and sweat at the same time. For a moment it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. For the last week, Starman had wanted to rip the Arachnid limb from limb for his supposed betrayal but now it was clear that the Arachnid had lived up to the title he had sported for so long: Starman’s Best Friend.
About ten minutes later, the Spider-Star team emerged from the room that Green Lantern had made. The Arachnid had his arm around Starman’s shoulder as the cosmic avenger was helping the bug-themed hero walk after the beating he had given him.
“Ok, what happened in there?” asked Sargona, curiously. “Did you two have another love-fest and make up?”
“We’re cool,” Starman said quietly,
“I’m am glad that you’re available Scott Stone, there is someone here waiting for you,” smiled the Stranger as Supergirl stepped out from behind him.
“Scott?” she smiled as she approached her former boyfriend.
“Jenna? You’re all healed up!” exclaimed Starman, smiling from ear to ear.
As the former couple embraced, Supergirl began to wimper a bit, “Thanks to the Stranger, yes. Scott, I’m so sorry for all of the horrible things I’ve said to you in the last year. That Kryptonite was driving me out of my mind.”
“There’s no need to apologize. No need at all,” Starman said, humbly. “I know it’s not your fault.”
“I want you to know that I never meant to leave you and that I didn’t really like Kid Marvel. That was all the Kyrptonite’s doing.” Supergirl said as she continued to cry.
“Never mind that,” Starman said as he looked down at the modern-age girl of steel and smiled. “We have a chance to start over. Let’s make the most of it.”
“Well, I believe all is done here,” noted the Stranger. “Let’s send all of those who do not belong in this point in history back to where they belong. First, the Titans of Vengeance,” he said as he waived his hands.
“No! No! You can’t do this to us!!!” cried out the Apostle as he and his teammates began to fade away. “I d**n your unholy soul, Stranger!!!”
“And now for the Titans West,” continued the protégé of the Phantom Stranger.
“Wait a minute,” interrupted Black Orchid. “Lucas and I just found each other again. Can I go back with them?”
“I’m sorry but you cannot,” declined the Stranger. “You could interrupt the temporal balance if you do so.”
“But….but….” insisted Black Orchid.
“Hey,” Palome’ said as he held the purple-clad heroine tightly. “Just because we are not together does not mean you are not in my heart. At least this time we had a chance to say good-bye.”
“I know, I know,” Black Orchid said as she embraced her one true love. “Thank you for being the bright spot in my life. I will never forget you.”
“And I will never forget you either,” smiled Palome’.
“Can we at least come back for Wonder Man and Jemstone’s wedding?” asked Wonder Warrior.
The Stranger remained silent for a moment as he pondered Christophe Troy’s request. Finally he spoke, “Yes. Yes, you may.”
“Thank you,” replied Wonder Warrior as the Stranger began to send them home.
As the Titans West began to fade out, the Arachnid looked at Starman and said, “Hasta la vista, Spaceman!”
THE END
Written & edited by: Power Guy
In the skies over a desert in Western, New Mexico…
The five Titans of Vengeance along with Elongated Lad, Nucleus, and Whirlpool streaked through the sky. The three Titans of Justice were being carried aloft via green power-bubble created by the Apostle.
“Boy, it sure is warm for it being February,” commented the Elongated Lad.
“Dude, we’re in New Mexico. I don’t think it ever snows here no matter what month of the year,” Whirlpool said while taking in the scenery.
“They get flurries once in a while but not much else,” Nucleus said, setting the matter.
“Look at all of that desert down there. How can anyone live here?” Whirlpool asked in disgust.
“Some might ask how you could live under water,” smirked the Elongated Lad.
“Well, I hope the Apostle’s ring doesn’t run out of charge any time soon. I’d hate to get stuck here,” Whirlpool said, hoping to get out of the desert as quickly as possible.
Outside of the bubble, Suprema and the other Titans of Vengeance were deep in conversation.
“So everyone is aware of the plan?” asked the adult Supergirl.
“We’ve gone over it three times already,” grumbled Mr. Wonderful.
