Titans of Justice Unlimited #78 - "Submission & Control Part 2"
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Editing & Maxi-Micros by: Power Guy

Melody Hall also known as Electric Girl returned to her Beverly Hills home that she shared with her husband Hank Hall and son Hank Jr. She parked her car and made her way through the garage and walked into the kitchen. As she approached she heard…….belching?

“What are you boys doing!?” the blonde former Teen Titan asked her son and Connor Trevor.





“Mom! We heard that if you eat a bunch of bananas and guzzle a Diet Pepsi, you’ll throw up--like immediately!” Hank Jr replied, putting down a Diet Pepsi can.

Melody rolled her eyes. “Teenage boys.” She thought as she made her way to the patio where Connor’s girlfriend, Katie was sitting. Despite the gross activity, she laughed.

“I decided to pass on the barfing contest.” Katie smiled.

“I don’t blame you. And I just bought those bananas and that case of Diet Pepsi.”

“Mrs. Hall, is your cell working? I can’t get any service at all.”

Melody looked at her cell phone. “No service.” She replied.

Just then, Hank Hall came to the patio. “My laptop just died and I was right in the middle of Skyping with a photographer for a shoot in Brazil. The desk top is toast too. And what the hell are Hank Jr and Connor doing in the kitchen?”





“Don’t ask” Melody smiled. “Cell phones, computers down. That’s odd.”

“Must be something in the air. I’m sure it’ll all be back online soon.” Katie smiled as she heard Hank Jr and Connor laughing hysterically at each other.

***

At the Hall of Justice, Power Guy noticed all of the Hall’s systems all shut down at once. Even the back-up generators failed.

“PG, what’s happening? Everything—even our security system just went down.” Flash asked, racing into the meeting room.





“I don’t know. Nothing’s working at all. Not even the lights.” The Kryptonian powerhouse said looking out a window. He saw Corporal Marvel approaching with Green Lantern and Tawky Tawny.





“Something’s going on. Outside, all the traffic lights—pretty much everything has stopped working.” Green Lantern said.





“We tried to call ahead, but our communicators aren’t working.” Corporal Marvel added.





“No use in trying to alert the others then, if nothings working.” Power Guy replied. “I’m sure they’re all well aware of whatever this blackout is. Come on, we’d better get out there and help the police with the traffic tie ups….start patrolling for looters.”

Green Lantern noticed that Power Guy was very different now. He was very much down to business since Sargona was gone, quiet and distant.

Just then, Starman landed.

“Guys, something bad is going down. Power is out all over the place, all electronic devices have stopped working. ATMs, cell phones, ipads…..everything is down. Do you remember last year when the Phoenix arrived? Do you think it’s back? It’s just like last time.”





“I don’t think it’s the Phoenix. It promised to never come here again….but it does seem odd…and familiar.” Green Lantern added as the group departed to lend aid.

***

IADC Headquarters…

“Any luck Apotheosis?” Nemesis asked.





“None. All systems are down. Communicators, everything. Lilith, are you picking anything up?”





“Yes….something bad…pure evil coming this way….technology based….not of this world…” the pretty psychic mumbled.





“Well, that’s reassuring.” Apotheosis replied.

The IADC headquarters was totally shut down. Not even the air conditioning was working. Agents sat at their desks and workstations staring at blank screens.

Suddenly the air conditioning kicked back on. Computers could be heard rebooting and monitors started to light up.

“Looks like we’re back in business.” Apotheosis smiled. Lilith was still in a trance like state.

“Lilith, can you hear me?” Tom asked.

“Tom…he…he’s here…..” Lilith gasped.

Just then the monitors started to flicker with a snowy image. All over the world, televisions, cell phones, computers, all forms of communication came back to life. On the screens appeared Ultron.

His mechanical voice began, “People of Earth, I am Ultron, your new ruler. As you have witnessed I control your technology. All forms of communication start and end with me. I understand this world is protected by so-called heroes. Surrender your heroes to me for execution, the rest of you submit to my rule, and your suffering will be minimal.”





“Where is he broadcasting from?” Tom demanded.

“Here sir, Washington D.C.” a field agent responded.

