Titans of Justice Unlimited #47 – “Uproar Part 3”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Edited & Maxi-Micros by: Power Guy


Gotham City…

“You can come out now.” came the Huntress’s dusky voice.





“How did you know I was following you?” said Tom Tressor as he emerged from behind a HVAC unit atop the Kane Jewelry Warehouse.





“Knowing when I’m being followed was one of the first lessons I learned, Mr. Tressor. Gotham City isn’t exactly Washington D.C. What do you want?” The Huntress said coolly, remaining in the shadows.

“I know about what happened to Knightvision and Batgirl. And I am quite sorry for your loss.” the IADC agent said.

Despite being old enough to be her father, Tom Tressor looked barely 30 years old thanks to an adventure with Wonder Woman years ago that shaved years off of his life. He continued, “I’m sure you know I recently found out that one of your former teammates is my son and that I have a grandson.”

“I’m familiar with your family tree, Mr. Tressor.”

“If anything happened to them, I’d never forgive myself. Villains today aren’t the bank robbers or grand schemers of the past. These characters are out for blood….out to win at any cost. In the case of Knightvision and Batgirl, they kill for the sheer fun of it.”

Huntress became uncomfortable at his words. She remembered seeing the carnage left by the Legion of Doom. She remembered the funeral for the man she loved like a brother. She remembered Brenda’s eyes wide open, frozen in a death stare.

“What are you saying Mr. Tressor?” Huntress replied, suddenly interested.

“I am here to offer you membership on an elite team the government is sanctioning. You would have total immunity to deal with villains….before they deal with you. You see, this team would be proactive rather than reactive. How many more have to die? The President is on board with this as well.”

“Uh-huh. Just like he was on board with launching a nuclear missile during the Phoenix mess. I’m not sure I’m interested in a group that doesn’t think things through. It sounds like a bunch of vigilantes to me. Do you know how long it took my family to convince the public we are not vigilantes? That we are here to help?”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Mr. Tressor, I suggest you forget this plan the government has. Spend time with Scott and your new family. Savor every moment you have with them. You never know what might happen.” The Huntress said as she jumped from the top of the building into the darkness of the night.

***

Los Angeles, California….

John Stewart promised his daughter he would not be late, but there he was…stuck in traffic. He was proud of Rachel, known as Totem, to her teammates. Not only had she successfully started a career as a sought after model like her mother, but she had recently tapered off her costumed adventures. John worried about her and was happy she was more concerned with making the cover of Elle rather than chasing down some costumed maniac--for now at least.

“Sometimes I wish I still wore my ring.” he thought as the traffic around continued to sit still. John and Mari Stewart had tried to raise their daughter as normal as possible--with none of the drama that super heroics brought. In fact, out of all the married members of the old Justice League of America, John and his wife probably had the most quiet lives--something that was fine with him. Just then his cell phone rang, snapping him from his thoughts.





“John, where are you? The fashion show is about to start. You promised---” came his wife’s voice.





“I’m stuck in traffic. I’ll be there as quickly as I can, dear.”

“Just hurry. This show is a big deal for her. She’s wearing that show-stopping dress at the end of the show. Plus, I need you here. Diana Trevor is driving me crazy bragging about how many covers her son has been on and how cute her grandson is!”

John laughed at this. Normal moments such as this made him the most happiest.

“I’ll be there shortly. I called ahead and had some flowers sent to Rachel. If I miss the show, at least she’ll know I’m thinking of her.”

John chatted with his wife for few minutes and hung up. He sat in his car and noticed people running from their cars past him.

“What the--?” he said, noticing a disturbance up ahead. He could see a large man wearing what appeared to be an ox costume--a menacing figure approaching, leaping from car to car. The man in the ox mask’s eyes locked onto John’s.

“YOU! You are her husband! My tracking abilities are impeccable! My revenge on Mari begins now!!!” the man bellowed.

***

Beverly Hills…..