“It’s important that we get it right,” snapped Nightmare. “When we find the Titans West, we’ll use those simpletons in the Apostle’s bubble to help thin their ranks and then we’ll dump them somewhere so we can kill the Titans West.”
“Hey, watch how you talk about Arin and the others. They were our friends once,” chided Dark Flash as she raced along the ground below.
“And what happened when we took our new stance? They all turned on us,” reminded Nightmare.
“Nightmare is right, we need to let go of our fond memories and concentrate on this mission,” advised the Apostle.
Before the conversation could continue, the Titans of Vengeance struck gold early. A short ways ahead, Wonder Warrior and the rest of the reformed Titans West team were flying through the sky, obviously headed for Phoenix.
“Well, look here! We didn’t even have to fly all the way to Phoenix to catch those little weasels!” gloated Suprema as she fired off her heat-vision at the unsuspecting Wonder Warrior.
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!” screamed Wonder Warrior as he plummeted to the ground in agony.
“Chris!” cried out Queen Bee as she flew after him, followed by Palome’.
Kid Comet turned around only to see his worst nightmare come true. “Guys! It’s the Titans - both groups!” he said, sending out a telepathic message to all of his teammates.
“Crap! I’d better land this thing before they blow it up!” grumbled Ice Warrior as he lowered the Javelyn towards the ground.
Meanwhile, Suprema slammed into Kid Comet with the force of a semi-truck, “No more of your mental mind games, Dave!” she said as she knocked him out of the sky.
“Whoa! Did you see what Suprema did to Kid Comet?” the Elongated Lad asked his two teammates.
“Yeah, she seems to be playing a little rough,” noticed Nucleus.
“Well, you know those Kryptonians. Sometimes they don’t know their own strength,” Whirlpool said, giving Suprema the benefit of the doubt.
“Vince never seems to have a problem keeping things in check,” argued Nucleus as the Apostle lowered his power-bubble to the ground in preparation for battle.
Just then, the Javelyn door burst open and Ice Warrior opened “fire” with a barrage of ice pellets aimed towards the on-coming Dark Flash, The female speedstress lost her footing and went sliding into a nearby sand-hill.
“Ha! One future-freak down, four more to go!” gloated Ice Warrior as he began scoping around for his next target until he was bashed in the back of his head by a metal staff, being carried by Nightmare who stepped out of the shadows created by the Javelyn. Blood gushed from Ice Warrior’s head as he dropped to the ground.
“You arrogant little….” spat Nightmare as he continued to beat upon Ice Warrior.
“Suprema wasn’t the only one playing rough!” observed Whirlpool as he pointed at Nightmare. Just then, the bubble he and his two teammates were in landed on the ground and dissipated.
“We’ve got to stop Nightmare before he loses control and kills Ice Warrior!” shouted Whirlpool. But as he was about to dash off, he got shocking surprise in form of his estranged brother, Ceridian.
The Atlantean powerhouse exited the Javelyn and noticed his little brother right away. “Arin! What are you doing here with these butchers?” demanded the elder prince of Atlantis.
“I could ask you the same about the outlaws you’re running with!” countered the Super Friend.
“Leave now - before you get yourself hurt!” ordered Ceridian.
“I’m not leaving until we take your pals in and sort out this mess,” Whirlpool said, standing firm.
“Arin, maybe you should…” started Elongated Lad.
“Don’t worry about me, Rick. Ceridian may have immense strength but he doesn’t have any other powers. I’ve got the strike from a distance advantage over him!” advised Whirlpool as his hands began to glow.
Just then, Ceridian gave Whirlpool the shock of his life and launched a huge fireball towards the Super Friend. Whirlpool panicked and shoved both Nucleus and the Elongated Lad out the way, taking the full brunt of the ball. “ARRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHH!!!” he screamed as he dropped to his knees in agony. The fire not only burn his chest but dehydrated him of the precious water he needed to feel his best.
“This is getting way out of hand,” noticed Nucleus as he shot up to fifty feet tall. His immense fist scooped up Ceridian within seconds. “All right, that’s enough! Arin is your brother for Christ’s sake!”
“You don’t have to remind me,” barked Ceridian as he strained his muscles and burst free from Nucleus’s fist and fell to the ground, unharmed.
