Titans of Justice Unlimited Ch. 69 - "World War Justice Pt. 7"
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Editing & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


Power Guy strained to hear and see what was going on around him. His vision was hazy and he couldn’t get his eyes to focus. He felt pressure in his left hand….pain. He noticed movement around him.

WHACK!!!! “GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” Power Guy screamed as a Kryptonite spike was hammered into his right hand, securing him to his chair. Blood poured from both his battered hands. He gasped, trying to catch his breath.





“There, that ought to hold you.” The man before him smirked.

Power Guy struggled to make out the figure before him. “C…Colin…Celsius?” he gasped.

“BINGO!” Celsius replied backhanding the Titans' former leader, drawing blood.





“Yes, it’s me. I have more lives than Catwoman it seems. And you all left me there to die. Destroyed my father’s lab and all his work.” Celsius mused as he walked by each Titan, slapping them awake.

Power Guy surveyed the situation. He saw The Flash on the floor, his ankles pinned together and bleeding. He was bound in leather straps.

“Ah, yes. The obligatory explanation of the traps.” The former Titan laughed. He walked over to the Flash and slammed his boot into the speedster’s head. “Where is that b*tch of a sidekick of yours that betrayed me? You people change members more often that Sargona switches boyfriends. Tell me, who is she shagging these days? Oh wait, that’s right. She’s so noble, sacrificed herself for all of you. V-O-M-I-T.”

“Watch your mouth. And you keep away from Hot Flash.” Power Guy said, straining at the kryptonite spikes in his hands.

“Hot Flash? She renamed herself after a middle aged woman’s hormonal change? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Oh give me a break.” Celsius said, walking over to Power Guy. He slammed his fist into his nose.

“So, Flash, PMS Flash, Flashman whatever the Hell you call yourself. You won’t be running around causing trouble with those ankles in such sorry shape. And I wouldn’t try vibrating those molecules of yours. Those straps are treated with a chemical that reacts with vibration and heat. You try vibrating out of that trap and you’ll set yourself on fire. Wouldn’t want you to have to deal with a scarred face like mine, although I’m sure it would be an improvement for whatever you’re hiding under that tacky mask.”

“How did you do it Colin? How did you survive?” Green Lantern asked, trying to distract the madman.





“Ah Green Lantern and his little songbird.” Celsius had them bound so that Green Lantern’s ring was pointed at Sonic Boom’s head. “Uh uh little bird, best not make a sound with that cry of yours. You see, thanks to the new improved Mento helmet, I’ve planted a suggestion in Green Lantern’s head. You even think of cutting loose with that annoying scream of yours and Green Lantern will blow your head off with his ring. GL, best keep your mind occupied. Wouldn’t want you killing the little woman.”

“Answer the question. How did you survive? We saw you as a Black Lantern during Darkest Hour!” came Nemesis' voice.





“Tom! Champion! The newest couple. You two really bring a new twist to incestuous situations. So incredibly tacky. But what can I expect from that attention whore Wonder Man’s sister. Mindy, I wouldn’t try wonder spinning if were you.”

Mindy looked around. She was confined in a tube with circular blades around her waist.

“You start spinning and you’ll be the Wonder Woman of Earths 1 and 2!”

“I swear I’ll get out of here and when I do, I’ll rip your head off!” Mindy screamed.





“Wow, you sound like one of the Titans of Authority! So testy! I want you alive so you can watch your brother beg for his son’s life. I’ll kill the brat first then your brother. Leave Jem to mourn them both.”

“Celsius, you harm a hair on either of their heads and you will know the might of the entire Amazon military.” Mindy said, anger coming from every pore of her body.

Tom Tressor was chained to a chair “Keep away from my son and my grandson. “ he said, determined. Celsius walked over to him and patted his head.

“Here Titans. Here is the man to blame. Why, with all his curious disguises, I just couldn’t help myself. You see, back when you all left me die, the earth opened up and I fell into a cavern. I fell and fell and fell. Did any of you come to check on me? Of course not! You’re all too preoccupied with dating each other! Fortunately, my elemental powers kept me safe, restored my life after a short while of being technically dead. Unfortunately I was burned. See my face? At first I thought of contacting a plastic surgeon, but I kind of like the scars now. Gives me character. Wouldn’t you say, Sonic Boom? I think you need a makeover. Tell me Green Lantern, could you love her if she looked like me?” He laughed holding a lighter to her face. She strained to move her head away. “We’ll save that for later.”