“Cassie, I am so happy you dropped in. Scott will be disappointed he missed you.” Jerrica Trevor smiled as she offered Cassie Sandsmark a glass of sweet tea.





“I should have called ahead. I didn’t know I would be in California until yesterday. The museum called and has some ancient African relics for me to look over for an exhibit back in New York.”





“I’m glad I was home. I was supposed to be at the big show with Scott, but Steven has been sick all morning, so I stayed here.”

The two women chatted and caught up on recent events, including the revelation that Steve Trevor was not Scott’s father.

“I still can’t believe Diana kept that to herself. That was after I gave up being Wonder Girl, right before my group of Titans disbanded. My mother never liked me being Wonder Girl and I think when I stopped all that and went back to school full-time she was relieved. Besides, Donna was the one, true Wonder Girl.”

“I remember that group of Teen Titans. Of course I wasn’t a super hero back then. Didn’t you date Superboy?”

“Connor? Yes. Yes, I did date him.” Cassie said, her tone changing.

“Whatever happened to him? It’s like he disappeared from the public eye.”

“I have no idea. He and I had broken up a couple of months before the Titans ended. He had been hanging out with Rose Wilson. God knows what she got him into. The last I had heard, he was living in Smallville full-time and going to school. I tried to get in touch with him several times, Ma Kent was always so nice to me when I would call. After she was murdered, that was right about the time Connor disappeared. Superman told me that Connor somehow felt responsible, that he should have been there. Connor felt that Superman held him responsible too, but that wasn’t the case.”

“Murdered? Why would anyone want to murder her?” Jerrica asked, intrigued.

“No one knows for sure. Not even Superman. All I know is that she was found dead, strangled. Superman searched for clues for months. Even got Batman involved. I think he assumed Connor ran away, filled with grief. I even searched for him as I traveled for my mother. I guess he didn’t want to be found. Not even to this day.”

“Cassie, I had no idea. It’s so sad.” Jerrica replied, glancing at the baby monitor. “Look who’s up! C’mon Cassie, I’ll introduce you to Steven.”

***

Backstage at the fashion show, the scene could be described as pure chaos. Models rushed, fitting into clothes. Make up and hair stylists hurried from model to model. Despite this, Rachel Stewart was calm. She walked around, careful not to muss her hair, searching for a bottle of water. She saw a couple of models doing cocaine and one throwing up.

“What is it with these models?” she thought. Rachel was one of the most grounded models around and didn’t get caught up in the crazy lifestyle of excess that several of her peers enjoyed. She spied a cooler of water and beside it was Scott Trevor, standing naked as the day he was born.





“Oh hi Rachel. Can you believe the designer sent the wrong sizes over for me to wear?” he laughed as a stylist searched a rack of clothing, searching for the clothes Scott was to wear. Rachel was used to nudity backstage, but seeing her former teammate was awkward.





“Uh, I hope they get that straightened out.” She stammered, trying to keep her eyes from wandering south.

“Me too. Oh well, I hear you are wearing the show stopper at the end. Way to go!” he said hugging her.

Rachel tensed, realizing the former Wonder Man, naked as a jay bird, was hugging her and not giving it a second thought. “Th-thanks.” she gasped.

‘SCOTT!” the stylist shouted. “Come try these on, quickly!!”

“Gotta run, break a leg. By the way, my agent Melody Hall and her husband Hank are here today. I told them about you. Could mean a cover for you if you impress!” Scott said walking off in all his glory.

“Thanks Scott.” Rachel smiled. Despite being married and far different from the Scott Trevor of the past, some of the vain, carefree Scott Trevor was still there.

“Miss Stewart, these just arrived for you.” an intern said, handing her a large bouquet of flowers.

“Thanks.” she said as she read the card. “Just wanted you to know how proud of you I am today. I love you. Rachel, you are the light of my life. Love Dad.”

“Oh Daddy!” Rachel said, wiping a tear from her eye.