“You’re strong…” commented Nucleus as he rubbed his sore hand a bit.
“Arin didn’t tell you? I’m the strongest Atlantean in history. I even beat my Uncle Arthur in arm-wrestling a few weeks ago,” explained Ceridian as he lifted up Nucleus’ foot and tipped him backwards, sending him crashing into the ground.
“All right, that’s enough out of you Brutus!” declared the Elongated Lad as he wrapped his elastic limbs around the Atlantean powerhouse and then pressed his fingers against his temples, trying to knock him out.
As Ceridian struggled to shake his attacker off of him, he began to super-heat his body. “Let me go you stupid rubber-panzy!”
“Not until you calm……………..OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” shrieked the Elongated Lad as he felt his skin beginning to burn. He instantly withdrew his limbs from around Ceridian, shaking them frantically, trying to cool himself off.
Meanwhile, Suprema and the other Titans of Vengeance were making short work of the Titans West. Suprema had gotten the upper hand on Wonder Warrior, beating him senseless. Both of his eyes were blackened and his nose was broken.
Dark Flash had stripped Queen Bee of her exotic devices and spun her around so many times that he was projectile vomiting uncontrollably.
Nightmare came prepared to take down Kid Comet by wearing a device that shielded him from the young telepath’s powers. Luring him into a false sense of security by making Kid Comet think his powers were working on the vengeful Dark Knight, a few quick jabs in the right places temporarily paralyzed the son of Captain Comet and the third Star Sapphire. With his body shut down, Kid Comet could not focus enough to use his telepathic abilities.
Mr. Wonderful was having a field day with the Arachnid. His superior strength and speed allowed him to fend off anything the Arachnid had managed to throw at him. Currently, Mr. Wonderful had his magic-lasso around the Arachnid’s neck and had him hanging over one of the wings of the Javelyn. “I HATE annoying little teenage nuisances like yourself. Always so cocky and rude. Shooting off your mouths and dressing like you just crawled out of bed. Not so cocky now, are you?” he smirked.
The Arachnid was trying to pull the lariat from around his neck. It was becoming more and more difficult for him to breathe as Mr. Wonderful kept pulling on his lasso harder and harder. “God……..you can’t let it end like this. I didn’t get a chance to apologize to Spaceman…” pleaded the bug-themed hero.
As Whirlpool shook off the effects of his brother’s attack, he looked up and became quite alarmed as he witnessed what the Titans of Vegeance were doing to the Titans West. “Dear God!!!” he cried out. Ceridian, Nucleus, and the Elongated Lad turned to see what all of the fuss was about and were equally horrified.
“Oh my God! That’s it! I’m calling in the others,’ Nucleus said as he began to panic and pulled out his Titans of Justice communicator.
***
Across the country in Orlando, FL…
“I’ve searched the entire building. The Titans West aren’t hiding anywhere inside,” the Flash said as she stopped in front of the rest of the her teammates.
“We’re either early or they picked the Phoenix location,” presumed Nightvision.
“Well, whatever happens, I want to make one thing clear,” requested Wonder Man as he addressed the team in an unusual tone for the typically light-hearted, fun-loving super-model. “When we do find the Titans West, I want a chance to talk to my cousin before any fireworks start.”
“So they use that opportunity to strike first? NO WAY!” declined Nightvision.
“Nightvision, think about this,” began Power Guy, “They know we’re on to them. They know we’re not going to fall for the same trick twice.”
“I agree with Power Guy,” interjected Green Lantern. “Fighting and intimidation isn’t always the way to solve things.”
“Hmmphh….” grumbled Nightvision as he turned his back towards the rest of the group.
“That man is so tense. I think he needs a nice woman to show him a good time….” Infierna Verde whispered to Sargona.
“Actually, that’s what got him into his current frame of mind,” revealed Sargona. “Whatever you do, don’t ask him about someone named Kitty Kat.”
“Aye carumba! The notorious jewel-thief???” replied the liaison to the Global Guardians. “Well then, maybe he needs to stay away from women all together if can’t stay away from trouble like her.”