Mindy Trevor approached Tom. “I’m about to go confront our new ‘leader’. Shouldn’t take me long.”

“Mindy….be careful. Wait for the others. He’s dangerous….” Lilith said.

“Looks like a bucket of bolts to me.” Mindy said, running to a corridor and spinning into Champion.

The Titans of Justice had also tracked Ultron to Washington D.C. and hovered in the sky above him.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Starman demanded.

“You must be the leader of these costumed fools.” Ultron laughed. “You shall die first.” Ultron unleashed a ray that Starman quickly dodged.

“He made the first move! Take him down Titans!” Starman yelled as Champion joined her teammates.

Power Guy flew at Ultron full-force, striking him. “AGHHHH!!” he cried, as his fist bruised.

“I…I didn’t even dent him….” Power Guy said in disbelief.

“Surprise. Such a human trait. You have met your better.” Ultron said, bathing Power Guy in a bright red ray. Power Guy dropped to the ground, cold and unmoving.

“What did you do to him!?” The Flash said running to his fallen teammate. “Guys, there’s no pulse!”

“Of course not!” Ultron laughed, blasting away at the Flash as he ran in a zig-zag pattern. Corporal Marvel tossed his hammer at Ulton.

“Ah, you remind me of Thor with your silly toy. Here, boy. Catch!” Ultron’s electronic voice crackled as he tossed the hammer back at Corporal Marvel, striking him in the chest. Corporal Marvel was sent crashing through a building and landed next to parking garage.

Tawky Tawny, angered at seeing his best friend hurt, charged Ultron.





“And what manner of beast is this?” Ultron said, unamused. A blast of red light hit the battle cat, seemingly killing him.

Champion then quickly lassoed Ultron assuming he was a human wearing armor, “Stand down! The lasso compels you!”





“You think a puny rope will stop me? The heroes of this world are even more foolish than on my earth.” Ultron growled, sending the same red ray that had fallen Power Guy and Tawky Tawny through the rope. Champion twitched and screamed as she dropped to the ground.

Green Lantern charged at Ultron.

“Recalculating. Best defense determined.” Ultron said as Green Lantern blasted away at him with his power ring. Ultron walked through the green light, his hand deflecting the blasts.

“Impossible…no one can be that strong….” Green Lantern gasped.

“Such a silly little trinket.” Ultron surmised, grabbing Green Lantern’s hand. Daniel Jordan screamed as Ultron broke his hand and took the ring. Bones crunched as Ultron said, “You and your dime store bauble will trouble me no further.”

“ZZZZZZAAAAPPPPPPP!” a ray sounded, dropping Green Lantern to the ground as his power ring shattered.

“Looks like it’s just you and me now.” Starman said, glancing at the Flash. Starman was secretly panicked but did not let it show. "I thought I heard him say on his earth, is he from Earth-2 or maybe Earth 3?"

“Time to shut the show down!” Flash said, running up to Ultron, vibrating his fists through his metal body.

“No….what are you doing?….” Ultron gasped as the Flash ripped wire after wire. Despite Ultron's adamantium shell, some of his inner components were constructed of weaker metals.

“Now!!!” the Flash yelled to Starman.

Starman aimed his cosmic rod at Ultron, its powerful rays seeping through the metallic shell. Within seconds, Ultron’s head flew through the air.

Flash checked on Champion, Power Guy, and Green Lantern. His eyes teared up. “They….they’re all….gone…Corporal Marvel’s cat too…”

“What? I….don’t understand….we’ve been up against tougher things than this…this stupid robot…..” Starman said, kneeling next to Champion’s cold body.

“Fool!” came Ultron’s voice from his disembodied head. “You are up against more than a mere robot. I am Ultron-5,222 of 100,000,000.

Starman and the Flash turned and saw a legion of Ultron robots filling the sky and flying over Washington D.C. Before either of them could react, they were both struck down by the same red rays that had fallen their teammates.

Mayhem and terror ruled as helpless citizens were struck down by the unending barrage of Ultrons.

“Tom…my God…it’s a massacre out there!” Lilith cried, her psychic powers overwhelming her.

“Agent Tressor…they’re heading this way….” An agent cried out.