***

Back on the freeway, John Stewart struggled against the man who had caused the traffic to stop.

He had John by the throat and lifted him towards the sky.

“Who is this….does he know I was a Green Lantern….” John’s thoughts raced. Not many remembered him as a Green Lantern these days with all the new heroes, plus he had not been active in years.

“I’m not stunned that Mari never mentioned me. Not stunned I wasn’t invited to your wedding! You can call me The Gored Ox! You see, your wife is my cousin. She murdered my father years ago when he tried to take the totem back! The totem that was rightfully his!” The Ox screamed as his grip tightened.





John struggled, “The…way…I hear it….your uncle…stole..the totem…”

The Ox backhanded him, sending teeth flying.

“Is that what she told you!? Well, she is a fool! Little did she know there was a actually second totem which I recently found buried in one of the jungles in Africa! Now, that I have found you my revenge can begin. First, I kill you then your daughter. Then I will torture your wife until she screams for death and then I will torture her some more. Might even keep her alive for awhile and see just how much she can take.”

“Gotta remember that move Batman taught me…” John thought as he wrapped his legs around the Ox’s torso and was able to slip free.

“Ha! Try to run. It will only fuel my desire for revenge!” The Ox said, leaping like a kangaroo after John Stewart.

“Dammit! He’s not wearing a costume. This totem that he found has turned him into some sort of man-beast just like Mari’s totem did to his father. Why didn’t I carry my ring….or my old JLA communicator. Not like I needed them before. No sense beating yourself up John. Stay cool.” he thought running through the maze of stopped cars. Suddenly he saw the Gored Ox summersault over him, grabbing his hand.

“Is this the hand? The hand that wore the Green Lantern ring?” The Ox said as he crushed John Stewart’s hand. John screamed as he heard bones shatter.

“You don’t have your ring? Well then, you certainly don’t need this hand.” The Ox smiled as he ripped John Stewart’s hand off his arm.

***

Gotham City…

“Daddy, are you sure about this? Helena Wayne asked.

“Dick said that Barbara wanted to have us all over for dinner tonight. Her grief counseling has been going well.” Bruce Wayne assured his daughter.





“I think this is exactly what we need.” Selina Kyle-Wayne agreed. “A family get together. I just wish my brother Karl had been able to stay in town a bit longer.”





Before long, the Wayne family arrived at the home of Dick and Barbara Grayson. Since the death of her son, Barbara Gordon had been in a deep depression. Months of grief counseling had seemed to help the former Batgirl deal with her loss. In fact, this dinner party had been her idea.

Dick welcomed the Waynes into his home.

“You’re looking well, Helena. It’s really good to see you.” the former ward of the Batman had said.





“Thanks Uncle Dick.” Helena smiled. It was difficult still for her to be around the Graysons. She could sense an awkwardness as Barbara approached her.

“Good evening Helena.” she said coolly.





Bruce, Selina, and Dick sat in the grand room, making small talk. Helena offered to help Barbara in the kitchen.

“Beautiful weather we’ve had this week.” Helena said, trying to start a conversation.

“Yes. Lovely.” Barbara replied. Helena noticed that the former Batgirl was furiously slicing vegetables.

“Barbara, would you like me to help with that?”

Distracted, Barbara cut into her hand with the knife. Her eyes widened at the blood that gushed.

“Your hand!” Helena said, rushing towards her with a kitchen towel.

Helena got some band-aids and rubbing alcohol and attempted to help with the wound.

“Here, let me--”

“I think you’ve done quite enough.” Barbara glared.

Helena wasn’t sure what was about to happen. Bruce, Dick, and Selina appeared in the doorway.

“You know, this is all your fault.” Barbara said, her voice rising, eyes darting back and forth.

“My fault?” Helena said, stepping back.

“You made me a promise. You promised all of us! When you and Brendon started this nonsense! You promised you would look out for each other! Where were you when the Legion of Doom was torturing him? Skinning my son…my baby alive!? HUH!? Well, where were you?”