Just then, the team was interrupted by Nucleus calling in. “Power Guy! Green Lantern! Wonder Man! Someone come in!!!”
“We’re here!” Power Guy said as he pulled his communicator out of his pocket at super-speed and replied. “What’s the situation? Did you find the Titans West?”
“Yes and those future versions of Wonder Man and the others are trying to kill them! You and the Flash have to get here right away!!!” requested the size-changing Titan. “Wait a minute! Oh no!! I don’t think even you two can get here in time!!” Nucleus said as he watch a horror start to unfold before him.
Palome’s had tried to cool the Apostle’s anger but his attempt, only provoked a different kind of reaction: condemnation. “Daniel, your once pure soul has been corrupted by loss and grief. I am going to cleanse you of your bitterness and resentment,” Palome’ said as he released his Soul-self.
“You dare try to use your demonic powers to defeat me?!?!?!” screamed the Apostle as a powerful blast from his ring shattered Palome’s Soul-self into a million pieces. Then, without warning, Palome’ found himself strapped to a green crucifix. “You are more sick and perverse than I thought you were. For that, I shall make an example out of you.”
“Wha….what are you doing???” Palome’ asked in shock as the Apostle formed a large green sword and took it in his hands.
“In the church, when we find out that someone has a demon inside of them, we exorcise them. The problem with you, is that the demon is not in your head but in your blood,” the Apostle pointed out as he advanced closer. “Therefore, I need to make sure your blood stops flowing!” he said as he raised his sword above Palome’s head.
The seconds passed like hours while Palome’ began to tremble as he knew that if the Apostle succeeded, there would be no resurrection for him this time. For the last few days, his mind had run through a thousand scenarios of what he would do with his second life but out of all of these scenarios, missing one of them would haunt him the most: making things right between him and the Black Orchid formerly known as Venus.
As the Apostle brought his sword down for the kill, a smile of pride appeared on his face until suddenly, he was stopped in mid-motion and unable to move.
A loud thundering voice was heard as the Apostle stiffened up, “STOP THIS MADNESS AT ONCE!!!!!”
Palome’ let out a sigh of relief, not knowing what happened, still he was thankful for whoever or whatever had intervened. Looking around, he noticed the other Titans of Vengeance were paralyzed just like the Apostle. Then, it became apparent to him who his savior was: The Stranger.
The newly christened Lord of Order was hovering high above the ground. His form glistened due to the vast power he now possessed. As he lowered himself to the ground, even those who knew him well felt a bit nervous as they had never seen him so serious before and wondered what he was going to do next.
“Stranger! What are you doing here?” asked Nucleus. “We all thought you’d retired after the Crisis.”
“Retired, no. Needed some time away, yes,” confirmed the protégé of the Phantom Stranger. “As for what I am doing here, before I explain, there are some others that need to bare witness,” he said as he waived his hand. A moment later, the Titans of Justice who had journeyed to Orlando Florida and Starman appeared besides their friends.
“Whe….where are we?” asked Jemstone.
“New Mexico,” answered the Stranger.
“How did I get here??” demanded an angry Starman.
“I brought you here, Scott Stone,” replied the Stranger. “It is about time you all learned the truth about the futurists and their pursuers.”
Starman scurried around looking for one person in particular, “YOU!!!” he said as his eyes locked on the recovering Arachnid. He lunged at the bug-themed hero and began punching him in the face repeatedly, You miserable %*$*@!!! Sucker-punch me, will you???”
Immediately, Power Guy and Wonder Man pulled the seemingly former best-friends off of one another.
“Scott! Now’s NOT the time,” ordered Power Guy sternly, as he restrained his teammate.
“I’ve waited long enough,” argued Starman as he struggled to get free of Power Guy’s grasp but to no avail.
“I SAID - now’s NOT the time,” repeated Power Guy even more sternly than before. “Now cool it or you can clean out your room when we get back to the Hall.”
“It’s about time he reminds them who‘s in charge,” observed Nightvision who remained quiet.
It was then and there that Black Orchid saw what seemed to be impossible: Palome’ was alive and well. “LUCAS!!!!!!” she screamed as she raced over to the son of Raven and Risk and embraced him tightly. “You’re alive! Thank God!! Thank God!!!!” she said as tears of joy gushed out of her eyes and ran down her face.