“d**n you! Why are you doing this?” the Flash demanded.





“Patience, patience! I know my story is a good one, worthy of an Oscar! Anyway, I crawled up from that cavern. My hatred for all of you driving me on. It took me days. DAYS!” he said walking over to Green Lantern and kicking him in the stomach. “I took what I could from my father’s lab and made my way to a house he kept. I rested. I healed. My dear old daddy, Niles Caulder, had been working on a new Mento helmet which I completed. See?” he said pointing to his head. “Anyway, I thought the best revenge was to destroy you all from within. Hence, the Titans of Authority!”

“You…you used the Mento helmet to turn them against us!” Sonic Boom said.

“No, you fishnet wearing fool. You see, the President himself ordered their creation. Put Tommy boy in charge. Sadly my little canary, your friends “turned” on you on their own. And who can blame them? You all and your judgemental attitudes. I saw an opportunity and took it. I made my way into the White House. So easy! You’d think they’d have better security. Anyway the real President oversaw their activities up until a couple of week ago when I added a chapter to the history books. I killed your president. Do you think I’ll get my own documentary on the History Channel? I killed him slowly. He caved and told me all about Tom and the very cool Nemesis gadgets. I simply assumed the President’s identity with Tom’s disguise gadgets, used the Mento helmet on the other heads of state and VIOLA! No more Titans of Justice! The IADC is under my mental control too. Not bad for a couple of weeks work. So easy! Such a beautiful plan! And I must say, the First Lady is quite an animal in the sack.”

“You’re crazy! You can’t carry on this charade forever! The Titans of Authority will figure this all out. They’ll be here any minute!” Tom spat.

“Oh Tom, Tom, Tom! Such a fool! Celsius laughed, unzipping Tom’s top and ripping out a chest hair. “I sent most of them on a wild goose chase. They think they’re out searching for a new Brotherhood of Evil. Couldn’t reach the clone. Guess he’s off lamenting his unfortunate DNA. I have BIG plans for him. And don’t worry about Lilith. She decided to….go for a swim. So she won’t interrupt our little party with her nosey ESP.”

“The other Titans will hunt you down no matter what you do to us!” Mindy replied.

“I wouldn’t count on that.” Celsius laughed as he gestured to an IADC agent under his mental sway. A panel opened and Supergirl, Magno, Black Vulcan, and Hawk Warrior were all unconscious, trapped in stasis tubes. “And I know all about the falling out. Huntress, Kid Comet, Isis, Black Adam, Buffalo Brave just didn’t feel right picking a side! That’s what’s wrong with this country, no one will take a stand! Don’t count on Starman, Goldbug, or the Marvel kid either. After their interrogations, they aren’t in much shape to do anything.”

Power Guy looked around. So far, he had not seen Red Robin. All of the IADC agents had a glazed expression, under the influence of the Mento helmet. “So kill us and get it over with!” Power Guy shouted, trying to get more information out of Celsius.

“Oh I will, believe me but not until you’ve suffered.” Celsius said jiggling one of the kryptonite spikes in Power Guy’s hand. Power Guy tried not to scream in agony but could not contain the pain he was suffering. Celsius licked blood splatter off his hands.

“Now, down to business.” Celsius gestured to an IADC agent to release Supergirl. The agent placed a kryptonite collar around her neck. “Wake the b*tch up.”

The agent slapped the pretty blonde until she stirred. “What…Great Rao!” she gasped at what she saw.





Celsius then took her, twisting an arm behind her back and holding a Kryptonite dagger at her neck. He ordered another agent to let Tom loose. “Don’t try anything funny Tom Tressor. If you do, I’ll order that machine to cut your little lady in two and you’ll have more woman to love.”

Tom noticed Supergirl and Power Guy were both turning green. “Ok, I’m loose. What do you want?”

“You my friend, are going to right a wrong blondie here did. You see during our last reunion, they banished two of my associates to the Phantom Zone. I want them released now!”

“Tom…don’t do it…” Supergirl gasped. “Dr. Light’s grandchildren….”

“You’re getting on my nerves.” Celsius said, plunging the dagger into Supergirl’s side. She screamed in agony as he twisted the dagger.

“Let her go Colin. Dammit!!!!” Power Guy said as Supergirl’s knees buckled. Celsius still held her, pulling her hair.

“Ok, ok. Just tell me what to do. How do I operate this thing?” Tom said.

“That’s more like it. I may let you live Tom. You are awfully cute. I could make you into whomever I want with all those cool disguises!”