“Ok, Barbara, calm down. Did you take your meds today?” Dick said, rushing to his wife.

“Leave me alone Dick! We need to get this all out in the open.” Barbara screamed.

Selina motioned for her daughter.

“All of this! All of this costumed adventuring! It is all bad! It got me shot, left me paralyzed for years! And now they’ve taken my baby!” Barbara cried.

“I think we better go. “ Bruce said, putting his arm around his shaking daughter.

“Yes, you go! Get out of my house D*mn you! Do you hear me, Helena? GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Barbara screamed, collapsing into her husband’s arms in a fit of rage and grief.

“Obviously Barbara still needs help to cope with this. I can relate….I mean, if anything ever happened to Helena…..” Selina said to her husband.

“Mom. She’s right. This is my fault.” Helena sobbed.

“Helena! Don’t think that way. Everyone that puts on a mask takes the risk of tragedy.” the former Catwoman said.

“But she’s right. I should have been there, should have done more….”

“Helena, since this happened you’ve single-handedly cleaned Gotham City up. Crime is at all-time low. I think you’ve been punishing yourself long enough.” Bruce added.

“No, not enough. Not yet, but I will make this right.” Helena said, stepping out of the car as the trio arrived at Wayne Manor. She took off to her own car.

“Helena! Wait!” Selina said. “Bruce, go after her! She thinks she’s to blame.”

“Let her go. She needs to be alone. Besides, if she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t. We trained her too well.”

Selina took her husband’s hand.

“Bruce, our family. It won’t ever be the same. Will it?”

Bruce Wayne just looked at his wife and dropped his head.

***

Back at the fashion show, Rachel had already modeled several dresses and was being helped into the show-stopping gown. Seamstresses worked quickly, pinning and adjusting the dress. Rachel’s eyes had fixed onto a TV. There was a news story that had interrupted the usual programming. Once again some villain was causing trouble. Just then she noticed the reporter say ‘former Green Lantern John Stewart’.

“Daddy!” Rachel gasped.

In the blink of an eye, the gown lay on the floor and Rachel had transformed into Totem. She ran with the speed of a cheetah. Her heart raced as she neared the freeway. She used the Tantu Totem to soar like a bird to reach where her father’s car was. She could see paramedics running and an ambulance. She landed next to her father.

“Daddy! Dad! Oh God, no!” she screamed looking at the battered man. He was almost unrecognizable. She kneeled next to him. One of his arms was completely missing and both legs were twisted. She noticed one of his feet was gone.

“R…Rachel…is that you…?” he whispered, spitting up blood.

“It’s me, Daddy. Hold on, everything’s going to be fine.” she gasped.
She looked around. ‘S--Somebody, help. Help me!!!!” she cried.

“No baby…it’s too late for me…but you…you’re here now…I…I missed the big show….” John Stewart coughed.

“Daddy, hold on…the paramedics….”

“Listen to me….protect your mother…her…they’ll come for her…be strong… protect her…I love…you….” John Stewart murmured as his eyes rolled back.

Totem hugged her father’s body and wept.

Later that night, Rachel Stewart accompanied her mother home. They had been to the hospital, but there was nothing that could be done. Both women were silent as Mari started to unlock the door.

“Mom, wait. The door’s open.” Rachel noticed.

“Have we been robbed? Is this day ever going to end?” Mari Stewart said, her face streaked with mascara.

Both women cautiously entered the home. The house had been ripped apart.

Mari began to cry.

Rachel ordered her mother to stay put. She touched the totem and summoned the powers of the elephant. If anyone wanted a fight, they were going to get one. She approached her parents’ bedroom. She entered and the room was in shambles. Above the bed in bloody letters was written, “I KILLED YOUR HUSBAND. YOUR DAUGHTER IS NEXT.”