“My sweet Venus,” Palome’ said as he held Black Orchid close to him. “I am so sorry for the way I treated you after the Floronic Man’s presence was discovered inside of you. I was still mourning my father’s death and I’m sorry for taking it out on you. I want you to know that I do not hold you responsible.”
“It’s ok……..it’s ok,” responded Black Orchid as she looked deep into Palome’s eyes, tears still dripping down her cheeks. “I’ve been so lost without you….”
“I have felt the same but today marks a new day for us,” smiled the empathic healer. “We can move past what happened before.”
“Palome’, I’m glad to see you back and I hate to interrupt yours and Black Orchid’s reunion but I’d like the Stranger to tell us what’s going on here,” requested Green Lantern. “Why are the future versions of ourselves being held in stasis?”
“Because they were trying to kill the futurists,” revealed the Lord of Order. “I think it’s about time Wonder Warrior did some explaining,” he said, looking at the son of Donna Troy.
Wonder Warrior looked upon Power Guy and the others with grief in his eyes. He knew that all of his former friends were very upset with him. Some probably even hated him at this point. This was going to be the hardest conversation he would ever have. As he struggled to speak, a million thoughts raced though his mind on how to explain the situation, “Ok, here goes. During the Crisis we recently experienced, Power Guy was supposed to stay dead. In the future where we came from, Nucleus never made the decision to bring Vince back after the Anti-Monitor had killed him. From there, everything seemed to topple downward. When Dr. Light got his upgrade from Neron and took on the Titans, he made quick work of the team without Power Guy by your side. Both Wonder Man and Green Lantern were hospitalized during the initial encounter with Dr. Light and Jemstone, Sargona, Illumina, Sonic Boom, Trickshot, and the Huntress were all kidnapped, raped, and killed by Dr. Light. With Wonder Man being in the hospital, Lilith never got called in on the case so you guys had to find Dr. Light the old fashioned way which is was allowed him the time to kill the ladies. That’s when everything spiraled out of control. Nightvision, Supergirl, and the Flash were the first to arrive on the scene right after Dr. Light had finished killing the Huntress. Nightvision snapped and started beating Dr. Light to death with Supergirl and the Flash holding that crooked old pervert down. After that, the team was torn in half. After Wonder Man and Green Lantern recovered, they took Nightvision’s side and the team could not come to an agreement as to how things should be handled from there on out. With many of the founding members being at each others’ throats, the Titans of Justice was disbanded but shortly after, Nightvision and those who sided with him formed a new team called the Titans of Vengeance. Changing their code-names and costumes, they took a harsher stance on super-villains, torturing and killing them when they saw fit. That didn’t stand for long with the hero community. Many people rose up against them and paid the ultimate price for their defiance. The five us took a long-shot gamble and decided to come back to the past to try and stop the Titans of Vengeance before they got started. Stranger, I know you’re probably upset right now as you realize that your spell didn’t summon us here years ago. We researched the history books and found a time when the Titans of Justice were in utter need of assistance so we traveled back in time to the exact moment you enacted your spell in hopes of making you think that you summoned us from the future. I know we’ve had to lie and deceive a lot of you in the time that we’ve been here and all I can say is that I’m sorry. As you all know with time-travel, you can’t tell anyone in the past what is going to happen in the future or you risk another catastrophe all together,” he finished with a frown.
“I should have known your arrival was way to convenient to be real,” the Stranger said, disgusted with himself. “But recently, I became aware of your deception which is why I am here today. Since becoming a Lord of Order, I have access to many more resources than in the past and there is little one could keep from me at this point. Still, you played me for a fool and for that, I am embarrassed.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Stranger. You were in the middle of a desperate situation,” offered Wonder Warrior. “Now, if you guys will let us go to Star Labs and use their time machine, we’re willing to go home and put this whole mess behind us.”
“There will be no need for that,” revealed the Stranger. “Since becoming a Lord of Order, I have mastered my abilities over time-travel and can send you back home if that’s what you’d like.”