“Stand your ground! Initiate assault X!!!” he cried, running to grab a weapon.

“We’ve got to get help….there’s thousands of them!” Apotheosis said.

“The transport tubes…you and Lilith go..NOW! If we fall, it’s up to you two—coordinate the others!” Tom demanded as the roof of the IADC building was ripped away and an army of Ultrons blacked out the sky. Deadly rays of all colors hit agents and destroyed the contents of the building.

“NOW!!!!!” Tom said, “GO!!!!!”

“Tom, we can’t leave you…..” Lilith said.

“Lilith come on….it’s our only chance… we have to get the others…..” Apotheosis said, dragging Lilith into a transport tube.

Lilith said a prayer as the last image she saw of Tom Tressor was him firing away at an Ultron robot.

***

The West Coast…

The Ultron robots had made quick work of the west coast, seemingly killing most of the Titans of Authority and anyone else who stood in their path.

The Halls had made their way to the modeling agency. The building had been built in the 1950s and a bomb shelter was in the basement. Every few minutes they could hear an explosion above ground.

“Where’s Connor?” Katie demanded. “He got lost in the chaos trying to get here….”

“It’s ok Katie, Connor’s tough. He can take care of himself.” Hank Jr reassured her.

Hank and Melody whispered to each other.

“Hank, what is that thing? What’s going on?” Melody asked her husband.

“I don’t know….and I don’t think anything we can do would stop them. Did you see how they leveled that block? Best to keep here…quiet and keep an eye on the kids. Besides, Connor’s out there. He’s practically Superman so he has the best chance of anyone.” Hank Hall said taking his wife’s hand. He was worried about his brother, Don Hall the former Dove. Where was he? Was he safe?

Above ground, Superboy was giving his all against an army of the Ultron robots. He was bloodied, shirt ripped, and becoming tired. Somehow he had fought on and was still fighting. He saw so many of his teammates go down….Storm Surge, Jo Jo Gardner, Totem…..almost everyone.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a purple blur.

“Black Orchid! Am I glad to see you!” he said, punching his way through an army of the robots.





“Superboy…..what is all this?” Black Orchid asked, her arms swinging. “I’ve stopped a couple of them, but it’s like 100 more take their place!”





“I don’t know…the end of the world?” Superboy said.

***

“Murray….what are we going to do?” Kimber Benton cried, holding her nephew Steven close.

“I don’t know….I don’t know…just keep running….” The handsome Australian gasped.

Kimber had been babysitting Steven while Scott was away on Paradise Island and Jerrica was being interviewed for a morning talk show. She and Murray had to run for cover when Murray’s office had been destroyed by the Ultron army.

Suddenly a woman clad in black dropped from an awning.

“Come with me! Connor Trevor sent me!” Kitty Kat smiled. She led them through debris to the Hall Modeling Agency.





“You’ll be safe here.” She smiled, directing them to the underground bomb shelter.

“Murray! Kimber! Thank God!” Melody said hugging them both and offering them bottles of water. Katie and Hank Jr tried to calm Steven.

“What’s going on out there?” Hank asked.

“I don’t know…it’s like the world is ending. Robots everywhere….bodies all over the place…” Kimber gasped.

Kitty Kat made her way through the burning ruble and scanned the sky. So far, none of the robots seemed to notice her. She silently prayed that her brother was safe. Just then something grabbed her shoulder.

“Preparing for execution!” An Ultron said, its eyes turning red.

Kitty Kat tried to wriggle from its grasp, but it was useless. She shut her eyes and waited for the end.

Nothing.

She cautiously opened one eye and saw the Ultrons stop what they were doing and take to the skies. She cried, mainly from relief and dropped to the ground.

“Kitty Kat!” came a voice.

“Dark Arrow! I thought you were dead…I saw so many of us die…..” she hugged him.

“No, I’m ok. I was fighting them, fighting like crazy and they suddenly left.”





Superboy and Black Orchid arrived, both of them battered and bloodied.

“Any idea what the hell just happened?” Black Orchid asked.

“None. All communications are down. I did hear that Power Guy and some of the others are dead.” Dark Arrow said.

“Oh God….” Kitty Kat said.