***

Weeks later, Washington D.C…

“Mr. Tressor, I appreciate all you’ve done for my family. Putting my mother and me up in a safe house. But I don’t understand why you summoned me here today. The Titans of Justice will hunt my mother’s cousin down and bring him to justice.” Rachel Stewart explained.

“Only for him to go free and hunt you down. I saw what he did to your father. What his intentions are towards you, Rachel.”

“I have to admit, Mom and I have been shaken up by all this. It’s so personal. And Dad…if only I’d been a few minutes earlier….or if I hadn’t been in that d**n fashion show….” Rachel started to cry as Tom offered her a tissue.

“Rachel, I’m offering you a chance to do something about this. How many more of our families have to die or get hurt. I’m offering you a chance to hunt these people down before they act.” Tom Tressor went on to explain the new team he had been approved to assemble. “Some of your friends are already on board. Dark Arrow, Black Orchid, Hawkgirl… What do you say? I promise you, this team will do everything to keep your mother safe.”

Rachel thought for a few minutes. “You know, a week ago I wouldn’t even have considered such an offer. But seeing my Dad………” Rachel composed herself.

“Mr. Tressor, count me in.”

At the end of the day, Tom Tressor was happy to be home. It had been thunder storming all day and thunder and lightning graced the dark sky. He walked up the steps to his condo and entered. He switched on the lights and stopped for a moment, looking at some photos of his son and grandson. He headed towards the kitchen. An ice cold beer was what he needed after the past few days. As he entered his kitchen, he didn’t bother with the lights. Just then a flash of lightning illuminated a figure at his kitchen table.

“Good evening Mr. Tressor.”

Tom stumbled backwards, “You!?” he gasped.

The Huntress rose and turned on the lights.

“Sorry to startle you. Thought I would let you know what it’s like to be followed. The IADC should have trained you better.” she smiled.

“What do I owe the pleasure?” he asked as the Huntress looked around. She noticed the photos of Scott and Jerrica, as well as Steven.

“You came to me with an offer. Does that offer still stand?

“Of course it does. With you on board--”

“Not exactly on board. The others won’t approve of me helping you, I’m sure. But, I am willing to give you intel on where the scum--and scum like the Legion of Doom are hiding and what they are up to. Consider me your ace up the sleeve. No one must know that I am helping you.”

“I understand. And I thank you. What changed your mind?”

The Huntress smiled. “I remember a promise I once made. A promise I broke. It’s time I started making it right but know this, I am not on your watch, you’re on mine!” she said firmly as she shot her Bat-grapple out the window and quickly disappeared into the night.

***

The Hall of Doom…

Brainiac stared at the figure in the tube.

“How’s our pet today?” Lance Luthor asked.





‘Subject is still not responding to stimuli. Probable that he was subjected to too much kryptonite years ago at initial intake.” Brainiac responded coldly.





“What should have been my father’s greatest accomplishment is still a failure. My father and the original Brainiac had been monitoring the clone's activities in Smallville. Their plan was perfect, flawless. Go to Smallville, capture the clone, lure Superman out into the open. To this day I have no idea why the clone was fraternizing with some lowly farm woman. Martha Kent had to be a hero, when she saw my father nearly kill the clone with Kryptonite, she just had to try to save it. Of course, Father had to kill her. My father is good. To this day, the murder remains unsolved.”

“Correction Luthor. He knows what your father did.” Brainiac said, pointing to the figure floating quietly in the tube.

“Quite true, friend. But, he has been kept in stasis all these years. After months of our experiments plus my father's, he still sleeps. Unknown events and years passed all around him. Thank goodness the original Brainiac was able to remove the Kryptonite bullets and keep the clone alive." Luthor grinned.

“I am still filling his brain with auditory and visual images of rejection and blame. If he ever awakens, he will believe Superman is still active and blames him for the old woman's demise. He will believe he is a failure and we will certainly be able to control him just as your father did years ago when the subject was a Teen Titan. In fact, with the new images I have ready to inject into his sub-consciousness, he will believe that you and I are his friends and Superman is his enemy.”