“Wait a minute!” shouted Nucleus. “I’d like to have a moment with Queen Bee in private before she leaves.”
“Same goes for me with the Arachnid,” added an angry Starman.
“And Chris, if you think you’re leaving without a few words with your cousin here, you’re lost every ounce of wisdom that Aphrodite has granted you,” Wonder Man said firmly as he stepped forward. “Green Lantern, could you please provide those of us who need to speak with one another with a little bit of privacy?”
“Of course,” replied the green guardian as he used his power-ring to create three meeting rooms.
A few minutes later in the first room, Nucleus was eyeing up Queen Bee thinking about how to start things off. For over a year, Jason Hardwick had devoted his time and energy to this woman standing before him. It had started by them exchanging notes while they were in the lab. Then it progressed to them bouncing ideas off of each other as they conducted experiments and built new devices. Soon it was candlelight dinners and after-hours activities which lead to both of them getting little sleep many nights of the week. Jason had grown to care deeply about this woman and now, it was apparent that it was all a lie.
Queen Bee just stood in front of the world’s smartest scientist looking all nonchalantly with her arms crossed. As the minutes of silence passed, she began tapping her finger on her arm in frustration and huffed a few times. “Go ahead…..scream and yell. But before you do, just know that this was nothing personal. You were merely the means to an end. A tool to help build a car. A bridge across the water. I can take it. Go ahead. Tell me what a b)$ I am………..”
That was all it took, Jason snapped like a stretched-out rubber-band. A single slap came across Queen Bee’s face which stung more so than the built-in stingers in her costume could ever have. This was mostly because over the course of their relationship, she had become the dominant one and felt as though Jason was spineless and wrapped around her finger. This display of aggressiveness had her shaking a bit and completely speechless as she cupped her stinging cheek.
Wearing a scowl on his face, Jason simply said, “Cold and calculating until the very end. You make me sick!” as he exited the room.
In the next room over, Wonder Man and Wonder Warrior were deep in discussion.
“All I can say is that I’m sorry, Scott,” offered Wonder Warrior, trying to be sincere.
“Chris, you should have trusted me. We’re family,” pointed out Wonder Man. “I know we didn’t get a long the best at first but I thought we’d come a long way since then.”
“We have……but you’ve got to understand that I was afraid of causing a calamity had I shared my knowledge of the future with you,” Wonder Warrior said, trying to defend his position.
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. You could have confided in me without giving me the exact details. I would have stood by your side, no questions asked. Not just because Amazon law demands it but also because you’re my cousin,” frowned Wonder Man.
“I’m sorry. I really am. I had no idea things would turn out this way,” continued Wonder Warrior as he started to become desperate.
“Chris, what you did to Supergirl is almost inhuman,” chastised Wonder Man. “What if she would have ended up going completely off the edge and killed someone or herself?”
“You’ve got to understand, she wasn’t supposed to have the Kryptonite as long as she did,” explained Wonder Warrior. “She was just supposed to hang on to it long enough for the rest of you guys to think she was unstable and shut her down. That was our plan, to make sure the five of you who became the Titans of Vengeance were neutralized before you got the chance to take the dark paths you went down.”
“Oh really? Then what in Hera’s name was your plan for me?!?!?!” demanded Wonder Man, becoming angry.
There was a short silence as Wonder Warrior looked dead into Wonder Man’s eyes. Finally he revealed his plan, “To make sure you and Jerrica got married.”
“So you figured that if Jerrica and I got married, I’d never become that horrific Mr. Wonderful?” asked Wonder Man.
“Yes, I figured once you two became husband and wife, you’d make sure Jerrica hung up her costume so that you wouldn’t have to worry about her risking her life every day therefore keeping her out harm’s way,” advised Wonder Warrior. “I really do want to see you two happy.”
“Then I hope you’ll be at our wedding but for now, I need some space,” declared Wonder Man as he left to rejoin his teammates.
Meanwhile in the last room created by Green Lantern, Starman and the Arachnid were having it out.
“You’re nothing but a miserable, lying, manipulative son of a b($^#!” spat Starman getting in the Arachnid’s face.