***

Beverly Hills, The Hall Modeling Agency...

“The photos are going to be perfect Superboy.” Hank Hall said as they walked over to computer and looked at proofs. Superboy had been unable to join his teammates as he had promised the Halls to get this ad shot today.





“I hope so Mr. Hall. So many kids today are overweight and don’t get enough exercise. Maybe this series of ads will inspire them to get outside and move.” Superboy smiled looking as the proofs were arranged on a screen.





“And Hank Jr tells me there’s a certain girl in your class that will really enjoy these, hahahaha.” Hank laughed.

“Keeping a secret isn’t Hank Jr’s best trait!” Superboy replied, blushing.

Just then, Superboy grabbed his head and doubled over. “Superboy…Connor…are you ok?” Hank asked.

“It’s Lilith….she’s in danger…her mental cry for help…..Hank, I’ve got to go…”

“Go, go help her. Me and Melody are on standby if you need us.”

Superboy flew as fast as he could to the Titans of Authority transporter tube. Within seconds he was at IADC Headquarters. Everything looked normal. Agents going about their day. “Lilith, where are you?” he thought.

“DOWN HERE!!!!” her voice blasted through his skull. Superboy quickly made his way through stairwells, Lilith’s psychic cry growing louder and louder. He arrived in the sub-basement and saw a hole that had been punched through the wall earlier by Power Guy. “Lilith!” he shouted. She had been chained to a slab in the water. A valve had been turned and water was rushing in, almost up to her neck. “Hang on, I’ll get you out of there in a second!”

After freeing her, he ripped the power dampener from her neck. “Thank God! I thought I was a goner!” the red headed psychic said. “I couldn’t use any of my powers with that damned collar he put on me….Thank God I was finally able to concentrate enough to send a weak ESP signal.”





“That was weak? It nearly knocked me over.” Superboy said, helping Lilith to her feet. “Who did this to you?”

“We’ve been played for fools. Celsius. One of the founders of the Titans of Justice did this. We’ve got to summon the others. I’ll fill you in.” Lilith said as Superboy took her in his arms and they flew away.

***

The Hall of Justice…

Tom had set up the Phantom Zone projector to Power Guy’s specifications.

“If you’ve tried to trick me, Powerdummy, I’ll make sure Green Lantern rearranges Sonicslut’s face.”

“I didn’t.” Power Guy grunted weakly.

“Alrighty then! Turn her on and let’er rip!!!!!”

Tom Tressor took a deep breath and turned the projector on. A portal opened. Walking towards the portal were Kurt and Jill Light, the grandchildren of Dr. Light.

“Well, well, well. What took you so long?” Jill smiled.





From the rafters, Kitty Kat watched. During her last visit with Tom, she was intrigued and curious why so many IADC agents were being sent to the Hall of Justice. She watched high above, unnoticed by the raving Celsius.

“This reminds me of when I was unable to save Knightvision. Maybe I can save his friends….” She thought, noticing movement from the corner of her deep, green eyes.





Red Robin placed his fingers to his lips. “Shhhh.” He silently mouthed.





Kitty Kat was quite thankful to have an ally to take on Celsius.

As the portal to the Phantom Zone grew bigger, Celsius smiled. He dug the dagger into Supergirl’s back and pulled up.

“AGHHHH!” she cried as the blade sliced into her.

“No need for you, tramp.” He huffed, throwing her convulsing body to the floor.

Just then a Batarang whizzed by Celsius’s head, striking the Phantom Zone projector.

“NOOOOOOOOoooooooo……….” The grandchildren of Dr. Light screamed as the portal sealed.

“Thank Hera.” Mindy thought.

“A Batarang? The Huntress’s tool and trade? Come out, come out my little bat.” Celsius sang.

“Not a bat, garlic breath. But a cat.” Kitty Kat screamed leaping onto his back and slashing away at his shoulders.

“And a Robin.” Red Robin laughed, knocking Celsius’s legs out from under him.

“More for the body count.” Celsius said, sending a telekinetic beam from the Mento helmet and pinning Red Robin to a wall.

“And you ‘Alleycat’….he smiled, using the Mento helmet to command the struggling Kitty Kat, “Put those claws of yours to good use. Disembowel our little robin red breast. NOW!!!!”

Kitty Kat fought with all her might against the command. Her feet moved despite her trying not to move.

She struggled as her clawed glove raised above her head and Red Robin’s eyes widened in terror.


TO BE CONTINUED!