“And we know how untrue that is! Once Superboy was captured, Superman searched for months to find his ‘little brother’. Little did he know, my father had him all along and released a suggestive toxin into the air at a large superhero get-together, to make everyone just stop searching for little lost Kon-El. Better to let them believe he set out to find who murdered the old woman or even that he was somehow responsible and ran away to live out his life in seclusion.”

Just then, instrument panels lit up and the liquid in the tube began to bubble. Luthor noticed Connor Kent’s hand twitch.

“Brainiac, is he waking up?”

Just then Connor’s eyes popped open.





“Yes Luthor, the subject is awake and active.”

“Well, my dear Brainiac. That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”


TO BE CONTINUED!


***

Tales of the Titans Starring: Jem, Sargona, & Starman

Jerrica Trevor whipped her pink BMW into a parking spot outside the office of her obstetrician, Dr. Kanigher. She had been sick all morning, but was feeling better now despite running a bit late for her appointment.

“Thank goodness Kimber could babysit this morning.” She thought as she hurried to the reception area. She wished her husband, the semi-retired Wonder Man, Scott Trevor, was with her but he was away in Greece for a modeling job. Despite being well off financially, Scott had taken on several high profile modeling jobs. He had told his wife that with a baby on the way, he felt like he needed to work more to provide for his family. She smiled as she thought of how he cared for her, their son, and the baby on the way.





***

Many miles away, Lance Luthor and Brainiac observed the young man before them. He was young, handsome, very physically fit. The young man was restrained in a chair, multiple electrodes and IV lines had pierced his body.

“Now. Let’s start over. Superman is your enemy. We are your only friends, your only family. Do you understand?” Lance Luthor whispered into the young man’s ear.





“I…understand…” the young man whispered.





“Luthor, the mental suggestion is complete. His personality is almost completely gone. “ Came Brainiac’s computerized voice.





“Excellent work.” Luthor smiled, pouring himself a glass of wine.

Several minutes later, Connor Kent stood before them. His face had an expression of anger and his fists were clenched.

“Here you go, my boy. Your old t-shirt and jeans. Why, they still fit!” Luthor mused as he presented Superboy with his old uniform.

Brainiac observed as Superboy grimaced at the “S” symbol.

“Ah, the sight of it sickens you, doesn’t it, boy? I don’t blame you after the way Superman abandoned you! Here, put this on. It fits your new attitude.” Luthor said as he handed Connor a green t-shirt with an “L” symbol.

Superboy quietly put it on and looked at himself in a mirror.

Brainiac marveled at how compliant Superboy was being. Years of brainwashing and torture had broken Connor’s spirit and he was almost a blank slate. His memories buried deep and new false memories implanted in his mind, thanks to Brainiac and Luthor.

“You know what you must do. Go and get their attention. The one you seek will come for you and you can finally have your revenge! Revenge for his abandoning you all those years ago! Don’t you want Superman to pay? He never loved you, never cared! Thank God I found you!” Luthor said, placing his hands on Connor’s shoulders.

“I understand.” Connor half smiled, his eyes glowing red.

“Then go my son, go and destroy all of them. All of them who caused you all this pain.”

With that, Connor Kent took to the air and sped away.

“Do you think this was wise Luthor? Are you sure he is ready?” Brainiac said.

“I’m sure. He is so full of hate for Superman—anyone in a costume at this point. He’ll kill the Titans, which will surely lure Superman out and I can finish what my father started so many years ago.

***

Back at the doctor’s office, Jerrica Trevor noticed her doctor’s expression change.

“Dr. Kanigher? What is it? Is it the baby?” Jerrica said.

“Jerrica….I’m sorry. I can’t find the heartbeat. I’m afraid the baby is gone.” He said taking his patient’s hand.