“Hey! Who are you calling manipulative! You know I’m not that smart,” countered the Arachnid. “I was simply following the plan.”
“So sucking up to me for the last year and making me think I could trust you was the script, huh???” growled Starman as he clocked the Arachnid in the jaw. Then in the stomach. Then in the chest. Then in the forehead. As Starman continued to knock the Arachnid around like a rag-doll, he finally noticed, “You’re not fighting back, you weasil!”
The Arachnid simply frowned under his mask and replied, “Why would I? I deserve this.”
“Damn right you do!!” cursed Starman as he punched the Arachnid in the stomach again. “For months and months you kept playing me like a deck of cards. How the hell did you sleep at night?!?!?!?!”
“I didn’t have a choice,” mumbled the Arachnid as he dropped to his knees and held his sore stomach.
Starman quickly grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him into the air, “Didn’t have a choice??? Why the hell not?”
“Be….because. If I…..I had let the Titans of Vengeance come to pass, you would have been the first one they would have killed…” revealed the Arachnid, softly.
The Arachnid’s words hit like a hammer. Instantly Starman’s anger faded at this colossal revelation. His body went limp as he set the Arachnid back on the ground. He began to tremble and sweat at the same time. For a moment it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. For the last week, Starman had wanted to rip the Arachnid limb from limb for his supposed betrayal but now it was clear that the Arachnid had lived up to the title he had sported for so long: Starman’s Best Friend.
About ten minutes later, the Spider-Star team emerged from the room that Green Lantern had made. The Arachnid had his arm around Starman’s shoulder as the cosmic avenger was helping the bug-themed hero walk after the beating he had given him.
“Ok, what happened in there?” asked Sargona, curiously. “Did you two have another love-fest and make up?”
“We’re cool,” Starman said quietly,
“I’m am glad that you’re available Scott Stone, there is someone here waiting for you,” smiled the Stranger as Supergirl stepped out from behind him.
“Scott?” she smiled as she approached her former boyfriend.
“Jenna? You’re all healed up!” exclaimed Starman, smiling from ear to ear.
As the former couple embraced, Supergirl began to wimper a bit, “Thanks to the Stranger, yes. Scott, I’m so sorry for all of the horrible things I’ve said to you in the last year. That Kryptonite was driving me out of my mind.”
“There’s no need to apologize. No need at all,” Starman said, humbly. “I know it’s not your fault.”
“I want you to know that I never meant to leave you and that I didn’t really like Kid Marvel. That was all the Kyrptonite’s doing.” Supergirl said as she continued to cry.
“Never mind that,” Starman said as he looked down at the modern-age girl of steel and smiled. “We have a chance to start over. Let’s make the most of it.”
“Well, I believe all is done here,” noted the Stranger. “Let’s send all of those who do not belong in this point in history back to where they belong. First, the Titans of Vengeance,” he said as he waived his hands.
“No! No! You can’t do this to us!!!” cried out the Apostle as he and his teammates began to fade away. “I d**n your unholy soul, Stranger!!!”
“And now for the Titans West,” continued the protégé of the Phantom Stranger.
“Wait a minute,” interrupted Black Orchid. “Lucas and I just found each other again. Can I go back with them?”
“I’m sorry but you cannot,” declined the Stranger. “You could interrupt the temporal balance if you do so.”
“But….but….” insisted Black Orchid.
“Hey,” Palome’ said as he held the purple-clad heroine tightly. “Just because we are not together does not mean you are not in my heart. At least this time we had a chance to say good-bye.”
“I know, I know,” Black Orchid said as she embraced her one true love. “Thank you for being the bright spot in my life. I will never forget you.”
“And I will never forget you either,” smiled Palome’.
“Can we at least come back for Wonder Man and Jemstone’s wedding?” asked Wonder Warrior.
The Stranger remained silent for a moment as he pondered Christophe Troy’s request. Finally he spoke, “Yes. Yes, you may.”
“Thank you,” replied Wonder Warrior as the Stranger began to send them home.
As the Titans West began to fade out, the Arachnid looked at Starman and said, “Hasta la vista, Spaceman!”
THE END