“It’s true. We may be all that’s left.” Came Apotheosis’s voice. He was accompanied by Lilith. “We saw Ultron kill Champion, Green Lantern, Starman, Flash, and Power Guy….even Tawky Tawny. Corporal Marvel was there too.”

“But I still pick up Corporal Marvel’s thoughts…alive….but hurt….getting closer….” Lilith said, looking skyward.

“Look! There he is! Corporal! Down here!” Dark Arrow said.

Corporal Marvel landed and greeted the others. He had seen Tawky Tawny’s body and was very upset.

“We may be the only ones left. We have to regroup, fight this thing.” He said, quietly. Usually Corporal Marvel was in good spirits but he seemed…..defeated. “I tried to fight them….I fought across the country….made my way here….It’s bad…so many dead…”

“Here, sit down Corporal.” Kitty Kat said to the agitated young man.

Just then the sky above them crackeled with energy. A hologram of Ultron covered the sky.

“People of Earth. You have seen my might and power. Behold, your defenders!”

A holographic collage began showing the seemingly dead bodies of the Titans of Justice and the Titans of Authority. The scene then switched to London. The battered body of Kid Comet lay on a burning London street. Next was Khandaq. The royal palace was shown, both Black Adam and Isis appeared dead. Then Brazil was shown with Infierna Verde laying still.





“Any resistance will result in death. Your cities are leveled, your will broken. Any so called super heroes that remain will be hunted down and executed. My programming allows me to track them by the use of their powers. Any brazen outbreaks will result in their deaths. Citizens, submit to me and your lives will be spared in exchange for servitude to me.”

The hologram disappeared.

“I can’t believe this….it all happened so fast….” Apotheosis said.

“Connor, your friends and most of your family are safe. I couldn’t find Jerrica.” Kitty Kat said to Superboy.

“Thanks Kitty Kat. You rock.” Superboy smiled.

“She’s tough, Superboy. I’m sure Jerrica’s ok. We’ll find her.” Dark Arrow replied to the upset young man.

“Scott too. Didn’t you say he was on Paradise Island with his mother?” Black Orchid asked.

“Yeah, I wish I could reach him. God only knows if Ultron attacked Paradise Island.”

Just then there was a large flash of light.

“What now?” asked Lilith…..”Wait….they’re friends.”

Before them stood the West Coast Avengers.

Mr. Marvel looked around. “What…what happened here….?”





“Great idea Mr. Marvel. Looks like their earth has gone down the toilet just like ours!” Diva huffed.





***

Mt. Rushmore…

Ultron 1 addressed his army. He had transformed the once historic carvings on the mountain to resemble himself.

“Thanks to Starro, I was able to reanimate you all….extensions of myself. My cyber link controls you all, my will is your will. Your eyes are mine. You have done great work, this world is in shambles. I am sorry to have summoned you all to me so abruptly, but we must leave some of this worlds inhabitants alive for our partner, although I'd rather see them all die. Soon we will go home and claim our own world. The deal with the one called Starro has been a success. But, I long for a mate to help me rule when we go home. You all know I tried before….the wimp Jocasta…the failure Alkhema. Ultron 666,666 were you able to procure the one I seek? The one whose brainwaves will make a suitable mate?”

“Yes, Ultron 1. She resisted at first, but capture was a success.” The Ultron robot said, in a cold electronic voice. “Your bride awaits in the facility our brothers have built in the hollows of the Ultron Mountain.”

“Splendid.”

Ultron 1 walked down into the newly built facility. He saw the woman, a defiant look on her face. She was held in a stasis tube.

“Why do you look so sad…so defeated? Being my bride is the highest honor.” He said.

“I’m already married you monster! I have 2 sons!”

“So, it seems I must make you a widow. And I will kill your sons quickly as a boon to you.”

“I will get free Ultron and when I do----“

“You’ll what? So many before you have tried to best me and failed. Now, Jerrica Benton, I leave you to ponder your fate. I need to copy your brain patterns. The process is painless I assure you and I will kill you quickly for your.....contribution to my new bride.

Jerrica Benton watched as Ultron started creating a female robot body...





TO BE CONTINUED!