“What!? But, I was so careful. I took my vitamins…even had my trainer teaching me pre-natal yoga! What did I do wrong!?” she said, tears welling. She wished Scott was with her.

“You did everything right. Sometimes this happens and we don’t know why. You hadn’t hit the first trimester mark, and this happens to lots of women. It is quite common, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. I am so sorry.”

“How will I tell Scott? He was so excited…..I only told my sister and a few others. Something told me this was going to happen….I just knew….” Jerrica said, regaining her composure.

“Mother Nature is cruel sometimes. The good news is you are in perfect health and I know you don’t want to hear this right now, but there is no reason you and Scott can’t try again. We’ll get you back in next week and do D & C.”

“Thanks Dr.” Jerrica Trevor said quietly as she got dressed and made her way to the reception area to book her appointment for next week.

Jerrica sat behind the wheel of her car and cried. She couldn’t wait to get home and hold her son, but dreaded calling Scott. She decided to drive around for a little while and clear her mind before going home. Kimber was there watching Steven, so she had some time for herself.

In downtown Beverly Hills, there was lots of construction. Shops were being repaired and streets repaved due to the destruction caused by the Phoenix. Esmeralda Sargona and Scott Stone aka Starman walked down the sidewalk, Scott carrying a large stack of books.

“Oh quit complaining! I told you my shopping list was long—and you volunteered to help me!” Sargona chided her teammate, Starman.





“This was not quite what I had in mind. We’ve been to every New Age store in town and you’ve pretty much bought them out!” Starman replied.





“I’ve got to stay on top of my game, my friend! It seems the world around us is becoming darker by the moment and I need to keep current! Besides, all the lifting you’ve done today will do you good.”

“Hmph!” came Starman’s reply.

The duo walked through an outdoor shopping area and a pretty blonde caught Starman’s eye.

“Sorry, Sar. I’m taking a break.” Starman said, taking off in the blonde’s direction.

“Hey! Come back here, we still have 5 or 6 more stores to hit!” Sargona shouted.

Starman approached the pretty blonde and said, “I couldn’t help but notice you were sitting here alone and thought I would join you, my name’s Scott and---oh! Jerrica! I had no idea that was you but I’m glad we finally ran into each other. I heard how you died and came back thanks to the Phoenix and I was really worried about you,” he said, surprised. Jerrica had mascara running down her face. “Oh…hey, what’s wrong? I know my lines are cheesy sometimes, but I never made anyone cry!”

By now Sargona had joined them. “Oh no, you and Scott didn’t have a fight did you?”

Jerrica was happy to see her friends, but did not want to explain what had happened this morning.

“Jerrica, what’s wrong?” Sargona urged.

Jerrica Trevor explained to her friends about the baby.

Sargona hugged her. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” Scott Stone added, hugging his friend. He, Jerrica, and Sargona had been friends a long time and seeing her so upset made him sad.

“I’m ok. Just disappointed. I haven’t called Scott yet. I almost want to give him one more day before I tell him. He’s away in Greece shooting a big ad. It’s late in the day over there now….I should call him.”

“Look, why don’t Sargona and I give you some privacy. We’ll go get a table and lunch is on me. How about that?” Scott Stone smiled.

“I’d like that. I’d like that a lot. After I call him, let me call my sister and make sure she’s ok babysitting.”

Just as Sargona and Starman headed off to secure lunch reservations, a green blur streaked through the sky.

“Was that Daniel or Jo Jo the jackass Gardner?” Starman said.

“I don’t think so. No emergencies in the area, my communicator hasn’t gone off. “ Sargona replied.

“Mine either.” Starman said. “Something is odd about that, we’d better check it out.”

Soon Starman and Sargona were in the air following the green blur.

A statue of Superman came into sight. The green blur landed and stared at the monument.

“It’s just a teenager, probably 17 or 18….wait, is that…..Superboy?!?!?!” Sargona said, her eyes widening.


TO BE CONTINUED!